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Sunny didn't participate in the cheer. Instead, her expression was slack, gaze sinking far into the dirt. There was little sense in what little she know for a boss to knowingly send underlings to their likely deaths, unless they wanted said underlings gone. Was Vernal on bad terms with the bunnykin? Was the bunny the one named Dolly, or the sheep? Sunny bit her knuckle, knowing for sure she made a bad decision to get involved with a matter so political. She wondered if slaying goblins was always so complex.

Estella also seemed somewhat lost as to what to do at the cheer. Meat helped her raised her arm in triumph, mouth opening wide in a silent roar. Sunny watched the two mutes practice their war cries, before they all finished and headed into the thicket.
----
Sunny was told after the fact that the plan "hadn't 'xactly gone accordin'ly."

They'd been caught separated, her and Vernal. Despite her apprehension, Sunny'd been volunteered to join the blazing blonde knight on some scouting, away from Estella and the others busy with another task. Just prior to being lobbed at with darts, she'd been thankful to leave Estella on a task with the greater numbers by her side. Now, no amount of gold seemed worth this shit.

"Leg it, lassy!" Vernal shouted, turning on her heels after a few thrown knives clinked off her raised gauntlets. Sunny followed in quick step. Weapons sheathed, they flew down the winding path which they'd come. A tossed over glance confirmed their pursuers; at least six with more bushes bristling with activity. Longer legs were on the ladies side, but Sunny was well aware what a trip-up at this time would cost any one of them, and so she focused on Vernal's back instead. The agility on the merc was astounding, given how much heavier her gear was compared to Sun's, and yet they were evenly paced.

"I count a good dozen!" Sunny managed as they ducked under a low branch.

It was Vernal's turn to glance, teeth grit. "Chump change!" A few paces later, a dagger impaled itself on a trunk ahead of them. A lock of Vernal's hair stuck to Sunny's nose. One of those goblins had a really good arm, if shaky aim. "We're splittin'. Need more of'm."

Sunny gasped out a groan. When they'd come to an impasse, Vernal shot right as Sunny did the left. She was told afterward that she got the better draw on that, but she hardly believed it. The goblins had known about this path, or otherwise old spring traps had already been lain long ago. If she hadn't seen a tired wild boar strung up ahead of her, she wouldn't have known to watch for the suspiciously piled leaves set before her. She leapt over these, only to hear the hidden ropes sweep one or two of the enthusiastic chasers at her tail. She couldn't help but laugh at that, but it disappeared in a flash as the little green arseholes appeared to cut her off. They lobbed rocks and green speckled knives as she passed. They snatched and laughed, hungry to catch their prey alone. There were more and more springing from the woods, the faint hum of horns all around her. But she was close now, with a green devil between her and a dense patch of foliage. "H'YEAAAAAAH!" Sunny let out a roar as she planted a foot mid-stride onto the goblin's skull, using him to spring off and burst through the greenery.

All of the goblins she'd managed to gain on her trail saw her disappear, and charged ever further until they too breached the leaves. More than two dozen of them came onto a pond-side meadow, slowing to sniff the air on their feet and knuckles. They bumped into one another, beginning to bicker and point in all directions as to where the blonde-bitch had gone, only for all to turn toward a rush of noise. They raised their weapons, teeth and dagger readied. What came from the opposite end were another gaggle of goblins fuming with bloodlust. They too searched and shrieked with frustration, until both posses looked at one another with almost innocent confusion. Not a moment was wasted.

Without a signal nor warning, Orkku appeared behind one of the dense crowds of goblins, cleaving into the unguarded backs of their skulls. They scattered, clawing away and flipping around to face the enemy. As they did, the other grouping of goblins were set upon by a flurry of arrows and stones to burst apart their tiny heads. Now they didn't know which way to face, and Orkku was cleaving the braver ones who fought. A goblin with a horn had been in the middle of blowing a retreat, when the rally was silenced in a falling note along with half his torso. Vernal and Sunny rose from where they'd lay prone beneath knitted together branches and set about stabbing into the scattering mob side by side. There were none willing to fight now with so many adventurers suddenly in one spot, and that cowardice played into this route from the very beginning. The meadow bled with goblin blood until all were stilled.

Sunny wiped sweat from her brow, successfully smearing the stuff onto her forehead. She stopped, and threw off her gloves in order to clean her face with a handkerchief, knowing how easy it would be to get Ghoul poisoning now. Orkku set about crushing the skulls beneath his boot, finding a goblin playing dead for every five he confirmed. Vernal was catching her breath, as Estella and Sherii appeared from their sniping nests above the treeline. "You think..." Sunny was hoarse with exhaustion. "We lured all of them...?"

"Don't doubt et." Vernal gave a devilish grin, unconcealed pride welling on her sweaty features. "They couldn't resist takin' the bait of two lone ladies gettin' lost in the woods." She flicked a hand towards the forest. "Sherii, Estella. Go help Meat and Sharah findin' the runts who scampered off! I wan' their encampments found yesterday!"

Sherii nodded. Estella hesitated, but after a brief nod from Sunny, she followed the elf with stones in either tiny fist.

"What happens after we find them? Their dens or whatever..."

Vernal let out a long sigh, finally offering even a tiny hint that she was tired since Sunny suspected she'd kept up watch all night. She suddenly seemed a lot older, and sounded about as grave when she'd put forth they'd been set-up for failure. "I think we're gonna hav'a chat with our good'le Seneschal."

The dens had been abandoned by the time the wolfchild had sniffed them out. While Meat and Sharah had been very thorough in scouring for stragglers with the aid of Sherii and Estella, they were certain more escaped than was up to their usual standards. Sunny found that hard to believe. But the cubby holes and makeshift huts the goblins had built were devoid of young, or food. All that was to show of the goblin's treasure trove was beaten armor and steels from those unfortunate enough to have been stopped and robbed. Sunny didn't spend too much time looking into the many bone piles laid about. She wanted to assume they all belonged to boars and fawn.

There'd been a ghoul, chained in one of the smaller huts by what must've been the latrines for how awful the mud surrounding it stunk. It was a boney thing, deprived of most of its flesh and blood, carved expertly like a tree for its sap. A man, once, mid thirties if not older if he'd been changed for a long time. There were definitely goblin bones intermingled with the meats they'd fed it with. With a merciful stab of Vernal's longsword, the ghoul would become the centerpiece of the bonepile before too long.
----
"Dolly." Vernal shouted after she'd kicked through the guild hall's doors. Bloody, with scrapes and bandaged about, their band strolled in with the gaze of evening bar patrons following them. "Dolly dolly dolly gal." Vernal sang. "I gotta hav' a word."

"I'd like that some too." Sunny was right behind her, in much less anger than bitter tiredness.

"The hell happened to that lot..." One drunakrd said too loudly to his buddy.

"Nothing pretty, I'll tell ye'that!" A blasted women laughed, swinging in her seat. A murmur was erupting all across the hall now, curiosity struck as to what fate Vernal's band had been through.
Estella hesitantly followed behind the lead of the two blondes, fidgeting under the attention of the entire room. She pulled her hood down just a bit tighter and gripped the back of Sunny's shirt as they marched right up towards the front desk. Seated there was the same iron golem that Dolly had left to take over her post while she napped, staring at them with a faceless, blank gaze.

"Um, are you okay-"

"Stay outta this," Vernal roughly shoved Lottie away by the shoulder as she stepped forward to intercept them, and if one couldn't tell she was pissed by then, there was the proof. Despite being a seasoned Adventurer and former S-rank, Lottie didn't resist and instead let them pass with furrowed brows, recognizing the seriousness in her tone despite her wide, disarming smile.

The whispers picked up as the group continued on, glares from Sherii and Orku daring any brave soul to play the white knight and speak up in Lottie's defense. Anyone that had been standing already, cleared an easy path and in moments, they were standing before the desk and the towering form of the golem.

Vernal was fearless as she slammed both palms against the counter top. "Dolly. Now."

The behemoth did not make any moves, failing to recognize a valid command. 'Bother Dolly' was clearly something it was not taught to do; perhaps even specifically instructed not to do. But Vernal wasn't going to be satisfied until she saw the rabbit Beastkin face-to-face. "Doll, I know you can hear me. So help me lord, if you don' get out here right now I'm gonna tear yer little toy here ta shreds. An' then ya'd have ta fix it. You don' want that, do ya?"

A few tense moments of silenced passed before a small, dainty voice filled the air.

"Threatening me with more work, Vern? That's low." All of a sudden, the golem's form began to warp, like a mirage that could no longer sustain itself. The image swirled, mixed, splashed about, and finally dissolved to reveal Dolly, ears sagging and dark bags under her eyes. The large oaken staff from before was clutched in both hands, and she leaned her head on it slightly as she gazed at the group.

"I seeee, so you guys didn't die after all. I was wondering if I was gonna have to go collect your bodies when I woke up. Glad to see I don't have to go through the trouble."

"So you did know," Sunny stepped into Vernal's flank, arms crossed. "Why? Why'd you set us on that death march?"

"S'cus I needed evidence," Dolly answered instantly. "If I went and ripped up their submission right in front of them and said it was a Trap Quest, they'd sue me on the spot. It's their legal right to submit quests to the guild. That's why the scheme works so well; It's a thorn in the side that's almost impossible to get rid of if they know how to cover their tracks."

Vernal was silent as she contemplated the young woman's words. "...That quest has been up fer a while now. You sayin' ya kept it vacant until ya found someone who could take it on?"

"As if. There's no way I could've predicted that you guys would end up with new recruits." Dolly shook her head, almost laughing at the absurdity of her question. "No, my idea was to just wait out the quest limit and play it off like no one was interested, but the opportunity just presented itself."

"You... We nearly died cuz ya took a gamble on us? On our lives?!"

"Yup." Again, Dolly answered without hesitation. Her head tilted to the side a moment later. "But you didn't. That means I won."

"No thanks to you." Sunny jabbed.

Seeming disinterested in pursuing the conversation any further, Dolly walked past them towards the door. However, she paused a ways away, going silent for several moments before she whispered something. The words were lost under her breath however, and she whipped around to face the group once again.

"Well it all worked out in the end anyway, so it's fine right? Yaaaaawn It's good you guys got banged up, though. That'll help me make a better case in front of the mayor. Now c'mon, we're gonna go pay him a visit."

"...Doll." Vernal hadn't moved from her place at the front desk, merely turning her head back to half-gaze at the rabbit Beastkin. The barely-concealed rage in her voice made most of everyone in the room tense up. Even Meat's tail was pointed straight up, sensing a conflict on the brink of breaking out. "Meat was hurt. Bad."

"...I know." For the first time, Dolly paused before she answered in a soft voice, her eyes falling on the bandage around the girl's head. She walked up, and carefully stroked her head around the wound, the confused expression on Meat's face giving way to bliss under the seneschal's attention. Her body quickly relaxed, and her tail loosened into quick back and forth swishes.

Smiling down at her, Dolly spoke. "I owe you guys, big time. Free lodging and meals here for a year. And you'll get the full reward money from the quest. No, triple it. I'm sure the mayor would be happy to keep you all quiet with generous reimbursement for your trouble. I'll make sure he does."

The petting came to an end, and with a whip of her cloak she made for the entrance. "Now let's go. Time for some justice."

Vernal's party looked to her for guidance, and she waited in silence for a moment before turning to tail the girl. "Let's go, ya'll."

As Estella moved to follow behind Sunny's lead, she silently thought about what Dolly had whispered. After all, she was one of the two people in the room who'd heard it.

"...I don't take bets I know I can't win. Only the foolish and desperate do."

At first she'd had her doubts, but after hearing this, Estella came to the conclusion that Dolly was probably...a good person.



Eight people marching down the center of the street, most of which in armor and bearing weapons, made for quite the sight for the people of Hamlet. With Dolly in the lead, they arrived at the gates to the mayor's office quickly. The pair of guards stationed scratched their heads and stepped forward to order them to halt, but couldn't take a single step before they found themselves on their backs. Only Estella caught the movement of her lips as Dolly muttered out a spell that had somehow knocked both men down.

"Stay down," she warned when they both reached for their weapons. "We're not here for blood, but the Hamlet Adventurers Guild doesn't back down when challenged. Today is not the day to test us." The soldiers seemed to get the message, and remained on the ground as they passed by.

The numerous other guards inside all fell the same way, allowing the group entry with nothing more than Dolly's threats. Soon, they found themselves at the mayor's door. Dolly waved a hand over the handle and it swung open with a click, the lock undoing itself from inside.

"Mayor."
Sunny had only stuck along this far to confirm both her divy of the pay, as well as her healthy share of pay-back. Mostly the aforementioned coffers, but Estella too, had been hurt so gravely. It was difficult not to aim this ire towards the seneschal she knew next to nothing of besides awful working habits, but she'd need to. The outsider hadn't a lick of context for this shift of blame, but damn'd she wasn't going to blame someone! If that someone were the mayor of this Hamlet, then so be it. She hadn't any time to wonder at just what that might entail, nor what she should expect, making actually finding herself there amongst the other of the Guild before him rather surreal.

Unlike all the Hamlet itself, from its taverns to marketplace, to brothels where always the hint of fish remained, the only aroma the mayor's office smelled of was coin. That, and a hefty smog of woody rosemary. The green needly herb hung from the glass windows offering a view to the lower Hamlet and the sea beyond, as well as ordained the tops of silver gilded paintings strewn the high walls. The tallest was that of Litchaven himself, or seemed so on a glance. No, the actual figure was older, the long creases in the hard set expression gouging.

Litchaven himself was a much younger, and tall man. It was clear to all despite being seated at a wide center bureau. He had pale, almost bluish skin in the sparse evening light; the tone like that of well housed nobility. Unlike many noble images, he'd been caught with just a plain white tunic rolled at the sleeves, appearing as nothing more than a hardworking merchant pouring over the ledger before him. He wore tiny, bronze wired spectacles, which were patiently folded away when Dolly had let herself and the others in. He interlaced his knuckles, leaning back as if about to enjoy a right good show.

"Good evening, Seneschal." A thick tincture of annoyance and surprise oozed out his thin grin. "What brings you so... uninvited?"

The bunny, all credit due, seemed to be taking matters much more seriously than Sunny expected. The kin stomped her staff on the woodboards, somehow getting a powerful rumble to roll through the office regardless the carpet. "You know why we're here, Litchaven." The false quest was produced, and flashed to jog his memories.

His green eyes briefly regarded it, before languidly looking to each of Dolly's muscle. "Did my men let you all in? So hard to find good hands these days..."

Vernal went and slammed her palms on the bureau. The planks split beneath her gauntlets. "Cut th'shit! You know you were tryin' to get some 'ur greenhorns out in those woods. Put a few recruits out on the choppin' block. Git yer goblins to give you any shinies they pick up. What? Relics? Coin? And you pay'm back in what." She wasn't asking, merely catching her breath. Sunny and Orkku eyed the mayor's security edging closer from the hall.

"What." Litchaven dared her to continue, any amusement having left at the harm to his desk.

"Fish." Dolly put in.

"Tons of fuckin' fish." Vernal shoved off the bureau, going around and snatching the mayor's loose collar before he had time to even scramble to a stand. "Meat smelled the bones. Oh there were bones everywhere, in those lil dens'a they'res... fish bones among'm."

"I don't see-!" Litchaven gave up wrestling with Vernal, and allowed himself to be hung in the air. "I don't see how any of this ties to me, Seneschal!"

Dolly crossed her arms, staff tucked between. "You supply the goblins with fish, they give you adventurer treasures. Magical trinkets for a high class collector."

"That's ridiculous." Litchaven was grinning again, but Sunny made no mistake of interpreting it as cheer. There was fury where annoyance had been, threatening to burst from the seams. "Do I look like I have in anyway the interest in petty trinkets from swords like you." He eyed Vernal. "I could buy every piece of you well over, barbarian. I could buy you. I control the sea trade in and out of this outpost. I own seven vessels myself! Seven vessels commisioned and operated since my father's mayorship of the Hamlet." He tossed an arm to the painting overlooking this mess. "I am the lifeblood of this septic cesspool, like my father was before me when this hobble was raised from rubble! Why would I collude with goblins! Goblins! You must be-"

"You're right." Dolly admitted suddenly. Litchaven was thrown off. Vernal too.

"What are you getting at?" Sunny looked to the kin. During the mayor's spheel, she'd wandered about the office. A bookshelf had lost her interest, a window gaining her discerning stare.

"Dolly." Vernal said, grip still tight around his neck. "You best be-"

"He's right." Dolly raised her staff, and touched its curled wood tip to the glass. "Coin. Trinkets. Anything from recruits like Sunny isn't worth alerting the Guild to such schemes. So what could the Goblins give him..."

The window shattered in a torrential gale. Shards sprayed out onto the building's roof, a few tuffs of rosemary along with them out into the open air.

"What are you doing!" Litchaven screamed.

"No seriously..." Sunny could barely catch her breath. No one else could either, as Dolly strode to another window.

"Seneschal..." Sharah sputtered a nervous laugh. "If you're wrong of this..."

"I'm just double checking something..." Her tone had returned to one of ease, despite the sudden doubt ebbed in all as to the mayor's involvement. "A little trick of the eye a lot of amateurs like his folk do to hide their slaves when guests arrive..." She tapped wood to glass, and another storm of force raked through the cramped office.

"Stop this at-!" But Litchaven fell silent, along with the room at the last glass shard's tinkling fall. All stared into not open air, but a darkness that seemed to appear from thin air. Even the paintings, still and dead, appeared to stare along.

It was a room. Woodboard floors. No windows. No light at all, leaving a brief intersection and a glimpse into the dark room the only thing visible.

"What in the circles of hell..." Orkku's deep base bellowed.

"How is that..." Sherii blinked, stunned.

Sunny moved to the other window offering another angle of the room, or where the room should be. Nothing. It was like that section of the estate didn't exist. "This is... this must be illusionary magic of some kind?" She looked to Dolly.

"It is." She said, gravely. "Vernal, bind his hands. And gag him."

"I-" Litchaven had been stuttering, before Vernal went about a brief struggle to do so. She seemed to enjoy it.

The adventuering party, as well as Litchaven's security, edged closer behind Dolly's back. Sharah had grabbed a candle, but seemed hesitant. Sunny didn't take long to wonder why. The Saviour's dungeons came rushing forth as a wave of putrid, intense iron crashed against the rosemary. Without the glass, the thick masking herbs did little to stem the nausea inducing smell. Sunny could see it now. Blood staining the floor. Not in a puddle, but etched into it? Forms began to emerge as Dolly and Sharah stepped up and waded into the hidden study. Chained to the wall, Sunny knew to be bodies. Not all were still at the candle's rousing light.

"Come on." Sunny said breathlessly, finding Estella and escorting her away. Vernal called Meat as well, and they made for the jailhouse.
Later, the two stood about the Guild Hall's exit. Inside, the drinking was just getting underway. Sunny couldn't imagine eating or drinking at all.

"Dolly say's it looks like necromancy." Vernal itched her nose. "Says... gobs're supplying them to Litchy boy. The Hamlet folk, you know, burn their dead. Not too many towns feel like digging ten foot holes, or keeping locked crypts these times..."

"I see. Well. That was quite a damn day of work." Sunny finished tying off the purse that was her and Estella's well earned bounty. There was a raging debate in her head if it'd been worth it. She was so exhausted, she cared little to hide anything at the moment. That job was shit.
"Yeah." Vernal's eyes fell, a rare bit of emotion leaking into them as she rubbed the back of her neck. "Hey, listen. Sorry fer draggin' y'all into this mess. Adventurin' ain't s'pose ta be about life or death all the time, 'specially not fer newcomers."

At their usual table in the distance, the rest of Vernal's party seemed to warm up to Estella rather quickly. Meat was currently on her knees, leaning over her chair to Estella while lapping and play-biting at her face and neck, drawing out silent giggles from the girl as she tried to fend her off. At the same time, Sherri and Orku downed their drinks while listening to Sharah's recount of a journey he'd been on long ago, the former taking glances at the kids every so often to make sure they weren't getting too rowdy. All looked to be having a good time, in their own way.

"...If y'all wanna cut it quits, I won' fight ya." Vernal continued. "Looks like ya girl's havin' fun, but her life's more important'n that. You two ain't like me an' Meat. I'd do my damndest to protect her, but if she wants ta march to 'er death instead'a goin' back in a cage, then I'd respect that." She paused to gauge Sunny's reaction with cautious eyes. When silence was her only response, she kept going. "I can tell ya care about Estella. Ya show 'er a kindness I can't bring myself ta show Meat, and it's because I know ya care that I'm gonna be honest here."

In the midst of their light-roughhousing, Estella glanced over at the entrance where the two women conversed. She tilted her head curiously, as if silently asking if everything was alright. Moments later however, a swift headbutt to her chest from Meat quickly stole her attention once again.

"I can't guarantee that what happened today won't happen again. An' if things get real tough, you an' Estella could die. That's a risk we all face as Adventurers, but we know what we signed up for. It's more coin, sure, but if you don't think that coin's worth your life, then I understand. Take your girl and walk on outta here. Plenty'a smart Adventurers've done the same before."

A strange silence followed as she awaited Sunny's response. It was clear that these words were different from the sales pitch she'd been given at the start, that highlighted the best aspects of the job while overshadowing the risks, playing to the customer's weaknesses, the acts were exposed for what they were in the face of her genuine offer here. Vernal was giving her a way out with no strings attached, no ulterior motives, even though she'd seen what Estella could do and learned how useful the two could be.

Once that became clear, she hardly had to think on it further before her gloved hand met the woman's shoulder. "No job's without risk, Vern. If I'm ever in a tight spot, you'll be one of the first bosses I think will look out for me. Might be riskier to leave my girl out of it, really." She glanced at Estella, currently hugging Meat's form after the Beastkin abandoned her seat entirely in favor of her lap, now both listening attentively to Sharah's tale. "No matter how much I'd want to." Her thoughts took over for a while, only to be shaken away moments later. "I just thought about foistering her on you, but honestly, I'd rather her not turn a drunkard." The two chuckled together as Vernal crossed her arms and leaned back against the wall.

"Alright alright, I getcha. Plus ya got free room and board here at the AG, for a whole year. It'd suck to turn that away. Anytime y'all need some help, just get a word out to me or my group an' we'll be there, ya hear?" Nodding to herself, she pushed off the wall and began to walk towards the group, but not before pausing to glance back once more. "Survivin' what we did today takes more'n what any old traveler'n a little girl can offer, Sun. And I ain't talkin' 'bout that fancy-schmancy trick she pulled earlier. Stella's tough as nails. You too. I think you both got what it takes to do just fine 'round here. Now c'mon. Shara'll go on for ages if we don' stop 'im."
The two headed inside, and for the two girls under their care, broke up the fun. Sharah was broken of his place, but found it shortly after brief farewells from Sunny and Estella. The orc was a bit too far gone for anything more than a slight raising of his mug. Sherii seemed to want to say something, but all the loud merriment kept her quiet then.

They left the guild to their good fortune, their own cuts tied taut to the older woman's hip. The Hamlet was well into the evening, its streets wide with its emptiness, the sea growing black and flat with the night. Even so, Sunny could care less about being hampered by any urchins or thieves. She was much too tired. She just took it step by step, feeling her aching calves and burning shoulders with every one. A glance over told her nothing of if her kid companion was similarly exhausted, or was burdened by any lasting ailments from the Ghoul Blood. She was just as hard to read as when they'd met two days ago.

"Just two days..." Sunny smiled, saying so with a breathy whisper. One coin bag was carefully untied, her pace slowing as she lowered it to Estella. "Here. Hide somewhere and always keep it hidden. You earned it."

The younger girl accepted the sack with as much as one would handle a volatile substance, staring at it with wide, awing eyes. Though it couldn't be seen, they quickly returned to the stoic, almost melancholic look they had before. Before Sunny could even ask if something was wrong, Estella had started writing again.

I had fun.

Judging by the look on what could be seen of her face, it was clear there was more she wanted to say, but instead she kept it simple for Sunny's sake. She wasn't smiling though, so it was difficult to tell how genuine her words really were.

Her hand settled atop the strange little girl's head, and ruffled the hood ridden with bits of brush and sticky seeds. "Me too. I think." Her hand fell away as they marched on. "Fön? FAwn? I hope there's cooked deer where we're heading..."

The door to Siiva's abode had never looked more welcoming. The promise of a swift wash and a cozy bed was enough to warm the heart only a home could, even if it weren't her own. Sleepiness had weaved its way atop her nausea, bringing with it the dull pains of hunger. A sudden worry a hot meal wouldn't be ready was just as quickly dashed as she spied the glow of hearthfire peeking beneath entrance's frame. "Fisherboy's was home. Thank goodness..." She led the charge inside, finding it uncharacteristaclly unlocked. "We're home."

The end note of "home" dragged out as she found Siiva had company. Said company, a familiar girl Sunny wished she didn't recognize, was standing alongside Siiva. Their fingers were cast down onto the table, almost as close as their bodies were as they pointed out something they'd been focused on until right that second. Now, they were like fawn staring into torchlight. Siiva seemed to notice how near the two had hunched together, and took a pace to part while the succubus fumbled for words.

"S-sunny!" The fisherboy managed. "You... two look like pig shit."

"'Preciate the honesty. As always." Sunny looked from one to the other, before locking onto that other. "Unlick some who lie through their teeth."
"Er..." Ivara, the Succubus from the previous night, seemed to struggle to decide between awkwardness and terror in response to being caught by the pair, particularly the girl currently growling from next to the older woman. A quick glance out the nearest window showed her all she needed to about the late hour. "...shit."

Her schoolboy hat was pulled down tighter over her head as she stood straight, swiping up the book that laid flat on the table and positioning it behind her back with a not-at-all convincing smile. "Sorry, didn't mean to stay so long. I'll just be on my way then..."
Her path was blocked by a very tired, and now very peeved Sunny. Deja vu.

"Oh no you don't. You don't get to ignore warnings, and then just waltz on out're here!" Yellow eyes flared to Siiva, who remained stiff as a board. "I warned her about comin' back here, yeah? About staying in town."

He gulped, open palms miming to sooth her woes and effectively doing the opposite. "Now hold on! There's a good reason, good reason for all this right here." He motioned to the table, which she saw now was laden with parchment and open tomes. "Ivara! Go on and show her. She's brought something you might want a look at."

Sunny was less than convinced, but gave pause to glower at the wench.
Ivara flinched under her gaze, not sure whether to fear her or the monster in child's clothing who'd pulled her hood down more.

No, it was definitely the latter. If both would rip her limb from limb at a moment's notice, at least she'd be able to see one coming.

"Alright, alright, fine," she relented, holding the book up for the pair to see. "I doubt you'll be able to read it anyway. We've been pouring over texts all day trying to find out what it says."

"But what is it?"

"A book." Her heart rate shot up as Estella took a menacing step forward. "A, um, a diary! It's the diary of an Elf from like 200 years ago! I found it in that book store." As usual, she spoke with her gaze averted, hands up defeatedly as she explained. "Look, after what happened yesterday, I kinda got curious and decided to look a bit more into those...Vampire things. The old book keeper was the only one I figured would know something about them, plus he's one of the only people in this town I can use my powers on safely. It's not weird to see someone sleeping in that boring old place, ya know?"

No one in the room looked amused, so she pursed her lips and continued. "Right, so I dive into his dream and shuffle through his memories looking for something relevant to Vampires. Eventually, I find something about this diary written by some Elf from the 300s, which wasn't really that interesting on its own. But apparently the Inquisition wants to get their hands on this thing. For whatever reason I'm not sure, but this kind of contraband from the past has gotta have something worth seeing in it, right? So I took a look."

She thumbed through the pages of the book and quickly turned it for the two to see. "Check it out. In what little translation does exist, words like 'the war' appear more than once. Also, nothing about Vampires, but 'monsters' shows up a couple of times. My guess is that Elves have their own words for Vampires and Humans, or at least they did back then. If I can get the rest of this thing translated, it might shed some light on all the crap the Inquisition's been keeping under wraps all this time. And by the looks of things, it's something huge. Whatever...whoever these Vampires were, it's almost like they're...some kind of government secret or something. A cover up. I mean think about it, if there used to be more people like her," She pointed at Estella, much to her displeasure. "then where did they all go? I think this book might be a clue."
With Ivara's sputtering explanation winding down, Sunny's hard glare flickered to the floor, and then the table. When the succubus was sure to be finished, it seemed like Estella would pounce at any moment. Instead, Sunny was the one to move, slowly wading over to stand next to Siiva. She scowled at the scrawlings the two had made, at the open tomes and gibberish they held. Like the common script, it was all meaningless to her. Still, even she could see the strangeness in the center book, who's faded, curling and elegant lettering was all the more other compared to all else around it. There'd be no meaning parsed from a glance here.

"If that's all true," Sunny rolled a gloved finger over the parchment. “Maybe the light binding her really was holy.”

“What?” Siiva said. “What light binding her?”

“Imagine the same binding spells Inquisitors use,” She wrapped a wrist in a thumb and forefinger. “Those thin strings that can keep people like Ivara subdued? Those, but full chains, with an aura like that of a midsummer sun bearing down.” Her anger had simmered to one of the weary. She clenched her eyes, suddenly so very tired from everything.

“She’s lucky you brought her here.” Siiva said with an uncomfortable cough. “No inquisitors in this little hamlet. Last pilgrimage was years ago. I’d say to hell with something this hot, if not for that.”

“Thank you.” She said first to Siiva, and then Ivara. “Thank you. If it’s true. For all we know this is nothing, and you’re off the mark about the Church. That’s why I’ll be keeping this...” She closed Ivara’s stolen book and inspected its plain leather face carefully. “I know someone who might be able make better headway on what it means. Don’t we, ‘Stella?” She flashed her a Sunny smile™.

Moderators: Estella (played anonymously) Sunny (played anonymously)