@Eckhart_Von_MuselThomas Crow was having the roughest morning. The kind of morning that put all prior mornings into perspective. He'd given up hoping there was some colossal headache due, some pain and confusion around the corner. He could've awoken in a haze, it could've felt just slightly like a dream, but no. Instead his every thought came as readily and clearly as an echo through an empty chamber. It was awfully... lucid.
There was a solid aim in mind when he dragged himself out of those bloody mountains. Couldn't face returning to Falkenrath, but there were some things he had to know. He lost count of how far he walked circling the Crystalsong, with practice regressing his gangling lurch to a more convincing march, though he couldn't help his facade. No way round it, he looked strange. Wreathed in tattered, stained rags and rusted plate it was like he'd crawled right out of Hell, and maybe he had. God only knew why this happened. Had his share of mistakes. If this was his test, Ansgar had a sense of humour.
Coming to a road, he tried to fool himself into some doubt when he saw someone driving their carriage. Maybe his eyes played tricks on him - he wanted to think, though the damned things were long gone, a mere mockery in their place. But he still had his voice at least. He 'cleared' his 'throat', out of habit more than necessity. "
... Greetings," he sighed. The lad he caught up with did a double take.
"You move fast mate, gave me a start." There was quiet as Thomas adjusted to the contact, it had been a long time. "
Came off the lakeside. It's as fine a view as I remember." He made to rub the back of his helm. The boy's face shifted; good, then he'd decided the walking suit of armour wasn't here to rob anyone. "
That's truth... er, d'you care to hop on? Long way to Reajh." A longer pause. Countless questions called his attention, but it wasn't the time or place. Putting some confidence in, he chirped "
No, thank you, I'm fine to hike. Have a good one." He'd have to make a concerted effort to move slower in public, realising his manner of dress weighed men down.
The cross country stroll did him good, let him get some thinking out the way. The city sprawled in front of him not looking too different from the outside. Perhaps a bit taller. Getting past the gates was a nightmare in itself, but he had the patience of the dead. After dickering his way in he had a very simple task ahead of him.
Passed the Duke's Head, still standing. Not like he could stop for a drink. All the same, a lot of memories in the place. Front was completely redone but it was the same old building. Busier than before with fresh faces spilling out, pouring in, crowding round. In the bustle of the city it was as if no time had passed. Some of it he didn't recognise, sure, yet all things considered it hadn't really changed much. People went about their business all the same, and life went on. Though he'd swear things were a bit tighter, more hurried. Right, his goal - he needed to soak in what was going on.
He'd drop by the church first. People's prayers could say a lot about the times and if anything stayed the same, it was the faith. He just looked up for the nearest, oldest-looking spire and set his course. Eventually he found one he seemed to remember, and with a deep pretend breath he pushed through the creaky door.