[quote][color=00aeef]"Before anything, I guess introductions are in order. My name is Miwa Shirakawa, the current Miko from the Shirakawa temple. I volunteered to escort a group of scholars to the Land of Twilight but unfortunately... They proved to be much less competent than I anticipated and ended up running away after encountering a few mutant dogs and the huge dragon flying in the distance..."
[/color][/quote]
[@13org]

When Miwa started talking, the masked ranger released his grip on his sword, and gradually the tension dissipated as she introduced herself and her situation. When her story arrived at the part where a scholar was mentioned, Vesmir intriguingly walked toward her and replied the courtesy with another Eastern-style bow. 

"Greetings, Miwa. I am Vesemir, the leader of this group. Another scholar you say? I do not know your former employer personally, but I hope you will pardon my colleague. As for us, we just escaped from a very tight situation ourselves. We had an encounter with the dragon you mentioned earlier, and suffice to say it gave us quite a hindrance. So I hope you too could pardon the lack of immediate hospitality. Please rest, and enjoy a little bit of what we have."

There was a conversation about what to do next with the new guest. Had it been left to his advisors to decide, the plan would have been to have one of them escort Miwa to the border, but the Miko had another idea 


[quote][color=00aeef]"I can assure you I won't be a burden. I am more than capable of taking care of myself and I am sure my skills will be of use in keeping your group safe. I do not require any payment and should you decide my presence was helpful, all I ask is for a donation to be made and sent to the Shirakawa Temple in Nippon along with a small letter with your endorsement."[/color][/quote]
 
There was a small pause, then a hearty laughter coming from the old elf. He spent a moment studying this miko, and the long weapon she used spoke quite a fair amount of her claim. 

[quote][color=00aeef]"Should you be interested, I would be glad to tell you a bit about the Shirakawa temple, it's history and the reason for a Miko of a temple known to only have one Miko per generation to be so far away from her homeland. Over a bowl of stew and a place to rest, of course."[/color][/quote]

Miwa added, just when Vesemir turned his back on her. For a moment it seemed as if Vesemir did not take her seriously. But Mr Elc could attest that the old elf was very intrigued with the proposal, and would even sweeten the deal.

"Well, you hear that? Would be glad to have more hands in this enterprise!" 

"Whatever you say, boss. But I agree, the more people we have, the better. The girl seemed able to handle herself."

"Ha! Ain't that right?!"

The decision was quick, and Vesemir took no time to fetch a pouch of coins from his burden beast and tapped Mr. Elc's shoulder as he passed --as if indirectly telling him that he just hit a jackpot. It was supposed to be the payment for the transportation earlier, but since the coachman was presumably either dead or eaten by the Land's creature, the funds were better off allocated to hire more hands, more capable hands, according to his assessment.

"Miwa, I will pay for your service and your story in full," he said as he handed the gold coins. "Welcome to the crew!"