Arthur ate his food while Penny and Rob eyed him, he was hangry, and they could tell something had pissed him off. "Soo..." Penny prodded and Arthur glared at her as he tore off some meat from the chicken and ate it while glaring at her making the women flinch and pull back. 

Rob patted his sister, bemused by what Arthur had done and his unflinching sister's reaction. "Arthur, usually you are cool under fire, this is why we are wondering what is going on." Arthur's eyes darted towards the Ranger as he swallowed the mouth full before responding. 

"I told you I got fired, well one of the people that set it up is dating my cousin. I just saw her just a little while ago and she was recommended as our healer. I vetoed the recommendation and pretty much told them to fuck off." Arthur told them making Rob wince as Penny nodded her head in understanding. 

Penny finally filled the silence, "Well, we were thinking we run a couple of Dungeons before we go off on your next big mission. There are three within the city or around it, once we clear them all we should all have our Specializations unlocked and have better gear as well." the Warden informed Arthur. 

Arthur looked between the two siblings, "You both agree on this point?" Arthur asked and they both nodded. "Ok, sounds good to me but we still lack a healer." Arthur pointed out. 

"We know, and we think we have this covered. There is a mercenary company forming here in Vindomora, the cost to join is fifty Gold Marks per person, but it comes with a bunch of benefits that includes gear and party members to fill out an individual party." Rob explained his plan. Arthur gestured for them to go on, "Well you don't have to pay upfront, you have to go through a tryout before you are inducted into the Clan. The test is a dungeon run with a few of their people to see how you do. We make three so we would take along two of their people, one will be a healer." Penny nodded her head excitedly. 

"I assume you all set this up already?" Arthur prodded as he thought of the possible exposure a mercenary group might bring his way. 

Exposure Arthur didn't want at the moment. "Yeah, we got everything set up. They are sending a Druid as a healer and a Berserker for another frontline fighter and off-tank if needed." Penny informed him.

Arthur considered it before nodding, it was a risk but a manageable one. If worse came to worse, he could always make a run for it. "What's the clan called?" Arthur asked as he sat back, finished with his lunch, and glanced at the real-world time.

It was mid-morning back there, so he still had about eight hours before he had to log out. "The Ebon Blade, it's a small company right now with two signature Clans but they plan to incorporate four," Rob replied as he pointed towards the inns' door as two figures walked in, both were looking around and when they landed on the trio sitting near the back, they headed their way.

Arthur studied them, one was decked out in heavy chainmail armor wielding a large double-bladed ax, while the other man was decked out in a mix of cloth and leather armor with a staff with glowing runes carved into it. As Arthur studied them [Jarome] popped up over the Druid while [Aaron Bloodfist] popped up over the Berserker. 

"Penny and Robert?" the Druid asked then glanced at Arthur and frowned, "Who might this be?" the Berserker was studying Arthur more closely and had a hand on the hilt of his ax.

Arthur smiled at the warrior as Rob responded, "Arthur is a Dark Magus Jarome and our third DPS, he is competent but is not trying out for the company." the Ranger replied as Penny eyed the Berserker.

Jarome looked at Arthur, "If you don't mind me asking why don't you want to try out for the company? Pay is steady and the opportunity to work is only going to grow." Penny kept her eyes on the Berserker but started to relax as he did.

"Right now, my future is up in the air, so I don't want to commit anything until it solidifies somewhat," Arthur replied as he pointed to himself. "Plus are you certain you want a Dark Magus in your Clan or company? We got a bad rep." he prodded as he glanced at the Berserker who continued to look back unflinching earning another amused smile from Arthur.

"Don't you worry, we can keep you out of the way of Pelor's followers," Jarome responded as he grimaced. "As far as a job goes, besides working for a mercenary company, you can also always sell your video feed and make money that way." the Druid pointed out. 

"Enough!" Aaron butted in. "We are here for a tryout, we are going to run the Tunnels of Reckoning below the city, minimal recommended Level is fourteen. I assume you all meet that requirement?" the Berserker asked. 

"Yeah, we all meet the minimal Level requirements and are ready to proceed," Robert replied while Arthur remained stoically quiet. 

Jarome smiled and gestured towards the door, "Well then let's go, the sooner we get started the sooner we will be done." Aaron nodded his head and strode towards the door, Arthur looked at Penny and Robert, but they were already rising. Arthur gritted his teeth and followed the others, the Druid bringing up the rear. 

Aaron led them to a general store where Arthur and the others sold off the last of the trash gear and any loot they didn't want before purchasing any supplies they needed for the dive. Arthur considered his options; money wasn't a problem currently with the windfall he had gotten from the last Dungeon. He still had the basic camping and traveling gear from his introduction to EO, but that was it. Arthur was running low on his supplies, so he purchased more, as well as Health, Stamina, Spirit Potions, and a couple of Portal Scrolls before joining the others outside. 

Aaron led them through the packed streets through the city and outside where they all headed for the westernmost portion of the walls encompassing the city. "According to the lore, Vindomora was built on top of the ruins of another city after the Great War," Jarome told the others as they approached the Bind Stone. Arthur and the others quickly set their temporary Bind Points to the Dungeon. "After its destruction, Vindomora was eventually built by those that settled in this area. The Dungeon is filled with Undead, those that were slain when the original city was sacked so watch your step." the Druid cautioned them.

Arthur winced, from his research Undead had a natural Resistance to Plague and Shadow-based magic, so he would be dragging the others down. "You guys should know since we are facing Undead, they will be resistant to my spells," Arthur warned the others.

Aaron snorted as he unlimbered his ax. "Don't worry cupcake, I will carry your slack." Aaron quipped, before Arthur knew it dark tendrils of shadow energy wreathed around his hands as he glared at the Berserker.

"My magic works perfectly on the living ax man, if you wish a demonstration all you have to do is ask." Arthur calmly told the Berserker, the Shadow Touch spell ready to be cast.

Aaron started to say something, but Jarome butted in, "STOP!" he snapped at the other man. "We are here for an evaluation, if you cannot be impartial, you will leave, and I will request another. Do you understand?" the Druid asked coldly.

Aaron glared at Arthur before nodding his head, "Yes, I can do my job it's just something about him the grates on me." the Berserker replied.

Jarome nodded his head, "Very well, we will continue but stop baiting him." the Druid told him before turning to Arthur. "You stop responding, please and this will go smoother for everyone." Arthur raised an eyebrow as he let the magic dissipate and held up his hands.

"If he holds his tongue and does nothing, I will keep myself in check," Arthur told the Druid before stepping closer to the other man. "Mark my words, the same vibes he is getting from me, I am getting from him. If the Berserker doesn't control himself, there will be an incident and I don't think it will go the way you think it will." Arthur warned him before striding towards the entrance following the others while keeping a wary eye on Aaron. 

Arthur read the information and dismissed it as he cast Shadow Sight, a wave of dark energy washed over the small party and sunk into their eyes. Rob and Penny were used to it but both Aaron and Jarome flinched slightly. Both mercenaries read through the Buff information and while Aaron ignored it Jarome cast an appraising eye on Arthur. "Thank you, I wasn't aware that a Dark Magus could cast any Buffs." the Druid stated and a small smile split Arthur's face.

"While a Dark Magus won't start as strong as other caster types, we have a few spells that are useful in a pinch, and we only grow stronger as our Level increases and could easily eclipse other caster types," Arthur told the Druid who nodded his head in acceptance. "Tell me, have you ever done any research on your opposite? Food for thought." Arthur asked Jarome as the group moved deeper into the gloom of the Dungeon.

"What are you talking about?" Jarome asked as he trailed behind, the healer taking the safest spot in the group.

"If you read within the Lore of this world, almost every Class has two branches. For me, I followed the path of the Dark Magus while my opposite is the Magus. Yours is a Dark Druid, Aaron's is a Reaver, Penny's would be a Black Warden, and Rob's would be the Dark Ranger. Every Class has its strengths and quirks, you just got to figure them out and since EO is so new, it will take a while before they come out." Arthur advised the other man.