The men that walked into the Prancing Palfrey were no banner bearing soldiers. They were armed, armored, and walked with the gait of fighting men, but the rough air about them spoke of a most mercenary inclination. Bringing up the rear of the small group, Captain Doro stood a good head above the next tallest man.
Captain Doro was confident that Sergeant Gallus could handle the recruits at the prison, see them cleaned up, armed, and sent in the right direction. Any man that could stand up to a charging host of Vlandian cavalrymen could be counted on to face any danger. Appearances had to be maintained and decorum had to be followed, a mercenary captain did not spend more time than he needed in a prison. He had places to be, sweet wine to drink, and still more soldiers to recruit.
Taking a seat at an empty table, the mercenary captain gestured towards the nearest serving wench, "Drinks, ale and wine, enough to satisfy our twice our number. I'm expecting some late arrivals. Oh, and tell the barkeep to send any fighting men my way. I'm looking to hire and I've still got coin to spare."
Waiting for the promised alcohol to arrive, an Imperial soldier, a grizzled veteran by the name of Callistus, offered a smile before he spoke, "Much obliged, Captain. Now, what's this trouble you mentioned."
A bloodied veteran of the Imperial Civil War, he was a man aged beyond his years by scars and a nose that had been broken more times than Captain Doro could guess. By all rights, he should have been the enemy. Callistus had spent most of his career fighting for Garios Comno, he hated followers of the Empress almost as much as he hated those poor, miserable souls who believed that power belonged to Senator Lucon. He hated officers. He hated nobles. But he had the all the marks of a good soldier and Captain Doro had decided that he liked the man.
"Bandits," Captain Doro began, carefully placing his heavy helmet on the table in front of him and removing his mail gloves. "It's always bandits isn't it? Well, when it's not another war. The Brotherhood of the Woods is what they call themselves..."