Quoted By:
Upon realizing they were cornered, they all fought hard enough to destroy a few more clankers before joining their companions in the graveyard you generously granted them. Through all of this, there were a clear lack of horse riders and horse beastfolk. The latter where a slight oddity, considering that horsefolk weren't native to these regions— more common to the Westphalian province of Aquataine or in the Eastian heartlands.
You happened to meet with Gerty and Mel, intending to talk about about this and other relevant subjects.
"Master." Gerty saluted. "Mel and I have found some horse bones. She believes they might've been eaten by the scum."
"There was proof of them being cut up and burned over campfires." Your beguiler, who had accompanied Gerty to the fireplace, came along as well to give an update in person. "They must've been pretty desperate for food, which is kinda weird since there's tons of berries and places to fish everywhere."
That answered that, at least.
"We have been patrolling large parts of the forest and the coast. It might've denied them any food sources." You thought about the times you or some other wife or clank killed bandits at random. You wondered how many of these bandits were simply going out to get food. "Any sight of horse girls?" You couldn't help but ask.
"Most died in the first attack, sir." Gerty explained. "And the ones that didn't, met their ends in your second bombing run."
"I see." Damn. But you still shrugged nonchalantly, not feeling like you'd lose sleep over it. "Any thoughts on why they were here to begin with?"
"Um," Mel cleared her throat. "The Bandit King harassed parts of Eastia at one point, right? So he might've been able to connect with a few horsefolk mercenaries from there. Although," And she paused for a second here. "They didn't really seem like the Eastian or mercenary type... And I swear I heard one of them speak an Aquatainian dialect last time we saw them face to face..."
"Forthwythe." Gerty said simply.
"I mean, it's possible? We already know the Bandit King likes to take in tons of gangs and eventually absorb them. But it might be a stretch to think-" Before Mel could finish she was interrupted by Gerty.
"Many years ago Riverdale once had some Aquatainian horsefolk criminal gangs try their luck in the Mayflower region. But Forthwythe was able to arrest them all with the help of some errant knights and adventures." Explained your Holy Knight. "I wasn't so sure at first, but these horse people are doubtlessly the same from back then. And most of the 'horseriders' are also criminals from Westphalia."
"This sounds like the sort of convoluted mess Ruby would cook up." You remarked.
