Aria Sinwater sat on the rock that jutted out of the sand a quarter mile out of Parapa Settlement. The stone was quite hot after sitting in the sun all day, but as the woman was a Gerudo, she had been exposed to higher tempatures, so the heat did not bother her. It was dusk anway, the favorite time of day for any Gerudo; it was the perfect time, with the air cooled down from the sun's warmth, but not yet bitingly cold under the moon's watch. It was perfect.

The Gerudos knew that Hyrule had whole seasons where it was not too hot or too cold, but they have always lived in the desert with it's one season, even before the Goddess of the Sand, Hathera Ragefire, came to them. The mostly female race could not bring themselves to leave their sandy home, even if it meant an easier life.

Aria dug through her cloak and extracted the letter that she had been given. It was a warning from a Hylian mage, telling them that a group of thieves meant to infiltrate the settlement and steal a few barrels of their tobacco. Governor Rushsand, as well as Gertrude and Matilda, had ordered her to keep watch over the south side of the settlement; three other guards had been dispatched just in case this group of bandits tried entering the settlement from those directions. Aria had been given the letter as it was her post they were most likely to approach from.

From the sound of the letter, it was going to be two against three. The Gerudic woman found them decent odds, but she still wished she had an extra person. Maybe if she was lucky, someone would just happen to come along....

OOC: Okay, that's your cue, Eberron. Sorry it took so long to get up.

KP, Orph, Saber, Tayro, don't jump in until I give the say so.

Over the horizon, a hulking mass is seen rising higher and higher, blocking out the setting ball of orange fire. As the traveler drew nearer, he was easily distinguishable as a Goron, and a large one at that! He had a shining sheath hanging at his side, and two giant wrecking balls resting on his back. They were strapped to his body by large chains, and his eyes were set on the road ahead. Lurking through the sands, he lubered past Aria, and a few feet away, he stopped, and turned around. He stared for a second, shrugged his shoulders, and continued walking. A few more yards down the desert, he stopped again, and took a second glance. Again, he turned, shook his head, and disappeared over the horizon.

Before long, a groan was heard over the horizon, and he reappeared over the sands. When he reached Aria's position, he eyed her suspiciously. "Excuse me, ma'am." He spoke suddenly. "This is a dangerous place, as I'm sure you know." He paused, hoping not to insult her intelligence. She was Gerudo, and so she probably lived here. "I can't ignore a woman sitting all alone in a bandit-ridden desert. I'd seriously advise you to head on home, or wherver you're sleeping for the night. Things tend to get risky out here, especially at night." He placed his large hands on his hips. "Do you need help with anything?"

OOC:
Before I get any heat for this, I was asked to join this.
>.>

OOC: Yeah. Sorry, Eberron, but you disappeared on me, and I need to get this moving along. Same reason I'm replacing Tayro with an NPC; sorry, Tayro, but if this was a dungeon, I'd just go with the whole "Oh, he spaced out" excuse. However, this is a battle, so....I'm really sorry, Tayro, but I can't have you slowing us down here.

IC:
"I've been alone out here plenty of times," Aria told the Goron. "But yes, I could use some help. We have received word that three thieves are on their way here to steal a barrel of our tobacco. We're to stop them from entering the settlement. I could use some help if they turn out to be competent fighters."

"Couldn't have waited for me?" a Gerudo said as she approached.

"I didn't know I would be getting help, Katharina."

"Mom didn't want you out here by yourself." She looked up into the Goron's face. "My name is Katharina Rushwolf, and this is Aria Sinwater. Who might you be?"

OOC: Okay, KP, Orph, feel free to post, but refrain from starting the fight until Saber gets back. Hopefully we can get this battle finished before he has to go to Scotland.

Ugh, curse last-minute family vacations.

Shigure looked down at the woman, and smiled a toothy Goron smile. "I'm Shigure." He said taking a seat in the sand. When his body hit the ground, it kicked up a bit of sand. "I'll be happy to help. I've battle countless thieves, and I've got yet to be fallen by a thieve's blade." The Goron yawned, and stared out onto the sandy horizon. "I don't know what it is about deserts that calm me... Probably the lack of water! Har Har Har!!" He joked, with a jolly Goronic laugh.

"Like I said earlier, I'd be happy to help you out here. I just have one question. Why are you here waiting for them? Why not set up a trap for them? Gather more people than just three at least." He was trying to understand why they were waiting for danger. The only thing he could think of was that they had the same warrior's spirit that Shigure had. He shrugged his shoulders, and waited patiently. "I hope this doesn't take too long. I've got an errand to run, but I'm about a three days ahead of schedule, so I've got time to spare, but..." His sentence hung in the air, and he decided not to finish it. They had the general idea of what he meant, and he dare say no more.

OOC: I'll do what I can, guys, I'll try to post whenever possible.

IC: Saber was feeling more nad more uneasy about the mission with every passing second. The money seemed nice, and really, he had stolen before. There was just...something wrong with going after the Gerudo tobacco. From what he knew, the Gerudo were a struggling race with a bad reputation and hard enough luck staying alive in the world without having their economy zanickled. (OOC: Couldn't think of the word. Trying to hurry. Invented a word. Shut up.)

But, up ahead, he could see the settlement looming. His head turned to his companions, and he nodded to each. Aside from his aforementioned reasons, he also felt uneasy due to the rumored fighting ability of the Gerudo. Surely they wouldn't be happy about an attempted looting, and the mercenary knew he wasn't the best fighter under the sun. Hopefully with some magic and invigorating song behind them, though, things would turn out alright.

Thealter sighed, his mask on his face, and his trenchcoat on his back. He never removed the heavy coat during his trek through the desert, despite how hot and sufficating it must have been during his journey. Eventually, they reached the outskirts of the settlement. He could sense that Saber was feeling uneasy, but he didn't worry about the mercenary's ability to get the job done.

Thealter had his own demons to worry about. He readied his staff in his right hand, hoping the relic would be enough. Not that it had any special powers, but it had always been there as Thealter's guide ever since he carved it himself. However, one thing on Saber's mind also happened to be troubling Thealter's as well. The Gerudo are lethal; they are well-trained in combat and know what they were doing. Three people trying to rob a Gerudo settlement was practically suicidal, if they got caught. But, Thealther couldn't shake the feeling that there were guards, something was up, and the Gerudo knew that this odd group of adventures would be attempting to steal their precious Gerudo tabacco.

Thealter didn't care much for tabacco, he found it detrimental to the health. While Thealther had no issue with the Gerudos selling their tabacco, or distributing it through other means, he strongly disagreed against anybody using it. Despite Thealter affinity towards hot women, especially the Gerudo, after all, it had a been a Gerudo who had been his first lover (recycled concept no-jutsu), he had made up his mind long ago that even if a Gerudo offered herself to him, if she had EVER used tabacco, he would have to refush. Like kissing a Dindamn ashtray it was (assuming there are ashtrays in HA2).

But, back to the demons. Thealter frowned, nodding back to the mercenary. They would be no match for the Gerudo. Hopefully, Thealter's magic would be of some use, even if it only manages to frighten the desert dwelling mostly female tribe. He gazed towards the encampment, wondering if he could spot any guards [Awareness Check (if it's not too early)].

OOC:

Stats
STR: 4
DEF(rating): 16
AGI: 4
INT: 6
SPI: 4
SPL: 42
HP: 53

Talents
Goron Strength L3
Deku Agility L3
Zora Spirit L1
Exceptional Health L2
Train: Slingshot L1
Elemental Burst L2
Life L1
Elemental Explosion L1

DMG
Deku Staff: 13
Deku Slingshot: 10
Bombs: 9
Magic: 21

CURRENT
HP:53/53
SPL:42/42
Will:9/9

He was feeling uneasy as well, but not about his ability to steal from Gerudos. They were just people like everyone else, and... well he didn't care any more about than them the rest of the bunch. And he had no worries regarding any guards - after all, all they had to do was get in and out with the goods, right? There would probably be minimal fighting, yeah. What truly bothered him, was the desert itself.

The Deku didn't feel right in the desert. There was no soil, or rather, it was dead for all intents and purposes. He could never quite get his footing, and was having some trouble moving through the dunes. Curse his short Deku legs!

He looked up at his more fortunate, tall companions. One a mage, and a weirdo. Masks? Who wore those things. He chuckled inwardly - Hyrule certainly attracted some strange people.

The other was not a thief, not a thief at all. A Mercenary, he could sense, but just barely at that. Stealing for money wasn't the same as killing for money, not at all. Any stupid adventurer could kill if he stuck the pointy end in the right direction. Thieving took style, class, tripping in the sand and falling flat on your face.

He sputtered and coughed out some sand. Damn sand. He really just wanted to get this over with, now. He was starting to feel a bit dry, even. Damn desert.

He couldn't quite see the village until they were closer, since his vantage was much lower than the others'. But it was a welcome sight, still. He picked up the pace as he tried to catch up with the others in his group, and pulled out a dagger in eager preparation. Woo! A woody smile adorned his face as his eyes glinted in the setting desert sun. It would soon be time for him to do what he did best.

Stealin' time!

OOC: Oh yes Saber, some songs would be quite nice. Too bad Victor isn't here.

Hey you. Yeah, you. How about you shut up *slaps*

It's OK, I made some mistakes too >.> Fixing...

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Shigure," Katharina said; Aria merely nodded, intent on keeping an eye out for the upcoming thieves. Thieves who had now entered her field of vision; at least, they fit the description they were given. The older of the two Gerudo woman stood up and yanked her naginata out of the sand. The second woman drew her scimitars.

Thealter's Awareness Check passed with flying colors; even in the fading light, two Gerudic woman not trying to hide and a Goron are easy to see.

"We should make sure these are our marks," Katharina muttered in Gerudic.

"I'm not an idiot," Aria replied in the same tongue. In Common, and loud enough for the approaching three people to hear, she said, "What business do you have in Parapa?"

Oh.

His smile faltered upon sighting the watch. For some reason he thought it would be easy, this mission. Since when are Gerudos so particular about being stolen from? The Deku had been under the impression that they were thieves themselves, and that they would be out thieving in the night tonight. OK well, this problem was easily remedied with some classic avoidance of the truth. He prepared by hiding his dagger behind his back.

"Our business? Well, it's... not yours to know!"

The Deku hopped a few times with excitement, before continuing.

"Haha! You thought we would reveal our plot to steal your tobacco so easily? As fellow thieves, I would have thought you Gerudos would expect more from us. Thieves. Likes yourselves. Except here to steal what is yours. Err..."

"Dammit dammit dammit dammit"

The Deku hopped a few times with agitation, before continuing.

"Ah, I mean... we're here to trade! Yes. Trade."

Katharina began to twirl her twin scimitars by her side in a menacing manner, while Aria let her naginata's blade drop to the Deku's level. "When you are in our desert, your business is ours to know," she stated.

"How dare you call us thieves," Katharina growled. "Ganondorf's foul reign was ages ago; you have no right to judge us based on that horrible part of history."

"And if you are thieves, then we will have no choice but to bring you three in," the older of the two women continued. "If you are traders, then you are ill supplied, especially if you wish to trade us for our tobacco. We do not trade it cheaply."

Thealter gazed at their opponents. Two well-trained Gerudos and a Goron. This could be difficult. He smiled at the younger of the two Gerudos, or rather, smiled with her in mind, no doubt probably disgracing her being in his mind. He definitely didn't have the charity and chivalry of his old friend, Simon Grendel. However, that would stop him from acting outwardly nice. Actually, he was a pretty chivalrous guy, but a different tale was spun in his own mind.

However, his chance to work his charm was blown when the Deku practically blew their cover. He smiled on the outside again, but secretly wanted to strangle the Deku. Luckily, the thief was able to cover it up semi-well. However, he would all have to claim to be traders. "What price are you looking for?" called out Thealter, removing the bird mask, and letting it hand by the strings around his neck. He gazed at the younger one, thinking she would answer first.

"And as for my associate, please forgive him; he knows his money more than he knows his history. Don't take us all for fools. I would never make the mistake of calling your majestic race a gang of thieves," Thealter added, trying his best to smooth over the harshness of the situation.

"We are, actually, carrying everything we need to trade." Saber blurted out, the edges of his mouth twitching as he thought of the possible ramifications of his statement.

"We're trading the Deku."

With a beaming, sand-filled smile, the mercenary bowed to the watch. "He's really quite easily trained, and surprisingly strong for his size. Not to mention adorable! Really, you can't do without a Deku Slave."

Thealter, at least, was on the right track. Both Gerudos had a mind to let them turn around right then after giving them the price they knew they didn't have (cloth and food products such as pork and cheese). However, the Hylian mercenary screwed things up again.

"We do our own work," Aria replied, the anger in her voice quite obvious. "Even if we thought forcing people to work against their will was right, we would have no need for them. Now turn around and go back whence you came if you don't want to find yourself with several new holes in your body."

OK that was uncalled for. The Deku fumed silently at Saber's words, turning his dagger eagerly behind his back but not reacting. As it was, they were starting to lose their marks. Looks like it was time to go with the flow. Time to pull out the big... bows.

"Oh, er... well... who ever said I was the kind of slave who did that kind of work?"

He said this as smoothly as he could, putting all his thief charm into the sentence. As he did, the Deku slid closer to the two Gerudo guards, batting his eyelids at the ladies and smiling. This better work; after all, who needed... that... more than the Gerudos?

Both Aria and Katharina looked completely horrified at the idea that the Deku was hinting at. The two of them nearly dropped their weapons in their shock.

"There are two things so horribly, horribly wrong with that," Katharina said, the disgust in her tone obvious. "Please, leave this desert before I decide to light you on fire."

"Oh, goddess, I'm going to be have nightmares for weeks," Aria moaned; she wanted to close her eyes at the horrendous idea, but the Gerudo knew better.