[Dimitri Wladisyaw]

*First cycle of Aperitus*


It was an adventure of sorts. The marshland surrounding Vortex was intersting in its own special way, the consistency of the ground was random for one thing, and the various flora and fungi madr the trip a paradise for a biologist. However in the area Dimitri and his little party moved in trolls (the purpose of the expedition) were in short supply generally.

Would Dimitri want Anora to see a real Troll, not really. He wanted her to ride side-saddle and look pretty in her pristine leather armour. He wanted her to see him as a leader of men and a warrior as well as a politician. He wanted her to come into his tent that evening and stay with him, an idle dream he knew that by now, but one he milled about inside his head and smiled about when she was not looking.

The two day trip produced few suprises on the first day, it was travel into minor troll infested areas, as the sun began to set over the Great Mountains the party consisting of roughly thirty of the most hardened Vortexian soldiers, some mounted and some on foot and all deadly found a large patch of solid ground amidst the marshland and set up camp.

Large mounds of earth were rolled up and small guardposts were formed on each side of the camp, a consitent watch of two men were always on guard at each and Taulkis, that lone shadow prowled the camp needing seemingly no sleep to survive into the next day. It was a safe arrangement. A mishmash of tents began to pop up, the standard military issue tent slept two men, with enough room for a very small table and some storage space, fires blazed outside each tent as men prepared food and exchanged stories.

Anora was not the only woman on the trip, indeed about a fifth of the soldiers were women, orcs, dracons and humans and every bit as fierce as their male counterparts. She did however have the luxury of a slightly nicer tent. Dimitri maintained the biggest, though it was still spartan. Inside it boasted a large cot and a small table used for writing letters. It also had a large chest of personal effects, from cologne to cheese that Dimitri tended to bring along. A few Arium hounds slept outside and a small fire was maintained just outside also, a pot stood with a strange meat dish bubbling away.

Anora's tent was just to the left, a smaller cot but large enough to accomoate her sat inside, a warm duvet atop it and a small table and a chair should she need it. Any personal effects she wished to bring would likely be stored in Dimitri's chest. He had asked her to visit him that evening so they might dine together and spend the evening together also.

He sat in his armour with his boots removed at the small table in his room, eyepatch on studying a small shard of silver with a small magnifying glass. A book was open before him and a small bottle of wine opened beside him, swigs from the bottle were a common theme for him. He awaited Anora yet at the same time was more than happy in his solitude.