[IC] Goblin Slayer: Newblood (CANCELLED)

As the sun rises from the eastern horizon, an ever growing light which is both warm and welcoming, begins to reach across the land. It doesn't take long before this radiance finds itself to the prickly, weatherworn and scrggy walls of the frointer settlement known as Palisade Town. This little town, surrounded by a wall of sharpened wood, is home to some ten thousand or so souls, of various races - though primarily humans. Along the outer wall that encircles the settlement, there is also a man-dug ditch, which acts as a sort of moat and extra bit of defense against both the wild life and any creatures of the wild that would dare to stray too close to civilization.

The town has two major entrances, the weastern and eastern gatehouses respectively. Each one is little more than a pair of towers, with a large doorway and internal ramparts for look-outs and archers. To get into the town, one must cross the small wooden bridges built over the ditch, leadign in through the gatehouses' openings. The large iron-clad wooden gates can be closed from the inside, should the need ever arise, but unless it's the dead of night, these doors remain open at almost all times. Farmers and peasants who work in the fields, both far and near, travel in and out through the gates on a daily basis, as do travellers and caravans from afar. The town does not see large crowds or hordes of visitors though, and the general feel of the place is rural and sleepy.

The further one is from the town center, the more one can notice the difference in development. The outer-most parts of the town have little more than trampled dirt roads, whereas the mid-tier areas have had cobblestone roads laid. Close to the very center of the town however, are laid-brick roads - not too dissimilar to the ones in larger cities, even and easy to walk on. The same distinction can be noted on the buildings, with smaller and more rustic structures on the outer edges of the town, and progressively larger and more impressive buildings popping up the closer and closer you get to the heart of the town.

On one of these cobblestone roads, stands a fairly sizeable, three storey building in the western part of town. It's walls are made of sturdy planks and the roof is tiled and solid. Windows are larger at the bottom and get smaller for each floor above. The door has a decorative archway and a small sign hangs next to it. A sign with a reads; Adventurers Guild.

While the streets and roads are still quiet this early in the morning, noise and voices are coming from inside the old guildhall. Adventurers of varying race, background and experience have already gather, either to eat breakfast, to banter or simply to wait for the day's quests to be posted. Some are rowdy and loud, some are careful and quiet while others still are something inbetween. Faint, low candles are lit on the many tables, both occupied and vacant, as well as those shining from the numerous chandeliers hanging from the high ceiling. It gives the inside of the building a warm, home-y feeling, and the voices, laughter and occassional insult adds to the vibrancy.

But for now... Some place else, a ways away from all this, still on the western road a bit outside of Palisade Town, there was young woman walking alone. In one hand she carried an old and worn-looking polearm, while wearing a set of leather armor that seemed to have had bits and pieces of metals lashed and tied to it in places. She was a very pretty young thing, and those that looked close could see she sported slightly pointed ears. She had a happy expression on her face as she walked, quietly humming a tune to herself. This girl was headed for Palisade Town, to begin her career as an adventurer, and today would be both the day she both took on and set out for her very first quest. The thought excited her and the youth had to shake her head a bit to calm down and keep herself from bursting into a jog.

As she crested a small hill, she could now see the town in full view. Her eyes lit up like those of a child. True, it wasn't much to look at when compared to the city she came from, but this small settlement with it's framework houses and scruffy-looking wall was the beginning of her new life, the starting point for her journey. A trek that had taken far too many days was now almost over, and before her lay the proverbial oyster of possibilites.

"I can't wait." She said to herself, now positively beaming - before setting off at a much brisker pace now, heading for the western gate.

[Shard]

Barely an acorn among oak trees stretching far into the sky, a mere child in the presence of the ageless, elven-kind surely viewed the young creature timidly pushing a wooden door open, with curious eyes. This would, of course, have been true, had a hood not obfuscated that of which lingered beneath, ghostly pale skin with pointed ears making themselves known through strands of thick, black, and unkempt hair. It was a common choice of attire for the youngster, black eyes vigilantly maintaining a guarded disposition in response to slight paranoia. Dark Elves, they were creatures trusted as far as the edge of a knife, and for good reason, indeed. Yes, despite the ageless beauty of elven kind, the nature of their darker cousins warranted distrust and hatred. One would not blame Shade for keeping his hood secured over the boy’s features, in response to this truth.

His father’s instructions were clear, and the days where Shade had been traveling left little else to consider. ‘Learn of the world’, he said, ‘know what it is we seek to protect, from the shadows where we hide’. Indeed, The Moonshadow Cult was a group of outcasts, a gathering of criminals seeking a new path through the devastated remains of what they called their existence. Murderers, thieves, and assassins gathering to put aside what had previously painted them unsavory and rather repenting from beyond the veil of darkness. It was a controversial development, for who would forgive those with blood on their hands? Ironic was it, then, that the boy whose eyes dark like an abyss was draped in a blanket of innocence, still. There was no past which he sought to escape, no misdeeds he had put behind. Of course, the virtue of his birth could perhaps be debated in terms of criminal acts. ‘The only good Dark Elf is a dead Dark Elf,’ was a saying Shade had come across on his travels, albeit short-lived as of yet.

”Rats, cleaning, and goblins..?” A thought trickled through Shade’s mind, small, dainty fingers tracing themselves across the Adventurers Guild bulletin board which towered over him. Entering the building had been a daunting prospect in itself, and now it appeared all the more real. ”Should I start small?” The boy continued, slender, pale lips remaining shut as consideration circled his focus. ”Don’t think I can fight a bunch of goblins on my own..,” a small sigh slipped past the boy’s parted lips, before he took a step back. Reaching a hand into his shoulder bag, Shade produced an apple before biting into the succulent, green surface. ”Dad would have had me cleaning the ditches in a heartbeat,” Shade rolled his eyes, and took another bite of his meal. Fruit was an elf’s first choice of nourishment, and meat did not go well with the ageless entities. It was a common statement that the ecosystem would suffer in response to creatures of such longevity to live through the death of beasts.

The slender dagger gently resting above Shade’s tailbone would proceed to paint the boy somewhat exotic, in his approach. He wore no armor, for the weight would slow him down, and the sound of metallic grinding severely hindered motions of stealth. He was clearly a dextrous individual, judging from a lithe, slim frame, with little more than a curved blade at his disposal. Indeed, Shade’s dainty nature had warranted misjudgment several times already, where he was mistaken for the fairer sex. Androgeny in his voice did little in rectifying the issue. Inhaling a sharp breath, the elf leaned back on the balls of his feet, looking from right to left, and considered his next action. This was the start of a long, arduous trial.

[The Irish Tree]

The patter of stony hooves clip-clopping against the cobbled stone road leading into Palisade heralded the arrival of yet another adventurer to this frontier town. A young girl dressed in foreign garb rode in past the wooden walls that kept this town safe from the threats of the outside, and as she paid to stable her horse, she would look out at the town before a warm, affectionate brush of a snout against her shoulder redrew her attention to her horse. A grin crossed her lips as her slight hands reached up to pat at her companion's cheeks. "I won't be too long, Torchfire. You sit tight. Be a good girl, okay?" she would ask, to which she received a slight huff from the horse. That meant yes.

Taking off with her gear on her back, the archer of the Steppes would stride proudly through the streets, taking in the interesting sights and sounds of a permanent settlement. Her curiosity would have to wait however, as she only had enough money to live off of for a few days, at best. Keeping a horse stabled was expensive, after all. Pushing the doors open to the adventurer's guild, the girl would practically skip in. Registration would take a moment, but she had thankfully learned to read and write from her mother, so filling out the application was as simple as could be.

With her newly christened Porcelain rank, Steppe Archer looked over the various requests available and pondered which would best suit her. "Hrm..." she said, furrowing her brow at the three "best" options for a Porcelain rank. She'd heard tales of some hunters from neighboring tribes contesting with Goblin raiders, so she at least knew they lived in caves. That was...bad, to say the least for her abilities. She wasn't accustomed to woodlands, and trying to shoot through such thick foliage would mean her accuracy would suffer. The Giant Rat Extermination quest had a similar issue with how tight the corners of the sewers were, but at least rats weren't exactly known to have weapons. And...ditch cleaning was...well, she understood the importance of it, but the pay was lesser than the others. Looking over the rat quest once more, she thought about the possibilities it presented, namely in that rats could at least be skinned for pelts. Goblin hide wasn't particularly tough, so it was useless to collect it.

Smiling confidently, she would grab the quest and consider getting help. Seeing an individual off by his lonesome munching on an apple. She didn't really know why he seemed to be avoided by other people, but at least saw the glint of the white porcelain tag in place on his person. Approaching, the girl would peek her head down to catch a glimpse of his dagger, before she asked: "Um...are you new here too? I was thinking of taking this quest to take care of some rats, and was wondering if you'd be willing to help. We'd split the pay, of course."

Shade could probably infer, this girl had absolutely no idea why people would avoid a Dark Elf.

[Xaltwind]

It didn't take long once she had passed the hilltop to make the trek over to Palisade Town's western gate. The young lady in waved in a friendly manner as she passed by some bored-looking watchmen, who gave a half-hearted hand-wave in return, before yawning and turning his eyes back to staring out over the horizon. Understandable as it was, keeping a watchful eye on the morning traffic was perhaps not very exciting, but the youthful woman couldn't help but feel that the man wasn't taking his job very seriously.

Still, once she had passed through the wooden gatehouse and made it into the town-proper, a few things struck her immediately. For one, this was clearly a settlement in-development, with the roads being a mix of trampled dirt near the outer edges and cobblestones the further in you walked. The houses were also often unpainted or made from rough materials, making it clear that this place either lacked skilled carpenters or masons, or there were a lot of newcomers. Finally, the most important thing to note was - when compared to where she hailed from - the population of this small, out-of-the-way town was quite low. Naturally, the girl didn't find any of this off-putting or troublesome, rather she found the entire thing quite rustic and cozy, in a sense. A crowded city could be overwhelming and obnoxious, to to mention noisy and cramped. This place felt more spacious and clear, despite being smaller in size. IT was a welcome change.

As she travlled down the road of the main street, her leather boots genty thudded against the stone below. A few gentlemen that she passed by had stopped to look at the new arrival, casting looks of less than savory intent after the young woman. It wasn't too strange though, considering the rather air-y and breezy nature of her defenses in both the upper chest and rear-end departments. Still, the girl was too busy to notice these uncouth onlookers, as her eyes had fixated on a certain sign some distance away.

Standing now before a large building, the girl smiled broadly. The sign told her that this was indeed the town's guildhall. Finally, after days of prolonged marching, she had finally arrived. Good thing too, her little belt-bag was out of supplies and there wasn't much in the way of coins left. Hopefully, there would be some work right away that she could undertake, so as to avoid having to camp putside of the walls, since an inn-room was probably not within her budget at the moment. Taking a deep breath, she pushed the heavy and sturdy door open, entering into the structure.

There were a surprising amount of people, especially for how early in the day it was. Still, the majority seemed to be busy with their own devices. There were two younger-looking people standing over by the bulletin board, one a girl holding a scrap of paper, the other a hooded person holding an apple. OVer by the tables on the other end of the room were a bunch of gruff, burly-looking men, busy with snarling and flexing and over-voicing each ohter - as was typical for adventurers. Letting out a slight, quiet laugh at the fact that things were very similar here to the guild back in her home, the youth entered the building proper and made her way over to the reception desk. A woman wearing the typical guild-employee outfit was standing there, greeting er with a smile and friendly words.

After a bit of polite small-talk and questions, the new adventuress was given a form to fill out. She penned down the information right then and there, scribbling with strangely deft hands, despite wearing her self-reinforced gloves.

However, as she was doing that...

A certain man with a scar running from his left brow down to his left cheek had been keeping watch on the new arrivals. In particular, he had been eyeing the foreign girl and the hooded one since they walked in. Now that they had struck up a conversation, and the scarred fellow had listened in while acting as if he wasn't eavesdropping, finally saw an opportunity. Rising from his seat, he took to making a confident stride over to the pair, a crooked grin on his lips. He wore what looked to be scalemail, a thick mace hung on his hip and he wore steel-tipped boots. The tag hanging from his belt indicated him to be of the Steel-rank. Stopping once close enough to the bulletin board-pair, he spoke with a cocky tone, befitting his smug-looking expression.

"Hey there, cuties. You new here, yeah? Not from around these parts either. Just gettin' started with the whole adventuring-deal, right? Dangerous work for a pair of little girls, but don't you worry. I've got room in my party for both of you, no problem." His grin was somewhat wolfish in nature and his eyes were narrowed, like that of a predator sizing up its prey. "Trust me, two gals like you need all the help you can get at the start! This life's dangerous when you're inexperienced, so just come with me. I'll teach you everything you need to know." The emphasis on one word in particular seemed to indicate he had ulterior motives...

[Shard]

It was an unexpected development, to say the least. Shade had not anticipated being approached, much less by what appeared to have been a newly spawned adventurer, much like himself. She seemed somewhat lost, which was a sentiment shared with the Dark Elf, and her attire hinted at a different venue, entirely. However, such was the case in an Adventurers Guild. Few locals made it their duty to delve into dangerous venues, and even less so the surrounding world where monstrous humanoids made their homes. Dark Elves fell into the category of those very monsters, as most would insist. It was a hatred that Shade had been warned about in a repeated fashion by both mother and father, which warranted a somewhat startled response as he turned to greet the girl who had approached him.

“O-oh, hey..,” the boy tried, nearly dropping his apple before regaining his composure. A rather embarrassing turn of events, for sure. He was, after all, supposed to be a practitioner in the shadow arts, someone who always maintained their balance and remained a step ahead at all times. At this moment, he had fallen woefully short. “Uhm..,” Shade tried, viewing the girl from beneath his hood, the boy’s ghostly skin somewhat visible beyond the shape of fabric. “Rats..,” Shade repeated, tapping his dainty fingers against the apple in his hands. It was better than cleaning ditches, that much was certain. He was also willing to admit that other than being an exercise in humility, taking on the role of cleaner warranted little in the pursuit of knowledge. Considering the girl for a moment, Shade would eventually clear his throat, and nodded. “Rats, yeah.., that sounds good,” he stated, clearly unsure. This was the first time he would work together with anyone outside The Moonshadow Cult, and it was a daunting prospect, to say the least.

However, it did not take long for the boy’s attention to snap towards someone else, entirely. Tension immediately rose to the forefront, and Shade raised his head somewhat to get a better view of the man who had made himself known with heavy, armored steps. Countless errors could be spotted in his choice of words, mainly when relating them to Shade’s gender. He was being mistaken for a girl, yet again. “I..,” the boy tried, unsure of how to approach this issue. The first lesson of a Moonshadow Assassin was to use what you had at your disposal. Being mistaken for a female could very well have been advantageous, and it was ironically one of the most effective measures in approaching a target. Women were generally prefered within close proximity, which in itself allowed for deadly executions. As was the boy’s reflexive measure, Shade immediately analyzed the man for weak spots. He was wearing scale mail, which rendered slashing motions useless. A strong enough thrust could very well break the links binding his armor together, but Shade had neither the strength nor the weapon for such a feat. Rather, it would require a routine approach.

Step one, focus on the hamstrings. His ankles lacked protection. Step two, maintain an agile maneuver, as the man’s upper body would still maintain its autonomy. Step three, seize the moment and strike at his throat when the man’s knee connected with the ground. It was one scenario that could play out, one of countless. The other was to focus on that heavy mace that hung at the man’s belt. Maintain patience, and wait for him to reach for the weapon, where a much faster draw would allow Shade to strike at the man’s hand, before the mace found itself in his grip. A steel badge hanging from the man’s belt indicated one truth more so than anything else. This man was far more experienced than the elf, and in a fight, Shade stood no chance. The boy’s father could have ended an aggressive exchange within seconds, with lightning-fast motions barely registered by an untrained eye. However, Shade remained far from that level. “Thank you,” the Dark Elf spoke, maintaining a polite approach. The second rule of a Moonshadow Assassin, always disarm the person you are interacting with, by making them feel at ease. “Your offer is appreciated, Sir,” Shade continued, “but I believe we’ll manage the feat on our own,” he finished, offering the man a soft, if tender smile beneath the boy’s hood. This less than desired guest was not the only man who made himself a source of attention, however. Shade needed only turn his head slightly for the boy’s eyes to widen. Never before had he seen an armor so.., exotic, in its design, as it was on a girl who had only recently stepped through the front door.

[The Irish Tree]

Steppe Archer's head tilted ever so slightly as the pale young boy seemingly faltered at her approach. He seemed rather timid for one in a dangerous profession. But the way that he seemed to carry himself said that the boy wasn't lacking for experience. He seemed very terse as he deliberated on whether or not to join her, but he eventually came around. Shade could visibly see as the archer's face lit up with joy, amber eyes sparkling. She'd made a new friend! Excitedly, she would grab Shade's hand and shake it with both of her's, beaming.

Just as she was getting acquainted though, a rather rugged looking man would come up, badgering the two "cuties" into allowing him to show them the ropes. ...Wait, girls?

Steppe Archer hummed, turning to Shade for a moment as she narrowed her eyes, poising a hand under her own chin as she thought really hard. He...she...Heshe...now that she actually focused, it got hard to tell exactly what gender Shade was. As such, in the midst of Shade turning the man down, Steppe Archer would reach out and gingerly squeeze at his chest, feeling the outline of defined enough pectorals to ensure that Shade was, in fact a man. Turning about, she would answer the more veteran ranked adventurer. "Sorry sir, my companion here's a man. Though, he is pretty cute, so I can see why you'd call him that." she said, completely destroying any and all chance of Shade pretending to be a woman to lower his guard in any capacity. Unless he swung that way. But, now that Shade had turned him down, Steppe Archer bowed her head and said: "I'm very sorry Mister, but we'll be just fine with the two of us. Besides, you're a Steel-Ranked adventurer and all. You've definitely got more important and profitable work to be doing than trudging through a sewer hunting rats with us. Thank you though! You're really nice!"

Naturally, the man had no intention of actually doing anything more than getting a good rub and a tug, but before he could even get a word in edge wise, Steppe Archer was moving away. The steel-ranked adventurer would reach out and seize her by the wrist, which took her by surprise.

Shade as well as others in the bar could see, this might go south fast, if the man lost his temper.

[Xaltwind]

When the foreign girl grabbed the chest of the other girl, an unpleasant smirk crawled onto the mace-wielding troublemaker's face. However, after the declaration that the hooded one was in fact a guy, that smirk vanished and was replaced by a grimaced scowl. Furthemore, the scowl grew after not only the hooded fellow declined his generous offer, but also the caramel-cutie who was now trying to walk off before he could even correct her about it being they who should join his party, not the other way around!

Also, it was clear that after the revelation of the hooded figure's gender being revealed, the pushy man was no longer in the slightest bit interested in that one, instead focusing solely on the lass trying to scamper off. With a forceful and sudden grasp of her wrist, which was done at surprising speed, the rough, shaggy-but-short haired man spoke up.

"Hey!" His voice was far less pseudo-smooth now, and far more forceful and irate. "I wasn't done talkin' to you, girl." The fellow's eyes were narrowed and his brows were lowered, a clearly discontent look upon his entire face. "I'm telling you, if you come with me you won't have to go hunt some stinkin' rats in a filthy sewer. I'll take you along on a real quest, with a real reward. All you gotta do is follow me." Although it may have been intended as one, the man's words didn't feel much like an offer, but more as a demand. He was just about to say something more, when...

"She said 'no thank you'." A clear, audible voice called out over the murmur and other noise in the hall. The degenerate turned his head to see that the voice had originated from the newly arrived, now newly christened porcelain-adventurer with the halberd.
"Mind your own business, or what? You saying you wanna come with too?" The man's face had regained some of its smugness, though he still looked annoyed.
"I wouldn't go anywhere with someone who doesn't listen to what others say. Aren't you ashamed?"
"The hell!? Who do you think you are, rookie? Telling me off, a Steel-rank when you're just a lowly Porcelain-scrub!"
"What does our ranks matter? There's no rule that says lower ranks have to obey higher ones! This is a matter of being a decent person, something you clearly aren't."
"Wh- Why you little bitch..."

The man had by now let go off the foreign, white-haired girl and was instead facing the makeshift-armored, outspoken lass instead. He and she were staring each other down, with dagger-like looks and frowns on each of their face. The man's hands were balled into fists, with his knuckles whitening and a clear vein showing on his temple... However, his eyes caught something - as did his ears. The noise in the guildhall had died down, and the other people preent were now looking at the spectacle in question.

This was no good. He may have been pushy and hot-headed, but the man was no fool. In this situation, he was the one who would suffer a loss in reputation and respect if things continued. All thanks to the halberd-wielding Tits McGee calling him out and making a scene... Frustrated and casting a venomous look at the aforementioned young woman, he turned on his heel with a click of his tongue.

"Tch! Fine, was just trying to help you rookies out. Whatever, I've got my own things to do." He forced a stiff, casual shrug and gave a dismissive wave of his hand before walking away back towars a table where two other ladies were sitting, both Padfoots by the look of it. For now though, the situation was disarmed without anyone having gotten a face-full-of-fist.

The purple-haired girl kept her eyes trained on the mace-man as he walked away, following him with her eyes until she was sure he had sat down. After which, she let out an exasperated breath of air and placed one cheek in the palm of her free hand. Shaking her head slightly, she refocused and walked over to the girl who had been pestered.

"Are you alright? He didn't hurt you or anything I hope?" A genuinely concerned look on her face. She also looked over at the young boy witht he hood. "And you? Are you okay?"

[Shard]

A slight yelp escaped Shade’s lips as he felt his chest suddenly squeezed, or rather, his lack of one. The boy’s scrawny shape was quite easily felt beneath his clothes, and the blatant vacancy of any female parts made itself abundantly clear. These people put the word ‘odd’ to shame, indeed. Never before had Shade been so blatantly grabbed, in a manner evidently.., impulsive. The boy was far from a prude and no boundaries had been crossed. However, the situation was unexpected and most certainly one to remember. Did humans interact with one another like this? The ones that he knew tended towards a more reserved disposition, perhaps considering their profession. Even so, the scene was not yet cast aside. Rather, as his new companion’s arm was grabbed, and that was oddly enough what she was, Shade’s hand immediately moved towards the hilt of his blade. None of this had played out smoothly, and every advantage the boy possessed by virtue of his appearance was dispelled by the archer at his side. She meant nothing by it, naturally. Very few people had a mindset like Shade’s, and those people were all a part of the same cult.

Countless thoughts passed through the boy, all at once. At the very least, no one was focusing on him, which allowed for a stealthy maneuver to be performed without risk of failure. However, he was not a fool, and knew full well where he found himself. In a room full of people. Perhaps if he possessed a hidden blade beneath his sleeve, he would have been able to perform a takedown without anyone noticing, but Shade had yet to achieve that rank within his own organization. Only seasoned assassins were equipped with the exotic weapon he had yet to earn.

Despite the chaos, Shade could breathe a sigh of relief, following the development of an unwanted situation. Another actor had entered the scene, and she fell into Shade’s vision before then. It was the very same individual who clad herself in armor clearly more useful in terms of seduction than impactful resistance. She had a personality strong enough to compete with two very large.., sections of interest for most men who undoubtedly viewed the girl, and it brought light onto a scenario which could have ended in disaster.

Shade lowered his hand from the hilt of his blade, where it remained sheathed above his tailbone. Fourteen inches of curved steel, well-forged and clearly smithed for one purpose, the assassin’s blade was of very simple design, and lacked adornments. A weapon of functionality, with a minimalist approach.

A pair of large, black eyes peered forward, analyzing the girl who had managed to disarm the situation through little more than the use of her voice. An impressive skill to have, where Shade lacked in social prowess. It was a feat he was somewhat envious of, indeed. “I’m okay,” came a quiet response, but it was clear that the boy had lost his appetite. He tossed the mostly-eaten apple into a trashcan, and shifted his attention back to the girls at his side. Most young men would likely consider themselves quite fortunate to stand between an armored maiden with features of beauty, and the exotic wanderer possessing an aura of grace. Shade was, however.., not quite like most young men. “Thanks..,” the boy continued, raising a hand to scratch the back of his head. “I think..,” he tried, looking towards the archer for a brief moment, before turning back to their savior, “we were hunting.., rats.”

[The Irish Tree]

The Steppe Archer would let out a brief groan as her wrist was grabbed, eyes growing wide as her free hand scrambled to grab at her hilt. She had earnestly thought that the man was kind, but...this was the opposite. She felt the need to fight, and just before she drew her blade to desperately fight back, someone came to her aid. A warrior woman in shining arm...well, some armor. It was more or less a stretch to call it armor, but Steppe Archer found herself completely believing it to be the woman's customary garb of her homeland. If she looked at this way, it was rather nice.

She was however concerned that the steel-rank adventurer would try and fight, before he backed away and went back to what appeared to be his own party. balling her hand over her heart, the Steppe Archer let out a relieved sigh, before she smiled once more. She would stride towards her savior and fervantly shake her left hand with both of her's, saying: "Thank you soooo so so so much! I don't know why he got so mad...but thank you for sticking your neck out for us. You were really cool!"

Now that they were safe, Steppe Archer would bow her head to Shade, apologizing. "I'm really sorry...I feel like that was my fault. Oh and sorry for grabbing you. I was just really curious, since you smelt like a boy. I think. I thought. Now I know though!" As she spoke, Steppe Archer would pump her hands up, turning to the Guard Lady, and taking a quick glance at her chest. Clearly female. "Mhm. We were just about to go hunt down some rats in the sewer. Its not exactly glamorous work, but...if you'd like, you can tag along. If we set some traps they'll be easy, plus, we can sell the pelts for extra money after cleaning! I-I don't want to impose though. You're probably busy with your own quest," the nomad girl would say, offering at least in some way to repay the other adventurer's kindness. It meant splitting the pay three ways, but the work would no doubt go much faster.

[Shard]

The girl's words caused Shade to feel a flush of heat washing over his pale cheeks. He smelled like a boy? This was the first time he had come across a human with a notable sense of smell. Raising an arm, Shade took the moment to sample his own supposed scent. A small nose gently tapped against the surface of his pale, smooth skin, but the result left him confused. Shade could not smell anything, much less a difference between himself and those around him, at the current distance.

The elf's gray, short sleeved tunic and black pants were both quite baggy on his scrawny body, and were undoubtedly coated in the scent of travel, with a hood draped over his features. It was attached to a short cloak extending down towards the boy's waistband, with a porcelain pin attached to it in the form of a clip. Anything longer would have hindered dexterous movements by an inconvenient amount.

Fingerless gloves following the theme of Shade's less than creative color-scheme donned the boy's dainty, slender hands. He could smell the handle of his blade on their surface, polished steel tightly gripped in response to danger.

The elf's thoughts would, however, travel elsewhere, and the heat in his cheeks grew all the more prominent. His father had once told him that females could smell their way to adequate prospects, especially during a specific time, each month. Whether this was a joke or not, the master assassin would not say. Many rumors surrounded the mystery that were womenfolk, and Shade knew not the answer to a single one of them. Asking his mother was far too embarrassing.

Shaking the thoughts from his mind, Shade shifted his attention to their new friend. She possessed a porcelain pin, which likely indicated that she had yet to accept any missions, on her own. Additionally, Shade saw her entering the building, and she had not examined the board. "If other adventurers are that hostile in here," he motioned towards the man who had left a memorable impression, now sitting with a mug of ale grasped between his fingers, "it's probably more dangerous outside." Every quest was, after all, a competition, and the reward warranted greed from many. This would not have been the first time experienced warriors preyed on those with less.

Gently tapping a small foot against the floor, Shade maintained a practiced gaze on the steel-ranked adventurer. He was certain that they had not seen the last of him. Shade did not understand the nature of women, but men were quite simple, and pride repeatedly made itself known as the most common of sins. When wounded, anger soon followed, which warranted action. "He might follow us into the sewers, and no one will notice if a group of new adventurers end up dead," Shade warned. Though a morbid disposition, the boy was taught since birth to be paranoid. He was a Dark Elf on human soil, and that in itself was an act of aggression.

"If you don't have a group, you should probably stick with us, until things calm down," the elf continued, his silent, soft voice trickling through a pair of thin, pale lips.

Catching the occasional glare from their previous encounter did not help in easing Shade's mind. Though the two women at the man's side appeared far less sinister than their partner, it merely meant that they possessed an advantage over him. "Those three might want to cash in on us," the boy continued, managing a quiet sigh.

[Xaltwind]

When the foreign girl shook her hand profusely and with such energy, Guard Lady couldn't help but smile. The addition of thanks made her cheeks flare red for a short while, before returning to normal after the furious handshaking was done. The other girl then proceeded to invite her to join them for a quest - killing sewer rats. Albeit, she stopped midway through the invitation and proposed that the halberd-wielding woman was preoccupied, which wasn't the case at all. With a gentle expression on her face, Guard Lady couldn't help but feel that this girl was a bit childish, but very cute in her haphazard way.

However, before she could respond, the hooded boy spoke up. He was being very wary of the man from before, and began to half-whsisper, half-spout nonsense. Cash in on us? Follow them into the sewers? What ridiculous claims! Everybody here at the hall had heard and seen the scene unfold, plus, why would a steel-rank even bother with quests and rewards for porcelain-ranks? He could make so much more money simply by going on a quest befittting his own standing and make a considerably larger profit. Not to mention, while the Bruiser did look shady, his two lady-friends were busying themselves with chatting to him and seemingly pampering or spoiling him.

"I don't think you need to worry about him." She said calmly, removing her eyes from the table-sitting brute and turning them to the hooded youth instead. "He was likely just looking for some pack-mules to carry his luggage and stroke his ego. I doubt he has the brass to actually try anything sinister like those ideas in your head." Her expression wasn't smiling anymore, but a mix of serious and dismissal. The girl honestly didn't believe anyone would stoop to outright murder or assault, simply for being told off. "Regardless, if you'd have me, I'd love to come with you. I don't know anyone in this town, since I just arrived." She continued, now smiling in her friendly manner once again. "I've never gone on actual, guild-approved quest before, but I do know a thing or two about using this." She tapped the butt-end of the halberd into the floor-board

"Just lead the way! .. Oh, wait. Don't we need to inform the receptionist about which quest we're taking before we go?" She askedd, looking a bit unsure.

[Shard]

It would appear that either Shade maintained a heavy level of paranoia, where he expected the worst from everyone, and trusted no one, or the newly arrived girl was naive. It was faulty to blame the youthful elf of his disposition, however. He was fully aware that most people very much wanted him dead by virtue of his existence, which clearly bled into other matters, as well. Shade believed that everyone was capable of acting out in gruesome and in this case, unexpected ways. However, noting how his thoughts were discarded in disapproval, the boy decided to remain silent. His eyes still occasionally lingered on the man who had warranted this worry, but eventually, Shade’s attention shifted, and turned its gaze towards the receptionist. They couldn’t just leave, or else no one would know where they were headed, and the quest would not have been recorded.

The Dark Elf was unsure of how this process worked. So far, he had been equipped with minimal knowledge on the matter, and as nearly weightless steps brought the boy closer to the reception, Shade patiently waited for his turn to reveal itself. He decided to linger for a moment, seeing how others were conducting themselves in front of the receptionist and would echo their statements. “Hello,” the elf commented, once none other stood in front of him in the queue. “We’re a group of three,” he thumbed over his shoulder at the two girls joining him for this quest of pest control. Rather, it would be fair to say that they were joining the Archer. “Uhm, we’re accepting the quest to hunt down rats,” he tried.

The receptionist appeared to be a pleasant individual, indeed, and it did not take long for the woman to look over Shade and his two companions. This was what she did on the daily, after all. “Three of you, then?” The receptionist spoke, offering Shade a soft and most reassuring smile, “that seems reasonable,” she continued. “I’ve signed you off on the quest. Good hunting, and be careful!” She finished, revealing a bright smile. There truly were people cut from every cloth within these walls. From the deepest depths of depravity no doubt to saints made flesh.

Starting towards the door, Shade turned to the girls, “I think that’s it,” he stated, “let’s find a sewer entrance.” Not a glamorous job by any stretch of the imagination but there were people working beneath the city, people keeping the sewers clean and running. They were at risk, due to these monstrosities, even if the issue as a whole strayed far beneath the attention of more experienced warriors. Someone needed to deal with the issue, and so far, it seemed to have fallen to an assassin, an archer, and a soldier.

[The Irish Tree]

The Steppe Archer took note as Shade's face lit up pink and he started smelling himself. ...Had she offended him? She hadn't meant to say that he stank. It was just that the women of her homeland just...smelled a certain way. Now that she thought on it, the armored woman before her hadn't smelled like them either. It didn't seem like something that greatly needed correcting, since after a while, the boy's focus turned from his scent to the Steel-Ranked man. It was certainly concerning to think that he might try and get revenge, but the Guard Lady had a point. Everyone knew they'd just had a discourse go down. If anything happened to them, that man would be the prime suspect. He'd be a fool to try and...do anything, really. And they'd be fools to try and do anything back.

Shade had an excellent point following that brief back and forth, that they had to REGISTER the quest first, lest they be little better than poachers. Nodding emphatically, she would watch, peeking over Guard Lady to watch as he registered them. When he returned, Steppe Archer would hold her hand up as if to speak up. "First, I need to get us something to plug our noses with. Human refuse left to rot is...ripe. And then some. Be right back!" she would say, taking off like a hurricane and dashing outside of town.

She would return in mere minutes, beaming as she held up stalks of thin plants with small bulbous stamens that looked hard, and almost perfectly round. "My Mother taught me to use these when handling animal organs. They're good at blocking smells...just make sure you breath through your mouth only." Steppe Archer would say, plucking off two of the stamens for herself and stuffing one into each nostril.

...She looked...ridiculous. Absolutely bafoonish, even. But she had a point: Sewers smelt terrible. Surely looking foolish was a small price to pay for not losing one's lunch over the smell of raw doo-doo. Humming to herself, the Steppe Archer would look at her sleeves, then at her ankles, before suddenly starting to unwrap her waistwrap that held her dress together. Folding over her dress, she was now left in just her leather breastplate and her smallclothes. "I don't want to get this dirty..." she said, moving her bow's quiver and her sword to her much lighter attire. She would pack up her dress into here backpack and raise her fist to the sky. "Ready for adventure! And Rats!"

Her attire now consisted of a something akin to a simple blue woolen tabard beneath the simple leather breastplate, with what one could call a pair of white shorts covering her legs, the hem of which was obscured by the tabard's extended waist section.

...Guard Lady would now likely be wondering just how fast Steppe Archer might have just gone with the Steel-Rank if she hadn't already picked a quest. She seemed almost unflappable. And Shade would take note of her lack of modesty, since she had basically stripped down in public. At least the tabard meant the only part of her was bare.

[Shard]

One thing was growing abundantly clear in response to the archer's antics. Where Dark Elves as a whole did not represent Shade, neither did this girl spearhead the concept of humanity. Her demeanor, the way she carried herself, and the blatant oddity coating her like a blanket separated this young female from every other human in that establishment. Humans were quite unpredictable in their own right, but this girl was purely odd. Her cultural behavior stretched itself far from what the others were displaying, where she could be considered an obvious minority.

With wide eyes, Shade watched the girl disrobe amongst others, a scene which was performed in public. What the Steppe Archer had spoken of quickly faded into memory, in comparison. Indeed, the sewers were quite horrid, and the scent following their upcoming adventure was nothing a person would prefer. Even so, Shade was now exchanging looks with a girl who had placed herbs in her nose and undressed in front of an audience.

"Thanks..," the Dark Elf had long since halted his advance, and extended a hand to gently pinch the herb between two slender fingers. In regards to his profession, the boy was expected to brave through assignments such as these without sensual aid. He was an assassin, and disgusting venues were going to be frequented. If he couldn't sludge through the confines of a sewer system without sticking two branches into his nose, the boy's father would be sorely disappointed.

Shade slipped the generous gift into his pocket, and resumed a previous stride towards the exit. With a hand on the door, he pushed it open and stepped into the morning light.

A warm, pleasant breeze brushed past the youth's exposed skin, with a small if delighted exhale leaving his lips. Shade had made sure to scout parts of the city before entering the guild, which left the elf with a small headstart. Entering a city mimicked the scenario of stepping through the front door of a home. An assassin was supposed to know of every plausible exit and escape route. Anything could happen at any time, which in itself warranted vigilance.

If the elf recalled correctly, there was a sewer entrance close to one of the taverns. More precisely, behind the establishment, in a back alley. If anything spelled out 'unsavory', it was most certainly the business conducted in these shady corners. "There was a manhole over there, I think," Shade spoke, and pointed away from the guild.

It would have been foolish to claim that an open city such as this, despite its small size, offered any measure of comfort for the Dark Elf. His pointed ears were safely hidden beneath the shape of his hood, but every single inhabitant of this human venue was a possible risk.

With a slight sigh, Shade shook the thought from his mind. So far, things were going well enough, and no one knew of his true heritage yet. Hopefully he could manage this quest together with his party and then make himself scarce before they picked up on anything. He dreaded to think what a discovery would entail. The archer would perhaps not put any emphasis on it, as she appeared rather.., distant from other species. However, the armored girl clearly had elven blood flowing through her veins. That much was certain, after a single look at her ears.

"It's going to be very dark down there," Shade stated, "if you're not used to it, perhaps a torch is advisable." As for him, Shade was more comfortable in the dark, and his eyes found the lack of light soothing. Enough so, for the morning shine to leave a slight irritation in his obsidian orbs.

[Xaltwind]

It seemed things were about to get started. The hooded boy had taken it upon himself to fill out their information at the reception, and the archer-girl had... run off...? Then returned? With herbs. Herbs that she proceed to insert into her own nose after clarifying that they were good for blocking your sense of smell. The Guard Lady couldn't help but place a hand infront of her mouth as she laughed slightly at the sight - the foreigner looked absolutely ridiculious with the two sticsk poking out of her nostrils. The amusement quickly turned to bewilderment though, as the girl porceed to quite casually pull off her own garments - right infront of everyone around her.

A resounding, echo-ey 'Oooooooooooh~!'-noise could be heard from the other people in the guildhall - particularly the men, as the girl did this. The half-elf herself could feel her cheeks flush a bit in embarrassment for this gir! Had she no shaem? Or perhaps, she viewed other people on the same level as potatoes and didn't care if they were watching or not? Once she was done undressing into her now limited new attire, Shade proceeded outside - either to escape the situation or because he was really eager to get going. In that regard, Guard Lady too was most inclined to move away and put this entire situation out of her mind.

Following the boy outside, she listened to his directions and his inquiry about a torch. A torch wouldn't be very useful though, sewers were damp and moist, if the flame was just sitting on an unprotected piece of wood, it would likely go out or become unusable if anything should happen to it. Still, torches were cheap so stocking up on a few could work... But it would be better to find a more secure and protected light-source for the long run.

"I think a simple oil-lantern would do." She suggested, knowing that those things could stay lit even when left out in the rain and wind. It was the default tool for nighttime patrols back in her home city. "I'll go see if I can find us one, hopefully for cheap." She explained, making her way down the street towards a place where she had seen many signs and plaques for shops back when she had arrived earlier.

It didn't take many minutes to locate a general store. The shop was of modest repute and upkeep, but there were a wide selection of hoods in both the display-window and on the shelves. After searching about for a while, constantly being oggled by the three-toothed, balding shopkeep who pretened to busy himself with stocking an already full shelf, the Guard Lady found what she was looking for and approached the counter. After being initially overcharged for the banged up, buckled and in-places rusted lantern, the store's owner was only willing to lower the price after having a good, long stare at the half-elven girl's cleavage... Much to her irritation. Luckily, she had managed to not punch the older lecher in his face, possibly knocking out those remaining teeth of his, and instead endured the objectification - after all, she didn't have too much money left to spend.

Having been generously gifted with a bonus can of lamp-oil, the Guard Lady left the store - steam nearly shooting out of her ears and her brows furrowed deeply. She would certainly not be visiting this establishment again, but at least the item they needed had been procured. It was only at this point n time however, that she realized two very important things.

First, Shade had only vaguely pointed in a direction and not given any specificis to where the manhole was supposed to be. Two, she had been to amused, then embarrassed, by the archer to accept the herbs for the sewer-dive. Hopefully, the latter would still have some on her - for she did not enjoy the idea of trudging through the unified smell of amonia, mold, rat and people feacl-matter as well as whatever other foul odors may linger below the town. Griacing, she made her way over to what looked to be a tavern, stopping there to look around for her two companions.

[Shard]

Wanting to avoid as many interactions as possible, Shade made himself scarce outside the general store where his new ally had begun procuring a light source for herself and the archer. Shade was going to manage well enough without one, and it was becoming more evident with the morning light continuing to hurt his eyes. Growing up in a cave, and conducting most of his active training at night time, Shade had grown far too used to a lack of light. His sense of hearing was quite fantastic, and his ability to see in the dark was outstanding, but this left the boy with a handicap. He felt halfway blind on the bright surface. It was almost shameful to share these senses with something as despicable as goblins. Shade’s father had told him of the vile creatures, and their homes made in darkness.

Indeed, Shade had hunted goblins with his father on more than one occasion, and while the boy lacked much of what could be considered critical information concerning the monsters, he knew of their features. They saw well in obfuscating darkness, they had an amazing sense of smell, and apparently, they were all male, which explained the kidnapping of females. He had always wondered about that, why goblins displayed such a habit in bringing the fairer sex back to their lairs, where they would otherwise simply kill the men. They could evidently breed with any species, and the result was always another goblin.

Be that as it was, Shade shifted his attention back to his current quest. He had an opportunity to fight goblins once more, but it was a quest he had forsaken in favor of this far safer option. Some would perhaps consider it cowardly, but what differentiated an assassin from a knight, was that one of them operated through logic, while the other pursued passion.

Shade picked up his pace and followed the armored girl as the started towards the tavern. It was only when they reached the establishment that confirmations were made. There was indeed a manhole behind the structure, and Shade wasted no time in kneeling down next to the metallic lid. He did find it rather fascinating how human cities had developed so far. Sewers were not of a simple design. They were the underbelly of any city, and they harbored that of which people wanted to disregard and scorn. Considering how elves survived on fruits and vegetables alone, their biology was somewhat different from a human’s. Where eternal elves could indeed survive on a few apples a day, humans would quickly find themselves wanting.

The boy tugged softly at the metallic lid, before he tilted his head. Naturally, the path was locked. Officials would not have wanted anyone to actually slip into the sewers without proper permission. Shade was, however, not quite the law-abiding citizen one might have expected. As if a reflex, the elf produced his lockpicks and began working on the metallic lid possessing a large lock halting their path. A keen observer would have been able to count thirty full seconds before a click was heard, but Shade did not seem to consider the situation appealing. “I need to be able to do that twenty seconds faster,” he sighed. Half a minute on one lock? Unacceptable, but he was still learning. At the very least, he was willing to admit that.

Pulling the metal lid aside, Shade slipped down towards the ladder which led into their designated quest area. His movements were fluid and most certainly agile, and once he felt the moist, damp floor beneath his feet, the boy reached for his short sword and released the weapon from its scabbard.

[The Irish Tree]

Steppe Archer would eagerly follow Guard Lady and Shade to the tavern, waiting outside with Shade and watching in awe as he broke open a lock in just half a minute. Before she could tell him just how awesome it was, he would leap down. As much as Steppe Archer wanted to follow after him right away, she would wait for her armored elven friend.

Once she was in sight, the archer would offer her the very same herbs that now clogged her nostrils, before she began descending the ladder. She puffed her chest up proudly as she stood beside Shade. "I can't smell anything! Mother really was right. Anyways, let's get to rat hunting, she would say, waiting until the light of the lamp existed to guide them. Peeking around the corners near the entrance ladder, Steppe would draw her curved sword. She doubted that having her bow out and at the ready in here would be much use if she rounded a corner and got a face full of rat. "Do you two know if there's anything else in these sewers? L-Like um...anything...nastier than rats...? Like...giant bugs?"

Shaking her head, Steppe Archer would puff her cheeks out. She couldn't lose to dumb bugs now! She wasn't just a girl living her life. She was an adventurer for pete's sakes! What kind of adventurer feared bugs? In an attempt to show her determination, Steppe Archer would spy a fly floating about her, and rapidly slash at it, attempting to cut it in half. ...Instead, she just kind of flailed around for a moment, far away enough to not be a danger to anyone but herself before she gave up with a huff, walking back towards the two. "Who should take point? I think Guard Lady should, just because her weapon's really long. I can cover with arrows if we have enough distance."

[Xaltwind]

After joining up with her hooded friend, and their special ally the archer again, Guard Lady was relieved and grateful for rceiving the herbs from the latter. She wrinkled her nose slightly at the thought of shoving these two sticks up into her nostrils, given how silly it would look, but the thought of having to actually smell sewage, refuse and wet droppings quickly dismissed any silly notion of worrying about ones appearance. And so, with two quiet 'plops!' she stuck the things into her own nose.

Watching Shade open the manhole next, she thought the young man was very skilled. Of course, she wouldn't praise or commend him, as skills such as that were not exactly something decent and law-abiding nor upstanding citizens should know - but she couldn't deny its usefulness, and as such, would let him off without a scolding... This time. However! The fact that the boy went down the open manhole first was another matter entirely. Surely he had seen and been aware of their Archer-friend's new dress, not to mention the lack of ... Cover... for her very own posterior, yet he had still ventured down into the hole first, and now had an apt opportunity to stare up said hole while both girls descended.

Not that she thought the hooded lad to be a creep or lecher in any way, but you never knew with men. It would have been far more courteous to wait for the ladies to go down first, but perhaps he was just excited for the adventure? Or worried there might be enemies right below them? Still, she herself had far more armor and protection than him, so it would have made more sense for her to go down first. As such, the half-elf pouted a bit, watching as the archer gingerly descended next.

Her own climb down waas a bit more cumbersome. Not only did she had to slowly lower the halberd from ladder-step to ladder-step, so to not drop it, but she also had to avoid tipping the newly bought lantern. Thusly, her climb down was far less agile or graceful than that of her companions, and would one have looked up while she descended, they would have gotten a good eyeful of the pretty young thing's rear.

Eventually though she made it down. Finally unhooking her halberd from the ladder and resting it against a nearby wall. Reaching into her little bag that hung on her belt, she withdrew a small piece of metal and an equally small rock. Smacking the two items together a few times produced sparks, and soon the lantern was aglow with the warm, reassuring light of fire. Putting the items back in her bag, she picked up the lantern and grabbed her waapon once more, moving over to her allies as they were now discussing something important.

The archer had a point, out of all three of them, Guard Lady's weapon had the longest reach out of their weapons, and she was the most protected from the front. The archer girl's concern about bugs was a bit unusual, as the half-elf thought it obvious that icky, gross insects would prowl the depths of a place where decay and waste were plentiful.. But given the girl's outrageous response to a fly buzzing near her, she found it best to not confirm this truth for now. Scratching her arm casually and looking around the roughly hewn and mortared stone bricks that made up the sewer walls, Guard Lady replied.

"I'm fine with going first. It'll be much easier for me to protect you that way, plus you can watch my re-" She paused."... My back. Watch my back. But I can't really carry the lantern with my weapon drawn." A simple note was made. Her wweapon required both hands, so she couldn't well carry it as well as fight at the same time. She could give it to the archer, but the other girl also needed both hands in case of having to draw her bow and arrow. That left the boy, and lo' and behold, he only wielded a one-handed sword! Perfect!

"Do you mind carrrying it for us?" She asked, smiling friendly - with those two sticks in her nose - extending the arm and hand with the lantern towards Shade.

Nearby, the slow-flowing sludge-water of the sewers made itself apparent, yellowed and brown in discoloration. The sound of dripping and their slightly echoed voices was all that could be heard for now. Where they were now, there were two ways to go, either towards the east, or to the west. From here, and with the limited light of the torch, both ways seemed fairly similar. The eastern path though, far off still, split into a crossroads further ahead, with paths going in all directions. The western path only seemed to have a single turn in it further ahead.

[Shard]

Raising a brow at the offer Shade had been given, the gracious gift he found shoved into his hand, a small sigh escaped the boy’s lips. He was an assassin, a lurker of the shadow, someone who used stealth as their primary weapon. Now, he was carrying a light source which handicapped his entire way of fighting and conducting battle. These girls were clueless. However, he could not blame them, too much. They had no way of knowing that the Dark Elf was a shadow warrior, someone who relied on dexterity and finesse rather than brute force.

Holding the lantern with incredible disdain, none of which the assassin displayed, Shade continued to follow his new companions. The armored footsteps of their frontline combatant easily drowned out his own weightless motions, a small echo lingering with each movement. “We’re going to have to patrol the whole place, anyway,” Shade commented, frowning at the light held between his slender fingers, “it doesn’t much matter where we begin.”

The ideal scenario in these circumstances would be to have Shade scout ahead, using his ability to fade into the shadows, which allowed for ease of information. He could mark the location of their enemies, analyze their positions, and finally, conduct a plan of attack with his team. Though, that did not appear to be what the three of them were pursuing. Weighing the positives, however, this was the safest option, even if Shade found himself utterly crippled by the lantern. His dark eyes were quite comfortable in the sewers, but it was a strength the boy was less than willing to share.

He lowered his attention to the damp, wet stone floor beneath their feet. Needless to say, the surface was adequately revolting, with sewage water offering little in terms of scenery. The stench was not as bad as the boy had first expected, though maintained an obvious layer of disgust. Goblin caves shared the feat, and they tended to smell even worse, which was further elevated by death and rotting carcasses found throughout their abodes. Humans were.., quite disgusting, in their own way. They ate like pigs, they smelled of sweat more often than one would like to admit, they were loud, obnoxious, and severely lacking in discipline, but they were at the very least unique from one another. Some humans did, in fact, possess manners. No goblins displayed that ability, and neither did any other monster Shade had come across in his short life.

Absentmindedly twirling his small blade between his fingers, the assassin looked ahead through the darkness, attempting to keep his ears perked for sounds of skittering and movement. Rats, no matter their size, were silent creatures. They attacked from the shadows, and would likely not rush the group through a frontline assault. Even animals knew how to fight, and they knew what would get them killed. Wolves hunted in packs, they used tactics, and cats slowly stalked their prey like assassins on four paws. Underestimating the enemy was a fool’s endeavor, and Shade’s father had repeatedly told the boy to treat every single enemy like a mighty demon. Be careful, be tactical, and most importantly, be precise.

Remaining behind the heavily armored girl, Shade agreed with the positions taken. In an ideal approach, she would warrant attention from the enemy, allowing the archer to nock arrows onto the string of her bow, and give Shade clear shots on enemies with a heavy focus on the armored warrior. ‘In a group, the assassin’s job is to find openings and to act as an opportunist,’ the boy’s father would say, ‘if the knight is fighting another armored opponent, your job is to bypass the armor, while unseen.’ A feat which was difficult to perform amidst the flames of combat, but it was something Shade had been practicing in the same way a swordsman mastered the swing of a heavy blade.

“I think you can just decide every direction we go in,” the Dark Elf stated as he looked towards the halberdier, “the less we talk down here, the less our enemy can hear us.”

[The Irish Tree]

Steppe Archer would take her place behind Shade as he carried the lantern, feeling like they were a proper part with all this planning. Even though Shade was right about them needing to stay quiet, lest the rats swarm them in a bid to devour, Steppe Archer did have one last thing to say. That being: "Remember, if anyone gets bitten, we need to treat it immediately. I know a little bit about medicine...just enough to maybe make it not so lethal. But if you get bitten, its almost guaranteed to get infected. If there's too many in one spot, we can use bait to lure them out. Hunting's all about outsmarting your prey, instead of out-muscling them." the girl would say, keeping her sword drawn.

She sincerely hoped they'd be alright...it wasn't until she was done here that she realized they had no curatives. Well, beyond the herbs that could serve as a mild anesthetic if crushed into powder and dried. But other than that, they'd have to perform perfectly. A task that was likely beyond porcelain ranked adventurers. No matter. If need be, she could carry someone up the ladder herself. Being in the back carried both the least, and most amount of risk. For a straight fight, the backline was almost assuredly never going to be touched, unless the party were to completely wipe against what they were fighting. On the other hand, in the case of an ambush the rear line was the first to die. This much was basic to understand.

And with her understanding came a hint of worry, as Steppe Archer continued to check behind them whichever way they would proceed, not wanting to get caught in a pincer attack by the rats...or whatever else might be down here and hungry.

[Xaltwind]

Taking point, Guard Lady began to lead the other two down the western pathway, her leather and metal-reinforced boots clinking gently against the stone walkway. Apart from that and the noise from the flowing sewer-water just to the side off them, there really wasn't much eTlse to hear.

The archer brought up a valid point though. A place like this was full of filth and anything that lived down here was likely just as filthy. A bite from a rat that drank sewer-water and ate rotting, decayed refuse was probably not the healthiest or safest injury to suffer, and the halberdier silently reprimanded herself for not having had the foresight to buy some sort of potion or medicine just in case. Then again, she wouldn't have had the money for the lantern if she'd done that, so it was either a choice between having a source of light and being able to perhaps see the attackers before they struck, or have no light and a high risk of being bitten, but having the means to mend it... Neither was particularly favorable.

And she couldn't blame her party-members either, they were all porcelain ranked after all, so none of them likely had much in the way of disposable income to begin with. No, she would just have to protect them and ensure they all got out safe and sound so they could get paid and be better prepared for the next time!

After rounding a corner and walking in relative silence for a whilea, Guard Lady stopped. The light from the lantern was just enough to illuminate something off a short distance, slumped against one of the sewer's walls... A pile of bones, with ragged, torn scraps of dirty cloth clinging to it. Swallowing a lump that had jumped into her throat, and taking a deep breath, the polearm-wielding girl walked closer, careful and vigilant with each step. Once within reach, she gently lowered her weapon and gave the pile of bones a poke. A rattling sound resonated as the pieces and bits of the heap shifted, and a skull rolled off the top. A human skull.

"Dear gods..." Guard lady exclaimed, slightly taken aback. Although she had trained fighting and knew that one day she would need to strike someone or something down, this was actually the first time she had seen an honest-to-goodness corpse, at least of a human. There were small marks all over both the bones and the skull itself, as if something had scratched the surface repeatedly... And given the lack of any flesh or organs, and the state of the tattered rags it wore, it was likely that this person had been ... Eaten...

Squeak!

A sound echoed from up ahead. Guard Lady stepped back, raising her weapon into a readied position, staring daggers down the dark, gloomy hallway. The sound of skittering, tiny feet could be heard now, coming from up ahead.

"Something's coming... Get ready." She warned her companions. "Make sre nothing sneaks up on us." The girl added, knowing that there would be nowhere to run if they got surrounded in this linear tunnel.