[IC] Goblin Slayer: Newblood (CANCELLED)

[Xaltwind]

Druid Girl nodded, both at her archer and reptile friend. Though it took a while before the proverbial candle lit above her head as Big Red handed her his portion of the night-patrol's payment. Eventually, the dots between what he had said, and the reason for why she had gotten his money, clicked, and she smiled and looked at her bow-wielding ally.

"Well, while Big Red handles the paperwork, why don't you and I hit the market and shops?" She suggested before heading for the door.

Meanwhile, the lizardman would find the Guild Girl at the reception-counter putting on a polite small, though it was obvious that she was sighing internally at the big brute's questions and poking regarding the two quests he had just brought to bare. She straightened the glasses atop her nose and balled her hand into a small fist, using it to cover her mouth as she half-coughed, half-cleared her throat before speaking.

"I'm sorry sir, but quests are issued by petitioners and clients, not by the Guild. If there isn't any information specified on the quest note itself, we can't really offer much in the way of additional knowledge." She explained, holding a finger up as she talked. "Given that the farmer who posted both fo your quests managead to get to the town yesterday, without being accosted, I don't think you'll encounter. annything too bad. But, for all we know, you could be ambushed by bandits, wolves, a rogue troll or maybe even have a roc or thunderbird swoop down on you." She ewxaggerated. "Or, you might only see a lone field mouse during your entire trip." She added, as a counterwwight to the previously dangerous-sounding scenarios, after which she took a small breath of air before going on.

"As for the goblins..." She paused thoughtfully. "The quest was posted three days, and a group of four porcelain ranked adventurers initially accepted it. Like I said earlier though, if the quest doesn't list any vital information, the Guild doesn't really have anything we can add. I doubt the man who posted it was brave enough to go into the little monsters' lair and count them himself either." The woman spoke, politely but also matter-of-factly. It was true though, just because someone posted a quest to the Guild didn't mean that the Guild had any specifics or important details about the job or its hazards. Adventurers accepted quests under the knowledge that they were potentially hazardous and could well end their lives - that much was made evident by the documents one signed before receiving their guild-tag.

"Still though..." The woman said, placing a hand on her chin and furrowing her brow - a look of concern on her face. "Let me check something." She said, leaving the counter to go into a backroom. Big Red was left alone for a minute or two, before she returned with a small number of papers in her hand. Once back with the lizardman, she began flipping through the pages, reading them in a muttered voice with quickly moving eyes. "Ah, yes. Here we are." She suddenly said, pulling one of the papers from the small pile. "The quest was accepted by a group consisting of a young swordsman, a priest, a female padfoot rogue and a female bard. They were all porcelain-ranks, just as you and your two party members, and they had previously completed only one quest as a team." The Guild Girl divulged, looking up at the lizard from her notes. "Does that help you?" She asked, since she really couldn't do much else for him.

At this point, the Guild Hall had become more lively and full of people. The quest board was being clogged by many potential takers and the tables and chairs were filling up slowly but surely. A group from ysterday, consisting of Bruiser and his two padfoor girls, were being particularly noisy, complaining about the crappy selection of Steel-rank quests. A group of two youngsters were looking dismayed, mumbling about how they didn't want to go squashing roaches in the sewers, casting jealous glances at Big Red for having snagged - what was probably - the best porcelain quests before they arrived.

[The Irish Tree]

Steppe Archer was more than willing to hit the markets, seeing as they had a bit of gold to spend, and shopping that needed to be done. She needed a couple of arrows, as well as a healing potion and antidote. Provided she could get all of those things within her budget, Steppe Archer would be a happy camper while waiting for Big Red to return. And hey, even if they didn't really NEED the antidote from not taking the goblin quest, it never hurt to be more than prepared.

Looking to Druid Girl after she finished her shopping, Steppe Archer would ask: "So...you told me how you learned magic, but I'm curious...what made you want to be an adventurer? Personally, I'm trying to get wealth and power for my people, but the adventuring itself is great too. ...I wonder what Red became one for, too..."

[Kazemitsu]

It seemed sometimes Druig Girl was a bit slow on the uptake of what the reptilian man wanted, but that was kind of a given considering he hadn't explained anything. He watched them go for a moment before returning his attention to the Guild Girl Clerk. It seemed he'd have to get more information from the client himself, maybe get some information on the fauna of the land while he was at it.

But she continued, explaining about the goblins job a little. "A shame he didn't give rough numbers... He mused before the woman got a concerned look before going into the back room. She returned with papers, probably three days worth of porcelain job sheets. She revealed that the previous party for the job consisted of four people. A swordsman, a padfoot rogue, a bard, and a priest. Two males, two females. A fairly balanced team possibly.

He nodded though. "Yes, that was some helpful information." He stated before giving her an appreciative slight bow. He turned and started to leave, taking note the jealous looks that he got two of the quests. They should have woken up and gotten here earlier. A Steel rank however, that was an annoyance. "You get what you get, a dragon isn't going to be a Steel Rank." He growled as he walked by. Some people had no gratitude for the work they received.

A thought hit him as he opened the Guild Hall door. He hadn't given the girls a meeting place!

[Xaltwind]

The two girls shopping was a peaceful thing. The two did however learn that while minor healing potions weren't too expensive, actual and effective antidotes cost quite a bit. Then again, Palisade Town didn't have many skilled pharmacists or alchemists to begin with, given it's relative small size, and there were a lot of other adventurers around that also wanted their pultices, so it was understandable. Still, they'd managed to scrape toegther the things Big Red had asked for, and Druid Girl had insisted on buying a length of durable rope - though she hadn't said why.

Done with their shopping, the duo were now casually strolling through the slowly awakening streets of the town, enjoying the morning sun. As they walked, Steppe Archer piped up with a question, and some background as to her own reasons for coming here and wanting to be an adventurer. Druid Girl smiled and happed her chin, looking up at the sky above, her eyes looking a bit daydreamy.

"I grew up on a farm." She finally said. "I did the same old thing everyday. Endless repetition, day in and day out. But whenever I got some spare time, I'd go out into the wilds around my home. I loved walking the forest paths, watching the animals and finding caves and meadows and glades..." She stated, looking back to her companion with a sweet expression. "I always longed to do and see things beyond my home, beyond monotony. So, I guess-" She laughed and scratched the back of her head. "-I became one because I'm just selfish. I don't have a goal or dream to achieve, I just like walking outdoors and seeing new things, new places and new people... I, I guess that's kind of silly, huh?" She said, looking a bit sheepish and scratching her arm.

While their lizardman friend had not specified a place to regroup, Druid Girl had made the suggestion that they should head for the East Gate and meet up with the client for the escort quest there. After all, the man probably wouldn't come to the Guild to fetch his own bodyguards, and Big Red likely wasn't going to sit on his scaly butt and wait for them to come back either. Thus, the caramel-skinned girl unilateraly decided to pull her acher-friend along.

Once reaching the gates though, they were greeted by a sad sight. The first was the wagon, a shoddy and splintery thing, looking like it'd been put together by an amateur hobbyist. The second was the horse - an old, scraggy and tired-looking mare with listless eyes and saggy features. The last one was the man - a middle aged fellow with a balding head, mutton chops and sun-tanned leathery skin. He wore a grey tunic, grey wool pants and a pair of mudcaked and weatherworn boots. He was chewing on something as he stood next to his cart, leaning against the rough, uneven surface of it. The entire ensemble looked, in a single word, shabby. The man picked at his nose, withdrew the finger, looked at the contents and then flicked it casually away onto the street.

Druid Girl stood frozen for a bit, taking in the sight, before turning to look at Steppe Archer.

"W... Well! He looks... Rustic." She said, a nervous, unconvincing smile on her lips.

[The Irish Tree]

Steppe Archer would smile at the honest answer given to her. She didn't think it was a silly thing at all. Patting the Druid Girl on the shoulder, the nomad would say: "It isn't silly at all. Everyone's a little selfish. I ran away from home because I didn't want to marry someone. ...Admittedly, even my father thought running was better. Besides, I bet a lot of adventurers just...wanted an adventure! Its in the name and all. Excitement and danger...even if you might get hurt, I think its still worth it to chase a dream like that." The archer's smile was bright, maybe even rivaling the morning sun before she would relax a bit, pulling back to just her normal goofy grin.

Once they were on their way to meet their client, Steppe Archer had a certain...image in mind when it came to a merchant. And this man with his wagon that looked like it had never been blessed by the hand of a carpenter, a horse that looked like it would rather be dead than here, and the NOSE PICKING definitely didn't fit. Steppe Archer looked visibly distressed at the sight of the horse, her hair seemingly floofing down a tad as she looked at the mare with sad eyes. "Poor thing..." she said, wondering if she could get the poor thing an apple somewhere. But, they had a job to do. And with the client right there, staring and gasping would do little good. Stepping up to the plate, Steppe Archer would put on her best smile as she approached the man, asking: "Hello there sir, are you the farmer looking for an escort back to the Eastern Farmstead?"

...She just really, really hoped this wagon wouldn't break down halfway through and require them to carry the goods by hand...she couldn't imagine the horse or wagon really lasting that much longer.

[Kazemitsu]

The buff reptilian man was a little surprised that the Steel Ranker hadn't said anything. From all he had heard humans were very prideful, taking it further than they rightfully should. Then again, just because he was Steel Rank didn't mean he could stand up to a lizardman. That reptilian race was well known for their ridiculous strength and he was no exception. Hell his stature was more on display than most of his people who wore full cured leather clothing.

Still his mind was wandering. The farmer likely wasn't going to be at the Guild. No point having to trundle through a town waking up and everyone going this way and that. So off to the East Entrance once more, since the quest had mentioned east farm lands...and Druid Girl had said something about it as well. With that he was off, dipping and swerving around people who were in his way. That fluid reptilian grace not matching the rest of his figure, was he part snake? Who knew.

It only took him a little bit to get to the East Entrance and he spotted his two companions, just in time so see Archer Girls floofed hair...droop? Were all humans capable of that? His eyes cut towards the sight of the ramshackle wagon, the ancient nag, and the less than impressive farmer. He couldn't say much about nosepicking, he himself sent mucus rockets flying when he needed to clear his nose.

"Did you get everything?" He asked the two ladies as he stepped up behind them.

[Xaltwind]

Druid Girl was happy to hear Stppe Archer's comment about the adventuring life. She always felt a bit guilty whenever she thought about the reasons for why she had gone out into the world, but at least now she had her parents' blessing to do so - so that was a load off at least. Still, she couldn't help but worry about the two back at their farm, especially since her father had gotten so sick that one time... Still, now wasn't the time for taht. Her spunky comrade had already waltzed on over and spoken to the nose-picker-'n-flicker, who had turned his leathery face to size her up and down. He then looked over the archer's shoulder over at the drid, a disgruntled snort left his nostrils.

"Aye, that be me. But when I tolds the Guild I wanted an escort for my wagon back home, I didn't mean that kind of escort." He said - making obvious remark about Druid Girl's attire. The caramel-hued cutie simply blinked, apparently unaware of what sort of escort he was implying that she be. "Still, the Guild so short-handed that they could only send tow wee girls? Things must be worse than bad, eh?" He asked, turning his head back forwards and spitting out a glob of snotty saliva.

"We actually have another companion. He should be making his way over here shortly." Druid Girl stated, though she didn't seem as happy as Steppe Arhcer, in fact, she seemed more along the lines of annoyed and irritated as she spoke tot he man.

"That so? Well, hope it's a big and tough fella'. No offense, but having you two in my cart might attract bandits rather than scare 'em off." The man stated, while inspecting his rather unclean fingers for lack of anything else to do.

As Big Red arrived though, Druid Girl's expression brightened and she quickly hurried over to the lizardman. Upon his question, she nodded and reached into her small travelling bag, rummaging around for a bit before pulling out a small, buralp pouch, with three bottles in it.

"Yep, we sure did." She said with a bright smile. "Though, the antidotes were really pricey... Oh, here, the change." She said, as she handed her lizardy friend both his potions and the left-over money from his purchase. Meanwhile, the farmer was now standing with his jaw agape, staring at the Lizardman warrior with a mix of fear and awe on his face, no longer leaning against the wagon.

"Wha-Wh-Wha-" He stuttered. "Who's this giant!?" He exclaimed in shock and confusion. Druid Girl turned to look at him, a quizzical expression on her face as she tilted her head in her own confusion.

"This is our friend. The one I told you about?"
"But he's a giant lizard!" The man responded.
"Yes... He's rather big. And red. And really strong. And smart. And-" The Druid explained.
"Alright! Alright! I get it! Jeez, he's a freakin' God-send! Why don't ya tell me the size of his willy while you're at it?" The farmer said, waving dismissively. Druid Girl's face went bright red.
"I-I-I haven't seen his willy so I wouldn't know! how big it is" She blurted out before even thinking... Which only resulted in her face now becoming the same shade as a ripe tomato. The farmer looked at her, raised an eyebrow and then laughed a hearty, good-natured laugh.

Embarrassed and blushing, Druid Girl quickly moved away from big Red and headed behind the wagon, on the opposite side of the three others present, obviously wanting to hide herself for a bit. The farmer looked back to both Steppe Archer and the Lizardman, nodding, now having a friendlier smile on his face.

"Well, keepin' a fellow like you with us should keep everything at bay." He said, almost chuckling. "Can't let ya ride in the wagon tho', big guy. Don't think me old nag could pull all that extra weight." He said. "Girls are fine though, they can't be weighing too much." He added, a cheeky smirk on his lips.

He then began to clamper onto the wagon's front seat, adjusting his bottom on the cheap straw cushion covered by nothing but a ratty, itchy-looking bundle-wrap. The wagon itself had no other seats, just a square compartment behind the driver's seat where goods and cargo could be stored. Speaking of, the cart had some things in it already. There wasa a big wooden crate, with a sheet over it, a single small close-lidded barrel, a few sacks and then there were the usual things, like a length of rope, some basic camping and outdoorss tools, a bucket and some firewood. Once the farmer was seated properly, he turned his head back to the group.

"Listen up, alright? Got here yesterday, sold off some things from my farm and got a right decent deal. Now I've stocked up on supplies and things so I won't hafta come to town for a right long time. Thing is, the stuff I'm bringin' back is usually the kinda stuff that attracts them unsavory types. So it be you three's job to be protect me, my horse and the cargo, got it?"

[The Irish Tree]

"Well...it would have to be pretty big," Steppe Archer would answer, dead serious in her estimation of the Lizard Fighter's endowment. And, frankly, the comment about a certain kind of "escort" went a bit over her head. Common likely wasn't her first language.

The archer felt bad for their lizard friend though for having to walk...but she imagined the horse wasn't moving fast. Even if it wasn't tied to a wagon, this horse had certainly seen far better days. Before she would take her seat with the cargo, the archer's hand would gently brush against the horse's neck. She whispered something in a low voice to it, feeling the horse could use some nice words to raise its spirits before she would take a seat in the back. Seeing as it was likely that bandits would attack, the archer would already have her quiver off her back, leaning against the dividing line between the driver's compartment and their cargo space. She'd be on the lookout, silently keeping watch. After all, if they got surrounded, they'd be easy pickings.

"Have you ever been attacked before on this road?" Steppe Archer would ask, curious as to how dangerous the road was if such a thing was common knowledge. Or, maybe it was just caution.

[Kazemitsu]

Druid Girl answered a positive, earning her a nod before he accepted the change and potions. He had never heard of an expiration date on these things, so it felt better to have them now, Not to mention...he actually didn't know if Druid Girl had any healing capabilities. His own peoples shamans and druids were capable of healing, but they were elders. He shouldn't apply that to here.

His thoughts were broken up at the surprised exclamation from the farmer, making him raise an eyebrow. He knew lizardmen were rare outside the swamps, but were they this rare? The man was older, but the sun leathering kind of added years to him. But he had never seen one of his people before? Well he was a farmer...

There was some back and forth between Druid Girl and Farmer, making him raise an eyebrow slightly. Their final comments just got a blink of surprise. Sighing he shook his head, humans and their focus on genitals. Druid Girl hid on the other side of the wagon, probably to settle herself down from the ribbing the farmer had given her. The girls could ride, but Lizard Fighter couldn't. Hell he wouldn't have if offered just because that wagon looked like a sneeze would break it.

"That's fine. I prefer walking anyway and if it'll speed things up I'll even push." He stated while the man climbed into the wagon seat. As everyone was getting ready Archer Girl mentioned that his 'tool' would have to be pretty big. Getting a sigh from the large being. "Should I just reveal it so you lot will stop guessing? He questioned, his face deadpanned to hide some of his annoyance.

The Farmer explained the situation, which just got a shrug from the Fighter. If it was a threat he'd deal with it accordingly, like the boars when they were cleaning the ditch. Archer Girl got in the wagon and prepped herself for confrontation while asking the farmer if he had ever been attacked on the road. A good question and one he waited to hear the answer to while he looked at the road and trees ahead. He clearly planned to take up the rear, his long stride would allow him to move to the front if he was needed there.

[Xaltwind]

"No pushun'." THe farmer said, glancing at the lizardman from the corner of his eyes. "Ol' nag couldn't keep up with ya, so you'd just ram the wagon into her rear if ya did." The man said, explaining that the old mare wasn't in any shape to go any faster than she already was.

Druid Girl had calmed herself down, and clampered into the cart at some point too, sitting opposite Steppe Archer at the back-end of the wagon, using a crate as a back-rest. Her cheeks were still a bit flushed and she was looking off to the side, arms crossed infront of her and a noticeably pouty expression on her lips, showcasing that she wasn't quite over the whole exchange with the farmer from before. Still, at her ally's mention of bandits, the caramel-skinned girl turned her head to more intently listen.

"Had a few run-ins over my years. Mostly just highwaymen though, sayin' they be collecting road taxes for travellin' the path to and from the town. Hah! Like this patch o'dirt could even be called a road!" The man scoffed, spitting a glob of snotty saliva off to the side as the wagon slowly rolled forth.

The horse let out a loud huff from its nostrils, shook its head a little and then kept on trotting ahead. The wagon creaked and popped, and it was bumpy and rattley to sit in the damn splinter-covered thing. Still, it beat walking if you wanted to conserve your strength and stamina. Palisade Town shrank bit by bit as they got further and further away from it, with the forest to their north growing thicker and the grassy hills and plains to the sotuh expanding ever onwards. The dirt road they travelled gradually turned into nothing more than a trail, indicating just how few travellers actually came this far out.

"Still." The farmer said suddenly, his grip on the reins tightening and his eyes narrowing. "With them goblins stealin' from my farm recently, and them rumors about adveturers goin' rogue, I ain't willin to risk my hard-earnings on chance no more." He said, grouchly I might add. "Ain't much of a fighter myself, and the old mare here ain't got 'nough sprint in her legs to run off if we be needing it. So, next best thing to do was to hire on some ... *ahem* Skilled protection. 'Course, guardsmen didn't take the job. Figures. Lousy sods just wanna sit in town and get fat on the nobles paying 'em." The farmer grumbled.

"Goblins have been raiding your farm? What do they usually do?" Druid Girl asked surprised. From what her mentor had taught her, goblins usually would only attack a location if they intended to take it over, or burn everything down and steal the stuff that didn't get destroyed.

"Anything they can get thier ugly lil' mitts on." The man said with a sigh. "They steal my chickens, my tools, materials. Heck, they even stole bits of my fence! They run off soon as I step outta the house with pitchfork in hand, but I'm tired of losing stuff to those disgusting little fiends." The man huffed in irritation. "Never seen more than two or three at a time raidin' my stuff, but they've been comin' around more often as of late. I ain't got time to be patrollin' me own farm and take care of all the chores that need be done. Hopin' some of your kind'll take care of those freaks soon." The man shot an accusing look at the three adventurers, before turning back to focusing on the 'road'.

[The Irish Tree]

"Rogue adventurers...?" the Steppe Archer would ask, her gaze turning thoughtfully to the roof of the wagon. ...She couldn't imagine what kind of circumstances might make someone turn to banditry. Poverty for certain, but to make one's entire living off of ruining the life of another? It felt...craven to even think about. And yet, she knew that some of her own people had likely left their home only to have to turn to that to survive. Steppe Archer was just glad that she, at least so far, had had the good fortune to succeed in her ventures, no matter how...stinky they wound up being.

Then the talk of goblins...the craven species that tales were told of to scare children at night. From what she'd heard from her clansmen however, no matter what quarry, even something one dismisses as harmless can find itself to possess sharp fangs when its life is on the line. She wasn't quite sure if they would be as surprisingly deadly as giant rats or roaches, but she had to assume anything with thumbs and a brain could be more fierce in a fight than any normal beast.

"I'd rather not see it," Steppe Archer would say with a light chuckle to the Lizard Fighter's suggestion of him showing off his twig and berries. "Anyways, you can count on us, Sir. Any would-be bandits will be in for a big surprise if they even try," she would say, stringing her bow and sitting with it at her side, more than ready to protect the cargo if need be.

[Kazemitsu]

The reptilian man shrugged those beefy shoulders before he tugged his studded club from its place at his belt. The Archer mentioned that she didn't want to see his junk, which just got a grin from the behemoth. Druid Girls face was still pretty red but she seemed to be calming herself down now that she was in the wagon and settled in.

During his travels to Pallisade Town he had heard of bandits. But he never encountered them, mostly because he didn't stick to the roads very much. Humans gravitated or made their own civilizations or roads and kind of stuck to them despite some of claiming to just want freedom or some shit. They had freedom but then they decided to get stupid and steal to go do stuff in the areas they ran away from in the first place!

The Farmer mentioned rumors about rogue adventurer's, which earned him a raised eye-ridge from the back. He picked up his pace some and began circling around to the front of the slow moving wagon. "Don't trust every rumor you hear. I can only imagine a really down on his luck, or shitty, adventurer going rogue. He rumbled out while he watched the nearby tree-lines. He was just ahead and to the left of the plodding old mare.

Then came the subject of goblins. They were bold enough to steal, but not bold enough to confront the Farmer. It seemed three were poking the nest, but if it was just three they'd be more discrete. "We'll be going after them once you're escorted home." The Fighter stated as he kept what looked like a lazy pace. Those long legs easily keeping him ahead of the tired old hoss.

[Xaltwind]

"Yeah... Please keep that thing in your pants in your pants, Big Red." Druid Girl said, averting her face to look northwards, in a clear attempt to not have to look anyone else in the face. Their leathery-skinned driver just laughed, crassly.

"Aye, I'm sure them bandit be terrified of a waif like you." The man responded to Steppe Archer's boast about no brigands being up to the challenge of harassing this ensemble of adventurers. Obviously, the farmer was less sure of this claim. When the lizardman spoke up about only 'shitty' adventurers turning to banditry, the man turned his head and sneered at the lizard.

"You ain't been in the business of adventurin' for long, have ya, boy?" The man asid. "Not everyone has the patience or want to be a gutter-cleanin' day-laborer, or sewer-crawlin' shit-stain who smells like piss 'n crap day in and day out. Some folks get fed up wiih not advacnin' fast through your little guild's ranks. Banditry's quick and easy, all ya need is a few knives and a few lads, and you're all set." The man stated, before returning his eyes to the road. Druid Girl sighed.

"He's right there. Many adventurers give up on the lifestyle before they even reach Emerald-rank, and those people often turn to less savory professions instead. It's sad but true that you can often earn a lot of money much faster as a highwayman than by doing quests for the Guild." The girl said, her eyebrows lowering and her expression - and head - downcast, staring at the floor of the wagon.

"Aye, that's the truth of it." The farmer chimed in, as if rubbing salt in a wound. "Most of ya lot turn out as troublemakers and thieves. So don't be goin' 'round holding your nose in the air as if ya bein' some big-shots, 'cuz ya ain't." The man said, spitting a glob of flem off to the side that Big Red wasn't walking on.

For the majorty of the trip, nothing of particuolar interest. When the lizardman told the farmer about them going to deal with the goblins right after they'd escorted him, the man just rolled his eyss and said soemthing inaudible - most likely something snide. As the wagon slowly bumped and hobbled its way along the dirt path though, the lizardman and the archer would soon see somehting that seemed off. For one, there was an area ahead of them with woodlands on both sides of the road, yet the shrubs and foliage along the road seemed considerably disturbed and trampled - marking that this was either a very active animal-trail, or some large group had recently passed through here.

Secondly, there were strangely shaped marks across the ground. Not just footprints, but also signs of something being heavy being pulled or pushed. Finally, a fair distance ahead, there was something else. Another wagon, or more accurately, a hand-cart. However, something seemed off, as it was tilting to one side and seemed to only have one wheel. There also wasn't any sign of the person pulling it - thus, leaving it abandoned along the dirt road. Druid Girl, who was sitting at the back of the wagon, and looking mostly north and behind them - back to the west - wasn't privvy to these details though, so she remained oblivious. The farmer, on the other hand, seemed either to ignore the signs, or was oblivious, as he mumble-sang some shoddy tune under his breath.

[The Irish Tree]

"Well...this conversation is going well..." Steppe Archer thought as they rode along the road. She wasn't there for conversation but...still, stuff was getting more and more awkward. She hoped their client didn't think they were being snobbish, but his crudeness made it hard to take otherwise. Druid girl agreed with it in a logical way, but...the idea that her new profession was so depressing was, well, depressing. Steppe Archer would simply nod her head slowly to indicate she understood, remaining silent while she simply watched the road. Her keen eyes would likely be the first, if not only to spot the trampled ground. Reaching out her hand slowly, Steppe Archer would lay it on the farmer's shoulder before whispering: "Stop the wagon. That grass is suspicious."

Her statement would be punctuated by the nomad pointing her finger ever so subtly at the patches of grass, hoping that the farmer had the good enough sense to stop for just a moment while the archer readied her bow, knowing the clearest signs of an ambush from her father teaching her how to hunt game as a child. Grass made for a natural cover, especially if one were to paint themselves the color of the land. The footprints looked fresh too, only a day old at best. It seemed they were about to meet these ignoble bandits face to face in a moment. Gently nudging the druid girl beside her, Steppe Archer wanted everyone ready in the event of an ambush up ahead. Breathing quietly enough to not be heard, the archer would whisper quietly to her druidic companion, asking: "Can any of your spells flush things out of hiding?"

[Kazemitsu]

Druid Girl got a laugh from the farmer, it seemed no one wanted to see what the reptilian fighter was packing! What a sad day. But the farmer sneered at what he said, which was received with a cool look. "Just started yesterday, and I already have plans of climbing the ranks. It will take time, but I have the patience to earn the trust and experience needed to continue." He stated, why did humans always have to rush things?

Aww I didn't get to Steel, or Ruby Rank in a couple weeks woe ways me! Then again humans also tended to be glory seekers, whereas he just wanted to be productive. But he had limited options given his lack of...skills when it comes to real crafting. Was it only humans who really always tried for the quick easy instant gratification? Was it because they were still a fairly young species? Did lizard fighter actually know any of this? Dunno.

Ahead though there was a hand-card, broken and abandoned. Already the Fighter was on high alert, looking around slowly so as to not draw much attention to the fact that he was taking apart his surroundings with his eyes. When he looked off to the side he noticed the messed up grass and shrubbery. Something had happened here, but what? Archer Girl requested the wagon stop so they could check it out. He continued on a ways, actively leading now but still staying within lunging distance of the wagon.

He stepped off to the side though and gave the hand-cart a once over. Weathered wood, grayed with age, some rust on the axle, pins, and such. There was a decent sized stone near it, which he scooped up before returning to the group. The stone looked small when it was in his hands and he was just rolling it back and forth. Scraping off dirt, grass, and some moss. He wasn't any good with a sling or bow, but a big stone he could throw pretty damn good and it was his only ranged option right now.

[Xaltwind]

"Huh? Wha' for?" The farmer asked, as Steppe Archer urged him to stop his wagon. It seemed, however, that once he looked a bit further ahead - and caught a glimpse of the ruined cart - the man was more than willing to comply. The rickety wagon came to a stop, and as the nomad tapped the druid on her shoulder, Druid Girl turned with a look of surprise on her face.

Once the caramel-skinned girl saw the ruined hand-cart, and the tracks and trodded foliage, she seemed to catch on immediately. With a swift hop, she leapt out of the wagaon's backside and rounded it. When asked for spells that could flush things out from afar, she merely shook her head though.

"No, I haven't learned anything like that yet... Although..." She trailed off, gently tapping her own chin with a single finger, before taking a deep breath.
"
Lend me your glow, tiny fey, summon pixie!"

Holding one palm outstretched, a golden glow began to gather within it. Soon, it burst, like a minitaure balloon and firework, revealing a tiny creature. It was a fairy, a small, luminious being that glowed with golden light all over its body. Cupping her hand, the little fey landed gently in in Druid Girl's palm, and looked up at its summoner curiously.

"Hello little friend." The druid said with a gentle smile. "Could you please take a look over there for us?" She asked, pointing with her free hand towards the distrubed vegetation. The little pixir merely nodded, then sped off, with a sound like that of a very small, jingling bell, as it flew off - a trail of glittery dust that quickly disipated behind it. It first headed for the southern side of the road, darting in and out of bushes, behind trees and through the grass, before then quickly flying over to the north side and doing the same. Inbefore long, it came flying back and landed on Druid Girl's shoulder.

"Mm? There's someone on the noirth side? A bit into the woods?" She asked, as the tiny pixir nodded vigorously. With this information, Druid Girl looked at each of her companions, and their employer, in sequential order, before speaking.

"My little friend here says she saw someone a bit further into the woods, on the northern side of the path here.... Maybe it's the owner of that cart?" She said, stepping a bit forward as so to get a better look. However, the druid didn't go to the north side, but rather investigated the back of the broken cart, as well as the strange tracks and marks around the area.
"Strange..." She said. "It looks like a bunch of people or creatures have gone back and forth here a lot... And something's been dragged along the ground as well. Something heavy." She said, having used her knowledge of tracks and wilderness lore to investigate the scene. She also noted something else. "... Where's the other wheel of the hand-cart though? It's not stuck under there, and there's no signs of it or any splinters, so it likely hasn't broken or fallen off... Did someone take it?"

"Wha' the hell would anyone want with a cart wheel?" The farmer asked, raising an eyebrow. "'Sides, shouldn't you all be, y'know, headin' in them woods and m-makin' sure it's safe, yeah?" He stuttered slightly, clearly showing the situation had made him unnerved. It was odd though, since if this was an ambush, surely someone would have leapt out, or at least taken a pot-shot at one of them by now? But nothing and nobody seemed to be in any hurry to engage them. Was this just the remains of a previous, unfavorable encunter? Druid Girl returned to the wagon with a mix of confused seriousness on her face.

"Big Red, you mind poking into the north treeline? I'll be right behind you, ready to help, and our arche-friend-" She craned her head to look at Steppe Archer "-can stay here and keep us covered from afar, if we need to fall back." She half asked, half suggested. The little pixie on her shoulder took off, flying over to the northern side's trees and doing a series of figure eights, as if signalling that it was 'this way' that who, or whatever, it had disocvered was located.

[The Irish Tree]

Steppe Archer was surprised that the Druid Girl's pixie only managed to find a single person. She was certain that a place like this was a prime spot for an ambush like that. Steppe Archer would gently pat the farmer's shoulder before the Druid Girl gave her instructions, cheerfully saying: "Well, we could all just go in at once...but then if there are more bandits waiting a-ways off, you could get robbed while we're off on a wild goose chase." While she was glad that the farmer felt like they could handle an ambush (probably), the man's cowardice was really shining through. She supposed that most people just never knew what it meant to feel fire in their stomachs, but...coming from a culture where bravery was expected made this man have maybe -100 points in her mind.

With her bow at the ready, Steppe Archer would salute with her free hand to the Druid Girl, saying: "I'll keep my distance, and keep an eye on the wagon. ...Be careful in there. If its a big enemy, come back here and we can fight them in the open." With her peace said, Steppe Archer would give the old horse a tender stroke on the side of its head. It was one that was practiced and slow, setting the old beast of burden at ease. "Don't either of you worry, we'll get this settled and get you on the way."

[Kazemitsu]

The wagon slowed to a stop and Druid Girl performed a summoning. Interesting, a little obvious but interesting nonetheless. He occasionally glanced at the female pair as Druid Girl made her request of the fae to go and scout for the group. Mainly to see if anyone was there. The little creature sped off, going through the underbrush before returning and telling Druid Girl someone was on the north side.

"Maybe someone elses wagon or cart needed a wheel...and they decided to help themselves to this one. Or they had another use for it." He said, he had already looked at the tracks. He had the feeling someone had pilfered the carts goods, but still where was the operator?

Druid Girl spoke up, saying they should investigate while the farmer felt they should all go. But that would leave him undefended, which the women mentioned. "I'll go, I'd say Druid should stay about mid-range just in case..." He said but tilted his head slightly. "But maybe close would be better...I'd make a better wall to long distance attacks." He continued before shrugging. He'd let her do what she wanted.

For now he just started to follow the tracks, looking over them with a keen eye but he didn't ignore the woods-line ahead. He was annoyed he couldn't read footprints as well as he should, but combat was his thing. Not tracking. But in little time at all they got to the woods-line and all that was present was more trampled shrubbery, grass, torn up dirt, and a dead woman. Well...shit. Approaching he crouched down next to her and touched the blood. It was dry and quite brown.

She'd been there a while. "Not fresh...but not old either." LF said as he stood back up. "We should continue on and be more wary." He said to the dark skinned woman as he started to head back for the wagon. His tribe didn't do burials, they let nature take its course with their dead.

[Xaltwind]

Druid Girl followed her big, red and scaly comrade as he made way into the exterior of the brush on the northern side of the road. There was nothing particularly noteworthy, apart from a few specks of brown that shouldn't have been present on some of the greenery. However, once they came upon the corpse of the poor unfortunate woman, the dark skinned girl let out a surprised and horrified gasp, quickly clasping her hand over her own mouth to silence the outburst - in case whoever had done this was still nearby.

The little pixie on her shoulder sprung off and flew down to the body, circling it overhead at first, then gently touching down on the cold body. It was a horrific sight indeed. The poor woman's clothes had been ripped and torn in numerous locations, her body was covered in cuts, bruises and puncturings, while her face was distorted into a horrible, frozen mask of fear, pain and despair. Her rather ample busom was also spilling out of her torn shirt, and would have been rather impressive, were it not for them too being covered in small wouds and dried blood.

The druid turned her head away and stifled a slight gag. She had seen dead humans before, both at funerals and otherwise... But this, this was the first time she had seen someone in such a wretched, mangled state. Not only was it horrible and upsetting, but also frightening and unnerving to think someone, or something, could do this sort of awful, atrocious thing. When her lizard friend began to walk back to the road though, she almost called out to stop him... But the girl resisted the urge.

They had no tools on them, or in the wagon, to dig a grave, nor did she know any earth-moving spells as of yet. Gathering wood to build a pyre would also take too long and waste a lot of the day, not to mention risk drawing the attention of who or whatever had originally done this back to their location. As cruel and sad as ut was, they could do nothing for this poor, mid-thirties woman. Well, except the very least of things. Stepping over to the corpse, Druid Girl knelt down and gently closed the dead lady's eyelids, as well as pushing her agape jaw shut. She looked at this person, who she had never seen or met before in her life, and felt her eyes water a bit.

Eventually, after what seemed like a long time but was actually less than a minute, she rose up and started following after her burly companion. As they returned, they would find that Stppe Archer had been good on her word, keeping a watchful eye over both their wagon and their employer. Speaking of their employer, the farmer had a twitchy, fidgety air about him once they came back, as if he was sitting on neeldes and his skin had started crawling.

"W-well, wha'cha find?" He asked nervously.
"A ... A dead woman." Druid Girl replied.
"Whassat ya say?" The farmer asked, eyes going wide with surprise.
"There was a dead woman... It looked like she'd been... Tortured... And possibly violated as well." The druid's head sunk a bit and her face became full of sorrow.
".. But ya didn't find anythin' else? No signs of them who what did it?"
"No, nobody showed themselves, and I didn't feel like looking around there, after seeing the sorry state she was in."

The farmer let out a long breath of air, as if he had been holding it in up until now. Leaning back in his seat, he looked up at the sky above, scratching his chin and cheek in thoughtful contemplation, or so it would seem at least. The man then looked down from his seat at both the lizard and the druid, a strangely concerned look on his face.

"Ya alright leavin' her like this then?"
"We don't have time, or the tools, to give her a proper burial. And building a pyre might lure back whoever attacked her in the first place."
"So, you just leavin' her here to get eaten by wolves'n maggots?"
"It's not like I want to!" The druid replied, uncharacterisically angry and loud, before her shoulders slumped and she put a hand on her own forehead.
"Sorry, that was a unfair o' me." The farmer apologized, sincerely too.
"No, it's... It's fine... Can we just please keep going?"

As she said that, the girl climbed back into the wagon, her eyes having a certain shadow cast over them and her usual bright smile and sunny eyes replaced by a melancholic and saddened expression that wasn't quite her typical disposition. Still, the girl was young and seeing something terrible like this was as good a reason as any to be both upset and sad, even if it had nothing to do with her personally. The farmer made sure to ask Big Red if he was ready to go as well, before cracking the reins and ushering the old mare to once again start on the path.

The rest of their trip would feel like it took forever. A gloomy silence hung over the party as they slowly rolled along the countryside. Eventually though, they could begin to spot the outline of buildings in the far distance, as well as notice fields of golden wheat stalks spring up alongside the road as they got closer and closer. The sun was yet high in the sky, although past noon at this point, and though some clouds came and went, the weather was still nice and fair. As the view of his home drew ever closer, the farmer let slip a toothy grin.

"Ain't far now, youngsters!" He called, a peppy cheer that seemed to have washed away his somber attitude from before. Then again, anyone who managed to get home safely would likely react in a similar fashion, right?

From here on though, there'd just be a straight, albeit bumpy, shot straight to the farm. A series of wooden buildings, a silo, a fence and a shack. The typical things for a farm to have. Simple, rustic and largely unimpressive. Still, it seemed they would be able to complete the first quest without any unpleasant hic-ups from here on.

[Kazemitsu]

The big red being glanced back at Druid Girl when she gasped, and then gagged. The body hadn't smelt that bad...but then again she didn't live in a swamp for most of her life. Still her chipper attitude took a hit from this, and he honestly wasn't any good at comforting people. He couldn't even say whether the woman had died quickly or not, he hadn't investigated her that much. Just cursory looks without actually touching.

As the pair returned he took his place towards the front of the wagon and mare again while Druid Girl answered the farmers questions. A bit of back and forth before the girl let out a rather loud outburst, which was answered with an apology from the farmer. "She returns to nature and her spirit will hopefully be reborn into a better time." He stated before they continued on to the farmers dwelling.

Despite the terrible view, that pit stop had been probably good for the old mare. The trip was very uneventful, they kept walking until buildings came into view. Rough buildings, but it was a farm. Was it supposed to pristine? No. The farmer was happy to point out that they were near the end. Still, Big Red toyed with the rock he had picked up, actually carving lines into it at this point. Just lazy swirls. "Keep your eyes open, not safe til we're done." He said to the group.