The nobleman at the square seemed pleased, as many were lining up to sign his little document. An eyebrow was raised when he saw the little lion-maned foreigner step forth and scribble her own signature on the parchment, but his surprised quickly faded - replaced instead with a content, smug expression. His face went a bit more pale and his eyes got a lot bigger when a certain, gargantuan lizardman lumbered over though. Towering over the scrawny but much more well-dressed man, the poor fellow seemed unsure what was about to happen. Even the noble's bodyguards looked uncertain about what to do, half-resting their hands on their weapons, half shambling to position themselves inbetween the red hulk-creature and theirn sire.

A sigh of relief left the well-to-do upper class citizen though, as soon as the red reptile signed the paper. A visible bead had formed on the man's otherwise immaculate face, and was quickly removed by the dab of a small hankerchief - which looked far too expensive and embroidered with details to be used for such a thing. Seriouslyy, that thing looked more expensive than all of Big Red's, Steppe Archer's and Druid Girl's clothes and weapons combined. Who paid for something [i]that[/i] lavish!? Druid Girl, who had just been standing about - stuffing her face to the point of resembling achipmunk - watched the spectacle. The rich really were something else, spending money on fine clothes and little extravagances like that... Meanwhile her own family barely had enough money from their back-breaking labor to afford food and necessities from season to eason...

She was brought back to her senses though, the caramel-skinned girl, when both of her companions rejoined and spoke with her. It seemed Steppe Archer wanted to go river-bathing again, whereas Big Red seemed to feel he wasn't in need of such things. Honestly though, while the thought of being somewhat sticky and gross was unpleasant, the nature mage didn't exactly feel like washing up in a rather chilly river twice in a single day. On the other hand, paying for a trip to the local bath house would cut into her funds, of which she had already used a fair portion today... It was a tough choice...

To be potentially smelly, or to not be potentially smelly... That was the question!

"Hm, well I'd rather not be all gross and stuff when it's time for bed...  Though bathing in the river again is a bit..." She mused loudly. "... If we wanted, I suppose we could duck into one of the alleys that have a well and just rinse ourselves off... Though, someone might try to peep..." She suggested first. "... Unless our fearless and valiant Knight in Red Scales would be willing to stand guard and protect our virtues while we do so..." She added, casting a glance over at Big Red, while putting on puppy-dog eyes and doing her best to look like a frail and delicate maiden in distress...

... It didn't look quite right...

"Ohm! Maybe I should sign that thingy too! It'd be real helpful if we could just come back at any time of day." She said, mouth-now-full-of-a-new-bite-of-skewer. And no sooner said than done did she trot herself over and get in line to sign the nobleman's petition too. Her friends had both done it, so she should too, right?

Meanwhile, the crowd at the market was beginning to disperse, now that most present had already listned to, and decided to sign or ignore the nobleman's appeal. As people began to move about and head in every which direction though, a group of - or rather a pair - of individuals stood out. They were a pair of rhea - two young lads to be precise. One had rough, unkempt shoulder-length black hair, while the other had short and smoothened light brown hair. Both were dressed in a similar fashion, simple clothes of no particular make or quality. They had some equipment though, which signified that they were ither fellow adventurers, travellers or otherwise in a career that required personal protection and survival tools or resources.

So, what was noteworthy about them then, considering they sound quite generic and non-descript? They were keeping a very sharp eye out, observing passer-by's with discreet glances and peeks - the unobservant and careless would easily pass them by and not think twice about it. While others might just think they were looking for someone in particular. However, a more careful and astute individual may notice that they weren't looking at peoples' faces, but rather somewhere else on the body... Particularly around the midriff-area. Of course, that could all just have eben vivid imagening! After all, people were quite prejudiced against the rhea as it were, often painting them up as thieves and rogues. It might just be a harmless case of people-watching or trying to spot something they liked and wanted to get for themselves, from a shop. Totally legit, by paying for and everything!

"Whoo, I'm back!" A ratheer frazzled Druid Girl stated, as she reconvened with her fellows. "I still don't get why that noble dropped the pen on the ground and asked me to bend down and pick it up... Three times! He didn't drop it when anybody else was writing down their names... Oh no... Do you... Do you think it's because I smell? I ... I didn't think I got that sweaty...!" She was obviously not catching on to the actual reason...