The Fires of Change - IC

[Hazuki]

The Fires of Change

http://i.imgur.com/OSptUSp.png (http://blazi76.deviantart.com/art/Magical-Camping-384869954)

Ember sits with her back up against the oak that overlooks camp. As it has been for the last few hours, her companions sleep quietly in their bedrolls and her eyes long for sleep, with nothing but the crackling fire to keep her company. She closes her eyes once, just for a little rest, but when she opens them, the fire seems to twitch. Like it was suddenly shunted in one direction and the opposite at the same time.

Stretching her aching limbs, the tiefling walks closer to the fire and casts a cautious gaze around the edge of the clearing where their camp has been set up. There are always dangers in the forest, and that’s just why she keeps a blade handy at her hip. She catches a few glimmers of moonlight through the trees, piercing the darkness cleanly and letting her know that something else is a little odd. Her keen nose twitches, and the air seems somehow to tingle.

Ember raises her blade and calls to her companions, stirring them from their slumber as arcs of moonlight stalk through the trees. Through sharp focus, her aura begins to emerge and imbue her blade for the danger that is almost certain to come. An afterimage of drawing her blade remains, just as always, a second back in time. Then a dull aching emerges from each side of her hips, rising up through her spine and stretching through her bones. It feels different from all the other times she's pulled her magic forth, like her aura is actually weaving its way through her skin. There is a sickening crack in the air, then her skin seems to stretch around her torso.

The tiefling looks down, watching as her armor warps out of the way and a fist seems to punch through the hole that remains. Its knuckles are a bit bloodied, but its pallor is clear; a light blue, just like Ember's skin. Then it thrusts outwards, jabbing at the air as an entire muscular arm comes forth from the new joints forming just below her shoulderblades. In a matter of moments, Ember has a second set of arms, almost identical to her others, each with their own afterimage to match her regular aura.

While her companions chatter and prepare, commenting on the easy approach of whatever wants to enter, she notices it on them, too. Kaori can see Ember's change, just as Arday can, and then they notice it on themselves, too. A shifting of their forms.

Looking down at herself, Kaori spots a far more subtle change than that of Ember's. Her curvaceous hips, bust, and various other bodyparts seem to shrink slightly, becoming more in line with the rest of her body and tapering at the curves to a somewhat more androgynous appearance. Even her hands seem to become slightly more masculine, her lips somewhat less full, yet the tiniest of hairs adorning her arms seem to slip away as though they were never there.

But Kaori's appearance is a little bit different, in the eyes of her companions. Ember sees Kaori look just like herself, yet her skin turns somewhat blue, but only slightly. Her curves become fuller, instead of smaller, and her eyes seem to take on the gentle easiness of family. Even the Kitsune's scent seems to change, subtly, but reminding the tiefling of Ragnarok's Den, her home, and the most delicious of scents that would waft through the air.

In Arday's eyes, Kaori's skin takes on a more familiar look. Her skin gets paler, her hair taker on a dark tint, and her eyes turn to a jet black; all traits of the Sworterian state. But she lacks the hardness, the edge of Arday's homeland; the grim determination or militaristic stance is replaced by an easygoing, gleeful smile, while little tattoos mimicking Arday's own emerge across what spaces of bare skin Kaori's outfit exposes. The meaning of the markings seem to welcome the Sworterian child, though she doesn't know precisely what their meaning is; just that they're somehow warm and comforting.

Arday's change is both less drastic and more flashy. The tattoos that adorn her arms, the markings that weave around her normally, seem to wriggle and crawl all over her skin and her outfit. They work themselves into her flesh, beneath her skin, multiplying over and over again as a tingling washes over it until she can scarcely feel the warmth of the fire, or the gentle breeze on the wind, any longer. She knows what they are, can feel them brush up against the ephemeral rune-flesh that now covers her, but not like normal flesh. No feeling or emotion, just the knowledge of what it is.

The group has no time to react before the arcs of moonlight are upon them. Three figures stalk out of the woods, appearing all around them. One whose tongue slathers from between her blackened lips, eyes arched unnaturally high against skin that’s all too pale. Her head tilts with an animalistic snarl as you notice her, and fingers too long, too sharp, clench around the spiked chain of moonlight that hangs from between her fingers.

She’s wearing something, hiding whatever transformation has taken hold of her form. None of the party is as lucky for the others. One is a man, twice Arday's size, with brawn to match. There’s no skin that they can see, just layers and layers of arrowheads that have wormed their way into his muscular flesh. Looking closely, the party thinks they can spot just an inch of skin, but it is soon swallowed up by the arrowheads that roll and shift with his every movement.

And the last one...none of the party can even tell their gender. Wrapped in a shroud of shimmering stars, their form is indistinguishable, and their face made up of features too perfectly androgynous. They’re the only one that’s smiling, just a little one, as their moonlit chain swings idly before their bare feet in a rhythm that only they seem to know. When they look at you, they meet your eyes. However peaceful they may seem, you see no virtue in their gaze. And they’re in your camp...

[Business Scrub]

Kaori looks around as her and the others change with confusion: something strange was happening, that much was obvious, but what? And why? It didn't seem to be harmful though, so the Kitsune was more curious than scared. That is, until the others showed their faces in the pale moonlight.

They didn't seem to be out for thieving: they would have been quieter if that was the case. Which means they want to be seen, which means they want to talk. Better tread lightly...

Kaori brushes a strand of hair out of her eyes, made unruly by sleep, and clears her throat loudly.
"Erm, welcome travelers. Moving by night I see, smart. 'Night is safer than day, to those that know the way.' Or, so the saying goes anyway. Might we know your names?"
She speaks a little wavering. These didn't seem the most hospitable of guests, and they had caught their trio at a rather unpleasant time.

Diplomacy! Let's start this game off right? [roll0] (Add 1 if charming trait plays in here, though something tells me it won't...)

[PersonMan]

Arday, the others know, tends to sleep fairly heavily. As the others are already up and prepared, Ember having been awake anyways and Kaori rising from sleep, the scholar had just kicked off her blanket and was sitting up, rubbing her eyes, muttering about something. The first glance around the camp is blurry, the second more clear - the third comes because Arday is sure that the she's still half-asleep. Another pair of arms on Ember? It had taken some time for her to grow accustomed to the woman's odd appearance, but this was entirely new. Pushing herself onto her feet, she looks over to her other companion. Curiously, Kaori had changed, as well. Although her own change was less disconcerting, it was still very noticeable.

The distinctly Sworterian appearance calms Arday, once the familiar smile becomes visible, the tattoos dancing across her skin drawing the scholar's eyes. Entranced by their appearance, the mantle of sleep falls off of her as her mind begins to work, focus entirely on the black markings until the change of her own tattoos forces her to turn her attention to herself. The strangeness of the feeling is quickly replaced by utter fascination with the change in her perception. Pure knowledge seemed to have replaced the normal sensory information that came to her. Arday's mind works to process the new input, focus now split, half on the strange new feeling of her skin, with the other on the unusual new contrast between the cool, calm knowledge from her skin and the emotional warmth that came with Kaori's changed expression.

Then they arrive. The appearance of the three beings catches Arday off guard, and she takes a moment to just absorb their appearance, to take in the details of each of them, from the woman's snarl to the man's arrowhead-skin and the third one's starry attire. Kaori steps forward to speak, giving the scholar another few moments to collect herself, straighten up, prepare her own words.

"Good evening!" She begins, trying to find a way to add to her comrade's words with her own. "How are you all doing tonight?"

Aid Another is a thing in PF, right?

Diplomacy: [roll0] +1 if they're Elans.

EDIT: Blarg why do I even try. I've been rolling low in all my games recently. :smallannoyed:

[Hazuki]

The starry-eyed member of the group narrows their gaze somewhat at the easygoing dialogue that Kaori has started with them, although her voice is far sweeter than the practical croak that Arday spews out thanks to her utter lack of just-woke-up decorum. Their grip on the chain gets just the slightest bit looser, but their stance easily slips into one that's somewhat more relaxed as they stand in the flickering flames of the bonfire.

"Good evening." They greet, their smile turning into a beaming one as they meet Kaori's gaze dead-on. "Names can be traded later, perhaps? There's something more important, first; you need to put out that campfire." They gesture casually to the flames that sit at the center of camp, releasing their glowing chain for just a moment. "It's very distracting, all fire and heat and minor burns, and I can't help but think we'd all be more comfortable with it gone. Don't you?"

The reaction of the other two members of the group is somewhat less conversational. The brawny arrowhead-hide man simply stays silent, watching the starry-eyed speaker with a calm gaze, and adjusting his grip on the spiked chain. The woman with the long tongue seems to step away for a moment, leaning out from halfway behind a tree so that she can watch the rudely-awakened campers. Despite the fact that she's half-shrouded in the shadow of the tree, the entire group notices that her gaze seems to linger for particularly long on Arday, her sharp-fingered hand squeezing tightly around the chain as it does.

[PersonMan]

Arday glances to the others as the star-clad one mentions putting out the fire. Raising her left arm, she taps a finger on her left cheekbone and for the briefest of moments the eye above it seems to glow ever so slightly. With that done, she turns back to the speaker of the other group, slowed a moment by thoughts on the unusual nature of her sense of touch; the sensation of her finger on her cheek was odd, despite how familiar it was at the same time. Losing the campfire wouldn't be a problem for her. One of the first powerful effect-patterns she'd puzzled out was one to create light and using that her wouldn't be an issue.

"Does the light bother you? I have a way to make it so we can see despite putting it out, but if the light itself is an issue that wouldn't help," Arday says after a moment, gaze briefly going over the woman who had been looking at her with...what was that? The scholar shifts her eyes to the star-clad one before they stay on the woman for more than a brief moment. If she was angry, it would be best to not aggravate her further. After she speaks, a slight breeze reminds her of another issue that quenching the fire would bring.

"Ah, there's also...the cold. It would be rather uncomfortable to camp here without a fire, at least for us. Although, depending on what we're going to be doing, I can probably just get back in my blankets..." Arday continues. As she mentions blankets, she sits back down to grab the discarded cloth, half-sitting and partially wrapping herself in it so the heat wouldn't all be lost.

[Hazuki]

"It's not the light, dear, nor the warmth." The starry member replies, tilting their head as Arday crawls back onto the ground and wraps her body up in the blankets. Their raised eyebrow quickly comes back down, turning their attention back to Kaori and Ember. "But it really is for the best that you put out that fire as soon as possible, unless you'd prefer to stay the way you look right now. In which case, we will have to stop you...but none of us want that, do we? So I'll ask nicely; can you please put out that fire?" They stress the manners explicitly as their tone becomes somewhat more insistent, watching the fire's twists and turns from the corner of their eyes.

[Business Scrub]

Kaori pulls her scarf close as the wind blows: it was pretty cold out. Her main concern had been Arday being able to see, but apparently she had that covered.

"Put away your weapons and we'll happily put out the fire. No need for them among friends, anyway."

Kaori moves to the fire, ready extinguish it if the others put their chains away.

[Hazuki]

"There are not weapons." The star-shrouded member of the intruding group replies, giving the chain in their hands a demonstrative and elegant swish in the air. "Or, they are, but using them like it wouldn't very good for their health, and wouldn't be as good as any lump of wood you can pick up. They're tools for clearing the underbrush and other obstructive pieces of debris when you're traveling. Improves travel time. As well as providing light, which is useful for those of us who can't see through the darkness without it."

[Lady Serpentine]

"Besides, while they may be the ones here uninvited, they do still have right to defend themselves - it's not as though you're suggesting we both put aside our weapons, is it?" Ember points out, one of her normal hands twisting through the air as she does, which is shortly followed by a wash of steam rising from where the fire was moments ago, flames dying away as they're flooded.

"And I don't trust that fire anyway," she goes on, shrugging a bit. "It did something strange just before our guests arrived. Given how we changed, I think that it's entirely reasonable to do as they say - and if not, well, I suppose the past is the past, right? Too late now."

[PersonMan]

"So, the fire is causing a change in our auras? Do you know more details about this phenomenon?" Arday asks, momentarily distracted as she wraps her blanket around herself to keep the night's chill from encroaching on her - for now it wasn't an issue, but before long the departure of the fire's heat would cause the camp to cool down significantly. As the darkness comes over the camp, she looks at the other group's weapons curiously, interested in their apparent ability to provide light.

If they don't, or if it isn't enough, the scholar will provide her own, but otherwise there's no need to do so. Focusing on making light wasn't her main concern at the moment; Arday was intrigued by the odd-acting fire and its apparent effect on the group moreso than she was bothered by the lack of light.

[Hazuki]

"Thank you." The star-shrouded member of the group says to Ember as she douses the fire, leaning their shoulder against a nearby tree and folding one leg over the other. The smile that has remained on their face for most of the conversation thus far grows just a little wider. "My name is Jesse. My companions are Regan and..." They look over at the tree-concealed woman, who seems to be staring at the ground shortly in front of the group, tongue hanging out of her lips still. "Tongues."

As they were glowing while approaching the camp, the moonlit chains glow with a gentle pale light that blesses the camp with its touch, even as the warmth of the campfire slips away. As it does, and the fire becomes mere cinders in the center of camp, the party begins to feel the additions to their forms start to slip away, however slowly. Ember's new arms shrink somewhat, Arday's flesh begins to mold back into her pale fleshy hide, while Kaori's additions in the eyes of both herself and her two companions begin to change back to normal.

"The details..." They begin, glancing at the sky for a moment before meeting Arday's eyes. "I can't trust you with all of them. Yet. But the important part is this; fire is changing people. Not in a way that most would consider good, though it would be right at home in Ragnarok's Den. More fire, more changes, but the more people around it, the less changes. As you can see," Looking over the opposing group, each of the campers notices that none of their physical alterations have changed in the slightest. "We're quite familiar with it. You got but a taste; but some things can make it permanent. That's what you get about it."

"As for us; we don't want people using this fire. And we especially don't want brigands and other ne'er-do-wells discovering it. Before we say anything else, may I whisper something to one of you?"

[Business Scrub]

With the fire extinguished, Kaori sits down on a nearby log, listening to the travellers' explanation and watching her own changes recede with relief. She was used to shifting forms, but not like this. Even though she hadn't felt a physical change, she feels a sense of comfort as her normal shape returned. Like Arday, Kaori takes the blanket from her bed and wraps herself in it when it became clear they weren't going to be relighting the fire.

"I see, so you were saving us from... whatever fate has befallen you. You have our gratitude, Jesse. And Regan and Tounges."
She nods to each of them in turn.
"I'm Kaori. The scholar here is Arday, and the one with more sense than I is Ember."

She rubs her hands together in what seems to be an effort to keep them warm: instead however, four bluish orbs wink into existence in her palms and spread out over their camp, throwing them in a dim blue tint.

"Just because we can't have fire doesn't mean we can't have light."

Starting to become fully awake, her tails twitch subconsciously. Whatever this was, it was exciting. And secrets? All the better. She leans in a bit at Jesse's request.

"Of course. You're the ones that seem to know what's going on, after all."

[Hazuki]

"A pleasure to meet you all." Jesse replies the pleasantry, looking over the other two females present as they take a few cautious steps towards the Kitsune that has wrapped herself up in blankets and covered the camp with a new sheen of light. They walk around the remains of the campfire, chain still hanging loosely from their hands, and and approach Kaori's side, facing her and letting the young woman get a little bit more comfortable with the invasion of personal space before leaning forwards.

While Jesse whispers to Kaori, Regan eyes Ember the most cautiously, as the only obviously armed member of the group. Tongues still seems to be avoiding looking at Arday, as she's practically clutching herself to the tree.

Jesse leans close to Kaori's ear and whispers. "Do you trust them?" They ask, eyes subtly shifting in the direction of Ember and Arday.

[Business Scrub]

Kaori seems a little puzzled, but responds hardly above a whisper nonetheless.
"I would hardly be travelling with them if I didn't. But yes, I trust them."

[Hazuki]

Jesse seems satisfied with whatever answer it is that Kaori gave, giving the young woman a nod before they stroll back to the edge of the clearing and lean against one of the many trees that surround it. "We have explained our presence here, and I will be happy to answer any questions the three of you have. After that, I have a proposition to make, that will decide the course of this meeting." They flash their widest smile again. "But if what Kaori just said is true, all should go swimmingly."

[PersonMan]

Arday is entirely focused on Jesse's words, barely noticing how her skin shifts due to her concentration on the new knowledge being given to her. Fire causing changes, which could be made permanent - as was the case for them, it seemed, - perhaps through some energy that it now radiated? The effect being diminished by a larger group of people was interesting, and seemed to support the idea that there was some kind of power being sent out from the flames. The more people there were nearby, the less each would get. Of course, with winter coming this new phenomenon was far more of an immediate issue than it would have been in spring or summer; on the other hand, perhaps it had started then and was only now being truly noticed?

As Kaori introduces her, Arday smiles and waves slightly, still unhappy with the horrible failure that her attempt at a greeting had become earlier, looking briefly at Tongues, trying to catch her gaze to give her a hopefully not as failed friendly gesture of some sort. If only she could work her earlier mistake into some kind of new greeting, mold her words like clay so that their earlier shape changed to one better for her use. That was one of the things their younest member did for the group - her way with words was remarkable, enough so that Arday had noted a few times potential theories as to how she might puzzle out the precise nature of how she managed to be so diplomatic. It would certainly be a fascinating project to undertake, although obviously only as a side issue when she wasn't working on the ascension of all people into a world without pain or violence.

As Jesse and Kaori exchange a whisper, Arday's attention is once again entirely on them, curious as to the nature of whatever secrets they are exchanging. But before some kind of temptation can overcome her, the brief conference ends and the star-clad one speaks to the group once again.

"Is there, ehm, excuse me if I seem rude, but, what is it you're all doing out here in the woods?

And what's this proposition?" Arday asks, her curiosity giving the shove she needs to get past the worry of offending the group that Kaori had just arranged a peaceful exchange with. At least I remembered something of what Miss Terr kept trying to teach me...

[Hazuki]

Looking down at themselves, each member of the party can see that the sudden changes to their forms have reverted in their entirety, leaving them with just the fact that they still look like they've just gotten out of bed. As with just a few moments ago, the unique forms of their intruders show no signs of changing whatsoever.

When Arday attempts to catch the gaze of Tongues once again, the woman just scarcely notices her gaze. She looks into her eyes for a moment before shifting her foot on the other side of the tree, stepping just a little more behind it as though it will shield her from the tattooed scholar. With the fact that she's been noticed, she seems to retreat a little more into her shell, although her lengthy tongue still hangs out of her mouth; almost as though all of it couldn't fit back inside if she were to try.

"It's simple!" Jesse begins, as they wrap their chain around their waist so that it hangs loosely around their robes, leaving their hands free to make a demonstrative flourish. "For various reasons, we can't approach any cities. Our original plan, as a group, was to enter one and find a trustworthy person of power to inform about all of what we've discovered. But when that proved too frustrating a task, and we can't ambush...anyone on the road without getting skewered, we decided that we could still do something. So we're scaring people away from their campfires; most run away when they see a band of freaks approaching with weapon-like things in their arms. That's why we were slightly unprepared for you to start chatting."

"But it's welcome, very welcome. Our plan only works on the short-term, making campers avoid lighting bonfires through rumors, and having people working with us would be good for everyone. Because..." Jesse lets out a gentle sigh. "We think the flames are getting stronger. And with winter coming..." They let the rest of the group finish that thought.

[PersonMan]

Arday is momentarily stunned by the sudden change, but shrugs it off - after all, the first modification had been incredibly quick, why would the change back to normal take any longer? She isn't sure why she hadn't changed before going to sleep, but ignores that issue in favor of paying attention to the current events instead. They remained very unusual and incredibly interesting - moreso than the specifics of her change, for the time being.

Noticing that her attention seems to cause Tongues to shy away behind the tree, Arday quickly looks away from her, not wanting to cause further trouble with the black-lipped woman. She wanted to speak with her later (she wanted to speak with all of them later, actually, and hoped that they wouldn't leave before she had a chance to spend at least a day or so speaking to each of them) and it seemed that her current efforts were doomed to failure. Arday decides that she'll need to ask Jesse about their odd, shy companion later, preferably before trying to initiate a proper discourse; it would be hard to try and talk to the woman about her changes if she fled whenever the scholar looked at her.

"That's..." Arday has trouble finding the right word. Interesting? Fascinating? The most amazing thing I've heard since I made my discovery? The second biggest thing I've ever had the chance to be a part of? "...very interesting. Ehm. I think that's an understatement. But if this phenomenon is gaining in power and is based in fire, then you are correct in that winter's approach will escalate things," Arday manages to hold herself back and turn to her companions before she continues into a long stream-of-though run-on sentence. "How do you two feel? I think it would be a wonderful opportunity to learn more about this, and it may be necessary to work with them to prevent some kind of catastrophe," And with this phenomenon's changing of my tattoos, it may have a similar effect on other patterns. This could be the key to Mortal Ascension!

"I would be happy to work with you, but, ehm. Have the changes actually had an effect more than the visible aesthetic ones? Knowing the extent of the changes caused by this phenomenon will help us determine what kind of action will be necessary and how important it is to act swiftly," Arday continues.

[Hazuki]

Addressing the only words directed to them, Jesse ponders the question for a moment and shares a look with Regan before speaking. "We don't have enough experience with the fires to say for sure about just what it does to a person's mind. But we do know that another person who was with us before went quite mad upon his change. He wasn't an ideal role model for mental stability to begin with, but we do think it did something. But it's hard to test this kind of thing. How does one test this kind of thing?" They ask, giving a shrug of their slender shoulders at their own rhetorical question.

[PersonMan]

"I see. My thoughts were going more towards outward changes, although how these changes effect one's mind is interesting as well," Arday says, nodding as she processes the next bit of information. "I was considering the physical changes that seem to have occurred - Regan, for example, seems to have a covering of arrowheads that could work as a kind of armor...if they share the physical properties of actual arrowheads," she explains. The scholar realized that Jesse's question wasn't meant to be answered, but her mind still works, looking for a way to test such a thing. The first thing that comes to her mind is a battery of tests using arcane and other methods of modifying emotions to see if the fires them had an effect on that, combined with dozens of others being exposed to the flames for specific lengths of time before being examined...

"Does this phenomenon seem to be geographically isolated? How long ago did you first encounter it? If it can be diluted in individual cases, then perhaps a large number of flames will dilute the total effect in a similar fashion," Arday continues, her arms emerging from the blanket, tattoos covering the right one seeming to shimmer as some kind of energy flows through them. "Do you know if it only affects people? I wonder, is the source of its modification in the aura, or is that only the visible effect? Perhaps it's tied to the second layer in which case it'd show physical changes only as it progressed into a more complex structure on the third grid..." Arday's voice grows quiet, her fingers dancing in complex patterns in the air before her, eyes following each movement as her lips move ever faster. Before long, she's stopped speaking and there's an almost sigh-like stream of noise coming from her in its place.

"Ah! Sorry, I got lost in thought," Arday says, snapping up after her words become lost, hands returning to the warmth under the blanket as she shivers, the intense focus that allowed her to ignore the cold lost. "The cold doesn't bother you, does it?" She asks, rubbing her hands together to warm them as she scrunches up to try and escape the cold, pulling the blanket up to her shoulders. "Do you have some kind of camp? If we're working together, finding a way to avoid freezing without lighting fire will be important, at least for us."

[Hazuki]

"My mistake." Jesse says, their hand giving a small wave as though to dismiss that fact. "The changes do have an actual effect on the world, yes. If these were just more particular kinds of auras than most people are used to, we would have thought of it much more quickly than now, after all the time we've had to deal with it. Regan's brawn is just as rough and scaled as it seems, not that the man will let me approach to test it." They says giving a look to the silent person nearby. One that's somewhat compassionate, if not entirely intended to be caring, as it includes him in the words instead of speaking about him like a subject. "He's actually the brains behind most of what we've found out. And a fine brain it is."

"For how far it affects? It goes at least as far as all of the borders of Ragnarok's Den, and anything beyond that we've not visited. We first saw it a few months ago, but the fire was much weaker then, and it barely affected us. The only things we've seen it affect so far are people. The kind of beings that would have an aura to begin with, at least, and we've not got any animals of our own to see. Plantlife looks dandy!" They gesture to the trees around the group, which hadn't changed in the slightest, and Arday's brief stares at Tongues hiding behind one would almost certainly have revealed it.

A small laugh emerges from their lips as Arday apologizes for going off on a little rant of her own, once her interrogation is over with. "No trouble at all. And the cold isn't too much of a bother. Uncomfortable, maybe, but nothing that we can't put up with. We have some goods stored, a little away, but we move around every night. No set camp for us, but I can try to think of something to keep you warm, if that's what you need...? A blanket with sleeves?"

[Lady Serpentine]

"The one who went mad. What changes did he have, physically? I can see how seeing one's friends change into different forms, and your own body twisted to a new shape, would be enough to snap an already-fragile mind, even without a direct change."

Ember shrugs as she finishes speaking, sheathing her blade, and slipping the weapons-belt off her waist, letting it slide gently to the ground, obviously deliberately disarming herself for some reason - she's not the one who needs to hear the answer, after all; Arday is the smart one, not her.

Of course, she's not the 'face', either... But given that she's slowly slipping towards Tongues, hands held out to her sides, trying to look as non-threatening as she can, she doesn't seem to care nearly as much about that.

[Business Scrub]

Kaori listens with attention to Arday's questions and answers. She had some questions of her own, but by and large Arday seemed to be following this much better than she was.

"But, surely others must have noticed by now, right? Even if the change comes around slowly in populated areas, people would see it and start making a fuss..."

[Hazuki]

"He..." Jesse goes quiet for a few moments, as they look to the cinders of the bonfire that sat at the center of camp. "We didn't get a chance to look him over well. He was already fleshcrafted to an extent, and he burned to death before we could see him properly. And the remains weren't helpful." They explain, looking back up to Kaori as they ponder what she says, leaving Ember free to attempt her approach of the woman concealed behind a tree.

Stepping cautiously, although not sneakily, across the camp, Ember manages to get somewhat closer to Tongues, although the woman eyes her approach cautiously. When the tiefling gets a little too close for comfort, she opens her jaw a little wider, baring her exceedingly sharp teeth. From this vantage point, Ember manages to catch sight of little rubber inlays along the sides and backs of the woman's teeth.

Jesse, thumb to their bottom lip, gives a shrug of her shoulders in response to Kaori. "You're right. It's odd that nobody else, at least in the public eye, seems to have noticed. I wonder why?"

[Lady Serpentine]

Ember gives Tongues a wink as she bares her teeth, before flashing a grin of her own at the woman, revealing her teeth too, as a way of showing that she's not scared, though she doesn't come any closer, and it fades to a gentle smile a few moments later.

"Relax. I won't hurt you. Alright?" She sinks to the ground, curling her legs up under herself and leaning back against a tree, keeping her voice soft and friendly. "So... What's got you so spooked, if you don't mind my asking? Seems like a little more than natural caution. Anything I can do to help...?"

[Hazuki]

Tongues seems to take great distaste to Ember's showing off of her fangs, fear shining in her eyes before she retreats behind the tree for a moment and listening to what the tiefling has to say before she dashes over to the next tree, closer to Regan and Jesse, and conceals herself behind that instead.

[Business Scrub]

Kaori notices the tiefling and Tounges not getting along, and whispers to Jesse.

"Your friend doesn't seem too happy with us... She knows we don't mean harm, right?"

Another breeze goes by, tousling their hair around.

"Well I for one would rather be able to have a fire this winter. What's this proposition of yours Jesse?"

[PersonMan]

Arday listens to her comrades enter the conversation again, eagerly building a vision of what this odd man had undergone before his death, wincing as Jesse mentions him burning to death. A few theories come to her mind as the androgyne wonders aloud about the utter lack of public attention to the issue which, as Arday had been told just before, was significantly more widespread than she'd originally throught. All over Raganrok's Den? That was far more than the small region of woods she had expected this phenomenon to be present in. It meant that it was also in the city itself, although there the mass of people would probably make the effect nigh invisible...Apart from homes, of course.

"Have you seen the effects in any kind of urban environment? Perhaps it's limited to a woodland area," Arday considers, before turning back to what she'd been considering before Kaori and Ember had spoken. "As for your earlier idea, a blanket with sleeves would indeed be very useful. Do you have such a thing?"

Then the interaction between Tongues, who had intrigued the scholar as well, and Ember became impossible to ignore as the former dashed between the trees. Just as she's about to broach the issue, Kaori speaks about it first.

"Indeed. I was going to ask if I had offended her earlier, as she seemed to be avoiding me, but...is she very shy?" Arday stumbles into the idea, remembering the behavior of the young noble girl she'd occasionally seen in the halls of the estate. The hiding and flight from interaction matched what Tongues was doing - the unusual nature in which she'd arrived and her odd appearance made it difficult to see her as the same kind of person, but perhaps the two were more similar than Arday had thought.

[Hazuki]

"Like I said before, going into anywhere with a big amount of people is going to cause trouble, so we haven't tried it. But if you haven't heard of it, then chances are that it's not something that's happening." Jesse answers, tilting their head as two members of the group approach them while Ember has brazenly walked up to Tongues and had her run off to another tree. "My proposition is that you work with us. Either in doing what we're doing, looking into the matter in urban areas yourselves, or finding somebody who you trust to give the information to. If somebody else hasn't found it already, in which case, I expect there'll be no end of trouble. And when we find that, we have to do the 'necessary'."

With the whisper, the androgyne lowers their voice along with Arday and Kaori. "Not this shy. Not even very shy, really. Talking's always a problem for her, but for practical reasons." They look back at Regan, who gives a shake of his head. "And Regan doesn't know either."

[PersonMan]

"Do the necessary? What does that mean?" Arday asks, confused by the unusual wording. Briefly wondering what kind of thing would be necessary because of the information about this phenomenon becoming widespread, she decides to pursue that issue later. "As things stand, like before, I'd be willing to work with you, although..." she pauses, the other issue coming to her mind all too clearly. Jesse has mentioned that Tongues did not normally avoid contact like this, which makes her worry more that she had caused this odd state. That thought is dispelled by her logic - Tongues had reacted similarly to Ember, so it was probably not something that she had done.

"Ehm. Maybe we should let you talk to her? It wouldn't be very beneficial for us as a group if she can't stand any of us..." Arday whispers after the brief pause, hoping that she hasn't stumbled over the wording too badly.

[Hazuki]

"Death." Jesse answers Arday's apparent obliviousness by punctuating the remarks with a hand drawn across her own throat, though their tone is more informative than any kind of threatening. As she makes the claim, she looks over to the concealed Tongues and lets out another quiet sigh. "I don't think she means any harm. But talking with her won't be a good idea when everyone else can hear; would you be open to me and her moving away from this clearing for a short while to talk?"

[PersonMan]

Arday pales as Jesse mentions death. Not much, of course, due to the light nature of her skin, but the silent gesture is followed by a barely-audible swallow that makes her reaction somewhat clear. "I...I see," the scholar says after a moment, her lips opening silently before she speaks. Shaking herself a bit, she sighs. "Well, I hope it won't come to that. The very reason I'm going to Ragnarok's Den is to escape being responsible for people's deaths," Arday says.

"Oh, neither do I. It's just, well, it's hard to work with someone who can't handle you looking at them," Ardsay whispers as Jesse assures her that Tongues meant them no harm. "If you feel you need privacy, that's not an issue,"" she continues, smiling at the androgyne.

[Lady Serpentine]

Ember simply shrugs at Jesse's question, standing up and putting her weapons-belt back on now she's apparently run Tongues off, shooting a resentful glare Arday's way as she takes her place by the other woman; after all, for all her talk about violence not being helpful, she doesn't seem to have any problem with having Ember join the group to kill people for her, if they get attacked.

"Was our little Arday, the pacifist, just saying she killed people and now she's running from the law...?" Ember asks, turning a little so she faces Kaori. As she goes on, she looks back at Arday, so she's addressing her directly, and grins mockingly at her pale companion, welcoming a chance to get a few jabs in at her and work off her temper. "If so, really, dear, you ought to have mentioned it before now. Only common courtesy to let your companions know if you're a murderer."

[Hazuki]

Jesse gives the group something of a comforting smile. With that, they turn on their heel and approach Tongues, gesturing to the trees and walking into them with the skittish woman.

After a few long moments, with each of them out of sight and Regan standing silently on the edge of the clearing, his posture not relaxed in the slightest, Tongues and Jesse return. The former returns to her spot at the trees, looking no closer to relaxed but a fair bit more composed, while Jesse speaks with the party proper. "It's..." Jesse rolls her fingers in the air, as though it will spur their thinking. "A personal problem. Nothing you have done, but it may be best for you, Arday, to avoid talking to her. With any luck, we won't be seeing each other over long periods of time regardless, so this shouldn't pose too large an issue."

"To clarify; we will stick with our group, and you with yours. We can arrange some form of contact if you would prefer, as well; I think it will be quite difficult if we're both always moving, but far from impossible!"

[PersonMan]

"No," Arday replies, frowning as Ember returns. "I left to avoid becoming a mass murderer," she says, turning away from the tiefling as she feels a surge of anger. Ember knew about her dislike of violence - why was she attacking her with it now? Had something offended her recently? "As far as common courtesy is concerned, I believe that accusing your companions of murder lies outside it. But perhaps it's just me assuming people dislike that outside of Sworteria as well."

As Jesse returns, Arday turns back to the androgyne, unhappy to receive the vague and unfortunately negative reply, but still glad that she hasn't done anything to cause Tongues' unease. "Ah, I see. Ahh, I hadn't realized your plan was to stay separated," she says, replying to Jesse's news and then to her clarification.

[Lady Serpentine]

"Yes, well... You still decided to bring a killer along to protect you. Or are you not responsible for the deaths that you've had me cause saving your life, seeing as you asked me to come with you?", Ember snaps, before closing her eyes and breathing deeply, several seconds passing before she continues, as she forces the tension to leave her body with each breath. "However... This is not the time. We can talk about it once we've finished speaking to our new friends."

[Business Scrub]

Uh oh...
Kaori cringes inwardly as her two friends start bickering. They had touched on this before but, apparently, not enough to resolve it.

"Ladies, look. This is really a grey area we're talking about. clearly we need to discuss the moral ambiguity of killing, but Ember it right: now isn't quite the time. I'm sure we all don't want to be implying things we don't mean, so why don't we come back to this when we're not all sleepy and... with company?"

She gives them each a look, hoping this spat can be resolved. Or at least delayed until they're alone. She turns her attention back to Jesse and the others, biting her lip a bit in thought.

"Still... Not much of a plan though, is it? Just kind of... spread the word? It seems to me like we should bring this up with the law. Normally they're the last people I want to deal with, but we do want to get word out quickly..."

[Hazuki]

"No, not that; that's a terrible idea!" Jesse says, speaking with quite some insistence as they stare at Kaori with wide eyes. It seems like the bickering between the two party members has added some tension besides just between themselves. "Spreading the word is exactly the opposite of what we're doing. It gets undesirables finding out and using it. And the law is no good if it just goes to a city guard or even a captain. Same problem, but maybe even worse if corrupt officials get a hold of it. We want people to avoid fires without knowing what's going on. Like how, in the elven lands, one never wants to be outside at night; we're spreading the fear of lighting fires while camping until we can find a way to make sure the right people know."

The androgyne sighs slightly, rubbing their forehead with a pale hand. "Just...Arday has it right, okay? I think you should let her do the thinking, here."

[Business Scrub]

"Alright, alright, sheesh."

Kaori folds her arms, growing a bit frustrated, with the situation. And being basically told to shut up doesn't help.

"Well excuse me for throwing out ideas. If you're going to be that way, then fine," she responds, turning her nose up, and too proud to be talked down to.

[PersonMan]

"One who kills in self defense is not a murderer," Arday replies sternly. "And I will remind you that I have done my best to convince you that killing is not necessary to defend oneself or others. Even so, I cannot control your actions, or those of any who may attack us in the future. I am not responsible for the death of someone who attacks us and is killed by your hand," she says, tone hard. Normally, she would be more open to such a conversation, but Ember's accusations had gotten a rise out of her. One could clearly see that Arday was unhappy, but true anger didn't seem to be on the surface. Before she can continue, or Ember respond, however, Kaori intervenes.

Sighing, the scholar nods, stepping away from the tiefling to look back at the other group. She's about to apologize as Jesse responds to Kaori's consideration, drawing her attention off of making up for their internal strife and back to the phenomenon and their future handling of it. Of course, she's known the wordy woman long enough to recognize her wounded pride when it's put on display, so Arday's thoughts turn to solving that problem as well. In a moment of brilliance, a solution for both comes to her mind, a plan simple and (hopefully) effective, both what they need to do and an idea that should help Kaori feel more valued.

"I have an idea. We can travel and spread the word of evil spirits, or something like that, resting in fire. Kaori, you're far better than I am at spinning tales and making people believe that you say," Arday turns to her, offering a smile to help her ease her temper. "You can be the one who speaks of this odd fire-threat to others and they'll believe it all. A rumor will spread, about fire bringing great problems to whoever uses it. That should give us time to get to the bottom of this," she says, clearly happy with her idea.

[Hazuki]

Jesse gives Kaori a confident smile as they see her upturned nose and slightly offended expression. "Yes, but you'll remember me being firm and rude about it more than you'll remember a gentle disagreement. I don't want to try being subtle about things that could mean lots of deaths." They add. giving a small nod of their head as Arday makes her statement. "That sounds like a good idea. But where will you start? And try to keep in mind that it will inevitably bring the curious to you. Especially those who want to fight the evil spirits; you know the type."

[Lady Serpentine]

"You're asking us to trust you. But when we seek to clarify exactly what you wish us to do, you shout and say we should listen to the member of our group who is taking everything you say at face value.

So why is it that we should trust you, given that? Some sort of good, concrete reason, or at least something other than appeals to emotion without anything we don't already know told us," Ember says quietly, making her way over to Kaori as she finishes speaking, and hesitantly attempting to take her hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze if she's allowed to, hoping to help calm the Kitsune, by demonstrating that the Tiefling has her back as well.

"Also... It's getting cold enough folk need to bundle up in blankets without fires," she goes on, gesturing to her companions with her free hand. "What would you have us do if we cannot find the source by winter? A little chill, people will do without flame for fear of what's in it, but when you pit evil spirits against death by cold, or losing limbs to frostbite, they'll take their chances with something they can fight and which might or might not even show up instead of what will surely kill or cripple them."

[Hazuki]

"We don't have all the answers, Ember." Jesse says after a few moments of pondering the tiefling's words, folding their hands together over their waist and taking a few gentle steps closer to the young woman. They look into her eyes with their own, and the smile that's been shrouding their emotions disappears. "What do we do about people who need to stay warm? I don't know. But I can see that trying to appeal to your emotions won't work, so let's think practically. As far as we know, right now, large groups of people, like in settlements, will be mostly unchanged."

"That means the people who are likely to travel are the ones we have to worry about, which will mean including a caveat in the rumors Arday has suggested. Something about the trees, perhaps; something has changed the freshly-cut wood so their fires draw spirits. Most villages will have stocks of lumber already cut, so they have nothing to fear. But travelers, like merchant caravans mostly, can't carry lumber because it's far too heavy. They're the type to cut down new wood, and the ones who will have to worry."

"Regan, are there any cheap alchemical items that can provide warmth? And are widely known?" Jesse asks, turning their head to look at the large man at the edge of the clearing, who gives the slightest hint of a nod. "Good. They can buy that, if they believe the rumors, and if they don't make fire, we all win. And if they're very lucky, they might have a caster, who can protect them all with a spell."

"So, Ember, there you go. Are you satisfied?"

[PersonMan]

"That sounds like a plan," Arday says, as Jesse outlines a way to step around the issue of people trying to fight the supposed evil spirits. "Although, we had a fire last night without a problem. I wonder if it's our location that changed it, or perhaps something else...Ember," the scholar turns towards the tiefling, hoping that the change of topic will have been enough to cool her temper. "Was there anything odd about the fire tonight? We can scare people away from fires, but in the end the problem won't be solved just by taking care of the symptoms..."

[Lady Serpentine]

"For the time being, yes," Ember replies softly, nodding in acknowledgement of the points that Jesse makes. "And you're right about emotional arguments not working that well... But I do appreciate them. I just want to make sure that there are better reasons too."

"And yes, there was; it twitched. Like it was being pushed from all sides. I don't know if it was to do with anything in particular, or just wind, or a reaction to their arrival when already changed, or..." She sighs, shrugging helplessly as she ponders Arday's question, looking frustrated and regretful that she can't be of more use. "Maybe you two can figure it out; I know I can't."

[Business Scrub]

Kaori shrugs. "I would say we could lite a new fire and watch for the flicker, but I don't particularly want to risk that change again. Maybe the size of the fire affects how quickly one changes?"

As she speaks, red fur begins poking up past her skin as she changes into her vulpine form, her ears migrating to the top of her head and hands changing to paws.

"It sounds like we have a plan now though: we hunt for the cause of this thing, meanwhile telling folk to avoid flames."
She gives Jesse a look. "But we make up a new story as to why."

Now fully changed, she yawns.

"It's night, I'm cold, and it seems like we have a plan. Anything else we need to go over, or are we set to go on the morrow?"

[Hazuki]

"You seem to have things in control for the moment." Jesse seems to decide once Kaori makes her declaration that she wants to curl up in her blankets to shy away from the cold. With one swift movement, the androgyne whips the chain away from their waist and allows it to sway gently in the air just before their feet. As they speak, it begins to get back to a gentle pace, as Regan and Tongues mimic the movement of their chain with their own. "If you wish to contact us, hire a mage or some other means of casting magic. It shouldn't take much coin to purchase, at least not for a group like yours seems to be. I hope that your journey is safe, and pray that you won't do something to endanger yourselves. Goodbye."

With that little comment, Jesse takes a few steps backwards from Kaori, Ember, and Arday, the gently glowing chain building up at a speed such that it becomes a blur in the air. The star-shrouded person waits at the edge of the clearing, just before the clear grass turns into thick bushes, and waits for their two companions to come to their side before stepping through the underbrush. With the ease of regular walking, the group of three begins to stride through the dark forest in a line with Jesse at the front.

"Remember. Don't touch the fire." The androgyne calls back shortly before they pass out of view, Tongues turning her head and giving the party gathered in the clearing one last look before the underbrush and distance steals them away from the group.

~

Come morning, the party's joints are somewhat sore and their skin chilled by the night air that harasses them without the aid of a fire. Even breakfast is somewhat less tasty when there isn't a flame to cook any of it in, but the lack of comfort is soon solved by the group's decision to hasten their approach to Ragnarok's Den and the people within. On top of the fact that they were headed there to begin with, it's by far the largest settlement that they can spread advice through, as well as the closest. Even though powerful people may be more difficult to find, or at least ones that aren't retired, it also seems like it has the highest chance of holding secrets as to the source of changes to the fire - seeing as their only viable place to test it has been in the lands surrounding the city.

Setting out with somewhat confident hearts, despite the cold and the poorly-treated stomachs, the party manages to make good time on their efforts to rush towards Ragnarok's Den. Each passing day makes their approach easier, and they manage to catch a few hours of warmer sleep at The Rest Inn, where Kaori helps to spread the rumors that the party manufactured. Despite the fact that many of the people staying there are the common folk that disgust her so.

With their third day of travel, a lucky break comes in the form of a caravan that the Vanitel family happens to do business with fairly frequently, and Ember's connection to her family lands the group a wagon ride for the last half-day of travel towards Ragnarok's Den. While the tiefling makes small talk with them as best she can, avoiding uncomfortable questions about the state of her family as well as her general dissatisfaction with the ability to sustain the lies that Kaori has already planted in their heads. Arday sadly has less to do in the goods-stuffed back of the Blackjack Track wagon, but she does manage to get into an interesting conversation with the young daughter of the driver. Apparently, Mia Blackjack has interesting theories on the fact that Arday's tattoos are both powerful and pretty. As does her doll.

But come noontime, the party is soon riding through the outlying areas of Ragnarok's Den, and the buildings that make up the most recent additions to the city's melting pot of cultures and citizens. All around them are the farms that have been set up to allow Ragnarok's Den its self-sufficiency. Amber leaves are scattered around the fields of rich greens of the winter harvest. The great trees that are planted and reach into the sky all over the farms of Ragnarok's Den have their sunkissed branches and large leaves unrolled from the ropes that keeps them tied to its head all year round, letting the long leaves fall over the crops like a sunkissed canopy that protects them from the harshness of winter. While the winter crops grow, other red-brown fields are ploughed by the black-skinned giants known as the Oread, who work cool and efficiently in the slightly-overcast sunlight, their natural connection with the earth allowing them to work with the soil in a manner unrivaled by any other race.

"Those trees are so pretty!" Little Mia Blackjack declares, as she leans over the edge of the wagon with her raven pigtails flowing in the wind. "They keep sunlight in all through the summer, so when winter comes, they can sit down with the other plants and give them the sunlight that they keep! What would happen if you gave one of them some of your tattoos, Ardy?" The enthusiastic and surprisingly knowledgeable young girl asks, tilting her head at the Sworterian woman.

Moving past the farms allows the party to move through the outer rungs of Ragnarok's Den, where the newer races build their homes through a mixture of their own inspiration and the teamwork of all other inhabitants of The Den. As with all of the architecture, it's a mish-mash of whatever heritages the people have decided to bring with them, with some parts of the city being denoted by ricepaper walls attached to white-stone pillars, moving around through little levers crafted from wooden mechanisms, while others are as simple as domes crafted through woven branches and leaves that are sown together with natural magic. The further in one gets to The Den, the sturdier the buildings become, thanks to a long-term project by the citizens to help defend the city against collapsing or other dangers.

Because walls are a necessity for the defense of large settlements, but are, by their very nature, segregating, the rungs of Ragnarok's Den are build based on distance instead of race or class, to build a defensible city that supports the freedom of its citizens to mingle as they wish, instead of building false barriers between people and encouraging their differences instead of their similarities. The spiral-like nature of the walls also allows the city to constantly expand in a certain pattern that, while requiring more and more materials with each new rung, makes for simple design. It also means that existing rungs can be expanded with impunity, which means that the Market Rung can encompass everything from the simple halfling stalls that started it all, to the more recent services of the enclave of Vici that arrived in the last few months.

The party are allowed off of the Wagon after passing through a few of the other rungs, just outside of the Market Rung, where they will be able to purchase supplies, find people to interact with, and, most importantly, see the board that could supply them with sources of information, handy notices of deals about the city, and generally people in need.

Among their first few steps into the Market Rung, the party's ears are assaulted with a cacophony of sounds that no city they''d been to before, save for Ember, could ever have a chance to compete with. Simply walking past the gate to the Market Rung fills them with more stimulus than they've had in the past week of travel, with exotic scents, pleasant music, colorful sights, and weird and wonderful architecture giving them a feat for their senses. They've been dropped off right beside the notice board, which is a large circular slate placed near the center of the Market Rung, providing a wide circle of information that anybody can see with ease. All over the large onyx monument are pieces of paper, scrawled messages, and an exhausted little pixie, and oddity even in Ragnarok's Den, who darts across it with a tiny form that doesn't obstruct reading, but does allow for easy changing of the information stored.

Before Kaori can get to reading the notice board after moving through the crowds of people going about their business at the stalls, stores, bakeries, and other purveyors of paraphernalia, her path is obstructed by a very handsome young man with golden eyes, sunkissed her groomed elegantly behind his ear, and attire fit only for one of wealth, as its weaved from fine silks and topped off with a small feathered cap atop his head. On one hip, a lute is trapped, while on the other, is a bulging satchel of parcels, with the symbol of The Courier's Guild sown into it.

The Courier smiles charmingly at Kaori, before he speaks confidently and with all too much suaveness, his body swaying slightly as he dances to a nearby tunes with little movements of his hands and rocking of his shoulders. "I've got a package to deliver," The Courier introduces himself with a thrust of his hips at the Kitsune. "For your hands only."

While Kaori deals with the Courier, Ember and Arday approach the notice board proper, and their eyes brush over many notices irrelevant to their needs, such as people selling trinkets of jewelry or somebody offering their services as a barber.

The first notice that catches their attention is a set of five posters, each of a different young woman, with their names and professions listed below their hand-drawn portraits. Above each of them is the word "MISSING!", with the number of days since they were confirmed missing noted just below it, with three of them stretching back to as many as two months ago, while another two are about two weeks ago. There is a message on each of them to contact one Jerald Juraine if one has seen or is interested in investigating the whereabouts of these missing young people. Although there are only five on the notice board, both Ember and Arday notice a very small man with extremely pale skin sitting at the bottom of the notice board, sketching on a piece of paper with a style that exactly matches the posters above.

The second notice is somewhat more desperate.

"The Vici are a dying people in these lands of homogenization and an individual's lust for acceptance. To any who would show compassion for a culture stretching back thousands of years, attend the Vici Enclave and seek Gabriella. I fear that, if something is not done soon, all that the Vici ever were will be lost in time."

Beneath the notice is a list of directions to the Vici Enclave from the Market Rung.

[Business Scrub]

Kaori takes in the sights of Ragnarok's Den eagerly: she had always loved the city. Her path through the city is meandering, breathing in the many sights and smells. She can't help but step to the music, weaving in between people as she goes. Perhaps it is for that reason she attracted the attention of the courier. Though he was lewd and horribly unclever, after so many days on the lonely road the kitsune took a guilty pleasure in the attention.

She folds her arms and smirks. "Oh, I could have sworn I had ordered a sword... not a dagger. Besides, it seems like you've handled that 'package' on your own plenty."

When the courier has decided to give up, Kaori rejoins her friends. The first style of poster catches her attention first.
"Five, now six girls all going missing? Seems like more than a coincidence."

[Lady Serpentine]

While the Vici's plea is arguably more important, it's also less emotional for Ember; it's easier for her to care about six missing girls than it is for her to get wound up about a people she doesn't know claiming imminent cultural extinction.

As such, she's looking over the posters closely when Kaori returns to them, though she straightens up and gives the kitsune a nod when she speaks, looking thoughtful.

"Definitely. Especially as they're in such different lines of work... I mean, they might have known each other, but I highly doubt it. Too many coincidences necessary for it," she agrees, peering at one of the posters again, then turning to Arday, examining her curiously.

"You know, Arday, you look kinda like this one... Might be useful, make people think you're family, get them to open up to you, if we can do it safely." She pauses a moment, then coughs self-consciously, blushing and folding her arms, one foot scuffing nervously. "Of course, that assumes we're going to have anything to do with it..."

[PersonMan]

Arday enjoys the conversations with Mia they have on the way. Her experience teaching children has given her the patience needed when the girl is acting childish in a bothersome manner, and her joy at sharing knowledge comes in handy when the young Blackjack asks her questions. Happy to tell her about souls, patterns, how to describe a complex phenomenon in a simple set of symbols, or any other thing she's gathered knowledge about, the scholar finds the time with Mia to be refreshing and enjoyable. At least moreso than the time on the road with no one but her two companions to speak with. As Mia proposes yet another question to her, Arday smiles and turns to the young girl, beginning a long and complex explanation that is most likely far above her level of understanding. Finishing it with a short, simple explanation that is heavily simplified but actually something a young girl can get her mind around, the scholar looks out again at the landscape as they enter Ragnarok's Den.

The bustle of the city is something Arday has never experienced before - even the largest Sworterian settlement she's been in wasn't this large, nor this varied, nor this...noisy. Enjoying being in the cart, she makes sure that she stays upright with one arm, while the rest of her attention soaks in the sights of the city. The scholar marvels at the architecture of the city, especially the walls, and is almost disappointed when they arrive at the Notice Board. Stepping down into the crowd, neck turning as the takes in the sights from her new perspective, Arday eventually shakes loose of her curiosity and walks over to the notice board.

As the charming-looking man approaches Kaori, she stops for a moment, ready to step in to help her companion if need be, but her ever-well-dressed friend easily deflects the man's advances and continues on her way. Reaching the board, Arday looks over the notices before her focus goes onto the missing girls - her eyebrows raise as she reads the first, but the rest don't provoke that kind of response. As Ember mentions that one to her, she nods.

"Well, she does look Sworterian, and we are a little similar..." Arday considers aloud, looking more closely at the picture, nodding slowly. Turning, she sees the blue tiefling blush and fold her arms. Momentarily stunned, the scholar blinks a few times before recovering. Ember, the one who could take lives without losing a wink of sleep, and who could live in such a city, blushing and acting like the sheltered daughter of a noble?

"Ehm, well. I...I think it sounds worth looking into. Six people disappearing, and it may become more. Kaori, think we should get into this?" Arday turns to the member of the group who hasn't expressed a will to investigate yet - of course, to her it's more of a formality, seeing as she'd already expressed interest.

[Hazuki]

"You wound me!" The courier chuckles with a oddly melodic tone as her skips back to Kaori's side, his smile remaining and his satchel stuffed to the brim as his left hand slides into the slit on the side. "But here is your package." He continues, pulling an envelope wrapped up in a ribbon from the side of his satchel and passing it to the Kitsune. The envelope is unmarked, save for the name "Lady Edricks" scrawled across its front, and a stamp of amber wax that keeps it closed all across the lip. "Mama's Grace, bless your sharp tongue." With that, the courier slips back into the crowd on swift feet, with his little cloak billowing out behind him.

[Business Scrub]

Kaori gives him a fake apologetic look before laughing. "Something tells me you won't let it bring you down. Thanks for the delivery."

She takes the package looking it over curiously: she hadn't been expecting anything. She makes her way over to her companions while opening it and seeing what's inside.

"I say we should investigate." she says, assuaging some of Embers nervousness. "You know, just in case we have some input."

She nods towards the man putting the posters up.

"Think he knows whose in charge of the search?"

[Lady Serpentine]

Ember blushes even more as Arday stares at her, little rings of blood welling up on her arms as her fingernails dig into her skin, seeming frustrated as well as embarrassed now, though for once, she doesn't snap at her companions, instead preemptively restraining herself.

"Maybe?", she agrees, shrugging a little, and flashing Kaori a grateful smile, some of the tension leaving her body, as discussion of the matter at hand will hopefully at least give her a chance to compose herself before Arday begins asking awkward questions... Though knowing the Sworterian, her timing will probably be just as unfortunate then, but still, it'll be put off for a bit, if nothing else, and that's something. "It certainly can't hurt. Perhaps you should be the one to talk to him, unless there's something more important in that letter...?"

[Hazuki]

As Kaori splits the wax, she notices a very fine layer of dust that brushes over her fingers when she handles the envelope. Nothing happens, and the letter slides out. It is parchment that seems to have been freshly stretched, written in elegant hand with very fine ink. It smells very faintly of enticing spices, though she cannot identify them with but a sniff.

The Enchanting Lady Edricks,

I hope you are keeping well. It has been so long since I have laid eyes upon you, that I worry for your health more than my own. For you, Lady Edricks, I have a curse; my heart beats stronger and has grown from a shriveled black seed, thanks to all that you have done. Your kindness and your beauty brought me so much joy, only to burden me with the oppressive grasp of sorrow once you've left my side. But in the same breath as I curse you, I will declare my love! Because what is a man, without some measure of hypocrisy?

I know you will not hold it against me for not praising you as much as you deserve, but I'm sure that wherever you are now, men are flocking to your side to tell you in my place. As you might tell from the penmanship, I no longer have the strength to write my own words; Rankle is putting my voice to words, as I lie bedridden. Because my soul is strong, but my flesh is weak, and even if you were to return, I could not fill your nights with the lustful embraces of our youth. And besides myself, I would hope that I meant more to you than a notch...but you always seem to take it to heart when I call you cold. Which lets me know it's still there.

Despite my decrepit position, I pray with each everlasting moment that you will let me lay my eyes upon you, just one more time. Your entrancing eyes, the form that curves like the hills of heavenly ground, and the sleek coat of fur that covers your true form.

Please come home soon, Lady Edricks. Rankle will wait where they always do, to give you this letter and lead you home. If you don't, in my dying breath, I will tell my son to build a village by that river where we first met. And I think I know a name for that beautiful place; Edricks. It has a certain beauty, does it not, dear Lady?

Yours, with all my love, Lord Logan.

[Business Scrub]

Kaori leans against the wall as she reads the letter. Confusion blooms on her face as she reads the letter over again, and once again.

"What is this..? I don't understand. This person speaks as if we've known each other for ages, but I'm certain I don't know a 'Lord Logan'. Do you?"

She scratches her head, trying to work it out. "I would say it's a prank of some kind, but he seems so... earnest. I don't know what to make of it."

She briefly looks around for the courier who gave her the letter: perhaps she could find who gave it to him.

[Lady Serpentine]

"We have no idea of what that is, aside from a missive. Presumably one for you. Or did you show it to us without our noticing...?" Ember teases, smirking at her companion as she leans against the pillar covered in messages that they're all standing in front of. "If so, I must commend you on your skill at sleight of hand and mastery of distraction. Though expecting us to still know the contents in that case is stretching things a bit; have some more confidence in yourself!"

She laughs, putting her hands behind her head and stretching before she goes on. "Now, as for 'Lord Logan', well... I do think it somewhat odd one who has such disdain for common folk would prove herself so lacking in the knowledge of the customs of nobility; however did you come to find them so distasteful when you were clearly born amongst them? Either Logan is the family name, or Logan is a place and that the title, as, for example, 'Lord Ragnarok's Den', had we such a personage - for no respectable nobleman would use his first name bare yet in conjunction with his title, though, for instance, 'Lord Logan Gyre' would be perfectly acceptable.

So, then, where have you been that you might have met some lordling, going now by his parent's former title, and thus hiding himself, all unawares, from the one he seeks to speak to?"

[Hazuki]

Looking around, Kaori can catch no sight of the courier, as he slipped into the crowd and disappeared mere moments after she started reading.

The little pixie that's flitting around the monument looks around and notices Ember so rogueishly leaning against her monument of notices. She darts down and grabs Ember by her horn, giving her a tug that sends the normally-sturdy woman stumbling away from the pillar that she's leaning against. "No lollygaggin'!" She chastises the tiefling with a stern look, before zipping off to continue her job.

[PersonMan]

Arday watches Ember's sudden change with curiosity, wondering how the Tiefling had gone from blushing to her normal confident self in the briefest of moments. That she grew insecure was odd enough; but going from turning red to teasing Kaori so suddenly? It was unusual, Arday thought.

"Ember, are you feeling alright?" The scholar asks, stepping forwards to lend the tiefling a hand as she's suddenly shoved away from the notice board by the pixie, what was meant to be a step towards her and the pictures of the disappeared women turning into a step forwards to give her a steading arm. "I'm not sure what to make of the letter either, but if you don't know them it shouldn't be very important...right? Or did they ask to see you for some business or something?"

[Business Scrub]

"I didn't mean to-- hey!"

Kaori quickly covers the letter when she realizes Ember was reading it over her shoulder.

"Haha, I know what a lord is, you dummy. I just don't know who this one is, though he sure as hells seems to know me. Or thinks he does anyway. But he sounds terribly old, and I've certainly never been that close to a man his age. Nor do I know this 'Rankle'. I guess it's a question for another day then. Hopefully I'll run into that courier again and figure out who sent this."

Kaori looks at Arday. "You're right: it doesn't seem very important to me, but the writer seems to be really earnest."

She sighs, her tails twitching in mild frustration, and folds the letter.

"And I might have been raised among lower class folk, but unlike us, most haven't found their motivation. Until they do, those people sort of wander about, prone to laziness and lechery. They themselves aren't the problem, but it does make them... unsavory."

"Right then. If we're going to be here a while we'd best find a place to stay. I'm sure there should be some perfectly good inn's nearby: maybe the locals have a preference. Somewhere along the line we should find this Jerald Juraine. If he wants help he shouldn't be too hard to find."

[Lady Serpentine]

"Oy, get off!", Ember snaps as the pixie drags her away by the horn, shooting the flitting fey a glare. "You could have just said, no need to yank me around... Not that I even know how you did, but still." She shakes her head in annoyance, looking back to Kaori just in time to see her hastily stowing the letter, rolling her eyes at the Kitsune as she watches things unfold.

"Bit protective of that thing, considering we're the only ones around and we didn't even try to read it, especially for something that means nothing to you, aren't you? In any case, if you would actually tell us anything about what he said, perhaps we could help, but seeing as my request only led to you taking offense, it certainly won't be my fault if you get yourself in trouble about it, so I really don't care," she says, shrugging, then fixing Kaori with an amused stare, a smirk spreading across the Tiefling's face as her companion goes on about commoners. "And really? Laziness and lechery? As opposed to the young nobles, you mean, who ride about hunting for sport in the odd hours they're not hanging around trying to impress peasant girls with their wealth and their courtly airs or buying coin-skirts with money they never had to earn because it came with their position?" Ember laughs mockingly, even more plainly taunting Kaori now than she was a few moments ago.

"And yes, Arday, I'm fine," she goes on, flashing the Sworterian a smile. "In any case, I will note you seem to have forgotten the whole reason you brought me along on this little trip is that I am a local; I know plenty of good inns around here. Though first, I do believe, Kaori, the one you want is over there drawing... Do try to not let the contempt show when you're asking him questions, alright?"

[Business Scrub]

Kaori shrugs. "But it might mean something to him. I dunno, I'd feel bad if I spilled secrets. Anyway, I didn't forget: I guess I just didn't expect you to know everyone in Ragnarok's Den. But you do, so all the better for us!"

She rolls her eyes, but otherwise lets the commoner comment die.

[Lady Serpentine]

"Well, then, if it's so important to you that we not find out, perhaps asking us about it in the first place was ill-considered, seeing as it's simply foolish to expect us to be able to do so when you won't even say if he claims to be an ex-lover, is providing a dire warning, making a heartfelt plea for aid, or simply wants you to buy an extraordinary assortment of woolens socks," Ember replies acidly, turning her glare on Kaori now, whatever patience she might normally have quite gone by this point, though she didn't really seem to be showing any with the Kitsune before regardless.

[PersonMan]

"Ah, that's good. It's just...you seemed so, ehm, embarrassed a second ago but then you went back to normal," Arday smiles. "Sorry, I'm just being a bit worrisome," she continues. Falling silent, she listens to the exchange between Kaori and Ember. After a few words, her smile begins to fade and by the end of it the scholar is worried that their partnership is coming to an end. They had all wanted to go to Ragnarok's Den, and that's where they were now. It seemed like they needed a goal to keep them focused, otherwise...well, it appeared that the tensions between them were rising once again.

"Ehm, E-Ember, I think she was just thinking aloud. If the one we need to talk to is right here, let's talk to him right away!" Arday says, trying to bring an end to the conflict and pull them all towards a goal again. Finding out what had happened to these women was important, and it wouldn't be possible if this fight between the tiefling and the twin-tailed woman continued.

[Lady Serpentine]

"Well, I did have the time it took Kaori to read her letter to recover," Ember replies, giving a nod, as Arday explains why she was worried, though she doesn't seem to have found it all that odd, and almost looks glad of the fact someone noticed. "And the embarrassment was nothing to worry about - my sister was the social one of the pair, so I'm not as accustomed to such exchanges, which means I tend to be more embarrassed about mistakes made in them due to my unfamiliarity than I would other sorts. But I appreciate the concern; thank you," she goes on, offering her own explanation in an attempt to assuage any lingering worries that the Sworterian might have about her.

When Arday speaks again, the Tiefling shrugs, flashing her an amicable smile, and Kaori a sharp-toothed grin, though despite the latter, she doesn't seem too terribly averse to letting the matter drop. "Quite right. If our vulpine friend is willing to sheathe her claws, I will hide my fangs away as well. Now, shall we actually go speak to the man in question?"

[Business Scrub]

Kaori debates responding, then shrugs and says quiet. Just let it go...

Without delay, she nods and turns to the man beneath the signboard. "Are you perhaps Jerald Juraine? The man that knows about these missing girls?"

[Hazuki]

"Nahhh." The small man sitting at the base of the pillar gives a shake of his head, placing his pad face-down on his blackened pants and tucking the thin stick of charcoal behind his ear, which seems to be painted black itself. "JJ's just the cutter I get my jink from. An adam o' mine, or vice versa." He says, a pondering grimace etched across his face as he glances upwards, his pale eyes wincing slightly in the sunlight that beams around the party. "We trade notes, I draw 'em, and then they get hung up on the board." He gestures a blackened thumb at the very obvious stature behind him. "Why? You a berk looking for the prod?"

[Business Scrub]

"Err, right." She says, folding her arms and smoothing out her normally careful speech to match his.

"Hardly. We're here to help, see if we can't snoop around a bit for 'em. You know where we can find him?"

She notices his blackened hand and idly wonders about it.

What a charming man they have running this sign... She thinks sarcastically.

[Hazuki]

The small man stretches out against the pillar of notices, his little legs splayed out before him and the pad slipping off of his lap. "You're not a local, then. Y'should ask your steer for the chant, if you're done screeding with her." He smiles to himself as he gestures to Ember and the horns atop her brow. "JJ's place is in this rung, matter of fact. Look for the blue lantern near The Lonely Joy."

[PersonMan]

"Oh. I understand, I, ehm, I get the same way sometimes..." Arday says, nodding in understanding. For a split second her thoughts circle around Ember's expression - did she seem glad that they were talking about her loss of composure earlier? - but as the tiefling continues to speak, the scholar's mind locks onto her words, abandoning the mystery in her expression for the single reality offered by her speech. "I'm glad I didn't bother you with my questions," Arday replies, as Ember thanks her.

"...What's it like, living here?" The scholar asks after a few moments of silence, in truth wanting to ask a different question but deciding to approach it slowly, rather than jumping directly to it.

[Business Scrub]

Kaori shifts uncomfortably, eager to be done with the conversation. If this was a glimpse at what Ragnarok's Den had to offer well, she could see why Ember was the exception. The Kitsune hurries the conversation along: she had gotten what she needed and this man was unpleasant, not to mention the fact that she was becoming increasingly unsure she was following his slang.

"Well then, that's where we're headed, thanks." She pauses briefly, attempting to find something noble about the simple man's job. "You're spreading hope for these people by making their requests heard."

With that, she turns on her heel and heads back to her friends, tails swishing behind.

"So Ember, know of The Lonely Joy? Apparently that's near where Jerald is. Or JJ, as his coworker said. Based on the sign poster, prepare yourself: JJ or his companions don't seem like they're the most stand-up citizens. But I suppose we'll save the judgement for once we meet him, hmm?."

She seems chipper, moving past their argument wordlessly and eager to help these ladies.

[Lady Serpentine]

Ember sighs as she hears Kaori saying that they're not looking for him - and then in the next breath that they want to help and where can they find him, making it plain that she's either not from here, unfamiliar with street talk, or both, setting them up to get fleeced for the information, and getting them all reputations as fools in the process, though at least the worst damage would be done to the Kitsune... Which was more than enough to make her hold her tongue, since not only did she not want another fight, she had the perfect excuse for letting Kaori make an ass of herself in that she'd just told Arday that she'd leave the other woman alone, at least until the artist insults her.

"Careful who you call 'steer' for having horns, addle-cove," she says quietly, once Kaori has gotten the information from him, glares at him, baring her teeth, but slipping back into her training at the same time, making the threat seem almost bored. "You're just a berk who draws pictures, whereas I still have a good family here. Somehow I suspect if I pressed the matter, I could get your friend to hire a new artist, and no-one would blink twice if you showed up at a healer afterwards with a broken nose."

With that, she flashes a smile to Kaori, her discomfiture having proved adequate to calm the Tiefling's anger, and nods as she thinks a bit, trying to dredge up what she knows of The Lonely Joy. "Well. Despite what you might be thinking from the name, it's not a brothel. It's more of a library and clinic. Nice place, actually; I used to go there a lot when my sister and I were still working caravans - she actually picked up a fair bit from the volunteers, which is why she went into healing. People with stressful jobs go there to relax and talk to people or read, as strikes their fancy."

That said, she looks back at Arday, seeming a little uncertain, and shrugs. "Well, depends on what you mean? I don't know if I'm the best person to answer, even, really; been on the road ever sine I hit fourteen, and then I settled down where you found me, to an extent, looking after my sister." She doesn't seem to mind the question, as such, or be slipping back into nervousness, though it does look to have thrown her just a touch, not sure how to respond beyond that, or why her Sworterian companion is asking.

[PersonMan]

"Oh, so you've been traveling since maturity," Arday replies, nodding. "That does change things."

As Kaori returns, the scholar turns to their tailed companion, listening to the exchange between her and Ember, nodding once more. "So, let's get going!" She says, smiling, looking between her comrades. It's clear that her experience with animating others into action is limited. Or, to be more precise, it simply doesn't exist. "Do, we, ehm, have a plan for talking to this JJ?" Arday asks after a few moments, her mind going over the future conversation.

[Hazuki]

The man sitting at the base of the monument gives a brief chuckle in response to Ember's passionate response, with threats and insults in a lovely range of "Go screw yourself". He doesn't push the matter after the fact, as the group walks away from the somewhat crowded center of the rung and begins to make their plans.

"I believe we should have Ember watching our backs." Kaori begins as Arday asks the question, her response to the Sworterian's attempt to enthuse the group being non-commital at best. "We don't know what kind of people these are, though they claim to be doing good; and if we're lucky, they will be. Besides that, trying to give a good impression and making sure they don't get the conversational upper-hand should be in our priorities."

"Easy as a Market Rung virgin." Ember drawls out as she takes to Arday's side, the pale young woman practically serving as a barrier between the feuding women. "When our negotiator keeps her cant in the Den's Basement." She adds to her sarcastic little jab, moving through the crowd easily and serving as something of a deterrent for anyone who might get in the group's way. "I can stay near his bodyguards. It'll keep you two safe, and you won't seem as odd with a local."

"That's a good idea." Kaori adds, the jab brushing right past her. "Have either of you dealt with these matters before? Things that would normally be left to the guard." As she asks the question, her eyes brush over Arday in particular.

[PersonMan]

"Easy as a...?" Arday pauses, cheeks turning somewhat red. "Ehm...I take it that that's something that isn't difficult?" She asks, not quite sure how easy a Market Rung virgin was supposed to be. She doesn't dwell on the meaning behind the saying, trying to avoid further embarrassment, the scholar instead puzzles over "Den's Basement' for a few moments before Kaori's question reaches her. "No, I stayed away from things like that. I couldn't really afford to be involved in things like this, whether it was time or, well, reputation. Working for a noble house meant I had to conduct myself properly in public," the Sworterian explains, shaking her head.

[Hazuki]

"Forget it, Kaori. It's The Den. The people police themselves and hope that there's somebody with a big enough heart to help; and there always is. Good people want to help, bad people want good neighbors. If something does become too big a problem, then Mama and Papa can be turned to...but nobody wants to do that for something this small. But tensions are always high when there are a bunch of new people coming to town; like those Vici." She offers a light smile to Arday at her surprisingly innocent question. "It's very easy. That's why everyone carries around a set of spare clothes." The tiefling winks and chuckles to herself.

Kaori gives a nod to Ember to acknowledge what she's said, then glances back at Arday. "You never witnessed your noble house taking care of issues with civilians, or becoming victims?" Kaori asks with an elegant arched eyebrow, her fashionable attire waving lightly in the breeze and almost complimenting the gentle music that dances through the air. "It seems like they would have to deal with that a lot; if the stories about deadly decadent courts are true."

"I don't think I'd offend Arday by calling her a noble." Ember adds, giving an affectionate nudge of her elbow to the Sworterian lass.

[PersonMan]

"A spare set of clothes...? I don't understand," Arday replies as Ember answers her question. Of course, the answer did little but bring more questions to her mind, so she isn't sure it could rightly be called an answer. It was more like an invitation for more queries, or just the tiefling showing that she really wasn't aware of how little the scholar knew of the odd jargon of the Den. "I was never involved in courts, actually - I stayed at the family's estate to teach and do research. It was relatively far from the capitol," Arday explains in response to Kaori's question. As Ember speaks again, she raises an eyebrow, turning back to the blue woman.

"Why would it be an insult to call me a noble?" She asks, obviously curious. The nudge only heightened the sense of wanting to know what Ember had meant - if it was the kind of thing that would be accompanied by a friendly gesture, then it was definitely something worth investigating, if only to better know her companion.

[Hazuki]

"Hmm." Kaori muses out loud, putting a pale finger to her chin as she seems to ponder Arday's response and gives Ember plenty of time to respond to her assault of questions.

"Because they're a bunch of split-beaning squeezers, that's why. They charge so much just to move through their lands or stay there for a bit, and if you're trying to establish a trade route, forget about getting it over with quickly." Ember snorts. "I think the amount of stress it puts my family through is only making our asses redder." She gives a light shake of her head, a light smile coming to her briefly frowning lips. "Did you know that there was a war down South over an apple-tree? Sure, it's a myth, but you'd believe they'd do it."

"As for clothes, well...hmm..." She begins, but is cut off by Kaori.

"You seem very interested, Arday." Kaori chimes in, sliding up to the Sworterian's side with a mischievous glint in her eyes. "Perhaps Ember will be willing to give you an in-depth explanation later. In private. When we're not on our way to solve a mystery."

[PersonMan]

"Ah. I see. I didn't realize that the nobles you knew went to such lengths for monetary gain," Arday replies, nodding. She seem to be surprised by the description Ember gave of the nobility and somewhat put off by it. "In Sworteria the nobility serve a primarily military function, so such issues wouldn't come up...I'd hope. But there are other problems that exist as a result," she says, shrugging. "There are some problems no matter what they do."

As Kaori mentions an in-depth explanation, Arday straightens and seems excited by the prospect. "Yes, a more thorough understanding of the culture of the Den would be-" she begins, but as the tailed woman continues and the scholar finally realizes that her words contain a hidden meaning, the scholar stops. "E-ehm. I'm not going to reply to that, ehm, implication of yours. But an explanation would be welcome. Kaori is right in her insistence that we focus on the task at hand, however."

[Hazuki]

"Nobles just seem like they make problem. But where you come from is where you come from." Ember says with a shrug of her shoulders, though she shoots quiet glare at Kaori for her sly attempt to stir havoc in the group. "Oh well. I've got ninety nine problems, but a birch ain't one."

Kaori gives a slight smile to Arday. "Then let's be off." With that, the group sets off through the den of chattering voices, market stalls, and the gentle thrum of an instrument on the midday air. As they walk, the Kitsune steals a glance at a few of the couriers that work their way through the crowds, but her few odd attempts to divert the group are stilted by the couriers slipping away before she can speak a word.

Soon, they stand before a pale blue lantern that rests across the street from The Lonely Joy, and before them stands a tall stone house, whose walls have been painted with carvings and layers of varieties of stone from all over the heartlands; even including a patch of faux Oread-skin. The door is sturdy against its hinges, with a heavy iron knocker that reads "Jerald Juraine".

[PersonMan]

"Well, here we are..." Arday says quietly as they arrive at the house. "Are we going to simply introduce ourselves, or do we have another plan?" The scholar asks, looking between her two companions somewhat uncertainly. She remembers Ember's comment about her looking similar to one of the missing girls, and the potential for a suspicions about familial ties, but isn't certain about how she'd go about playing that role. What if someone knew the girl in question and asked her about what she was like?

[Hazuki]

"Best to let the cutter decide for himself if you're important." Ember comments, leaning against the frame of the door with her eyes settled on the heavy knocker. "If we don't bring it up, he'll think he's found something out about us and think he has more leverage than he does. Which means he won't push for more and we can get a stronger place in the deal."

Kaori quirks her eyebrow at Ember's surprising savvy, then gives a shrug of her slender shoulders. "What do you believe we should do, Arday? We are here to give our aid, but if there's something you feel we should do to prepare..."

[PersonMan]

"Ehm...I don't know. I think we can just go in, I don't think we need to do anything special to get ready," Arday replies, realizing that she's in the wrong spot and trying to step back so that Kaori is the one in front of the door and not her. "So, ehm, I guess we just...say why we're here, and tell them who we are? I think?" Out of her element, the scholar slowly tries to edge to the side, putting the twin-tailed woman between her and door so that she would knock and speak with the one who came to answer it.