Aria leaned back against the wagon as she let out a yawn. The trip was a sleeper, and it sure left her body feeling stiff. She stretched a bit, arching her body towards the ground as she spread her slender legs and shifted on the balls of her feet. She was not tall by any standards, but her figure was proportioned enough to give the illusion of length along her body.

After stretching her arms as well, she stood up, and threw her cloak onto the ground, starting to feel rather warm. "Well, nothing better than movement for working out travel stiffness." She noted, "Marie? You still awake at all?" She asked, looking over her shoulder.

A soft mew responded as a small tabby cat peeked out from under the top of Aria's backpack. Aria chuckled, "Still look sleepy, why don't you rest a bit more?" Marie however, would have none of that, and pulled herself out of Aria's backpack, stretching a bit before licking her paws daintily.

"Have it your way," Aria chuckled again, before looking around for a decently wide spot to get the blood flowing through her veins. She shrugged and started her dance, bringing one hand up into the air and giving a twirl, shifting to end in a curtsy, her other hand holding onto the pleated leather skirt on her armour, before beginning again, moving her body in an array of intricate steps and traversing within a circle where she stood.

((Perform Dance, Take 10 -> total of 17, not memorable, but decent performance ))

Sylvia perked at the sound of movement coming from the wagon and turned offering a friendly smile in the direction of her fellow travellers. She waved at them to come take a seat if they desired, having just returned from a day dream she had the bemused look of someone from a trance about her.

She turned back to Junn and sighed. "I hope most of the group is as friendly as you have been Junn, I'm not one for bad company." She said with a slight chuckle, resting her head on her arms.

Junn glaced over at the rest of the party sizeing each one up.

"You shouldnt be so trusting of them people lie all the time and everyone has secrets and hidden agendas, thats what I've found in my travels atleast

Leans back then gets up and lays across the table stareing into the sky

"But I'm sure out fellow travelers are nice people "

Closes eyes and talks quietly to himself

It was obvious that this place was filled only with bumpkins: clueless country buffoons that only knew how to feed themselves and their food. He stood still while the dull woman blabbed, though he did so because she struck him with her awesome simplicity.
“Claptrap’s the horse,” The woman had added after telling him that he would need to set up his workspace in the stables.

Lloyd took a loud and deep breath while he brought his hand up to his forehead and leaned back. He let out an equally loud and deep sigh – giving away that he was both displeased and unimpressed. He started to rebuke the woman for her pathetic offer.
“I am bewildered at the ludicrous proposal that just came from your mouth! I require a segregated and clean space in order to prepare my medicinal gauzes and apparatuses! Would you wish to have a contaminated syringe injecting a fecal-infested antibody into your blood stream?”

Lloyd watched as the woman ‘Svetlana’ looked at him, her eyebrow slightly raised. She shrugged her shoulders and shook her head.

Again Lloyd gave a deep sigh. Upon calming himself down a bit, the masked man takes to waving his cane in front of the ‘Svetlana’ while he starts talking once more.
“Since your inferior intellect cannot conceive my plight in the form of my superior profession, I will simplify it to something that you might more easily grasp: imagine if I told you to start cooking with that straw blowing about and a horse’s anus overlooking your pot’s open top. Would that make for a good place to make a stew? No? Then why in the nine hells would it be deemed a proper work space for me!?” Placing his cane down on the ground before himself, the Lloyd looks to the wench, awaiting for her apology and newly purposed accommodations.

Sylvia cocked her head to the side and looked towards the sound of trouble. "Excuse me a moment." She removed herself from her seated position and stood up stretching. Giving her head a light shake she made her way to the argument that was happening a little ways away and gently tapped Lloyd on the shoulder. "Excuse me, but may I offer a suggestion?" She said in a kindly voice looking up at him. "If you need more space perhaps you could take one of the back areas in the guest house alongside my spot? I would be willing to help or find people to help put up some form of sound proofing so you may have your privacy." She said, gaining her trademark smirk and coy glint in her eyes. "That is, unless you would rather risk being evicted from this ladies estate by her husband." She added her voice gaining just a slight hint of impishness behind it. She held her hands behind her back, making sure step back out of striking range of the cane, offering him a friendly smile.

Junn opened one eye and watched Syl leave over towards Lloyd and the innkeepers wife, he then rose from the table, gathered his belongings and walked to the wall turned and began to walk along it,in a counter clockwise rotation, counting his steps and taking in his surroundings more closely noteing the location of all the buildings once at the guest rooms he entered and looked around sighed and walked to the bed furthest from the door and layed down placeing his belongings under it

" Finally some relitive peace and solitude"

Junn stared at the ceiling and fiddled with the ring on his finger becomming lost in thought

"If you need more space perhaps you could take one of the back areas in the guest house alongside my spot? I would be willing to help or find people to help put up some form of sound proofing so you may have your privacy... That is, unless you would rather risk being evicted from this ladies estate by her husband." Lloyd's green eyes glared through his long-nosed mask, but he remained silent for a time.

After a short pause, Lloyd grabbed his chest and hoisted it over his shoulder. "It is obvious that you have no idea what work environment I require in order to properly prepare for the coming weeks. I will leave it for the time being, but I will need a portion of a table to take inventory..."

Arrogantly, Lloyd made his way to the table that was less populated of the two tables and dropped his chest onto the surface - though it was a gentle drop. Taking his key that was hung around his neck, the masked man started to go through his items:
-A healer's kit which had all the basics materials for treating injuries minor injuries.
-A surgical kit which consisted of many more precision based tools such as a scalpel, surgical thread, and the like.
-A jar which held four leeches, used for removing impurities of the blood.
-A leather satchel which held his various alchemical tools, such as test tubes, catalysts, and various measuring apparatuses.

Lloyd's primary concern in regards to his equipment was calmed. However, he was still anxious about a certain problem he was still having. He would need to relieve himself, but he would have to wait until later on that night before he could consider doing it safely.

Sylvia turned and watched Lloyd leave herself feeling slighted at his words. "I offer a solution to his dilema and princess there just out right refuses it. I'm hurt to be honest that fool clearly has no idea how lucky he is to actually be offered a place to sleep..." She dropped her voice and looked down at her folded arms her memories flooding back slightly. "I know I am..." She sighed heavily and remained as she was, moving slightly to the side so as to not be in the way should someone barge in or run through, a side of her and memories she had rather wished forgotten has bubbled to the surface. Old wounds had opened slightly and she stood there hunched at the shoulders staring at her own bare feet.

“It is obvious that you have no idea what work environment I require in order to properly prepare for the coming weeks. I will leave it for the time being, but I will need a portion of a table to take inventory.” Lloyd took his business to an unoccupied end of one of the tables.
Svetlana released a tolerant sigh and glanced to the heavens. The self-important, wordy boy dealt with for now, she returned inside to make sure lunch didn’t end up burning.

While she was gone, the party unwound stiff muscles and sore limbs. The two hunters finished up their meals and, after taking time to appreciate Aria’s dance, left the keep. One by one the fresh wave of visitors settled around the tables.

Before long the hammering stopped and Oleg descended from the roof of the guesthouse, sweaty and unsmiling.

“Welcome to the Post. Name’s Oleg. Oleg Leveton.” To say his expression was surly would be unkind. Rather he seemed to be guarding his thoughts behind a stoic mask. “We can talk about problem after I put my tools away.”

He disappeared into the main house, returning a moment later following Svetlana, who was wielding several bowls of hearty stew. She placed the bowls on the table and grabbed the nearest idler, Sylvia. “Hon, would you mind very much giving me a hand? That way we’ll all have our meals quicker.”

They returned with more bowls for the rest, as well as hot bread and even a bottle of wine.

When everyone was firmly seated with their meals, Svetlana spoke up again, “It might not be much, but we can’t thank you enough for helping us out with the bastards. Oleg’s been sending every trapper going to the city with requests, but things were starting to get worrisome until word of your coming arrived. Isn’t that right dear?”

Oleg cleared his throat before he spoke. “They’ll be here tomorrow morning, the second of every month. Now I don’t know much about fighting, but I want those thieving craven whore’s sons to remember what fear is. You think you can do that?” He looked around the table for an answer.

(So you’re certain, you do not, in fact, know what he is talking about other than through conjecture or a good guess. A slight pause before anyone speaks, for the first poster, would be entirely plausible. Also, if anyone wants to know what’s for sale in the storage room, I can post it in the Q&A later for you to peruse.)

"Don't worry I'm sure we can handle it.....Could I inquire as to 'what' it is?" She asked tilting her head in the quizical manner she adopted with Junn. her fingers rapped the table lightly as she fixed her eyes on Oleg. She was trying to see past his guarded thoughts and walls. Her stomach grumbled and she broke contact and looked down at the bowl of food licking her lips lightly. "And, why the second of every month? I assume bandits or raiders of some form or type, but any information you can give us would be useful." She added her eyes flicking from bowl to utensil to cup.

She was embaressed to admit, or let anyone find out at the moment but she had very little idea how to properly eat, most of the time she had just used her hands to cup liquids in and any bowl or other such thing she just picked up and ate the food directly off of. Her hunger was pinnacle and screaming at her to devour every drop. But she refused, wanting to try and show she could be a proper young lady, especially around these people she would be seeing for a while.

Lloyd took off his mask to consume the contents within the bowl. It was warm and filling, and the flavor was not half bad either. The bread was a little bit old, but it was far better then what he was used to. He did not say anything, nor did he look at anyone while he ate. After finishing his meal, Lloyd placed his mask back on – though his unmoving mouth could have easily sufficed to mask his own thoughts or feelings about the present conditions. He went back to his chest, unlocked it, and grabbed a single silver sovereign and three copper pieces before locking it up once more. Throwing the coins on the table next to his empty bowl, Lloyd strutted back to his equipment and continued to check and recheck his items.
“They’ll be here tomorrow morning, the second of every month. Now I don’t know much about fighting, but I want those thieving craven whore’s sons to remember what fear is. You think you can do that?” Lloyd was almost awestruck. This man had simply assumed they knew the situation, and was already trying to get them into trouble... It is not that the Lloyd planned to stay out of trouble, for that charter had made it clear that they were here for that. However, just starting a war with what appears to be an organized crime ring sounds kind of silly at this point. The post is presently in bad condition – the catapults in particular have seen better days. Could these thieves be the reason behind this? There were too many factors for Lloyd to commit to fighting right now.
"And, why the second of every month? I assume bandits or raiders of some form or type, but any information you can give us would be useful." Lloyd rolled his eyes as he lifted a small glass vial with some crystallized sap in it. It was obvious that these thieves were acting as a sort of government in this no-man’s-land. They were collecting taxes of sorts, perhaps as a “protection fee”. Lloyd had similar encounters in the past while living in New Stretven, but he had seen to putting an end to these miscreants in his own way...
It was obvious that the female with the peculiarly coloured hair had very little experience in the matters of underhanded tactics. Though most of these people probably don’t have much knowledge in such things: one looked like he was raised in the wild himself – very fitting for an orc. Two elves had gotten into the party, and one of them looks too flamboyant to worry about the world, while the other looks like he might have slit some throats in the past. And the man who had offered to aid the coachman is probably one of those stupidly obnoxious cavalier types with his honour and code of chivalry – so he has probably incarcerated thieves but understands them little.
And these were the people that Lloyd was going to help. It was going to be one hell of an adventure, though “string of ordeals” would probably be a better term.
(No, Lloyd has not interacted with anyone in this post. If you want to talk to him while he is taking inventory again, please say something to him, otherwise he is off to the side for now.)

The earlier words of the self-styled doctor drifted through Ortlieb's mind as he considered the stiff figure, bent over his chest of contraptions across the room. He knew a team could not work unless respect was both given and received by all the members, no matter how big or small. Such proofs could be found everyday amongst the beasts of the forests. Humans, he knew though, were perhaps not quite so evolved, and arrogance wafted out from this particular individual like the stench of dead flowers that rich women in big cities wore like a cloud. The half-orc found himself wrinkling his nose at the thought, an act that he covered with a slurp from his soup bowl.

The other members of the party he counted an odd assortment. There was a seemingly helpful human, whose skin identified him as from a warmer clime and possibly as a fellow Garundi, although Ortlieb did not attach particular significance to this, having left his home years before and glad to be rid of it. Next an elf with strange eyes who did not seem unfriendly, but seemed in no particular hurry to start conversation. Nor did the other elfin member of their group, the one who'd danced outside. She was one of the two females, and would no doubt have garnered more attention from the men had not the other had brilliant blue hair. He did not deign to comment to himself what an odd gathering they made together. He knew his own presence only made it worse.

His mind switched to the situation at hand as his eyes drifted around the table to their hosts, the Levetons. It was curious how they assumed the adventurers already had the knowledge of what they were dealing with. Or maybe they feared they would leave once they knew? Either way, he hoped the blue-haired woman's questions would be answered. He would not know how to prepare if he didn't know what they were up against.

As he waited for one of the Levetons to respond, his thoughts directed themselves to the stables, wherein he had left Ramathu, long used to inns' customs of having their guests keep any animals outside the main building. He himself had been considered such an animal many times. He was currently undecided as to whether he would spend the night amongst the other guests or keep Ramathu company, although the gorilla had seemed quite content around the trading post's horse.

Ripping off a piece of bread, Ortlieb dunked it in his stew before eating it. As he savoured the meaty flavour, the half-orc wondered why the blue-haired woman had not touched her food. She looked hungry, and it would not be safe to abstain from eating if there was fighting to be done.

(That turned out to be longer than I thought it was going to be. o_o)

Junn sat silently listing to the others talk to the old man as he described what would be there first challange he slowly ate his stew and took a closer look at his remaining companions the orc horrid creatures and this one came with a monkey at the very least if all else fails he would make a towering shield.

The man with the greying hair heh showing such kindness eairler now doubt he would disapprove of my methods, I'll have to keep an eye on him all the same he may prove more trouble then good in the end.

The half breed girl another lower being a disgace to my race and a dancer no less with luck her skill will atleast prove useful as a distraction Junn chuckled to himself hopefully she can fight.

Syl little innocent girl no there was something about here something darker I could see it when she spoke humm perhaps it was nothing perhaps more for the time being I'll have to keep her at an arms lenth less I be struck down by some sinister plot shes hatching.

And the doctor, I cant say I blamed him for his attitude towards out accomadations frankly I wasnt to thrilled myself nor can I blame him for wanting a suitable place for his work frankly if I could I would give him the guest rooms to himself but then I would be in worse conditions then now and we cant have that no hes a smart one and perhaps his alchmical skills could be put to use later I would speak with him of it but for the moment I think it would cause more harm then good but I should try to get on his good side.

Junn finished his stew then excused himself from the table and ventured outside of the fort examining the walls stoping at certian points and knocking on the stone or brushing the ground with his foot.

Aria sat at the table, her posture held almost in a regal way, even as she drank and cut bread to go with the stew, but none of it was from her conscious thought. She had long since given up trying to break her habits that her mother had drilled into her head even before she was able to walk. She looked up at Oleg and the other woman, Syl, as one spoke and the other responded. However, Aria held up her hand.

"Slow down there," She said, before bowing her head towards their hosts, "Thank you for the meal." she spoke, "It was delicious. Now please, if you can, start at the beginning, so we may know your plight in full."

Aria gave a smile towards Oleg, "It would be good to know what is it that we are dealing with, but also, I was wondering, what is it that they return for precisely?" She asked as a guiding question.

Sylvia recognized the mannurisms and posture at once when Aria spoke. She tried to hide it but her eyes gave it away clearer then anything if one was watching. She smiled sweetly at Aria, but her eyes showed confliction within. Realizing she might be misread as insane she lowered her head avoiding eye contact and started eating or more accuratly devouring.

She ate swift and fast, sparing not a single crumb or a drop, using no utensils or regard for proper table manners. She was quiet though the only sound she made was the quiet setting of the bowl down, clean as if freshly washed and no mess on her or around her. Just one of the stranger talents she had.

Refusing to make eye contact with anyone after what she had just done registered she lowered herself further and her head, her hair falling in front of her face covering most of it trying to hide herself and her embaressment. She listened to what would be said and would speak if she had something to say on the matter or questions, but after all was said and done she would try to disappear and hide. She felt agitated and her now bare feet drawing squiggles under the tale and the occasional fidget were subtle hints to this.