"Csenge".

I've got a name to go with the face and silhouette now. While dutifully shadowing her as we cross the threshold from board to conundrum, I repeat it a couple times beneath my breath, trying to get a feel for the rhythm of that "cs" at the start— not a familiar syllable, but names are important things to lock down quickly. Especially dealing with upper rankers. Speaking relatively, anyway— Steel might round out the bottom half of the traditional structure, but getting any further is typically understood as being An Exceptional Talent for the craft. Csenge. Csenge.

[color=c4df9b]"Better having the Gods on our side than sitting ambivalent."[/color] I offer, giving the coiled-up Paladin a small wave as my prospective compatriot blades her stance to reveal me, the hapless iron-ranker in her wake.

Unforunately for me and my yammering, Csenge did not hold the same misgivings about involving herself in the brewing powderkeg that she draws us up to as I did. That clash of personalities doesn't really look like it's abated at all— if anything, I'm surprised to note that it's [i]Hrefna[/i], of all people, that seems to have cooled off a little. Big personalities like hers are good at running away with their mockery, but it looks like things have lost their luster as the dwarf from before has captured most of her attention. But with the Paladin nearly steaming out the ears and the lamia that was now coiled around her enough to draw to mind words like "anaconda" and "constriction" and "ribcage"...

I hear Reeva's voice boom out from across the way, and for a moment I catch myself stiffening mid-stride. I [i]did[/i] go up to that board hoping for a few more goblin skulls to crack, my easy, thoughtless, and fondly upwardly-mobilizing résumé lynchpin. Writ large across an entire fortress, I could hardly imagine a more ideal shakedown cruise for my shiny new iron-rank. It was like my last mission was proof of concept, a trial run that determined I was ready for the real thing. The offer was more than tempting, especially as validation of my new place in the world.

I waver, for a moment. This powderkeg bunch, or the growing mass of people a table across that seem to operate more at my natural speed? 

...

I'm not above human weakness.

[color=c4df9b]"It looks like it's manifested so far as weeping black sores on the face and an increased caginess among the herd come nighttime. If nothing else, your matron goddess holds the sun as her domain, right? You might be able to ease their suffering as we investigate the source of the plague and disappearances. We could definitely use you if you're up for it."[/color]

But nevertheless, I step forward rather than pull away. 

Csenge's already thrown me a line when she saw I was a little lost at sea, so the least I can do is repay the hospitality. It's not every adventurer, even among us mortals that populate the Iron and Steel ranks, that'd cut somebody unknown and unproven to them like me a break so readily. It'd annoy me to leave her high and dry now that I've been welcomed aboard.