A Walk on the Wall (SEMI-Open)

General Von Mordenheim traveled around in an open top carriage, as she was often reading. She loathed reading by hexlight and preferred the sun, even in its dimmed version in the perpetually Grim Noxus. Even with her new aids, she found she had much reading and paperwork to do as a new General, in addition to keeping up with her studies. As such, even travelling, she had to pick up the pace, finalizing her presentations for Andre’s soldiers.

Her open top carriage was drawn by four horse skeletons wrapped in black cloth, her driver a Necromancer student. She had three staff aids riding with her in the carriage, helping her prioritize her paperwork, and another four Ebon Knights walking around her, their dark halberds and figures imposing. They kept an eye out always for enemies; rivals who wished to usurp her freshly claimed position, or those who sought revenge for her predecessor. Such was the earliest days of a new General.

Behind the carriage was the towering armored monstrosity known as the Brute, its movements programmed to follow three of its huge paces behind its master. Its gaze was locked always upon Valeria. And behind that, there were three more caged carriage cars, shrouded with black veils that shook violently at times, being pulled by the Brute itself. A Necromancer sat atop each one, and they calmed their unruly passengers when they became too agitated.

Still, the General was a Noxian like any other, and paused at an intersection to let a caravan pass. The merchant’s children looked up in awe at the beast, while the adults respectfully bowed and hurried along as to not get in her way.

Fifteen ton footsteps were felt much sooner than they could be heard or seen and the soldiers on the wall wondered if there was a mild earthquake going on... until the Brute finally came in sight. The open top carriage stopped once Andre’s group was ready to meet them. General Valeria disembarked from her civilian carriage, flanked by three staff aids and four bodyguards, the Brute towering above them all in the back. The carriage and cages went to park at the stables, the live horses wisely moved a distance away to keep them calm.

The petite blonde doctor moved forward to meet her burlier counterpart. “Good day, General Bleakwood. Shall we go and be seated somewhere, to begin our business?”

Valeria gestured for her entourage to comply with Andre's, and all but one assistant remained with Valeria to deal with her paperwork. The rest stayed with the covered cages, the four halberdiers forming a perimeter about the caravans.

A few soldiers came over to assist and lead them to the stables, and all was well until one came to close and asked what was inside the cages... he got his answer when an ghoulish arm suddenly attempted to grab him, stopping short of an inch because of the bars. The creature growled hungrily, and the nearest Ebon Knight used the spiky end of his weapon to pacify the creature. The black armored escorts paid the curious soul no further heed, seeing he had wet himself in fear. The other soldiers made no comment, but wisely kept their distance.

Valeria simply nodded to Andre, ignoring the incident. She followed Andre from behind, her Brute following four paces behind her.

Valeria watched passively; despite being a doctor she was hardly moved to show the bleeding man compassion. He'd live.

The Brute behind her though, at smelling blood,growled slightly, momentarily turning its minotaur helmed head towards where the man lay. The abomination sniffed loudly, and seemed about to take a step towards the injured man. Again the soldiers were worried, but Valeria simply pacified the creature with a touch of her amulet and followed behind Andre, sighing and wondering how much further it would be but saying nothing. She simply nods to him, appearing her usual, less-than-energetic self.

A rotten, disfigured head peeked out of one of the wall's many windows, letting a mechanical green lens witness the commotion below. The Headsman's pride walked down the many stairs towards the bottom of the wall and, after quickly "questioning" one of the soldiers about the sudden commotion with his cannon; slowly made his way towards General Bleakwood's tent.

Something caught his eye in the distance - a tall, imposing figure. Urgot stopped a few meters away from the brutish figure, taking his time to examine it. His legs ferryed him towards the tent in a circular motion around the creature, always keeping a good distance away from it. When Urgot had reached the tent's entrance he turned around, and called for the General with a single word - Bleakwood!

The tired looking Valeria looked around the tent, taking stock of the environment and noting the objects there. She took a seat and let out a content sigh, and looked at the General. The sight and smell of the brew brought the slightest smirk to the Doctor’s lips. “Why thank you, but beer is fine. Do you have some food to accompany this though?” It was becoming a particular trait of the doctor to have quite an appetite whenever conducting business.

Valeria’s aid, a young brunette female student from the academy, served the doctor her drink. She turned around to hear the mechanical movement and harsh voice of Urgot, and mentioned it to the two Generals.

“So let us work out what activities I shall be engaging in while at the wall...” the doctor trailed off at her aid’s mentioning of Urgot’s arrival. Valeria’s hands were still on her lap, appearing like a youngster. She seemed even more youthful since the party, if that were possible, but given the reputation of necromancers, one would find it not pleasant to think how she achieved it.

Outside, the Brute towered over the tent and most of the soldiers. It looked at all the soldiers that came too close to the tent, but made no overtly aggressive actions, just a low warning growl. Its attention eventually fell on the two arrivals lingering near the entrance, a faithful watchdog that remained vigilant against any sudden moves. With arms and legs the width of tree trunks, and a massive, bulky body, it wasn’t difficult to imagine the strength of its physical attacks.

((The Brute was not and is not for riding, Tronei))

Valeria looked at the ham Andre served rather roughly, a bit understanding of the soldier's lack of finesse. While her aid took out her own knife to cut it into finger-food sized servings, She took a sip of the beer and, finding its taste satisfactory, took another, holding the mug delicately with both hands. Then she began eating a few pieces. Valeria took a few minutes to eat, and when she started speaking a little energy seemed to come back to her speech.

"I am quite eager to begin, honestly. My aids will handle my miscellaneous activities, such as dispensing common undead lore to your NCO's and officers-" Valeria's aid produced a small booklet, with a plain soft cover."...Herein is mostly the Academy's procedures when dealing with dead and undead, keeping one's self clean, maintaining a hygenic environment... inspecting for wounds, types of wounds... But I know not every soldier is an avid reader.... So There nothing quite as engaging as a good lecture... reminds me of my days as a professor back at the Bleak Academy... General Bleakwood." She smirked again, seeming to have energy to move about now. All the while she ate daintily, but it was clear she had an appetite- she was eating slowly simply out of decorum.

Valeria let out a light chuckle. "Oh, but they have yet to have me as their professor, General. My lessons tend to be very... engaging." She peeked at her aid, a young freshman by her looks. "Isn't that right, Vivian?"

"Yes... ma'am..." She muttered, like it meant something else. Something that seemed to make Vivian uneasy, breaking off eye contact with the General-Doctor.

Once she had finished eating, she stood up and stretched her arms. "No, I will manage. My aids will likely have prepared my own tent. If you have any spare prisoners to execute, I will be thankful for those too. The Brute tends to get hungry." She said, with a smirk, causing the soldiers present to give each other second glances. No one will be walking around the wall alone tonight...

Valeria leaves the tent and proceeded to her own people at the Stables, passing by the Champion on her way out...