Anna
Abstral watched as Ochre's, or what he assumed to be Ochre, demeanor quickly changed.

The man kept a distance from him still, and introduced himself properly, being, as a matter of fact, who Abstral assumed him to be.

Abstral nodded after the man introduced himself proper.

....And sharply turned around as he heard the door behind them creak. 

It was yet another one of the so called "Mercenaries" He was being grouped in with and a Monster at that. Since coming to this timeline he hadn't seen many of the race, and had not visited this world's Underground yet. Abstral listened in to the goat's words, he spoke very curtly, Abstral noted. Hopefully his bluntness wouldn't get the both of them killed.

But ah, they were on the same side, well, "Side".

Abstral shifted his attention to Ochre and his reaction to the newcomer, Kuouo, and listened as the man spoke once more, Ochre's demeanor definitely shifted in a less... Friendly way, after Kuouo's intrusion.

He listened as Ochre spoke sharply to Kuouo, particularly to what he was saying, not only reprimanding the bandit for his way of speech but also name dropping the name of the Knight he met earlier, Taash, and the elaboration on this "Tvoktei" Fellow. 



Abstral was about to speak again, to clarify that he was not, as Kuouo made it seem to incriminate them both, here for power or wealth, when Ochre got straight to the point, looking directly at both of them, him last, asking the only question that he supposed, really mattered.

Abstral thought to break the tension before the bandit got them killed.

```"For me, it is as I said, I am only passing through. Though if further elaboration is what you require, I am also curious of this place, and I mean more than just where you, the goat, and I stand. Strange anomalous places such as this fascinate me, but I assure you, I am no conqueror, I have not come here to obtain me

Ans of wealth or power or to take this or any other place from its rightful owners. You are very wise to be suspicious of us outsiders, however I assure you, I have come meaning no harm."```

 Abstral said all of this with as much conviction as he could muster, as it was all true and he had no reason to lie. 

It wouldn't be prudent to the current situation.
Kathryn
Kuouo blinked a couple of times, back slumped as he scratched his horn amidst being lightly scolded by Ochre. *``'Well it ain't my damn fault it started rainin' arrows from the sky. Otherwise I wouldn't have fuckin' came 'ere, 'specially t' get nagged at.'``* He responded — Silently within his mind of course. Nevertheless, he straightened his posture and cleared his throat, acting upon Ochre's second chance to correct his actions whilst Abstral cleaned his own slate from the bandit's words of association.

```fix
"Sorry 'bout that, just assumed you were her boss izall. The name's Kuouo Aiche Dee. Didn't mean t' intrude on yer tower here. Only reason I didn't go fer whatever's behind that giant wall instead is because 'f someone rainin' down giant arrows from up there. What with the blizzard and all, we jus' kinda got scattered."```

Kuouo rolled his digits lightly across the side of his lap, staring downwards for a moment as if he were trying to choose his next words carefully as well as further process Ochre's explanation. Obviously, he *Was* There for wealth... But what with he's been explained to by Vaazva and mentioned to in passing by Aazkue, Ochre furthered the picture of the tyrant Tvotkei, confirming the words said by those before him. Kuouo tilted his head back up, taking a deep breath before looking back at the respite's owner.

```fix
"Look, I ain't gonna lie t' ya because I already spilled my guts t' ya ninety seconds ago. I initially came t' the second floor on words that Tvotkei does have this astoundin' amounts of wealth, as well as bits and pieces of his cowardice and what not. Y'say he's a warlord and tyrant right? Doesn't care fer anybody below him? Safe t' say, I don't respect anybody like that - as anyone should - and I'm sure that it affects the people of the second floor. I'm willin' t' hear out whatever yer interested in if it means puttin' some kinda fascist like that outta power. Otherwise, if yer not happy with that, I'll be outta yer hair for good. Sound like a deal?"```
Janie
```cpp
"𝙰𝚕𝚕 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚜𝚎𝚎𝚔 𝚒𝚜 𝚝𝚘 𝚖𝚘𝚟𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚛𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑... 𝚆𝚎𝚕𝚕. 𝙸 𝚜𝚞𝚙𝚙𝚘𝚜𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚒𝚜 𝚊 𝚟𝚊𝚕𝚒𝚍 𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚜𝚘𝚗 𝚊𝚜 𝚊𝚗𝚢. 𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝚙𝚞𝚛𝚜𝚞𝚒𝚝 𝚘𝚏 𝚔𝚗𝚘𝚠𝚕𝚎𝚍𝚐𝚎 𝚒𝚜 𝚗𝚘𝚋𝚕𝚎, 𝚒𝚏 𝚒𝚝 𝚒𝚜 𝚊𝚕𝚕 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚕𝚕𝚢 𝚕𝚘𝚘𝚔𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚏𝚘𝚛."```

Ochre seemed to initially find a slight displeasure within Abstral's statement for his presence on the Second Floor, yet swiftly dashed away such displeasure with rationality. As Abstral had described, he, while he did not possess any extravagant goals — or goals that would directly align themselves with Ochre's own — he was honest to himself, and he, too, was one who pursued the fulfillment of one's desire for knowledge. To explore and unravel the secrets of somesuch a location as this without seeking material good for oneself was, indeed, noble in a way. And Ochre could not allow himself to be so self-centered as to expect others to unanimously wish for the same future as he; such ideologies were contradictory, going against the goal which he sought one-in-the-same as Tvoktei's tyranny.

He could respect Abstral's desires, and for this conclusion he had reached, would not be opposed to assisting him. Ochre nodded quietly, and while not allowing his expression to obviously shift, seemed satisfied with the response.

Kuouo's response followed shortly after, and Ochre would hold a careful ear to the words that followed. Indeed, Ochre expected him to rapidly shift his tone and stance after he suggested that they `"Start from the top"`. Yet, Kuouo would do no such thing as contradicting his former statements — instead, he only clarified his points, and continued to stand firm with the declaration he had initially made. Ochre raised a brow, shocked at his confidence, yet also thoroughly impressed with his honesty and his lack of a conniving tongue. 
_ _

```cpp
"𝙸 𝚜𝚎𝚎..."```

There was almost a subtle sense of astonishment in his tone of voice. Ochre, despite the shades of condescending in the way he spoke to others, was respectful toward those who asserted themselves. Kuouo's lack of a desire to suck up to someone whose good side might provide significant advantages was an attractive trait to Ochre, who thoroughly believed in the idea of proud, independent thought. He gave a subtle nod, deliberating his next sentence, and there could almost be seen a smile expressed on his stoic visage.
_ _

```cpp
"𝚈𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚊𝚙𝚘𝚕𝚘𝚐𝚢 𝚒𝚜 𝚊𝚌𝚌𝚎𝚙𝚝𝚎𝚍 — 𝚒𝚝'𝚜 𝚗𝚘𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚌𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚍 𝚊𝚌𝚌𝚘𝚞𝚗𝚝 𝚏𝚘𝚛, 𝚒𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚏𝚒𝚛𝚜𝚝 𝚙𝚕𝚊𝚌𝚎. 𝙸𝚝 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚊 𝚛𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗𝚊𝚕 𝚊𝚜𝚜𝚞𝚖𝚙𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗," He spoke, pushing aside the lessers of the acknowledged statements that had been replied to. It was no matter that should be hung on, and was greatly overshadowed by his judgment on the ultimate topic at hand: their reason for being here.

"𝚂𝚒𝚗𝚌𝚎 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚜𝚎𝚎𝚔 𝚜𝚑𝚎𝚕𝚝𝚎𝚛, 𝙸 𝚠𝚒𝚕𝚕 𝚗𝚘𝚝 𝚍𝚎𝚗𝚢 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚒𝚝, 𝚠𝚑𝚎𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚍𝚛𝚒𝚟𝚎𝚗 𝚋𝚢 𝚐𝚛𝚎𝚎𝚍 𝚘𝚛 𝚗𝚘𝚝. 𝚃𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚙𝚕𝚊𝚌𝚎 𝚒𝚜 𝚊 𝚛𝚎𝚜𝚙𝚒𝚝𝚎. 𝙸𝚝 𝚜𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚍 𝚋𝚎 𝚝𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚝𝚎𝚍 𝚊𝚜 𝚊 𝚙𝚕𝚊𝚌𝚎 𝚠𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚘𝚗𝚎 𝚌𝚊𝚗 𝚛𝚎𝚜𝚝 𝚜𝚊𝚏𝚎𝚕𝚢."

"𝙴𝚒𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛 𝚠𝚊𝚢..."
"𝚈𝚘𝚞 𝚑𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚎𝚊𝚜𝚎𝚍 𝚖𝚢 𝚖𝚒𝚗𝚍 𝚋𝚢 𝚙𝚞𝚝𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚜𝚘𝚖𝚎 𝚘𝚏 𝚖𝚢 𝚍𝚘𝚞𝚋𝚝𝚜 𝚝𝚘 𝚛𝚎𝚜𝚝."

"𝚃𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚒𝚜 𝚜𝚘𝚖𝚎 𝚊𝚖𝚋𝚒𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗 𝚒𝚗 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚜𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚜, 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝙸 𝚌𝚊𝚗 𝚜𝚎𝚗𝚜𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚗𝚘𝚝 𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚒𝚌𝚎𝚍 𝚝𝚘 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚕𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚜𝚘𝚕𝚎𝚕𝚢 𝚋𝚢 𝚎𝚒𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛 𝚙𝚘𝚠𝚎𝚛 𝚘𝚛 𝚠𝚎𝚊𝚕𝚝𝚑. 𝙵𝚘𝚛 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝, 𝙸 𝚌𝚊𝚗 𝚛𝚎𝚜𝚙𝚎𝚌𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚋𝚘𝚝𝚑."

"𝙽𝚘𝚠."
"𝚂𝚒𝚗𝚌𝚎 𝚒𝚝 𝚑𝚊𝚜 𝚋𝚎𝚎𝚗 𝚖𝚊𝚍𝚎 𝚌𝚕𝚎𝚊𝚛 𝚝𝚘 𝚖𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚗𝚘𝚝 𝚓𝚞𝚜𝚝 𝚜𝚘𝚖𝚎 𝚋𝚊𝚜𝚎 𝚠𝚊𝚗𝚍𝚎𝚛𝚎𝚛𝚜, 𝚜𝚎𝚎𝚔𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚘𝚞𝚝 𝚏𝚘𝚛𝚝𝚞𝚗𝚎 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚐𝚕𝚘𝚛𝚢, 𝙸 𝚜𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚍 𝚖𝚊𝚔𝚎 𝚘𝚗𝚎 𝚏𝚒𝚗𝚊𝚕 𝚌𝚕𝚊𝚛𝚒𝚏𝚒𝚌𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗."```

_ _
Ochre took a deep breath, nearly sighing, a strange sense of guilt flickering in his eyes as he unhesitantly continued with his elaboration. What he was about to say was going to contradict all of what little they knew about him. Yet each statement was entirely, and regretfully, true.
_ _

```cpp
"𝙼𝚢 𝚗𝚊𝚖𝚎 𝚒𝚜 𝙾𝚌𝚑𝚛𝚎. 𝙸 𝚊𝚖 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚆𝚊𝚗𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝙲𝚛𝚎𝚜𝚌𝚎𝚗𝚝 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝙻𝚞𝚗𝚊𝚛 𝙷𝚊𝚛𝚎𝚖, 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚛𝚍 𝚑𝚎𝚒𝚛 𝚝𝚘 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝙼𝚘𝚘𝚗-𝙼𝚘𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛'𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚛𝚘𝚗𝚎, 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚊 𝚍𝚒𝚛𝚎𝚌𝚝 𝚜𝚎𝚛𝚟𝚊𝚗𝚝 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝙲𝚘𝚕𝚘𝚛𝚕𝚎𝚜𝚜 𝚂𝚘𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚎𝚒𝚐𝚗 𝚃𝚟𝚘𝚔𝚝𝚎𝚒. 𝙷𝚎, 𝚋𝚢 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚛𝚒𝚝𝚎𝚜 𝚘𝚏 𝚘𝚊𝚝𝚑, 𝚒𝚜 𝚖𝚢 𝚜𝚙𝚘𝚞𝚜𝚎 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚖𝚊𝚜𝚝𝚎𝚛, 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝙸 𝚠𝚒𝚕𝚕 𝚗𝚘𝚝 𝚐𝚘 𝚊𝚐𝚊𝚒𝚗𝚜𝚝 𝚊 𝚜𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚕𝚎 𝚘𝚗𝚎 𝚘𝚏 𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚍𝚒𝚛𝚎𝚌𝚝 𝚌𝚘𝚖𝚖𝚊𝚗𝚍𝚜."

"𝙸𝚏 𝚑𝚎 𝚌𝚘𝚖𝚖𝚊𝚗𝚍𝚎𝚍 𝚖𝚎 𝚝𝚘 𝚍𝚒𝚎, 𝙸 𝚠𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚍 𝚞𝚗𝚍𝚘𝚞𝚋𝚝𝚎𝚍𝚕𝚢 𝚍𝚘 𝚜𝚘. 𝙸𝚏 𝚑𝚎 𝚌𝚘𝚖𝚖𝚊𝚗𝚍𝚎𝚍 𝚖𝚎 𝚝𝚘 𝚔𝚒𝚕𝚕 𝚢𝚘𝚞, 𝙸 𝚠𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚍, 𝚊𝚕𝚜𝚘, 𝚞𝚗𝚍𝚘𝚞𝚋𝚝𝚎𝚍𝚕𝚢 𝚍𝚘 𝚜𝚘."
"𝙸𝚏 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚊𝚝𝚝𝚎𝚖𝚙𝚝𝚎𝚍 𝚝𝚘 𝚝𝚊𝚔𝚎 𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚕𝚒𝚏𝚎 𝚋𝚎𝚏𝚘𝚛𝚎 𝚖𝚢 𝚎𝚢𝚎𝚜, 𝙸 𝚠𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚍 𝚞𝚗𝚍𝚘𝚞𝚋𝚝𝚎𝚍𝚕𝚢 𝚜𝚝𝚎𝚙 𝚏𝚘𝚛𝚠𝚊𝚛𝚍 𝚝𝚘 𝚜𝚝𝚘𝚙 𝚢𝚘𝚞."```
_ _

*```cpp
"𝚃𝚑𝚒𝚜, 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚜𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚍 𝚑𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚊 𝚛𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝 𝚝𝚘 𝚔𝚗𝚘𝚠."
"𝙱𝚎𝚌𝚊𝚞𝚜𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚒𝚜 𝚗𝚘 𝚠𝚊𝚢 𝚋𝚎𝚢𝚘𝚗𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝙵𝚕𝚘𝚘𝚛 𝚘𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚗 𝚝𝚘 𝚝𝚊𝚔𝚎 𝚃𝚟𝚘𝚔𝚝𝚎𝚒'𝚜 𝚕𝚒𝚏𝚎."```*
_ _

```cpp
"𝚆𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚘𝚞𝚝 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚠𝚊𝚢, 𝙸 𝚑𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚊 𝚏𝚊𝚟𝚘𝚛 𝚝𝚘 𝚊𝚜𝚔 𝚢𝚘𝚞."
"𝙸 𝚠𝚊𝚗𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚝𝚘 𝚘𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚝𝚑𝚛𝚘𝚠 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚝𝚢𝚛𝚊𝚗𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚒𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝙲𝚘𝚕𝚘𝚛𝚕𝚎𝚜𝚜 𝚂𝚘𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚎𝚒𝚐𝚗, 𝚜𝚙𝚊𝚛𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚕𝚒𝚏𝚎."


"𝚈𝚘𝚞 𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚗𝚘𝚝 𝚘𝚋𝚕𝚒𝚐𝚊𝚝𝚎𝚍 𝚝𝚘 𝚊𝚜𝚜𝚒𝚜𝚝 𝚖𝚎. 𝙸𝚏 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚍𝚘 𝚗𝚘𝚝 𝚠𝚊𝚗𝚝 𝚝𝚘 𝚏𝚘𝚕𝚕𝚘𝚠 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚙𝚊𝚝𝚑, 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚖𝚊𝚢 𝚌𝚘𝚗𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚞𝚎 𝚝𝚘 𝚛𝚎𝚜𝚒𝚍𝚎 𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚊𝚜 𝚕𝚘𝚗𝚐 𝚊𝚜 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎. 𝚈𝚘𝚞 𝚖𝚊𝚢 𝚕𝚎𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚊𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚍𝚒𝚜𝚌𝚛𝚎𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗, 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝙸 𝚠𝚒𝚕𝚕 𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚍𝚎𝚛 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚗𝚘 𝚏𝚞𝚛𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛."

"𝙷𝚘𝚠𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛, 𝚒𝚏 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚠𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚝𝚘 𝚍𝚘 𝚜𝚘..."
"𝙸 𝚠𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚍 𝚌𝚎𝚛𝚝𝚊𝚒𝚗𝚕𝚢 𝚊𝚒𝚍 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚒𝚗 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚙𝚛𝚘𝚐𝚛𝚎𝚜𝚜𝚒𝚘𝚗 𝚋𝚎𝚢𝚘𝚗𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚠𝚊𝚕𝚕 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚜𝚙𝚕𝚒𝚝𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚏𝚕𝚘𝚘𝚛 𝚒𝚗 𝚝𝚠𝚘, 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚐𝚊𝚒𝚗 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚛𝚢 𝚝𝚘 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚙𝚎𝚊𝚛𝚕 𝚙𝚊𝚕𝚊𝚌𝚎, 𝚠𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚍𝚎𝚜𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗 𝚕𝚒𝚎𝚜."

"𝚂𝚘. 𝚆𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚠𝚒𝚕𝚕 𝚒𝚝 𝚋𝚎?"```

Ochre concluded. His words seemed to clash in logic and collide in rationality — he had formerly appeared to despise Tvoktei, yet in his present statements, he seemed almost reverential of him. He said that Tvoktei must die for them to continue pushing forward, yet he wished for them to dethrone him, rather than to take his life. Ochre's straightforward nature seemed to haze beyond his typical clearness, and his intents seemed vague. Only once they had given him an answer would things be made absolutely clear, and perhaps that was his intent — to draw conclusion from both of them.