Ero Legacy Y2S3: The Black Watch

"More of these bloody marbles... Do you all carry these?"
As the powder smoke cleared, the tall lieutenant picked a small red gem out of an equally small pile of coins amidst the uptured earth and marker poles of a road in the making. Miriam Swift dusted off the orb with the cuff of her black uniform and examined it again with her good eye. The shine was little better than a glass marble. No wonder most jewelers didn't care to buy these things. Leaning up against a rock, the woman tossed it to her sergeant, Seraja.
"They say it's a curse, ma'am." the scaled woman replied, pocketing the gem. Dressed in the same uniform, the lizard-woman peered out over the rock, wondering if the skirmish was truly over or if there were more bandits in hiding. The scouts said bandits were trying to carry a cache of stolen goods over the mountains where neither Crown nor Corporate laws would apply to them. Rumor had it they were even working alongside the road builders, letting the construction cover their tracks. The 13th regiment of foot, the Grastian Volunteers (more commonly known as the Black Watch), were sent to see if any of those rumors held water.
"A curse from the god of evil himself. As it's told, the first demons were sent to this kingdom to feed its souls to the dark god Dis, except the Demon King wanted to rule it instead. King and all, you know? Gotta rule something. Pula, check over that ridge, would you?" With that word, a harpy took wing into the distance, while the rest of the troop readied themselves for a long trek through the hills.
"So, Dis is pissed off, you can imagine, and he goes and curses the Grastians, all of 'em. Being a god of evil, he never really got a handle on things like justice and goodness.... but he did know greed. Made it so we always drop these gems. Only problem was, being an intangible spirit from another realm, Dis hasn't actually seen a real gem from this world."
That comment made the Swift laugh, the scar along her cheek making her smile look more like a mocking sneer. "So that's why they look a bit rubbish then." Seraja bristled a bit, but the gesture was unseen past Swift's eyepatch. "... More or less, yeah. We keep them though, to remind us that no god owns us. If you find any more, the goblin traders will make it worth your while. They've probably got a trade post at the far end of this road by now."

Before the group could fully enjoy their rest, the crack of musket fire was heard, followed by large wings flapping and a shout. "Just over that ridge, ma'am! Five of 'em, and a covered wagon!"
"You heard her, ladies. Reload and advance, quick pace!" With a stern order, Swift led the Black Watch back into action.