A small, uninspired crew

With my so-far companion taking her leave after indicating the right thing, I poke the front of myself in to the small barracks-setup in here. Not much-a couple spare bunkbeds and a chest, about what I'd expect. What was of much more interest was the colorful cast inside. Like always, I try to have the upper hand in conversations by starting out and getting a bit of info on them.

Arete -a wiry rogue. He was loaded down the brim with dagger in almost any fold of his clothing that could hold them-giving him a nickname of 'the shiv'. His duty here was basically work-release program. If he wasn't so terrified of Orchid and her rumored abilities, would have deserted long ago.

Daiki-A large, wild-looking man. His thick beard had various fetishes, talismans, and totems of wood and bone seemingly braided into it in places-which made his profession as a Shaman all the more obvious. He can't create spirits of his own, but he can work with the ones all around us to varying affects. But he paid a horrible price to gain this-one he hopes to keep a secret. Hi path to ending up here was similar to mine own, overall, just taken as the main contribution for his backwater place.

Akira-An elderly alchemist with a curiously forward 'information wants to be free' view of things. A view that made him a lot of enemies, as those type prefer keeping secrets of their arts to themselves. He came here the most willingly-seeing the middle of a military being a place safer than his own home. Even if he's far too infirm to fight directly, the various poultices and mixtures he can provide more than earn his keep.

For once, I start the chat-preempting the inevitable question. "Ah, good evening-S.U.S. I've been assigned as your newest member." Daiki looked around gruffly for a moment at a the spare bunk. "Don't care if you are-you aren't fitting in here, so piss off." My tendrils bring forth Ichika, reaching forward to lay her down instead. Figuring we're out of the trouble, I whisper to her "You can wake up now" before addressing the rest. "Wasn't planning to-my effects need shelter much more than I."

Arete has a perverse grin cross his face "My, my, new guy comes with gifts! A rare little-" I cut him off before he can finish whatever innuendo he had planned. "She's mine. Touch her, and die." He makes the smart choice to back off as her eyes flutter open. She at first takes a few hopeful looks-before dejectedly sinking her head back as she spots me.

So, I try and cut to the chase. "Well, not a lot to say here, and I already know a bit about you guys. A priest with some minor magic and a strong monster of as-of-yet unknown species, here as the sole levy. So, I have something that I think it a much more pertinent thing to discuss:"