Valerie
The food was cold, but then again so was everything in this kingdom. From the first day of the year to the very last, the icy winds of Gantrick howled against the closed shutters of every home, and this tavern that Ehkan sat in was no different. He stared at his plate with a bit of dismay, the lack of business was probably the reason for the subpar steak, but that did not bring him any more joy. He had been sulking since the Guild told him to take the mission, the masters had known he was not particularly fond of a place where his piss gets frozen mid-leak, but they played to his better nature, they told him of how the people of the town are suffering the attacks, of how the streets that were full of children are now littered with abandoned toys, and how taverns like this one are now scraping by and serving shitty steaks... But at least there was ale. It felt like he was in Khisfire if Khisfire had somehow pissed off Freldar and he made sure it was miserable all year round. He emptied his mug with a long swig, then gestured for the barkeep to fill it again by placing a coin on the table, and he placed another one in case his companion wished for a drink. 

 Ehkan looked back at everyone else in the tavern. The hearth was on its last breath, puffing flames to keep the people here warm, but failing so, which was why they, Ehkan included, were dressed in furs and tough leather, they had stared at him when he entered earlier, and after he stared back with fangs and sword slightly bared they went back to chewing. Although there was trouble the people here were in they seemed wary of travelers, they probably didn't get that many this far north.

For good reason he supposed, not very smart to be traveling in unfamiliar territory, one of them might think you're worth a few coins and slap a collar on your next. Too bad for them though, he wasn't shy of letting his spear LongSong sing.

 "Marroweaters," He muttered as he recalled the details of the job. He'd seen one, once in Khisfire, forcible shipped by a foolish thief boss that believed he could, in his own words, make it obey, too bad the beast decided he was a good breakfast before it ate his family for dessert. Now there was a pack of them coming out of the forest and picking off civilians, rather than get the royal army they called on the likes of him to deal with them. He was not at all eager, hard to fight something that can pop out of the shadows, but the job paid well, maybe enough for him to finally buy a griffin and visit Kara-Tur, get off work for a month. "A pack of them means they have a den nearby, somewhere to store their food, and sleep. But that forest is not exactly my terrain. Damn it all."
Lola
To a lesser degree, the frigid and unhospitable weather of ice and snow didn't affect Sarissa. She was by no means immune to the harrowing chill that settled in one's bones, or very soul. It was more the fact that for many of her years, she lived and thrived in the deep places of the sea. To be sure, there were vents of heated air and water across the oceans floor, but barring that... It was a biting chill. It wasn't the absolute tundra of her current surroundings that had the shiver threatening to claw up her spine. It was the sheer quiet and fear that radiated from behind closed shutters, the specks of blood that clung to the wood of nearby building's pillars or steps. *Lives stolen,* Sarissa thought to herself with a scrunched brow. 

She had been none too gently directed northward by the Guild. *"Go offer your aid. Let's see how ya fare in the cold."* She would fare well enough, thank you very much. Sarissa knew it was a jab at her own icy exterior; the thought made her eyes roll in their sockets with a tired derision. She felt eyes upon her as she trekked over the snow, up through the main thoroughfare, and her head turned slowly to the side to meet the gazes. Unsurprisingly, the unwary sensation came from behind slits or quickly closing doors. On Sarissa's few visits to Erbaron, mostly to buy furs, her presence had been met with the same mistrust or whispers behind palms. It was something she was used to - the siren was an outsider wherever she went, and Gantrick was no different as a whole.

The door to the tavern opened with a tug of one hand, her eyes quickly adjusting to the lower light within, vision surveying the scattered 'mass'. The creatures were truly doing a number on the residents. A softer look passed over the siren's features. No one deserved to die in such an acidic maw as Marroweaters. Sarissa headed toward the bar, poised to ask some questions, when she heard a man mumbling to himself just to her left. *"—means they have a den nearby"—* Which caught her attention. With a slightly lifted brow, and without an ounce of timidity, Sarissa took a seat beside Ehkan with a gentle nod of her head in greeting. "This place is no one's terrain. Yet, here we are. And there they are," Her chin jutted toward the Erbaron barkeep and those that were left in the wake of their loved ones slaughter, or neighbors. Sarissa let a sigh slip free before her eyes settled on Ehkan in earnest, features seemingly placid.
Joshua
The pair navigating the snow dusted paths of Erbaron earned the same looks as those who ventured before them. They met every scowl with a look as cold as the town itself. After their arduous journey they maintained little patience, but still a hint of impishness it seemed. Rivet trailed behind her sister, greeting a man trudging in the opposite direction with a flash of gold capped canines and a teasing growl. Domiel spoke her twin's name as a warning, her voice low and laced with vexation. 

At last the tavern welcomed them, the run down establishment was not burdened with the prejudice of its builders. It provided a roof for any weary traveler, even the elven women presently passing the threshold. The door creaked on its worn hinges as they stepped inside, stamping the snow from their boots. Their matching gazes roved around the room, piecing together their initial impression which was... Dismal. 

They began to close the distance between themselves and the bar, peeling off layers as they went. Hair shades of vibrant blue spilled forth as they tugged their hats free, skin made gold by the warm rays of sun they were accustomed to was revealed. Tattoos adorned them both, peeking from beneath fabric of muted colors. Rivet spared a moment to pout, as she had been stripped of her usual flashy attire and given clothes more appropriate for their destination. 
_ _

Passing the sputtering fire Domiel fed it another log, waving her hand over the wisps of struggling flames. The fire leapt forth, licking at her chilled fingers as heat spread over the room. Rivet slumped into a rickety chair, setting her feet atop its neighbor as a sigh of content parted her lips. Her sister joined her, raking her fingers along her scalp and through tangled tresses. Gathering waves of azure hair she wove them into a tight braid, while her twin's teal mane was left wild. Coins were tossed onto the smooth surface of the table as the two fell into conversation, eagerly awaiting food and drink. 

"Marroweaters are mean beasts, Riv, remember what I told you once we're out there." Domiel always seemed to speak to her sister in warnings.

"Ah we've faced worse," Rivet argued, only half paying attention as she winked at someone watching them. Her sister didn't bother chiding her, but instead lifted the newly arrived and much needed mug of ale to her lips.
Valerie
"Yes," Ehkan grumbled at the end of the lady's sentence. "Here we all are. Cold." He sighed and turned to her taking in her features as well, she seemed more alive than the set of moping and grovelling people in the bar so he figured she was from out of town, he also figured from the weapons she brandished and her well sown armour that she must be the other Journeyman that the guild said would be accompanying him for this hunt, he had hoped a third or fourth would join, but not many were eager to be up here, it wasn't exactly a welcoming place. She seemed more comfortable than he was in this weather, and he was slightly jealous of that, but he was also happy he had company, everyone else had just stared, and even the ladies had bristled whenever he put on a little grin, which wasn't a first for him, but it still hurt all the same.

 "I am Ehkan Noran Kippat," He told her with a slight raise of his mug as a form of salutation. "Son of the Sun, even though it seems foolish to boast of given our current dilemma. I am the other unfortunate soul the Guild made come here for this job. I am unsure how we are to do this, but if the gods be merciful we'll both walk out of this rich and-"

Ehkan stopped talking as his ears picked up the sound of the door's creaking hinges as it opened up. The tavern had not had that many walk into it in the past two days he had been staying here. He watched the two elven women as they walked to the bar, there was a similarity to their features so he guessed they were related, but they also seemed vastly different as well. They did not seem to be of his Guild, not that the Guild had a particular standard to who they allowed into the ranks, but he had been told there would only be one other person following him on this hunt, these two seemed able in a fight. Slavers? No, they didn't seem the type, the ones he saw on his way were gluttonous-looking wretches. If they were not that then who?

 Once he heard the lady with hair the same shade as the ocean mention the Marroweaters he realized that they were here for the same business he and his fellow Journeyman was, which was a surprise to him because he did not think that there was anyone else crazy enough to follow up on such a bounty. He winced when the lady with green wild hair winked at him, he had been staring too long and ended up being noticed, but he gained his composure and quickly grinned back at her. "Have you now? Marroweaters are harsh creatures, I'm curious as to what else could be worse than them?" He knew of course that the world spat out monsters far more wicked than Marroweaters, but he needed to strike conversation now that he had been caught.
Lola
"You may call me Sarissa," She responded in kind, her voice quiet in its timber but a certain lulling to it as well. Pale blue eyes, a slate colored sky, watched him idly as Ehkan spoke. *Talkative elf,* She thought with a little derision. Sarissa was already weary of elves as it was. Something about their grandiose behavior. Did the siren have room to talk? No. That did nothing to change the fact of the matter however. Quickly, nearly ethereal features dropped from a polite placid, to that of bored. "Yes, that is the goal, Kippat." A dryness had certainly entered her speech, the desire to roll her eyes barely fought off. The none too quiet arrival of a set of teal-haired twins would also nab Sarissa's rapt attention.

She wouldn't recognize the pair off hand either, but their manner certainly gave them away as foreigners of the land, not just in race. A bluish tinged hand raised to brush a palm along the line of her curved jaw, watching the pair without the shame her companion would have. The siren gave a sort of snort at what Ehkan had to say, but he was right. What sort of worse creature did these two fight off? "These beasts can meld into the shadows. Does the saliva not speak for itself?" A brow lifted, scrutinizing gaze set forth on first Domiel, then Rivet. *Definitely related. The hair alone.* One far more wild, yes, but she guessed both women were the farthest from **Tame** One could get. Sarissa could respect that, even if the mannerisms greatly annoyed her. A furtive glance was directed to her Guild companion, both brows then bouncing up in a questioning arc. If he had any common or people sense at all, the look would surely read something close to **Should we pair up with them?**

In general, Sarissa wasn't a people person herself, but this job, and its bounty, would be a hearty one. The more the... Not merrier perhaps, but certainly easier. And much like Ehkan had thought of her, the siren guessed that the women nearby could hold their own. The only thing that would worry her, was at the end of the day, would they each have eachother's backs? And not just their own?