Worse ways to enter, maybe?

The road grows smoother as the cart nears the village. Though traffic doesn't seem to slow down in the slightest. It doesn't take long before we finally reach the gates. Large and strong pillars of oak on either side of the thick gate. Falling in behind the line of carts we have to wait our turn to enter. Looking ahead a small group of guards are looking over each and every cart. Checking people out before allowing them in. "What are they searching for? Can't be a whole lot of stuff being smuggled by farmers, right?" Sitting up from the back I'm looking out over the carts ahead as I speak.

"Not smuggling their after. Well, not items at least. They've had issues with the local lords. The other ones at least." Snapping the reins once more he brought the cart forward a few feet. We kept moving like that at a blistering pace of ten or fifteen feet every few minutes. "Don't know the full story but the other lords have tried causing a sort of rebellion. Village is pretty close so the last time some outsider decided to cause issues he was left tied up in the forest." As the man speaks I continue to watch ahead of us. "The people here do their best to avoid conflict, no matter how small. So, some advice, friend? Keep your hands to yourself and your pockets honest. Otherwise you may be the next person strapped to a tree in the middle of the night."

"I... I see. Thank you for the warning. I'll be sure to keep to myself as much as possible." As we roll forward once more I'm knocked back onto my rear. Falling down with a thud thanks to my inattentiveness. As I look back up though I'm now able to see the side of the carts better. Now able to see from the new angle there's some sort of dog... thing. As we roll forward my eyes keep getting pulled back to the dog like animal. A pair of them on either side of the cart sniffing away at the wood. Their large ears perked high above their narrow heads. Each of them roughly two feet tall at the shoulder with striking black and red fur. Almost reminding me of... a fox! Jolting up the realization slams into me. Seeing Eros was one thing. While certainly fantastical, seeing a set of what looks like foxes after evolving though is just shocking to say the least. "Their massive! Are those really foxes!" Practically yelling now, "Really? Are those foxes or something else entirely!?"

After a few moments my excitement dies down a bit and makes way for simple curiosity. My attention falling away from the beautiful animals instead catching the mans eyes. The shock and confusion, likely from my outburst. "Son, I've no idea what your on about. No clue what a fox is either. Those are just some sonies. People keep them as pets and guards." With another snap we come even closer, now only a few carts away I can hear the soft yipping coming from the animals. Almost like they're barking but instead it's just sharp yapping. Responding to each other as they move down the carts. Finally as they finish their inspections they each sit down and the wagons allowed through the gates. "The village guards have used them for years. Even have a breeder that makes sure to only give them the best of the litters." Simply responding with a short 'yeah' we come even closer. With only two more carts ahead of us.

The wait continued for a few more minutes. My eyes lingering on the fox... things, the sonies. Though as the minutes passed my attention gradually shifted over to the guards themselves. Each of them wearing blue tinted armor. Almost as though each of them had been dipped in deep blue paint yet as the sun shone on the metal it seemed shimmer in the light. As though it were coated in glitter of some sort. The glow coming off them in waves almost like heat on a hot day. "Sir," I ask a bit more timidly than I intended, "why do they look like that. I get armor but what's with the glow."

"Oh? Yeah, that's the standard gear round here. At least for the Lord's men. He has his own smith who suits up the people. Don't know the specifics of it but the metal itself isn't too complicated, what makes it special is the unique runes carved into the inside. They offer an even greater defense than just the metal alone. No idea how though, no talent for the mystics. Just know what my brother..."

Interrupting the mans words the sonies ahead began yapping loudly. Snapping and lunging at the cart. Their jaws opening surprisingly wide with teeth to match. Each of them only being held back by their handlers as the guards surround the wagon. Their long blades drawn as the driver argues with the man in front. Even as they order him over and over to dismount. To relinquish whatever he has. Finally one of the men grab the man and **** him off the cart. Throwing him to the ground as the flip bags over with their swords. After a few bags were flipped suddenly all of them were flung away as a woman jumped into the air. A blade in each hand as she swung and jabbed at each of the guards. Her daggers catching several of them off guard as her daggers sunk into their flesh. Their screams of pain filling the air between the rage filled yelling. After a few moments the fighting began to die down as the guards pushed her back against the tall wall. As the drew closer the sonies mirrored their masters. Creeping closer and closer before the canines lunged toward her. Each of them taking a leg and immediately dragging her legs out from under her. Her blades swung uselessly at them as they continued to pull her along. Closer and closer to the waiting guards before their own weapons captured her. From where we sat I couldn't see anything much past the guards surrounding her. After a few moments of movement her screams died down and she was taken away. Not a moment later the man who drove the cart was bound and dragged away into the village. His yelling drawing distant as he was **** deeper and deeper towards the dungeon.

"So... keep to myself, right?"