Lilith has always resigned herself to be the one to stand out in almost any crowd she’s in. If not her attire, then it’s her demeanor that stands out. The place she’s in now hasn’t helped her in the slightest. And in Thunderhoof Village, outsiders are always clocked and always talked about, even at night like she’s made a point to. Especially if they come in wearing regal and expensive clothing like Lilith has.

Her clothing is clean and practically screams ‘nobility’. Primarily colored black with vibrant gold accents, with her pants, shirt, coat and cloak all matching as if it were a uniform of some kind. Pinned on her shoulder, clasping the cloak to her is an elegant looking golden rose, each petal individually designed.

It’s clear from her pointed ears and refined features that she’s an elf - most likely a sun elf. Her hair is a raven black, and yet the underside of it is a deep wine red. Light cosmetics define and highlight her eyes and lips, with very careful and reserved usage of eyeshadow and eyeliner, paired with a crimson red lipstick. A crimson red that matched beautifully with her eyes of the same shade. For those who frequent Sol City, perhaps the house colors and brooch can be recognized as those of House Thorne.

Yet for a noble, disgraced or not, she finds herself frequenting these small towns and villages. For someone who was born in the capital, Lilith truly does not like being in large cities. Far too many people who get far too close. Too much noise, too many eyes.

Too many sets of heartbeats.

In places like this, however, she gets a break. She can smell the petrichor, hear the birds. What was an overwhelming surge of info of hundreds of heartbeats now becomes passive acknowledgement of perhaps two or three at a time.

Despite this break, Lilith moves through the village with purpose. Her cloak billows behind her as her eyes gaze forward unwaveringly, moving toward where she knows she can pick up work. Most individuals avoid her, some watch her with wariness and curiosity.

As she finds the job board, she stops in front of it, hands clasped behind her back and looks through it with a neutral look. As usual, for a town such as this, most of the jobs are mundane and low paying. Fetch quests and hunts primarily, with the best paying one being food collection and cleanup efforts around the town due to the recent Fey problem that has since been resolved.

Menial labor. While she’s not exactly against doing it, she’s always been one for appearances. In her mind, she weighs the pros and cons of taking this on.


Pros:

- Having someone wearing Thorne colors could do the family some justice. Though this is most likely a half-pro, as this can have just as many downsides as upsides.

- It pays. Not incredibly, but well enough.

- It would help her physically. Perfection of the body is both physical and mental, and lately she has been slacking on the former.

Cons:

- Having a noble do menial labor is undignified.

- Again, Thorne Colors might do damage to the reputation of the house instead of garnering support.

- People. From the looks of things, quite a few people working through the night.


As Lilith contemplates this quietly, she simply observes the ongoing efforts. Cleaning out rubble, moving supplies to temporary shelters, constructing those shelters for the displaced. She stands and observes before coming to a decision, softly exhaling before moving ahead.

Best get on with it, then.

---

Quest Name: Reap what we sow

Participants: Two or more

Location: Anywhere

Post Requirements: 5 post per person, 200 words per post

Reward: +1 Renown

Description: The Black Harvest is upon us, the time of year where the crops are harvested and families prepare for Winter's Crown. The recent events in Charon has made it hard to dedicate time and people to the harvest, as many are still recovering from the events in King's Valley. Local cities are asking for outside help to come in and help collect the harvest. This includes harvesting the crop, cleaning up debris and helping move it to a safe storage facility. While the task may seem easy, pesky creatures may have claimed the crop as home and may be a tad grumpy to find you disturbing them.

    A splintering wall fell away, revealing more of the roofless remnants of a structure now missing its southern side. A few onlookers came over to ensure no one was hurt. The dust settled soon after, showing a pile of debris. Before anyone moved closer, it began to rise and roll off the monolithic flesh of a twelve-foot monstrosity standing up. At first seeming as just a beast of many limbs and heads, it held up four plump hands at its sides and spoke.

    "Apologies, it is just me. Didn't fall quite right. I'm good!" The small crowd immediately turned away, groaning with a mixture of exasperation and relief. If hearts could be heard, that one might be closer to the rhythmic thump of a tree trunk banging into the ground. Through all of the chips and char was the clear visage of a razorback boar. It was not quite alone, however, as the craning neck of a sort of vulture appeared from the same shoulders of that boar.

    A voice again, but different than the first, "Pluagh! Another clumsy mistake. Is there anything we are good at?" It was the vulture.

    The boar this time, "Well, cooking, but you saw how those people looked when we offered..." 
    
    The bird sighed, coughing heavily at the attempt from all the irritants still briefly in the air. "Let's just get- [cough] -through this." It was then that he turned his head to see the luxurious elf amidst the rustic scenery splotched with devastation. Although it was fairly dim, the emerald swirls that formed what seemed to be his eyes studied her as though he was looking at a foe ready to attack.^[1] "I didn't think high society frequented this place, especially at this hour. Special task from the Crown? A threat on the way?" 
    
    The boar brought a hand up to rub at the rippling burn scars across his pallid eyes, "Have some manners, please. Greetings, miss! Apologies for the lack of a refined presentation on our part, we weren't aware there'd be a visit from above during our own stay here. I am Baird Sickleclaw, and this is Mors. Just helping with the reconstruction."

---

^[1]Night Vision

Lilith had her interest captured by a new heartbeat. And not just any heartbeat. A heavy one, as if it were the heart of some unreasonably large creature. Not certain on what the new thing was, Lilith's hand went and rested on her rapier as she watched the wall carefully, listening to the heart.

When the wall comes crashing down, Lilith draws her weapon and readies herself. As the dust settles and people come to investigate, the truth is revealed. Apparently it's just some.. Person? At least everybody seems to know this individual as none of them panic. Feeling sure that there is no actual threat, Lilith returns to a neutral stance, sheathing her blade and dusting off her clothes from the errant bits of dirt, dust and woodchips that landed on her.

She watches the interaction with.. Itself with a level of fascination, although none of that shows on her face. Outwardly, she seems completely unfazed by the event. Inwardly, this entire situation has garnered her complete attention and curiosity. Just what is this person? They're clearly not any race she's familiar with.

As the Vulture part of it seems to consider her, Lilith matches it's gaze with her own. A pair of crimson eyes pierce the vulture's, as if they belonged to a predator that had just located it's prey. She's been told a sense of vulnerability and unease follows her gaze, but not by everyone.

When the 'dominant' head speaks, she shifts her attention over, fixing him with the same gaze. "..I do not care for your presentation." She says bluntly. The only people she'd expect to be presentable are other nobles or somebody that was handed an invitation to a noble house. Since this individual is neither of those things, she cares very little for appearance.

"Lilith Thorne. I am not sent by the Crown, nor is there a threat on it's way that I am aware of." Lilith says bluntly. As she continues to speak, her voice becomes all the more clear. It is deep, and practically demands attention and respect. A tone that can be likened to distant thunder.

"I wish to learn about what has been happening since the fey incursion. I don't suppose you would be a fitting individual to ask about this, Mister Sickleclaw?"

    Ah, a humanitarian. Whatever angle she was pulling, it was at least a quality purpose for a noble. The incredulity vaguely apparent on the bird and boar's faces eased. "Quite good to hear! I can't say I am an expert on what happened, but from what I gleaned from folk is that dark creatures and malicious fae kinda surged throughout the land. This village was often a base for protectors to provide help, so it got hit with a swell of the incursion." Baird returns to swinging his weight around. A solid shoulder and the sooty archway beside him crumbled into charcoal. "The problem isn't quite resolved yet, but we are doing what we can to bolster for the suffering before venturing out." 
    
    Crouched down, a lumpy tail appeared from behind the beastman, then another face. An eel-like protrusion swept the debris into manageable piles. They quickly paused at coming into view of Lilith, curling to soak in her visage from beneath a permanent glower. It returned to the task at hand after a long moment. Mors felt his movements and spoke, "That's Blithe. He just likes to keep an eye on everything."

    Mors distrust was a bit more naked, but he didn't protest any help. "This was the Copper Boots Inn. Stood for 24 years. We were told a small wonderling creature despised someone who rested here, followed them, and proceeded to burn the place down." His wings sulked. The blunt statement still stung to regurgitate. Whether through empathy or disappointment would be difficult to determine.

Lilith just stands and listens for the most part. Externally, she's calm, but her features are a constant cold neutrality. Paired with a gaze that a lot of people might wither under, Lilith definitely isn't the most.. Welcoming person.

"I believe I heard tell of that. Dimensional rift of sorts, I believe the tales said. Though if that is true, then the primary threat has been neutralized. I take it you were not present for the initial attack? Is there anything else you know about the event?"

When the eel pops out, she glances over and a flicker of confusion and maybe disgust crosses her features before returning to the neutral look. Instead of the extended look she aimed at both the boar and vulture heads, she doesn't really look at the eel for very long.

Truth is, Lilith hates eels. Slimy, wretched things that are best when they are far away from her. She's not afraid of them, but they just look.. Horrid. Like they were born from demons or something equally hellish. And she really doesn't like this one staring right at her. Almost tempted to rip the damn thing out fro-

The vulture speaks again, speaking of the Inn that this wreck of a building once was. Supposedly a case of Arson, it seems. Lilith is no professional on fey creatures, let alone anything from the Land of Wonder, and thus she really doesn't have anything to input on that particular subject.

"I see," Lilith says after a moment. "Truly a shame. I have accepted a job that requires my presence in the nearby fields, ridding the area of pests that endanger the crops. Are you able to show me where the field in question is?" Lilith asks, raising the paper she took from the job board mere moments ago.

Lilith wants nothing more than to get this over and done with and just leave. Perhaps to go be a bird somewhere that nobody will bother her. A Raven, perhaps. Or should she lean more into the folklore and try out being a bat? Something to consider when the job is completed, then.

    Okay, not a humanitarian. Maybe they were wrong about her. Uncharacteristic of the general blindness of Baird's judgement to expect enthusiasm at the noblesse oblige. His brow furled upwards with a smirk at his embarrassment, having probably wasted her time. "Ah no. Well, you know about as much as we do about the whole crisis now. One moment." The giant turned to assess the state of the former building he stood upon. The last thing left standing, a handful of steps, crumbled like dominos as he banged a hand on the guardrail. Returning his stance to Liilith, the beastman bowed slightly in a small shrug. The boar continued, "This looks about done. I think we'll join that job as well. We'd be glad to provide guidance, if we may, Miss Thorne." His face shifted into a fittingly gregarious smile. However she'd answer, the monolithic creature would trudge off towards the understaffed field.

    Mors silently pondered this vaguely menacing energy that hovered about the woman. It didn't eat at him at first, but the longer she faced them, the more he felt like she'd like to hunt them for sport. Though he caught himself at the introduction of malice. So far she was only a bit cold, which may simply be her manner. Nevertheless, something scratched at his mind to say 'she is as hungry as you are.' He'd avoid looking directly at her.

    While on the way, Blithe would be scouring each direction. Changes in location brought out a special paranoia within the sentient limb, even as he preferred it to being still and vulnerable. He'd intermittently watch Lilith for a second or two at a time if she was visible. There was uncertainty.

"..What are you, exactly?" Lilith asks suddenly as the charred wall crumbles away. Her voice carries a hint of curiosity, as if she really doesn't know. Yet it wouldn't be that difficult to see the question as rude or as a jab. In Lilith's case, it's simple curiosity. She doesn't recognize the race / amalgamation that Baird is. Frankly, it's slightly off-putting. Especially the eel.

At the suggestion that he joins her for the task, Lilith pauses for a moment, seemingly thinking it over. Behind her back, her finger taps at the back of her opposite hand, mulling over the idea. A few moments later, Lilith gives a nod. "Very well. The posting stated that each individual participating would get the same amount of funds. It is not a singular pool to be divided." The noble explains, offering the paper with a gloved hand. With nothing else to idle around for, Lilith follows along. Her steps are quiet, and everything from how she walks to her seemingly permanently immaculate posture screams noble, as if it weren't already clear.

As they walk, Lilith looks over rather blatantly, observing Baird and the various limbs with curiosity. She notices the avoidance of her gaze from the vulture, and the wariness of the eel. Does Baird himself share their hesitancy? For now, there's nothing exactly telling from his heartrate. Despite her eyes being squarely on Baird and Co, she sidesteps and avoids people with ease, as if she knew they were coming without a clear way of seeing them. The way her ears keep twitching this way and that, however, might mean she's hearing them. But the twitches don't match their footsteps. It's too rhythmic.

If enough focus is put on her, perhaps they might be able to see that each twitch is in time with their heartbeat, only deviating when someone else gets somewhat close - around twenty or so feet.

Thump - Twitch.
Thump - Twitch.
Thump - Twitch.

Out of sheer curiosity, Lilith speaks up, looking at the vulture in particular. "Mors, was it? You seem nervous." She observes, framing it as a question despite it not at all being one. Right now, she wants to try to get the.. Appendages measure. They seem to have their own will, so analyzing each as if they were their own entity might be beneficial.

Finally, they reach the fields. Decently sized and growing various foods in clearly sectioned areas. Wheat and other grain, corn, root vegetables and plenty of other things. As the two approach, a man runs up, wiping dirty hands on their equally dirty tunic.

As they stop, they look at Baird for a moment, looking a little freaked out by him. When he looks toward Lilith, there's a less apparent look of fear, but in his eyes is a distinct look of discomfort; going beyond just being intimidated by a noble. "A-ah. Hey, um, the name is Saulot," He introduces himself, his voice young sounding. The tiredness in his eyes and the grime covering his features masked his age quite well, it seems. He extends a hand to Lilith, who takes a slight step back, glances down then back up to him.

"Lyssandra Thorne." Lilith says in turn. "We're here regarding the job."

The boys eyes go wider a little when Lilith introduces himself. "Thorne, you say? A-ah, right. Okay-" Suddenly, he switches his attention to Baird, deeming him to be a lot easier to interact with than Lilith. "Who might you be..? Uhm, what are you?"