[User]
A new moon loomed over the sky tonight, devoid of stars and ashen clouds closed in from the northeast, heralding a storm. Dusk had long set in, and the cold evening breeze called for beasts and men alike to seek shelter. Critters chirped and owls hooted uneasily, weighted by the tense and humid air.

But not all beasts echoed the unease, or heeded nature's warnings. One of them crossed the plains near the mountainside with a light gait on his paws, barely disturbing the blades of grass underneath. He hummed an old folk song as he ventured south, brief words mixed with guttural snarls in the distinct tongue of the Hasaapian tribes. Every step he took synced with a lyric, distancing himself from the encroaching storm

The lone travelled concealed much of his identity beneath a black cloak. What could be seen was the distinct shape of a canine muzzle extending from his hood, a dried scar running deep across its bridge and spiked protrusions on the sides of his jaw resembling black fangs. At a glance, nobody would doubt he was a lone canifor, specifically of the more bestial variety found in the untamed Anushkenian wilds west of Silnaria: quick of temper and quicker of claw, yet stolid when unprovoked.

But then one could also take note of the horns atop his forehead, piercing through his hood like jagged spearheads, more fiendish than bestial. For one familiar with silnari gossip, it would be these horns that made it dreadfully clear who- or *What* The beast was. And if those rumours were true, one would be wise to avoid his ire.

||

[Assistant]
*From that area, amidst the gentle glow of the moonlit night, the remarkable claws of Toss peaks can be clearly seen. Peering high above the clouds of Western Praia, its silent visage has kept the soul of this land for time unmeasured and tells of it in words unspoken. The root of minerals and rivers which flow from the deepest reaches of its abode had existed since the far past. Indeed, before even the distant time when the first pioneers had set upon their presence in this continent.*

*A lone figure is staring at their own reflection on top of a river's surface. Cascade of water can be heard not far from there. Its current carved rocks and soil onto the ravine which they are in at the moment. The water itself originated from an unseen source beneath the mountain. It was a place recounted in numbers of old tales. Mythical creatures far more ancient than any kingdom lingers there, never to recognize the ray of sunlight.*
_ _

_ _
*The clear water and illumination radiated by the moon captured the image of the figure's appearance perfectly. Sweeping golden strands of hairs from their face, they– or she, blinked on top of the water's surface. The girl on the other side is an ordinary young Macon, if not quite more charming than average. Fixing the scholarly beret on top of her hat, she smiled at her own reflection. Occasionally, she would make a pose with her long, wooden staff, like a child in front of a mirror. It is not until the thunderous roar of the distant lightning had pulled her attention back towards her surroundings, that she finally looked away.*

*"I think there is still some time." She thought inside her mind while gauging the distance of the storm. It was done by counting the interval between flash of lightning and its following loud exclamation.*

*Carefully, she puts away all the refilled water containers inside her backpack. Then, she began to walk, following along the river. Steep ground like this would be the best place to camp in a storm. Away from treeline, yet not too far away into the flat soil. She was also thinking about seeking a location where flooding would be unlikely to happen. Though, she was distracted by a faint, yet distinctive noise which entered her ear. A quite gravelly voice, following a pattern which are undoubtedly fixed pitches. It is...*

*"A song?" She muttered quietly.*

_ _
*The girl turned her head in the voice's direction. Towards North-East, the view of the path that she has taken before sliding down into the ravine is entirely visible. Beyond that, faraway in the distance, she can also see half of the rocky peaks. Thick, black clouds of encroaching storms encircling the other half of the mountains. These regions are sparsely populated and travelled through. Even the hardy Lora of the west would often choose to evade this path. Thus, she certainly doesn't expect anyone to be this close in proximity with her trek.*

*Meeting a stranger in a wilderness like this can often lead into various grim circumstances. Her eyes darted to the side momentarily. Unfortunately, there seems to be nowhere for her to hide and watch whoever it is, to discern whether they are friendly or not. And hence, the figure finally came into view, appearing like a ghost from the ridgeline not far above her.*

*"That's.!!" Her wariness had increased exponentially.*

_ _
*Their nefarious appearance is exactly as mentioned in the rumors, one that she heard when visiting Floor not too long ago. **"As the sun is set, beware. Your eyes would be drawn towards their jagged horns, which is not that of a beast, but something far more sinister."** Her boots scraped against the pebbles and the rocks underneath her. Rotating her whole body abruptly, she faced towards the figure's direction. She looked at the figure with sharp and cautious eyes, attempting to perceive what is obscured behind the veil of their hood. There is no point in walking away quietly, as she is quite sure that they've seen her anyway. *

"...."

*She didn't say anything, but her nerves are cranked to their maximum. If the figure is indeed, the renowned "Revenant", and the rumors surrounding them were not a simple hogwash, then she will know of it soon. However, for one, the girl is not one to trust rumors blindly, nor that she is a person that is keen to get into conflict.*


[User]
*Aimar lines up his shot with Astrid just as she ducks behind the tree, having to wait until she exits to loose an arrow. He steels himself to do so... Until he see's the tree begin to rot. The sight of it withering, blackening, buckling under its own weight is enough for him to lose his composure, the drawn arrow being loosed by accident, thunking harmlessly into the dead wood of the tree.

He prepares another arrow, but not fast enough to loose upon astrid as soon as she left the tree's cover. He pulls back just as she launches off the tree and into another, the arrow being loosed early and flying harmlessly a few inches past her head.

He goes to draw another as the dagger hits him in the upper right arm. A scratch, barely enough for him to register—but he certainly notices the magic. His arm starts to go numb just as he starts to knock the arrow, unable to get a good grip on the drawstring. He looks down at his arm, his eyes growing wide as he notices a growing blackness running down his arm and up his shoulder.

The arrow falls from his arm, Aimar barely even able to raise it anymore, and he begins to stagger backwards—and then turns around, breaking into a full on sprint. He can't win this, not with an arm like this. He grasps his bow with his left hand, starting to feel that one grow numb, too, as the magic from his shoulder wound starts going down it.*

"Shit, shit, no no no no no."

[Assistant]
*No longer someone fighting against a comparable opponent, Astrid is now akin to a predator hunting fleeing prey, and the hunter was indeed faster. She stalked Amar through the forest, closing the distance but not quite at striking point yet, perhaps it was on purpose to mess with his psychology, or the arrow hit was limiting her mobility, but she had the clear upper hand over the Macon, with only her mercy dictating how far she'd go.*

*Deciding enough was enough, she leaped with more strength than previously to have enough momentum to catch her opponent, she moved her Sonya in the air for two diagonal slices upwards and then downwards. Landing the strikes on his back thigh and through his back and also slightly cutting the arm. The back and arm damage was very shallow, but the cut on Amar's left thigh was almost bone-deep, convincingly removing his movement capacity. But Astrid was still in the air, so she used the last bit of speed she carried to kick the Macon from behind as she struck the ground with her pole arm, the drier ground stopping the blade pretty quickly, Astrid landing after a rather unconventional way of braking.*

*The injured Amar, who had fallen face-first into the ground, would be welcomed by the tip of a blade once he turned his face, the wielder of the weapon could finally be identified now that there was no hood hiding the Remi's face. Astrid was trying to control her breathing, and had a few drops of sweat and rain on her face, her long alpine hair trying to hide inside her cloak, with some pointy ears and a few black and blue hair ornaments breaking the white hegemony. Her cloak had been stained by mud and some bloodstains, mainly from the sharp vines. Her right leg, partially obscured by the cloak, was covered in red from the arrow that was still drawing blood, but horrifyingly, she seemed unfazed by the impaled projectile.*

"... I Win..."

** **

*Between ragged breathings, the victor uttered just two words as her face finally changed to a very slight smile, her pulse had yet to steady, but she didn't look too tired. Beneath the cloak, she moved her hand in a certain way to disable all of her active magic. Her MANA reserves almost depleted from the three hostiles she fought; two of them were probably just skeletons now, and the other could be relieved the rotting would not continue to have its meal on his flesh.*


[User]
*"A pretty damned strong one, too. He's told me stories but thoe are best saved for another time. Right now I'm not thinking about him or his permission. Just you."*

Carlyn once more settled back into his arms and let out a small, tired sigh. It was of pure relief and bliss.

[Assistant]
"Just me?"

*Livia rubbed her back as she settled into his arms, letting her just rest on top of him.*

"Hey, uh, how far do you want to go? With the two of us?"

[User]
*"That's not a question for now, Livio. Do you really think I have the answer to something as broad as that?"*

Once more she turned and looked at him.

*"I've never fallen in love before. I've never been kissed. I didn't even know this was how today was going to turn out. It just happened this way. I don't know if I'm just starved of romance and affection so I'm clinging to the first thing in front of me, or if I genuinely love you. But I know one thing, and that I've made you a promise. We'll sail. As friends, as... As lovers, as enemies. We're gonna sail, and whatever happens along the way will be the answer."*

[Assistant]
"Hm. You're right. That was a dumb question."

*Livia laid back, looking up at the ceiling, then smiled, continuing to stroke her hair.*

"You'll find that it's a weird thing. Love, that is. Don't say enemies though, that just makes things awkward."

[User]
*"I say it because it's true. We don't know what the future holds. And really, our past holds no weight on our actions either. We just have to live in the now."* Carlyn said, trailed with a gentle hum.

*"Laughing, crying, eating food. Adventuring, meeting new friends, and reinforcing old ones. Every day brings new opportunities. It's why people keep moving on. It's why I left my home in the first place. I wanted to take control of my own fate... Or, I guess it was already fated to be. But I think that's where I fit the best in life. Living day by day, with plans for a short future but never coming to any real conclusions. Whatever happens happens. Wherever we end up, on whatever side, I just hope I get to spend [Tomorrow with You.](<

[Assistant]
"Have a little hope! Though, that being said, I definitely didn't think I would end up here."

*He hadn't expected to live life as a mercenary when he was first drafted. He thought that the war would end soon, and he'd return home to his hometown in Upper Media. It had been 6 years since he first thought that. Livia continued to listen to Carly's mini speech, thinking about what would happen in the future. That was the spirit. Whatever happens.*

"Sounds like you're madly in love, judging from that."

[User] *"Oh hush. We'll see how it goes, but for now, we'll run with that. I'm enjoying being with you now, and I don't see why I wouldn't be tomorrow or... A week or six months or even years from now."*

[Assistant]
*Had any of his past relationships ever lasted more than a year? Well, with Carly moving along with him, it may actually be the first case.*

"I'm looking forward to it. Let's stick with tomorrow first though. What should we do?"


[User]
What a terrible day for a performance, Vithay was through with the stunt his brother pulled today. Done with it and didn't want to hear another word breath from his brothers lips about the matter. If only he could have some space, a little time apart that's all! Yet he found himself as he ever was permanently affixed to his brothers hip slinking through the rain with his hand over his head. Till he felt a rough jab from his sibling cram into his mesh covered rib cage. To say the least they were both drastically unprepared for what the weather had in store for them.

Vithays expression drastically contrasted the right twins cocky smirk. "*Hey* Mister sunshine, how's the weather over there huh? Still raining on that parade trying to draag me down?" Vishal playfully threw himself against his brother, pretending that he was weighed down by his twins mood. Vithay let out a huff as his eyes did a summersault, doing his best to ignore his brothers antics. He forced their shared tail to tread forward sluggishly pulling themselves past the local tavern. Vithay was struggling to keep his attention away from his brother who had thrown himself onto his shoulders.

[Assistant]
*The Elf would make his way up to the door of the tavern, just about moving his hand to open it up only to hear the sound of chatter coming by with the noise created from Vishal. He'd look over, eyeing the pair of twins slithering by with a quizzical expression. What on earth? It was needless to say it was the first time the Elf had seen a Nāga in person, let alone a pair that shared the same tail. That was enough to drive his curiosity, leaving him to forget about rain that occasionally tried to remind him of its presence.

 From what he could hear of the one-sided conversation, it was clear one seemed to be bothering the other. That much information easy to perceive with Vitals more annoyed expression. Sibling quarrels. One thing most can relate to, though being stuck with the other might have added a new layer to that. With them slithering on by, the Elf would speak up against the impending wind.*"Planning on fighting against the rain all night?"*He'd say to the pair.*"Or each other rather."


[User]
She turns left and begins walking along the wall. It doesn't take her more then six feet to come upon what looks to be a large shelf. This time it's stacked with large crates, seemingly full of a variety of different materials. One has mason jars full of this cyan goo which glows when the light from the arrow brushes past it. This glowing helps better illuminate the area - for the most part the shelves are just stacked with metal, which is strange since there doesn't seem to be a black smithery down here... Regardless nothing else is revealed from exploring the shelves besides what were likely top of the line alchemical ingredients back in the day - many of which seem to have degraded into uselessness.

Walking further along the wall she loops back to the entrance area and begins to walk down the right half of the wall. This part of the wall is mostly barren save for what seems to be the only wooden door in the entire building. The door has a handle, which appears to have a key in it. The wood work is still in good condition, but she could probably break through it if she really put her mind to it. Likewise it's plausible the key she still has may work on this lock too, if it is indeed locked.

[Assistant]
*Upon seeing the jar with a cyan glow to it, she would decide to wait for her arrow to go out and put it away. June would stand up on her tip toes in an attempt to reach the jar and take it with her before continuing down with a new source of light.

Moving on, she would come to notice the door and with a flare of excitement she'd head over towards it. The Cantor would try the handle first to see if it would open. If not, she would at least give the key a try first, turning it in the lock before trying to think of another solution. Her Jackal would come up beside her, soon sitting down at her feet in waiting.*

[User] She manages to easily reach the jars grabbing one of them. It radiates warmth, pleasant warmth - not unlike a hearth with some roaring logs. The glow it produces casts a much larger area of effect then the makeshift arrow torch she was using prior. Turning the handle reveals that the door is indeed unlocked. Within is a smallish room. The room is occupied mostly with a strange device - a large bronze sphere connected through the center with a metal rod. At the top of the rod are two pipes sticking out the sides with the exhausts facing opposite sides. Beneath the sphere is what looks to be a fire pit. Next to the device is a rather large coal box full of black coals, on the wall next to the door is some kind of strange device with several switches and a large red button. Text beneath the button reads "Start/stop", and underneath the two largest switches is "Light" And "Entrance."

[Assistant] *June would hug the jar close to her, taking in the warmth it gave off while she progressed onward. Upon opening the door, June would slowly peek inside before fully walking in and exploring the room for any potential ways she could find to get out. Her gaze would turn to the wall with the strange device on it as she would find herself half-consciously reading what the text said.*"Start... Stop... Light... Entrance... Hm..."*June would reach forwards to grab the lever labeled 'light', deciding to pull down on it and see what it would do.*


[User]
*The Elf would briefly scan the contents of the Tavern, watching the other people as they'd occasionally glance over to the odd group while the twins decided that now would be the best time to tell their life's story. Not what the Elf had in mind, but it seemed like nothing was going to stop the pair from giving him anything other than a simple straight answer.*"Right... Vishal and Vithay."*He'd say, not really gesturing to either one to suggest he was able to tell them apart. The Elf could see himself forgetting who was who eventually, but asking them again was just going to lead him down another speech amongst the animated group. With his hair wrung out as much as it could be, he'd sit up more and would relax an arm over top the seat he rested in while he gazed at the pair.*

"You know you two remind me of someone. He over-exaggerates things too...*And talks just as much*..."*He'd say the last part more under his breath in recalling his Macen ally who talked too much for his own good. It left moments of the Elf not listening to him at times with his short attention span causing him to focus on something more of interest, but the squire was still an alright person to hang out with despite it. Not that the Elf could talk. Even he would act a little over the top in pretending to be something he wasn't mostly out of the joke of it. It probably wasn't the best comparison, but a comparison nonetheless. It was like him, but doubled. This was bound to be a long night.

He'd glance over at Vithay in being asked about the mask. It was a question he was asked often, though never one he gave the real answer towards.*"It's a look."*He'd say simply, erasing all ability to turn it into a long story with the Elf not being the best at telling them. People were bound to assume their own beliefs of the reason behind it, making it all the more fun for him to shut down the idea with a much simpler response.*

[Assistant]
Who in their right mind would just dump their life story on a stranger? That was never their intention, in fact that was the last thing either of them would ever want to do. Instead, it was a poor attempt at trying to tease Terrell and his erstwhile comment about their names leading to a tangent. Even if it was a joke it seemed to divulge into a tangent regardless.

Seeing the difference between the two was easier than Terrell made it out to be. Vital the one who 'ruined' the story wore a short-sleeved crop top with fishnet in its center and kept his hair in a tidy ponytail. On the other hand Vishal the one next to him wore an open decorative jacket with nothing underneath, his hair was loose free from any restraint. A few details were similar, both had their long sideburns bound, and they wore a cloth necklace with a silver clasp in its center.

Vishal started to drag himself up from the table, a look of bemusement across his features. Finding something Terrell said amusing. "Wow, really? Forget my brother needing to loosen up, did you really take that whole act seriously?" A confident smile broke against his features thinking he did a great job if it did. "Man I must have nailed it!" Neglecting to give any credit to his brother for helping. Vital seemed accustomed to his right halves behavior, accepting he wouldn't get credit in the little stunt. "Thank goodness we're not throwing on a show right now, your ego would sooner burst... Then finish the script." Vital playfully jested, garnering an elbow jab from his brother.

"Oh..." Vitals' shoulders slumped, but he pressed a little still holding out hope there was more to the story. "I don't mean to pry, but I can't help imagine what it could be... More than just a look." Vital begun to chew over what it could be, as his brother kept wringing out his long sideburns. Vishal left Vital to work this one out on his own. "Oh, oh I know... Maybe it was an uh... Parting

Gift?" Neither of them seemed to mind the patrons passing looks; it must be something they had grown used to. So long as nobody stared to long it wouldn't be a problem.


[User]
*In the days after Galschens death and the defenders of Aberardtir being forced to sit through agonising peace talks, the war in Mentia seemed to be calming down, for once. Sivne sat in a tavern to the south of the city. The guards weren't doing anything about her for some reason or another.

The 7'8ft tall beast of war was sat at the bar, beer in one hand and the other flicking through a book.*

[Assistant]
*Livia had heard about a certain rumor. Apparently, Aachen was cut down by the rebel beast kin Sold had sent out. Of course, such a weak cover up was easily seen through given the right context. Allay just happened to take over the siege, and Aachen just happened to die. Very convenient indeed.*

*He walked into the bar with his classic white cloak, and he found what he was looking for; the 7'8 prayer, a wall of muscle and steel, one that was a force of nature on her own, Sine. He made a beeline towards her, and she would be aware that he had something to say. As for what, it was difficult to make out.*

"Interesting seeing you here."

[User]
*The giant heard footsteps behind her and seemed to recognise it as someone moving with intent. She glanced over her shoulder and spotted Livio, downing some of her beer before turning more to actually look at him.*
"Mmmhmm. War in the north is over, so i've heard. Wonder how that happened."

[Assistant]
*Livia ordered a beer from a nearby waitress, then sat down opposite to her.*

"Basically. This whole thing hinges on Krista Sold surrendering or dying. Speaking of such, seems like you've gone in a different direction, huh? Is Son still with you?""

[User] "Aulay paid better, gave Sonja an offer she couldn't refuse. Mmh, she's not far away. So.. Had fun working for that old man while he was still alive?" *She said, sipping her beer.*

[Assistant]
"Eh, I never met him. Worked under Richter, if you've heard of him. I figured you were working with Allay once he contacted us though. Once he mentioned emancipating slaves, I had a feeling Sonja was on board."

*Livia took a sip of his beer, his expression warming up.*

"So, how was he? The old man?"

[User]
*She shrugged her shoulders.*
"Mmh.. Old, wounds hadn't healed properly.. Tough though, nearly killed Kibaru and Ildi. Still brought him down and finished the job." *She said grimly, definitely having landed the killing blow.*

[Assistant] "Ooh, Aldi went down? She's a pretty tough one too. Who's Subaru? Haven't heard his name before. Well, if anything the bear must be relieved. What are you going to do now that this war's coming to an end?"

[User] "We'll go south, see this war through to the end and then.. Mmh, back to Iskar. I'll stay for a while back home, me and Shaw are finally going to get married. Then i'm taking a trip somewhere far away.. Mmh. Thinking Runra. And you?"

[Assistant]
"Best of luck with Mr. Mouse then! Maybe I'll head out south as well... Or not. I haven't decided yet."

*Livia took another sip of his beer.*

"There's someone I haven't seen in years."


[User]
"Mmh.. Figured i'd see this war through to the end. It's where I've made most of my coin." *She continued sipping her beer.*

"So what did Aulay offer you?"

[Assistant]
"Figures. Can't imagine you doing anything else."

*The mercenary leaned back as the Prayer asked him about Allay.*

"He wanted me to stop an envoy from the capital. I'm not interested in a change of heads though. As long as Upper Media is stable, I'm fine."

[User]
"Mm. I meant how much did he offer you, payment." *She asked, finishing her beer.*
"He didnt just give us gold, offered up land too."

[Assistant] "Well, he didn't say. He did offer up land. Honestly though, it seems like such a hassle to maintain. I like moving around myself. He didn't specify an amount for that, but I guess I ended up working for him anyway? Just protecting some cannons from rebels, made 10k. I imagine you made a hefty sum from offing the old man though."

[User] "Mmh.. He gave you land and you turned it down? Bit stupid to turn that down, could've hired some steward.. Mmh, he did. Sonja's got her own parcel of land out of it."

[Assistant] "Eh, in hindsight, maybe a bit. I didn't think he would actually pull it off. Plus, I'm not good with that kind of stuff, you know? I tend to blow it all on other stuff."


[User]
"Pshh this story is old news..." Vishal leaned forward against the table staring at Terrel intently. Vishals' brother anxiously rapped the table with his fingers, looking away from them. "Brother must you? Can we just... Forget about it. Ahem, much like I don't know, how a certain someone got out of hand today?" He reminded his brother of his incident today, the one he had let slip under the radar for a while now. Vishals' lids closed. "Hey brother c'mon stop being such a wimp would ya? This is something you shouldn't be afraid to scream loud and proud... Aint like its some embarrassing secret." Vishal casually disclosed with his brother.

Vithay bit his lip hard glancing toward his brotherl. "Not embarrassing to you at least! I just... I can't believe I was so naive not to think you two were up to something." Vishal snickered, as his eyes met Terrel. "Aint easy keeping secrets with well, being stuck together... But I managed with a little help. Lets just say the performance I pulled off was right under his nose." Vithay knew what was coming next his posture tightened, anticipating the inevitable to come crawling from Vishals' lips.

"Like you two were gushing over, what I pulled was an unexpected bit of flair or well performance." He leaned closer to Terrel, as he threw his hands outward trying to exaggerate how grand it was. "What I did today, was small talk compared to that act... It was unlike anything we've ever done." He paused.

"Threw on an act where we'd be ambushed start some commotion. Took a little convincing for the crowd this wasn't just an act. Helped that my brother hadn't put together what I had been planning with our aunt." Vishal paused placing an arm around his brothers back. "Things got a little messy toward the end though, bet you can't figure out why."

Vishal figured if Terrel had experience as he claimed, the man would be able to guess just what went wrong. Leaving his poor brother in suspense, Vithay would have to wait to see how things would pan out.

 Terrels' brief revelation that he hadn't lived here long left both of them with some degree of surprise. Their attention would be fixed on Terrel, all the while Vithay tried to get another drop from his glass not wasting even the slightest bit. Their fellow entertainer kept the details sparse, leaving much to the imagination of where he reaped said rewards. Leaving the twins to believe his means of income were from the acts he would put on for people to enjoy.

"Ought to be something *Much* More thrilling out there than this dump." Vishal stated plainly. "Blows my mind anyone would want to come here... More than they have to. But... Like you said well sort of like you said, place could use an entertainer to brighten things up a bit." Vishal winked. "Getting coins just a nice bonus at the end of the day."

"No, no I think its not all about coin. Its that wonderful feeling you get when you brighten their day. It warms my heart, why nearly makes me burst seeing what cheer we can bring." Vithay enforced the idea it was much more about bringing cheer rather than coin. Vishal snorted at his brothers corny speech. "Why it nearly makes my heart burst." Mocked the right twin, before shaking his brother playfully. "C'mon you just love the attention, I'm honest with myself and hell yes I bask in it." Vithay gave his brother a disgusted look.

[Assistant]
"I'm willing to agree with that bet."*He'd say.*"Considering the information I have to work with is you did some stunt of pretending to be ambushed that nearly got your brother killed, involved your aunt, and ended up getting messy towards the end."*He'd say, summarizing the main points of their conversation. Terrell wondered if he'd argue with his brother this much over a story that was never told in full. He supposed he'd never know. It seemed they were playing more of a teased guessing game than giving a full explanation.

Though it wouldn't give him as much credibility in being a performer, he wasn't going to try so hard in passing something off that they'd end up figuring out later. Besides with the impending night, the Elf grew tired of the repeated jabs between the two to attempt to understand their squabbles and give evidence of him being the same as them.*

"I think the coin is a giant plus."*He'd say more casually.*"But I suppose the thrill and entertainment is fine too."*He'd wave off the idea of seeing smiling faces. Most faces like such were hiding ill intent, something the Elf was uncannily good at seeing through. Plus, it wasn't the job for him, he had taken the warrior route, and thus small jokes and gigs were only ever for his self entertainment anyway. Fighting was more of his thing, but he doubts these twins carried much experience in either.

The Elf would let out a quiet yawn, looking to Vital.*"Hey don't worry about it too much. You can always get your brother back when he least expects it."*Terrell would say, a light smirk forming across his face in helping to create the sibling war. It probably wouldn't end too well considering they were stuck together though the Elf doubted he'd see them again after this encounter.*

[User]
Vishal turned to stare at his other half, Vithay hesitated a moment before meeting his brother's gaze. It was a brief silent conversation betwixt the brothers, Vithay tightened his shoulders letting his gaze slip aside. Knowing in both of their minds their erstwhile bickering somehow twisted Terrel severely off course. Even though they mentioned this incident they were discussing was 'old news'. Without a word it was settled between them what Vishal would answer.

"Ding, ding that's the answer someone shower him with a prize..." Vishal lied through his teeth for Vithays' sake, even if he felt it was something Vithay should feel proud of his erstwhile actions. Vishal slipped a smirk against his features, he still wished to speak the truth. "Funny, y'know I swear I never said it had anything to do with... My brother nearly losing his head today. Er well, that's a little bit of an exaggeration." Vishal smiled wide as he pulled his brother in close, enough to make his left twin grunt with surprise. "Not so tight, or it'll pop right off!" Vithay let out a short giggle bounce from his throat. Vishals' smile widened messing his brothers hair up with his free hand. "See he's a bit dramatic, just a little squeeze and in a snap he's already afraid of losing his head!"

Vishal teased his other half as Vithay struggled to free himself, till he slipped out of his brothers grasp. Still bearing a smile on his features enjoying Vishals' antics. Left with his hair in disarray from his brothers' attack, he tried to recompose himself as Terrel kept their conversation alive.

"Gotta side with my brother on that one, the thrills great... Still I can't help but wonder what sort of thrills an adventurer finds out in the world." Vishal admitted. "Speaking of thrills you better Vithay, listen to that man. Scare the scales right off me!" Bellowed the right twin looking at Vithay, his confidence showed he wasn't afraid of a little healthy competition. If anything it'd be nice change of

Pace. Vithays' eyebrow crooked. "My, my you really are a gluten for punishment Vishal." Vithay sparked a smile to his lips, staring at his brother eye to eye as he said. "You're on brother. One day, maybe today... Maybe the next sun it might just come." That was just what Vishal wanted to hear.

[Assistant]
*Terrell would shrug off the idea of him even coming close to guessing what they were talking about. If he was that good he might as well go into the entertainment business. Instead, he decided to focus more on what they said last, some words actually crossing his mind in pertaining to him.*"I can make a few guesses."*He'd say towards the wonder of adventure.*"I plan on traveling over towards the Beast kin lands soon enough. Supposedly out of character knowing their history with Sinai, but honestly I find Bearskins a lot more reasonable at times."

*The much was true at least. Although there were times when he'd see them for their stereotype, he couldn't help but admit that they were a lot more bearable.*"Who knows what I'd find to do there? Probably a good enough way away from this nation at war anyway."

*He'd grab his glass, soon sipping the rest of the cider that filled it before setting it down and considering that much enough for the night.*"Got a lot of traveling to do come next day anyhow, taking it on the road and all."*He'd continue, moving the glass away before placing down some money on the table for the drinks.*"Probably should get some rest for the night before leaving soon. But if your stunts are as big as you claim they are, I doubt this'll be the last we meet."*That much was a lie, people came and often went for the Elf to which there were many talented people he hadn't seen again for a while. Only fate could tell at that point and Terrell hardly believed in such.*


[User]
She walks past the doorway out into the workshop itself. Now fully illuminated she can see the full picture in better light. The desk/workshop is on the wall right of her, the large metal door is to the left, and the table is in the center. Despite the lights the glow of the jaw can still be seen - and on the far wall is the large rack of objects. The first rack seems to be dedicated to raw metal materials - bronze, brass, copper, tin, even some silver and gold can now be seen. All of it contained within dedicated metal crates with checkered openings on all four sides. The second shelf above that one, seems to have all the alchemical ingredients - much of which seems to have rotted away into dust. There's the glowing jars of course, which glow has been significantly diminished due to the light, alongside some interesting pear shaped potion bottles with each one containing uniformly colored liquids. Reds, blues, yellows, etc. On the top most shelf there seems to be... Skeleton parts. Bones, not made of metal - bleached white...

It would seem as if this would be a good time to grab whatever else she wants before she leaves. Afterall, who knows if she'll get another option to do something like this again?

[Assistant] *June blinked against the bright lighting of the newly seen room, coming to have to adjust to it as she brought herself out to see all that it contained. Of course there were the jars from before along with the tools she had originally found on the table, though most of her attention was on the door for the time being. At the very least she could see things now which helped to relieve her slightly as she gazed around the room, though part of her still worried about being thrown back into darkness once more. The Cantor would walk along the table as she headed toward the door, noticing other objects on the table that she hadn't originally noticed.*"Should we..."*She began, only to realize she was talking to a Jackal of all things who probably hadn't realized what's been going on since they got here. With the jar already in hand, June decides to give into a small bit of temptation as she would find herself reaching over to grab the silver and gold materials before eventually looking at the jaw from earlier. Part of her wondered if it held any particular significance with the rest of the stuff that covered the table. Nevertheless, she would pick up the jaw anyway before being on her way. Her arms were full enough as it was though at least her pack could be of use despite the egg she had already kept nestled in there. The Cantor would gradually head towards the stairs in hopes that maybe the room above would now work the way it had originally.*


[User]
"Tch. I suppose that gets you to where I am now."

"I'm with Ryker, who you know. Hara, an okamimi from Runra, Grey, a canifor, and Astarte, a Naga. I suspect that this group won't last long though. They're not very invested. Hey, is a spot in your group still open? Now that Sola is no longer fighting and all. Whatever happened to working with him anyway?"

[Assistant] ". Mmh? I said he was a sinking ship and we should leave. Why, want to come back to us?" *She asked with a smirk, taking her new beer and having a sip.* "I suppose you could run with us again."

[User]
"Heh, nice. Something was off about him. Hm, maybe? You saw for yourself, I'm willing to switch employers for my own interests."

*Livio finished his first beer and moved on to another.*

"What's on the table?"

[Assistant] "He was a rival, that was enough for me. MMH. He was too ambitious." *She shrugged a little.* "Going south. Working for Allay now, at least Sonja is. Going to go liberate a little village from the Simians, Teichmueller."

[User]
"Hm, the Siuians. Not familiar with them. Oh well. You guys wouldn't mind if I joined you, right? Another archer won't hurt. Though, I may try that arquebus once again."

*Hold on, she said rival. Could she really rival Sola in terms of political prowess?*

[Assistant] "Sure, by all means, bring a gun... MMH, say, I first met you in Teichmueller too, if you recall." *She smirked a bit.* "But come along, we're heading there soon."


[User] "Mmmh. Been a merc for long?" *She took another swig of beer when it was brought over, leaning back in her chair with an audible creak.*

[Assistant] "Not as long as you, obviously. For most of it though, I heal people." Aldi slouched, drinking away as she got comfortable in her chair, but seemingly not so much as Sine.

[User] "Mm. So, you use that little flame spitter of yours in a fight, should get other weapons too." *She commented on what she saw earlier.*

[Assistant] "I see. A sword, then? Though, that's pretty close to the enemy, and I'm sure there's more skilled persons out there, even if I already know the bare minimum."


[User] "Mmh. We're not too different really, we're just bigger, have fur and horns." *She didn't seem to mind being inspected, there was a clear difference in how she was acting before and after their armwrestle.*

[Assistant] "Well... My canines are a little more developed and my claws tend to be a little tougher than the average Macon. But other than that, my tails and ears are the biggest difference. Having ears on the side really feels super weird. And don't get me started on not having tails. I feel so much lighter, but I feel awkward and often move as if they are still there"

[User] "...Mmh. I don't know all that much about you people. Killed one not long ago, didn't inspect him after the fact." *She shrugged a little.* "Wish my horns didn't irritate me." *She said as she leaned back in her seat.*

[Assistant] "Do you not have the ability to transform into a more Manlike form?" *Subaru asked tilting his head a bit as he stared at her horns* "Do you trim them?"

[User] "Trim? No, it's bone." *She looked a bit confused, itching the base of her left horn.* "We don't transform, mmh. Not like you do at least. We can turn more macenlike though."

[Assistant] "Try that maybe. But it's not unhealthy to file them down or polish them every now and again. It's done to bulls many times. Some actually require that very much as letting it grow and often cause complications. But maybe you're not the same. But I do bet giving it a try might just end up helping you"

[User] *She grunted and shook her head.* "No, no. I'm special anyway, my horns have been growing slowly and never stopped." *They were about the height that a royal crown would sit on someone's head, more like deers antlers on its side.*

[Assistant] "So you have trimmed them before?" *Subaru asked with a questioned look on his face.* "Maybe there' a magic to help out with your little problem"


[User] *The man sighs and picks up the reigns. Unlike Circine, he seems to have **Zero** Issues with leaving the woman.* "You do as you will then. I'm heading back home, and if you wish to come along with or without the woman, that is within your rights. As for myself, I don't wish to lose daylight nor want her in my cart." *A pause, then nod.* "Good day if you accompany her." *And he gets his cart moving along the road, unconcerned with the woman's warnings of bandits. He was aware enough from passing through time after time.*

[Assistant]
*The centaur paused a moment, weighing up his options. Either he accompanied the trader, a competent but still vulnerable traveler, heading for the same destination, or a woman that had led a bandit party into their midst to use them as walls, of whomst he knew not her destination. With another rearing up of his front legs, he had made his decision swiftly.*
"Right then, I shall accompany you, Victor. Good day, madam. If you wish to follow, I have no qualms - but I will not stay any longer, wasting the day."

[User] *Bag settled against his hip rather than inside the cart, lest the female decide to get into the cart. And maybe take his bag. Looking at the centaur he nods as he decides to accompany him.* "I'll be heading to East Mentia, assuming there's enough time to get there. I didn't expect to be making a house call today." *A slight frown.* "Or dealing with bandits to be perfectly honest."

[Assistant]
"That would make two of us, sir... Lead the way."
*Cir cine replied with a wave of his hand, regarding Calico once more as he waited for a response - but expected the woman to simply slip away.*

[User]
The man didn't hesitate as the cart rolled onward. He did however mutter, "I will throw her, bodily, into a creek if she climbs into my cart. ...Or let her catch a pox given that's just as likely."

And, honestly? It was. He'd carried bodies in the cart before and while he did clean it, it did not stop him from ill wishes. "..You're in East Mentia? Not seen you before, though I keep to my clinic."

[Assistant]
*He chuckled gently at his remarks, shaking his head as he kept up with the cart.*
"I suppose we'll see how this turns out, hm?- Ah, I'm not from the region. I hail from the Khanate, one of the steppe tribes. I'm just exploring right now."

[User]
"Khanate. Not been there." *He says softly, musing.* "Mostly Mentia, for a time Salvainia, but I like where I am now more. There's a lot less competition here compared to the busy city."
*He paused, thinking,* "Though I did do most of my learning in the city."

[Assistant]
"Ah, an educated man? Studied in an academy, then?"
*The centaur's ears perked up at the mention of formal education - the most he had experienced of such learning was from dusty old books from travelling merchants.*


[User]
*Restaurants were a place of all kinds of people to hang out. Eat food, drink beverages, maybe even flirt with the waiters or waitresses; everyone had a good time at these kind of places. Some people, however, were more dangerous than others.*

*Sarah Korva, a bandit leader of the Black Sky. While not so high ranking that people knew her name, her darkened armor, black cape, and eyepatch surely gave her a menacing look. Her relatively friendly demeanor though helped lighten things up. The woman at a single table, a large metal disc of a hat lay on the chair leg. On the table, a dish of Kotlet Schabowy, a crispy pork fried cutlet with buttery mashed potatoes and crunchy sauerkraut. Next to it was a large slice of creamy cheesecake, and for the beverage, a glass of vodka. Delicious.*

*In the restaurant, people can be silently whispering about the woman, making comments about her dark clothing and ominous presence. She would confront them after her meal, though her eye is constantly darting back and forth, being wary.*

[Assistant]
*Out and beyond from the door comes Matt held bursting through the front door, his armor somewhat bloodied from a previous scuttle. Not just his own demeanor matched that of the Blackened-Armored Warrior, but his armor, made of Chain and the like, shows a fierce foe for any man. Although not showing himself above anyone within his vicinity, he is very calm, amicable, and, surprisingly, extremely transparent: his words are the truth, and his body language conveys that of an honorable fighter.

Upon noticing the chit-chatter and whispering amongst the crowd in the restaurant, he sees a woman dressed on black armor. He sees a woman of valor, but not just of any valor, but of evil valor. A waiter attempts to get Matt held a table, but he declines in the most noble manner he could as he walks towards the woman, ensuring his armor keeps him well-suited for anything and all that may come his way.

As he arrives upon her table, he slams the table with his left hand with enough force to startle her, and he takes a breath of fresh air.*

"Who might you be, madam? Causing such an uproar within this establishment is quite the scene, isn't it? By all means I mean no harm, no fowl, but I will say this: if you ever, and I mean ***Ever***, kill an innocent person or get in the way of my coin, your head will be mine."

*He grabs a bag from his pocket, and plops it on the table. He opens the seal of the bag, a small, thin rope as he drops the compartments.*

[User]
*As Mattheld slams his hand on the table, Sarah is mid-bite of her food. Being startled, the woman accidentally shoved the piece of pork into her throat, almost choking on it before swallowing it whole. Quickly, she scans to make sure her food hasn't flown off the table, especially her cheesecake.*

*Looking up, the warrior can see an almost wolfish expression. Intelligent and cunning, yet capable of extreme violence. But it wouldn't be smart to fight. She liked this restaurant; it was one of the few who had her hometown comfort foods, and she didn't want to be banned from it.*

"And who are you? Be lucky you didn't spill my vodka, or ruin my cheesecake. Can't waste food, you know?"

*"If you ever, and I mean ever, kill an innocent person..."*

*Uh oh. So he was one of those guys. She most definitely had killed innocents in the past. Some of her successful raids needed to call for violence; some with sling bullets, some with lances, though she tried to recruit instead of murder.*

"Bold of you to assume you can kill me. I'm Sarah. Nice to meet you."

*Her fork and knife is set on the table as she extends her right hand, though her eye quickly darts to look at the rope before looking back at the man's standing in front of her.*

[Assistant]
*The Mercenary extends his arm in accordance with hers, giving it a firm shake and grip. Matt held then grabs the bag and puts it back in his pocket: the items that were once in the bag were small trinkets of lesser quality, not necessarily heirlooms, but of decent worth. He takes his hand away and sits across from her, waiting on a waiter to address him.*

"Well, I am well-known for my fighting technique. It is more traditional than most, but it is still effective. I am a Mercenary hailing from Kapok: my father was once one as well, Harold was his name, but I doubt you've heard of him ever since long ago. His grandfather was most notable for his presence at Floor Gulf and countless other battles. What might be your backstory be, Sarah?"

[User]
*Well this was annoying at the least, and terrible at most. If she were arrested, she would surely be hanged. Or worse, impaled and burned. Internally, she shuddered at the thought.*

*Her mind focused on every little thing he did. His hand grip was pretty strong, but she knew hers was stronger. Good. Unfortunately, she wouldn't be faster; unlike those warriors in heavy armor, his seemed to be much lighter. Hopefully his bark would be worse than his bite.*

*Phew, a merc. Not a soldier. The name Harold flew into one ear and out the other as Sarah continued to eat her food, looking directly at Mattheld the entire time. Though she wondered what a 'traditional' fighting style was like.*

*Shit. Backstory.*

"Well, it may not appear it, but I actually used to be a seamstress. I'm experimenting with different colors and outfits at the moment. Suits pretty well for a vagabond, eh?"

"But regardless, I'm also a mercenary for hire. A bit more obscure though."

*The bandit was visibly hesitant to share details. After all, it wasn't everyday that someone interrupted lunch and suddenly started talking about backstory.*

[Assistant]
*Matt held became more and more cautious towards her as he sought out the truth from her. Deep down, he had a gut feeling that something, just something, might be off about her. But that wasn't the matter at this moment as he wanted to dance his blade alongside someone rather than being the lone wolf he truly is in an attempt to create a bond with someone just like his and his father's, of which he is still devastated from losing his father a year ago, the reason for his sudden departure.

He takes a look at the trinkets that are on the table, and offers her a deal.*

"Listen, I don't know if that is true, nor do I have a way of ensuring that it is, but I have these trinkets for you. Take 'em, and I will say this... I lost a great friend a year ago, one that I danced my blade around with, so I was wondering if I could get a new start."


[User]
"So... What do you plan on doing now?"

*It was just Sonja and Livio in the house now, with the former taking off her armor. Livio didn't exactly want to get his supplies at the moment; they were a decent bit away. Just like last time; except this time on much more friendly terms, and in a warm house.*

[Assistant]
*Sonja managed to finished getting her Kayak armor off, making sure to set it neatly to one side somewhere safe. Then she heard the question from Livia. She paused a moment, turned her brown eyes towards him, then tilted her head to the side slightly. Sonja was rather surprised he had stuck around, as opposed to heading off to shop with the others. One of her fuzzy bear ears twitched idly as she spoke up.*

"Well... I was going to forage for materials to make new crossbow bolts... It's cheaper than buying new ones." *The Crinoid explained slowly in her usual low tone. It might have seemed odd to try and save on something so cheap after such a profitable expedition, but Sonja didn't feel the need to defend her stance. At the end of the day, it was satisfying to be able to rely on your own craftsmanship.*

*There were a few moments of silence before Sonja ventured to say anything else.* "... Market shopping not to your liking?"

[User]
*Armor. Not something he enjoyed wearing during the war, and especially during "Hunting" Missions. The metal got in the way, restricting his movement. Though he supposed it was crucial for someone not relying on pure stealth; he couldn't imagine such a large person like Sonja being able to be stealthy. As she tilted her head and one of her ears twitched, Livio really did see a bear, perhaps one that had just finished hunting.*

"Using stone tips for bolts? I know wood, string and feathers can be easily found in the woods, but the metal heads are best, especially against armor."

*Livio preferred buying his bolts, as he was used to standard grade. What he also did however was summon them using magic. A few tricks from an Artificer was all he needed to have a near unlimited supply of ammo with only a few seconds; he then didn't need to carry his supplies with him.*

"I tend not to. I make my own, but it's not like the typical version."

*Livio held out his hand, forming a regular arbalest in his grasp. With it came 50 large bolts, premade and ready to be used.*

"A little bit of magic goes a long way."

[Assistant]
Sonja paused at the observation, then nodded slowly. "Metal... Would be best." She concluded in agreement. "But recently we've been fighting spiders and other cave creatures..." The brawny Crinoid shrugged and glance back to her ablest, which was resting against the wall near her armor. "Armor is less of a concern. It seems wasteful to use the fancy metal ones on them." Back at her tribe, they had *Only* Used stone-tipped arrows. They didn't mine on their own and traders were hard to come by in the wilderness.

Hearing that Livia made arrows too, the Beast kin lady raised an eyebrow. "... You can make them too?" She questioned with a small but not undetectable dose of skepticism. It all seemed to make a little more sense as Livia mentioned the magic stuff. "Ahhh, I see..." Sonja chuckled softly to herself. "I suppose... That is markedly more convenient." It didn't beat the satisfaction of crafting something yourself from scratch, though. Or at least, so she imagined.

"So then... Ammunition is effectively limitless for you...?" *Sonja slowly concluded, eyeing the arrows that Livia had produced with caution.* "It doesn't tire out to make a bunch of arrows?" *The bit of magic she knew, conversing with animals, was rather taxing on her if used for extended periods. But perhaps that was a result of her lacking magical aptitude more than anything else.*


[User] *She nodded along as she made herself comfy, ordering another beer for herself after he was done.* "Mmh. I just read in my spare time, sometimes. I don't have much free time." *She shrugged a bit and paid for the beer when it arrived, taking a sip.*

[Assistant] "Oh, I have a friend that also like to read in his spare time. We even joked about making a library with the amount of books we've collected over the time. But I'm afraid I'm not one for reading unless it has to do with monster, magic or cooking" *Subaru said before digging in his bag and pulling out a book with a navy cover*


[User]
Urging the horse onward, Victor resisted the light smirk he felt as he continued onward.
"Well, this way then. And it's fine, I only need my work bag from the wagon before getting inside. It was just a decent place to sleep if I didn't manage to get home before dark."
They headed down the path to the clinic, a building which did indeed have large, sliding barn doors rather than the typical Macen swinging doors so differently sized and shaped patrons could make their way through. He let the steeds stop over a patch of dead grass, then released them as they vanished.
Climbing down, he sighs and walks to the front door to unlock and let the two of them inside. Above the door, several devilish faces are etched inside to leer down at them.

[Assistant]
*Cir cine marveled at the accommodations, noting how spacious the interior was. The good doctor had mentioned his clinic was accessible to all sorts, but to this extent...*
"By my father's hooves-What are these?"
*He flinched a little at the sight of the etchings, the flickering flames from the lights only making them that much more unnerving.*

[User]
Pulling the door open, he motioned Circine in first, then paused as he looked up. This time he did smirk.
"An old method of preventing unwanted entry. The locks are quite new, but before then I had to rely on these to warn off intruders. Granted, I've not had many try and get away with it."
He heads in, unbothered by the etchings which must by now just be commonplace. Inside it was simple, though large with a high ceiling and walls. The decor was... A bit odd however. It looked like anatomical models, and closer inspection would reveal them to be made of wax.

[Assistant]
"Peculiar indeed... But, if they work then I will not comment further."
*He replied, beaming contentedly as he nodded to Victor. The centaur was quickly drawn to the models, the dull sheen and sharp, fragrant smell signalling their composition.*
"So detailed... Did you make these yourself?"

[User]
Closing the door, Victor locks it securely behind him and slips the key into his pocket. Removing his coat, he sets it on a nearby hook and then pauses as the centaur examines one of the models.
"Yes. I enjoy being able to study in my free time, but keeping cadavers around for such a thing is off putting. So, I made my own models. If I ever have a student, it will make teaching them much easier as well."
The model stares at Circine with blank eyes, one half of it's face exposing muscle and veins beneath. Victor walks over, looking at it.
"Not that everyone is exactly the same underneath, but they're usually close enough to it."

[Assistant]
"We're all skin, bones and blood in the end."
*He commented softly, examining the model a moment longer, his eyes staring back into its blankly, before turning back to Victor.*
"I imagine you have many patients that come to see you?"

[User]
"Oh, skin, bones, ligaments. Most of us are the same, despite race. Only a few *Truly* Vary, the ah..." He pauses, removing a handkerchief and using it to remove a bit of accumulated dust on the shoulder of a model. "The Qua vary greatly, and Uzhi lack the same organs altogether but become very resilient for it. I've not had the opportunity to examine a Zareth yet, but someday I hope for the opportunity."
He puts the handkerchief away.
"As for patients, I tend to have all sorts, both living and dead. Having some knowledge of how the body works means I tend to work as a mortician as well when someone passes."

[Assistant]
*Cir cine listened with fascination as Victor described the various races' differences and similarities, his interest piqued at the prospect of a dual role.*
"You handle the dead as well? I can't imagine that's light on your heart..."


[User] "You are very welcome, fair lady. Thinking about it, we might actually open a library. Seeing as how many people I've met seems to enjoy them and all that. Would be a great edition to my village" *That last sentence sounded like he was talking to himself without even realizing he did so out loud*

[Assistant] "Doubt I'd go to a library to read, just do it in my spare time on the trail." *She shrugged and continued to down her beer, letting out a quiet yawn, grumbling something.* "MMH. I'll read this though."


[User]
With Livio on board, there was no going back now. She paused at the suggestion, then nodded. "...Yes, I suppose that would work nicely." Were was certainly more than one way to fasten an arrowhead to a bolt. But if Livio was most familiar with string, then it was string they would use. "What we can't forage, I'm sure we could purchase or barter for." It wasn't as if they were going to magically stumble across a string tree.

"Let's start with the easy things first." Sonja suggested, before heading out of the room, presumably with Livio in tow. The large Ursinoid lady made her way downstairs, out of the tavern, and outside. There she took a pause to make sure Livio made it out in one piece. "...Wood first." The Beastkin stated to her companion, before heading off down a road that led out of town. There was a grove to trees up ahead, within sight of the village.

"...Back in my tribe, we had craftsmen who helped carved things like arrow and spearheads. It certainly sped the process up. While they were carving the arrowheads, everyone else would gather up the other components. When everyone finally regrouped, there was enough supplies to sit down and make dozens of arrows at once." *She explained as they wandered along, the trees growing ever nearer.* "It was more efficient that way... But that doesn't mean we can't handle it all between the two of us."

[Assistant]
"Well, I've made some from wood fiber or vines before. Could use those."

*Livia straightened his cloak, following the large woman outside. The size difference was massive, Livia couldn't help but realize. The mercenary followed the towering Crinoid into the grove.*

"I see. So one of us gets wood, feathers and string and the other stone?"

*Livia knew how to get nearly all the materials; except for stones. What kinds of stone should he pick out? Feathers might also be difficult to find; unless he could find a flock of birds.*

[User]
Sonja nodded slowly at the suggestions, coming to a stop at the edge of the grove. Livio seemed to know how to collect the wood and even make some string from it, so she was content to leave these tasks to him. "Exactly. There are many things to collect, we need to be efficient." The large bear lady briefly explained in her usual down-to-business tone.

"I'll handle the stone... You get the string and wood." She paused a moment, then added, "We'll both keep an eye out for feathers." That would be dependent on snagging some birds, so mutual cooperation with that would be handy.

After a quick glance around, Sonja looked back down to Livio. "Meet back here after we gather enough for... Maybe 20 bolts?" It shouldn't be too hard to fine enough for that many and it would be enough to replenish her missing arrows while providing some spares for Livio too. If he dared to use them in real combat.

[Assistant]
"String and wood... Got it."

*Holding out his hand, Livia summoned an axe, similar to the one he wielded when they had first met. In the other was a series of darts, in case he saw any birds. 20 bolts. So about 15–20 feet of twine, and 20 decently thick branches. He could do that.*

"We'll be back here in no time."

*The mercenary soon wandered into the forest, and despite his white cloak, nearly disappeared into the treeline. Only the sound of wood being hacked into could be heard.*


[User]
*Mentia. A place of turmoil now that war had broken out. No one paid attention to others anymore; it was commonplace to see struggles, sickness, and death. Among those was a red-eyed treton, resting against an alley wall in the shade away from the cloudy sky. Dark, ragged clothing and her messy hair made her seem like nothing more than a homeless woman, perhaps someone who was struggling due to the war. She appeared to be resting, stagnant, like a piece of trash tossed out on the street.*

*In her mind though, was a storm of emotions taking over her. Guilt, hate, anger, mourning, melancholy, all creating a horrible mix in her head. She didn't know what or how to feel with her current situation. Everything had happened all at once, so quickly...*

*With certain footsteps though, she opened one eye slightly, keeping her senses aware to see around her.*

[Assistant]
*Media. Yes to others, a place of destruction and sadness. Where young men go to die in hopes of glory and wealth. Where the common wealth lay in gutters and among the trash, raided or taxed to hell.*

*A terrible place, if you weren't on the right side. The side Horace seemed to stand on. He'd already made his fair chair of profit at the cost of a grievous wound. His arm strung up in bandages, laid to rest against his chest. A coat hung over his shoulders to offer some comfort and protection. Though it was worth it, as along with this profit, the elf learned of some information as well. A familiar person was seen around the area, though information was scarce and potentially false. Even then, Horace made the trip.*

*Stumbling across the streets, and happening onto the Trenton as he had many times before. Although, this time it saddened him more than usual. He had left her with someone he thought trustworthy.*

*Looking upon the woman that seemed no different from the surrounding rubbish. The elf simply smiles, speaking in a lowered tone.*

"Hey Aka... Good to see you again."

[User]
*Seeing the familiar face and long, blond hair, both of Yakaiyo's eyes open, tired, with dark spots under her eyes. Somehow, he was here. Someone she could trust.*

"Horace. Nice seeing you here. What brings you to Mentia?"

*Tears began forming in the corners of her eyes as she sees her friend once again. As she fully awakened, she relaxed, letting herself lay back against the cobblestone wall. She had no will to stand. All she wanted to do... Well, she didn't know what she wanted anymore.*

"And what happened to your arm?"

[Assistant]
"Business mostly... And I heard you might be around, so I had to check."

*The elf steps over to the woman, clearing a spot beside her with his foot before gently lowering himself down. Grunting lightly as he settles up against the wall, looking back to the Trenton. He glances down to his affliction, nearly chuckling.*

"I uh... I got into a bit of a tussle with some boarder patrol. A centaur nearly carved my arm off, but the doc said I'd recover. I'm durable."

*He looks to the woman again, giving her a smile in hopes she wouldn't worry. Noticing the drops at the sides of her eyes, he reaches to his shirt's pocket. Rummaging around before finding a handkerchief, offering it to the woman.*
"Here."


[User]
*Of course, retreating out of sight was not what Livio did. In fact, it was against his own values to be able to scout out the enemy and not launch an attack on them. Well, he wouldn't attack Sonja. Just stick around a bit. He found her easily; it wasn't every day that a massive woman was washing in the river.*

*Livio cast the Shrubbery spell, hiding himself completely with nearby brush while still able to see the Ursinoid. He had noticed a large scar on the back of her left shoulder. A symbol of sorts. Was Sonja a former slave? Perhaps that was why she hated nobles so much, and it would explain her reluctance to bring up the past too much.*

*On another note, it had taken a decent bit to find the beastkin herself (walking back and setting up did not take long). It seemed that Sonja was taking her time washing up. To be fair, blood did take a while to wash out from clothing; but she should have finished washing herself up already. Livio decided to simply wait until the Ursinoid was finished.*

[Assistant]
If Sonja had noticed Livia, she didn't make it known. The large Crinoid continued about her business without a care in the world, seemingly oblivious to the presence of any onlookers. She made sure her hands were clean, then scooped some water up to wash off her face. A brief glance at her reflection in the water confirmed that a bit more work needed to be done. The Beast kin lady repeated the process a few times.

Once satisfied that all the blood had been washed from her body, Sonja waded out of the stream towards the rock where her clothes were drying. It would quickly become apparent to Livia that not only did the Crinoid have a pair of fuzzy bear ears, but a cute bear tail too, attached right where one would have expected. Usually her clothes covered it up, however there were no such restrictions at present.

The brawny Racemized Beast kin woman, still rather wet from river bathing, decided to lie down in a patch of warm sunlight grass next to the same rock her clothes were drying atop. For now, Sonja rested on her back, enjoying the sun. She closed her eyes and let the natural warmth do its work. Perhaps it was little surprise given her strength and size, but the bear lady had a rather toned chest and was fairly well-endowed.

[User]
*She sure was taking a long time. What happened to a quick wash? Heading back now would be a waste of time; he wouldn't know how much longer the beastkin would take.*

*As Sonja waded out of the river though, Livio came to a realization that for some reason he had not been thinking of before. When people bathed, they took off their clothes. All of them. The mercenary could see Sonja's bare form entirely; it's not like she was trying to hide anything. He also took note of her cute little tail, near the base of her spine. Of course, this was nothing compared to her __other__ features.*

*And now she decided to lie down in a patch of grass. Great. This was going to take forever. Should he just wait it out? If so, that would mean Sonja could get back before he did. Maybe he could leave, but that would mean that he would end up waiting for who knows how long.*

*It would be best to take a course of action. Livio could see when the clothes had dried (it had taken quite a while). With the bear unaware, Livio casually walked up to the Ursinoid and the stone, picked up the bundle of clothes, took off his cloak and draped it off Sonja, bent down and poked her in the face gently.*

"Hey. Time to wake up."

[Assistant]
Sonja hadn't intended to sleep or anything, just rest until her clothes were dry. But given that she did end up snoozing, it was no surprise that Livia noticed the clothes had dried first. Thankfully for his cloak, Sonja dried off just as fast. She promptly stirred at the poke.

"... Hnnng?" The Crinoid yawned and stretched. She had some pretty scary pointy bear-like teeth. Finally, her big brown eyes flickered open. Seeing Livia somewhere above her, she didn't seem particularly disturbed and motioned towards the empty rock. "... Clothes drying." An effort to explain her tardiness?

But as Sonja turned her gaze towards that point, she realized her clothes were gone. It wasn't immediately obvious that Livia had already collected them. "...?!" The bear lady blinked, then quickly sat up with a start. The cloak atop her was sent tumbling away, though Sonja managed to catch a corner before it could escape. The cloak was eventually pulled back into place once more, but not before a fair deal of wrestling with it. There was hardly a point to hiding now.

"... Well, this is inconvenient." Sonja huffed, more concerned about where her clothes had ended up rather than anyone seeing her without them. It wasn't as if she'd been afforded such levels of privacy as a slave. Nevertheless, she couldn't help the fact her cheeks were a tad bit rosy.

[User]
*The art of war. To hide one's own embarrassment, one should embarrass another. Or something like that. Though it wasn't exactly optimal, he would not be the one caught peeking; rather, Sonja would be the one being caught sleeping on the riverbank.*

*He noted that the bear's reactions were quite slow. Her yawn reminded him of an actual bear, despite her being in a much more macenized form. Obviously, Sonja was gesturing to where her clothes were, but Livio was holding them.*

"I have them here."

*Livio only looked in amusement as Sonja struggled to grab the cloak to cover herself. He held out the bundle of clothes to the Ursinoid, reaching for said cloak. It was obvious he could see her rosy cheeks; Sonja looked quite cute in this state, rather than just the terrifying hunter she typically was.*

"The weather's nice, but I didn't want to wait."

[Assistant]
"..." Sonja shot a glare towards Livia as he declared himself to be the thief! Well, not really. It was clear he had intended to be helpful, but that didn't spare him the glare. After all, that had given her somewhat of scare. Silently, Sonja traded the cloak to Livia in exchange for her ball of now dry and considerably less blood-soaked clothing. There was nothing to stop her from getting changed so they could head off.

"Fair enough." Was all she had to say in response to the explanation. It seemed reasonable enough.

"... I'll be along once I'm changed." Sonja added, before waving Livia away towards the trees. It seemed she did at least prefer some privacy while changing. Or rather, redressing.

[User]
*As Sonja gave him back his cloak (which has fortunately not been thrown into the river), Livio accidentally caught one more peek at the Ursinoid's body (emphasis on the accident) though it wasn't clear. A quick little headpat and a small ear ruffle, and Livio turns around, fixing his cloak back around his shoulders, and stepping off into the woods.*

"Meet you back at the inn then."

*Livio began jogging off, the white cloak billowing behind him like a fox's tail.*

[Assistant] The Crinoid didn't seem to notice the accidental glance, not that it would have particularly upset her. She silently reveled in the quick pat and ear ruffle. With a nod of acknowledgement, Sonja glanced back to watch as Livia disappeared into the woods. After giving him time for a head start, she began to redress. Her outfit wasn't particularly complicated, so soon this task was accomplished. Without further delay, Sonja began to retrace her steps back towards town. Unless Livia happened to intercept her en route, the Crinoid soon found herself before the inn at which they were staying. She promptly headed inside in search of Livia.


[User]
L-"If I changed halfway, would that make you gay?"

*Loki let out a chuckle before scratching his ears. Both Cuo and Garuda shook their heads.*

"I'd have killed for that back then. Though, I guess I have... But the good part is now everything taste's good!"

*Cuo nodded, excited at the prospect of good food.*

"Yes please!"

[Assistant]
"Probably. But into both way, I suppose."

*He would pat Loki's ears again. Gender didn't matter when they're a fluffy fox. It is very pat table.*

He concluded the card game and then set his cards asides.

"Nothing like good food to take your mind off something bad. Here." *He would walk over to some bags he set aside, and take out an assortment of labeled jars - which seems to contain different spices, *"Secret stash."

*Then he went downstairs in the inn, taking out a mortar and pestles and started grinding down various spice to prepare a fresh curry mix. He also got some lamb from the innkeeper.*

[User]
*Loki enjoyed the pats once again, with Cuo joining in as well.*

"What's this?"

*Cuo leaned over to smell the spices, before rushing into the other room to let out a small sneeze. She poked her head back through the door as she looked at Sirdan cooking.*

"What are you making?"

[Assistant]
"Curry. A mixture of spice that is mixed with fat and usually meat or some kind of meat substitutes, cooked together for a complex flavor in liquid."

"We'll use yogurt because that is commonly available." *He finished grinding and mixing the spices, and then toasted them in the hot pan with oil. His other hands were occupied with two knives, rapidly cutting the lamb apart into cubes*

*After that, he seared the lamb on the pot. Then, he grabbed a single-handed wand, and then used it to create a fire midair. He observed it carefully and the fire become cooler and cooler and cooler. Concentrating on the fire, he moved it on top of the lamb, searing it from the other side carefully until a nice, brown caramelization was made. It certainly speeds up the process of the browning*

*Then he would put in the yogurt, and threw in a gratuitous amount of diced potatoes. He let the curry stew. The fragrance of the mixture permeates the entire inn*

"Now we wait for an hour."

[User]
"Ooh, curry."

*Cuo would attempt to peek over Sirdan's shoulder as he cooked, but was too short to do so, so would instead look around the sides, noting the ingredients being used. She especially took note of the wand, and the fire magic being used in order to sear the lamb. Maybe she could pull that off. More likely than not though she would end up burning it.*

"Wait, an HOUR??!!"

[Assistant]
"Indeed, curry."

*Iran would sit down on a chair as he watched the curry being cooked in a stew, blinking at how CUO is surprised.*

"A lot of curry cannot be made in a short time - some meat, like the lamb here, is best stewed for a longer time for everything insides to become soft. The same goes for many cuts of beef. Did you not know?"


[User]
"Oh! Sorry, I forgot about that for a second."

*The treton readjusts herself to relieve the pressure off of Horace's arm. Right now, she was just glad to be in someone's company again, especially after having the hole in her heart carved out again.*

"I know, but... I just remember back when I was married. I was happy. *We* Were happy. That's all I want back again, really. Is it too much to ask?"

*For a brief moment, the Fricharii can sense the absolute hate radiating from the treton, before dying back down into nothingness. She moves away, wiping her now dried up tears along with the grime on her face, revealing a semblance of her former beauty.*

[Assistant]
"Y-you're fine..."

*An easy breath is huffed as his arm is left alone. The elf glancing back at the woman as she questions him. Sighing lightly before he moves to take a last puff. Flicking the cigarette away, the embers dying as they hit the cold dirt.*

"Not at all. Build happiness all you like, it won't last of you aren't strong enough. My father taught me that, as his empire was torn out from under his feet. It always made we wonder about true strength..."

*The elf shakes his head as he realizes he was rambling. Looking to the Trenton, his eyes widening as he notices the diamond in the rough before him. It was easy to forget, wasn't it.*

"Why don't we get out of the dirt Aka? A warm bath, fresh change of clothes, and a hot meal might do something for you. I can't cook as well with my arm like this, but I'm sure I can make something."

*The elf smiles back.*

[User]
"It's a shame then, really. How much we must fight in order to keep peace. I wonder what would have happened long ago if I had fought. Or maybe just ran. Escaped. Maybe that would have been enough."

*The treton blinks, then smiles warmly, attempting to liven up the atmosphere in the dead air.*

"I guess I've been in the down for so long I've forgotten what it's like to feel good again. Besides that night with you once. Everything else has been... Mediocre, at best. Even with... Celaena around."

*Her mind temporarily drifted to the other Steppe elf, with her soft silver hair, before mentally throwing the image out of her head. She left her. She didn't matter anymore.*

"So, where to, Horace?"

[Assistant]
"Well, I'm based back in Albania, so it'll be a good few days till we get home. I've got a place at an Inn for now... How would you feel about visiting a bath house while I check the market?"

*The elf had something of a thought out plan. Placing his arm against the wall as he attempts to pull himself up to stand. Glancing down at the woman and offering her a hand.*


[User]
"Of course. Finding things is part of what I do, after all."

*Livio brought out two small woodcarving knives, setting one down on each of the table.*

"How do you shape the bone? Just whittle away at it?"

*Livio was relatively familiar with the other parts of it. Feathers in particular, he knew. Shaping was another thing. It was always the heads he had struggled with though. To be honest, he hadn't made his own bolts since he was in the army; a long time. Perhaps it was time for some more practice.*

[Assistant]
"... Something like that. Large claws help." *Sonja nodded in agreement.* "It's the most time-consuming part. In a rush, you might be able to find arrow tips of the right shape at a market. Still cheaper than buying full arrows."

*The Crinoid reached for one of the knives and became to slowly cut notches and grooves into the first bolt shaft, then showed it to Livia as an example.*

"This is what we want all the wood to look like."

*With that she reached for a few more pieces of wood and started to bring them up to speed too, cutting and carving away as needed.*

[User]
"Buy them at a market? Interesting..."

*Livio had never thought about buying only bolt heads; only entire bolts outfitted with fletching. That would be more economical, not wasting money on time spent carving and sticking the feathers on. The white-cloaked man watched Sonja's movement closely as she cut the grooves into the wooden stick, and he followed to the measure. The bolts were compared soon afterward, Livio making sure it was accurate.*

*The mercenary nodded. He got to work, carving out the notches and grooves, wood shavings and chips now littering the table. Those would make for good fire starters. With both of them working on the shafts, they were done soon.*

"Which part next?"

[Assistant]
*Sonja watched closely as Livia did his best to match her movements. He seemed to get the hang of it pretty well. She nodded silently in approval after glancing over some of his work. Together, they seemed to be making quick work of wood! But there was more to bolt making that wood carving, as Sonja well knew.*

"Feathers are last. It's easy to damage them if you are handling the bolt to string on an arrowhead." *The bear lady explained with a slow nod.* "So then... Tips next."

*Not wasting a moment longer, she reached for one of the crudely carved arrow points and fitted it into a slit carved at one end of the arrow. Next was the string, which was used to fasten it securely into position. Sonja made her movements slow, to ensure that Livia was able to get the hang of it.*

"... Something like this. Make sure the bone is secure enough not to wiggle."


[User]
"You like inns, huh? Last time, we visited one as well."

*Always wary, the vampire looked around, paranoid about who was around them. She doubted anyone would be a Silnarian spy, but her experiences had taught her that she was never truly safe. Yakaiyo followed the elf up the stairs, looking around before opening the door, and prepared a nearby shelf in front of the door in order to barricade it after Horace had came back inside.*

"How safe is it here?"

[Assistant]
"Sorta, yeah. Relatively safe *And* Affordable..."
*He smirks lightly, leading the way up to a room. Finding Sakai in front of him and opening the door. He tilted a head at the movements she makes with the shelf curious as to what she was doing.*

"Uh... As safe as you can get in a war zone. I have a couple of my men out front keeping watch, so go ahead and make yourself comfy. I'll be back with the meal in a bit."

*One last smile as the elf turns to exit the room. Aka now left alone with herself in this new place. It seemed one of the classier, more expensive rooms. Quality blankets and sheets along with extra fluffy pillows. Velvet blinds on the windows, the rest of the room very clean. The bed was a queen-sized, presumably big enough for the both of them. It was quiet, and calm, only the warmth of the sunlight and candles to comfort the Trenton at the moment.*


[User]
*Cuo looked distraught as she looked at the curry being cooked.*

"But I want curry noooowwww..."

*The mage shook her head. Despite liking food a lot, she had absolutely no clue how to make it.*

"Does cooking it longer make it soft? Why not just turn the fire up and cook it for a shorter period of time?"

[Assistant]
"Some food takes longer. Tougher cut of meat must be cooked for longer in order to make it taste good. For more... Softer piece of meat, you can just cook 4 to 12 minutes, depending on what ti is, sometime even shorter to make it not tough. For very tough one, you want to cook above thirty minutes or even hours. Anywhere in between you get something inedible. Here."

*Iran used telekinesis to pick up a single piece of lamb meat, and then set it aside. He used fire to gradually heat and roast it. And then pointed at CUO, blowing some air on it to cool it down a bit.*

"Try it out."

*Lamb was a cut of meat that was much less tough than other meat - but it would still be a bit chewy without being stewed for so long.*

[User]
"...Guh?"

*Clearly, Cuo didn't get it. She telekinetically lifted the piece of meat and put it in her mouth, enjoying the flavor. She then began to chew. And chew. And chew.*

"Isshochewy!"

*Eventually, she gives up working on it completely, and just swallows the piece of meat.*

"Huh, so you just cook it for longer and it becomes soft?"

[Assistant]
"Yep! The exact time depends on how tough it is. For lamb, just thirty to sixty minutes could do. Or you can cut it super, super thin and stir-fry it. It is one Run ran way of dealing with the issue!"

*He then prepared the side dish. Since rice weren't commonly available in this part of Media, he had to settle for another type of accompaniment. Iran prepared some flatbread and fried them as the curry neared completion.*

*Soon the full meal would be ready, and he would serve the curry to himself and CUO with extra flatbread.*

"Loki and Garuda hungry? They can have some too."

[User]
"Oh, or soup! I've seen that a lot! Never had it though."

*Garuda and Loki were messing around, Garuda chasing Loki's tail and Loki also chasing his tail, the two basically acting like the animal forms they had. Meanwhile Cuo was acting like a young kid. All three rushed to the table for food.*

"Woah! Huh, the bread's flat."

*Cuo picked up a piece of flatbread, dipping it into the curry.*

"Is this how you're supposed to do it?"

[Assistant]
"Mmm. I don't know much about Run ran soups myself. Braising meat or stewing them is a way to also deal with them being tough."

*Iran would glance over at the two chasing each other, putting his arms on his waist as if he was a disappointed father.*

"Alright you two, quiet down and come back here." *He chuckled.*

*Then he watched CUO dip the flatbread into the curry, nodding with approval.*

"Correct, you can also do it like this." *He placed one on his plate, and then scooped up the curry, putting it in the middle before taking a bite.*


[User]
"Feathers... Alright."

*The bonehead tips seemed to be secure enough. However, Livio wasn't the best at fitting the feathers in. Initially, he splintered the sharp points, and then had to take his knife, reshape them, and attempt to stick them back in. Eventually though, he got through, though still had about 3 left by the time Sonja was done.*

"Blasted fletching..."

[Assistant]
"... This is the worst part." *Sonja voiced in agreement. She didn't seem to have as much difficultly though, as evidenced by her steady pace working through the bolts. Noticing that Livia seemed to be struggling, she reached over to lend a hand.*

"If you do it like this, it'll be easier..." *The Crinoid demonstrated her technique for the mercenary, using one of the spare knives.* "The trick is to be gentle and cautious. It is more efficient to take your time than to rework mistakes." *Sonja explained. Though, given her rather brawny appearance, the instructions to be gentle would have doubtlessly proved amusing.*

[User]
"Bloody fucking..."

*Livio looked to Sonja's technique. It was similar to how he hunted, taking time and slowing down. Not that he was slow in any measure, but it had certainly taken time for him to slow down. He looked at the technique once more, and this time, the feather was inserted much more smoothly.*

"Oh. There we go!"

*Livio held up the finished bolt. It was battle ready, with sharp splintered bone and even fletching.*

[Assistant]
As Livia finally seemed to get a hold of the technique, Sonja nodded in approval. "... Good job." She remarked with a small nod and ever so slight smile. "You'll be making your own bolts for free in no time." Of course, Livia could already technically do that with his magical abilities. But that didn't seem to have deterred Sonja from her compliment.

After a few more goes at it, they would have used up all their materials and made a fair number of arrows.

"There we go... Thank you for your help, Livia." Sonja stated. "I'm going to get some rest for now. Busy day of questing tomorrow, I suspect..." They were here to quest after all. "Perhaps you'd be able to join us?"


[User]
*Elias gave the stranger a moment to think, giving her ample time to size her up more effectively. While she wasn't weak, the stranger seemed not prepared for combat. Her muscles were undefined, her frame lighter than most labourers she'd seen. But she was wandering about the forest... She jolted her longsword an inch out and back into her scabbard, making an intimidating CLICK! As it settled.*
"I can show you... But you'll need something to kill cleanly with."

[Assistant] "Well I don't have anything on me." *She didn't mention that the only times she could capture anything was in the woods as well. Sometimes if an animal was near a tree or bush in grasslands she could tangle them but other than that, she was useless in hunting.* "Can you just show me? Do you know how to hunt?"

[User]
"I have nothing for hunting on me... Shall we head into town, then? Buy a hunting weapon and maybe something to eat..."
*The knight offered, entirely disarmed by the young woman. She gave a small chuckle as her stomach churned, sighing and inspecting the horizon once more.*
"See the church? Should be near the town's edge, if we're near where I think we are..."

[Assistant] "Uhm, I'm not entirely hungry right now, but I guess I could give you company." *Turning her head to look for a church but couldn't see any building with a cross. Was this knight lost? Turning back to the Knight once more* "I think there might be a bakery nearby, I can smell blew. Er, bread nearby"


[User] *With the majority of their job completed Shaw had seemed to relax, less tense or anxious from having been chased by men with blades. That would have been particularly gruesome. Having done a quick search of the perimeter he'd gathered what arrows he could find and put them back into his quiver, even taking some that had been fired at him and his allies. Once all was said and done he just found himself waiting for he and Sonja to set off with the rescued Slaves. He sat down and leaned up against the wall of the barn and smiled contently. A good first mission he thought. Simple and well executed but he worried if perhaps some wouldnt always be this easy. Green eyes wandering over towards the large throng of beastkin he watched them with interest. He'd gone from only having seen such people from afar or passing by on roads to working for three for who knows how long and was about to escort well over a dozen. He couldnt help but laugh at the situation and chuckle at the turn of events.*

[Assistant]
*It didn't take long for Sonja to get the newly liberated Crinoids ready for departure. Though it seemed they might be of her tribe, now was not the time to sit around and talk. If they were not hasty, they might be spotted. That would be bad. Thankfully, they were right on the frontier. And it wasn't as if the border was walled off. All they had to do was guide them along a remote path. Owing to Sonja's excellent scent of smell, that would be a simple task. After having touched bases with the beast kin, she approached Shaw to inform him of their departure.*

*There was a pause as Sonja came to a halt before Shaw, almost towering over him. She spoke up a moment later with her usual flat and serious tone.* "... Are you ready? We're leaving." *Perhaps the first question was rhetorical. It was hard to say.* "The border isn't far, but we best get started now before anyone else comes snooping."

[User]
*With a cheeky smile he looked up towards Sonja and nodded his head. With a jump he stood up and to attention. Like a solider getting ready for inspection almost. The message was rather clear, he was about as ready as one could be for travelling, despite being new he got out luckily without any wounds.* "Wise decision Boss"

*As he stood there his eyes wandered between Sonja and the other beastkin again. He had a curious look on his face before he tilted his head up so as to speak with her, for a moment he worried Sivne's and Sonja's height may cause next problems but that can be dealt with later.* "Does their p-presence change anything?"

[Assistant]
"..." *Sonja gazed down at Shaw with her icy gaze as he spoke. She found it odd that JE was calling her boss now. Maybe Shaw just did that to anyone that seemed to take charge? But she didn't remark on it any further. More perplexing was his question. Sonja wasn't entirely sure who Shaw was referring to, but took her best guess.*

"Snoopers? ... It would. The Upper Mention nobles wouldn't stand for the 'theft' of their property, especially by other Beast kin. Which is why be must move quickly if we are to see these Crinoids to the boarder and not wear out our welcome." *Sonja concluded with a nod.* "The others will report back and say we went chasing the bandits."

[User]
*He shook his head. Realising he forgot to point to the matter of his query he gestured his hand towards the beastkin slaves they were to escort. He even nodded his head in their direction.* "I meant them... Sorry. I-I'd be having thoughts had I just rescued f-friends"

*He gave an apologetic smile in return for his mistake. Hoping he wasnt tiring her patience with his questions he decided they could talk and walk at the same time. Not attempting to take charge of the march but his legs did begin to lead him in the 'general' direction they were going.*

[Assistant]
"... Well, there might not be friends left to think about if we hesitate now." *She stated flatly. Sonja didn't recall mentioning that she knew these people. Hopefully Shaw hadn't assumed they were friends solely on account of their bear ears. In any case, there was little time to dwell on such matters.*

*Seeing Shaw start to lead the way, Sonja called to the other Crinoids and motioned for them to follow. She promptly followed after her companion. Given her longer legs, quickly caught up with him. There was silence from Sonja as she led everyone away from the farmstead and towards the tree line, giving the air a sniff.*

"So... Where did you learn to shoot like that?" *She asked, finally breaking the silence.* "The bounce thing."

[User]
*He decided not to press further. Thinking her comment was a way to put off his line of query. He just tried to keep up a good pace, having to walk slightly quicker then he normally does so as to not slow down this band of tall folk.*

*Once Sonja asked her question he seemed to brighten up. Glad for there not to be an awkward silence he happily responds.* "Father t-taught me the trick... Though the s-shooting was from a poacher" *He with a hint of pride in his voice and expression held his bow out, It was notably yew so a good quality weapon but probably could use more maintenance. It was certainly the most well kept possession he owned but even this was starting to show signs of wear and age. A well supplied archer probably would have gotten a new one by now.*

[Assistant]
*Sonja nodded slowly as she listened to the answers Shaw provided. All the while she led the way, occasionally sniffing the air to make sure they were safe. Thankfully, the breeze blew in their favor. They would be hard to track. The other Crinoids followed behind their pair of guides.*

"I see. Well, it was... Nifty." *She commented. It seemed that that was as close to a complement as Shaw was going to get.*

*Her own ranged weapon of choice was an Ablest—basically a giant crossbow. Though, in Sonja's hands it's looked regular sized. The heavy cranked weapon was a stark contrast to Shaw's lighter yew bow. Though, it seemed Sonja would be fine in close quarters too if the axe strapped to her back was anything to go by.*

"... I take it you used to be a poacher too, then?" *Sonja mused idly, stoically concealing her curiosity. It was only natural to want to learn more about their newest traveling companion.*

[User]
*If they werent already walking along itd be more obvious but Sonja could probably see that even those a small compliment the use of the word 'nifty' added a small hop into his step. His smile only grew brighter.*

*His eyes curiously looked at the Arbalest with awe. The weapon was practically a machine, a deadly one he noted. It was this viewing that made the lad decide he had to get one of his own. Albeit a much much smaller one. In his hands he could probably barely shoot the thing let alone aim well. As for close quarter combat he didnt seem to have anything decent for such an event other than a small short sword/large dagger.*

*He nodded his head at her question. Though he frowned slightly. Never having really applied the term poacher to himself before it seemed wrong. Holding implications he wasnt a fan of.* "I guess... I p-prefer the term hunter. But yes, nearly all my life"

[Assistant]
"... Why might that be?" *Sonja slowly but succinctly asked in turn. The concept of poaching seemed rather odd to her, seeing how her tribe had lived off the land without taking ownership of it. But it certainly didn't seem distasteful to her. Sonja was not fond of nobles, especially Upper Mention ones. She'd probably have owned up to such a label as a badge of honor.*

*Her icy gaze drifted briefly over Shaw. It was hard to picture the smaller figure as a poacher. Surely he'd struggle to battle against multiple guardsmen. But he seemed nimble. Sonja supposed all that a poacher really needed to do was hunt and escape without being caught. And given that revised criteria, she supposed he fit the bill.*