Jerry
*Yumiko jumped in surprise at the arrival of the visitor. A M'lysta, going off the words of her companion. In her stories, they had many names. Merfolk, Sirens, Seamen— it occured to her that she never really discovered the actual name of their race. The presence of the exotic looking fish man had her blushing at his naked top.*

*H-How indecent! Did all that seawater souse their brains and impair their thinking? It was common decency to interact with someone fully dressed. She wouldn't give any excuses, even to a sea-dwelling creature like him.*

*Thankfully, her elven companion took the initiative in starting the conversation. It was strange to see Lilium dealing with this situation so well. Yumiko had figured someone as meek as her would've fainted at such a vulgar display. Perhaps this is the advantage older women had over her? Lilium was likely far more experienced than her in* ***Those*** *Areas...*

*She had underestimated the elven lass' capabilities. Was she dealing with a master here!?*

*Yumiko held two fingers up to her head, giving Lilium a silent salute before turning her attention down to the merfolk.*

"We're heading to a border province, just sixty miles east from where we sailed from." *She responded for her, finally inserting herself within conversation.* "She and I are on a quest. Guild business."
Carolyn
_Yawn._

With most of the commotion on deck masked by the gentle sounds of rolling waves, Jin thought that it would probably be a good idea to go below and claim that extra hammock the captain was talking about—of course, he wasn't averse to just staying on deck, but he could only imagine what a headache it would be for the captain if he were to be thrown straight overboard.

_Not that it was an experience he relished going through, anyway._

Turning away from the ocean, lithe steps would quickly bring him to the hatch that led into the depths of the vessel: dark and relatively quiet, just how he preferred things to be. Seeking out a hammock close to the stairs that led to the even deeper passenger cabins, Jin would quickly settle into the comfortable, if a tiny bit wobbly space, setting down his pack beside him. Faint hints of spices and onions mingled with the salty sea air, making the boat smell like some sort of delectable ocean dish. 

Humming to himself, the sprightly kitsune would look left, then right—a wave of his palm and a gentle glow revealing the ears and eight tails that he finally had a chance to stretch.

"_Gods_, finally..." He'd sigh to himself, bringing his draconic helmet to his lap as he sat on his hammock: rubbing away the dirt from its red hues with a little cloth.
Albert
Triton's striking purple gaze would flicker over to Yumiko, focusing his sharp eyes on the pink-haired woman. Judging from the way she poised herself and spoke—*A clear woman with a dignified heart.* As he managed to get a closer look, he'd notice two distinct ears upright on her hair—at first, he was clueless as to what race she was, until he recalled one of his mother's most famous stories about *Oriates.* She never briefly explained each of their sub-species, claiming that she never managed to observe their distinctive traits in person for she feared of their kind. 

As the pink-haired lady explained their headings, he would become mildly interested in the term—*'Guild business'.* So far as his travels were endless in the Normal Dimension, Triton had heard of the diversity and snippets of information regarding *Guilds*. Organizations that provide quests in exchange for money. Triton had no reason to join a guild; he was able to hunt fish in the open seas and make his own home underwater, far from the dangers of the overworld.

Still, though he had originally intended to travel elsewhere, he couldn't help but offer himself a chance at something new. Possibly something that could brighten his everyday—rather mundane sea life.

As such, after a few seconds of quietness, Triton spoke to Yumiko. *"Would you all mind if I tag along?"* His tone was polite and laced with a natural charm.
Eric
Lilium would step in, interceding on Yumiko's behalf. 

" I d-don't believe that you can come out of the water for a prolonged period of time..? I have heard that your kind requires twice the amount of water a normal Macen needs to sustain yourself.. " She asked, once again showcasing her knowledge on his kind. 

" A-also, the quest might endanger your life... " She continued, warning him about the dangers of the quest they were embarking on.

" B-but if you find a way to deal with that and you don't mind travelling with us then I.. " She trailed off as she looked to Yumiko for her opinion. Lilium clearly didn't mind the accompaniment of the Merfolk. In fact, she welcomed it. The larger the party, the easier the Paladin would be to take down.
Jerry
*Yumiko deliberated over the possibility.*

"I'm unfamiliar with the needs of your race, but if what my friend says here is true, you'll have to take care of that problem before even thinking of joining us." *She explained, casting her gaze off to the side to avoid staring at the sight of the half-naked fishman.*

*An extra pair of hands would be certainly helpful. However the specifics of the quest laid out that the maximum amount of party members allowed to take this job was two people. It also imposed the limitation of the questgoers not being able to gain outside help— at least, from the combat standpoint.*

"The job request did state that we weren't allowed to bring a third member or accept outside help. But... I suppose if he just wants to tag along and not fight, it wouldn't be considered a violation right? It should be fine."

*Quests weren't just about the success and the reward. It was proving one's worth and capabilities to the guild. Yumiko didn't want to lose the guild's trust so early by breaching one of the conditions of the job given.*

"O-Only if he wears a shirt though," *Yumiko quickly added.* "He's making me uncomfortable."
Albert
Triton didn't utter a word as Lilium stepped in to explain the circumstances of the quest. He was even surprised at how knowledgeable she was about his own kind—*His mother told him about how elves were known for their remarkable intelligence and brain power,* But was impressed himself. As she trailed off, looking over to her partner for assistance, Triton's gaze instinctively travelled to Yumiko who began to state her own opinion.

*—He also observed how flustered Yumiko was and how she ended off her explanation with a flustered remark.* Triton was—indifferent to this. Majority of the races were fully-clothed, so he couldn't blame a conservative individual like Yumiko for being uncomfortable. 

Wordlessly, he would suddenly change his movement and dive back down into the water, his silhouette distancing as he swam deeper into the calm ocean.
Eric
" ..He left..? " She mumbled. 

*..I realise I never did study about their customs and traditions.. Perhaps wearing clothes was something that went against their customs— Well, now they'll never know.* 

" ..Well, I suppose we should go back to the cabin.. I'll like to rest for a bit, seeing that this journey would take awhile. " She suggested.
Jerry
"He left." *Yumiko concluded, as if responding to Lilium's rhetorical question.*

"I'll be staying up here for a bit longer. Sleeping in the same room as quasi-deities is a little too much for my heart at the moment."
Albert
```yaml
All of a sudden, the water would splash and a figure zipped up from the seas—
```

In a very brief burst of light, Triton's lower-half where his tail met his hip would glow and conform quickly to that of a pair of strong legs. His torso had emit another glow as something coiled around him like soft linen. As gravity took place, the merfolk-turned-mecan would land onto the deck of the ship with a loud—**THUMP!**

Running his fingers through his slightly damp hair, Triton would glance to the others. His macen form removed him of all half-fish features aside from a few characteristic traits; his black sclera and amethyst-purple pupils were evident with skin as pale as snow. He would peer to the two, dipping his head as a small gesture of acknowledgement. *To Yumiko's relief*— Triton was dressed in simple attire; he wore a long-sleeved, collared cream-white medieval shirt along with simple, dark grey pants that had a few ripped ends along the side seam and bottom hem. He was also barefooted with bits of kelp sticking to his leg.

His hand gripped his spear which he had held onto while transforming. Attached to it was a small satchel. By the weight and how it was pulled down, probably something heavy was inside. There was another satchel attached to the spear, the pouch was damp and soggy—containing something very wet inside.
Eric
" Ah, I see. Then I'll see you later. " She smiled, waving goodbye as she headed back down to the cabin. 

She'd begin heading back to the cabin, only to hear a loud thumping sound as the deck shook ever so slightly. She'd immediately turn back, looking to the man. 

" *..Twin Aspect..* " She murmured under her breath, noticing that the Treton was now in Macen form. 

*..I suppose he really does want to tag along..* 

" ..How do you plan on getting the amount of water you need then..? Do you perhaps have a water tank of sorts..? " She asked, mostly out of concern for the Merfolk.
Albert
Triton would look towards Lilium, shaking his head lightly. "It won't be necessary." He'd assure her, gaze not holding the least bit of concern for his negative trait as a Treton. **"I will not let my presence be a burden to you two."** He'd add on. Although he mostly preferred to roam in the seas, the abundance of water in The Normal Dimension was overflowing. There are bound to be puddles or streams nearby where he could feast on—and if ever so, he could detach from the group and return to the sea, rejuvenating himself. If not, then he could always use his very small supply of kelp in his small pouch attached with a string to his spear. Luckily, the area they were in contained fresh kelp he could use.

*It was only out of sheer interest that he had chosen to trek along, seeing that the group wasn't entirely hostile.*
Eric
" ..Well then.. I suppose it's fine.. " She muttered. She didn't mind the presence of the Merfolk as long as he had his own ways of dealing with his needs. She then turned back, looking towards the Captain of the ship. 

She'd approach the man in small strides, " How long more till we reach..? " 

Lilium asked out of pure curiosity. She felt that she had been on the ship for awhile now.. It shouldn't be long till they reach, right..?
Jodi
The ship continued to sail steadily toward its destination. With all the chatting and good wind, the ship has been making steady progress. The coast is always in sight, only a mile or two away, it was safer from pirate this way, and easier to navigate.

The captain had just retrieved the chip log from the back of the ship.

"I reckon we are sailing at five knot, so we will arrive in ten hours. In the meantime, we will be serving breakfast."

The sounds of two women screaming something can be heard downstair, and sailors seems to be dipping the 10 litres barrel you have seen earlier into the water, and then bringing them downstair. They poured some of it out to make sure it is not full.
Eric
" ..I see. Thank you. " She dipped her head formally, thanking the man before her ears perked up, hearing screams coming from downstairs. 

*..The sound of two women screaming..? But the only two women downstairs were.. No, it can't be.. After all, they're prestigious Archmages.. Right..?*

She'd look to Yumiko, " ..P-perhaps we should check that out.. "
Albert
Triton would listen as the captain spoke, hearing the report of the status of the ship—*Until his ears perked at the sudden sound of women screaming from the deck below.* He'd blink, clueless as to the reason behind the screaming.
Carolyn
From where he sat on his hammock by the stairs below deck, Jin's wolven ears would prick up: the sounds of dramatic screaming and shouting from even further down echoing along the waterlogged frame of the vessel. He would momentarily pause in cleaning his helmet, eight magnificent tails fanning lazily behind him as he cocked his head in thought. Did... Huh?

What was going on down there? And why were they so _loud?_

"You'd think they'd remember that they're on a tiny boat..." The loosely-robed courier would mumble to himself, soundlessly rising to his feet with helmet still in hand. Curiously, he would walk to the stairway and look further down — the screams were even louder, here.

Were they coming from the _cabin?_ And — what was with that barrel those sailors were carrying?
Jerry
"Ah... Right! Let's go check it out!" *Yumiko agreed with her sentiments, also suspicious as to what would be causing the distress of her fellow Oriates.*

*With that, she sprung herself into action, breaking off into an agile sprint down below deck to see what the commotion was all about.*
Eric
Lilium immediately followed after, stave still in hand. She immediately rushed to the scene of action.
Albert
Watching as the two dove down to the scene, Triton would follow after, removing the 2 strings attached to the shaft of his wooden spear that held onto 2 small pouches—one contained a bag of soggy kelp and the other, his coins. He'd place them into his pocket before gripping his spear with his left hand, trailing down to the deck below to investigate the commotion.
Jodi
Once they went downstair, they would see the sailor from earlier carrying the barrel to the bunks and eating area in the rear. The screaming stopped, followed by some laughters. Those with sensitive ears can pick out that there were a mix of male and female voice. 

Lilium could see that in the eating area, some sort of magic was being cast. It seems to be a minor spell or two.

Hmm. Just what is going on?

They could open the door to the eating area 15 feet away.
Eric
Lilium stared right at the eating area, her Elven senses picking up that there was a spell being casted. The collection of laughters would reverberate the hallway. 

" ..What on earth..? " Lilium walked towards the door to the eating area where the laughter was originating from. She'd open it with her free hand, stave in the other. 

As she looked into the eating area, she'd attempt to determine the spellcaster.
Carolyn
Oh — the screaming stopped. 

"Well," Jin would sigh, stepping away from the stairwell — _away_ from the other passengers that had come barreling down—and making his way back to his rather comfortable-looking hammock. "Looks like it was nothing." He'd mumble to himself, the momentary tension that had built up in his lithe frame finally releasing to leave him, once more, in peace. 

From the sounds below, he suspected that food was about to come soon: oh well. He wasn't feeling that hungry, anyway—and he could always come to pick up a little something later. Maybe. Who knew?

Reveling in the silence that had once again descended upon his little space, he would resume taking care of his belongings: those didn't clean themselves, after all.
Jodi
The eating area was opened, and with it, the truth was revealed.

Someone's fucking drunk.

In the eating area was a pair of tables on the side of the ship, and chairs arranged next to them. It seems there was also a square table in middle of the room. In front of Lilium was the sight of...

A wagging, big, scraggy wolf tail, and nine white fox tails, swaying in the air. The kitsune's hair looked a bit unkempt, and she recoiled backward in laughter, as she cocked her head back, Lilium could see a tint of red on her face.

The subject of her laughter was a sailor who seems to be dead drunk with his face planted on the floor.

Soon, what they were screaming about became clear, as one of the sailor set down a barrel next to the Okamimi, and she started chanting.

"B-...Bur-...Bu... Bu *Hic* BURIFY WATEH!" 

She pointed her finger at the barrel and a powerful magical beam landed on it, turning the saltwater into drinkable freshwater.

The next moment, one of the sailor who seemed to be practically worshipping the Okamimi, scooped a smaller jug inside the barrel, and then the Okamimi worked her magic again.

"C... CREAA T EEE WINEEE!!!" *And thus the water was turned into wine. Like some sort of drunken wolf jesus.*
Albert
*—The smell of alcohol filled the air with a tangy, spicy smell.* It was a huge contrast to the freshwater air Triton was accustomed to. His poker-face alas changed to that of a slight frown at the behavior of seemingly powerful entities —The last beam of light was massive. Even Triton could feel power radiating off it. 

He wasn't one to encounter crazily powerful individuals capable of performing spell-after-spell without exhausting themselves. But this was just—*Weird.*

He stood behind Yumiko and Lilium—just—**What the fuck.**
Eric
Lilium would stare at the scene, wide-eyed and mouth agape in shock. 

" E-ESTEEMED MAGES! WHAT ON EARTH ARE YOU—! " Lilium snapped back to reality, shouting. She quickly rushed to the sailor who was dead drunk and laid on the floor. She'd pick him by the collar, dragging him to the side, leaning him against the wall. She'd take a mug and opened one of the barrels filled with sea water.

" *Purify Water.* " She closed her eyes and dipped her hand into the barrel before quickly casting. 

Within moments, the salt water would be purified as she used the mug to scoop some of the contents up. She rushed back to the drunken crewman's side as she offered him the water. 

" H-here.. Drink up.. "
Jerry
*I'm sorry..!

Yumiko thought, staring at the the scene with shock and embarrassment ridden all over her. Thousand moons, she couldn't bear to even be in the same room these people! They were supposed to be the goddesses, not drunk spellcasters!

She glanced over her other comrades, who were taking in the scene with the same level of shock she was.

I'm sorry..! We're not all like this!

It wasn't uncommon to see her kitsune and okamimi brethren act so brazenly. After all, they were longer lived than their kemonomimi cousins, and were generally far more talented in the magical aspects. The mixture of longer lives and the fact that they were frequently worshipped by the people often bred indulgent, haughty, and more often than not— eccentric personalities.

Ah... This was so embarrassing. Using their mana on such trivial things.*

"What is going on in here!?" *Yumiko finally said in an outburst of confusion, approaching the two Macen sailors with a disgusted glare.* "You're supposed to be working the ship, not licking the feet of its passengers!"
Albert
In all of Triton's life—*He had never seen a scene so rowdy*—so foreign to him. He watched as the sailors drunkenly sway side-to-side against the tables and walls, though the main stars of this sinking scene was the two entities that drowned their souls with ton-after-ton of alcohol, yelling spell-after-spell, laughing and cheering after what presumably was thought to be a murder attempt.

The brute watched as Lilium began to snap and break out of her timid character, rushing and dragging a sailor to the side. What he had expect was a slap turned to be the girl trying to wake the poor, drunken character. He'd watch as she murmured something while dipping her hand into the obviously sea-salted water—*A purification spell?* Then it was the same as the one the drunken kitsune's spell—

When Yumiko stepped forward, Triton watched her back as she interacted with the sailors, scolding them and berating them—in general, the whole situation was in utter chaos.

Exhaling a grunt, the man didn't know exactly what to do—he'd approach one of the drunken sailors who had wrapped their feet around the leg of another drunken sailor who had passed out on the ground, drooling with the smell of alcohol reeking from their sweating body. Blinking at them, Triton hoisted them up one-by-one and chunked them to the side of the cabin. When the conscious one began to grip onto his collar, slurring incomprehensible words, Triton did not fail to notice the smell of bile coming from his mouth—*He was going to vomit.* Instinctively, Triton slapped him across the face with his palm, blinking as the drunk finally passed out with bits of vomit coming out of his mouth.

*"..Hm."* Triton was.. Disgusted quite a bit, but hummed as he simply placed him down next to his supposed friend. He also took the opportunity to drink from one of the open barrels of saline water, quenching his thirst pleasantly.
Jodi
" E-ESTEEMED MAGES! WHAT ON EARTH ARE YOU—! " 

"BURP." Was the defiant response of the Okamimi. The burp carried the metaphorical force of eight million gods behind it, echoing throughout the entire cabin. Then, she dropped onto the table with her arms crossed around her, like a tired student napping in class. Her tail wagged cutely in the air as she did so.

But the adventurers would probably have a hard time calling her cute at this moment.

The kitsune seems to be quite oblivious to what is going on. No one approached her, and she just leaned back on her chair - which surprisingly had a back to support her with. She too, let out a burp, but one that's much more subdued than her comrade-in-crime's.*

"Ahhh... That was good." She murmured to herself.

The sailor that Lilium grabbed drank the water sloppily. His eyes seems to be a bit dazed and his face was surprisingly, not red at all, despite how out of condition the sailor is.

The two sailors Yumiko approached was just conscious enough to respond,"Ohh, the Captain told us to get the water to the two mages, he said she would turn them into water and small beer for us as payment for the journeeey.." 

The sailor explained. If one walked to the two barels of water that has been turned into wine, it was clear it wasn't small beer. In fact, it was highly concentrated wine. They could even count as spirit with 35% ABV. That might explain why the sailors were drunk.

And it might also explain how the pair of drunken mage afford such beautiful, pristine shrine maiden clothing. It seems to be made of the finest silk - assuming anyone bothered to touch their clothes right now.

As the trio took in the scene, the door would've closed behind them silently. Then it opened with a violent slam. An angry man with deformed brimmed hat was in the doorway.

"WHAT THE FUCK." Is what said man, whose identity is probably known to all, exclaimed.
Albert
Triton was in the midst of carrying another drunken sailor to the side before the intermission of the captain who had barged into the dining hall. His amethyst-purple gaze would be fixed on him before he glanced to the others—*Looks like this wasn't the end of the chaos.*

The merman would place the sailor down alongside his *'fallen'* Companions before turning back.
Jerry
*Yumiko cast an apologetic look towards the man who just entered, letting loose a tired sigh at the entire scene. She was fairly unsure as to how to explain the situation, but she resolved herself to try her best.*

"Your esteemed guests seemed to have gone the extra mile to pay for the journey. I'm afraid you have a few barrels of intoxicating wine instead of 'small beer'." *She said, ears slightly drooped downwards to signify her general feelings towards this situation.*

*The ability to transmute water into wine would honestly make for a good business now that she thought about it. New uses for magic were popping up everyday it seemed. From iced treats to alcoholic drinks.*

*She approached the angry man put him within range of her aura of tranquility, hopefully the magic would pacify the worst of his anger.*

"It's... It's a confusing scene for us too."
Jodi
*The captain looked around and started scolding the sailors one by one. This is troublesome, this journey had turned into an entire mess, and now a quarter of his crew is drunk. He hoped that no strong wind would come over, or his own vessel is doomed.*

"Just... Uh, go back to the deck and chat, I will handle this." *The captain looked as embarassed as the three were, if not more so. The aura seems to have worked.*
Albert
Triton would watch the scene unfold with two eyes. *It was a first for him* To experience something so brash. His gaze would then travel towards the pink-haired Kemonomimi, fixing his gaze on her before peering towards a door—a silent head gesture that perhaps they should leave to the upper-deck as the captain said.
Jerry
*Yumiko looked at the two drunk Oriates one more time before leaving. Both Triton and the captain had the right idea, she did not want to linger in this place any longer. Coming down below deck was a mistake. She should've listened to her gut feeling from the start.*

"You're right." *She agreed with Triton's silent gesture.* "I'll come down here when I really need to. Let's leave them to it."

*She left the room once more, walking up the stairs. It seemed like she was just going back and forth. Not the mention the voyage was still going to take up around 10 hours till they arrived at their destination.*

*Thousand moons. She was never taking a quest that required ships again.*
Albert
Triton could almost sense the bad energy radiating off Yumiko's expression. In her eyes, Triton could see shame dancing in her hollow gaze. However, he didn't say anything as he followed behind her up the stairs to the upper-deck. When they had reached towards the main deck, he would speak up, "Is this common with your kind?" He'd question her.
Carolyn
While all this commotion was going on, Jin opted to settle into his hammock—hidden in the darkness below deck. His helmet lay tied down securely on top of his pack, under his gently swaying form. Eight tails lay wrapped around him like some sort of makeshift cushion: it was comfortable enough, really.

It looked like he was rather drained from his earlier voyage.

Reaching into the depths of his cloak, he would be seen taking out a small, tightly-bound notebook: then he would begin to write, slowly and carefully under the pressure of the rocking waves.
Jerry
"Yes— well, actually no— but it depends..!"

*Yumiko was quite unsure herself, but her own mistress had been similarly indulgent in her vices. She couldn't believe she was admitting this, but she honestly did not know much of her own people to make such judgement. Oriates were known to be quite uncommon, and the only ones she'd ever met were from her village.*

"I suppose it just depends on which one of 'my kind' you're talking about. The kitsunes are a wily and strange folk. I can't keep up with their wiles." *She said, holding up a hand to scratch behind her ear.* "Maybe it's common for other long-lived, magically talented races too? I know I'd be bored, having to live a thousand years."
Albert
Triton's gaze lingered on her for a little while. *It would've been awkward to find people getting the wrong impression of your kind.* Triton has met a few other merfolk in his travels, but most of their interactions were curt and short. There isn't an established civilization of merfolk where they gathered under a monarchy or democratic and had their own values, morals and rules.

*"..At least you're not like them."* That was all Triton could remark. He had his own views on Oriates, but had the proper understanding to know that not everyone of the same race is equal in character. He'd run his free hand through his long hair, the atmosphere having dried it up. He would've been thirsty if it weren't for that sample of saline water he took while picking up those who had KO'ed.
Jerry
*'At least you're not like them.'*

*W-What was this saline-filled fish think he was saying? Yumiko thought it was most likely a ploy to make her like him better. Perhaps these merfolk had some sort of sensor capabilities where they captured the essence of one's heart— that's what sirens did right? Dangerous. This man was particularly dangerous.*

*Danger didn't usually make her blush though.*

"Well thats— I mean, thank you." *Yumiko simply responded with crossed arms, looking away from him. She wouldn't let herself be socially dominated by a humanoid fish.*

"Anyway. I'm going to join my friend in the eating area. To eat. I'm very hungry."

*With robotic movements, she marched up towards Lilium and sought shelter within her comforting presence. An older woman like her would surely understand the threat Triton posed— perhaps Lilium had already set up wards against it?*

"Miss Lilium!" *Yumiko called out, placing a hand on her shoulder as she arrived.* "Let's sit together and eat. I don't feel comfortable around these strangers."
Albert
The merman would watch as a cherry, tangy-like blush swarmed over Yumiko's face, turning her almost as pink, if not, more redder than her hair. As she marched off, declaring that she was dismissing herself, Triton let her be, merely watching with amusement as he headed towards the edge of the deck, peering out on the open sea with the waters lapping against the haul of the boat—the vehicle moving at a steady pace along the wide sea.

No matter where Triton was and no matter what the weather was—*The sea always called out to him.* He doesn't understand himself at times—he could be in the comforts of the ocean, free from travesties. But instead, he chose to tag along with two friends who were on a quest. Even so, he had a first taste of how.. *People* Can be.

Enjoying the soft breeze, he'd simply perch sit down, arms stacked on the railing as he rested his chin on it. His spear was lain on his lap, his legs dangling off the deck as the boat gently swayed.
Eric
" ..Right. The eating area is still plagued with.. The smell of alcohol. If you don't mind, then we can eat there but if you'd prefer, we can ask them to set up a table of the sorts and bring our meal here. " She'd suggest. 

In all honesty, Lilium didn't like the smell of alcohol as well.

`Drunken Silnari? No no, leave that to the crude Dark Elves or the brutes, Steppe Elves.`

Her mother often told her children this whenever her father went out drinking with his friends. This probably had some sort of impact on Lilium's views on alcohol itself but if Yumiko did wish to dine in the eating area, Lilium wouldn't mind at all. It was not as if Lilium hadn't tasted alcohol or gulped down a barrel of wine before, but it was extremely rare for her to do so. And when sober, the scent of alcohol was simply too strong for her.
Jodi
The captain spent a lot of time under deck disciplining his crew and sorting out the shifts. Soon enough the quartermaster would be down to help too.

One hours later, the captain would finally pop up on the deck again, still looking very displeased. And it seems the sober sailors weren't too happy about the state of affair too, with a quarter of the crew drunk, that meant extra workload for the rest of them.

The captain finally spoke,"The first meal is ready." His voice was a bit too quiet for everyone to hear, but thanksfully the sea were calm.
Albert
From the past hour in which he was gazing out onto the sea openly, Triton could feel his throat grow parched from the lack of water—he was about to actually fetch himself some, but heard the Captain's voice coincidentally. *Perfect.* Relieved, he'd grip onto his spear and get up from where he sat, headed towards the lower deck and travelling back to the dining room.

As he headed down, the air was much more fresher than before; the heavy smell of alcohol and wine had vanished, leaving a dining room that was aromatic with food—though with a bit of spiciness left from the alcohol residue possibly spilled on the absorbent deck floors. Triton was more accustomed and regularly ate fresh catches that were cooked over a humble flame, and this smell was similar to that. Possibly more elaborate.

He'd enter the dining hall.
Eric
Lilium looked back, then looked to Yumiko. 

" Mm.. Well, I suppose we're eating down there then. " She chuckled as she went down behind Triton, heading towards the dining hall. 

The dining room reeked of the smell of alcohol. Lilium simply exhaled a sigh as she took one of the empty seats for herself. 

" ..I wonder what we're eating.. " She mumbled under her breath. Hopefully, fish. I mean, it's a sea voyage after all! What else do we eat but fish!? 

*..Wait, can Merfolk eat fish..?* She looked up, staring right at Triton.
Jerry
*Yumiko followed her friend into the dining hall, eager to get her fill of food.*

*She noticed her friend's discomfort, merely giving a sort of apologetic smile as the smell of alcohol continued to permeate throughout the air. Yumiko herself was used to it, as she served her lady many forms of alcoholic drink— once in a ritual, she even made alcohol herself using rice and her own spit.*

*That wasn't to say that she liked the pungent odour. She was able to tolerate it at least.*

"Either fish or some food they brought along from land." *Yumiko answered Lilium.* "I heard that ships usually carry around preserved foods because of how long it takes to sail from one place to another. I hope it isn't that."
Albert
Triton would notice Lilium's gaze linger on him and turn to look at the elf. His gaze was still and expressionless, though he'd tilt his head gently to the side, a gesture to which if she had any enquiries or wanted to approach him. He was simply eager to get his fill of water and good grub—it would save him the trouble of hunting.
Eric
Lilium simply shook her head, deciding to ask the question later. She then placed her stave down, leaning it on the table. Her table was stationed in upper right corner of the dining room. She'd then await for the dishes to be served. 

" ..Likewise. " She didn't have high expectations for the meals— she just wanted it to not be preserved food. She had tasted preserved food before and *God, were they salty.*
Carolyn
_Step, step, step._

The near-inaudible pattering of lithe footsteps would echo out faintly from the stairway hell, coming from—a once-more disguised Jin, flowing ears and tails hidden behind a light illusion as he, too, answered the call of oh-so-irresistible _food._ As he peered into the dining hall, he would find it already occupied: no matter. Making sure to stay a good distance away from the present party of three, he would settle before a waiting plate of food, his robes flowing gracefully down his arms.

"Ah." He'd hum gratefully, putting his palms together in thanks before slowly and carefully beginning to tuck into his food.
Albert
The Treton would notice Lilium shaking her head and hence, distanced himself form the group. He would take a small round table near the door leading from the lower deck. He rested his spear against the wall on the other side of the table. Upon taking a seat, the food was served by a fellow sailor who didn't look like any of those who were drunk.

Once the meal had been lain out before Triton, he took the fork lain on the table—*A trident-shaped utensil.* He had these utensils before; tossed overboard due to some mishap with the weather and hence, sunk to the bottom where it rested on the sea-bed. However, he.. *Didn't particularly know how to use them.*

The food was graciously pleasant and the aroma was better than the fish he cooked above an open flame which normally had no seasoning, no spices and very so often they tasted bland. Triton stayed humble in his seat, not touching the utensils but instead, ate with his right hand.
Jodi
Thanksfully for the group, it seems the food presented on the boat was mostly fresh, as the ship mostly took part in the coastal trade, only ships packed for long range voyage would have a large amount of preserved food, which the ship do have.

This meal's food wasn't luxurious or anything very special, but definitely quite filling. As the ship was small, there were no breads to be baked. If one had peeked inside, they would notice there's no open fire, but a strange looking magical device and stone that emits heat, which the crew seems to have used creatively as an oven and as a stove.

The food laid out on the table before them were a few large pot of rices, enough to feed the crew and passengers, large jugs and tankards of purified water and small beer - though there was none of the alcohol the Okamimi made earlier to be found. It seems the kitsune was thoughtful enough to actually provide water for the crew. The sides, unlike the rice, were already pre-portioned for everyone, as they were more expensive. Everyone had a thick slice of bacon, then a bowl of crude gravy. The seasoning were simple and made out of onion and garlic. On top of the heavy dishes, everyone had a portion of 50 grams of cheese assigned to them, along with slices of chickens, roughly 200 grams for everyone, served with simple sauce of spring onion and garlic.

All of them were properly seasoned and tastes decent.
Jerry
*The meal laid out for her, while not luxurious, was still considered to be rather exquisite in her opinion. Rice brought with it a comfort, as it was a staple where she was from. Alongside all the pre-portioend side dishes it was shaping up to be quite a hearty meal which should sustain her for the remainder of the journey.*

"Thank you for the food." *Yumiko murmured, grabbing a spoon and starting to dig in at a quick pace. She was a fast eater— it was a habit she had been developing these past few months. She wouldn't be able to fight on an empty stomach after all, she had to make sure she had her fill.*

*She ate in silence, only occasionally stopping to get a sip of water to cleanse her palate. From the twitching of her ears however, it seemed like the food provided was noticeably suitable for her tastes.*
Albert
*What is.. This—yellow..* Continuously, Triton was impressed by the new things he was encountering in a single day. The flavors, though common for some people, were rather intensifying for him. He found himself enjoying the meal, though he didn't even know what 80% of the content was. The rice was delicious and the sauce that came with it made it even more delicious.

The thick slice of bacon was rather new to him. At first, he thought it was a mistake on the meal because of how lean it looked, but once he chewed on it, he realized that it tasted better than he had expected—*A new experience from tasting lean fish everyday.*

The cheese was puzzling to Triton—never had he seen so many holes in such a strangely-colored organic meal. At first, he wasn't fond of how creamy it felt on his palette, but the bitterness that rasped over the creaminess was exotic. Triton felt as if his mouth was dancing. All the saltiness from eating kelp and aquatic creatures were dominated by these new flavors.

Not even realizing it himself, but Triton had a very eased look on his face throughout the meal.
Eric
" ..Eating chicken on sea..? " She exhaled a long sigh. She wanted seafood! Fish! Prawns! Shellfish! Squid! Heck, Oysters! SCALLOPS! 

Her stomach would grumble as she think about the variety of seafood she so yearned for. 

" A—.. " Her red would flush a bright red as she heard her stomach grumble rather loudly. 

*How unmaidenlike...! I want to bury myself 12 feet under the sea..* 

She'd shrug it off as she looked around her, hoping no one heard that. She'd then look to the meal.

*..Well, although it doesn't have seafood.. It isn't that bad..* 

She'd notice that there were large jugs of purified water around and no trace of the alcohol the Okimami made earlier. 

* Thank god they aren't serving the alcohol.. And.. This water was purified by the Kitsune..? I suppose that's her payment of sorts for getting onto the ship.. Perhaps I should do the same in the future.. Less travelling expense to worry about too.*

She'd begin to feast as she took a spoon, scooping up a few spoons of the rice onto an empty bowl. She'd then take the bowl of gravy assigned to her, pouring it onto her rice. She'd then put the slices of chicken on top of the gravy filled rice. She'd leave the cheese and bacon for later. She'd begin to dig in.
Carolyn
"_Mmm. This captain knows his cooks._"

The delighted thought would stand out in Jin's mind as he tucked into the meal before him, peeking at all the viands that he had yet to savor. There was _cheese_, even—_cheese!_ This was heaven compared to the mountains of crusty bread that he had consumed on that _other_ boat, blegh. He was _glad_ that he had given the captain an extra silver at this point—to someone like him, who was constantly walking the land's most barren, uninhabited roads, a meal like this was a rarity.

Between bites, he would sneak little peeks at the other crewmembers and passengers that had come down to dine—especially at that little group of three a few tables away from where he was seated. That one girl: those flowing robes that weren't too far from his own.

"_I suppose I'm never really_ that _far from home, truly._" He'd think amusedly to himself, his gaze bouncing between the trio, a couple crewmembers' faces, then back down at his plate and his food.

It was all rather cozy—a welcome feeling.
Albert
Soon, Triton was finished with his meal. Once he had doused the cup of water, he had personally asked for 3 extra cups—once he was fully hydrated, the merman dismissed himself, looking quite fond and thoughtful as he exited the lower deck and traversed up the stairs, proceeding back to the upper deck.
Eric
Lilium would soon finish with her meal. She had finished every dish that was given to her and even had a second bowl of rice! 

" ..Mm.. This inspires me to start cooking again.. " She mumbled. The dishes served were of rather decent quality. Luxurious food such as cheese were a rare sight to see on a sea voyage. 

" ..The gravy especially. " She looked to the bowl of gravy she was given which was now, empty. 

" ..I have to ask for the recipe..! It's a must! " She exclaimed as she left the dining room, heading towards the kitchen as she looked for the chef.
Jerry
*Yumiko had finished quite a bit before the rest and was now merely waiting for her companions to finish. To pass the time, she meditated, letting the serene calmness of her state of mind take her away from the bad thoughts and happenings that occured on the ship earlier.*
Jodi
*Almost six hours later, another meal would be served. The weather is quite calm and it is middle of the spring, soon, the ship arrived at its destination and docked after an hour and a half or struggling against unfavourable wind. Now the passengers could dismount and get to their destination.*
Eric
Lilium would have a quick meal before heading back to the cabin. She took her large shield from the side of her bed. Shield and stave in hand, she started to get ready to depart from the ship. She'd head back up to the deck, waiting for Yumiko and her newfound ~~fish~~ Treton friend.
Albert
By the time they had docked, Treton had simply finished another glass of water and rejuvenated his kelp bag with saline water from one of the barrels unpurified. As he headed back out, he'd notice Lilium already present with all of her necessities. Standing next to her with his spear in hand, he would await the arrival of Yumiko.
Jerry
*Yumiko fully equipped herself before she departed from the ship; strapping her new shield to her arm and following Lilium up to the deck. The Kemonomimi produced the map given to her from her robes and rolled it open, seeing what awaited them.*

"We should be meeting a sheriff soon. Are you ready to do this?" *She asked Lilium, flashing a nervous smile of her own.* "This quest will keep us rather busy... Urgh, I still hate the fact that we're supposed to fight an entire group."
Albert
As the both of them discussed and communed after the quest, Triton simply observed the interaction, recalling that this quest would require the mandatory participation of only the two of them. His intermission into the situation would prove naught to the situation. Thus, the merman would simply peer at the map as he towered over the two, looking at the details marked on it.
Eric
" Indeed... " She exhaled a sigh before looking up to Yumiko, noticing that she was feeling rather nervous about the quest.

" ..You don't have to feel so nervous. " She smiled as she hugged Yumiko, hopefully encouraging and bolstering her spirits somehow. 

" It's just lopping off a few evil heads.. It'll be over in a jiffy. " She huffed before pulling back from the hug. She flashed a smile once more, hopefully cheering the girl up. 

" Now then, where were we supposed to meet the Sheriff? "
Carolyn
Jin had gone up to the upper decks nice and early, waiting with all his belongings for the sweet, sweet sight of solid land. A playful smirk would play along the corners of his lips as the port came into sight—the view of their destination causing him to instinctively double-check that his eyes and ears were safely hidden away. 

As soon as passengers were allowed to disembark, he hopped right off the Fair Maiden. He silently wished he had time to say farewell to the captain, but he knew full well that he couldn't let a single moment go to waste—it was time to go to work. With his oriental robes fluttering around his tall form and the distinctive red helmet hanging from the sash around his waist, the kitsune would slink into the sparse crowd that populated Garlic Port: seemingly vanishing without a trace.

_To always deliver._
Jerry
"The local town hall. His name is *John Waystone.*" *Yumiko explained, looking both uncomfortable and embarassed at her hug. She didn't try to resist her however. The gesture was rather warm and endearing.*

*Yumiko started to make her way down to the docks, gesturing for her other friends to follow as she went off in search for the town hall. Hopefully, they'd be able to begin their quest around there.*
Eric
Lilium quickly found the captain and thanked him for his services. She then followed Yumiko down the docks, lugging her large shield and stave with her.
Albert
Treton would observe the two interact. Judging from the way they treated each other and looked at each other, it was an obvious *Close friendship.* It did make him feel a bit extra—after all, he was just a tagger. He had no part to play in their quest and simply followed purely out of interest. Yet, for an apparent reason, the sight warmed him just a bit on the inside.

*'Mama!~ Mama!~ I got this for you! Do you like it?'*
*'My dear boy. That looks lovely!'*

With the mental snap of a finger, Treton hurriedly pushed the sudden memory out of his mind's main focus. As he came back to reality, he would watch as Yumiko gestured to the two of them. He would observe that Lilium was holding a rather large shield with her stave. Pacing forward and walking alongside the elf, he held out his hand wordlessly as an offer to hold the shield for her.
Eric
" A-ah! T-thank you! " She muttered as she handed the large shield over to the man. She was still obviously conscious of the man. Lilium still considered him a stranger and therefore was still rather meek around him. Under normal circumstances, she would never trouble strangers but the large shield was simply.. Too much of a burden to carry around, especially with frail arms such as hers. 

Lilium dipped her head down, thanking the man once more before hurriedly catching up with Yumiko, flustered by the man's unexpected actions.
Albert
Triton would weld the shield, feeling the heavy metal with his rough fingers. *..Heavy.* He also never felt such a good-quality material before. However, having had physical training at a young age, he didn't have much difficulty holding the shield with one hand. The other gripping onto the shield, he'd stay near the group, but was cautious enough of his social status with them to keep a good distance.
Jodi
Inside the town they would find a rather large building with the sounds of what seems to be fighting coming from inside. It had an imposing, 3 meters tall iron gate and fences at the front, blocking entrance from unwanted personnel. Two guards stood smartly at attention, equipped with what seems to be standard issue almain rivet armour, common all over Salvainia, especially its richer part, which would include this town not far away from the capital.

The guard looked toward the newcomers,"Hello, what business do you three have here?"
Jerry
*Yumiko stepped forwards to meet them.*

"We are agents of the New Sunlight guild and we have urgent business with Sheriff Waystone." *She answered, frowning slightly at the appearance of the familiar armour. It was no different than those mercenaries she just recently fought.*

"We'd like to meet him as soon as possible please." *Yumiko quickly added, hoping that the insistence would rush the process of this dreary checkup.*
Eric
" ..Is there any problems..? " Lilium asked, hearing that there were the sounds of conflict and fighting coming from the inside. Lilium attempted to peer into the town hall but to no avail.
Albert
Triton would stand behind the two, observing the interaction—and wasn't deaf to hear the sounds of conflict from inside. If needed, he would have to immediately pass the shield back to the elf. He'd take note of his surroundings, eyes wary and cautious in case there were any unexpected attacks—*This was new territory for the Treton,* Hence, he was rather cautious.

—Looking over his shoulder, Triton was in ponder for a few moments. Eventually, he'd reach his hand forward to tap Yumiko and Lilium on the shoulder. *"I'm going to depart."* He'd suddenly declare to them in a murmur. "Best of luck on the quest." He'd note to them, dipping his head in thanks. He'd hold the shield out to Lillium gently, waiting for her to take back the shield.
Jodi
"Sheriff Waystone, understood." *The guard turned around and opened the gate, letting the two inside.

To the sides were training yard not unlike New Sunlight's. What seems to be a captain with a plumed helmet and slightly more coverage on his set of armour is drilling a group of twenty recruits in how to use their weapons. The captain walked over to the newcomers.*

"Hail! I'm Sheriff Waystone, and a local Captain too, are you two the adventurers here to take care of our rogue deserters problem?"
Eric
" A-ah. Alright. S-see you in the future. " She stuttered as she took back the heavy shield from the man. She strapped the large shield to her dominant and stronger right arm while she carried the stave with her left. She lightly dipped her head, bidding him farewell.

She then looked back to Sheriff Waystone. She took a step back, waiting for Yumiko to explain the situation and their quest details. Yumiko was clearly the `Party Leader` of the two.
Jerry
"Huh?" *Yumiko looked back over to Triton with surprise. She knew that he probably wasn't going to do anything to help them, but this abrupt was... Well, rather abrupt. She supposed that it was for the best. They couldn't bring along a third party into this mess.*

*She had her attention quickly turned towards the captain, nudging Lilium to take care of the farewells while spoke to him.*

"Oh, uh, yes! We're here to deal with the rogue deserters. My name is Yumiko and my elven partner here is Lilium. We're Pages of the New Sunlight."
Albert
Once again, the tall man would bow towards the two. "I won't hold you both back anymore than I should have." His gaze traversed towards the guards before looking back to the two. "Call me **Triton.**"

Their paths were bound to cross one day—but perhaps this abrupt departure was going to be beneficial. Something told Triton that he had been.. Well—exposed to a lot today. It was a strange day, but the aquatic-bred creature had to admit, it was rather *Fun.* Tasting exotic foods—having a taste on what life beyond the sea was like. Although the two girls didn't give him a hard impact, they did leave an imprint of motivation on him.

*'Pages of the New Sunlight.'* As Yumiko told him their positions, he could presume that was the name of the guild that assigned them this mission. Nodding, he would turn around, raising an arm in a last gesture of farewell before disappearing back the way they came.

—

As Triton made his way back to the docks, he would gently submerge part of his body into the water, allowing his tranformation to take place in a small blast of light—his whole body materialized; pants disappeared with his legs bound together, reforming back to his magnificent tail. His torso attire dissipated, leaving his bare, pale chest open for all to see. With that, he'd grip onto his spear and dive back into the sea.
Jodi
"Yes, I trust that your leader had given you the instructions on how to find the deserter? My job here is to keep you updated. May I have the map? I know he will probably make a mobile magical map of some sort, probably."

*The captain glanced back at the group of trainees he was training, and rubbed his chin for a moment.*

"How good you two are at magic? You two know about how good the paladins is and how she has associated with deserters, yes?" *He was worried about the ability of the two to take them on alone.*
Eric
" A-ah. I'm fairly adept in the arts of the Arcane. " She spoke. She brushed her hair to the side, showing the Captain her defined Elven ears. High Elves were generally associated with being skilled mages. By doing this, Lilium hoped to convince the man that they were fully capable of handling the Paladin. It technically wasn't a lie that Lilium was skilled in magic, though she had a limited arsenal of skills to back it up. 

" Ah.. But if you're offering assistance.. I don't think we have the need to reject.. " She murmured, looking to Yumiko in case she thought otherwise.
Jerry
"Yes, we were given the map." *She nodded, producing the map from her robes and handing it over to the Captain.*

"My skills in magic are decent. I have the ability to create barriers, conjure lightning, as well as heal wounds. My abilities lie mostly within my melee skills however." *Yumiko gestured towards her swords strapped her sword belt.*

"We're quite aware of her skills. Do you have any other information that may be helpful about her..? I'd like to know everything about my opponent before engaging. Further details about the deserters would be helpful too."
Jodi
"Mmmph. Well, let's see, I am sure you might've been briefed about it, she has been known to use fireball and lightning bolt. And the last time our men encountered her, they reported that she were of exceptional skills in melee, with unnaturally fast speed and of exceptional strength. The sword she wielded seems to be stronger than usual. Honestly, she is something that is best taken on by two strong page indeed."

"As for the deserters, they were soldiers outfitted to help out with border conflict to the east, but decided to pillage the land here instead. I've heard some of them managed to keep their issue armour for themselves, so that is troublesome..."

He turned toward his group of recruits,"ASTER! ASH! WILLIN! OVER HERE!" 

A group of three strong-looking recruits walked over. All male. How sexist.

"These three are some of my best men and will be accompanying you on the quest - In exchange I ask that they will receive a fair share of the loot and any proceeds from... Ransoming the prisoners, if you get what I mean. Willin here is a horseman and can help carry your loot. Is that fair enough?"
Eric
" ..Sure, we don't mind. " Lilium stepped forward. She smiled at the few Macen that appeared. 

" Ah.. But do take note that if any of them were to die, their original percentage of the loot will be given to us instead. " She flashed a grin. She clearly wasn't to keen on the idea of sharing the loot. Although Lilium is kind-hearted and unmaterialistic by nature, the man was blatantly asking for the two pages to take care of **THEIR** Problem and they still hope to receive Yumiko's and Lilium's loot.

She then looked to Yumiko, " You don't mind either, right? "
Jerry
*Armoured soldiers... That was a problem. If that was the case, then the recruits provided to them would be essential to the completion of the mission. It would be a boost to their fighting power and give them a chance to face up against the Paladin without interruption.*

"I don't mind." *Yumiko answered simply. It was a logical decision. Even if they didn't get as much loot, they would still get the prestige and experience of the ordeal. She didn't expect to breeze through every quest by herself.*

*Baby steps. Patience will pay off in the end.*

*Though fighting alongside Macen... What a drag.*

"You'll be of great service I'm sure." *She began, trying her best to keep her voice levelled and steady. In fact, she flashed them her sweetest smile.* "We're looking forward to fighting with you boys."
Jodi
It seems whatever Lilium has spoke has unnerved and made some of the recruits a bit uneasy. One of the man, presumably Willin, looked amongst eachother and then almost dragged the other to talk with them.

Fortunately, what Yumiko said seems to have balanced their opinions of the two comrades they are about to fight together with. Somewhat ironic, given that the two's opinions of the recruits were in polar opposite to what they said would imply.

One of them stepped up and offered his hand,"I'm Willin, he is Ash, and this one is Aster. I look forward to co-operate with you two."

After a handshake (or not), he would walk toward the stables and fetch a rouncey with ropes and supplies strapped to it. The two other recruits would fetch their equipments from the barrack - Kite shield, sword, a crossbow operated by a goat's foot lever, and twenty bolts.

Once Yumiko and Lilium indicated they were ready, they would set out.
Eric
Lilium would readily shake hands with them. Although she said that, she didn't mean to threaten them in any way. Like any other normal functioning party, she'd protect them as per required. 

As they gathered their items, Lilium would look to Yumiko. 

" We should start formulating and discussing our plan with them as we head out. " She suggested.
Jerry
*Yumiko slipped her hand within Willin's and shook it gently, feigning a bashful look before stepping back over to Lilium with a noticeably darker expression on her face. She was vigorously wiping the shaken hand against her clothes, eyes briefly looking back to indicate her clear displeasure of working with them.*

*This stormy Yumiko continued until Lilium's voice shook her from her hate stupor. Her expression changed in an instant; now seemingly pondering their next move.*

"..Right, the plan." *She repeated in agreement, looking back over the Macen to summarize their weaponry. Ropes for subduing the victims, fully armoured and expendable meatshields, and crossbows for ranged combat.*

*All that was left was to command them then. She wasn't really familiar with battlefield tactics, so she'd most likely have to ask the advice of one of the Macen soldiers who were familiar with warcraft.*

"..It'll take both of us to defeat the paladin. I think we'll carve a few of the deserters first before engaging with her. Let the squires deal with them."
Jodi
"That is probably a good idea, we don't have a number advantage, but I am a horseman after all. Let's see if we could bait them into the open ground."

*Willin seems to have remembered something and ran off, returning with one, no, two, no three lances, 2.5 meters long, one was rested in a lance bucket on his horse, one he carried himself and the other he slung across his back. Somewhat awkward, but probably a good idea.*



*The rest of the group seems to be ready to go already.*
Eric
" May I know how capable the three of you are..? Are you capable of handling around five to six deserters..? " She questioned the three men. She agreed with Yumiko's statement. The Paladin would indeed prove to be a formidable foe and would require both their strengths to defeat the wretched Paladin. If the three weren't capable of holding their own against the five to six deserters, they'd have to formulate another more strategical plan.
Jodi
"Let's see... That would depends on how well equipped the deserters are. From what I know, they have around the same equipment as us - whether they have armour or not is a real crapshoot." 

*It seems the odds were tilted against them. They were relying on the fact they had two magic users to their one to win. And the Paladin seems to be very good at physical combat. But with so many equipments lying around and potential seven live captures, they could be making bucks if they succeeded - even if they split the loot with the three.

For some reason, the fabrics of the divines tuck at them. Perhaps wise use of terrain and leveraging the one and only cavalryman might prove decisive?*
Eric
" ..We'll firstly have to find them and see if the terrain there is to our advantage.. " She spoke. If it was in a forest environment, they'll clearly be in an advantage as they'd have a chance to ambush them.. But if it was in some place like a barren wastelands.. The odds will still be tilted against them. 

She looked to the Captain who held the map. 

" ..Any ideas? "
Jodi
"The deserters was last spotted 6 - 7 miles northeast of here, as you might have been informed of already. There are stretches of untamed, untouched forests, hills and rolling plains there."

The captain explained. It seems where they would encounter the enemies would really be up to luck. Of course, given how fast the party could be, they probably could reposition themselves at will.
Eric
" ..Understood. For now, let's locate the enemies. Strategies can come after. " She spoke as she looked to the three men. 

" Lead the way. I assume the three of you know your way around the place. " She was practically demanding them to lead the way. Lilium's normal shyness was nowhere to be seen. Perhaps it was due to this being a quest and she wanted to maintain and seem more professional than usual but it may seem unusual for the Kemonomimi Oriate. 

*AHHH GOD. DO I SOUND TOO BOSSY? AM I TOO DEMANDING?!* 

She screamed in her mind as she questioned her decisions.
Jerry
*Uwaah... It looks like her elven companion has taken charge of the army now. That's an older woman for you. Yumiko felt safe leaving the planning to her. She wasn't the tactician herself, merely just another soldier. A rather decent one if she were to say so herself.*

*Yumiko nodded in agreement to everything she said, having no real qualms with her suggestions. Forming strategies now would be risky if they didn't know what terrain they were going to be fighting on anyway. It was best to get a lay of the land first.*

"I'm sorry to say but we are unfamiliar with the territory. We're counting on you three."
Jodi
"Of course." Willin immediately grabbed the reins of his horse and started walking out of the city, toward their destination. The soldiers marched on too, and if they followed, they would pass by well-travelled road for a few miles without incident, until they started to reach out of the suburbs into stretches of farmland, followed by the untamed wilderness. A good place for bandits to hide and prey on travellers with.

Once they were near their destination, Willin would mount on his horse and started looking around. They were surrounded by mostly flatland, with a stretch of sparse forest in the distance, some two hundred meters away...

...And there's a small pillar of smoke rising from the middle.

"Looks like someone missed their officer academy class!" Ash exclaimed.
Eric
Noticing the rather obvious rise of smoke, she looked to Ash who made the remark. 

" ..It's a Paladin, not an idiot. It may be a trap. " She heaved a sigh. 

" For now, let's get closer.. Don't get too close though, and stay hidden. " She told the men and Yumiko as she began walking towards the pillar of smoke. 

*..If it is a trap.. It might be dangerous..* 

The forest is such a terrain where ambushes are easy to do.. And this goes for both sides.
Jerry
*Yumiko did a gesture of understanding, summoning Hashimoto into her hands just in case a battle were to break out. Luckily, she used to live a forest, and thus knew how to maneuver nimbly without making a noise. Her Kemonomimi ears would also pick up anything that sounded suspicious, being far more sensitive than human ears.*
Jodi
The horseman would dismount from his horse. Meanwhile Ash followed Lilium and Aster followed Yumiko. It seems the two would listen and assist them where possible.

Meanwhile, Willin led the way in front of them, and measured the width between the trees. The trees are sparse enough for his horse to move between, so he still have the advantage of mobility here, he just think that fighting the group outside of the forest would be safer.

All is quiet as they approached the forest's edge, and the smoke seems to be getting closer, perhaps two hundred meters away. However the loose canopy is obscuring their ability to observe the distance of the smoke, so they have to move around awkwardly to find a clearing that allows them to look up into the sky. This might delay their progress a bit.
Eric
Lilium would attempt to find the smoke pillar but to no avail. The trees were simply obstructing their view. She'd look to her Oriate Kemonomimi friend. She had heard about the Oriate race's abilities to be able to jump much more easily than Macens. 

" ..Is it possible for you to jump up to one of the trees and visually confirm how far we are from the smoke..? And naturally, the direction too. " She spoke, asking for Yumiko to showcase her abilities and natural agility.
Jerry
"That should be possible." *Yumiko confirmed. With a springy leap, she hopped up onto the nearest branch and caught it with both hands. Her natural athleticism allowed her to quite easily swing herself up onto the branch and continue her ascent from there.*

*Should that have succeeded, Yumiko made sure to visually track the smoke from her new vantage point if possible, using gestures to confirm the direction and give rough estimates of the distance between them. She'd keep leaping from branch to branch in this way, keeping as silent as she could while leading them towards the smoke.*
Jodi
*The revanchist bunnygirl managed to leap up to the branches quite successfully, and managed to gauge the distance of the fire from the group - it was now some 120 - 150 meters away. And... One of the tree in the area seems to be exceptionally tall with dense foilage, and is 100 meters away from the smoke. The edge of a clearing could be seen there.

If she is discreet she might be able to scout on the campfire without being spotted.*
Jerry
*Yumiko changed her plans, signalling and leading her friends over to the taller tree. She moved at a manageable pace for them, although she wished she could actually go faster. If only she was an archer, the higher ground would've made for an amazing place to be.*

*If she reached it successfully, Yumiko would begin to hop upwards on the taller tree, using the position to scout out the camp from a safe distance.*
Jodi
*The usagimimi managed to reach the tree quite successfully, and weren't spotted by the camp's inhabitants at all. There she was, a person in full plate armour sitting next to armour roasting some sort of... Small critter over an open fire, and a bunch of men sitting in the camp. All of them had spear and shield or some sort, with some weapons laying scatter on the ground, two of them carried a sword, and one of them didn't have a shield anywhere near him, but had his bow and quiver laying down on one of the tent's side.

A total of two of the deserters had armour, and the rest were wearing light clothing armour. All of them had metallic helmet that protected their skull and the side of their face, though their visor could still be stabbed through. By the look of it no chaimails or protection were extended to their throat.*
Eric
" ..What do you see, Yumiko? " Lilium would ask, concerned about whether whatever she saw matched with the things they were told about the ruffian group.

" Could you describe their armour and weapons, and the exact numbers? " She continued.
Jerry
*Yumiko headed back down.*

"They... They were actually stupid, nevermind." *She'd needed to remember to give Ash a little more of her share later— wait no! It didn't hurt to be cautious. It's not her fault for trusting in humanity's intelligence right?*

"The paladin is there, roasting something, along with a bunch of men sitting around in camp. They all have spears and shields, though there were some weapons scattered on teh ground. Two carried a sword, and there's one archer amongst them. We'll have plenty of cover in the forest."

"A total of two of the deserters have armour, the rest are wearing light clothing armour. All of them have metallic helms. No chainmails or protection extended to their throat, so they have a weakspot around there."

*As Yumiko finished, she turned towards Lilium.*

"What's the plan now?"
Eric
" ..I see. " Lilium rubbed her chin, appearing as if to be deep in thought as she began formulating plans and simulations. 

" ..I got it. We'll do an ambush, as per mentioned before. But for that.. We'll need a bait.. Any volunteers? " She'd look to the three men, hoping that at least one of them were brave enough to volunteer. Lilium required at least a bait for her plan— or if they were too scared to go alone, she didn't mind all three of them baiting as well. 

" The bait would basically lure the attention of the group towards them, while the rest attacks them from behind. It's a simple yet effective plan. Naturally, I'll hand over my Large Shield over to the bait. " She continued.
Jodi
Their answers were quite simple.

All of them shook their head, and then Willin stepped forth.

"If I bait, do I get a higher share of loot? Let's... Discuss how we will distribute the loot here. Let's start with 1 share for everyone. Since you two are magick user, I reckon you two would receive a double share, is that fair?"
Eric
Lilium would simply nod. This was indeed fair. After all, working as the bait will definitely be far more dangerous than those ambushing then. 

" ..How about this. We'll split the loot based on merit. " She suggested. By following a meritocratic policy, it will be fair for all and not biased in any way. 
This way, the Macen and Yumiko won't be able to complain. Everything will be based on the actions they took in battle. 

" It'll be fair this way. Does anyone object? " She continued. She looked to the rest, hoping that no one would object. She was pretty sure Willin won't object as by working as bait, he's already receiving the higher end of the loot.
Jodi
Willin rubbed his own chin and debated the merits of the adventurers plan. If he bait them out, then he could probably claim a much larger share of the loot. This sounded fair, even though he thought he adventurers were more qualified to bait them with their supernatural prowesses.

"Right. I accept your proposal. I'll bait them out" Ash and Aster seems to not object to Willin baiting them out at all.