Coal into Diamonds! (RP tiem)

[Slate]

The noisy man had been about to accept the handshake when the rogue had shown up and stolen the conversation, perhaps not too surprisingly. Their third member, if he was to be that, seemed a little too confrontational for his taste, but he figured that was something that came with the lifestyle he had chosen. Though naturally loud and enthusiastic, the blacksmith was not a person easily roused, and so busied himself in petting the fuzzy critter that seemed to be Shichiro's pet.

Despite the grey coating that covered most of his visible skin, nothing rubbed off onto the sheepy animal. This man was actually quite clean at the moment: his tarnished complexion was the permanently darkened skin of a mine-worker who, spending years of his life handling coal and soot, absorbed some of the color into his skin and could no longer get it out.

As the rogue explained his intended contribution to the party, the smith listened, his grin melting into a curious expression. The miners had not, of course, forgotten about the other entrance. Rather their contractor had deemed that they were not to use it anymore: what ore remained down there was on the edge of dangerous chasms, and strange monsters had begun to roam the area. The smith was impressed that this newcomer had neither been seen by any of the miners nor phased by the mine's deeper dangers.

Seeing a moment to jump in when the rogue was done his piece, the smith seized the opportunity to toss in a phrase or two. "'Strue what he says. They don't use the other way anymore 'cause it's dangerous, but it's still unguarded. The main way is bound to be swarmin' with workers, and they'll have to try an' stop us gettin' past, else they might lose their jobs. I never seen this guy in all my years workin' there, so if he's tellin' the truth about sneakin' in, it'll be a useful skill to have around, regardless o' which way we go."