Xaltwind

Goblin Slayer: Newblood (CANCELLED)

"Hmm, I'd personally prefer to walk around outside buuuut..." Druid Girl mulled over the opinions of her compatriots. "... It really doesn't seem to matter too much. Everything pays about the same, well actually the sewer-quest seems to have increased in pay a little since last time." She stated, semi-indifferently.

In truth, she would have much prefered to walk around outdoors or ride a wagon in the sunlight, rather than crawl around in the sewers and need another thorough rinse-off afterwards.... With the potential of having to burn her old and buy a brand new set of clothes... Sewer-stank had this nasty habit of sticking to you, even after you washed yourself... Maybe visitng an alchemist beforehand and buying some of that new-fangled 'soap' that could apparently neutralize bad odor was a good idea?

Regardless, since they all seemed to not be too excited or particular about any one job, it was eventually agreed upon to do the two sewer-related missions. Druid Girl raised an eyebrow at Big Red's comment about preperations though... Did he honestly think a dingy little settlement like Palisade Towen kept maps of their sewers? The town had been built over ruins and the underground had been excavated, demolished and reconstructed several times ove. Not to mention that the local wildlife down there had probably messed up and altered paths and the layout on their own as well. It might give you somewhat of an idea where to go or what to look for, but overall they'd be outdated and fairly useless...

But she decided not to mention this. It seemed he was the type who wanted to be prepared, and got grumpy or annoyed when you pointed out that his preperations weren't always useful... Besides, he'd find out himself once he asked the Guild Receptionist. Additionally, how was he even aware of maps? It wasn't like lizardmen in the swmap had access to parchment or ink, right? Did they... Carve etchings into wooden planks with their claws or something? Or draw mud tablets? The idea perplexed Druid Girl.

"Well, since we're going into the sewers, we should probably pick up some anti-venom or curative potions too. Torches can be bought at the general store, so that's easy to get ahold of." She said, tapping the base of her chin with her index-finger. "Hmm... Might want to buy ourselves something like a hammer or club too... My staff's too long to swing around down in those sewers, and while my sickle might be able to gash a rat or twoo, hitting a skittery roach or bug with it could be... Difficult... Besides, bludgeons are always the best when smashing bugs!" She said - apparently not nearly as empathic towards sewer-dwelling rodents and insectoids as other animals... Which was perfectly reasonable.

"Should me and Archer go buy the supplies and meet you over by the public latrines then, big guy? There's supposedly an unlocked manhole there, for maintenance, so it'd be an easy way to gain access. Plus.. Uhm... Don't take this the wrong way or anything buuut... You're kinda... Bulky... I doubt you'd even fit through any of the other manholes out in the streets... They weren't made with super-sized folk in mind." She half-laughed and poked her tongue out at the lizard in a jestful manner.

Goblin Slayer: Newblood (CANCELLED)

As the group gathered up at the table, Druid Girl listened to the comments of her allies. Their archer suggested they go forage for fruits in the wild in order to pinch pennies, while the lizrdman asked if they knew where such fruits and wild veggies could be found. Druid Girl pondered about whether lizarfolk actually ate fruits and vegetables on the regular, given that such things would be rare in a swamp - and their teeth weren't exactly designed for anything but ripping meat off of bones... She decided to keep that comment to herself though. Straightening up in her chair, she would answer before the archer had a chance to do so.

"It's summer now, so most fruits haven't ripened yet. Plus, wild fruits typically get eaten by animals when out and unattended ina forest. We might find some berries and edible roots around these parts, but I uh... I doubt that would fill your stomach for long, big guy." She paused for a bit. "I suppose we could go fishing in the river though, or gather some edible grass and plants. Honestly though, we'd likely spend more energy looking for those and picking them than we'd get from eating them. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, you know! So we should just bite the sour lemon and pay up. That way we'll have a good start to go on!" She finalized... Obviously not at all biased towards getting to eat as big a breakfast as she wanted in contrast to scrounging for safe-to-eat plant fibres and grass...

The innkeep showed up eventually, probably roused by their voices, and grumbled something undecipherable. Druid Girl went ahead and ordered some porridge, bread, milk and cheese for herself. The grumpy man seemed to smirk a bit at the sizable order - perhaps he was finally realizing that, when it came to food at least, this girl was a proverbia golden goose for income.

"You two should get something too, even if it's just something small. After all, they'll be posting new quests today, so we'd better get ready!" Druid Girl encouraged not so subtly.

[iTime passed and a meal was eaten...[/i]

The sun had risen from below the horizon and the morning had come along a bit. Walking down the road towards the Adventruers Guild, the party could see the typical scene unfold. Windows and doors opening, citizens beginning to mill out of their homes and onto the road, getting ready to face the challenges of te day. A few stray birds flew above the rooftops and, although the sky was still blue, there were a larger number of clouds today than earlier days. Still, bright sunlight prevailed and a pleasant breeze was blowing.

Entering the guild hall, the party would find that a rather fair amount of adventurers had already assembled and were crowding the quest board. Most of them seemed to be of a higher rank than the trio though, and they werer mostly looking at the quests for steel or higher-ranked adventurers it seemed. Druid Girl approached the postings and looked at the day's selection.

"Hmm... What do you guys think? Anything look good?"

Guild of Renta-Experts [[CANCELLED]]

At being complimented, the satyress would puff her (rather significantly sized) chest out and put both hands on her hips, smiling broadly and proudly, as if she'd just been awarded the most distinguishing medal of honor you could imagine.

"I know right? Mama- err, I mean, Mom made this especially for me, since the one I used to wear was so ugly and boring! Dad always whined about it, but old men, right? Whadda they know 'bout looking fahionable! Maa-haa-haa!" She half-bragged, half-gloated, half-explained. At the notion of going on a real quest though, Brandy nodded excitedly. "Yeah! Let's go and show that lil' fuzzball who the real deal is around these parts! Hear that, bunny-breath! There're new sheriffs in tpoooooown!" She half half-yelled, half-exclaimed, half-laughed-out-loud-while-saying.

After the brief moment of grand posturing and hyping-up, the two girls were off. Off towards the western fields, in the western region of the rural area, to meet and help an orcish farmer... A farmer named Dooch. While they walked, Brandy happily bounced abouy next to Alice, talking about poretty much anything and everything you could imagine - from mundane things like how apple pies were delicious, to what color and length of lace she prefered on her underrwear. The satyress also complimented the werewolf's attire, saying it looked cool - but a bit too warm for Brandy's own personal wardrobe... She sure seemed to like... Breezy attire...

Leaving the village proper, they travelled along a thin, winding dirt path - one well-travelled, but not important enough to be paved or marked. They passed through a sparsely wooded area before finally emerging at the fields. And fields they were indeed. Vaast acres of green, stretching out for a good while, with plowed and tilled soil being fenced in by simple wooden... well,... fence! A few farmhands were present, mostly humans and a few orcs, working the fields with hoes and baskets, dressed in the most stereotypical farmer's garb you could imagine.

There were three major buildings of note. One was a large farmhouse, likely the residence of Mr. Dooch himself. The others were a rather tall silo, and the last was something akin to a barn. Funnily enough, there weren't any animals around though - not even horses to pull plows or carts. Perhaps that was where the workers slept? Regardless, as soon as they laid eyes on the quaint little farmstead, Brandy's eyes widened and sparkled like diamonds and she clasped her hands together while her little tail swished to and fro ecstatically.

"Oh woooooow! It's a farm! Al! It's a real farm, you see it!? It's just like back hoe, but 'totes different! It's so big, and there're so many workers!" There actually weren't that many... "Wowzers! If dad could see this, he'd be so jealous! Maa-haa-haa~! I wonder what they're planting? Ooh, should we help out? Should we? We should, right!? RIGHT!?!" It seemed she had already forgotten why they came here in the first place...

Meanwhile, as the satyr tugged at Alice's sleeve and bounded around her companion happily, a large, gruff-looking orc, with a straw hat on his bald head, and a stalk of wheat-grasss inbetixt his teeth, was looking down at and overseeing the affairs in the fields from a slightly elevated mound next to the residential farmhouse. He was a broad-shouldered fellow, with a muscular and toned frame, large strong hands and a stern but calm expression on his orc-ish face. His slightly pointy ears twitched at the noise of unfamiliar young women, but he didn't look away from or get distracted from his cool, dandy-like countenance. Arms folded over his chest, the man gave off the impression of a strong, serious and silent type... Perhaps he was the Dooch?

_{... He totally is!}

Guild of Renta-Experts [[CANCELLED]]

Brandy blinked a few times, still pouting, and looked at the scrap of paper in her hand. She eyed the cute drawing of the horned bunny. Then looked back at Alice. Then back at the drawing. Then at Karen. Then back to the drawing. Then back at Alice.

"You sure, Al? I hear unicorns have horns too, but those ain't ever called monsters, right?" She asked, apparently still not entirely convinced that the rather inaccurately and overly cute sketch of the horned rabbit was actually even remotely likely to be any kind of threat. After some time though, the satyr sighed a small sigh and placed the piece of paper onto Karen's desk though, before looking back at Alice, clenching her fist and getting a very determined look on her face.

"But alright! If you say this thingy is a bad bunny, then I'll believe it! And if it's the kinda bad bunny that goes and makes a mess for people, then we need to take it down, all heroic-like and stuff, right?" She was apparently very fired u now, having seemingly completely forgotten that she'd wanted to hug and pe the damn thing mere moments ago.

Karen sighed as well, though for a completely different reason. Moving her chair and shifting her weight upon it, the raccoon-receptionist took the scrap of quest-paper and read it herself, before nodding and rummaging around in her filing cabinet for a bit.

"Right then. So, you two want to take on this job next? Alright. Let me go over the specifics. Ahem!" Karen cleared her throat before proceeding. "The client is a farmer out in the western fields, at a small homestead. His name is Krug Dooch. He's requested that the guild come to his home, find the Hroned Rabbit that's been terrorizing his crops and get rid off it, permanently. He asks that anyone attempting the job bring back physical proof of their deed before he'll agree to pay. He asks that you bring along a receipt that he can sign to confirm that he's satisfied." Karen finished fishing about in one of her drawers and pulled up a small, thing strip of parchment, with the guild's logo printed in one of the corners. Some text and legal mumbo-jumbo was scribble don it already, and there was a small dotted line at the bottom, likely meant for a signature.

Brandy picked up the piece of additional paperwork, looked it over, twisted and turned it in her hands, and then looked back at karen.

"So, this iiiiiiiiiiiiiis...?"
"The receipt. You'll need to get Mr. Dooch to sign his name on it once you've completed the quest. Otherwise, you won't get paid."
"... But what if we mess up and write his name ourselves, or somethin'?" Brandy questioned - giving a fairly sinister suggestion to a potentially otherwise unlucrative result.
"That won't be an issue. Just like you, Ms. Vanillarihn, Mr. Dooch has a very... Distinct... Way of writing. I'm fairly sure neither of you could forge his signature. But, since you brought it up, I guess I'll have to tell the Guild Mistress to keep an eye on you from now on." The clever tanuki said, with an evil smile. Brandy's ears slouched and her eyes went wide.
"Wha-?! No! I wasn't gonna! That's wrong, and mean! I was just wonderin' cause someone did that to Pa' back home once. He had to pay for somethin' he didn't buy, so-"
"I was just joking around, please relax." She said, but her eyes told a different story.
"... Oh, phew! You had me going there, Kar-kar! Maa-haa-haa~!" Brandy replied, oblivious and happy-go-lucky as usual, before playfully slapping Karen's shoulders from across the other side of the desk, causing the raccoon to nearly drop her glasses.
"Ow, hey! Cut it out. Gah. So, anyway! Do you want this job or not?" The receptionist retorted in mild annoyance. Brandy smiled like a thousand suns in response.
"Of course, sign us up, chief! We'll show that meaty ball of fur who's boss and what happens when ya try'n steal honest farmer's work!" Apparently, her upbringin on a farm had made her very protective of crops and the like.

Turning to Alice again, Brandy flashed a big smile and pointed at the werewolf meaningfully, then balled her fist up and pointed at herself with the thumb of the same hand.

"Yup, you and me, Al! We'll handle this like it's no big whoop!" Se paused, and then looked down at herself. "... But before we go, I'm just gonna head on over to where I'm stayin' and put on a chang eof clothes, yeah? If we're gonna go trekkin' through some fields, I dun wanna be wearing my totes best outfit, y'know? Be right baaaaaack!"

With taht, Brandy launched into a comedically fast sprint, leaving the guild hall with a sound that was somehow similar to that of a roaring race car. Leaving not but a trail of stirred up dust behind, the satyress vanished into the town-proper... For a few minutes at most... Then came bounding back, with a similarily ridiculous sound, but now in a fnew outfit. To describe it, it looked more like a fusion of a jeans-apron and leotard.... And for some reason, Brandy was quite clearly not wearing the red bra she'd had on before... In fact, she probably wasn't wearing one at all. But if nothing else, this apparel at least looked far more sturdy and less prone to getting torn, or dirty, than her skirt and shirt from before.

The satyr looked very pleased as she returned, going over to her alchemist-ally and striking a few dozen poses.

"Whaddya think? Neat,. huh? This is what I used to wear back when I helped out back home. It's super-easy to move in and easy to wash, so it's totes perfect for this job, right?" She commented, with great enthusiasm.

Goblin Slayer: Newblood (CANCELLED)

The various guests at the inn had various reactions, or lack thereof, when it came to the lizardman's sudden and seemingly random decision to train. Some looked on with befuddled confusion, while others glared in annoyance, some looked rather impressed and a few even cheered him on in their drunken stupor. A handful even applauded and whistled, shouting things like 'Way to go, scaley!' or 'Impressive, big guy!' once the big red hulk was done.

Upon hearing Big Red's comment about her seemingly unnatural large calorie-intake, the Druid puffed her cheeks and turned her head away with a cute 'hmph!', folding her arms under her chest.

"I-I just burn a lot of energy, that's all." Thoguh considering she was far less active and energetic than their Archer-friend, taht probably wasn't the case at all...

After receiving her meal, and with eyes alight with the joy of a child who'd just received a piece of candy, the nature-mage proceeded to scarf down her meal like a starving wolf. Upon finishing, she gave thanks to the innkeep and helped clear the table of her own and her friends' dishes, before finally going back to her room - which she now shared with her fellow female adventurer.

After a bit of girl-talk and less notable chit-chat, she eventurally went to sleep alongside her companion and would rest soundly and undisturbed for the entierty of the night. Apparently, the day's training had left her exhausted enough to not even need to wake up once to go use the bathroom. Then again, that was really more of an old folks-sort-of thing, right? Right!?

The night at the inn passed quickly, being quiet and uneventful as usual. No burgalrs tried to break into anyone else's room, no drunks came stumbling into the wrong place, and no fights broke out in the hallways. Just another nice, peaceful stay at the inn. Come morning, the druid was awake early as usual, just after the sun had begun to rise in fact.

"Morning, you." She said to her friend, quiet and softly, as she got up and began getting dressed for the day. "Let's have some breakfast before we head over to the guild. I'm sure they won't have posted any new jobs just yet."

Such was the casae. The Adventurer's Guild didn't put up new requests until a bit later in the morning, so as to give any adventurer present in the town the chance to wake up and have just as fair a shot at taking a certain job as someone who awoke early. It was a policy of fairness. Of course, many adventurers still didn't wake up until around noon regardless, especially in a sleepy, rural frontier-town like this. There weren't really any high-paying or particularly glorious quests, so most members tpok a relaxed and laid-back approach to their work.

... Except for the try-hards, or brand new recruits, of course... Those types would rush on over to the guild as soon as they got up and sit and wait until the postings went up. Probably in an attempt to get the pick of the litter. Luckily, Palisade Town didn't have that many adventurers to begin with, so there would always be some quest to do... Even if it was dull or had a low reward.

In any event, Druid Girl was now fully dressed and ready to face the day! With a smile on her face, she gently unlocked the door to her room, stepped outside and carefully shut it behind her - so as not to be rude to the other guests. She'd pass by Big Red's door, give a quick knock and half-whisper through one of the cracks along the side.

"Hey, big guy! I'm heading down for breakfast! See you there, okay?" Once her gargantuan crimson friend had been properly informed of her intent, she proceeded onwards, down the stairs and into the main inn-area.

Taking a seat at the counter, she'd wait. Just wait. The innkeep didn't seem to be up and around just yet, so there really wasn't anything else to do. No other guests seemed to have gotten up yet either, as the place was completely empty and void of patrons. Another slow, quiet morning in Palisade Town, yup.

Guild of Renta-Experts [[CANCELLED]]

Karin looked at Alice with a neutral, unplussed face. The tanuki-woman readjusted her glasses which had slid down a bit along her nose, and replied indifferently to the werewolf's comment.

"Well, if that's how you feel. These kinds of matters are always your own to decide on." The receptionist stated, which was probably just a nice way of saying: Whatever, I don't really care.

Once their little conversation had died down though, the sound of hopping hooves and perky papayas could be heard once more. In an instant, almost as if on cue, Brandy appeared yet again next to Alice. She had a different scrap of paper in her hand this time, and with no hesitation, she shoved said scrap of documentation in the litteral face of their receptionist.

"Hey, hey! This one! What's this one? The lil' bunny-critter is 'totes cute in like, all the right ways! Do we get to walk this one too?" She, excitedly, inquired while leaning forward over the desk.
".... No, Miss Vanillarin. That's a quest to exterminate a particularly pesky horned rabbit that's been causing trouble around the village lately."
"... Ex... Termite... Wut?"
"The job is to get rid off it. With force. Lethal force."
"Say whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat!? You want us to actually murderize this lil' cutie? But lookit'im! He's so fluffy and small and got the chubby cheeks and a unicorn-horn! Kariiiiin! Do we hafta?" Brandy pleaded, while looking like apuppy that had just been kicked. The receptionist sighed.
"If you decide to take that quest, then yes. You'll have to make that little fuzz-ball into a new set of slippers, as per the client's request."
"Wait... Hold up. I dunno how to make shoes... I... uh... I kinda don't use 'em. Ehehe..."
"It was a metaphor, you don't actually need to make any kind of shoes from it."
"Oh! Well, good! No, wait! It's still bad! I don't wanna splatter this guy! Can't we just like, chase him off or something? Scare him away, or lure him deeper into the forest?"
"We already tried that, but the pest just keeps coming back. The client of this quest has had enough, and just wants to get rid off the little rodent once and for all."
"Aaawwww.... Aliiiiiiice~ Back me up here, girl!" Brandy pleaded, now having turned to Alice, grabbing the werewolf's hands with both of her own and having the most pouty face you'd ever seen, and watery, moist eyes.

Goblin Slayer: Newblood (CANCELLED)

Big Red's comment about break-ups got Druid Girl to raise an eyebrow. Of course those would be unpleasant, why wouldn't they be? Two people who'd been intimate with each other and spent time together, learning about one another, were going through an emotional conflict where the outcome was their mutual seperation from each other. It'd be far more bizarre if they weren't throwing fits and being angry at each ohter... Who ever heard of two lovers just breaking up, shaking hands, smiling and going their seperate way? If they did that, they obviously weren't very close to begin with.

"Don't you lizardfolk have spats between couples or marital issues?" She asked curious, since it seemed Big Red was - when she thought about it - a cold, calculating creature who valued logic and pragmatism over anything else. Maybe all lizardmen were like that. And if they were, did they even have concepts like love, romance or even marriage? Maybe they just copulated for the sake of procreation and preserving their species? ... That was a sad thought.

Regardless, after their bathing and their archer stuffing her face full of freshly foraged fish, the druid had to stifle a laugh at what the lion-haired lass had said. Big Red beat her to responding, but she felt there wouldn't be any harm in chiming in.

"I agree, I don't think most people even pay enough attention to one another to notice things like this. Folks are usually too busy with their own lives to notice what their neughbours are up to, even more so when it comes to strangers. Out of sight, out of mind, or so they say. Well, except for those cases where people hold grudges against one another, then they might pay attention to the comings and goings of people." She psaued and stretched, yawned and rolled her shoulders a few times to soften up after the cold bath. "Still, I doubt anyone in town actually pays much attention to where three adventurers go once they leave the walls." She smiled reassuringly.

Once they were dry and clothed once more though, and the fire had been safely extinguished, it was time to get going, again. The walkj back to the settlement was just as uneventful as their jaunt to the river. It really didn't seem like many villagers or travellers came down this way... Which was probably a good thing for the local bath-house, since if people washed up for free then they wouldn't be able to stay in business. Thinking of this, Druid Girl made a silent internal vow to stow away some of her reamining coins so that she could actually go and spoil herself with a luxurious, hot bath after their next outing. Bathing in a river was fine and all, but sometimes you just wanted to relax and take your time soaking, rather than jump in, freeze your nips off and then run back onto land and slow-dry near a fire... Fluffy towels may be man-made, but they were a lovely invention!

Once back inside Palisade Town, the three would spend the remaining hours of the day in a lazy, sluggish state. Druid Girl visited the local bank and put some of her earnings away, then did some leisurely window-shopping in the commercial district of town. The advbenturing guild didn't really hve any worthwhile jobs, aside from verming-clearing in the sewers, so there wasn't really much of anything to do for now. The sun crept along the sky, and eventually the two moons began to slowly rise. Day turned to evening and with evening came the undeniable draw of promised dinner! The skewers from earlier had been a tasty snack, no doubt, but the nature-mage couldn't wait to eat a piping hot, hearty and sizable portion of actual food. it was written all over her face as they passed along a street, where the smell of cooking wafted out through open windows and doorways.

Returning to the inn where they'd rented rooms, the trio would be greeted by a small gathering of patrons, having assembled in the establishment's main area. Seated around tables, eating from plates or bowls, drinking tankards and mugs of beverages, it was a more lively and energetic mood than their early morning and late-night home-coming from the previous day.

"Hey, we're back!" Druid Girl called out to the inn-keep, who was busy behind the counter, doing his usual work.
"Can see that. You gonna eat?" He replied and asked, at the same time, in his usu8ally brusque tone.
"What's on the menu?" The caramel-skinned girl asked, eyes aand smile wide.
"Pork sausage and 'taters, vegetable soup, grilled goat haunches and bread."
"One of each for me, please!" The girl blurted out, without hesitation, while raising an arm excitedly, as if she were answering a question in class at school. The innkeep snorted and gave a small, wry smirk, before returning to his more dour expression and looking at the other two in their group.
"Wha'bout you two? Gonna eat?"

Druid Girl, meanwhile, gingerly walked over to a vacant table and sat herself down. There were a bunch of different customers around though, a couple regulars and other guests who were staying at the inn - she'd seeen some of their faces before. There were also a handul of other adventurers, from the guild, sitting down and having a nice supper and drink... There were also your usual, dirty tavern-drunks and road-weary travellers present, making the scene a little less merry by their sheer presence. Still, the girl with raven-black hair seemed happy and oblivious enough, waving for her compatriots to come sit and join her, while flashing them a large, sunny smile.

Goblin Slayer: Newblood (CANCELLED)

"Jeez, you two! I know the well's water isn't any warmer! But with a well, all you need to do is rinse yourself off and that's that. You don't have to walk all the way out of town, get undressed and wade into the river to get cleaned up." She explained herself, putting both hands on her hips. It was clear these two hadn't grown up wwith such 'traditions'. It was common back in her village though - going out to the river, especially by yourself, could be dangerous and took a lot of time. Time that could be better spent helping around the farm or in the fields. Thus, you'd typically just go behind your house, get nekkid and dump a bucket of water over yourself, and that was that!

It wasn't like it was an uncommon practice elsewhere either. If you couldn't afford to go to the local bath house, this was as good as it got for many people - especially in the larger towns where you didn't exactly always have easy access to rivers or streams. Still, it seemed like her friend from the stepps wasn't keen on the possibility of being sneakily observed - even though most wells in a town like this were located in the back-streets behind buildings, with very few ways and angles for someone to peep on you. But, if she prefered the river then that was just something Druid Girl would have to go along with.

And then came a bit of a slapping wind to her face.

Apparently, both the Steppe Archer and the Lizard Fighter were very, very aware of her physique it seemed. This made the druid stand silent for a while, unblinking and motionless. Then a tinge of red spread across her cheeks and she averted her eyes to the side, raising her arms to wrap them around her exposed midriff and her bandeau-covered chest.

"W-well... I didn't think everyone was like that... Back home, in the village, the boys I grew up with did that too... But I thought that was just because they were boys, y'nkow?" She said, voice a bit more quiet and demure than usual. "I mean, we'd seen each other naked lots when we were kids and bathed together and stuff, so i didn't really think much about it... And everyone keeps saying that nobles are supposed to be well-mannered and gentlemen, so I... Uh... Wait, have you been looking at my chest too, Red!?" Druid Girl explained, before realizing taht Big Red had just called her, and their lioness-archer, attractive! Something you could only call someone if you'd actually taken a good look at them.

This caused the Druid's face to grow even more red, and she looked a bit conflicted, somewhere between embarrassed and wanting to run away, along with angry and wanting to slap the lizard across his non-protruding ears. Luckily, she did neither of these things, but instead opted to let out a long, tired sigh.

"Pops always used to say I was the prettiest girl in the world... But he's my dad, so of course he said stuff like that, right? Fathers are supposed to call their daughters things like princesses and all taht." She shared an embarrassing fact about her dad. "Usually, people don't even spare bumpkins and country-girls like me a second glance, or so some people I met told me." She was pouting now. "Well, whatever! Let's... Let's just gog et washed up in the river! Away from prying eyes!"

With that, the nature-mage turned on her heel, still trying to cover herself with just wo arms, and began marching off. At a much brisker pace than she usually had. It appeared this little bit of conversation had made her feel a bit self-conscious perhaps. As they would walk though, she turned a head to Big Red and addressed something he'd said earlier.

"Inter-party relationships are fairly common, y'know? A lot of adventurers actually get married to someone they've worked alongside with for a while." She paused, then gave the lizardman a once-over, from head to toes, before going on. "... Sorry though, you're not quite my type, Big Red." She added on, with a slightt, good-natured snicker.

The group would now have to go back down the street form the market, out the eastern gate, down the path in the woods and finally get to bathing in the river, before making the trip back to Palisade Town. There wasn't any rush of course, the sun was still up and the gates weren't closing and locking up for a good few hours more, plenty of time to dget themselves cleaned up and make it back inside the walls.

Meanwhile, the nobleman who had gotten a rather large number of signatures on his petition seemed extremely pleased with himself. Rolling the scroll up and tying a silken strap around it, he safely pocketed the documet and ordered his cadre of four bodyguards to come along. The group of goons formed up, two infront of the man and two behind, before setting off at a leisure pace towards the northern parts of the settlement. No doubt to deliver the document to the town hall before nightfall. If all went well for him, the gates might be left open on constant as little as a week from now!

On the other hand, the two Rhea-youngsters who had been keeping an eye on folks around the market were now gone. Having scampered off or perhaps more likely snuck off, somewhere during all this time. It was unclear if they'd actually done anything other than watch and observe, but if they had it certainly didn't seem like anyone had noticed, since no shouting about thieves or missing personal bleongings were heard.

Guild of Renta-Experts [[CANCELLED]]

While listening to the werewolf-alchemist's entire spiel, Karin didn't show much of any hints as to what she might be thinking or feeling. Just that same, well-trained and pracitced polite smile on her lips during the entire thing. It was a bit unnerving how she managed to pull off that face without ever needing time to prepare or practice beforehand... But then again, she was a porfessional! Once Alice had finished up her explaining though, Karin's ears twittched a little and her plump tail lightly thumped the floor next to her own chair, before she finally spoke - while readjusting her glasses, of course.

"You seem to be misunderstanding something, Miss Keller." She started off. "The Guild isn't going to punish either of you. According to what we've been told by eye-witnesses, and by you yourselves, you've completed the quest as per its specifications." The receptionistt stated, matter-of-factly, before raising a sole index-finger as if to put emphasis on what she was saying. "Miss Elmwood merely stated in her request that members of our Organization were to walk her dog. Nothing more, nothing less. If she added criteria or specific conditions to you ladies, in person, then those were nothing more than her own preferences. Since she failed to state those in her quest-application form, the Guild - and by extension, you two - aren't accountable for anything besides failing to return her ddog. Which you did."

The tanuki leaned back in her seat, stretched both of her arms up over her head and did a loud, intense stretch, complete with "hmmmmmmmmmmmmnnnnnnnnnnnn"-sound, before returning her focus to the little werewolf on the other side of her desk.

"The Guild is very particular about our paperwork, as it serves as a means for our members to pick out jobs and tasks theyu're suited for. If clients fail to include important details or specific conditions, then our employees could end up getting hurt or worse. Because of this, we require all such information to be clearly written down and submitted when a person makes a request of the Guild." The bespectacled beauty said, leaning forward with both elbows on the surface of the reception desk now. Hands cupped under her chin while she rested her head in them. "So don't you worry. Miss Bavaloure is totally on your side in this case, and if Miss Elmwood has any issues, she can take it up with our hall's Mistress. I'm sure that won't happen though. Mmhmm~" Karin giggled at the end, implying that the members of the Litroot G.O.R.E. Hall weren't the only one who feared the petite witch.

After clearing this up, and thus alleviating any of Alice's fears for possible repercussions or punishments that may or may not have included a severe spanking, or wooden horse-torture, Karin proceeded to open one of her narybty drawers, and began rummaging around in it.

... And rummaging...

... ... And rummaging some more...

... ... ... And even more...

... ... ... ... Now she got up tolook inside of it, while her eyebrow twitched, though her pro-like smile remained...

Approximately 4.5 minutes later...

00a99d"Ahem! Yes, well! Anyway. Here's your pay, for your first joint quest. Congratulations, you two. I'll be sure to update your personal files later."[/color] The lazy, disorganized receptionnist congratulated, before putting a very paltry and unsatisfying number of coins onto the desk, sliding them over towards Alice. The total sum was about enough to buy a snack from one of the town's market stalls... A small one... For one person...

Bounce, bounce, bounce! CLOMP~!

"Hey, hey! You ttwo done yet!?" A very excited Brandy suddenly appeared, right next to Alice, a piece of paper in her hand. "What's this quest? It's got a super buff hunk on it! Do we like, get to go and hang with him? Search for a missin' piece of man-meat?" She was very excited. And had very sparkly eyes.

Karin took the note from Brandy's hand, gave it a look, and then gave Brandy a look. It was the look of someone who was trying to fathom how someone who looked like that could have the mental faculties ofa four-year-old..

"Miss Vanillarin..."
"Just call me Brandy, chief~!" Brandy gave a salute and stuck her tongue out. Karin was unplussed.
"... This is an advertisement for the village's yearly Strong-Man contest... Which was last month..."
"... Eh?"
"It's not a quest. It's an old ad that wasn't cleaned off the quest board."
".... Soooo... No hunks in trouble for a pair of hotties be all heroic-like and save?"
"No. None of that."
"... Boo."

Brandy looked more upset about not being allowed to go on a quest to save some muscly, burly, non-shirt-wearing men, rather than being embarrassed that she'd just gone and made it painfully apparent that she couldn't read, nor tell the difference between a colorfully and artistically drawn advertisement, and a piece of informative and plainly written quest-request. The little goat-girl's ears slouched and her tail dipped as she let out a 'Awwww' and slowly trotted back to the quest-board. Karin gave Alice a mixed expression.

"... I get that she's got enthusiasm but... Are you certain you want to be paired up with her? I'm sure there're other girls in the Hall who'd happily team up with you." The tanuki politely informed... Probably having Alice's best interests in mind, for the long-game at least...

Goblin Slayer: Newblood (CANCELLED)

The nobleman at the square seemed pleased, as many were lining up to sign his little document. An eyebrow was raised when he saw the little lion-maned foreigner step forth and scribble her own signature on the parchment, but his surprised quickly faded - replaced instead with a content, smug expression. His face went a bit more pale and his eyes got a lot bigger when a certain, gargantuan lizardman lumbered over though. Towering over the scrawny but much more well-dressed man, the poor fellow seemed unsure what was about to happen. Even the noble's bodyguards looked uncertain about what to do, half-resting their hands on their weapons, half shambling to position themselves inbetween the red hulk-creature and theirn sire.

A sigh of relief left the well-to-do upper class citizen though, as soon as the red reptile signed the paper. A visible bead had formed on the man's otherwise immaculate face, and was quickly removed by the dab of a small hankerchief - which looked far too expensive and embroidered with details to be used for such a thing. Seriouslyy, that thing looked more expensive than all of Big Red's, Steppe Archer's and Druid Girl's clothes and weapons combined. Who paid for something that lavish!? Druid Girl, who had just been standing about - stuffing her face to the point of resembling achipmunk - watched the spectacle. The rich really were something else, spending money on fine clothes and little extravagances like that... Meanwhile her own family barely had enough money from their back-breaking labor to afford food and necessities from season to eason...

She was brought back to her senses though, the caramel-skinned girl, when both of her companions rejoined and spoke with her. It seemed Steppe Archer wanted to go river-bathing again, whereas Big Red seemed to feel he wasn't in need of such things. Honestly though, while the thought of being somewhat sticky and gross was unpleasant, the nature mage didn't exactly feel like washing up in a rather chilly river twice in a single day. On the other hand, paying for a trip to the local bath house would cut into her funds, of which she had already used a fair portion today... It was a tough choice...

To be potentially smelly, or to not be potentially smelly... That was the question!

"Hm, well I'd rather not be all gross and stuff when it's time for bed... Though bathing in the river again is a bit..." She mused loudly. "... If we wanted, I suppose we could duck into one of the alleys that have a well and just rinse ourselves off... Though, someone might try to peep..." She suggested first. "... Unless our fearless and valiant Knight in Red Scales would be willing to stand guard and protect our virtues while we do so..." She added, casting a glance over at Big Red, while putting on puppy-dog eyes and doing her best to look like a frail and delicate maiden in distress...

... It didn't look quite right...

"Ohm! Maybe I should sign that thingy too! It'd be real helpful if we could just come back at any time of day." She said, mouth-now-full-of-a-new-bite-of-skewer. And no sooner said than done did she trot herself over and get in line to sign the nobleman's petition too. Her friends had both done it, so she should too, right?

Meanwhile, the crowd at the market was beginning to disperse, now that most present had already listned to, and decided to sign or ignore the nobleman's appeal. As people began to move about and head in every which direction though, a group of - or rather a pair - of individuals stood out. They were a pair of rhea - two young lads to be precise. One had rough, unkempt shoulder-length black hair, while the other had short and smoothened light brown hair. Both were dressed in a similar fashion, simple clothes of no particular make or quality. They had some equipment though, which signified that they were ither fellow adventurers, travellers or otherwise in a career that required personal protection and survival tools or resources.

So, what was noteworthy about them then, considering they sound quite generic and non-descript? They were keeping a very sharp eye out, observing passer-by's with discreet glances and peeks - the unobservant and careless would easily pass them by and not think twice about it. While others might just think they were looking for someone in particular. However, a more careful and astute individual may notice that they weren't looking at peoples' faces, but rather somewhere else on the body... Particularly around the midriff-area. Of course, that could all just have eben vivid imagening! After all, people were quite prejudiced against the rhea as it were, often painting them up as thieves and rogues. It might just be a harmless case of people-watching or trying to spot something they liked and wanted to get for themselves, from a shop. Totally legit, by paying for and everything!

"Whoo, I'm back!" A ratheer frazzled Druid Girl stated, as she reconvened with her fellows. "I still don't get why that noble dropped the pen on the ground and asked me to bend down and pick it up... Three times! He didn't drop it when anybody else was writing down their names... Oh no... Do you... Do you think it's because I smell? I ... I didn't think I got that sweaty...!" She was obviously not catching on to the actual reason...