After speaking with Veldam, Saber walked off a ways and started looking around for other adventurers he knew. He was determined to crush the monsters ravaging South Hyrule, and he needed allies to help him do so.

OOC: Alright guys, I think our first order of business should be to clean out these tunnels, personally. There's still monsters in here, and it only makes sense to take them out first before heading to the swamp.

A silhouette traced itself along the shadows of the tunnel, a behemoth under the light of flickering torches that played on his chest and shoulders, painted in deep auburn and charcoal as darkness filtered through his flesh, imbuing his stature with an ominous glow that seeped through the air, manifesting itself beyond the limits of any man's eyes.

His footsteps, Rosen's footsteps were a strange cacophony whose rhythm bore itself with the gnashing of his teeth on broad sighs and breaths for air, swallowing the light that surrounded him as he came upon Saber's features, solid, finite and distinct against the background of the lights and sounds of soldiers conversing. The clank of a sword against the ground, digging itself into it like a wound as it carried the echoes of two more thumps as they joined in, dancing along the backs of walls and hollow chambers in an echo as it muffled his voice to a grain.

"Hey..." the rust of his lungs dropped heavy off his tongue as he beckoned Saber's attention with the blunt of his voice, stabbing through the air between them.

"I'm old...not nearly in the prime that memory or stature might recall...but I'm still here, grounded, cemented on this earth...I'd really like to make the most of my time here..." He said somberly.

"old...not dead." He added again with a thump of his blade as it carried the heavy mass of wrinkles and blotches of bruised skin that came out black against the rough and pale auburn of his flesh, crusted and scratching at the height of the room despite his hunched demeanor.

The tunnels were dark, and rather creepy. After getting lost, as he refused to get directed or escorted by a knight, several times, a figure stumbled into a chamber, where there was an outpost of knights and .... Saber(?). The figure was unsure of who it was in the lighting.

The figure was about five feet and eleven inches and he weighed roughly one-hundred thirty-seven pounds. He wore a cloak, a shiny watch from a clock-maker in Termia, a tunic, trousers, and sandals. A hood shrouded his face, casting a shadow over whatever it didn't droop down and cover. In one hand was a lantern that was burning low (RP purposes only), in the other was a staff. Darsoula. A pack, with scrolls sticking out, was slung over his left shoulder. On his back was a 2H sword, kept loosely on his back with straps and a make-shit holster. A boomerang, bomb bag, and quill were stuck into his belt, as well as a satchel, probably for rupees. The dark brown cloak was similar to the one Orpheous wore, and it was indeed Orpheous' staff.

However, as the figure got closer, differences could be noticed. The male was a bit more timid than Orpheous, and a lot more meek. As he moved in closer, he recognized the other male to be Saber. But, before he could venture further, he was stopped by the knights, and briefed by Veldam. He nodded, showing that he understood, choosing not to speak yet.

He moved in closer still, and then spoke. "Saber?" the figure asked, in the voice of a man in his late teens. He pulled the hood off his face, revealing himself to be Simon. "It's me, Simon Grendel." He said, hoping to answer any puzzled looks he might get in a moment, before they occurred. "I'm Orpheous' apprentice. He is injured. Although it is not serious, and he is stable, they are saying he needs to stay off his left leg for some time, and they told him it would be best not to help in reclaiming the South just yet. He sent me ahead to scout out new locations for the People's Front, but it doesn't appear as though it's an option does it. He didn't know it would be so bad that they had the whole South... Oh well, I see you're looking for adventures to help. After hearing what Veldam said, perhaps, we should team up and continue looking for others so we can fight off the beasts," he suggested, ending his speech with minimal errors. "Oh," he added, "if you were going to ask about the cloak and staff, Orpheous entrusted them to me until he got better."

OOC:

Simon Grendel
(Stand in Main-Character)

Name: Simon Grendel
Race: Human
Class: Scholar/Scribe
Alignment: Neutral
Level: 13
Gender: Male
Age: Late teens
Primary Weapon: Deku Staff
Secondary Weapon: Deku 2H Sword

Stats
STR: base(1) + Goron Strength L2 (2) = 3
DEF (rating): base (2) + AGI (2) + L1 tunic (10) + racial (3)= 17
AGI: base (1) + Deku Agility L1 (1) = 2
INT: base (3) + Hylian Intelligence L2 (2) = 5
SPI: base (3) = 3
SPL: level (13) x base class (3) + SPI (3) = 42
HP: base (20) + Exceptional Health L1 (10) + SPI (3) = 33

Talents (Most recent update)
Goron Strength L2 (included in stats) (2 TP to learn)
Deku Agility L1 (included in stats) (1 TP to learn)
*Hylian Intelligence L2 (included in stats) (2 TP to learn)
Exceptional Health L1 (included in stats) (1 TP to learn)
Train: 2H Sword L1 (3 TP to learn)
Train: Boomerang L2 (4 TP to learn)
Elemental Burst L2 (4 TP to learn)
*Life L1 (2 TP to learn)
Epic Poem L1 (1 TP to learn)
Shield L1 (1 TP to learn)
*The Quill is Mightier than the Sword (2 TP to learn)


Equipment:
Deku Boomerang
Bomb Bag
Deku Staff
Deku 2H Sword
Fire Scroll
L1 Tunic
Gerudo Training Gloves

DMG
Deku Staff: base (9) + STR (3) = 12
Deku 2H Sword: base (14) + STR (3) = 17
Deku Boomerang: base (4) + STR (3) + Gerudo Training Gloves (1) = 8
Bombs: base (9) = 9
Magic: level (13) + base class (3) + INT (5) = 20

Unlike the daylight outside, where the clumbsy Zora could see, inky darkness blotted out all traces of sight inside the cave. Taint, stumbled along through the cave, feeling along the walls as he went. He was told that the massive eight legged monster inside the cave had been exterminated. He didn't believe the rumors, however, until he'd heard it from his Highness himself at a big celebration in North Castle Courtyard. Overjoyed that he could explore the reaches of the South, he'd foolishly rushed toward the pass without hearing about the monsters that still paraded the area. He'd followed a knight into the cave, but somewhere along the way, got seperated from the man. Now, making his way through the darkness, he prayed that all of the spiders had been killed. As if to answer his prayers, he heard voices coming from further in the cave. The nomad did a little victory jig, and began jogging towards the sounds. A faint light appeared in the distance. "Oh thank Nayru!!" His voice echoed off of the wall of the cave, as he busted into a sprint.

As if the darkness of the cave had spat him out like a piece of chewing gum, the Zora busted out of the darkness, and into the light of the lanturn that burned near a cloaked stranger. Taint couldn't care less if it were a stranger. It was somebody! It wasn't exactly the fact that he was afraid to be alone, but rather, he was joyous that if a giant beast appeared, he wouldn't have to outrun it. He'd just have to outrun the old man that was also in the group. He doubled over to catch his breath, and dropped to a knee. He decided to give up, and just sat down, leaning back on his hands. "(huff)(puff)Hi there...(pant) I'm Taint. I..." He stopped, and stared hard at one of the men gathered. "Wait... Aren't you... I think I've seen you somewhere before. "Sable, right?" He rubbed his chin, and extended a hand. "Nice to see you in one piece. I heard you were a big part of the team that got rid of the spider in here. Everyone owes you, and everyone else who served there." Taint stood up, and brushed himself off. "In case you don't remember me, I'm Taint." He looked at the elderly chap, and the cloaked one. "Howdy. I didn't catch your names." He stated flatly at the two strangers.

<center>~- - - - - - - - - - -- - - - - - - - - - - - - ]]] **X** [[[ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ~</center>

NPC: Taint
Current Level: 11
Age: 20
Race: Zora
Alignment: Neutral
Faction: none
Class: Grunt//Nomad

S T A T S
Strength....... 6
Defense........20
Agility.......... 4
Intelligence ..1
Spirit........... 5
Spell........... 15
Will.............. 9
HP.............. 74

Physical attack: (STR[6] + Weapon Base[5]) 11 dmg
Magical attack: (Level + base class + INT) 12 dmg


Abilities
Find Sustenance Lv1
Shield Lv3
Disarm Lv1

Victor, meanwhile, had resorted to an age-old technique of traveling through dark hallways in the middle of the night to get a drink of water. Or, y'know, spelunking. Anyways he was flat up against a cave wall, feeling his way along through the passage's darkness. He was also afraid of falling into some random pit, so his outer foot would constantly search the ground ahead for any hazards. This was all working just fine, actually, and the Bard was confident enough to give his eyes a rest from the darkness, holding them shut tightly for the duration of his creeping.

So, of course, he did not realize when he was within the radius of the lantern's light.

But he did hear voices, so he stopped. Without opening his eyes, he shouted into the wall before him. The muffled cries echoed towards the group.

"Whossat? Anyone I know?"

Before he could receive a reply, Victor decided it was time for a risk. Very carefully releasing the wall from his loving embrace, the Hylian shifted backwards a bit. So far so good! He moved away from the wall some more, until he was fully visible in the light.

But his eyes were still shut, even as he turned and waved his arms maniacally, reaching for someone who wasn't there.

"Anybody there?"

He took a full step forward this time! Right into Saber.

"Oof!"

This caused his eyelids to snap open promptly, because it was definitely a Moblin of some sort and NOT the Mercenary he knew as a friend.

But it wasn't a Moblin at all, it was the Mercenary he knew as a friend!

"Oh. Oh! Saber, hey! Good to see you again! I was just... I was just testing the cave out for the rest of the travelers, it all seems pretty sound. I'm sure people can start coming through any time now!"

He then noticed the rest of the group.

"I mean any time... in the past. Because they're already here. OK."

Bashfully, Victor gave the small group a once-over. He recognized... about one face. The Goron had entered the fight against Gohma rather late, but his impact was one to be remembered. So the Bard jumped on this opportunity to introduce himself.

"Oh hey I remember you, Goron! My name is Victor Vir. Nice work on Gohma back there! You really made things easier for us, if only you'd been there sooner, heh!"

Aria walked through the tunnels in a rather grumpy mood. She never had to leave Genarog behind before. Hyrule seemed to be a lot bigger without the gelding.

She was heading to South Hyrule on Gertrude's orders; it was a relief to be working under her, as she was more laid back than her former fellow lieutenant, who had yet to be replaced in Parapa Settlement. Hopefully this Magical Lieutenant wouldn't be as strict as Ismelda was.

The Gerudo's mission was simple enough: Get in contact with the Garo leaders in South Hyrule. No one had heard from them since Ganon's minions overtook South Hyrule. Everyone was worried for their well-being. Mostly the people who knew them.

Why Aria was sent was a mystery to her. There were plenty of other members of the Garo to spare. She could only guess that they wanted to give her some experience with fighting in a large group. Besides, maybe other members had been sent out; no one would have bothered to burden her with orders that didn't involve her.

As she approached a lighted area that seemed to contain people in it, the ranger paused to check her mental shield. It was still as strong as the day Ralph finished teaching her how to guard her mind against unwanted mindreading.

Letting her Gerudic naginta rest on her shoulder, she stepped forward. This group of people all seemed to be Hylian soldiers. Aria merely nodded at them; she had no desire to deal with their type, especially after the incident with Richard.

The Gerudo continued on to another group of people, all of whom looked like adventurers. Two Hylians, a human, a Zora, and a Goron, none she knew. She began to look them up and down, pondering on who the leader could be. The Goron looked tough, as all Gorons do. The Zora seemed to be out of place to Aria, a truly accurate example of a fish out of water; when it came down to it, she wouldn't want to follow him in a cave. The human, with the scrolls sticking out of his pack, looked to be a scholar of some sort, and would probably know how to deal with any monsters they ran into. Of the two Hylians, the one with messy, dark brown hair appeared to be the tougher of the two; indeed, he seemed to be the toughest of the lot. It was a poor criterion to base her decision on, but she had to say something soon.

To the brown-haired Hylian, she said, "I wouldn't mind having some traveling companions on the way to South Hyrule. Are you in charge of this group?"

Rushing his walk, as usual. The darkness didn't bother him, nor did the creatures that called that place 'home'. No, what bothered him was that the tunnel was long, and that it wasn't over yet. At the same time, however, it relieved him to know that the tunnel had only two ways to go, so he had one covered, ensuring that his target wouldn't go pass him on the way back. It couldn't be any longer, Scar thought, for he had had word from people that indeed some Zora had gone into the tunnel.

At last, a light appeared in the distance, a lantern. A group formed around it. Scar wondered how he hadn't run into any of those persons earlier, since he had heard that no one was coming from the south (except for certain individuals). No matter, finding one person meant having a chance of finding him and the six (or seven?) characters gave him a pretty good chance of that.

His figure was iluminated, blond hair, short stature for human male standards, dressed in brown tones and carrying twin swords on the back, a youth of probably 15 years, judging by appearance, entered the ring of dim light.

'Lets see... a kid, a bard, a girl, an oldman (why, he could be older than me), and exactly what I'm looking for' his search had given results, for he had found the Zora.

"Shh! Out of the way!" he said to whoever stood between him and the fishman. Drawing one of his blades, he pointed at Taint, with the tip of the weapon a bare inch from the bridge of the Zora's nose.

"What's your name Zora?" he asked casually.

Eberron wondered through the darkness of the tunnel, blissfully unaware of the dangers that surrounded him throughout these tunnels. By some incredible form of luck he managed to reach the camp unnoticed and unscathed. Gazing in abject awe at the collection of knights wondering about their business, obviously busy with preparation for some great event. For some reason, Eberron had felt compelled to continue his travelling ways and venture to the south. Gulping quietly, he noticed a small group of people who stood apart from the armoured knights clinking around the area. Clearly these were 'Heroes' of the sort his father had told grand tales off... The fact that he was actually able to see such people made his knees shake with anticipation.

Hefting the enormous bag on his back up slightly higher, he pushed onwards towards the group. Upon getting closer he saw the extent of the variation between the people here. Truly the world was larger and more varied then he had ever imagined. Lifting his large heavy wooden hat up slightly so that he could see better in the dark of the tunnel, Eberron made a little coughing noise in the hope that it would catch somebodies attention. Deciding that this might not be enough, and might actually be impetuous, he quickly began to speak in his deep but nervous rumbling voice.

"Umm... I'm sorry for coughing, I was doing so to get your attention, not that you have to pay your attention mind, you're obviously all very important and um... would anybody like a rock? Or a flower? I suppose you've all seen flowers before, I haven't though I spent a long time..."

Suddenly realising that he was rambling on again, Eberron turned a deep red colour and a nervous grin spread across his face, raised in defence as quickly as a warrior would raise their shield.

"hehe... I'm rambling... sorry. But really, I have rocks from my home... they're very nice. Would you like some?"

Eberron reached into his bag and pulled out a number of his choicest and tastiest rocks, his hands trembling with anticipation.

"I hope you like them. My name is Eberron. Can I ask... who you are? And... what you are? And what is happening in this place? I wish to know what each of you are!"

Eberron smile vanished and instantly changed to a look of concern.

"I must seem very stupid. I am 25 you know. I just... Didn't go anywhere before now, and now that Father is... You know, I want to know if what I know is right and I don't know what kind of peoples you are, I'm a goron but maybe you are different kinds of... or or plant people and shiekakas I know a bit about them and..."

Eberron suddenly looked up and let off another his enormous grins.

"I am sorry, perhaps I should stop talking. I'm just not used to talking to other people. It's nice. Rock?"

Kane had arrived on a caravan of warriors what he didn't expect was how dark it would be. However Kane being the daredevil he was kept in the middle of the tunnel always ready for a fight. A few times he thought somthing was following him but eventually he brushed it off as paranoia. He was wearing a cloak and a Tunic [RP only} that was bulging at the seams as well as having his sword and sheild both drawn.

Eventually he came upon a light and was briefed by someone he didn't quite know
and eventually what looked like could be a war party. "Hello my name is Kane and i am here to join the fight for the south" he announced.

Rosen sat quietly, filling in the gap in his mouth with the callous of his thumb, gnashing and baring his teeth as he lapped his lips around the sore finger as a means to pass by the time. His knees bent in an awkward position against a wall, he eyed the bard that had called him out, a grin plastered on the man's face in good courtesy after the belligerent collapse on Saber, a frightful scene it must've been, indeed and one can only assume that the smile came more so to placate the embarrassment that crawled out of his blushing face or perhaps the rose in his cheeks were merely the flickering lanterns that danced around his countenance. One couldn't tell.

But what Rosen did notice is that with all the newcomers, some were getting anxious and their excitement began to characterize themselves in the joints of their knees as one in particular, a Kane, had decided to edge his way along the outskirts of the group towards a less populated area, one where shadows were being collected and moved awkwardly as if in intercourse.

The shock of a lone warrior misting out into the tunnel alone was enough to awaken a bellow from the bowels of his voice as he shouted. "Heeee---!" Needless to say his voice shattered beyond his age and he quickly sauntered over to the crowd.

"Look, that guy, new guy, Kane..." He paused, attempting to catch his breath which he inconviently left a few paces behind him, sitting on the ground. "He's off! He's gone! He's gonna..."

"Nevermind. Time to move!" He beckoned, the flick of his arm leading the way behind his shoulder in a comically slow and hurried race to save the newcomer, his shuffled feet and sword trickling along the tunnel in centipede, fashion.

OOC: Sorry for god-modding Kane...but really...he's one screen down and about to fight...so we might as well start too...we wouldn't want anyone to die this early! Would we?!

The pass was just as dark as Kuro remembered from the fight with Gohma. Not that it was hard to remember, of course. It hadn't been long since it ended, of course. Although he was in the battle, it didn't look like he had been walking much. In truth, he had decided to exit the cave in the old fashioned way for whatever reason. Not too far from the exit, however, he met Kon. Not an unusual event of course, since Kon had always traced down Kuro for the strangest reasons. But this time, it was to give him the swords he didn't take with him for the fight.

Kuro was now returning fully armed. To battle worn blades on each side, and a 2H sword on his back. Needless to say, he was ready to take down some monsters and reclaim the South so that he could finally get some new weapons. However, there was no way he could take all these monsters on alone, but someone had to do it. He traveled deeper in the cave in hopes of finding some easier monsters, or a group of people to fight with.

The latter of which, he accidentally found without actually looking very hard for them. He had been a fair distance from them when he first spotted them, and he broke into a jog to get closer to them before making out their faces. In the group was Saber, and a bunch of other people he didn't know. Hopefully they were good fighters though.

As he got near, he stopped wordlessly, waiting to see when they would begin the fight.

Victor thoroughly ignored everyone else in the group because, well, he had been thoroughly ignored himself. The Goron that he had just tried to befriend seemed rather rude, for his tastes. But oh no what was happening now?

The Goron, who the Bard would hitherto call Mr. Meanie until his actual name could be determined, was hollering about some nonsense regarding an adventurer who had gone off to fight too soon. Well.

Just too much rudeness in this tunnel, today.

Nevertheless Victor followed Meanie further into the cavern's depths. He was here to help, after all...

Saber acknowledged those he was familiar with, shortly before Rosen cried out in alarm and ran off to assist Kane. "Victor, Kuro, Taint--put down your sword, whoever you are. That Zora is Taint, and he's done nothing to harm you--" Drawing his own blade, he knocked down Zero's blade and begin issuing his commands yet again. "And you, the Goron and Gerudo. Come with us, we need to help that idiot before he kills himself! We can do introductions later!" The mercenary then took off down the corridor where the battle had broken out, charging up a Fire spell just in case.

OOC: Yeah, so this topic was brought to a premature end. Let's all just meet after this battle I guess.

Scar looked at the kid, close to his apparent age. He scaned him up and down, a worthy warrior, yet Scar sought no fight there.

"Psht" in a manner of indifference, he seathed his sword, taken one last look at the wrong Zora. "Taint... well you're not the one I'm looking for; however, someone among must have come across a Zora named Kalex. I demand information about his whereabouts, I have no money to offer but I can offer my limited services. Does anyone know?"

Scar lacked a complete sense courtesy, he only said what was necessary and his way of speaking was very direct, people didn't like him.

"I will follow you if you give me information on the Zora, if not, I'll see you later" he said when they started to rush into battle.

"I was able to sneak past some of the monsters back that way," a low voice informs the crowd from a distance. "This place is infested with them." Darilan emerges from the shadows and eyes each individual in the group. He looks at his satchel that he uses to carry his notepaper and pen, then at his Deku staff. "I figure most of you are better qualified for the task ahead of us," he confesses, "but I might be able to lend a hand."