Life Stone

[Shinzuu Katame: Her Tolfy]

The morning fog in Holloway was thicker than usual, coupled with a grim and rainy sky. Many inhabitants dragged their feet, having lost sleep from the previous night in hearing the loud roars of dragons echo in the air from the distance. At the town's gate, a lone figure came into view from the fog. It was a barbaric looking, one-armed black wolf. In his one hand, he was dragging a large iron blade that was stained with purple blood, and in his mouth, he was dragging a large rope that was connected to a large, broken door. On top of the door was the bodies of 9 fallen warriors. The wolf took the bodies to the town's elder to request burials. Whispers flooded throughout the port town about the adventurer who caused the ruckus the last night coming to bury his dead, and how he was looking for new adventurers to join his party. As payment, the adventurer sold all of his party members' possessions, but buried them with honor. When the dead were buried, the lone wolf headed to the only tavern in town and slunked into a pint, toasting the fallen.

[Vee Katame: His Wolfy]

Kiana was sitting in a back corner of the tavern with her hood pulled up, hiding her face in shadow. As shifted her food around on her plate, she listened to the chatter of the other customers in the tavern. There was one topic of conversation that was the most common amongst them and that was something about an adventurer coming into town to bury his dead party members and find new ones. From the description she heard, he definitely sounded well-traveled and experienced as well as tough. It was long after everyone's conversations had moved on and she was just setting down her glass after taking a drink that she saw the wolf enter the tavern. She watched him from underneath her hood but didn't approach out of respect. Plus, she wanted to get an idea of the guy before she made a decision about whether she would want to be a part of his party or not.

[Suzumibachii]

Suzumibachi had only recently arrived at the town. And despite having graduated from the mage academy a few years younger than most she wasnt really given any specific instructions and as such she decided that exploring the world outside of the grand libraries was a great idea and a good test. The word going around was that a lone wolf had arrived to bury his dead,this was most interesting and her natural curiosity flared up slightly. Deciding to be rather bold she made her way to the tavern, rather quietly making her way inside and to one of the back walls she leaned back against it and looked around. Her piercing gaze searching for somebody that matched his description. Seeing him sitting by the bar and drinking his pint, clearly paying respects to his fallen comrades she pushed against the wall and made a bee line for him. Plopping down on a chair next to him and ordered a drink herself. Taking it in hand she softly spoke up but didn't look at the wolf. "To those we have lost, and the hope of a future."

[tangletail]

Leo had been resting on the floor of the bar with his upper torso underneath a table. He had been there a while with a lit wax candle next to his head, and an open book containing various legends in his hand.  While the original owner might have well been questionable, it wouldn't matter as the owner of the book was no where in these lands. The cat was only half-heartedly listening to the conversations in the room. Some tales of goblins wrecking nearby villages, giant spiders, and the typical rat infestation in the other parts. However, the most promising one being of some one armed giant looking for a new crew. And to this, Leo finally lowered his book with a distinct sign of interest.

His ears flicked as he continued to listen in. “A bad run in with a dragon...” he hummed quietly to himself. His eyes now turning to the door to see the man of the hour. “It's a step up from the normal route. A large step up, but it's my only shot I suppose...” he thought to himself, watching the man take a seat. It wasn't long till he noticed... what he believed to be a short female lizard, and once again his interest had been piqued. He'd shift his wait so he could get a better look from underneath the table, and peer to what he believed may have been a kobold. He watched them for a moment longer, but slowly pulled back, dipped his nose back in the book he stole from somewhere. He'd figure it would be better to wait for the man to finish is grief before approaching with his offer of help.

[Shinzuu Katame: Her Tolfy]

Korius paid no mind to the reptilian as he drank up the 2nd half of his pint and sighed. It wasn't the first party that he's lost in the last few decades, but they were still comrades, comrades that he trusted with his life. After a minute of reflection, the wolf slapped his face to wake himself up and walked over to the job board. He pulled a piece of parchment from his sash and slapped it right onto the board. Like most other taverns around the world, the board was regularly laced with cheap adhesive goo that never dried, but wasn't good for sticking anything but paper or thin clothing. He then made his way back to his table to get his sword and left the tavern. Korius' mind was so preoccupied with the mourning of the dead that he didn't notice or acknowledge anyone. In fact, he only paid for his drink out of muscle memory, not from thinking about it, not having even so much as given the barkeep a look or nod. The parchment he posted his need for a party, in search of the Life Stone, and even splits of spoils found. Interested people should meet at the gate.

[Vee Katame: His Wolfy]

Kiana raised an eyebrow when she saw a female lizard approach the wolf and sit down next to him. In a way, it kind of amused her when he didn't pay any attention to his new company. In any other situation, she might have thought it was kind of rude, but since he was drinking over lost comrades, she believed he had the right. As she chewed the last bite of her food, she watched the wolf walk over to the job board and slap a piece of parchment onto it. She continued to watch as he went back to get his sword before leaving the tavern. Taking the last gulp of liquid from her glass, she rose from her seat and put the money for her food and drink on the table. She casually walked over to the job board and looked over the papers there as if she wasn't interested in anything in particular up there and just browsing. Her eyes only roamed over the newest piece of parchment for a couple seconds, just like the other pieces, before she left the tavern with her bow and arrows slung over her shoulder.

[tangletail]

It wasn't until Leo had finally flipped to his last page had his interest finally redirected it's self to the kobold like lizard, and the hulking one armed giant. The book clasped close, and was slid under his head like a pillow as he now began to think of his current options. His eyes narrowed some tiredly as he realized that he had no other choice but to jump off the handles and into the deep end if he wished to procure the life stone for himself. And this man, who is morning the loss of his previous crew, men more experienced than he in adventure, is his only shot. Death just seemed to reek from this man. He was so ready to replace his party and only shortly after their burial.

“This man probably lost more than just that lot...” he hummed quietly to himself with a thought of regret. His eyes continued to follow the man, watching him as he placed the notice. His eyes then shifted to the woman who approached the list, “and people blindly jump up to the call. Adventure sounds sweet, and the fortune it brings is a great lure...” his eyes then shifted back to the door, watching the giant leave. “But...” his thoughts continued as he sighed and slowly rolled out from under the table and pushed himself up to his feet. He left the book exactly where it was, having no further use for it after it's contents have already been read and memorized, “he has absolutely no luck. Bad calls, or bad decisions. His crew probably died all simultaneously, leaving him to be the last to tell the tale.”

The cat now slink from around the table, and came closer to the woman who was at the board. His eyes flicked to her for a moment, and then to the new note. “Ah... the loot will be split,” the thief chimed in a cheery tone, “If I recall, he had some run in with dragons. And when there is a dragon, there is a dragon's horde. But... no thief would dare take anything from a dragons horde, especially a dead dragon less it's given to him or he will be cursed with death. Or greed. A superstition really.” Leo then offered his hand out to the lady, “Leo. And you are?”

[Suzumibachii]

Smirking softly as the wolf paid her no mind, but it was understandable. She had taken a bold gamble that didn't pay off besides something about his body language reminded her of her younger self just after the incident. Her gaze followed the wolf as he got up and stuck the parchment and stuck it there. "I should have a peek." She whispered to herself before readjusting her gloves, the faint glint of topaz gem that was imbedded in each sparked a smile. Silently standing up and dropping a few coins on the counter to pay for her drink she gave a friendly nod to the bartender.

Rather quickly making her way to the board after having seen two others looking at the papers posting all sorts of odd jobs, however there was only one that caught her eye. It didnt promise pay on the spot but he was searching for the life stone..."Impossible..." she muttered to herself. "But...if its not I can bring him back." biting her lips and making her way outside. Pulling a hood over her head to shield her eyes from the sun as she made her way to the gates, trying to avoid any unneeded contact with anybody at this point.

[Shinzuu Katame: Her Tolfy]

Korius waited at the gate for a while before he started seeing figures show up. From the mist, he saw a Cheetah, a long-haired lizard that for some reason looked a little familiar (he couldn't quite put his finger on it), a fairly tall cat, and a few others. However, the ones behind this three seemed to quickly leave after seeing him and the weapon that stood from the ground next to him, not having heard that Korius was a berserker. In fact, all but the three in front had quickly left upon seeing his weapon. It was common knowledge that berserkers, though very strong, lose their senses when fighting at full power and have the most friendly kills that even greedy betrayers.

[Suzumibachii]

Suzumi noticed the other two making their way to the gate being a little behind them, her steps naturally quiet due to her size, stepping to the side and in front of the others she glanced back at the tall cat and the cheetah. Introductions would come soon enough she thought while making her way to the wolf. Stopping a few feet away from him she waited a few moment for the others to approach. "So you are looking for a legend." She said quite boldly, "Of course if it exists this little adventure will bring quite a bit of fame." Turning to the wolf and then the others. "Suzumibachi, a pleasure to make your acquaintance." She didn't actually care what the rest would think of her or that she was being so unusually vocal.

[Vee Katame: His Wolfy]

Kiana walked through the town towards where the posting said to meet, the gate. She saw the wolf waiting up ahead for whoever might come to possibly join him and wasn't phased by the weapon he had, just like when she saw him leave the tavern with it. She heard others walking behind her but didn't bother to turn her head to see who they were. When the lizard female from the tavern stepped around her and glanced back at her, she just raised an eyebrow underneath her hood and continued to move forward. "Not like there's a party limit." She thought to herself, not understanding why the lizard seemed to need to pass her while she was going at her normal quick walking pace. When she reached the wolf at the gate, she glanced at the lizard as she decided she had to be the first one to speak even before the wolf. Kiana reached up and pushed her hood back off of her head, looking directly at the wolf. "Kiana." She said in a strong voice with a straight face to match. Being someone who was pretty serious, she wasn't usually all smiles and roses, even with meeting new people.

[tangletail]

Leo smiled to himself as he watched the lady leave the bar, and slowly shook his head. “Ah... no one is the chatty type in this backwater town,” he chuckled to himself as he too slipped away from the group at the board to go find the meeting place mentioned on the bulliton board. It did not take much longer for him to find the place once he left the tavern. After all, if one didn't know the place to well, you could just as easily find the meeting place by spotting the gathering of people around a berserker with a large weapon. If the berserker didn't stick out like a sore thumb, then the gathering easily would.

 
He later arrived at the group, spotting the same female he had talked to earlier, and already found her giving her introductions so soon. “Oh...” Leo thought to himself keeping his smile, “that's why. Serious and brooding. Overly dramatic drama, or naturally so... figures as much.”

 
He then waved his hand, signaling attention to himself, “Leo,” he chimed in a sing song manner. He wasn't the type to come off naturally serious. In fact, he much preferred to see a more debacherous and interesting side of life then having to keep to a single mannerism. He did spot the large blade sitting at the man's side, however he found no need to keep his distance. While the other's may be a bit more paranoid. He knew it's only in battle should a berserker's ally become a statistic.

[Shinzuu Katame: Her Tolfy]

Korius saw the three come up and watched as others change direction or walk by. However, his attention was diverted not long after he wanted to wait, hearing them all introduce themselves. "We'll wait to see if there's others." He waited longer, letting the others choose to talk together or to just stand there with him in silence. After no one wanted to join anymore, he stopped leaning on the post of the gate and stood up straight, "You all smell really green, but if your determination and heart are into this, we'll eventually find the Stone. My name's Korius Lambent, and I'll be leading you from now on. Our first leg is to head up north to Agrecia. It's near the infestation season for Cockatrices, and a lot of butchers are offering top coin for large sized and numbers of Cockatrices. It will be a one day trek, and we do not stop for long. You'll get some small rests, but you won't be sleeping tonight. Now let's move." The wolf turned and grabbed his sword, heading north with his weapon propped over his shoulder.

[Vee Katame: His Wolfy]

Kiana looked sideways at the third person to walk up when he spoke then looked back at the wolf when he spoke up saying that they would wait for others who might possibly show up. She turned sideways and watch the area that had been behind her, seeing people head their way only to veer off in another direction or just straight out turn around. When the wolf spoke again, she turned back towards him and listened. The concept of them "smelling" green was odd to her, but it wasn't like she could argue with the possibility. After he finished speaking and headed off, she pulled her hood back up and followed behind him without hesitation.

[tangletail]

Leo's smile faded for a moment after hearing their targeted game for the first job. “Cockatrice,” Leo rasped under his breath in surprise. His hand brushing over one of his dagger's pomel for just a moment. His eyes then flicked to the others who were joining the journey, and frowned. He let his hand drop back to his side, and followed them for a moment. “Well... some of these people may die abruptly, unless there is a cleric who knows how to turn stone back to flesh in this lot,” he thought to himself as he quickly increased his pace to catch up with Korius.
“Korius, yes,” Leo began, only to confirm that he heard his name right the first time. His gaze flicked back to the group for a moment, wandering exactly how many of them had a sword or a knife instead of a bow or magic. He kept his volume at a normal conversation level, if only to prevent the others from hearing anything alarming. “Erm... I am sure you are more well experienced than any of us, so a Cockatrice or a flock wouldn't be your biggest worries. But... I believe you know that they petrify, yes? And not by gaze, but by it's bite. And not a lot of us can actually tough it out if I do say so. I understand you already lost your last group, but another large handful on that toll?”