Life Stone

[Vosur Aekira]

Karina did not waste any time to go home and tell her father of the adventurers and of the order for the tavern, which caused the white wolf to tap his own chin with his good arm's hand. He wrote down a bit on a parchment, listing out the items for the tavern, then he starts making a list of items that adventurers would need on the same parchment as he looked about at his wares. Karina watched as he did this, then he started work on making anything lacking outside of that list. She was dismissed, still holding onto her special bow and quiver full of arrows as she left the smithy. She went back to the tavern, curious to learn more about the adventurers and what they were looking for, especially since this was near the time of the Hunt.

[Shinzuu Katame: Her Tolfy]

When everyone had finally come back out, Korius registered their party since the person behind the table seemed to have a perfect memory to make sure people aren't sneaking in extra people as it cost a good amount of coin per person. The registration was through the town, but the money came from the butcher. The black wolf stood up straight and grabbed his sword that was leaning against the tavern and looked around at their competition. Many looked as green as his own party, others looked like they're adventurers that happened to be in the area, but his real worries were on a particular small party that were already waiting at the gate. The party only had 4 people, but they looked as they do hunts for a living, and nothing else. There was an amazon sporting a long, ivory spear, a wildman with a halberd larger than himself, a dragon tamer who already has a baby dragon, and a beast tamer who had an adult male cockatrice. Korius felt really nervous with that particular group since he knew that they have gone far with this Hunt over years, and that they were going for the real big prizes, females. His attention was temporarily taken away to an interesting sight that passed through his vision, a bow with blades at the ends. Well that's curious.

[tangletail]

Leo had approached Korrius once he found him, but quickly picked up on his distracted attention. His emerald eyes studied him for a moment, wondering what had caused such a nervous look from an experienced berserk like him. And so he followed his gaze, slowly turning around to see the party of four terrifying hunters. Leo could perfectly understand now what had caused it, one of them looks like he could probably eat the thief himself. And the others just seemed to be a bit of bad news. “Korius...” Leo began in a nervous tone, and slowly raising a hand to point to the group ahead of them. His eyes dancing between their weapons to size them up. He now wished he had a weapon better suited for combat than self defense like his daggers, for just the purpose of having to defend himself against them if they turn out to be cut-throat.“What in the blue hell is that?”

The feline's eyes glanced back to the berserker hoping for a more desirable answer than the word competition.

[Vee Katame: His Wolfy]

Kiana noticed the group of four by the gate on her own as she surveyed the crowd while Korius had been registering their party. The group definitely stood out from the rest, even the ones who looked like experienced adventurers. "Death on a platter..." She muttered after Leo pointed to the group and asked Korius what it was. A reflection off of something metallic in her peripheral vision caught her attention. Turning her head, she saw a woman with a bow on her back that seemed to have bladed ends. She had never seen anything like the weapon and it definitely had her interest, but she redirected her attention back to the group by the gate. As she looked them over again, she tried to pick out any weaknesses that the members might have. It wasn't like she'd have to fight them really, but if they got in the way... Well, she'd have to have a plan.

[Suzumibachii]

Making her way outside to the rest of the group she instantly pulled the hood of her cloak over her head before standing next to Leo and Kiana following where they were looking she could see the very seasoned group of hunters waiting by the gate.  " They look like trouble." she mumbled softly before glancing up at the others. "Very experienced by the looks of things." Her gaze was temporarily averted as she noticed the unique bladed bow she had seen earlier in the tavern. Offering a faint giggle as she remembered the girls threat to the drunk, smiling at how  he reacted to the sensation of a blade resting between his legs, for some strange reason the lizard found peoples reactions interesting and fun to watch.

[Vosur Aekira]

"Oi, not these guys again. " the female fox-kin spoke as she saw the group of Hunters while trying to look for the new adventurers. Her grumbling sigh turned to a curious smile when she also saw the adventurer group, it became a more noticeable curiosity when she saw that some of them were looking at her for a moment. "You must be here for the Hunt, it's not often we get visitors other than this time of the year." Karina spoke to the group, then she looked back to the ones at the gate. "Those guys are bad news to any up-and-coming hunter, they seem to come back with a female or two as their catch, though, if I were that beast master, I wouldn't try to have them kill the female." she spoke with a shrug, then she looked to the adventurer group again. "You all would probably need better weapons and gear if you plan on participating. I know of someone who can help you out if you need it."

[Shinzuu Katame: Her Tolfy]

Korius slightly tightened his jaw as he answered Leo, "Bad news is what they are. I have no doubt they're exceptionally experienced hunters. That amazon and wildman are exceptionally strong. From the looks of it, probably over 30 years of experience in fighting monsters. The others look like a fairly experienced beast tamer. From the looks of it, he probably hasn't been one for more than 4 or 5 years since he has an adult male on him. Even if he has a couple more years on him, he's not too much to worry if his group has been here for more years. It's the same for the dragon tamer. She only has a baby dragon. Dragons that are tamed at an early age grow alongside their tamer's strength. If the tamer does not become stronger as the years go by, the dragon dies, and they can never tame another ever again." His attention averted from the group once more as the interesting young bow user approached them. He listened to her talking about the group, So i was right, for the most part... He looked at the girl at her offer of equipment and shook his head, "No, this sword has served me well for years. I'm a berserker so the less armour I have on me, the better. That aside, we barely have much money as it is. We're here for the Hunt so as to get money. I've heard of your town's Hunts for years, but I've never been in the area until now. What are our confines? Or do we just wait to be told?"

[ShiroTenshiRyu]

This Hunt was big. Much bigger than Helios original expected. Most of the groups he approached seemed wary of him. He wasn't exactly used to fighting much more than then training dummies. He felt his stomach knot and sweat bead from his teal hair. The sword on his back seemed heavy. Helios looked around hoping for someone anyone to attempt to tag along with. That's when he saw him. Tall, muscular, black fur, and enough scars to intimidate anyone. He was missing his left arm, but that was actually reassuring to Helios. He's been through a lot. He'll know how to stay safe. He looked at the group around him and they all seemed rather eclectic and overall the group seemed to be a bit rag tag. He smiled he felt he had a chance.




He carefully approached the group. "Excuse me." He said nervously. "I was, I was wondering if maybe I could come along with you." He bowed leaving his body lowered waiting for a response. Anything would do he'd been rejected by practically every other group in the camp he had no fear of another no. He was more afraid of the danger he'd face if the group said yes.

[Vee Katame: His Wolfy]

Kiana glanced over at Suzumi when she rejoined the group and spoke. When Korius spoke in response to the question that had actually been just directed at him and not the rest of them, she returned her attention to him. Every now and then she glanced at the group by the gate as he talked, eyeing each one as he described them. She saw a glimmer of light again from a reflection and looked to see the woman with the bladed bow approaching their group. Her explanation of the intimidating group was pretty much the same as Korius' so there wasn't too much new information. When she offered the prospect of new equipment, she felt a little insulted though it didn't show on her face. She loved her short bow and she just shook her head at the idea of a new weapon. It was after Korius' decline of the equipment offer that someone approached them. When he spoke, she glanced at him and looked him over for a second, seeing that he was a swordsman. After he asked if he could come with them, she looked at Korius since it was ultimately his decision if a new person joined the group that was his own making. She thought it would be a good idea to have another person in the group with a bladed weapon but she didn't know how competent the guy was actually.

[Suzumibachii]

Suzumi listened to Korius explain the group and his evaluation of each of the members she nodded glancing back at each and thinking. Mages might have the power of elements at their command but even her mentor might have had issues with that particular group, but it didnt matter if she wanted a shot at the life stone she needed assure that this hunt went well. Listening to the girl with the strange bow as she spoke and even mentioned weapons, Suzumi couldn't help but chuckle, but naturally this was to be expected she didnt look at all like a mage, no robes and no staff. Speaking up once more she looked at the girl once more. "Thanks for the offer, any more armor will slow me down and I am all good in the weapons department."
Her eyes were averted and focused momentarily on the new comer, who was asking the group if he could join curious to see if Korius would take another member.

[Vosur Aekira]

She looked to the newcomer who was out-right in asking to join to the leader, but she didn't know what to say to him, so she instead turns her attention back to the leader of the group. "Fair enough, though a good temper from him on your current sword will make it last for years more." the female fox-kin spoke with a shrug. Getting a general declination from the group didn't exactly appeal to her tastes, but she was intending to be polite to them despite them turning down her offer. "But that aside, you can't go killing them the day prior-to because they send out a few scouts to make sure the dangers of other wild animals are kept to a minimum. Also, for what you have to be valid for the prizes, you have to be back before sundown on the day of the Hunt. If you're late, then you only get half of the worth. As for when to start, you sign up in the butcher's shop the day before, either as a group or individually... but if you go by yourself, you better be planning to bring home an adolescent male or be brought home in a body-bag. And before you ask on why you have to sign up.... you can't be a child to participate." Her voice trailed off a bit quietly on the last part, as if she had prior bad-experience with that.

[tangletail]

Leo frowned to this, but he then released a sigh. “Well, at least they aren't to inclined on killing us for their goals right,” He asked. Looking back to Korius expecting an answer. He was a thief, not an assassin. A rogue still but one who does specialize greatly in direct contact. Instead, he sneaks around easily, pick pockets, pick locks, set traps, disarm and spot traps, outwit his foes, and if he really needs to fight someone, catch the jump on em. He does have some self defense training for use against another family whom his had a blood feud with, but even then he was iffy about that. He hoped for some form of reassurance. But instead of hearing Korius, he heard another voice speak up. He turned to look behind himself, and almost immediately recognized the familiar face of the woman with the bladed bow. The other man he wasn't to sure about, from his choice of weapons he could just be a squire or some other knave looking for a quick buck.

“Excuse me,” Leo said now turning his body around to look to her directly. His head now tilted into a curious gaze as he continues, “Aren't you the daughter of a black smith? I don't think armor from him will do me any good. But I might be interested in a weapon.

[Shinzuu Katame: Her Tolfy]

Korius looked over his shoulder at the lynx that had come in to speak to them, "You do realize that we're not responsible for your health, right? Our party is seeking the Life Stone after we get some money from this Hunt." Helios bowed again, "Yes, I understand, but you seem like a hardened veteran for adventure. So please! Let me join your group!" The black wolf looked over the young swordsman, Another freshly released apprentice. Seems I am starting to attract their kind now. I just hope I won't have to bury them too soon. Korius then sighed and planted his sword into the ground, holding out his hand, "Fine, but you're paying for your own entrance fee. I'll add you to our roster. So what is your name, young swordsman?" The lynx dug through his pouch and pulled out all that he had left, being just enough to cover the cost, "He-Helios, sir! Helios Scopes!". Korius took the coins and dropped them onto the table outside the tavern and added Helios's name onto their party's roster. When he came back, he returned his attention to the young archer girl and placed a hand on her head, "You have something to prove, don't you? I can tell you really want to join in this Hunt. No one's stopping you here. If you want to do something with your life, you'll have to take it for yourself." He then turned around to grab his weapon, "Let's get a move on. The Hunt starts in an hour."

[Vee Katame: His Wolfy]

Kiana's eyes shifted to the other archer when she explained more about the rules of the Hunt. After that, she returned her gaze to Korius and her eyes went back and forth between him and the newcomer. "He's probably getting tired of all the 'fresh meat' he's getting for his group, but you take what you can get. She thought to herself while Korius moved off with Helios' money to pay for registration. When Korius came back and put his hand on the archer's head, she grimaced inwardly, knowing she would be irritated if he did that to her. "Seems like she'll probably be joining us too..." She thought as she looked at the archer again before she started to follow Korius.

[ShiroTenshiRyu]

He felt a knot in his again. He stared at the group unsure who to try and get to know first. When Korius, the leader of the group he'd just joined, addressed a young archer, Karina he thought he'd heard her called, about being new to the group as well Helios approached her quietly following her without a word. He had no clue what to say to her. He began to walk mindlessly staring at the ground hes natural pace eventually causing him to bump into her. He blushed as she looked at him. "I-I'm so sorry." Whatever other words may have come out stood no chance as Helios stood staring at her and her natural beauty.