<div class="floatleft">(https://i.ibb.co/K0D7pwv/Khaida-DS-shadow.png)</div><strong>Name:</strong><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 12pt;">𝔎𝔥𝔞𝔦𝔡𝔞 𝔐𝔬𝔯𝔯𝔦𝔤𝔞𝔫</span><br/><strong>Location:</strong>Port Dawn, Guild House Stables<br/><strong>Tagging:</strong>-<br/><strong>Content:</strong>Accepting Work<br/><hr/><hr/>The sun warmed the back of Khaida's neck as she busied herself with the task of unburdening a sturdy mule of its trail saddlery. The wide berth of the open stables allowed the rays to cascade upon the young woman as she went about her business. The light touched upon the scars of years-old burns, shone as a redder hue upon her exposed nape. The woman's ruddy locks were pinned up in a sloppy bun, keeping the long hair out of her eyes as she worked. The short lass was in a foul mood. Only recently arrived in Port Dawn, Khaida had traveled here with the ambition to brave into the mountains west of the capital. Accounts of dragons occupying those lands had circulated and found their way to the guild. The Fangbreakers, ever diligent in being the first to make kills in new territory, had made arrangements to send their best and most dedicated slayers overseas to meet this challenge. Khaida being the single-minded woman that she was, had taken the first ship out of Maelgor. Others had set out after her, and were due several days behind. The sky-eyed slayer had made use of her time waiting in Port Dawn by acquainting herself with the local guild house and various artisans the city had to offer. Khaida had even managed to find a blacksmith she might consider skilled enough to order up spears from, in the event she needed a resupply. However, all her planning had been stricken when a report of the cargo ship, Mary's Crown, had been lost at sea in a violent storm. The other slayers that were to accompany Khaida had been on that ship, and were now numbered among those lost at sea. Dropping a leather strap to the straw piled floor of the stables, Khaida plucked the last remnants of a harness from the grey pack animal.<br/><br/><br/>It was not the loss of her company that irked Khaida. It was the delay. In truth, there were many members of the Fangbreakers. The red-headed huntress knew a good many of them in passing, but hardly a soul by means of friendship. Their demise at sea only meant to Khaida that she would be idle here until the next packet of ships came this way from Maelgor. She had been prepping her mule so as to be ready to lead a scouting party ahead of the group and provide reconnaissance as the lot of them made their way into the westward wilds. Now, with each bag of supplies she had stripped from the mule, so too did her mood darken. As she gathered her things, Khaida moved to return the mule to the stablemaster. She was still fully armored, and her thoughts were already begrudging the notion of having to remove her equipment in the isolation of her rented room instead of a distant campsite. However, before she could make her way to the aged dwarf that oversaw the guild house stables, an unfamiliar voice called out to her.<br/><br/><em>"Khaida?"</em>, it was a low voice. Male, and with an air of commanding.<br/><br/>As the blue-eyed slayer turned to discern who it was that called upon her, she espied what appeared to be one of the guard captains. Khaida distinguished him from the obvious subordinates that followed the captain, as his breastplate was shinier and with more regalia than his lessers.<br/><br/><em>"What?!"</em>, Khaida returned with a discontented sneer. The last thing she wanted right now was some issue with the local law.<br/><br/><em>"You ARE Khaida Morrigan, yes? The Dragonslayer out of Malegor?",</em>The captain pressed a confirmation.<br/><br/><em>"No, I hunt pixies with that spear.",</em>Khaida retorted with a snide hiss.<br/><br/>The huntress waved her hand at the pile of gear she had just unloaded. Among the camping gear and trail rations was also a neat bundle of coal-black spears. Their make was of obvious quality, but their model was what quickly distinguished Khaida's vocation. The spearheads were fashioned with a serrated edge, with the tip coming to a round for strength. These were made specifically to wedge between the scales of draconian hide and slide right through their tough skin. The shaft was thin, but adamantly strong  and polished to a sheen. When properly wielded, the spear would pass deep into a writhing cavity with little resistance, seeking vital organs. Khaida was a lancer, and hers was the most infamous of roles in the domain of dragonslayers. However, she was near useless without a team to support her.<br/><br/>The captain dismissed Khaida's smart comment and proceeded with his business. In truth, he had already confirmed the woman's identity with the guild house, and had only gone through formalities out of propriety.<em>"I have been authorized by his lordship, King Aemon, to offer you employment."</em><br/><br/>Khaida had already prepared another remark, but was taken by surprise at the captain's words. She instead said nothing, only raising a brow in curiosity.<br/><br/><em>"A party has been assembled to go into the lands West of the Mountain Gate. They seek to return to his highness, a dearly valued subject. This group will need the expertise of a person with your... experience with dragon kind, if they are to make quick passage. The alternative route is not of a desirable timespan."</em><br/><br/>Khaida shifted her stance, relaxing a bit as a smirk graced her previously grim countenance. It would seem that fate had smiled upon her. While her expedition with the Fangbreaker slayers had been postponed, here was an opportunity to push forward without them. Khaida would be the solitary Fangbreaker presence, and damn the Gods if they sank all the ships between here and Maelgor.<br/><br/><em>"As you no doubt already know, the presence of dragons in the-"</em><br/><br/><em>"Yes."</em>, Khaida interrupted the captain before he could finish.<br/><br/><em>"Excuse m-"</em>, but he was cut off again.<br/><br/><em>"I said, Yes. Or were you expecting a slayer of the Fangbreakers to turn down an opportunity to drag one of those foul lizards from their wretched nests?"</em><br/><br/>Khaida turned her gaze from the city official back to her pile of gear on the stable floor.<br/><br/><em>"When are they set to leave the city?"</em><br/><br/><br/>