"Alright, everyone just leave everything to me!"

The group of adventurers stopped at the entrance of the Hog's Head tavern. Two of them wore dark cloaks that concealed their identity, one of these individuals giving away his magical abilities with the gnarled wooden staff he held in one hand. The shortest of the four, a Halfling with curly bark-brown hair and vibrant green eyes, flipped a copper coin in there. He shook his head at the leader of their group, a young man wearing a leather jerkin with iron shoulder guards; his hair was covered by a ridiculous cap adorned with a single feather he'd collected from some sort of bird.

"Did it ever occur to you that maybe people don't just hand out quests, Flynn? I mean back in our parent's days perhaps but now? Hell we're lucky this town hasn't run us out of town yet." The Halfling grabbed his coin and stuck it in his pockets before crossing his arms. "People aren't just going to trust anyone now a day, especially to a group of adventurers with little experience. Hell, Kujin's the only one with any experience.

The largest of their group grunted, taking off her hood and revealing a grayish-green face. The Half-Orc scowled, her face contorting to reveal her oversized canines. "Why I always part of your arguments, Lyle?"

"Well it's true isn't it?" The Halfling waved his arms, thankful that the streets were near deserted around this time. "Kujin was raised by two Half-Orc parents, both of whom have fought in numerous battles. Desmond's parents wanted him to be a scholarly non-adventuring wizard, and us for our parents, they didn't want us to even think about leaving home! We're merchants by trade, Flynn, not sorcerers, or fighters, or rogues."

The smile on Flynn's face was gone, replaced by a look of contempt. "If you don't want to come with us Lyle, fine. Go back home and grow fat like our dads. Didn't you ever notice how their eyes lit up whenever they talked about their adventuring days? Weren't you ever curious enough to ask them if they had a chance would they go adventuring again? Huh?"

The group had gone silent. Flynn stood almost nose to nose with his Halfling friend, breathing deeply after his moment of anger. A single door had opened and an old maid had come out with a broom in her hands. She promptly turned away upon seeing Kujin's barely illuminated face.

Lyle stood on his tip toes and placed his hands on his friend's shoulders. "Look, I know what you mean. Yeah I was curious but...but we don't know what we're getting ourselves into. All I'm saying is we should have at least asked for our fathers' blessing, you know?"

Flynn smiled, touching his forehead with Lyle's. "You and I both know what the answer would have been." He broke away from their embrace and faced his group. "Alright guys. Whoever wants to head back home with Lyle, feel free to. As for those who stay...well let's not waste any time. A show of nods?"

Before any of them could answer, the door swung open, knocking Flynn and a hooded figure to the ground. The hooded figure let out a cry, hitting the ground and rolling before getting up on their feet. Lyle and Kujin rushed to their downed comrade's aid while Desmond muttered something under his breath. The sorcerer's fingertips glowed briefly before a blinding light engulfed the area. The figure was knocked to the ground, letting out a yelp.

Flynn thanked his friends as they helped them onto his feet, before turning his attention back to Desmond. "Hold that jerk down, Des. I'm going to kick his-"

"Her."

"What?"

Desmond picked up and turned the hooded figure towards his accomplices. A pale but pretty faced young woman with freckles and a long orange hair tied in a ponytail was out cold in his arms.

The Hog's Head tavern doors burst open again. The group turned to see to men wearing animal pelts over their chain mail. One was a stocky and angry fellow with an ugly scar across his face and two daggers in his hands. The other was a taller, fatter fellow an inch or two shorter than Kujin, wielding a large battle hammer in both hands. Both had large beards-telltale signs that they were mercenaries from the northernmost region of the land.

"Oi, where' that little...aha! There's that little wench!"

"Alright lad, bring that little she-witch over here nice and slow. And make sure she's got that amulet on her persons, if you know what I mean." The shorter mercenary had a devilish look on his face as he addressed Desmond. The sorcerer looked down at the girl and back at the mercenaries.

"You should probably get back inside, pay for your drinks."

"What?"

Flynn, Lyle and Kujin stared at their friend in confusion. Desmond's eyes began to glow again, his iris enveloped in a milky-white substance.

"He using magic," Kujin whispered.

"You don't say?"

Flynn had enough time to chuckle before his friends simultaneously flicked him in the ear. Desmond repeated his question again; this time the taller of the two mercenaries began to walk back inside. His accomplice had a confused look on his face.

"What the hell are you doing, wizard? I-hey, where're you going, Ulrich?"

"We have to pay for our drinks." The man spoke in a zombie-like trance. He walked through the door and left his friend alone outside, yelling and cursing at him. He turned to Desmond and glared.

"I'll show you a thing or two!" He growled. The mercenary moved with surprising quickness, letting one of his daggers fly. Desmond's eyes snapped back to normal as the dagger embedded itself in his left arm. The girl fell from his grasp and rolled to the ground. Before anyone could react, Kujin charged forward, grabbing the man with her arms and slamming him against the side of the tavern walls. She let out a feral shout, slamming him several times before tossing him to the other wide of the street. The mercenary smashed through one of the doors; someone inside the house screamed.

"Come on, let's get out of here!" Lyle broke away from Flynn and grabbed hold of Desmond's shoulders. "Kujin, help me with Des. Flynn, you carry the girl. Come on, move!"