Nikole
*Katya entered the tavern in a small mountain village, somewhere in Lymia. She was told about a monster, lurking somewhere near in the mountains and the locals would pay for getting rid of it - at least that's what they said they would do. Katya didn't survive this long by being trustful. She sat by one of the tables in the corner and talked with a villager that told her about the monster. Several minutes later, the conversation was over.*
"Fuck." *She muttered to herself. Nobody knew what the monster looks like or where does it exactly live. That's it for the job being quick and easy. Her thoughts were interrupted by someone else entering the inn. He didn't look like any of the locals. Katya put the hood on, not to attract any unwanted attention and looked at the person who entered.*
Debbie
Byleth in few moments appeared on the tavern's scene, armed with his lute and voice. The crowd in the tavern gave a short round of applause - a token of respect for minstrels who travelled far to this village. **"Greetings, greetings to all!"** - he did a low bow with his legs crossed, then straightened his back, put his playing hand on lute and loudly announced **"The folk song 'Three Ravens', performed by yours truly."**, - another short round of applause followed. He coughed few times, and started calm lute song and sung:
*"There were three ravens sat on a tree,
Down a down, hey down, hey down.
They were as black as black might be,
With a down.
The one of them said to his mate,
Where shall we our breakfast take?
With a down, derrie, derrie, derrie, down, down.

Oh, down in yonder green field,
Down a down, hey down, hey down.
There lies a Knight slain under his shield,
With a down.
His hounds they lie down at his feet,
So well they do their Master keep,
With a down, derrie, derrie, derrie, down, down."*
Nikole
*She sighed with relief. It was just a traveling bard - no need to worry. Although... Something about this bard felt familiar. As if Katya knew him. She looked at the bard, closely. And then she finally recognised him - this bard was the guardsman whom she helped to escape from thugs in a city, months ago. She couldn't remember his name, but one thing she was certain of - he can fight. And someone she could trust is what she needed right now - going alone to fight an unknown monster was basically a suicide. So Katya payed attention to the song, waiting for when the bard finishes.*
Debbie
*"His Hawks they fly so eagerly,
Down a down, hey down, hey down.
There is no fowl dare nie him come,
With a down.
Oh, down there comes a fallow Doe,
As great with young as she might go,
With a down, derrie, derrie, derrie, down, down.

She lifted up his wounded head,
Down a down, hey down, hey down.
And kissed the wounds that were so red,
With a down.
She got him up upon her back,
Carried him to earthen lake,
With a down, derrie, derrie, derrie, down, down.

She buried him before the prime,
Down a down, hey down, hey down.
And was dead her self ere even-song time,
With a down.
God send to every gentleman,
Such hawks, such hounds, and such a Leman.
With a down, derrie, derrie, derrie, down, down."*

Byleth finished the song and basked in momentary light of glory - applause echoed across the tavern, and then slowly stopped. He put away his tavern, grabbed his money pouch, opened it and extended it to crowd. Few folks dropped some coins into his pouch, eventually totaling to 290 coppers. Finally some money, he has been on total 0 for quite a while (hey those are my starting money so it is legal, probably). He tied his pouch and stuffed it into his belt's front compartment. Minstrel grabbed his lute, stepped down from the stage, took a seat behind the innkeeper's counter and passed something to him before proceeding to sit and contemplate something.
Nikole
*As the bard finished the song and stepped off the stage, Katya stood up. She walked over to the counter and sat by the bard.*
"It's been a while." *She said, taking off the hood. She hoped the bard still remembers that Katya saved his life back then - and she also hoped she didn't make a mistake and it is this bard. So the witcher waited for any kind of response.*
Debbie
Traveler almost instantly recognized Katya - after all how could he forget someone who saved his life?
**"Kept me waiting, huh?"** - he smiled a bit and passed few slices of dried apple to her. **"Katherine, right? Or was it Ekaterina?"** - his brown eyes squinted and ran their gaze between her hair - it was Katya, no mistake, but what was her full name, again?
Nikole
"Katya. Just Katya. And your name was...?" *She asked, meanwhile she also picked one of the dried apple pieces and ate it.* 
"Sorry for not remembering but, well, haven't seen you for months." *She waited for the man to introduce himself so she can explain the situation with the monster.*
Debbie
**"Months? It has been 2 years, in fact! Well, I am Byleth, been making living as traveling bard - minstrel, learned the bardic art from cold-blooded magnificent bastard back at Adotuge. What about you? I am sure many grand things happened to you while we were apart."**, - Byleth then chowed on some of his raisins.
Nikole
"Nothing much. I've been killing monsters. And that's actually what brings me here. The locals speak of a monster in the mountains, but that's about everything I know about it." *She stopped speaking for a few minutes, then continued.*
"I've seen you fight. You'd make for a good companion on the quest. Going there alone would be suicide, I need someone I can... Well, more or less, trust. What do you say?"
Debbie
**"Alas, I am not quite a fighter - my training as city guard doesn't amount to any proper military training or combat experience, my spear and bow can only do so much in my hands. But I suspect you are desperate for an ally if so far you found none, so I guess now it is up to me. Don't worry about me stabbing my own eye out - I am unskilled, not incompetent, at least I think so."**
Nikole
"Well, I can trust you, and that's important. I don't want to be backstabbed in the middle of a fight." *She smiled slightly.* "Just one thing. You talk too much, you're going to do something about it." *She didn't really like the idea of being helped but she didn't want to die, either - and that's what would happen if she attacked the monster on her own.*
Debbie
**"If the art is mirror of soul, then words are reflection of soul. But if silence is what you want, then I can provide to the best of my ability."**, - he did a short nod, then continued: **"Let me gear up, I left most of my equipment in a stash. Wanna help me out with digging it out?"**
Nikole
"See? You speak too much." *She sighed, but with a slight smile. Then she stood up.* "Where did you leave your equipment?" *She asked, going towards the tavern door. Katya was glad she came along Byleth - not only did she have someone she could trust, but also the bard's friendly attitude also affected her.*
Debbie
Byleth nodded, stood up after Katya and followed her behind until the tavern door, then outpaced her, opened the door and led her all way to the village's outskirt - a lonely goats herder's house. He stopped at some kind of snow mound and started to rapidly dig away with his hands.
Nikole
"That's a lot of effort to hide some gear. You couldn't carry it with you? After all, what would a potential thief do with it in this secluded village?" *The steps Byleth took to secure his equipment were impressive, although a bit pointless. After all, as Katya noticed, who would steal it here? Well, extra caution hasn't killed anyone yet... Katya stood there and watched the bard dig out his gear.*
Debbie
He finally dug out his metal and damn, he was really packing! Yew shortbow, quiver, arrow, caltrops, belt with sheath for short blade and holster for mace, winged spear, linden wood rimmed heater (stereotypical knight shape) shield, short mace with steel handle, shortsword, rondel dagger, knife, big leather backpack, manacles & shackles, rope and armor.
First of all, he was protected by dark grey-colored aketon with sleeves up to wrists and hemline just a bit below knees. On his feet pair of leather boots which extend up to knees, each has small sheath for knife/dagger-sized blade. His hands were covered by leather gloves studded with some kind of metal - for extra punching power. His upper legs and thighs are protected by steel plate faulds and tassets which are attached over gambeson as part of almain rivet armor. Combined chestplate and backplate adjusted by slim leather belt covered his torso while riveting steel plates covered his shoulders and upper arms, just barely reaching elbows. His head was first covered by linen coif/wrapping, then by mail coif extending down below shoulders (thus protecting neck as well) and topped with burgonet helmet with visor.
**"Almain rivet. Hardened wrought iron. Not exactly the top quality, but it protects well and it is really cheap compared to many other options."**, - he looked more like a soldier or a mercenary than bard, or heck, even a discount knight!