Day 69 | [video] | Dilandau Albatou

[burnburnburn]

[For the first time since he's been in Kore, Dilandau's not looking the least bit put out when making a public announcement. He's alert and in a good mood. Though he's draped on his sofa, it's a deceptive relaxation. He's got the stillness of a coiled spring,  ready to jump into action any moment. ]

 I hear there's more than beasts in the woods. Does anyone have information about the metal bears who guard the perimeter in the forest?

Comments

Video

[undomesticated]

Yes. They're huge, they're grumpier than a robot should be, and they smell terrible.

[Someone did not like these robot bears. No siree.]

Re: Video

[burnburnburn]

[That interests him immediately]

How huge? Are they taller than the trees?

[undomesticated]

Well, no, but they're bigger than any bear I've come across before. And way stronger.

[And did she mention the smell?]

[burnburnburn]

Are they bigger than that man with the tattoos on his forehead, Wallie?

[A pause]

When you said they stank, what was it of? Was it fuel, or of an area they'd lingered, or something else?

[undomesticated]

Oil. Metal. Rotted fur. Burning fuel. I don't know about Wallie. I haven't met him.

Video

[tryingitall]

I glimpsed a few through the trees not long ago, but I'm no kind of mechanic.

I will tell you they seem to leave a significant trail of devastation in their wake. Unless there's something bigger and more dangerous than them I didn't see.

Video

[burnburnburn]

[Dilandau's eyes narrow slightly at the sight of Balthazar, but since he hasn't mentioned the humiliation he witnessed he simply nods]

How near to our town do they roam?

Video

[tryingitall]

There may be some distortion out there. I'm not positive. I would say between seven and fifteen miles, but it's a rough estimate.

Re: Video

[burnburnburn]

[A pause, then a sigh. Damn these aliens and their lack of sensible units of measurement]

What's that in costa? [He holds his hands about a meter apart, but then decides there might be an easier route] Or how many miles is it from the lighthouse to the crossroads?

[plaidsamurai]

I've taken down a handful of 'em... 'bout eight. They've got a lotta sharp bits, an' I'm pretty sure they're made out of steel. Whatever they're made of, they can be sliced up, an' I've seen someone smash 'em.

Problem ain't the bears themselves. The problem is the tranquilizer they give you when they've had enough.

I was doin' fine, winnin' even, and then I woke up back at the edge of the woods.

What're you plannin'?

[burnburnburn]

Reconnaissance, after I've gotten some basic details.

[And these are exactly the details he wants.]

You must be a strong one if you can take down our guards. Did you make a noticeable dent in their numbers?

[plaidsamurai]

The crap in the forest ain't our guards, they're our guards' toys, an' when they bored of us breakin' 'em they'll knock us out.

[Forgive him. Annoyed is his natural state.]

All in all I've taken out right around ten of 'em. They go down pretty easy if you don't mind gettin' a bit sliced up.

[burnburnburn]

[He sits forward in his chair]

Have you ever seen our guards?

voice;

[hexappeal]

Are you thinking about getting a closer look?

Re: voice;

[burnburnburn]

I'm thinking that only fools rush in blind. How much of a look I have depends on what I learn from the people who've been here longer than I.

[hexappeal]

And you believe that all have completely altruistic tendencies and intend to tell you nothing but the truth?

[burnburnburn]

Don't take me for a fool, woman. I'm not relying on a single source nor am I about to let my guard down if I decide to go and see for myself.

[hung_garian]

Info? Well, probably the most pertinent thing I know is that they're planning a picnic this afternoon, real big fancy affair, loads of guards - so if you go down to the woods today, you'd better go in disguise.

[burnburnburn]

[He was hoping that Gabriel would never, ever bother him again after proving his point.]

Is that right?

[He's biting his tongue so hard not to say anything else about the stupidity. He doesn't want another thrashing.]

[hung_garian]

Oh, yeah. 100% true. I wouldn't lie.

[burnburnburn]

[He's tempted to just cut off the video, but there's got to be a way to get some use out of this demon]

Have you ever tried using those powers on yours on one of them?

[permavideo]

[violenthearted]

What kind of information? Aside from what you've got already.

[permavideo]

[burnburnburn]

Where they roam, how they work, how they can be stopped and how they can be lured. There's a few things I want to try, but I can't do it by going in ignorant.

[permavideo]

[violenthearted]

I suspect they can be lured by anything that looks like an escape attempt. How they work or can be stopped is more complicated.

For most people.

[permavideo]

[burnburnburn]

[He sits forwards, lips curving in a smile]

And you're not most people?

[This is the confident sort of approach to matters he likes to see]

I'm Dilandau Albatou, leader of the Dragonslayers of the Red-Copper army. And you are?