Betty
*Sivne would be sat inside her room at the inn, currently doing a bit of maintainance on her sword, cleaning it with a bit of oil amd a rag. She was out of armour and was frowning as always, focused on her work.*
Velda
*Sonja headed back to the inn after some hunting. Having noticed that Sivne was in her room, the Ursinoid Beastkin thought to pay them a brief visit. She gave their a jar door a knock to signal her presences, before peeking her head inside. Cue fluffy bear ears idly twitching.*

"...Need any help?" *She offered cautiously.*
Betty
*She glanced up from her sword to Sonja, her expression didn't change much as usual, usually only changing when she's all fired up.* "No, I was just finishing. Come in though, sit, i'm bored." *She said as she gave one last wipe of her sword before shoving it back into its scabbard, tossing the rag aside and leaning back against the wall, still sitting on her bed. She had a few books next to her.*
Velda
*Sonja paused a moment, then silently nodded, wearing a stoic expression herself as she stepped further inside the room. There wasn't any harm in some conversation with her teammates, she supposed.* 

"...Books?" *Sonja commented, having noticed the small collection.*
Betty
"I read." *She said, glancing to her collection.* "Clan mother taught me how to read, said if I wanted to be a good mercenary I had to read and write. I can't let those humans scam me with a bad contract." *She said as she stacked her books up in a pile.* "I don't read anything special."
Velda
"Wise advice." *Sonja nodded slowly in agreement. She didn't usually read for fun, but was not illiterate.* "...Is there a particular type of book you enjoy?" *Most of the books Sonja had gotten her hands on were for record keeping, historical documentation, or education. Why anyone would read stuff like that as a pastime was beyond her.*
Betty
*She itched the base of her right horn and reached over for one of the books, reaching over to hand it to her.* "Poetry." *She admitted. It seemed incharictaristic of her. She usually presented and acted like a bit of an ill-tempered blockheaded mercenary with no morals, but apparently one who liked poetry. The book was a small collection of poems written by a former slave living in the federation, mostly poems about brayer tribes and clans.*
Velda
"...Poetry?" *Sonja repeated cautiously, raising an inquisitive eyebrow. It certainly wasn't what she had expected. Training manuals would have been her guess, but she was dead wrong. Now Sonja couldn't help but want to learn more.* "Not read anything of that sort before... What's it like?" *She tilted her head to the side slightly, eyeing the books curiously.*
Betty
"Reminds me of home." *She admitted on a more solemn tone. She's homesick, and doesn't seem too prideful to admit it.* "I like to sit alone and read, I can send my mind away to wherever i'm reading about. Usually back home."
Velda
"Sounds relaxing." *Sonja commented with an idle nod, her gaze slowly shifting back towards Sivne. She had longed for her home many times before. It seemed Sivne was much the same.* "...Ever plan on heading back there?"
Betty
"Not for a long time. I can't go back there, not now. I'm still wanted for murder, going back would just drag the whole tribe into a problem." *She let out a soft sigh.* "Mmh. For now i'm content to stay out here with you three. Working together is making us rich."
Velda
"...I see." *Sonja nodded slowly. She'd have probably reasoned similarly under such circumstances. Much to her regret, though, she didn't have a tribe to worry about anymore.* "Yes... We make a good team." *Sonja concluded with a soft chuckle. They had certainly become a lot richer within recent weeks.*
Betty
*She nodded, falling quiet for a moment, seemingly in thought before she spoke.* "You never told me your story. We don't know much about each other beyond what's obvious."
Velda
"...Some things are better left in the past." *Sonja replied after a long moment. But now that she thought about it, the Ursinoid supposed that Livio, the ex-Upper Mentian soldier, probably knew more about her past than her mercenary companions. Painfully ironic.* "My tribe is gone now. I'm doing this to get by." *But there was more to it than that, wasn't there?*
Betty
*She gave a slight nod.* "I won't try to pry then." *She took a bottle out of her backpack and took a swig.* "I've always lived this life, I just now happen to be walking roads far from home."*She said, letting out a quiet grunt as she thought about it.* "I suppose I was born for it."
Velda
*The Ursinoid nodded slowly, idly watching as Sivne took a swig of their drink.* "...You're a fairly experienced mercenary, then?" *Sonja conjectured. This was certainly the impression Sivne's confidence exuded.*
Betty
"It's all I know. My father was our chief's bodyguard, my mother was just as big as he was. I'm taller though. Used to join in the border raids, skirmishes, all that stuff." *She paused to itch the side of her head.* "When I came of age I went to Mipmi for merc work with a few others from my warband. Mostly did caravan raids, border incursions into Kadrush, north mentian raids. Then a friend of mine stuck himself where he shouldn't have and got killed for it. I get revenge and here I am now, exiled for it."
Velda
*Sonja nodded slowly, absorbing the tale that Sivne had shared.* "We're lucky to have someone so experienced working with us." *The Ursinoid commented with a solemn nod.* "I was a warrior for my tribe. I am an avid hunter and know how to fight, but mercenary work... The idea of someone paying you to do their dirty work... *That* Is a whole new world to me." *The Beastkin revealed with a soft chuckle.* "...More lucrative than I had anticipated, too."
Betty
"You seem like you're used to it now. You're pretty good in a scrap." *She gave an approving nod, sitting upright and stretching.* "Carlyn'll get over killing that guy, hopefully she'll stop moralising."
Velda
"Thanks. We all seem to get getting stronger. Lots of silver for fancy equipment certainly helps." *At the comment about Carlyn, Sonja chuckled softly.* "...It's a good thing she wasn't around to ambush that caravan. I doubt she'd have approved of that."
Betty
"She'll learn, hopefully." *She went quiet and rubbed her hands together before asking her next line of questions.* "Help me understand something. You look like a macen but you don't act like one. How'd that happen?"
Velda
"...Apparently, it's something that happens when a Beastkin lives among and interacts with Macens for long enough." *Sonja just sorta shrugged. She wasn't an expert on the science behind it.* "...There's probably a book about it somewhere." *This explanation left a gap of time between when Sonja was with her tribe and when she become a mercenary, which by her own testament, was quite recent.*
Betty
"You can fight the change. I heard it only happens if you let it. It's a state of mind thing, a willpower thing. So what happened? You don't exactly live around humans much." *She leaned forward a bit.*
Velda
"..." *There was a long pause as Sonja studied Sivne, frowning slightly. The Ursinoid didn't quite like the implication that she 'didn't fight hard enough.' Sonja sighed.* "...Before I came here, I was in Upper Mentia for a time. Lots of Macens there." *She shrugged and glanced towards the window. That almost made it all sound rather voluntary.*
Betty
"You and me don't exactly blend into a crowd. Mmh. And you're not the type to just mingle with every local you see. We've probably been on the road for the same amount of time and been around macens just as much, but you're macenized. I'm trying to understand why." *She let out a quiet grunt, not buying that story.*
Velda
"...I wasn't there because I wanted to be." *Sonja grimly remarked as she glanced back to Sivne, her eyes narrowing.* "They destroyed my tribe because they wanted our land. Those unfortunate enough to not escape or die were enslaved." *She had hoped to avoid this, knowing it would raise more questions then answers. But Sonja didn't want Sivne to believe she was being untruthful.*
Betty
*She fell quiet as Sonja told her story, giving a single nod, her judgemental gaze softening.* "I understand." *She rubbed her hands together, seemingly in thought.* "People can de-macenize. Do you.. Mmh. Like your new appearance?"
Velda
"Well, I don't dislike it..." *The Ursinoid paused a moment, then rubbed her chin.* "...Macens are as simple as any other people. They tend to sympathize more with those who look more similar to them. Without this appearence, I'm not sure my escape would have been possible. It continues to be convenient when dealing with Macens."

"Though..." *She chuckled softly.* "I suppose it's less warm. Camping requires a bit more preparation."
Betty
"Mmh.. I don't know. I like how I look. It's me, who I am. It helps that I scare the locals, don't think I would without this face." *She said with a smirk.*
Velda
"You're 7 feet tall, you'll scare people either way, I'm sure." *Sonja remarked with a soft chuckle and shake of her head.* "That fact we can change so drastically is unique to us Beastkin. And since we can go in either direction, I prefer to think of it like having two potential appearences in our wardrobe, rather than one."
Betty
"Eight." *She corrected her with smirk.* "I don't know. I don't think I could ever see myself looking like a big human. I like the fear. Besides, mmh, not like I could ever get a husband if I look like one."
Velda
*Sonja paused then nodded with a small grin.* "Case in point." *The Ursinoid listened intently as Sivne relayed some of her concerns.* "Depends on what sort of husband you're looking for, I suppose. Everyone has tastes." *She rubbed her chin thoughtfully.* "Worst case scenario, you could always switch back. It isn't a permanent change. Your old face will never be 'gone,' so to speak." *Sonja paused again.* "I think if I was to go live in the wilderness again, find a tribe, or start my own, I would also prefer my old form."
Betty
*She shrugged.* "I just don't like many macens. I think i'd scare them all away. Besides, I couldn't even have kids with them." *She itched the base of her horns.* "I wonder how I'd look though. I'm not the prettiest. Ugly human faces look especially ugly."
Velda
"I'm sure there are plenty of handsome Beastkin men that have taken to their macenized form." *Sonja chuckled softly.* "I suspect you'd look fine with a human face too. There's beauty in both strength and courage. Being bold enough to explore your other appearance would certainly exemplify the latter." *The Ursinoid rubbed her chin.*
Betty
*She let out a little grunt, thinking. She was stubborn, but Sonja was being quite persuasive.* "...I don't know. I'll think about it." *She said as she itched her horns again, something about them seemed to be constantly causing her to itch it.*
Velda
*Sonja nodded slowly.* "Of course. I wouldn't expect such a matter to be taken lightly." *She couldn't help but notice that Sivne was scratching at her horns rather frequently.* "...Are your horns feeling alright?"
Betty
"Growing pains they say. I've never had big horns but they've never stopped growing. My mother said they might keep growing until i'm fourty." *She grumbled.* "Some kind of weird thing, I don't know." *She shrugged.*
Velda
"I see... Perhaps Ildi knows some magic that could help with something like that. I'm not much of a healer myself." *Sonja chuckled softly at a thought she soon shared.* "Who knows, maybe they'll grow to full size if you macenize?"
Betty
"Doubt it. I bet they'd shrink. Mmh. Or maybe stop growing.." *She mused, she'd definately prefer them not to itch.* "Anyway.. Mmh. What's your thoughts on Mentia? We've both been stuck here for a while."
Velda
*Sonja nodded. That sounded better than growth pains.* "Mentia... Where we are now has been alright, more or less. Never seen cities so big before. Their politics are a bit too convoluted for my liking. As long as Upper Mentia doesn't end up on top, I don't much care what goes on with that. You have any thoughts on it?"
Betty
"I hate the locals, most of them anyway. Dumb peasants and knights. Still, mmh. The wilds here are acceptable. It's a shame we didn't conquer this place for ourselves, plenty of land to graze and farm. What's so bad about upper mentia?"
Velda
*Sonja shrugged noncommittally. She hadn't really interacted with any Middle Mentians on a meaningful level. Though, even so, she wasn't fond of urban cities in general.* "...The hypocritical Upper Mentian aristocracy gleefully enslaves our kind for their own gain. Yet, they claim to have some sort of moral high-ground for opposing the slavery of other macenlike races." *She grimaced.*

"...They are still of the opinion that I am their property. I bear the mark to prove it. Should they win the power struggle, it would be inconvenient. If they loose, I might yet have the chance to return to my homeland in this lifetime." *Sonja decided to avoid mentioning her rather bloody quest for revenge.*
Betty
"We enslave them too. I've been on plenty of raids in that direction." *She reached into her bag and pulled out a biscuit, snacking on it as they spoke.* "We'll be fighting against them soon enough, probably. If these people actually send us north we'll give them a goos kicking."
Velda
"My tribe had no part in that. We lived peacefully until they arrived." *Sonja frowned and crossed her arms.* "It does seem that way. When the opportunity presents itself, I certainly hope to do so..."
Betty
*She gave a little nod, letting out a hum.* "When the war's finished around here, assuming we're all staying together, got to think about where we go next."
Velda
"It would be nice to settle somewhere... But depending on which faction prevails, it may not be safe for me in Mentia." *Sonja reiterated with a small shrug.* "I'm hesitant to settle on anything permanent. But I suppose there is no harm in discussing ideas."
Betty
"I've been thinking about buying a house, property or something. Mmh. We could talk to the government here, buy a nice big plot of land and a manor house."
Velda
*Sonja rubbed her chin thoughtfully.* "That does sound nice... Do you want flat grassland? Mountains? Forest? Maybe a river? I suppose if they reconquer all of Mentia's old lands, they might end up with coastline..." *The Ursinoid conjectured. Whenever land was involved, terrain would certainly be something to take into account.*
Betty
"Somewhere grassy, some woods nearby, good land to graze livestock on." *She gave a nod.* "Mmh.. I think i'd like that. Somewhere remote."
Velda
*The Ursinoid nodded slowly in approval at this idea.* "That would be pleasant, I suppose... Did you want to have a farm there too?" *She wondered aloud. Sivne had mentioned livestock, but hadn't mentioned a farm.*
Betty
"We'd have to get some farm hands if we did. I know goats, horses, cattle, but not wheat and rye." *She shrugged.* "I spoke to Ildi about it, she liked the idea."
Velda
"I see... That might be nice." *Sonja shrugged. She wasn't planning to settle down anywhere just quite yet. But when she did, something like that could certainly fit the bill.* "Didn't think Ildi would be one for warm work, but I suppose everyone has hidden sides to them."
Betty
"Mmmhm.. Everyone does, i suppose." *She reached over for her drink and took a swig.* "What're your goals anyway? Beyond making money with us lot."
Velda
"At some point, I'd like to return to where my tribe used to reside. And..." *Sonja let out a dry chuckle.* "...I need to rescue some of my old friends along the way." *And of course, a little bit of revenge would be nice. But the Ursinoid didn't feel the need to let on how truly bloodthirsty she was after all that had transpired.*
Betty
"Should've said you had some people to go liberate. Say no more, I'm in." *She gave a nod.* "Upper Mentia, right? We can go there the moment our contract here expires."
Velda
"I... Don't know where they are. Or if they're even still alive..." *Sonja reluctantly admitted with a soft sigh.* "It's possible they've been traded away to other lands. There might be some slave records in the capital... But as you said, we don't exactly go unnoticed. And they'll probably still be looking for me."
Betty
"Only way to find out is to go looking, mmh? Come on, you, me, the other two, we could cut through anyone we come across and go find your friends." *She seemed quite serious about her offer to go hunting for her friends.*
Velda
"I'm not sure it would be that simple... But I suppose we could scout out, figure out what we're up against." *Sonja conceded with a small nod. She wanted to rescue her friends, but knew it would be tough.*
Betty
"Talk to the others about it. I'll join you regardless of if they will or not. Once this contract us up we can get moving on that." *She let out a quiet grunt, stretching her arms behind her back.* "Just tell me when you need to get some killing done."
Velda
*Sonja nodded slowly.* "Given the... Opportunistic nature of this power struggle... We might yet be able to convince some nobles to back our foray. Freeing slaves in their enemy's territory could be a way to destabilize their regime and sow panic. We might get extra supplies, fake uniforms, coordinated skirmishes, things of that nature..." *She rubbed her chin thoughtfully.* "Who knows, if we help them enough, maybe we could get some free land out of it too." *Of course, the main goal was just to free her friends. But if they had powerful backers, that would increase their chance of success, right? So the Ursinoid reasoned.*
Betty
"I wouldn't trust them, or anything they could actually give us. We'd be better off approaching some of our own kind for help." *She went to stand up and nod.* "I'll get a map of the area, see what I can find out."
Velda
"Not saying I trust them, but free stuff is free stuff..." *She shrugged, not particularly confident that the loose collection of squabbling Beastkin warlords from her homeland were any more reliable than the greedy Mentian nobles.* "Alright, maps sound like a good place to start."
Betty
"Sounds good. Mmh. Alright, i'll get the map, you talk to the others." *She gave a nod and picked up her bag.* "I'll see you later then?"
Velda
"Alright. Till later." *The Ursinoid nodded, turned towards the door, and headed off to her own quarters.*