"Companylord, are you sure you want to go with that title?" the taskmaster asked, holding the detailed contract in his hands.

Loofceen nodded. He'd paid enough to the damn lawyer that whatever he'd written down he'd have to go with. Whatever, no matter how poorly explained it was, it would have to do. He looked behind him, at the other tellers several other vagabonds handed in paperwork filled out by money hungry lawyers.

"The contracts you propose are somewhat… orthodox, are you sure?"

"How orthodox are we talking?" Loofceen said calmly but fuming in the back of his mind.

"Orthodox enough to get you hired by any local guilds at least within the Yinitsir region, further out depends on the needs. I'd suggest before you leave the kingdom you send your documents back to a lawyer."

Loofceen groaned silently.

The taskmaster raised an eyebrow. "Not a good time with your one?"

Loofceen nodded.

The long necked Vion taskmaster sighed, his rubbery features rippled like water as he was thinking. "You do know that you can always ask members of the guild for information especially on things such as lawyers, those inexperienced with the legal codes of the guilds are often conned. That didn't appear to happen with your lawyer, however I can tell that this paperwork was rushed."

Loofceen nodded.

The taskmaster leaned forward with his enormous neck and studied Loofceen closely. "Let me guess, you do not share any love for my species."

Loofceen did not reply, he simply took the stack of papers from the counter and ensured it had all been approved properly with the correct stamps and seals. Seventy three seals and ninety six stamps. 

"Is that everything?"

"Yes," the taskmaster said.

Loofceen tucked the stack of papers under his arm and rushed out of the marble building. It was shaped much like a dwarven bank, tellers sitting behind desks with multiple levels allowing for the serving of all sizes and races. There were more races then he cared to count, but there was a large enough percentage of civilised peoples to not make him lose composure. He rushed out of the guildhall and panted for air. The scent of fresh air scrubbed out the suffocating feeling of Dolmari from his lungs and allowed him to finally relax for the first time in almost two hours. He panted but finally looked up to see the man who he was looking for.

"Took your time in there," Elcen said, taking the stack of papers out from under his arms. "Now Companylord, let's get this thing bound."

Loofceen nodded following his dark haired friend out into the cobbled streets of Nimnir. 

"You sure seemed to be enjoying yourself in there," Elecen said ducking past a food vendor as they walked through the crowded market square. "Looked like you were about to throw up before."

Loofceen bit his lip. "The Dolmari."

"Always the Dolmari," Elecen said, nodding. "You'll have to start getting used to it, almost every guildhall this side of the Gods'pine will smell of it. I understand its thickness, I understand–"

"You don't understand one damn thing about Dolmari," Loofceen said firmly, pushing through a man trying to sell him a strange meat dish. "Elecen don't ever try to lecture me on that filthy air."

Elecen stopped in the middle of the square. He looked up towards the sky. "You're right Loof," he said, "I don't know what it's like down there, I've been privileged enough to smell the fresh air for my entire life."

Loofceen stopped and stared down at the ground for a moment. The water slithered its way through the cracks in the cobblestone road, at some points it was damned by a falling leaf or piece of food other times it continued flowing downhill. He ran his tongue around the inside of his mouth and looked back up before nodding towards Elecen, he put his hands on his friend's shoulder knowing he'd said too much.

"It's alright," he said softly. "Just try to remember what that tainted air means for me."

Elecen nodded and smiled back at him. He turned towards a vendor on the street. "How about some peronig?"

"We're low on funds," Loofceen reminded.

"Which makes it taste that much better," Elecen replied.

Loofceen sighed. He could already hear the numbers being run in Elecen's mind, the man was good with numbers, always had been apparently according to his mother. 

"Seven in total," Elecen said finally. "I'll have three, you have four."

Loofceen just nodded and went along with it. There was no point trying to change Elecen's mind by this point.

Although Loofceen could not complain at the quality of the peronig. The potato filled dumplings were something of a traditional dish in the Yinitsiri kingdoms, although technically peasants food it didn't stop even the nobility and merchant class from enjoying it as well. Loofceen felt the warm mash potato and cabbage spill through the small gaps within his teeth and fill the basin under his tongue. The warm mix of vegetables was thick and only was able to be removed when he shoved it up with the circular motion of his tongue. For things barely the size of a small fist they were incredibly filling and by the time he'd enjoyed his fourth one he knew he wouldn't need to eat anything till at least tomorrow afternoon.

"You know where these things came from?" Elecen asked to eat his final one as they left the market heading towards the bookshop for binding. "Like peronig?"

"No, I just focus on their taste," Loofceen said, "but please, go on."

Elecen smiled. "Well apparently when Mitth'row'nonderthor sent missionaries east one Aurlen who travelled to the then Opal Empire and returned with a beef version of peronig. However due to the Bloodgorge and shortage of wild herd animals such meats became a rarity and thus Aurlen began to produce it with a combination of vegetables at his temple in Wrorkil and has since become a staple of Yinitsir."

Loofceen nodded.

"The 'eastbun' as it was originally called," Elecen continued, "came with a number of varieties, with the meat ones being relegated to the nobility while the vegetable versions the peasantry. The dish by around two hundred years–which had finally earnt the name peronig–had attempted to be exported to other parts of enlightened civilisation this side of the world but mostly failed resulting in its signature title as 'the sustenance of Yinitsir'."

"Very, interesting El, but how exactly am I going to use this information?"

"Well… well…," Elecen sighed, "you just keep me talking to entertain yourself don't you?"

Loofceen smirked. "Not exactly," he stopped and turned, "anyway, we're here."

The two turned up to see a red maple sign in the shape of an open book with the simple words Full Stop. The two sighed and entered, holding their noses as they quickly dashed through the first section of the shop which had so much dust you would have a hide of it after standing around for only a few minutes. The second half of the shop was much nicer, with a roaring fireplace in the corner, lines of neatly stacked shelves and a single orderly desk in the center of the room where a rather grim looking halfing sat.

"Elecen come on in," the halfing said, getting out of his chair and running over towards the two of them. 

The halfling was tall, enormously so for someone of his race. The halfing stood at just above five feet tall and had a very stocky build with muscles that could be seen through his teen human shirt. It was strange talking to Hemen sometimes, it was like talking to a small man rather than a different race which made the interactions more… tolerable.

"Hemen," Elecen said, holding out his arms, "it's good to see you again, old friend."

"And you two," Hemen said, hugging the Elecen before turning to Loofceen. "I presume you're not up to it?"

Loofceen shook his head.

"Fair enough," Hemen said, running back to his desk trying to act within a more professional manner. "What can I do for you two?"

Elecen held up the stack of papers and placed them down on the desk. He quickly neaten the pile up and handed the man a combination of silver and copper pieces. The halfling picked through the piece and arranged them into separate piles, he nodded at each one before turning back up towards Elecen.

"I assume you want this bound?"

Elecen nodded.

"Alright, I'll get to it, however it's going to take me until later tomorrow to get this to you," the halfling said before looking down at the stack. "What is it?"

"Documents for legal adventuring," Elecen said.

The halfling clapped at the two of them. "Well done, never thought you two would be able to gather up the time and more importantly cash to get this done. Not easy getting all the paperwork filled out. Who'd you get to do it for you, because I best know neither of you could do it?"

Eleven and Loofceen went silent at the question. The two looked at each other and neither one blurted out an answer to Hemen. The halfling stared the two down hoping his round beady eyes would get either one to break. Neither did.

The halfling sighed. "Let me guess," he said, "you hired an awful lawyer, who did his job but wasted your money?"

They both nodded.

"Sometimes you two fools just need to listen to someone else for once, damn be Harfer, if I have to deal with your stupid mistakes one more time Elecen I won't let you be a customer anymore."

Elecen nudged Loofceen as if to say, I told you so, before nodding towards the halfling. "Alright Hemen, I understand, next time we'll come for your recommendations first."

"Good, and don't you forget that," he said huffing as he took the set of papers to the back of the shop to be properly bound all the while cursing to himself.

Elecen rolled his eyes towards Loofceen who simply held up his hands in defeat. 

"I don't like treating with him."

"You don't like dealing with anyone who isn't like us," Elecen said, groaning. "Next time that little man is going to rip my head off, and personally I don't want to die by the hands of an angry halfling."

The two locked eyes for a moment. The moment stretched until Loofceen started to laugh slightly, Elecen followed suit until both men were laughing so loud that Hemen had to kick them out of the store and into the rain.

"Well now we've really done it," Loofceen managed to say as he put on his raincoat under the cover of the shop. "Where to now?"

Elecen smiled. "Where else after we've finally started on this journey that had taken us so long to get organised?"

Loof squinted his eyes out the window trying to tell the time. He looked up into the sky, he could see Lunareth, Mystravane, Eclipsera, Nixora, Nyxeldor and Floravelle but not Ignivol. So then it must be… early in the night? Yes, it must be right? He stumbled a bit catching himself on the window with his hand. He'd had too much to drink but he didn't want to stop now, he hadn't felt that rush when one reached his limit yet, but what time was it?

He stumbled back and over towards the large clock at the edge of the room. He almost tripped over a mug on the ground as he looked around for Elecen who was enjoying a drink somewhere in the tavern. Three hundred people, primarily men and humans, were gathered inside the crowded building. In the corner a trio of bards danced on top of tables knocking over beers and earning laughs as coins were tossed towards them. These types of places were so very easy to get lost in as seats rapidly switched and you pushed around.

He groaned as he finally reached the clock and collapsed onto the ground next to it. He rolled over and stared towards the roof before pulling himself up to be able to see the time on the clock. The numbers seemed to swirl together as the four separate faces turned in a confusing motion. The hourly had just hit thirty eight, while the minute clock three and the second clock seventy seven, seventy eight, seventy nine and zero.

"Eighty, sixty, forty, two hundred, who thought of this bloody system?" Loof asked with a hic while staring up at the clock. "Can't all the numbers be the bloody same, bar the days? That would be so much easier?"

He sighed letting out a hic as he did and stumbled through the roaring crowd. The crowd was cheering as the halfling trio jumped between tables singing and strumming their instruments as they knocked over flagons. They sang of their home tavern, of how the brown its ale was and how no other tavern could stand up to it. It was a joyous little song, sung by joyous little people.

He dragged himself over to the table where he could see Elecen was drinking far more than he was despite being far worse at ale. He tripped once again and fell at the bottom of the able. He groaned and looked up seeing Elecen reach out his hand unsteadily to pick him up.

"Here's the mon of the horse," Elecen said with slurred speech as held a flagon in one hand and Loof in the other. "I told you borks this lood could take a baking, yike no other!"

Loof stumbled up and took a chair at the table. Including him and Elecen there were seven… no, eight men at the table. A half elf along with a dwarf was among this group of six at the other end of the table. They looked on edge?

"How can I help you?" Loof said, settling down into the table.

"Money," the half elf said obviously not knowing much of the local language.

Loof raised an eyebrow at the comment. "Money, what about it?"

"You have some of ours," one of the human men said. 

Loof squinted his eyes to make out the features. The man had a scar on the left side of his face which had been destroyed, no it had barely missed his eye, and messy patches of hair parading as a beard. Did he look familiar? No, not really.

"From what? When? I don't have much money so whatever we have of yours its likely not much."

The man nodded. "Marked coins, you got some of ours, we want them back."

"Whoa," Loof said, holding up his hands lazily, "slow down, marked coins? I'm too full of beer to properly discuss this right now."

At those words the half elf stood up and said a series of words within quick succession that Loof couldn't make out. He felt a jolt of energy run through his body and then the haziness disappeared, he didn't need to squint and he felt like he had at the start of the night.

"How about now?" The scarred man asked as his half elf friend sat back down.

"That," Loofceen said looking down at Elecen who had fallen asleep next to him, "was uncalled for. If you were going to use the arcane of some sort on me you could've at least told me in advance."

"The marked coins," the scarred man said hastily.

"Ok, ok, relax, give me a moment to get my bearings," Loofceen said. "Anyway, why do you want those coins back?"

"You'll receive their value back and an addition of it three times over," the scarred man said, pressuring Loofceen.

That's odd, Loofceen thought to himself, still trying to shake the odd feeling of his drunkenness being forced from his body. If they're just coins then there would be no need to pay for them and extra.

"I'll ask again, mister Scarface," Loofceen said more firmly, "what does the coin mean to you?"

Scarface's face scrunched up, obviously getting annoyed.

Come on, Loofceen wanted to smirk but dared not let it out, tell me why I should give you these coins. What are you hiding?

"Kid," Scarface said more softly before bringing out a large pouch and setting it on the table, "don't push this, take the money and give back our marked coins."

"How about–"

"Just take the money," Scarface said, opening the pouch to reveal more coin than he'd been paid in a year's work.

Loofceen gawked at the pouch for a moment before recomposing himself, he wouldn't let himself be distracted by money. He stared at it for another moment before snatching the purse from atop the table.

"You've got yourself a deal," Loofceen said, shaking his head.

"Excellent," Scarface said, nodding towards the rest of his comrades. "I'd like to further discuss this with you all out the back where hungry eyes cannot pry upon good business."

Loofceen bit his lip and looked down at Elecen who was snoring quietly on the table. Did he really want to entertain these hooligans now? He'd got the money, he might as well run off with it now, with that type of coin he could last for an entire year by himself without needing to work and if he did he could live in at least a little bit more luxury.

"How about tomorrow," Loofceen said, "it's getting late and I'd rather conduct this type of business when I'm bed rested. I'll tell you tomorrow midday we'll meet you at the town center and you can come to our home afterwards to get your coins. Is that alright?"

Scarface said something to his companions in another language before nodding and turning back towards Loofceen. "Deal, however instead of meeting at the market why don't I arrive directly at your place? Where would that be?"

"I don't think–"

The half elf's hand moved slightly across the table.

"The fourth house on Ervag's street, second floor," Loofceen blurted out suddenly. "However I don't see that relates, we'll meet in the square first then you come to my house."

"Fine," Scarface said before nodding towards his companions and leaving the table.

Loofceen sighed and then groaned. He'd said a stupid thing. Why did he always have to say such stupid things? No matter, he'd said it now, he couldn't take it back. His stupidity would get him into trouble sometime soon, he knew it.

"Might as well sell your soul to a devil," he huffed to himself, annoyed.