Cold Winds [Phyllia/Ranieri]

[Dao]

The gales that passed by the wide camp site of the brigade were cold, yet that much was already expected as the group had all been heading towards the Ferox-Ylisse border. The greenery that Ylisse was known for had began to make way for the less lively soil that Regna Ferox boasted with. Like the very philosophy of the leaders who stood at the very top of the country, the soil too would only accept those that were strong enough to grow in it; nothing less. In the distance towards the massive wall that signified the border between both countries, snow could very well be seen as well as veritable blizzards easily imagined with how much darker the lands were. Opposite of the direction of the gigantic wall were the fields that could easily be cultivated and forests that could potentially create a village with just how abundant the trees were.

The 'camp site' wasn't what one would expect for regular people. That instead of several pitched tents and numerous fires to litter the place, there were circles of men and women alike huddled around sizeable flames to help keep them warm. Food was evenly distributed towards everyone, and if it wasn't for the rag tag clothing of hide and furs, the group might as well have passed off as an unconventional coalition of knights that the halidom would have been fine with. Mounts were tied to the available trees nearby, while the brigade members carried their weapons with them as opposed to leaving them in some sort of armoury.

And as the winds became colder, so did the bandits move closer to both the flames and each other. Rowdiness was to be expected from the bunch, alcohol being passed around to help stave the ensuing cold away or to simply create a lighter atmosphere that had been readily mixed with everyday debauchery. But of course, none of these things would be possible if these very brigands didn't trust one another. That beyond the 'coziness' that these flames represented, there rode the bandits who would be keeping watch. Some walked on foot while others scouted the landscape with their mounts.

Each squad was composed, usually, of three members. In the far eastern side of the encampment were two Myrmidons and an Archer, all three of them having varying opinions on the matter of being dumped the responsibility of keeping watch. The archer yawned heavily, infecting the tanned and leathery skinned Myrmidon to do the same. The youngest of the trio however, with his notable black scarf and leather bound equipment strapped across the vital points of his body, simply ignored the two. Black eyes were sharp as always, looking over the frigidity of his homeland and the contrasting welcoming feeling that Ylisse offered.

That in the cloudless sky hung the bright moon, shedding its light down to give visibility to the observable vicinity, the trio continued to march about with a very 'loose' objective buzzing at the back of their heads.

[Phyllia]

♛

Phyllia was just wandering, exploring an area she wouldn't normally be allowed to go too. When she stumbled near a strange camp, and quickly went into hiding. Staying close to the ground, she looked at the people, silently wishing she wasn't wearing her bright white armor and her hair was a darker color. What a shitty luck of the draw. Her green eyes stared at three men standing watch.

Phyllia wasn't really sure what to do, her instinct was telling her to go run and hide, but her heart wanted to watch them more. Two of the men seemed to kind of be bored and fed up. But one, dark haired and clothed seemed to be up on the job. Honestly, Phyllia was surprised he hadn't seen her yet.

She had to note to herself that actually, the fact that the dark one seemed to be the most on duty was funny. Considering she was the exact opposite of him in appearance, but maybe she was just being a little silly. Maybe from now on she should find a way to get darker hair.

Wondering if she came up as non-threatening as possible, if she would be able to talk to them.. figure out who they were. But she also didn't want to take the risk of being killed on site. So her bright green eyes stayed focused on them, unsure in herself as to what she should do.

Though, she was trying to pay attention to all three, the dark one was the one that seemed to attract her gaze the most. She wasn't sure if it was his demeanor, or if it was just because he seemed the most threatening, but whatever it was. She didn't think she liked the man, not a bit. 

### | Dao| hope the post is good~

❖ nox ❖

[Dao]

Dao's pacing was different. His gait was more fluid, dangerous, and reminiscent of a predator. Compared to the other two who were just dragging their feet and making crude and rather half hearted jokes at each other, the young man was confident that if they were to be attacked; he'd be the only one coming out of it unscathed. And thus, while the other two settled themselves to being meandering incompetents with their stupid looking fur and hide armour staving away the cold, the young man of seventeen summers simply went on ahead to patrol. He may not necessarily care about the Bandit Brigade as a whole but having it dwindle down to a shadow of it's self would be detrimental to his objective.

The smaller they were meant that they'd attack less cities. The less cities they did attack, the less opportunities did Dao have to attain the head of a worthwhile fighter. That would then led to him being unable to do battle with the bastard of a leader that had taken him in when he had been orphaned. Shaking his thoughts away in order to better focus on the task at hand, the Feroxi male veered off and away from his teammates and continued on through the designated scouting route. His teammates, if one could call them that, didn't really bother much about it--having been used to the young man's less than approachable conduct.

That was not to say they didn't keep an eye out for him though. A bastard as Dao was, he did have a respectable reputation in regards to the Brigade. Where strength was really the only factor that mattered, someone with a strong sword arm could surely go farther than most. Passing by the tree line and finding himself weaving around the trees, a gust of air followed through and naturally, Dao would have just ignored it. Unfortunately, there was something off about the breeze that had passed him by.

The 'flavour' of the air was different, as if something else that didn't belong there existed. His hand gripped the sword he had with him tighter, mind already running about to figure out where the anomaly was coming from. Moving forward, silently and faster than normal, the Feroxi teenager planted a foot over at a trenched out root of a tree before leaping upwards to haul himself into the shadow of the leaves.

Whatever was out there, it was best to at least have the higher ground.

[Ranieri]

Ylisse.. a land considered too pompous and frail by many of his own kinsmen, yet seemed to wield far greater power than Ferox.. either Ferox really.  He had always been interested in such a land, if only to see on his travels, so when the path took him near the border, and the great wall at the south.. he had to check it out.

Surprise for him to see a group of people already there, at least south of the actual border.  He had only just taken his first steps into the new trees of the south when he sighted them.  At least the spots of fires that dotted an otherwise clean clearing.  The group seemed more rugged, ragtag almost in their appearance.  Certainly not one of the fabled Knight brigade that this land was known for.  It was this curiosity that attracted Rani, and why he pulled out his own bow and stalked the trees that were surrounding the camps.  

It was obvious that this group wasn't brain dead, as he sighted at least a couple of people looking around keeping watch.  Not only that, but there was also someone else.. someone who didn't seem to belong.  As he watched one of the figures move up towards the other figure, Rani readied his bow, just in case.