Michael
*Sivne would be sitting in a room in the south mentian capital, sitting on her bed and wittling down some wood. It wasn't clear what she was sculpting yet. She was being uncharacteristically quiet.*
Shannon
*Oddly, Sivne's peaceful work would suddenly be disrupted by a knock on the door, which opened a minute after. Ildilnytra then peaked her head through the door, searching the room until her eyes found Sivne chipping away at some wood.* 

"Hello, Sivne. What are you doing?" *She now walked into the room, gently closing the door behind her.*
Michael
"Just carving. I don't know why and I don't know what." *She shifted the pile of wood shavings away with her hoof and tossed her knife aside.* "Didn't think you had what it takes. Thought you'd be like Carlyn and shy away from that kind of work."
Shannon
"Oh... How does that work, then? What will you get without any direction?" *Ildi walked over and found herself a place to sit, watching Sivne work.* "Hm? From what, the mercenary job? Well, maybe I had been thinking a little too... Well, not enough. But, it'll be a necessary experience, I feel. Carlyn doesn't do that sort of work?"
Michael
"Wouldn't have accepted that kind of job. She doesn't want to kill anyone. She's too much of a goody two-hooves for the well paying work." *She grumbled a little and scooped up her knife again, going back to idle carving.* "It's been a while since I've hit a caravan, forgot about that empty feeling that hits you after it."
Shannon
"Really? It's surprising she does this kind of work, then..." *She leaned back a bit, thinking more about Caryn and how she acted now that she got hit with this revelation.* "Empty feeling? For me, it's... I feel regretful, right? In the first place, I shouldn't be here. After that, I shouldn't have killed. Then, I should've been able to grab everything. That's how it is, then?"
Michael
*A frown crossed her face as she looked over to her.* "What do you mean you shouldn't be here? Having second thoughts about being a merc?" *She looked back down at the block of wood and kept carving away.*
Shannon
"No, I'm not." *She gave a feint sigh and looked at the ceiling.* "I don't think I would be able to do things any differently... But for now, this seems better than the life I had before in a few ways." *She looked over to the horned woman.* "How about you? You've regretted being in all this before, haven't you?"
Michael
"No." *She responded simply, pausing for a moment before deciding to explain why.* "I was born for this lifestyle. Back in the tribe we used go out and do all sorts of stuff like this. Cattle rustling, skirmishes, banditry, slave trading. Life was good. Then one of my friends got into debt, had to help him out. Then he gets caught sleeping with a merchant's wife in mipmi. Gets killed over it." *She practically sheered the block of wood in half as she said that, her grip on it and her knife tightening.* "I do the only reasonable thing and now i'm out here. **Alone.** I miss the tribe. I don't have regrets, there's no way things would've gone differently. I've always been a road warrior, going from town to town, taking on jobs, hitting scores on the road. Now i'm with you lot."
Shannon
"Oh, so like that... I see. So there was no other future. But what about settling down? You can't fight forever, after all. Won't you marry at some point, or at least build yourself a house in the wild and die?" *Ildi stopped after that last bit, realizing it might be a bit sensitive to talk about marriage. She then continued after letting the air sit still, assuming Sivne didn't cut in.* "As much as this is our destiny... I hope I'll be able to do that some day. But I get that... It might not be possible to do that. I think that's what I regret. I feel restrained. But at least I'm stuck to this work with someone else, now."
Michael
"Me? Marry? Bah. Funny. Most male brayers are blockheads. There's no country i could settle down in even. Besides, i've got too much life in me to settle down."
Shannon
*A grin grew on her face and she sat up.* "I suppose so. What do you want to dream of happening in the future, then?"
Michael
"I don't know. Build up this little company of ours, steal a castle somewhere and I get to be a lady with a big army able to slap around anyone who bothers me. Or just go wipe a few countries off the map, some of them are an afront to the gods." *She grunted out.*
Shannon
*Ildi couldn't help but laugh, of course, but seemed a bit somber after she quieted down.* "So be a noble ruler, hm? That would be a way to live that you might like. What countries are an afront to you, Sivne?"
Michael
"Kadrush. It's an abomination of a country." *She shook her head slightly.* "Conquering Menti is one thing, but having canifor nobility ruling over a bunch of humans? They've all macenized."
Shannon
"Oh? You have it stuck out for them, then. For me, it'd probably be the lords in Middle Mentia. My family is from southern Silnaria, and there's plenty to hear of them from there. The others don't care much for politics, I'd assume?"
Michael
"I don't care about politics, neither do the others i think. As long as it doesn't hurt the tribe, i'll fight for anyone."
Shannon
"The tribe? But you don't keep in contact with them, do you?" Ildi leaned towards Sivne now, curious as to such devotion.
Michael
"I had to leave. I'll go back one day, once what happend is forgotten and forgiven. You wouldn't understand. A tribe isn't just a village like you understand it, it's a family. I was raised communally, everyone my age was my brothers and sisters, all those older than me were my fathers and mothers."
Shannon
"That sounds wonderful. It's a pity you had to leave, Sivne. What's your plan once you get back, then? Same as usual, or will you have to do something special?"
Michael
"No, nothing fancy. I don't know, try to fit in again, I guess. I haven't given much thought to it." *She grunted and itched the base of her horns.* "I'll be a lot older by the time I get to go home."
Shannon
"Hmm, I see. I don't think I'll go back to my family for as long as I'm able to. Not that I've known what's happened to them for a decade, though." Ildi fiddled with the rune she had gotten from the raid. "Until you go back to your tribe, I'm glad to be in this band with you, Sivne. Hopefully they're quicker to forgive than you think, though."
Michael
"We'll see, won't know until I try. Besides, before that I need a peace offering, something like a box full of gold. Until then i'm staying on the road with you lot." *She gave a slight nod to her.*
Shannon
"Thank you. I'll make sure that at the very least, you don't have too much good when we get paid for this." Ildi gave her a smile in return now. "What will you do with however much we're paid, assuming it's not enough? ... Should we give any to Carlyn?"
Michael
"Carlyn might think it's blood money. I'm not against sharing though. As for spending money, I don't know. Think we should pool our money together and invest in something."
Shannon
"I would like to give her a portion, at least. Maybe I could tell her I did some doctoring. But if we all end up pooling it together, what would we invest it in? Are you looking to buy a castle?" She leaned forward and rested her chin on her palm.
Michael
"You can't just buy a castle, have to swear loyalty to someone and them give you the land to build it on. Or you just take it by force." *She hummed.* "We could buy a lot of things with the money we have."
Shannon
"Hm, perhaps we could buy a boat and sail somewhere? Although, there's not much to be found in drowning. Spend it on arts, maybe?"
Michael
"Ever heard of a brayer sailor? Didn't think so. Mmh. What would i need art for?" *She grunted, itching the back of her head.*
Shannon
"Just to enjoy. My family used to have paintings, but you're not doing anything with them, of course. What would you have, then?"
Michael
"Big house out in the countryside. Plenty of good land to farm and not many neighbours." *She said with a quiet contemplative hum.*
Shannon
"That could be nice. I used to live rurally, and the quiet is surely appreciated. I do like some neighbors, though. You don't?"
Michael
"The fewer the better. I try to limit being around the races not from the federation. Last thing I need is to start turning into a macen."
Shannon
"Well, who knows, perhaps by the time we have something finished for us, you may already be there with nothing but skin."
Michael
"No." *She responded sternly with quite the glare.* "I'm too strong willed, I wouldn't let that curse get a hold of me."
Shannon
Ildi, feeling strong eyes upon her, yielded. "O-Of course, of course. That reminds me, is there anything specific you've come to like since you started adventuring?"
Michael
"Getting paid in bullion." *She admitted.* "It feels good getting a proper block of silver. You feel the weight and worth of it. Feels great."
Shannon
"It's wonderful, isn't it? I'm looking forward to the gold. I haven't seen a fair-sized piece of gold in so long, I feel like I'll cry when I'm able to hold it. Maybe we should have a feast when we're paid?"
Michael
"Maybe. Taking a castle is the kind of job you celebrate after. Mmh.. A feast sounds good." *She gave a nod and crossed her arms, leaning back.*
Shannon
"What would you like to eat, then? Assuming we're not holding back, we could afford whatever we want. And that reminds me, I wonder what they'll have us do? I've never, well... Invaded a castle before, if it wasn't apparent enough."
Michael
"Taking a castle? Three ways. Stealth, storm or siege. If we can hit them quietly and get inside without alerting them we can end it in a day. We could build ladders and rush the walls or we could just wait for them to run out of food." *She's clearly had some experience at least.* "As for food? Anything, i'm not fussy."
Shannon
"Well, I'd like to eat as many perishables as I can. For the castle, though, I'll train my magic before we go. Are you doing anything in preparation?"
Michael
"I'll buy some equipment for climbing. I don't need to prepare much." *She sat up again and grabbed her backpack, rooting around through it to look for something.*
Shannon
"I see. I don't know if I'll be able to actually scale the walls with magic, so I might have to buy something in case. What are you looking for?"
Michael
*She pulled out a a small book.* "Just a guide i bring around." *She sat down on the bed and leaned back, opening it up and reading it. Ildi could spot that the book title was a guide to knotts.* "Just making sure I remember how to make a quick ladder."
Shannon
Ildi walked around and peered over Sivne's shoulder curiously. "That's neat. Is everything in this about just knotts? You'll need some rope, though I assume you already have some or plan to get some."
Michael
"I'll just pick up some rope at the market. Might not need it anyway, we'll see how things go." *She found the correct knott and put the book to the side, keeping the page held open.* "Mmh.. If we were going to spend our money on some property, where would we buy in?"
Shannon
"Mmm, I'm not sure. Maybe southern Silnaria again? You said rural, but do you know what region in particular? It's not hard to be outside of the cities."
Michael
"Buying something around here makes the most sense. We might be able to get a good deal through the mayor."
Shannon
"I suppose that's true. Say, maybe we could hire some maids, even. Or I'll do that work for a price, also." Ildi grinned, liking the idea of having an entourage of maids and butlers.
Michael
*She blinked.* "*Maids?* We'd want farmhands, not cleaners." *She grumbled and shook her head.*
Shannon
"Ah, well... You're right. Pity, though. What else would be good, though? I don't think the rest of you have horses, do you?"
Michael
"There's no horse big enough that I can ride." *She sounds like she's definately tried before.* "We can talk with the other two about it anyway." *She leaned back and let out a huff.*
Shannon
"Mhm, that's true. Well, I won't be able to teach you that, then. Is there any sort of skill you'd like to pick up?"
Michael
"Doubt it." *She said as she went to stand up.* "I'm heading out to the markets. I'll catch you later, mmh?"
Shannon
"Mhm. Enjoy your shopping." Ildi stood up to leave, giving Sivne a short wave. "Hope you finish that wood at some point."
Michael
"Didn't plan on." *She said as she headed out. By this point it was more just a thin strip of wood. She left the inn and headed for the markets!*