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"I don't do what I do because I want recognition-"

People filed out, about the time Arian lifted her bag up and pulled the strap over her shoulder, standing straight despite the SIZE of the bag. She was adjusting her thick forearm guards-and gloves.

A side pocket was reached into, and as they all stepped out on Deck-Reyin would find the five foot two native about two feet from his left side. Without looking at him, she held out a scentless bottle of bug spray.

"Well...what did you face last time?" Information was information. Arian wanted what she could get, and Reyin had experience with the group, so the Captain fellow had said. Vibrantly colored eyes were focused on the fog, Arian's attention divided-before they flicked back to him, waiting either for an answer-or a shrug and some inane comment.

He was kind of weird, and Arian knew it-but he didn't piss her off or make her feel randomly angry, so Arian, believe it or not-was friendly towards him, as was clear by the offering of bug spray.

Reyin finally caught notice of several familiar faces, though how they had gone completely unnoticed up until now was a mystery that could only be answered by assuming that Reyin was either daydreaming the entire time or had figured fraternizing was grounds for getting him yelled at by the Captain.

After his question had been answered Reyin looked down, checking his backpack to see if he had packed the bug spray without remembering it. He didn't, so he zipped up his backpack and leaned back in his seat, content to let everybody else ask their questions.

First went Arian, a girl he barely remembered considering how many times he landed on his head during their fight at the GTB. For some reason, he was kind of hesitant upon witnessing her presence on the boat. Not that he was scared of her, it was just that she was a girl who liked to get angry when she fought (she had said so several times during their fight), and that kind of made teamwork...well...difficult.

Next went Jurie Arks, a shy little girl from a foreign village whose attitude belied just how strong she was. Her question was a good one, considering Reyin hadn't even seen the Orochi they were hunting down. When the picture popped up on screen, Reyin let out a low whistle and shook his head, trying to figure out how that appearance qualified as human.

Afterwards, a new face spoke up. It was a weird looking guy...if 'guy' could even be properly applied to the anthromorph.



Reyin lifted up his right arm and sniffed his armpit. No, he remembered to put deodorant on.

As the boat neared its destination, Reyin leaned forward and started attaching his gear. First his longsword, slinging the baldric across his torso, so the hilt of the weapon jutted out past his right shoulder. Next came the hunting knife, being fastened around his waist. The shortbow, along with a small quiver of about a dozen arrows, was slung across his shoulder in a fashion opposite that of his longsword (peaking at his left shoulder).

His backpack was the last to go, being slung across both shoulders.

Once all of his gear was assembled, Reyin picked up his radio and fastened a nifty little wireless headset to his left ear. The radio was placed on his hip, opposite his hunting knife.

"Alright folks, let's bounce. Don't wanna give him a chance to bolt like last time."

Reyin emerged on deck to be confronted by Arian, and, at last! A can of bug spray!

"Hey, thanks."

He sprayed himself down, making sure to get his neck and hands, since they were exposed, before answering her question.

"There was something...evil in the forest we investigated. Turned the local animals into demonic versions of themselves. There were some smaller demons, imps I'm guessing, and there were quite a few booby traps. I'm guessing we're gonna see a lot of the same here. Problem wasn't so much the things guarding the forest, as it was getting to the base before the Orochi spotted us."

Reyin reached up, took off his sunhat, and ran a hand through the length of his hair.

"Just keep your eyes peeled. Don't want anyone getting eaten by a giant crocodile or falling into a tiger trap. But we've gotta move quick."

He replaced his hat and knocked twice on the side of the cabin.

"Any more than that, I can't really say."

Renshia quickly assembled the darn mechanical device then slowly raised up her head, brought up her right hand to cover her, closed her eyes sagely-like and coughed. With a quick shake of hear head she grabbed her sword and made her way out of the lower deck and outside for some muggy, humid, mosquito filled air, her tail keeping straight as possible to avoid hitting those who were still sitting down.

Upon coming top side she noticed a few people already outside who were conversing about things that seemed interesting but she dared not eavesdrop, at least not so close. Renshia made her way to the stern of the boat, swung the sword onto her shoulder and let it rest there.

It wasn't long before the mosquitoes were swarming all over her considering how little clothing she had on. Annoyed, she swung her left hand around and swished her tail while growling softly. If someone doesn't do something quickly, everyone's gonna be taking a swim pretty soon and become mutant gator food...or whatever lurks in the dark murky waters.

Iopurl looked at the walkie-talkie that he was handed, before pushing away the hand offering the gift. He eyed the LAW agent that was trying to give him the machine cautiously from under his hood, his eyes the only thing visible from under its dark brim, the light reflecting off them caused them to have a slight shine to them, as one might expect if you shone a light on a cat at night, but to a lesser effect.

"I refuse to take the machine, you may give mine to someone else as an extra, should they wish that."

Iopurl would just make sure he didn't go off by himself in the swamp. He knew himself how dangerous the wilds could be, how much respect they deserved in order to remain safe, but Iopurl expected what he saw here wouldn't answer to respect. This polluted place would need a different approach, Iopurl knew despite his knowledge of nature he wouldn't be going off alone on this one. As the boat ground to a halt Iopurl moved towards the curiously dressed Hume.

As he stood closeby to Reyin and Arian, he formed a small group between the three of them. Standing as he was he had almost perfect posture, his back straight he looked like a statue in his cloaked hood. In the fog if he remained still he would have looked almost like a small tree trunk, but as is the strange nature of fog he was perfectly visible within five feet.

He winced slightly to himself as he heard Reyin talk about the demonic creatures. It saddened him to know that someone had done this to those poor animals. He was far enough removed from his animal brethren that he wasn't filled with the inconsolable rage that one must be filled with when a family member is injured, but he did feel something towards the animals, and he was deeply disappointed that some may have suffered this fate.

"If you wish, I can lead the way into the swamp. I apologize if I offend you, but I believe my senses might be a little more suited to lead this group."

With a slight sniff at the air, and then a chuckle Iopurl placed an additional comment to Arian in particular, but not cutting out Reyin either,

"Besides, I do believe our strangely attired friend here might give us away to any manner of beasts after applying your spray. Its smell is odious to say the least."

"What're you talkin' about, strangely attired? This is a freakin' swamp, dude. I'm not gonna be walking around here in tennis shoes and a t-shirt."

Reyin didn't seem to like being talked down to, whether it was respectfully or not. He was hardly one to deny his own shortcomings when it came to being perceptive, after all, he had a tendency to just space off and daydream during particularly boring treks, but for somebody to suggest that he was incapable of leading?

"Don't go in here relying on just your senses. That's a good way to get yourself confused with this fog. S'not natura-AH!"

The frog-kin had snuck up on Reyin, the way anybody else could sneak up on him. Despite his French accent and his classic introduction, Reyin had been too busy defending his honor or...something, to actually notice. In all honesty, he had quite literally been staring at Roland for a good minute or so, he just hadn't registered the strange frog-man's presence. When he did, his shock was conferred both verbally and physically, as he recoiled and started sweeping both of his arms around as though he were Chris Tucker doing his best Jackie Chan impersonation.

"What the crap is that?!"

Manners be damned, Reyin was freaked out.

Iopurl smiled as the small frog-man came out on the deck. His lips lifted to reveal pearly whites, that was if his face had been visible under the hood he wore. He listened to the amphibian speak, and returned a nod at Roland. He couldn't help but think Roland's cape would stick out in the swamp, bright purple tended not to blend as well as Iopurl's own dull green would in the fog and bland colors in the swamp.

That was when Reyin chirped in with his spiel about his dress, and insulting Iopurl's own talents. The beast listened while the boy tried to defend himself. Iopurl had meant no harm in his words, and could only chuckle internally as Reyin got very upset over Iopurl's comments. He had been about to reply, when Reyin had shown such disrespect to Roland. Iopurl's light-hearted mood had been replaced by one of defensiveness too, he didn't take kindly to prejudice against other peoples.

"I'm sorry, Hume, I happen to be blessed with a coat of fur that benefits me with protection from insects, how unfortunate that your body is so inadequately prepared for a journey such as this. I'll also have you know that my senses are much more finely attuned than yours, I could make my way through this fog with my nose alone if I had too, so don't get testy with me, boy."

Iopurl had been planning to make a calm and collected response, but Reyin's overall attitude of disgust towards the frog-man had angered him greatly. Reyin could have at least shown the restraint to keep a straight face on in the strange being's presence. Under his hood Iopurl's features were concentrated in a snarl, his lips lifted once again, but this time his teeth seemed more vicious than friendly.

The appearance of this new creature stole the blacksmith's attention away entirely, though not for the most obvious of reasons. His words, though slurred in some foreign tone, were kind and uniformed in such a manner that simply sparked the girl's interest beyond any other. So between Iopurl's offering of guidance and Reyin's reaction to his offer the blacksmith would simply bounce up to her feet as she swung those straps over her arms to give the pack a good firm bind across her body. Soon after she would bound her way over to the frog creature with a broad smile across her lips, a warm expression trickling down her face as she extended her hand in greeting.

"Please forgive Mister Reyin's manners Mister Stranger." She'd begin with a quick glance over to the man, her eyes narrowing just a bit before she returned her loosened gaze to the creature below. "Let us not waste any more moments pondering our path, as it is one of a broad nature. I only offer to lay still for this soft moment to introduce myself to those who don't know me." Though she was addressing the entirety of the team her attention focused primarily on this creature with the interesting tone, her hand open for him to take if he so chose. "My name is Jurie Arks. Its a pleasure to meet you all."

She would later offer the same greeting to the others to those who were interested, but she had a feeling that not many others would react in such kind ways. With Reyin in a jumble over the creature and Iopurl retorting to the man she really only expected Renshia and Arian to reply, though the others may yet surprise her.

Regardless of the result, after the scene she would bound her way to the newfound path, were she unhindered, offering to be the first to step into the great unknown as the rest argued amongst themselves and did... well... whatever it was they chose to do. She'd stay for but a moment as her bright smile carved the beacon onward to those who paid any heed.

"Come now! No time to waste! Let us begin our journey onward into the depths of this madness so that we may purge this sacred land of its impurities."

And with that she would only wait for the others to follow through, confident that her eagerness to begin would set the others differences aside for the time being.

"What?" The frog spoke slowly as he was stared down and then poked, "Now, it iz as you zay, underzandable if you are zo shock by zee nobility. But zere is zee work to be doing."

But then the blacksmith spoke and Roland turned to look with a sparkle in his eyes.

"Zat is zee attitude!" With another flourish he stepped forward and bowed to one knee in front of Jurie, placed a hand on a froggy chest, and spoke in a celebrated hushed tone, " I am Lord Roland Gustaff LaPorte Gribitt-Gribitt IV, and if zere iz annnnnyzing I can do for you... do not hesitate to ask."

And as Reyin jumped over and Jurie urged people forward. In seemingly the most competent thing the frogkind had done so far he jumped right from a kneeling position right onto careful balenced position on the side of the boat. From there he raised an open palm to the rest.

"Zere iz no more time to waste!" He jumped with an impressive flip over the side and landed with a splash near Reyin, "Allons-y! Allons-y!"