Johan's still more than slightly shell-shocked as he watches the big oni fall to the ground. However crude the big woman may have been, and however threatening, her manifest physical superiority to his mercenaries had had him inclined to be increasingly cautious- to see her unceremoniously disposed of gave the young veteran pause, although on a second glance he looked at the oni and- well. She didn't seem dead. Not... dead-dead. And if there was so much more magic on this side, and she had a half-digested naga in her stomach... well, there was still hope there, wasn't there? Unless the feline decided to finish off her enemy. Which meant...<br/><br/>Johan smiles and strolls casually to the other side of the feline, keeping her between himself and Disa so that if she was looking at him, she couldn't also be looking at Disa. Not that he expected the oni to get up from that wound, but he did want to give her the chance to be at least temporarily forgotten just in case she could do something useful. The second part of that plan had to be to keep the feline's attention. For a few seconds, the human rubs his head, watching the new arrival and the scene with cautious, measuring eyes. Strong, yes, clearly- but, unless his eyes lied, this one wasn't as<span style="font-style: italic">strong</span>as Disa. Faster, certainly, stealthier inarguably, but stronger? Something told Johan that in a stand up fight this one wouldn't have had an easy time dispatching the oni. Which in turn was a hopeful sign should the worst happen- indeed, when the new arrival locks her gaze onto Cyria, an outside observer might be amused to see Johan locking onto the feline in almost the exact same way, tense and ready to pounce at a millisecond's notice despite the lack of any ingrained catlike instincts. When the feline relaxes, by the time she catches Johan in her field of vision again the mercenary's already in a posture which suggests complete relaxation.<br/><br/>Nothing she's saying is particularly surprising or unusual. There were plenty who only like war for the feeding opportunities- including a few he's fought alongside, not just against. The slight hesitation after discussing the hunt draws Johan's attention like a magnet, though, and he looks over the feline anew. Despite the desperate situation, he can't stop himself from thinking in hypothetical terms about the other woman. A bit more overtly hostile than Disa had been, who'd projected a more carelessly violent aura. This one would probably give anyone she spent the night with some painful scratches at the very least. Might be worth it, though-<br/><br/>-snapping out of it, Johan blinks a few times. No matter what was going in inside his head, the situation hadn't changed, nor had his priorities. One of his people was already melting away inside the critically wounded Disa, and the only hope left on that score was that she might keep the oni alive- if there was a conflict over his band, that gave them a better chance than passing uncontested into one faction's hands. And so, the next time the feline looks his way, he gives her a quick half-bow. "Ah. Mistress Veria," he starts addressing her as she wishes, putting the same notes of flattering appeal in his voice as he'd given to Disa not ten minutes ago, "Allow me to introduce myself anew- I am Johan Mahina and I lead this band. As you probably heard while you are stalking us, none of us know anything about this place, or the factions fighting, or what we've found ourselves thrown into. Would you be so kind to explain to us some more of what our situation is, who you are and who you fight for- and against, and so forth? Disa seemed to not really have much interest in the, ah, wider state of things, while you seem to be more- observant?" He smiles politely. "If nothing else, it will help pass the time while we journey to your, ah, people- though if you intend to lead us, I at least will be able to enjoy the view."<br/><br/><br/>[[Probably won't affect anything, but have a sense motive roll!<a class="postlink" href="http://orokos.com/roll/354415">Sense Motive</a>:<span style="text-decoration: underline">1d20+6</span><span style="font-weight: bold">15</span><br/><br/>And the more important roll:<a class="postlink" href="http://orokos.com/roll/354416">Diplomacy</a>:<span style="text-decoration: underline">1d20+8</span><span style="font-weight: bold">21</span>]]