[Day 1 - 11:47:43]
[Goblin Pack Leader "Goblin Sorcerer" - Status: ACTIVE]
[Goblin Pack]
[Goblin Caverns - Depths]

Everything had been going well for the Goblin Sorcerer and his pack. They'd successfully raided multiple settlements with minimal resistance from its inhabitants. To think that the humans are still foolish enough to underestimate them. Plunder and women had been rolling in to their cave with no signs of stopping for the past few weeks. The women in particular, greatly satisfied them. Defenseless, weak creatures that didn't know how to fight back. They could only go down to their knees and beg. Yes, they'd been serving their purpose well as fuel to the Goblins' lust to mate. And anyone too weak to comply could just easily be cut off for food, so they were in no shortage of supplies and entertainment.

Even just recently, a group of young, foolhardy Adventurers still thought they can bring them down. Well, they thought wrong, as proven by the new female addition to their slave collection. Some of their kin had been cut down and pummeled, but fallen Goblins are easily replaced by new members of the pack. By the end of the week, they'd probably rise a hundred more stronger warriors to raid more villages, maybe even towns. And that's not even counting the Hogoblin they had in their ranks. Any overconfident, stubborn humans would easily be dispatched by its overwhelming strength.

So yes, everything had indeed been going very well for the Goblin Sorcerer and his pack.

Well... keyword being 'had'.

Just as the Goblin Sorcerer thought they were finally in the clear again to resume their celebration over this new female, they heard these... unfamiliar, loud claps coming from the entrance of the cave. And to say that it was loud would probably be an understatement. It was practically, no, almost quite literally earsplitting. Many members of the Goblin pack, and even the human slaves cried in pure shock when it happen, sending the party of Goblins and humans alike to a near-panicked frenzy. Only after the Goblin Sorcerer roared in a commanding tone that everyone quieted themselves down. And what followed after the claps, there was... silence.

Eerie silence.

A silence that was enough to send the Goblin Sorcerer and his minions scrambling from taking turns to pleasure themselves with the human, and back to their weapons. Whatever caused the sound definitely didn't come from their weapons nor their traps that's for sure. It was caused, produced - by something else. By... someone else? It couldn't possibly the last party they'd ambushed. If anything, by now they'd either be dead, or already running in fear from their cave.

But... it's also been a while since the last patrol had reported in. So something must've happened to them.

Clicking its tongue in annoyance, the Goblin Sorcerer yapped angrily. It must be a trick by the Adventurers to throw them off, to scare them. Unacceptable. They have the numbers, they have the element of surprise, and if needed, they also have the brute force, being the Hogoblin to topple their adversaries. They couldn't possibly be in a disadvantage. The simple thought of its pack losing after everything they'd worked for was furiously irritating for the Goblin Sorcerer.

So with one bark of incomprehensible order along with a wave of its crude magical staff to its minions and the lone Hogoblin, the Goblin pack leader sent all of its minions to fend off against the incoming threat. And so they marched into the darkness, their fear now replaced with eagerness to fight yet again. With everything being thrown at the intruder, they'd have absolutely no chance of winning. The Goblin Sorcerer allowed a cruel smirk to form on its lips, brandishing its sharp, yellow teeth. Now to wait for the good news, and if possible, maybe they'd go back bringing in more females and loot to their stash.

Only what it got wasn't the good news it was waiting for. But a deafening chorus of the same earsplitting claps pierced its ears instead. The horrifying crescendo of explosions was accompanied by the sounds of other Goblins yelling, no... screaming. Screeching. The yelps signified great amounts of pain and absolute shock and despair. The Goblin Sorcerer felt its pointy ears were about to pop from the sensory overload, so it began screaming as well. Tears and sweat of pain began to well up from its skin pores, its muscles catatonically tensing, begging for the sounds to stop.

And stop it did. Leaving that same eerie silence to once again return to the cave.

The Goblin Sorcerer's body was still left reflexively trembling from the overbearing amount of auditory assault. But it soon realized that the screams of its minions were no more. There was no cry of victory, no celebration of sorts, no shrieks of terror from the incoming intruder. Just... nothing but the sounds of the female captives of the Goblin pack whimpering from the supposed fight. The smell of its own kin's blood soon filled the green-skinned creature's nostrils, and just as if confirming its anxiety, a pool of red liquid began to flow back like river to the clearing where the Goblin Sorcerer still reside by its lonesome.

Goblins are creatures that could very well see in the dark. The darkness was, is, and always will be their friend. It could provide them with cover to either run away from incoming threats or as an opportunity to ambush their enemies. But for once, the Goblin Sorcerer was left shaking in fear of the darkness in front of it, and now in some sense of twisted irony, it was also getting boxed in the place the pack had called home. Just what happened in the tunnel in front of it? His minions were numbered in the tens, and there was even a Hogoblin leading the charge. It was just... downright impossible for them to be wiped out.

Its ears twitched when the lone Goblin picked up another new, foreign sound of boots, leather perhaps, thumping down on the rocky, uneven surface of the cavern and it grew louder and louder with each step. The steps were slow. Steady. Rhythmic. It also sounded like it only came from a single individual. All of which made it even more terrifying for the green skin. A single adventurer massacred the entire pack and its Hogoblin in the span of mere, what, literal seconds? Just what kind of magic or tool did they employ to even achieve such a feat? Unheard of. Impossible.

The Goblin Sorcerer shook its head. It was no time for it to be panicking. It needed to survive. It would have to, so that it could start another pack once it escaped. Plunder or females be damned, all that matters was that it could get out of that cavern. Being a higher-level Goblin, the pack leader's brain was strong and developed enough to cast simple destruction spells. It should at least give it an advantage in terms of range if incoming fighter is one of those brutes.

And if it's smart enough to cast spells, then the Goblin is also smart enough to form a simple battle plan. And it thought of just the perfect idea. The creature scurried over to its new female captive, who seemed unresponsive after getting beaten and repeatedly raped by its pack. The still-naked girl was then forcibly pulled by her long hair by the Goblin, who then wrapped one arm around her neck, while it prepared a spell on its other free arm.

The Adventurers are too weak-willed to attack someone with a hostage. They would always stick by their foolish moral code of justice to never harm the weak. And that's what makes them weak as well. Now with his human shield ready, the Goblin would only need to wait for the intruder to come into view, most likely trying to open up a bargain for the hostage's life, to let her go. At that moment, the destruction spell should already be charged, ready to end their life. And then, just to make an example for other incoming Adventurers, the Goblin Sorcerer would also kill the female captives anyway.

Yes. The Goblin Sorcerer could finally see it now, a lone humanoid figure approaching the clearing through the darkness, only stopping just before they enter its full view. Even with its naturally enhanced vision, the Goblin leader couldn't make out anything from the single challenger in front of it, safe for making them out to be this haze of a lone silhouette.

Curiously though, after stopping in their tracks, the rescuer didn't attempt to open up a conversation. They didn't give out as much as a single audible breath to the Goblin leader, and this irritated it. The Goblin barked at the still figure, peeking its head outwards and its arm tightening its choke on the hostage, fully signifying that her life is on the line if the intruder wouldn't surrender. And just in time, the staff behind its back just finished charging the spell to its capacity. With this power, even a graze should be lethal to the Adventurer.

So it barked again, demanding to receive a response from the mysterious figure.

And receive a response, the Goblin Sorcerer did.

A flash of orange light coming from the rescuer's hand, a one, single deafening clap of firework, and a blinding bolt of glowing hot arrow going straight into its forehead.

Followed by eternal darkness... and nothing more.

[Goblin Pack Leader "Goblin Sorcerer" - Status: K.I.A.]

["Fog of War"]
[Day 1 - 11:55:39]
[Sgt. Gary "Roach" Sanderson]
[Task Force 141 - DISAVOWED]
[Goblin Caverns - Depth]

Roach looked through the Holographic Sight of his Adaptive Combat Rifle, its barrel still lightly glowing orange after the earlier repeated discharge. He held his own breath as he tried to confirm the kill of the Goblin who'd been holding a woman hostage. He was somewhat sure that he placed that single shot right through the monster's head, and it should be more than enough. It was a split-second decision, he could try for a double-tap, but being in a hostage situation, the odds were not in his favor, so in fear that a misfire could happen and also injure the captive, the Sergeant settled for a precision headshot that hopefully should do the job.

He stared down the result of his rifle's discharge through his AN/AVS-6 for a few more seconds. Carefully examining the fallen heap of human and Goblin, waiting for an unwanted response. And only after about thirty more seconds of eyeing the motionless body of the Goblin, Gary finally released the breath that he was holding in a wary, soundless sigh. The fact that these creatures even know how to take hostages and even make demands - judging from the deceased Goblin's body language, that is - was nothing short of shocking, if not, horrifying for the 141 operative. These things were practically alien to him, yet as barbaric as they were, they still can exhibit almost human-like intelligence and decision-making.

Unfortunately for the Goblin, and fortunately for Roach's case, he was not in the mood to negotiate for anything, especially with hostage takers. If anything, all the studies he'd received in learning the enemy's behaviors only suggested otherwise, that they'd simply do their terrifying deed anyway. So he dared to make the gamble and it luckily paid off. Slowly, carefully, Roach approached the open clearing, his NVG-assisted vision peering left and right along with his gray-colored rifle to check his flanks and corners, making sure that there were no more unwanted surprises waiting for him.

As he cautiously entered the premises to check on the downed young woman, the Sergeant's nose traced a smell of something... unpleasant. Very much so, that it made him cringe a bit underneath his balaclava. The girl had toned muscles and a developed, athletic form. He wondered if this could be the other missing party member of the girl he'd met earlier. He pushed away the Goblin's corpse away from the unresponsive girl who was laying face down and turned her over.

The sight of her pitiful condition was not surprising to him to say the least, but it still unnerved him. A quick observation revealed several harsh bruises on her face, breasts, and womanhood. The latter two being much more severe that they've started swelling. The Goblins must've forcefully handled her and partied with her body. From her still red, bloated, gaping labia, the soldier picked up more of that strange, unpleasant smell, with bodily fluids still visibly trickling.

A mixture of human blood... most-likely Goblin semen, and... maybe also most-likely Goblin urine - that could be the cause of the smell. The Goblins were pleasuring themselves on this girl, and some didn't even seem to properly ejaculate, only resulting in them pouring their other unwanted bodily fluids on her. Roach shook his head a few times in disgust and mute fury, he didn't know what happened exactly, but whatever it was, it definitely wasn't pretty.

The girl's eyes were empty, and she was just blankly staring at nothing. She was still breathing, but her unresponsiveness was a cause of concern. He wasn't even sure if she was aware of the engagement that just happened or whether she's aware of his presence. In an attempt to see if her mind wasn't truly lost yet, Roach opened his left palm in front of her face and waved it a few times, to see if she reacted at all, or at least, tracked his hand motions. The girl didn't react, not even so much as the slightest eye movement, she didn't even blink.

Gary clicked his tongue internally. He was no psychologist, but the logical part of his brain already diagnosed her psyche to be already broken.

But just before he could try to resume his examination on the girl's state, a few nearly inaudible mixture of soft sobs and whimpers sounded behind him. Now alerted, the Sergeant gently, but also urgently put the young woman's body back down and looked over his shoulder towards the source of the voice. His other dominant arm reflexively going down to his pistol's holster, ready to pull it out, disable the safety, and unload it upon the enemy.

Only that what he saw wasn't the enemy, far from them. It was a group of other women, all huddled together in a pathetic heap, and all in a mostly-similar condition to the girl he'd just checked on. They were all stark naked, and their womanhoods were already ravaged by the green-skins. Many of them were deathly thin, and severely malnourished to the point that their figures were almost skeletal. To Roach's horror, some of them even looked under-aged. And all of them were just reduced to this crying, sobbing, and obviously scared mess.

The 141 operative downright froze at the sight. Even with his amazingly resilient mental state, he was just too unprepared for a sudden scene like this. His muscles tensed and his breath was caught in his throat. For once, he didn't know what to do with this situation. He was foreign to the women, and they were also foreign to him. He was no disaster relief, he wasn't equipped to handle major psychological trauma of even one woman, let alone a dozen of them.

His composure soon returned, thanks to logical part of his brain racing for an idea. He didn't have to think for long, as multiple rattles sounded from the path where he'd came form. Sounded like footsteps, multiple footsteps. This time, Roach immediately pulled his M9 from his hip, with a single swift flick, the safety lock of the sidearm was released, and he immediately trained the gun onto the approaching presence, ready to shoot if anything-

"Blue, blue! Stand down, Roach!"

The familiar, commanding voice of Lieutenant Simon Riley snapped the Sergeant out from his adrenaline-high. With his brain getting clearer from the hormone rush, Roach's vision refocused and an image of... three humanoid individuals was picked up by his Night Vision Device. Two of them familiar, one of them... not so much. Of the three, Roach instantly identified the most prominent one being his CO, Ghost. The man was also trailing his ACR at Roach's general direction, but he had his other arm up to his side and waving freely at the air. He was also wearing his own Night Vision device to assist his travels in the dark.

And then there was Priestess, trailing behind the group of three. The girl still looked shaken up, and was also visibly shaking, but seemed stable and conscious enough to make the journey with the newly formed party. The arrow that was formerly present on her shoulder was already removed, leaving behind a nasty gash that's somehow already regenerating. If the circumstances were better, this probably would've piqued more of Roach's interest. A foreign object cutting through and stuck in your skin, muscles, and maybe even bones wouldn't just heal in the matter of minutes, even with modern medicine.

Last but not least, there was also this... knight? A tall, humanoid male with a rather elaborate but at the same time, light gear. His iron or steel armor looked bare and rather crude, but still provided protection for the right places on his body. Gary also caught some hints of either mesh or chain armor underneath his black tunic situated under his fitted armor. On his left hand, a small, rounded iron shield was strapped to his gauntlet. Judging from the size, it was probably used more to just parry incoming blows rather than for actual protection. His other free hand carried a piece of lit torch, the small flame providing assistance to his vision in the dark. His visually-striking helmet has these tiny, open vertical slits at its visor plate, enough to obstruct the individual's identity.

Safe for his... glowing red eye, that seemed to... even pierce through the darkness?

He couldn't bear to stare at the man for too long, though. The lit torch in his hand providing much interference to his NVG's ability to filter the incoming light.

"Easy, Roach... easy," Ghost said with a hint of unease in his tone, slowly approaching the Sergeant with his own assault rifle pointed harmlessly to the ground. His other hand outstretched to his comrade, who still had his sidearm trained towards the newly arrived group.

Surely, Roach obeyed the words of his fellow operative, his finger lifting off from the trigger to on the guard instead, his wrist twisted upwards, letting the group know that he wasn't going to fire his gun either.

"You good, mate?" Simon's voice was even and calm, losing the edge that was present just a moment ago, a signature of his calm and collected character during active combat operations, his gloved hand placed firmly on his shoulder. The gesture was simple and looked insignificant to the untrained eye, but Roach understood that the fact that he even did it showed that he was most likely concerned for his well-being, more mentally than physically.

Gary stared at the Lieutenant just for a moment, honestly feeling a bit unsure on what to answer, after all that mess they'd been through in just a short time-span. He also noted that the gloved hand on his shoulder was slightly trembling. Until he realized that the shaking didn't originate from Ghost's hand. It was from his own body. Now that the danger has passed, it seemed as though all the shock, alertness, and maybe even a sense of fear and paranoia hit him all at once.

Weighing the gravity of the situation though, he just gave a single, affirming nod, just to confirm that his head was at least still in the game.

The Sergeant then noticed this new, mysterious knight strode past the men seemingly without care. His head pivoting left and right, probably also taking in the scenery. He didn't seem to be fazed by the amount of defenseless women all huddled together just to his left. The newcomer just ignored everything and went straight to the deceased Goblin pack leader to assess its wounds and most likely to confirm the kill.

"...Eighteen."

Roach was lightly surprised at just how... cold and emotionless the man sounded like. As tall as he was, even taller than Roach for that matter - from his voice, he still sounded rather soft and young, maybe even more-so than the 141 operatives. Just barely older than Priestess, at the same time though, his tone was also rough and hardened, like the voice of someone with immense experience. But the Sergeant wasn't too focused on his voice, but rather on the context on why he suddenly started speaking a number out of the blue. Gary crooked his head lightly to the side, silently asking a question.

He wouldn't linger on the unspoken question for too long, for now it's the turn of Priestess to suddenly spring into action. The young woman immediately going for the downed hostage Roach'd saved from earlier. Shock and horror evident in her face as new tears formed on her eyes. Her trembling hands scooped the naked woman, now Roach concluded to be the one missing party member. She held her companion close as she cried.

"It's okay..." Priestess whispered shakily, voice cut off by her own sobs. "It's alright... you're safe now," She proceeded to repeat the sentence over and over and over again at the still-unresponsive woman.

"...Goblin Slayer," Ghost started after a pregnant pause, causing Roach to focus his attention back to his CO. Simon then pointed an index finger towards the mysterious knight who was still observing the area. This seemed to confirm the mute Sergeant's former question.

Roach seemed to silently question the identity of this knight. Like Priestess, it seemed that he didn't have a more... typical name.

"Strange name, I know," The Lieutenant continued, seemingly sensing his companion's confusion. "...Came into the cave just a few minutes after you left. Gave me a hand at treating the girls back at the entrance."

Speaking of the girls, Gary then remembered that there was supposed to be one more woman. She was injured when he left.

As Roach was about to inquire about her condition, the masked-Lieutenant spoke again. "She... didn't make it," He informed hesitantly, voice now laced with disappointment, mostly directed at himself. "It was poison. Goblin Slayer over here told us that she was likely stabbed by a dagger coated with part poisonous herbs, part Goblin piss... and shit. It's already spread throughout her systems that even a potion couldn't save her."

For a first time in a while, Roach could hear an audible sigh coming out from his CO.

"No choice but to put her down," He added heavily, head casted slightly downwards to signify his own silent grief. "...Her own, last request."

Roach was both shocked and revolted at the revelation. But he couldn't do anything but to offer his sympathy for the fallen woman, and for his superior officer.

His free hand opened up into a palm, and it moved over to pat the Lieutenant's shoulder once, returning the gesture that was given to him.

Ghost looked at his own companion. "In the end, he gave the healing potion to Priestess here to speed up her recovery," He started again, ignoring the silent gesture from the silent operative. Whether that was deliberate or not remained to be seen. "Surprisingly it worked like a charm... probably much better than the survival kit we got. He suggested that we should go after you, since the guy said that the Goblins are crafty little wankers that could jump on you with traps and other shit like that."

He proceeded to stare at the carnage and the fallen Goblin leader, his silence lingering for a few seconds before the Lieutenant returned his gaze back to his comrade.

"...But in the end, we just ended up doing a body-count."

Roach looked over his shoulder to set his gaze on Goblin Slayer yet again.

"...Good job on clearing the area, Roach," Simon finally said, the compliment itself felt empty and void under these circumstances, especially coupled with Simon's cold and unemotional tone. "Sorry we didn't get here quicker."

Just as he finished the sentence, Goblin Slayer just finished dismantling a Goblin trinket that Roach didn't even realize was there.

"Have you checked the back," The mysterious newcomer started again with that cold but calculating voice that sounded more like a statement than a question as he kicked down a chair of sorts that resembled a small throne. The trinket came crashing down with most of its parts clattering on the rock surface of the cave, some landing near the 141 soldiers, while some landed near Priestess. This caused the girl to yelp in surprise as she gently laid the downed Adventurer back down and rejoining the men.

Looking at the disassembled throne, and putting two-and-two together, Priestess gave out a gasp of horror. "Are... are these... human bones?" She asked the same question the men of the 141 were having in their own minds.

Goblin Slayer didn't exactly answer the question, but he continued with a: "Typical Goblin trick," The other listeners gulped at his affirmation, but the knight didn't waste no time to direct his gaze to another place. "Have a look at this."

At the prompt, all the other members of the party came closer to inspect what the man was talking about. Just behind the throne of bones was a rather small, nearly inconspicuous-looking wooden door that everyone seemed to miss with the exception from the Goblin Slayer's sharp eyes. Add to the fact that the cave was shrouded in darkness, said door was nearly invisible for all parties involved. Even the newcomer had to shine his torch towards the door for them to pick it up.

Another kick and then the door swung open to the inside. This time Goblin Slayer took point by entering the new hidden area first, quickly followed by Ghost then Priestess. Last to enter was Roach, who acted as the party's new rear guard. Inside, the party found a plethora of odd trinkets and treasures like small furniture and jewelry. Alongside the stolen plunder, they found some new unexpected presence inside the presumable storage room.

"Children...?" Ghost questioned aloud, feeling completely lost at the sight. "Goblin... children?" They indeed looked to be Goblins, though looking much younger and tender, and only about four of them were present inside. The infant Goblins themselves looked confused and scared at their current predicament, like the women captive kept just outside, they were huddled up close together, holding each other in a familial, comforting hug to at least mentally alleviate themselves from the surely-scary scenes that just happened outside.

Goblin Slayer took a step closer to the creatures in question, brandishing a dagger he'd been keeping on his waist. "These creatures multiply quickly. Before long, these four would grow into fifty-raiders strong, and it'll only be a matter of time before they start attacking in masse yet again," Seemingly sensing the incoming danger, the four tender Goblins took a step away from the approaching man. A begging, pleading look present on each of their faces.

"Th-then..." Priestess swallowed a lump, but then allowed herself to continue. "You'll kill all the children too...?"

"Of course."

The response was so fast that it was nearly instant. At it was said in such a cold, nonchalant way that it sent chills down Priestess's spine. Even the 141 soldiers looked to be taken aback from the man's disregard for tender life. Monster or not, they were still children, and for the men, the Goblin Slayer was breaking all sorts of laws and regulations. In an instinct, Ghost reached out to stop the Slayer's advance on the Goblins.

"Oi, you can't be serious," He exclaimed in alarm. "These are just kids!"

The Goblin Slayer merely looked over his shoulder, brandishing his glowing eye yet again, a glowing eye that seemingly radiated so much repressed... anger, fury. Like the knight himself was a walking ticking bomb, ready to explode in a fit of uncontrollable rage. Roach knew that Ghost was a warrior, a fearless one at that, but he would be hard-pressed if he wasn't fazed by just the sheer volume of hostility that was just straight up leaking from the armored man, and true enough, even the Lieutenant's hand, while still gripping hard on the Slayer's shoulder, visibly twitched ever so slightly.

"I am," Was Goblin Slayer's simple response. Again, with that calm and uncaring tone, but aside from his voice, everything else about him said otherwise. "We've already destroyed their nest, killed their pack. They'll never forget these. The survivors would learn from this experience, and in time they'll grow smarter. Stronger," With that simple statement, he jerked himself free from Ghost, whose grip on the Adventurer was already wavering.

Roach definitely had his own opinion on the matter, but whatever he had inside his mind was stopped short when the Slayer continued.

"There is absolutely no reason, to let them live," He finished with an air of finality, raising his dagger high, ready to strike down at the defenseless children.

Unsurprisingly, the Priestess also joined in to give him her piece. "Bu-but what if it were a good Goblin?!" She snapped, both in tone, and her own eyes shut, shielding herself from the imminent scene to come.

"...A good Goblin?" Even through he responded in his still-even tone, it's as though Goblin Slayer was scoffing at the absurd thought. "...If we look hard enough, maybe we'll find one," The grip on his dagger only tightened more, there was no stopping this man. "But I think the only good Goblins are the ones who never come out of their nests." His eye flashed with pure hatred again, and that was the last thing the Goblin children would ever see as he swung down fast, hard, and without mercy.

"No, wait-" Ghost reacted again, desperately reaching his hand out to the man consumed in his bloodlust.

But to no avail.

"...And that makes twenty-two."

[Day 1 - 15:59:33]
[Porcelain-ranked Adventurer "Priestess"]
[Warrior's Team - Status: INACTIVE]
[Adventurer's Guild]
[Frontier Town Outskirts]

The rest went by in a flash for Priestess. After they'd cleared the Goblin nest of any of the creature's activity, they carefully guided the captives and carried the deceased out of the cave. The outside air felt like a divine blessing coming directly from Earth Mother herself, especially when compared to the dread she'd experienced earlier. Goblin Slayer'd arranged a transport to help them carry the women to safety by hailing a passing cart, in which thankfully the wagoner graciously agreed.

The men had to make several return trips back to the caverns to retrieve the rest of the women, as most of them were either too sick, injured, traumatized, or just all of the above, to even react, let alone walk with their own volition. Priestess had offered to help, but was told to stay behind with the wagon, the men decided that she'd been through enough and earned her rest for now. This somewhat upset the girl, but she had to agree that she was exhausted, or drained, to be more exact, and that she had no more energy left to argue with them.

With her adrenaline rush finally dying down, all of her limbs felt... unresponsive. Her arms and knees were weak and shaking, so much so that she took a brief period to just sit down and let her mind and muscles relax. As much they could, anyway. The memory of her party dying in front of her, and even her own brush with death immediately flooded in the moment she closed her eyes. Prompting her to open them again just out of her own fear.

With the final wave of hostages finally boarding the wagon, the men also secured the stolen goods from the Goblin's storage room and also sent them to the wagon's way. Before they were finally on their way, the skull-faced savior offered an extended offer for them to escort the refugee wagon back to the nearest town, or at least until the women receive proper care and treatment. There was no protest from Goblin Slayer, and Priestess herself was more than welcoming of their continued presence.

The trek back to the town was mostly shrouded in heavy, uneasy silence. Priestess wanted to strike up a conversation, maybe lighten up the mood, but considering that they're carrying other severely emotionally-scarred women, and even a few dead bodies, the circumstances just wasn't helping it in any way. She also thought about asking a thing or two about the two masked mages and their highly destructive spells, or just the reason why they came to help, and the same goes to Goblin Slayer with his seemingly well-vested knowledge regarding the Goblins. But then again, the men looked like they were not the talkative type.

In the end, Priestess let her own mind wander elsewhere. Thinking about it, she ironically almost became one of those... too-common tragic story. A settlement raided by Goblins, its residents, the women, held captive. A group of young Adventurers then set off to rid the Goblins and rescue the victims. Inexperienced, but high-spirited. However, the Goblins would prove to be too much for them to handle, and the whole party is either slaughtered, or also became captives themselves. During captivity, the women were forced to become the fuel to the Goblin's desires, before ultimately being killed off for food.

She'd heard the tales one too many times during her training to become a full-fledged... well, Priestess. But she too almost became another name on the list. Even at the thought, tears formed anew. But she didn't allow it. Instead, she allowed herself to reflect. These... horrible things, do they happen everyday to many people? Impacting their own lives as well as their families? And why did it even happen to her? Was this a test from Earth Mother to test her faith?

Or in fact, why would the Goddess even allow it to happen to her subject, no, to her apostle even? Wasn't she supposed to be benevolent? Could she even keep her faith to the Earth Mother now that she'd experienced that tale first-hand? Priestess shook her her head wildly to perish the thought. That was blasphemous of her to even think about it. She sighed heavily, she needed to give this some more thought. Maybe seek counsel at the temple to alleviate her troubled mind.

Her own thoughts strayed for so long, that she didn't realize one of the masked men had been trying to grab her attention by waving his hand in front of her. Surprised, the girl blinked twice before turning her face to the one doing the action. She caught the skull-face's ever-silent companion, if she didn't mistake it, his name's supposed to be Roach. He's pointing his index finger at her, before giving a thumbs up, and tilting his head to the side.

Priestess blinked again, unsure on what he's trying to convey to her. "Umm... I'm sorry, Mister... Roach, was it? I... I'm afraid I don't understand."

To this, the skull-mask supplemented. "I think my companion here is asking if you're feeling alright, Ma'am," His tone now sounded a bit lighter, giving way to his youthful, strangely accented voice to kick back in.

"I-um... yes," The blonde woman answered dumbly, sounding unsure of herself. Only to realize a few seconds after that he probably even bothered to ask because of the new tears on her eyes that somehow refused to fall. In one quick motion, she rubbed her blue eyes with the sleeves of her robes. "I... think so, at least."

While this response seemed to satisfy the oddly mute man, this only made her curiosity to rise again.

"Um..." She tried again, now holding the attention of the two. "I'm sorry if this sounds rude, but... why did you help us? Or... rather, how did you even find us? Did you accept a Quest after our party?"

The men looked at each other for a few seconds, before the skull-face decided to answer for her. "We're... travelers of sorts. Came from a place quite far from here. While we were travelling, we stumbled upon the cave your party were in. Truthfully, we didn't have plans to enter it at first, but a scream - I think it was yours told us that something was wrong, so we decided to check for trouble."

Priestess's eyebrow rose, a bit quizzed at his response, a light tinge of embarrassment forming on the back of her head when he mentioned her screaming. "So... you just happen to stumble upon the cave?" She hummed thoughtfully. "I'd... thought the entrance was unmarked on the map..."

"Well... to be more precise, we got lost," The man added, maybe a bit too quickly after her last response. "As I've said before we're not exactly... familiar with this land, and we've only just arrived at this area as well."

The girl however, didn't seem to be aware of his somewhat hasty response. "I see..." She nodded, accepting the reasoning, despite her reservations, they clearly didn't mean her any harm. "So- um, are the two of you not with the Adventurer's Guild, then?"

The men exchanged glances again. "No, we're not," The skull-face told her after finishing the silent exchange with his companion. "I think you could say that we're... vagabonds?"

At the corner of her blue eyes, she could almost see the one named Roach slowly shaking his head with his palm placed on his face, but the motion immediately ceased when his torso was given a nudge from Ghost's elbow.

"Ah... I see," Priestess said with an accompanying nod, before letting out a small, appreciative smile even through her exhaustion. "But still, I'd have to thank you for rescuing me, Mister... Roach, was it- and Mister..." She trailed off, realization dawning upon her that she never got the skull-face's name.

To that, the man nodded once. "I go by Ghost, Ma'am, and as you've known, my companion over here is called Roach," In turn, the other silent man gave a respectful nod at the girl. "A bit unfortunate that we have to meet under unfavorable circumstances, but... it's a pleasure to meet you. And please, let us know if you need anything else."

Priestess almost recoiled back in surprise at his name. What are these men exactly? From roaches, now ghosts? Just what's up with them and their strange names? They surely didn't look like an actual ghost or a roach respectively. In fact, she's quite certain that behind the masks, they're humans like her. They didn't seem to have abnormal body structures or striking, identifiable features like the other notable races like the Elves, Dwarves, or Rheas.

"Um... y-yes," Priestess stuttered, her voice numb, but managing a single nod. "The pleasure is all mine."

After that, the two strange men went back to being quiet, their posture looking thoughtful. Her attention then shifted towards the other equally strange, and equally mysterious Adventurer, Goblin Slayer. Another man that just came in unannounced to the Goblin Cave. He carried with him a plethora of tools and small weapons, mostly daggers, but that's not what piqued the interest of the young woman, it was the fact that this Adventurer was practically a walking encyclopedia of Goblin knowledge. And it's not simply about basic knowledge either, he knew everything about the little green monsters. Their anatomy, their strengths and weaknesses, their tactics and behavior.

And also... his pure hatred towards them. Remembering his emotionless, but still cruel-sounding voice as he displayed not even the slightest bit of empathy towards the Goblin children, and how he mercilessly cut them down with repeated, savage, and vengeful swings - even as the tender green skins cried and wailed for mercy. He didn't stop, he simply and almost literally tore them apart until all of their movements and their voices ceased. The memory alone made the Priestess wince.

Still, unable to contain her curiosity, her lips parted open. "Mister... Goblin Slayer?"

At that, the knight that was leading the pack shifted his head lightly to his side, acknowledging her hail, just not with his voice.

"You are not with these men, are you?" She pointed at the two strange travelers, still preoccupied with their silence to notice or even care. "...Yet, how did you know how to find us?"

Goblin Slayer's head lingered in the pivoted position for a couple more seconds before he turned back to look straight. "I accepted the same quest as yours."

Despite his short and simple answer, it puzzled Priestess. He... accepted the same quest as her team? Was that even allowed by the Guild? Never mind that, she also saw that unmistaken shimmer of his Silver Guild Tag. This man was of a rank much higher than her own, and he clearly looked like he could take on other bigger, harder quests that are much more suited to an Adventurer of his caliber. He could be slaying larger monsters for better rewards, so why this quest in particular? While the Guild didn't seem to have any restrictions for their Adventurers to pick their quests, it was still rather strange.

Goblin slaying quests in general are considered to be low, dirty work, fit for low-levels or starting adventurers such as herself. They don't pay much nor do they give off much experience and credit for a promotion, and to top it all off, they are usually high-risk jobs for Adventurers in general, so even some tend to avoid quests such as these, some purely because of the perceived lack of challenge and pay, while others - fear. Goddess, now that she thought about it, she didn't even know why she agreed to team up with the Warrior's Party to take on this quest in the first place.

"I... see," Priestess started up again lamely, unsure on what to say after that kind of answer that carried so much air of finality.

She wouldn't have to keep her silence for long, though, as the party trekked over a small incline, their eyes were greeted by the sight of a large settlement just down the range. A sight that brought so much relief to the Priestess, as she breathed out a long, eased sigh for everyone to hear. A genuine smile slowly forming on her lips, unknown to even Priestess herself. And while the men still stayed in their silence, the young woman failed to notice that the two unfamiliar warriors took a pause at the scenery.

"We're here! Thank the Earth Mother..." The blonde girl offered her praises to the Goddess as newfound energy surged within her body.

"Well..." After his prolonged silence, Ghost finally spoke again. "What happens now, then?" He lightly gestured to the girl and Goblin Slayer respectively with a single shrug. "What are you two up to now?"

At the inquiry, both the girl and the knight turned their heads to face the skull-mask, but Priestess was the first to respond. "I- um," She placed her hand on the wagon still carrying the rescued hostages, her earlier radiant excitement now once again muted as she realized it was probably mistimed considering their predicament. "I'll take the women to the Earth Mother's temple, they'll receive their proper healing and care right over..."

"I'll be reporting back to the Guild House," Goblin Slayer answered simply, but before he continued his march, the quiet knight looked to the other two, equally quiet men. "...You two should come with."

At that, Ghost and Roach exchanged a look, probably out of confusion. Roach was the first one two give his silent input by tilting his head to his side in an inquiring manner, or Priestess thought that gesture to be inquiring, since the man simply does not speak at all for some reason. His travelling companion, the skull mask - Ghost, on the other hand, seemed to have put his thoughts together, and the taller masked man gave a simple nod of acknowledgement to the knight.

"Sure thing," Ghost's answer was equally short and simple. "Mind leading the way? We're... not exactly from around here," Priestess couldn't hear any sign of courtesy from his voice. It was plain and even, despite the rather sheepish request.

Roach then turned his head to the Goblin Slayer, and then back to Ghost, his face paced between the two men for a couple more seconds, if Priestess had to guess, he was still rather confused about this whole situation. Though being the vagabonds they were, she couldn't really blame them. Still, it was pretty strange for them not being familiar to this town, it was essentially the main hub for Adventurers or even mere passing travelers alike across the Frontier. Surely they must've at least heard something about the town.

Goblin Slayer didn't give a visible gesture for the men, but he did reply back with a, "Sure." He also directed his interest briefly to the cart and then to Priestess. "You too. Get them settled, then meet me at the Guild House."

Not expecting the request, that sounded less like a request and more like an order, Priestess flinched from his steely gaze. "Y-yes, sir," She nodded swiftly, not wanting to start up an argument by being defiant, especially in her tired state, though slightly confused for her requested presence.

Without pause, Goblin Slayer began his slow march down the hill, straight into town, followed closely behind by Ghost, and his silent companion, Roach, but not before the two vagabonds fared their wells to the young woman and the wagoner. The girl simply watched as they slowly dip further into the open gates of the town, before disappearing into the sea of people still crowding the streets below, leaving her behind.

"Where to, young miss?" The wagoner piped up from his carriage. "The temple, right?"

Priestess blinked twice, surprise taking over her senses as she continued to watch the three men for maybe a bit too long. "Ah, yes! Please follow me, it should be this way..."

[Day 1 - 17:01:29]
[Sgt. Gary "Roach" Sanderson]
[Task Force 141 - DISAVOWED]
[Frontier Town]

Gary's mouth was still shut and his lips unmoving, but his neck pivoted around, examining the town to great detail now that he was in it up close. From afar, the town, that while looked impressive from the outside, seemed to just be a modest-sized village back in his own world. From the inside though, the town actually feels like a town, or a medieval, fantasy one that is. People were bustling about, the fresh but busy air, and the scent of plants, crops, food, and tempered metal alike filled his nostrils, all of them smelled novel, but also welcomed to the man.

The town itself may not look that impressive for someone that came from a more civilized age like him, but being there alone simply fascinated the 141 Operative. Being able to see and feel traditional architecture of buildings and roads alike, it was like a civilization left untouched by technology, and of course, the horrors of war. Even as his job as a soldier that required him to travel to the far reaches of the globe to see many new, exciting, and exotic things, Roach was still impressed nonetheless. It's like every single new thing that he saw came straight from fantasy books or movies or old.

But what was even more novel, was the fact that the streets were not only packed with normal humans, but also... not-so-normal humans, or just straight up non-humans. His trained eyes captured the sight of many individuals with... unique and distinguishable physical traits than the others. Some had elongated, pointed ears, others had animalistic features on their body - from long whiskers, tails or ears associated with real-life animals and even skin colors.

Roach himself was expecting to be more surprised or elated at this strange new society, expecting to be just standing there, shocked, wide-eyed like a child in a toy store. But after all that's happened to him over the last few hours, he really couldn't bring up the energy or excitement or any kind of positive stimulation to his brain even if he tried. Pivoting his head to the side, he found the taller Lieutenant, taking in the views himself but also staying in his own vigilant silence, clearly he was storing all noteworthy information for discussion later.

The one leading them also seemed content with the quietness that was shared between the trio. This knight, the Goblin Slayer paid no attention to all the commotion and activity happening around them. His helmet ever looking ahead, not even taking curious glances over his shoulder towards them or to literally anything else. The armored man stopped for nothing and said nothing during their trip to the supposed Guild House.

Even as they arrived at the Guild House, Goblin Slayer still kept his mouth shut and made no attempts to beckon them inside. He merely stepped into the large building and made a beeline towards the reception desk. The premises itself was very well-lit, with traditional candle-lit lamps and lanterns adorning throughout the architecture of the structure, the looming darkness outside was shooed away by the bright decorations inside. The Guild House looked much more impressive on the inside, with high ceilings and wonderfully polished stone and wooden furnishings, Roach felt like they just entered a cottage more than an administration building.

Numerous voices boomed all around the Sergeant, filling his ears with noises and languages not native to his tongue, groups in all different kinds of shapes, ages, species and sizes huddled commuting and talking inside the large interior of the Guild House. All of them wearing all sorts of armor and carrying weapons that clearly didn't belong to the 21st century time period. Most of them would do nothing to stop bullets from their modern-day firearms.

He eyes spotted bulky knights with towering, imposing figures that honestly looked exaggerated even by fantasy standards. Hulking masses of meat and muscles with weapons equaling in size, scars adorning their flesh and armor as prove of their plethora of experience in close-quarters combat. There were also other groups who were dressed in garbs and carrying equipment not too dissimilar from what Priestess was using, like magicians of sorts. Their eyes planted on their own tomes.

Gary could almost scratch his head if there wasn't the helmet on his way. It's like seeing typical fantasy tropes come to life.

In the end, Gary just kept looking around, curious on all the wonders inside the Guild House, his curiosity only kept in check by his exhaustion and his own sense of unfamiliarity. Despite everything, he knew that he probably shouldn't be staring around too much. Aside from being somewhat rude in some cultures, the gesture might also bring unwanted attention for men like themselves, who obviously have little to no good excuses to explain themselves.

Fortunately for the 141 operatives, the people around them didn't seem to mind their presence all too much. Some threw them brief glances of curiosity sure, most likely towards their chosen attire and gear, but not too the point of looking suspicious. If he had to guess, Roach would deduce that the Guild House was a melting pot, a place for almost literally all kinds of individuals to convene, so for the inhabitants of this world, seeing new, fresh faces from lands distant and unknown probably was not too uncommon of a sight.

After finishing his brief recon session, his eyes then travelled back to look at his CO, Simon Riley, who had his back planted against the wall, his ACR hanging loosely on his torso, suspended only by the sling connected to the weapon. His arms were folded and his masked head was cast down slightly, but he knew well that underneath the pair of his reflective eye wear, he was also doing the same thing he did, scanning, studying - while at the same time, minimizing and masking his presence as best he could. It's like he's doing his best to blend in with the background, not sparing any prolonged glances on one thing before moving onto the next.

On the far side of the room, the men spotted their equally silent and stoic guide, Goblin Slayer talking to an eager young woman behind what they assumed to be the administration desk. The girl herself was dressed in a set of clothing that surprisingly didn't look too unfamiliar, not unlike to modern-day office uniforms. Even her overall appearance looked almost normal and unassuming in comparison to all the other people they've seen so far. Sure, her wide, bright golden eyes might not be the most common eye colors around back in their world, but her light brown, almost pale blonde hair looked natural at least.

Just as Roach was about to move on to the next person or object that caught his interest, his eyes actually caught Goblin Slayer turning his head towards them for once. This led to the young woman behind the desk to also turn her curious attention to look at the 141 operatives for a few seconds. Ghost definitely caught this on, but still being on his guard, the British chose to feign ignorance, and pretended to look like he didn't paid them any attention so that they in turn wouldn't pay too much attention to him.

Roach however was a bit slow on the uptake, as was caught looking back towards the desk.

Not wanting to look rude, he settled for a silent nod.

The young man and the armored adventurer merely stared at him for a few more seconds before they returned to whatever conversation they were having. Or at least, finishing up whatever business Goblin Slayer had, because not a few seconds too soon, and he was already stepping away from the counter, the lady seeing him off with a kind smile. The ever mysterious man now marched towards the soldiers of the formerly active Task Force, a curious pouch now on his hand.

Now within their range, both Ghost and Roach finally turned their bodies fully to face the adventurer, curiosity rising, but not peaked enough for them to suddenly ask questions unless prompted.

Easily, Goblin Slayer held the pouch forward for them to take. "Here," Their guide said simply, still sounding as toneless and detached as ever.

Both resurrected men exchanged confused glances between each other. "...Uh," Ghost was the one to speak up, eyeing the moderately hefty bag in front of them.

"The Quest reward," Goblin Slayer supplied, extending his hand further, waiting for the two men to snatch it. "Yours to take," The man suddenly paused for a few seconds, his other free hand reaching inside the pouch to pull out a few pieces of glimmering silver coins. "...For the girl. If that's alright with you."

"...You sure it's alright for us to take it?" Simon merely stared at the knight, his hand hesitant to reach out. "We're just travelers who lost our way. We didn't accept any err... 'Quest' or anything."

The shoulders of the Adventurer merely shrugged. "You're the ones who completed the task, you deserve to be compensated."

Roach pointed an index finger towards Goblin Slayer. 'But what about you?' With his head tilted to the side, the silent gesture looked like he was posing a question.

Somehow, it seemed as though the armored man understood the mute query. "I'm not here for the rewards, just the Quest," His answer was both matter-of-fact and also cryptic at the same time.

The stoic trio continued their silent staring contest for what felt like almost a minute, Ghost finally took the initiative and accepted the bag of what they assumed to be the world's currency into his hands. It looked like Goblin Slayer wasn't the type to ever budge from his position anyway. The Lieutenant's gloved hands plopped down ever so slightly when the weight was transferred to his body, looks like the pouch was heavier than expected, despite its unassuming size.

"Again, I'm taking a few of these if that's alright with you," Goblin Slayer spoke up again, on his open palm were a few silver coins. "For the girl."

"Sure, of course. We don't mind," The 141 Lieutenant gave a single nod, his tone sounding absent, it's as if his brain was thinking about something else entirely as he looked upon the bag of silver coins now on his hands. "Actually, now that you're here, you know a place we can stay at nearby?" He snapped his head back up to face the Adventurer. Ghost then shot a look towards his fellow soldier and the crowded surroundings. "...Preferably a place that isn't too crowded."

Goblin Slayer looked at the two soldiers in silence, one that went for a tad bit too long. "Not really," The man finally answered with a shake of his head. "You're probably better off asking her," He jabbed a thumb over his shoulder to the young woman he'd just talked to earlier.

Roach silently chewed his lower lip beneath his balaclava, all the while fighting the urge to shake his head, panic and anxiety creeping inside his normally steady and empty mind. The way the Lieutenant worded his question sounded way too suspicious for their own good. The fact that their bad excuse of 'being a vagabond' wasn't pathetic enough, now they probably looked like criminals on the run and in need of refuge from prying eyes and other kinds of authority.

"...Right," Ghost nodded once more, still sounding as absent as before. "Thanks for the help either way," With that, he strolled over the counter, with Goblin Slayer merely watching from where he stood.

The Sergeant, who had no business with the administration lady, also kept quiet in his place - though he hoped for the best for whatever the Lieutenant had in his mind. The man was clearly thinking about something in particular, Simon Riley was always known to be a deathly pragmatic individual, one who would always argue that logic and common sense trumps over all, so he had a plan, and that most likely involves them staying a night in town.

He watched as Ghost started a brief exchange with the young woman Goblin Slayer mentioned, the girl in question looking a bit surprised, not expecting the man with the intimidating skull mask to just march up to strike up a conversation. One could tell that the girl looked almost nervous, but she suppressed whatever thoughts she had and offered the Lieutenant a professional, practiced smile as a form of greeting.

Roach's keen eyes noted that she was cautious of his presence, and now that he thought about it, most likely Goblin Slayer was too. The armored man kept his head trailed towards the counter, observing the conversation closely. His stance relaxed, but giving off the vibes that he's ready to pounce anyone or anything should things go south. The Sergeant debated internally as his free hand slowly went to his hip, where his sidearm was stored, an action that went unnoticed by the Adventurer.

Ultimately, a small noise on the back of his head chided the ever silent soldier. A small voice that reminded him that they weren't looking for trouble, especially in a world so foreign to their old one. That small voice successfully drove his sudden extreme sense of paranoia away, his fingers relaxed just as they were about to touch his M9, and the hand went back up to hold his plate carrier by the shoulder suspender. Normally, this action would probably be frowned upon by the 141. A group that always expects trouble.

But he's not exactly 141 anymore. So he just went back to his silent prayer, hoping things would turn out fine at the counter.

Nods were exchanged by the two, and with another of her practiced business-like smile, she sent Ghost off on his way. The masked Lieutenant muttered an audible thanks to the lady before he went back to the two quiet men.

"Alright," Ghost finally said to his subordinate, his voice sounding much more composed now, an objective clear in his mind. "We've got a place, a small inn to the south of town, shouldn't be far from here."

Roach merely nodded, unable to find a more proper respond to that kind of information.

"...Appreciate the help ," The Lieutenant offered a nod to Goblin Slayer, beckoning Gary to follow him as he made his exit.

The armored Adventurer kept his steady gaze on them, never leaving until the two soldiers left the premises.

[Day 1 - 17:22:47]
[Lt. Simon "Ghost" Riley]
[Task Force 141 - DISAVOWED]
[Small Inn]

As the two armed men entered the building, Ghost's polished senses could immediately feel a pair of foreign eyes trained on them. Just to their front, leaning against a bar counter was a single man, somewhat short in stature compared to the normal human beings, but not short enough to be considered a dwarf. His scruffy brown hair was somewhat long and unkempt, with bangs extending to the sides of his face, divided only by his pair of slightly slanted and elongated ears. A thick beard was also present on his face, which made his expression somewhat hard to discern from afar.

"...Huh," The man rumbled a single scoff, not sounding entirely unfriendly, leaning more towards being surprised than anything else. "Wasn't expectin' any of customers..." His own opinion came out as easily as he downed a tankard that was present on his hand.

Both Ghost and Roach watched in light amazement on how the short male demolished whatever substance was in that mug, but both made no attempt to retort to his offhanded remark. They merely let themselves in now that the man confirmed his identity to be the owner of the establishment. The inn itself was merely modest in size, its construction and furnishings done entirely with wood, as opposed to the buildings at the central part of town, where stones were thrown into the mix. The architecture honestly reminded Ghost to a saloon.

Empty tables and chairs decorated the small landscape, most of them not looking in pristine condition, but also looked sturdy enough that a large man could sit on them without breaking. Assortment of drinks of unknown origin were lined up on a shelf behind the counter. True enough to Ghost's request, the inn wasn't exactly packed with people, which was just the place he needed to gather and crystallize his thoughts after a long day.

A tired sigh escaped from the Lieutenant's lips. Uncharacteristic from a stoic man such as him. One that did not go unnoticed by his perceptive subordinate, who gave Ghost a sideways look, one that he ignored for now.

"You two lost or somethin'?" The innkeeper's eyebrows rose, now positioned behind the counter, his fingers started to tap impatiently on the wooden surface. "An inn ain't exactly the best place for window shoppin' you know."

The two exchanged another glance at one another, until Ghost took the lead to plop himself down an empty chair, still mindful of the weapons over his shoulder. Roach followed suit, sitting just across the Brit noiselessly. With both soldiers being so used to the silence, it was normal for them to spend long stretches of time just staying quiet and without doing anything in particular. However, it sure made for an awkward scene in a social space such as that inn.

The sole staff of the building trotted over to them. "You guys gettin' anything?" His tone sounded just as impatient as before. "Or are we just gonna have a starin' contest for the entire night?"

Ghost produced the pouch of currency he'd received earlier. "Food, drinks, a place to rest," He replied evenly. "The Guild House told me that this was the best place for them."

Whatever he said made the innkeeper snort. "Food, drinks, and a place to rest. Yeah real specific shit right there. Might as well just fuckin' say 'we're lookin' for necessities'. You wanna elaborate on that?"

"Whatever you're recommending, then," The Lieutenant placed a five silver coins down on the table. "What can we get with these?"

At the sound of coins being dropped, that seemed to grab the innkeeper's attention. "...Five silver coins..." He mumbled a few things to himself, sounding like gibberish to the two soldiers. "Yeah, well. A full dinner course of meat stew, a few strong drinks, and a room for two for the night. Sounds good to you kids?"

Ghost eyed the short man, choosing to ignore the fact that the man just called them, two grown men - kids. "Beef stew. Doesn't exactly sound like a full dinner course to me..." The British muttered just above his breath, but clearly they weren't in the place to haggle for better offers. They didn't even know how the currency works in the world they're in. "Yeah, you know what, whatever. Beers first."

The innkeeper scooped the currency off the table and into his waiting hands. "Comin' right up."

Simon could feel the gaze of his subordinate on him for a few minutes now. "Well..." He turned his head back to face him. "Looks like we can finally make good on that promise mate."

Gary's head tilted, clearly not getting the man's words.

"...You know, about how we should catch up on a few things over some beer... if heaven or hell has a pub," Simon reminded with a shrug. "Yeah, well it looks like hell has one after all."