Konrad Ingmann wrote:
Ingmann turned and nodded politely to the Lord. He made an effort to put on his best demeanour. 'I should say that my homeland is considerably colder, my Lord. We are accustomed to taking our baths every morning in the snows, if they have fallen, and they often have. The cold does not bother me much,' he replied. Alomost as he said it, Ingmann felt the cold grip his bad hand, gently pulling and throbbing at his scar, making the bone ache, and causing his heart to race a little.
[OOC - Ingmann will generally try to avoid anything but small talk at the table, and will be more interested in listening to the others. He has lost his appetite for company, and is focussing on trying to ignore the growing pain in his hand. He will be pleasant, but will try to avoid being overly informative. Through the meal, he will ask simple questions about the coming expedition, if there is a lull in conversation]
Soon, the captain of the guard enters the dining room. His dress uniform is a mess, clearly not having been worn in some time. The man himself is in his middle ages, around forty years of age. He is tall and drawn, with not a lot of bulk to his mass. He wears a moustache greased into upward curled tips.
Sitting down with a huff he looks around the room.
"Forgive my lateness, I had to see to some matters of discipline amongst the ranks. The men are never happy in this place most forsaken by Solarias."
Ere long food is brought in, and general small talk takes place amongst those seated. Konrad notices that those here from the venture avoid their reasons for being here, just talking about a business opportunity and make no mention of Blood ore or mining in general.
As the evening wears on, it is clearly obvious that the Captain, by the name of koenigsegg, is immensely unhappy with his posting.
"Some 30 years ago, it was an honour to be posted here, to be the first line of defence against the godless invaders from the east. But now, with them well and truly gone back to the cesspit of Nissia, this is a place where you are sent to be forgotten. Everyday my men stare down into that valley of damned souls and wonder why on earth we bother. I don't know what it is that draws you to enter such a decrepit place, it has nothing any normal man would desire there. But I tell you this, them people down there are still tainted from the east. Don't ever be foolish enough to trust a man who has lived under the Nissians. Godless heathens and boy lovers the lot of them."
Ingmann cant help but notice that the captain has the distinctive glassed over look of a man who has imbibed far too much of the drink being served at the table. A awkward silence descends over the table.