[center][h3]Relica[/h3][/center] [@PaulHaynek], [@Rezod92] [hr] The walk was fairly uneventful, until it wasn't. Once the duo had spotted the signs of trouble up ahead, further down the very same path they were travelling, measures were taken to immeidately get out of sight. Ducking off the road and into some shrubbery and other light vegetation, Relica used her [b]goggles[/b] to take a closer look at what was up ahead, after all, it paid to investigate. It seemed to be a random group of random Varjans, pestering a pair of locals. No big deal. They could easily just take a wide swing around and avoid any sort of trouble whatsoeve-- And then, of course, the monk said it. Of course he did. Why wouldn't he? She should've known he'd say it. [i]Help them.[/i] An annoyed expression appeared on the gremlin's face as she looked to the side at her ward, raising her goggles up so she could and him could look at once another properly. [color=lime]"Are you serious? Look, there really isn't much I [i][b]can[/b][/i] do. They've got those two yokels surrounded and flanked, even so all they'd need to do - provided they have any sort of brain - is take one or two of'em hostage as soon as I do [i]anything[/i]. I'm a good shot, but not good enough to take down four mooks at the same time, baldie."[/color] Relica stated, feeling unwilling and unmotivated to get involved in this particular mess. [color=lime]"And before you say anything, [b]no[/b]. I'm not letting you do something stupid like acting as a decoy or wha-have-you. I need to get [b]you[/b] to that shrine or whatever, not [i]them[/i]."[/color] She pointed at the general location of the Varjans and accosted Shizuyamen plebs. [color=lime]"If we had a bigger group or even just another person with us, then it'd be a different sto--"[/color] [i]Buuuuuuuuuuuzzzzzzzzzz![/i] What was that? Bees? No, there were no bees around here, the goggles hadn't picked up any sort of bugs when she was looking around before. Plus, judging from the sound, it was coming from abo-- As the gremlin looked up and around a bit, she suddenly became very aware of a dive-bombing hornet, coming straight at her and her charge. Rising up from her kneeling spot, she put herself between the monk and oncoming, unknown ... Threat? Hornets weres sneaky buggers after all, they'd swoop down, nab a human male and then buzz off into the sunset with their catch. Well, some of them at least. So she wasn't about to let this hussie steal her -- ohwaitaminutewhattheactualpumpernickel?! The buzzy one had landed. And it spoke: "S'up, Rel? Fancy seeing you here in this backwater sinkhole.", A somewhat stunned Relica stared in disbelief at the person before her. Never in a hundred years had she even remotely imagined that she'd ever meet this one again. A rush of memories and... Complicated... feelings came rushing back to the little lady as she stood there, mouth half agape and eyes staring widely, before she finally shook her head and collected herself. Replying with a sigh. [color=lime]"Curry?! [i][b]You're[/b][/i] here too? Jeez, like I didn't have enough on my plate..."[/color] The gremlin bemoaned, though not entirely sincerely. Also, the nickname she'd used was probably a mix of the hornet's name, and her skintone. [color=lime]"Look, it's great and all to see you again and we can totally braid each others hair and stuff later. For right now, we got a situation here. Some of those varjans are picking on a pair of locals, and this guy-"[/color] She gestured to the monk behind her with her thumb. [color=lime]"-wants me to go save'em. Of course, I wasn't planning to do so, until you showed up. Impeccable timing by the way, were you stalking us or something?"[/color] The gremlin said, raising a suspiscious eyebrow. She turned around again, slid her goggles back down and began to take another look at the situation up a ways away form the trio. She was silent for a bit, before speaking up again. [color=lime]"Alright, looks like this: Four varjans bullying two locals. Two of the baddies are using swords and board, one's got twin axes with one looking like a throwable and the last guy's lugging around a big mace... And for some reason, he's got skulls dangling from him like some kinda morbid trophies... Also, his armor is a bit more fancy than the rest, it got [i]tassels[/i]. Heh, what a chump."[/color] She reported, snarkily. [color=lime]"There really isn't any good cover to move up to or hide behind on the way to them though.. Hmm.. And there's nothing for the locals to run to or hide behind if a scrap breaks out. I mean, we could just throw [i]you[/i] at them and see what happens, but I'm still thinking they might try to use those sitting ducks as human shields if we try something..."[/color] The gremlin soldier mused, gently massaging her own chin, before raising her goggles and turning back to Kerry and the monk. [color=lime]"Look, honestly, my main goal here is to get Mr. Monk to the place he needs to go. And that's not here. I could have Curry stay behind and watch you, baldie, but I'd rather not hand your protection off when [i]I'm[/i] the one who agreed to take your job. We [i]could[/i] have buzzy-buzz here go and try to sting the bad guys, but she's, y'nkow, only got one weapon that can only attack one person at a time. Finally, we could both go and pincer the Varjans, which would totally flatten'em, but that'd leave [i]you[/i] unguarded, and if they've got some extra muscle hiding somewhere that I didn't see,.. Well, I'm not risking it. Fah... Curry, ideas here? I'd love to just walk away, but this one won't let me I'm sure."[/color] She finalized her view and stance on the situation at hand.