[center]
[img]https://i.imgur.com/UAsePrz.png[/img]

[b]Location:[/b] [i]Quiet Slums, Suttlings Basin, Priestella[/i]

[b]Interactions:[/b]
[i]??? [@Crusader Lord]
??? [@Rune_Alchemist]
??? [@Ryofu]
Vasilis Achillos (collab with [@BrokenPromise])[/i][/center]
[hr]

The encompassing gloom pervaded the slums of the Suttlings Basin, despite the morning hour. Barely anyone was outdoors, characters taking foothold in the shady alleyways. The crude dwellings of the residents lacked any form of exposure, windows boarded up and barricaded for good measure. The atmosphere was a mixture of silence and trepidation. This stood in stark contrast to the majority of the areas in Priestella, extroverted with booming trades and roads bustling with activity.

[color=afafaf][b]"This is upsetting..."[/b][/color] The young lady uttered, followed by an insipid exhale. Her feeble tone expressed her worries and sympathies toward the people of this neglected town. Shielded from the distant sun's rays with her parasol, Irene, accompanied by her knight-in-not-so-shining-armour, stood out as they strolled in the middle of an open road. The general consensus was they were either stupid, clueless or brave enough to be able to do so.

The town had long lost its luster due to the societal structure of Priestella. Isolated from the rest of the city, it became home to many lower-class families, eventually being branded as a shantytown. Due to the lack of security in the area, the Suttlings Basin's crime rate went up exponentially, bandits infesting the area and setting up various camps along the vicinity. This made it even more isolated and marked as a place to be avoided.

Requests have been made from the kingdom's armed forces to drive out these malefactors, but due to the rising tensions in other sectors of the city keeping them occupied, they have not been answered as of yet. It was then that the pleas extended to the Adventurer's guild, which the duumvirate had accepted.

[color=afafaf][b]"I know you're itching for a fight, but please do take caution. We are dealing with shrewd characters, after all."[/b][/color] Irene gestured at the taller knight, their footsteps unrelenting.

[color=fed024]"Me? Itching?"[/color] Vasilis smirked. He was holding the handle of his axe across his shoulders. [color=fed024]"I only raise this axe to protect the innocent, and you."[/color] He started to run his hand through his hair, but then stopped and looked back at Irene. [color=fed024]"Not that I'm implying that you [i]aren't[/i] innocent. If anything, I need to make doubly sure no harm comes to you."[/color] He trailed off into mock laughter. [color=fed024]"B-but anyway, The reason why I might be giving off the vibe of someone who is itching for a fight is because those are the types of people bandits stay away from."[/color] He nodded to himself. [color=fed024]"If I looked all cautious and stuff, they'd think I was weak. This way they know I'm not afraid to fight."[/color] He lowered his voice. [color=fed024]"Even if this place actually gives me the creeps."[/color] He cleared his throat before regaining his composure. [color=fed024]"But a knight's gotta protect the weak. I-I mean the innocent! Yup! That's pretty much what I live for."[/color]

A sly smirk that served to hide the laughter she contained. [color=afafaf][b]”Sure… Let’s go with that.”[/b][/color] The royal knight’s competence was only matched by his juvenile goofiness; an attribute she had gotten used to and surely welcome considering the dreary ambience they entered upon. They’ve dealt with bandits on their previous ventures, only coming out victorious due to her quick and careful judgment and his reflexive responses; [i]the slightest mistake spells death and they were no exemption.[/i]

They continued southward along the slums, their cautious gazes meeting less and less people passing by here and there, skittering about to avoid conflict; the dread on their eyes eminent. [color=afafaf][i]”This is a grand undertaking for us. Their happiness are connected with mine. Their sorrows are connected with mine. If the kingdom’s forces won’t take action, we will.”[/i][/color]

It wasn’t any longer until they happened upon a young man with two younger women in tow, and by glance their unconventional attire garnered attention. The two parties passed each other, heading opposite directions.

[color=afafaf][b]”...!”[/b][/color] It struck her all of a sudden, and for reasons she weren’t completely sure of, apart from one. Irene sensed an aberrant malignance, originating from none other than the passersby. She took a quick and silent glance at her partner, her ruby orbs portraying imminent fear and unease.

Vasilis knew full well what Irene was trying to say with her eyes. The corners of his lips curled into a broad smile as he gave the young girl a single nod. Then he turned around around, allowing his axe to swing off of his shoulders. Then he ran after the group. If they weren't alerted to the sound of a man with iron clad legs running after them, then they most certainly heard him jump over them. What made the jump especially loud was that it was assisted with fire magic. A cluster of well timed explosions propelled Vasilis over everyone's heads, where he landed in front of the boxer. The knight was already facing them, with his axe held out in front of him. It was probably the largest wood chopping apparatus the three strangers had ever seen.  

[color=fed024]"Whoa! What's the rush? If you're heading out to a party, I hope you’d be willing to invite me too."[/color] The knight blew flames out of his nose with a snort.

Irene was nothing short of flabbergasted by her knight’s next course of action. Her fear had temporarily subsided thanks to his over-the-top antics, but her vigilance remained. Taking pursuit, she had eventually reached them practically forced into a halt by Vasilis. 

[color=afafaf][b]”T-that’s enough, Vasilis!”[/b][/color] She approached the triad, who were clearly more shocked and confused than she herself was. With a slight cough and regaining her composure, the young woman had addressed the strangers. [color=afafaf][b]”My sincerest apologies for my companion’s unnecessarily loud intrusion. I know you’re all confused, but I would appreciate it if you put yourselves at ease. To put it bluntly, I’m detecting an intense aura of malevolence from the three of you, and my sole intention is to ascertain your identities… and your motives.”[/b][/color]