Norma
Celebration! Big victory! Wanwanwan!

Carlyn had introduced her arse to a chair, and was taking out her excitement on the damn flute. It's probably the hardest she's ever played - she really needs to get a new instrument to go ham on. The flute can only go so hard, and yet somehow Carlyn makes it go even harder than it should. 

After a quick burst of playing, she let out this resounding laugh followed by a rough, "FfFFUCK YEAH!"

Language like that was not particularly expected from the dog, but she's hype as fuck. This was the first really *Major* Victory she had ever had in her otherwise mundane life.
Jennifer
"I'm still mad they broke my shield." *She grumbled.* "I like that shield, brought it with me all these years. I'd sacrifice any one of you for another run out with that shitty old board." *She said as a joke, mostly. She grumbled and dropped down into a seat.*
Philip
*It was somewhat amusing to see the contrast between the jubilant Carlyn and rather glum Sivne. But Sonja did not remark on it.* "...Hey, I think you're getting better." *She remarked to Carlyn with a small chuckle at their intense flute playing. The bear lady promptly plopped into a seat near Sivne.* "With all the silver we gained... I'm sure a worthy substitute will be within your grasp."
Jennifer
"It's not the same, I liked that shield." *She grumbled.* "There's a lot we could buy now, though."
Steve
Ildi stepped away from her lamp she placed on the ground, taking a seat next to the others and stretching. "True. We did a good job today, I think. About your shield, though, couldn't you try and get it repaired?"
Norma
"We could buy a whole damn castle!"
. . .
"Okay, maybe not that much, but still! There's so much we can do now! We've got so much money! We don't have to stay in this cramped place anymore, if we don't want! Although it's free housing so why not but, ah, I just... I can't find the words."

Carlyn stood up and set her flute on the chair behind her.
Ears are straight forward, tail is blitzing, and the look on her face suggests nothing but pure joy.
Jennifer
"It's in splinters." *She grumbled again.* "Our contract's running out, might want to think about getting a renewal or moving on from this town, assuming you all are still interested in us being in a group."
Philip
*Sonja nodded in agreement with the assertions from Carlyn, trying and failing to hide a small grin. The Beastkin lady had never expected to amass such wealth in so short a time. Evidently, this mercenary thing was quite lucrative.*

"...Maybe you could find a blacksmith to make a new shield with pieces of your old one?" *Sonja suggested to Sivne.* "We've got enough silver that someone is bound to take up the challenge."

"And we've yet to assist the Shroommen with their exploratory efforts."
Norma
"Sivne. It's okay. The shield saved your life, and that was it's purpose."

Carlyn had walked up to give Sivne a pat on the head, but uh... She can't even reasonably pat her on the shoulder.

"The next one will serve the same purpose, and potentially do it way better, and I need to buy some armor cause this old piece of junk isn't cutting it anymore. We're getting stronger, and smarter, and wealthier. We're progressing in life. I can't - I just... I never saw myself being here.

A-And don't even for a *Second* Suggest we are going apart from each other. Hell no! *Fuck* No! I decree it! If any of you leave us, I will personally hunt you down and make you come back. We're a team. We're better together than we are apart."
Jennifer
*She let out a groan and leaned back, going quiet for a moment.* "Mmh... Damn, I was good back there, barely got through to me." *A soft smile came to her face as it finally set in how good of a fight that was.* "I had fun, fun with you lot." *She admitted, in an unusually warm tone.*
Maxine
*The mercenary had seen the party walking to the house, recognizing not one, but two people there. He had met Carlyn before in the city. He had met Sonja in the forest. But what he didn't know was that the two were working together, along with two other unknowns. Livio decided to walk up to the door, knocking on it.*
Norma
Ringa ringa, Carlyn pauses and looked towards the stairway down.

"I'll get that. Must be the payment. Give me a sec."

Carlyn went to the door and opened it without second thought, having expected it to be some sort of representative coming with their money.
Maxine
"Carlyn!"

*It was not, indeed, a representative for the money. It was instead wandering mercenary Livio Glace, dressed in white and brown. The only weapon on him was his knife that he had bought from the dog kemonomimi. Said mercenary also reached over to Carlyn, giving her some headpats.*

"I haven't seen you in a while! Is that Sonja too? You guys work together?"
Norma
Slight disappointment was immediately subsided with great happiness, and the dog looked at the man who was (for once) *Not* Well over a foot and a half taller than her or more.

Carlyn give this huge grin and didn't speak, although she did hug the man and let him inside. Then, she welcomed him in and said, "Yeah. We've got a company, and everything! Come, I'll introduce you to the other two. I didn't know you knew Sonja."
Jennifer
*Sivne overheard the talking from downstairs and remained seated, leaning back against the wall. She didn't take off her armour just yet, not entirely sure who Carlyn was inviting into the house, she put a leg upon the bed and relaxed, her sword next to her.*
Philip
*Sonja had be quietly following the conversation, lost in her own thoughts, when suddenly she heard the knocking. Whomst? The brawny bear lady glanced into the hallway as Carlyn let in someone she apparently knew. But then, Sonja realized she recognized the voice. And they recognized her too? Wait, it was the snow man! Well... Errr, Livio. Right. She gave the figure a nod, motioning them over.*
Norma
"It's a friend of mine! I mean, our's, Sonja. Sivne, Idli, this is Livio. Livio - Sivne and Ildi. We've got quite a varied band here, y'know."

A band consisting of an almost 8 foot tall bull, an almost 7 foot tall bear, an almost 6 foot tall elf, and a barely 5'4 dog.

Crazy.
Maxine
*Accepting the hug, Livio slowly stepped inside the house. He was completely unarmored and only minimally armed; carrying around an arbalest all the time was not fun. He waved to the bear, then to the other two. One seemed to be a Brayer, and the other an elf. Both female. Interesting.*

"Hi there! I'm Livio."
Jennifer
*As he came inside Sivne decided to stand up to great him. The brayer was an absolute beast physically, 7'8ft tall, without even a hint of macenization and arms the size of most people's heads. She probably looked like Sonja's bigger sister, just a bull.* "Mmh, you know Carlyn and Sonja?" *She asked with a bit of a grunt, crossing her arms.*
Steve
Ildi watched as the man approached, a normal human, it seemed. As Livio waved, she now returned with a small bow of her head, still seated.

"I'm Ildilnytra. It's a pleasure to meet you. I recently met the others, presuming you know all three of them?"
Maxine
"I do indeed! I met Carlyn in the city when she convinced me to buy a knife. And Sonja in the forest. I almost shot her, but fortunately we were able to talk it out."

*Holy fuck the brayer was tall. A little less than a foot taller than he was.*

*Livio bows to Ildilnytra. He was going to have trouble pronouncing her name.*

"Nice to meet you as well, uh, may I call you Ildi? I know Sonja and Carlyn, but not..."

*The man gestured to the massive brayer in front of him.*
Philip
*Sonja nodded slowly, observing the introductions unfolding. It seemed Carlyn had had a considerably less tense encounter with Livio. In any case, the bear lady was content to remain quiet for now, rather exhausted from their battle. Sure, she hadn't actually been taking blows. But wrenching back the mechanism of her Arbalest near nonstop was tiring. Speaking of which, she had an Arbalest, a new addition to her gear since she had met Livio.*
Jennifer
"Sivne." *She grunted out her name. Her eyes seemed to be sizing him up, appraising him, unsure what to make of him just yet, giving him a look that'd be all too familiar to the other three.* "Your voice, you sound like a local, never met a mentian with white hair that wasn't old."
Maxine
"You could say that."

*Sivne. A much easier name to say and remember.*

"Well, it was always this way. No, it didn't turn white from stress."
Jennifer
"What brings you here then? Mmh, you live here?" *She glances to her other companions who seem to have fallen quiet, then looks back to Livio, still curious to figure him out.*
Maxine
"Here? No, not really. I just wander about. I just saw Carlyn and Sonja walking with you guys; I didn't know you worked together."

*Strolling by Sonja, he takes the opportunity to give her some headpats as well, before taking a seat on a nearby couch.*

"Seems like a party here."
Jennifer
"Mmhmn, we're a small merc band. I'm the group's battlemaster." *She goes to sit back down on her bed, noting the headpat and not commenting on it.* "Us four live in here until our contract runs out."
Steve
"I would be the mage. Although, I'm supposed to be a lancer for the most part." She saw that Carlyn and Livio were close, which is nice. "I've been staying with Sivne, as I got a contract a bit late."
Philip
*Sonja didn't seem particularly amused by the sudden headpats. Sure, maybe privately it wasn't so bad, here she was in public with her coworkers! But despite wearing an expression that seemed to scream "Watch out I bite," She did not elevate her objections beyond an icy glare.*

"...I'm our ranger, now." *She stated flatly, motioning over to an Arbalest of her own.*
Maxine
*Livio was very amused by Sonja's glare. It seems that the people seemed to be multipurpose.*

"Ah, a ranged weapon. And taking after mine, in fact! Well balanced group, I like it."
Jennifer
"I'm the heavy hitter, if that wasn't obvious. We just killed a massive spider queen with some kind of brain melting screech, think it didn't like me." *Figuring he wasn't going to start a fight she decided to take off her plate armour.*
Philip
*Sonja nodded slowly and managed a small smile at the comment from Livio.* "It has... Come in handy. I didn't realize they made such heavy ranged weapons. Those spiders didn't stand a chance."
Steve
"The spiders weren't exactly strong, no. Although, Sivne was quite fairly upset when one of them broke her shield, even if I don't exactly understand the emotional connection... Oh, and yes, Ildi works, I suppose?" Ildi had decided to be perfectly friendly, wiping down the blade of her lance with a damp cloth.
Maxine
"Spiders? I remember those. Nasty if they get close. Shield? Did Sivne use a pavise?"

*Livio remembered his days of using a pavise. While he technically could still use one, he didn't like carrying them. At all.*

"Though I haven't heard of one that melts brains."
Jennifer
"Mmhm, carried that shield with me all the way from my home tribe all the way here, only for some stupid bug to break it. I'd kill to have it back." *She grumbled.* "I still have my sword and hammer at least." *She paused for a moment.* "Think it was a queen, it was a big one."
Maxine
"An old treasure from home huh? Wish I had one of those."

*That was one thing Livio regretted in his life; not having a remembrance from home.*
Jennifer
"You're not too far from home. Mmh, at least you can go home." *She said with a hum, thinking for a moment. She finished taking off her armour and laid back on the bed, putting her feet up and her hands behind her head.*
Steve
Ildi silently nodded, thinking about her own home for a moment. She didn't say anything related to her own, though, simply taking off her lighter armor and setting it aside. "This line of work certainly requires a disconnection from your family, doesn't it?"
Philip
*Sonja nodded slowly in agreement with Sivne. Being able to go home would have been nice.* "Not necessarily..." *The Beastkin remarked at Ildilnyatra's comment, glancing towards Carlyn.* "...I seem to recall Carlyn has been helping manage her family business from afar?"
Maxine
"Home, huh? They must be worried with her going out away all the time. And well... No, I can't go home."

*The atmosphere was somber for a moment, which Livio attempted to break.*

"So, what's up on the table next?"
Jennifer
"We're still deciding what to do next. Our contract's are up, so we're either going to have them renewed or move on. I doubt they'll keep us on the books though, this place is safe now."
Philip
"Bob... We might help Bob and the other mushroom people, meantime. They wanted our help exploring some of the caves." *She explained.* "Perhaps we could even renegotiate our next contract to overlap with that..."
Jennifer
"It's an option. I don't want to work for free though." *She grumbled a little, shifting around and trying to relax more in bed.*
Steve
"I still have to go and get some potions and such, but I can just do that in my free time." She got up and sat next to Sivne, although at the foot of the bed as not to disturb the giant woman. "Livio, where are you staying?"
Maxine
"Just various inns and such, or camping out in the forest if I want. I'm a wanderer; no real permanent place. "
Jennifer
"I used to do that, until I ended up with these lot." *She said, still laying down, mostly staring at the cieling.*
Philip
"Same here. Camping is a cheap way to travel." *She added with a small nod.* "But it is nice to stay somewhere with beds."
Steve
"I mostly just stay at inns, yea. I suppose I'll have to camp if money runs out, though."
Norma
For convenience sake, Carlyn is kind of vibing with the flute right now. 

As close as *Heavy metal flute playing* Gets to vibing.
Maxine
"Maybe that'll change if I ever stay with you guys. Who knows, I could be a secondary ranger."

*Livio wasn't entirely sure how this party liked to operate though. For all he knows, he could outclass them by far, or they could choose to throw caution to the wind and charge in recklessly.*
Philip
"Don't see why an extra ranger would be bad." *Sonja commented cautiously, glancing around to the others. It seemed like Livio knew his stuff, from what she had seen. Though not knowing him particularly well, having extra allies could come in handy. She looked idly towards Carlyn, who seemed to have broken out her flute once more.* "...Though, it might make doubling up on our rooms a little more challenging, if it comes down to it." *Funny that Sonja was worried about room fees when they just finished that massive contract. But that was just the way she was, it seemed.*