Arthur winced a bit as he finally reached the inscription table. Here was the bane of his existence: written contracts. He'd always preferred oral contracts with the implicit threat of him simply taking his due by force if his employer ever tried to go back on their word... but that wouldn't exactly fly with a noble.

Luckily this one was more of a list of names than anything else, and his name was one of the things he'd made sure to memorize how to spell correctly, so he wouldn't have to ask the soldier for help. Thank goodness for that; so many people didn't realize that not everyone had the luxury of getting an education and learning their letters at a young age, and were rather rude about his need for assistance.

Quickly, Arthur Mercier's own name was added to the ledger in wonky, scratchy letters.

The mercenary went to nose around the offered gear, but quickly decided to not take any. His own armor, shield and sword were just as good in quality, and having to get used to new gear right before a potentially dangerous outing would be rather foolish. Though it seemed not everyone had that luxury. The man who had woken him up the previous evening had scurried away with nothing but some arrows, for some reason, and the young man from Second Chance seemed puzzled by his leather armor.

He... probably should offer some help. Hopefully most of the others would know their way around the equipment. He wasn't exactly keen on fighting surrounded by inexperienced, potentially dangerous amateurs.

"Ya need some help with that armor, lad? I could give ya a hand." He said, not unkindly, as he approached Robert. "Bit heavier and stiffer than what I use, but if yer gonna use that axe there, then I guess it's a good choice. Don't need to move as quick as me, one good wack in the neck or head and yer done. Handy on horseback too."

Nearby, a table was set up, where a younger soldier was seated with parchment and ink. With the first signs of the adventurers gathering, the soldier began to declare: "If you are here to join the expedition, please register your full name here at the desk. This is how your contribution to the Duke's cause will be recorded and verified." It was also to manage roll call and headcount.

As it was Engie's turn. She wrote "Frieda von Grau" in Kurrent script on the parchment. She then proceed to the supplied cart where Arthur and Robert was current at.

Close by, a cart was parked, containing the likes of rations, equipment, and medical supplies. At the head of the wagon sat the quartermaster, pipe in mouth, holding the reins to a pair of mules that would be pulling the cart.

As the two remembered. She saw her wearing fully combat-ready attire and concealing her youthful look with the helmet and goggles. Currently, she kept her usual attire except for revealing her youthful visage. She pulled something from her shoulder-carried bag, revealing an unfamiliar long-barreled gun, which is considered a "rifle.". Slinged it on her shoulder to be carried. Checked her ammo pouch and puzzled for a missing round but figured out that she gave it to Jean, which made her sigh with relief. Looked at them and gave her a smile with her beauty.

"Kood morning." Greeted the two burly gentlemen politely and youthful smile.

Kaelara strode into the staging area with her usual measured pace, grey eyes scanning the gathered adventurers and soldiers with quiet scrutiny. She wasn’t in a hurry to sign up—she already knew she was going—but she took a moment to observe the others first, sizing up potential allies and liabilities alike.

The captain looked as grim as ever. A handful of familiar faces, a few unknowns. Some seemed competent enough. Others... well, they’d either prove their worth or be dead weight soon enough.

She made her way to the registration table, sparing a glance at Sonia’s easy confidence as the huntress pressed the captain for details. Kaelara smirked faintly—at least someone was eager for answers.

Taking up the quill, she signed in clean, deliberate strokes.

Kaelara Ashwyn.

She passed the parchment back without a word, stepping toward the equipment cart. Most of what was on offer was standard issue, serviceable but unimpressive. Her own weapons and armor were better suited to her style, but it wouldn’t hurt to take something extra.

She picked up a short sword, testing the balance with a practiced hand before sliding it into her belt. As for armor, she eyed the leather padding before shaking her head. Too bulky. If she needed protection, she’d rely on her own gear.

She caught movement from the corner of her eye “Shelby Appleton,” grabbing a quiver of arrows without a bow. Her lips pressed into the ghost of a smirk. Curious choice. Either he had a plan, or he was in for a rude awakening.

Kaelara snorts under her breath. “That gonna be a fashion statement, courier? Or you planning to throw them one by one?” she murmured as she passed him, low enough for only him to hear. She didn’t pause for an answer.

Instead, she stepped closer to where Sonia was speaking with the Captain, her arms crossing as she listened to the exchange. The sooner she had the full picture of this mission, the better.

The sun was climbing, and soon, they’d be on their way

Ludwig, in his subtle manic state of wanting to get out of the crowd, practically froze in his tracks as a freshly familiar voice of suave womanhood passed by him yet again. Not to dispense advice this time, but inquiry.
He glanced at her, her red hair more pronounced this time by the sunlights bouncing of off it. What he imagines was eye contact, held merely for a portion of her statement as she moved on to other, better discourses.
He tried to murmur back.

"Its-- for..."
She's fully turned around and away, she didn't care.

Between everything that's transpired between them, and her recognizing him despite his more shadowy appearance, the word smart seems to pop out and assert itself as her descriptor. Maybe he can use her, to cut some mental presence dedicated to staying alert from danger. Maybe just to have someone competent to talk to, or to seek more advice from. Gods know everything that'll happen from then on will be all sorts of new to someone who only runs around and delivers parcel for a living.

After another decisional delay, he followed Kaelara to--he supposes--listen to the expedition's foreman and another red-haired woman talk about the expedition's scope.

(in response to Sonia) @Mas Bagus @JP

The Captain had to stifle a groan when he found Sonia approaching him as the first order of the morning. Her cheery expression seemed to herald further questions and concerns regarding the mission – and sure enough, he was soon met with her incessant inquisitiveness.

"Morning to you..." The Captain uttered with a sigh, no pretense of a smile at his lips. "...Our plan is to travel to the ruins where her personal effect was discovered, and scour the place. With any luck, we will find her there, alive and well…" A recurrent, haunting thought crossed his mind, more unsettling each time. If the Duke's daughter had indeed perished… he dreaded the conversations and consequences that might follow.

Pushing the darker thoughts from his mind, the Captain unfolded a map, eyes focusing on the hand-drawn route leading to a destination in the unlabeled wilderness.

"The site is about six hours of travel from here, northwest. We'll start off on the main road, then eventually branch into the highlands to the north."

He soon caught sight of Kaelara's approach, and let out another somewhat audible exhale. He had almost forgotten about her, after that curt exit during the briefing. Between her and Sonia, the Captain could feel it was going to be a very long day.

"Hopefully you're ready for the journey." He fired before either of them could speak up with further questions and comments. "We'll be taking minimal rests along the way. And there's no saying what we'll find lurking inside that place once we get there. Best be prepared for anything."

"...Our plan is to travel to the ruins where her personal effect was discovered, and scour the place. With any luck, we will find her there, alive and well…"

Another answer that doesn't answer much, Sonia thought. The Captain's refusal to naturally divulge any significant details was again, weird and further reinforced her suspicion that the captain was up to something. Either that or a blatant incompetency. Both were equally dangerous.

On another note, Sonia was fully aware of the captain's displeasure, but instead of giving it a rest, she pressed one more time to see his reaction and enjoyed it like she harbored a certain vendetta.

"Scour the place..." she nodded and smiled mockingly, pausing to count the participants present today. "And I presume that was also the plan in the previous expedition? Hmm? I hear ya, captain! Thanks for answering!"

Waving teasingly, Sonia retreated with another thing to ponder. All things considered, the incongruity of this mission wasn't any far from her usual routine actually, and encountering a disingenuous employer wasn't a new experience for her. All the questions and cautiousness were there so she knew what to expect and where to position herself in this quest.

Once we are deep into the wilderness, the chain of command will be as frail as a leaf anyway.

"Kaelera!" ...and the weird fellow with a face almost completely closed. She didn't know why, but his presence made Sonia feel slightly unsettled. "Not a fan of morning sunlight, eh? Mister?" she managed with her usual mirth, a small talk to divert herself from backbiting the captain, who was clearly looking at them at the moment. Seriously, she could hear him exhaling in frustration right now.

"Well, you heard the man. Time to prepare, and I think I could use a secondary weapon, do you have any suggestion, Kealara?"

@spiral origin@JP@KITCHEN GUN

---

Jean lay soundly on the bed, his blanket long since fallen on the floor. All of his appendages spread in any which direction. If it were not for the soft sounds of his breath, one wouldn’t think him comfortable. The wood creaking, Jean slowly turned over falling straight of the bed. Waking, Jean shot up to his feet. He looked out the window the see the long shadows of the buildings and trees slowly creep. Fearing that he overslept, he quickly gathered his belongings and went to rush out the door.

Jean quickly caught up with the others as they gathered around fresh wagons full of supplies and a table the captain was standing near. A small line of people were walking forward, leaning over what lay on the table and the moving on. As jean approached, he noticed what they were leaning over was a contract or form. Probably something to get a head count and names. Relieved that he wasn’t late, jean joined the line. When it was he was handed the quill, Jean took a cursory glance at what was written. A list of names mostly. A few he recognized, several he did not. No matter, Jean held the edge of the paper with his left hand, quickly scrawling his name with the other. Jean Bernard was written as nicely as he could manage on the rough table surface.

Jean straitened up, resting the quill next to the ink well before moving out of the way for anyone else who hadn’t signed. Several of those he met yesterday were near the equipment cart. Something that was provided for everyone to equip themselves if not already. Jean did a quick pat down of his belt to make sure he remembered to tie his shotel and pouches to his belt. Satisfied, he adjusted his backpack and joined the others waiting for the adventure to begin.

He looked into the wagon to see what was available. There was a decent number of weapons and armor, enough to offer protection, but nothing specialized. To be expected. Jean contemplated whether he should take some greaves or vambraces. When it came to armor, he really only had his torso protected, which had done him well enough on his journey thus far. He paused to see what the others were choosing if at all. The ruins didn’t sound close, so now really was the time to prepare.

"Kaelara?"
A huge part of him didn't really want to know her name, for it is a pitfall towards attachments. He had already made a misstep following her like this.
He darted his eyes at the other red-haired woman who glanced at him with, with a reaction. Unsure, but definitely not a pleasant reaction, albeit it was merely fleeting as the mirth in her face came back.

"Uhh, uh yeah. Sunburns, you know. They can be very irritating."

Sonia furthered and it was evident that he's not meant to be in this conversation, as well as already having prepared as much as he needed to, and so he quietly excused himself from the two.
Amidst that, something else bugged him while he stood there, remembering the recent words as he slowly began to decapitate an arrowhead off of its shaft. The Captain was in his midst, and he was curious.

"Is there? A previous expedition? What happened to them?"
_{@spiral origin}

Kaelara’s expression remained neutral as Sonia turned to her for weapon advice, though she noted the way the huntress prodded at the Captain like a cat toying with a cornered mouse. It was amusing.

Before she could answer, the courier—Shelby Appleton, or whatever he wanted to call himself—lingered just long enough to make his exit awkward. He was jumpy, cautious. But something in his tone, the way he repeated that question. At his excuse about sunburns, she let out a quiet huff that might’ve been a suppressed laugh. He was skittish, but not useless. At least, she hoped not.

She turned back to Sonia. “Depends on what you want. Another bow’s redundant. Short sword’s a safe bet. Compact, versatile. You more comfortable with a blade, or are you thinking something heavier?”

Even as she spoke, her attention flicked toward the Captain, watching for his reaction to Shelby's question. Sonia wasn’t the only one who caught the gaps in his explanations, her own interest piqued despite herself. That was a good question—and one the captain would likely prefer not to answer.

So, she waited, arms crossed, watching for the response.

"I... I see." Said Sonia, trying to offer a small sympathy. But the fellow has already excused himself with no more words to say, maybe he was shy?

"Something in the middle maybe?" she turned to Kealara. "I already have a machete, but it is a poor stabbing weapon, and I could use something with more power. An arming sword sounds like a good idea. Gotta see the inventory then. Thanks for the advice!"

Leaving the captain to be questioned by more people, Sonia smirked as she headed for the supply wagon. Unfortunately, there was no bastard sword in the pile, so she took her time to pick the longest and heaviest sword from the pile, even if the difference was just a slight. She noted that their quality wasn't anything exquisite, and although that raised speculation that the duke was skimping his defense budget, Sonia couldn't complain. It was made of steel and would cut and pierce flesh all the same. And look! It also came with a leather scabbard!

@Rekkuza

Robert half-froze, half-jumped with elation. It stung a bit that he was That Obvious, but he also wanted this done RIGHT, and having somebody that KNEW, was a huge bonus.

"ABSOLUTELY! If you'd be so kind!" he beamed, then walked up to the burgeoning fellow, carrying his prizes with him. "I hope we don't have to use these, but the time to get them sorted is *BEFORE* you need them."

Answering the chain of inquiry Sonia and the others were pursuing amongst themselves, he cheekily added his own 2 pence worth.

"Best I could wrangle free from tight lips last night, was that smaller groups had been sent, but have gone missing-- Gone at least 3 days past check-in. Stay on your toes. Nobody was willing to speak up about specifics concerning what to expect out there. Either they don't know, or refuse to talk. Don't know which."

He then returned his attention to his counterpart, Andrew.

"--Still need to get tents from the quartermaster before they get picked over. -- The nicer ones will probably go first. We should hit there first, THEN fit this thing, I think. Don't want to camp in a leaky tent."

"Ah, yes! Tents! They are offerin' some, aren't they? So used to campin' with just my bed roll I'd forgotten to pick one up," Arthur said with a chuckle. "I'll help ya get settled with yer armour after."

He turned briefly, looking down to the young woman who had greeted them. "Good mornin' to ya as well, lass." He quickly looked her over, noting her expensive-looking armour and strange contraption she carried in a bag. She must be quite wealthy to afford all of those. A merchant's daughter, maybe? But then, if she wasn't in need of money, why join this expedition?

Ah, whatever. This wasn't his business. If the little rich lady wanted to risk her life for fun, who was he to stop her?

He turned back to Robert, clapping a heavy hand over his shoulder. "Now lad, better get these tents before they're all gone. The quicker we do that, the quicker I can make sure ya won't kill yourself swingin' that axe around."

Oh. She nodded to Arthur. Engi changed her focus. She knew that her rifle had a limited supply of ammunition. She can be able to make one but needs materials and time. She decided to browse from their armory cart. As it was said to be ruins, it is the designated area. She picked a bow for her weapon as her main. Nodded from its quality. The rifle will be for a special case until she gets her materials to make ammunition.

Grabbed the tent and attached it to wheeled storage. It would be odd for everyone around her. But she was able to get heavy stuff to move effortlessly by pushing it forward.

"Best I could wrangle free from tight lips last night, was that smaller groups had been sent, but have gone missing-- Gone at least 3 days past check-in. Stay on your toes. Nobody was willing to speak up about specifics concerning what to expect out there. Either they don't know, or refuse to talk. Don't know which."

Sonia deadpanned for a moment before managing to recover with a dry chuckle. "Ah, same plan, same gig, and yet, expecting different results. Some may call this insanity. And I guess we are a bunch of lunatics, willingly signing up to be a part of this insanity."

Sonia shot the captain a glare, yet didn't bother to directly confront him about Robert's finding. If the man was truthful he would explain without being asked. The concern about his transparency had been implied multiple times and at this point, Sonia wasn't expecting much.

Sheathing her sword in its scabbard, Sonia just needed another occasion to make her stance firm, and until that time came...

"But whatever. Come hell or high water, let's get this party started and rescue that damsel."