To say that this group of travelers was a bit… eccentric, was absolutely an understatement. All had accepted the bounty mission that had been stuck lazily into the corkboard at the local tavern, and they were stuck together until they were able to successfully fulfill their mission.
The air around the group seemed relatively tense, as all members took each other's appearances in.
In the corner sat two elves, one male with a longsword tucked into his scabbard and long, auburn hair; the other was a female that sat cozied up to the bar, twirling her long, black hair around her finger and taking in the scene around her.
One figure sat perched on a stool closer to the entrance of the tavern, sporting an eye patch and seemingly pulsing muscles. His sword was leaned against the wall beside him, and he leaned against the wall with his eyes closed and his arms crossed.
On the other side of the room sat a woman in religious robes, a scimitar delicately placed in her lap as she eyed the other patrons.
Finally, sitting at the middle of the bar was a girl that looked relatively young, around six years old, but was throwing back shots of whiskey like it was water. Her quarterstaff sat against the bar beside her, and she seemed to have no cares about the people that took seats around the tavern.
As the group broods in the darkened meeting place, the tavern owner, a man with tan skin and a mop of black hair on his head, returned to top off the young girl's drink and to address the crowd.
"I'm guessing you're all here for the bounty?"
The group nodded in agreement.
"Well, then let's get started. The town has been noticing some strange stuff, cow slaughters, disappearances. Now, I've been tipped off that a hunter was able to follow a blood trail close to a cavern far into the woods on the west side of town. However, that hunter, after sending his message to the mayor, disappeared too. The last part of his note said that he was going to explore the cavern and find a solution himself. Obviously, the solution didn't work. The sponsor is offering a thousand gold pieces in exchange for the death of the culprit. The mayor is in absolute shambles, and the village people are slowing evacuating, scared for their lives."
The male elf spoke first, "Is there any clue as to what it might be?"
The tavern owner smirked, "I could tell you, but that wouldn't be any fun, now, would it?"
Totally appalled, the group grumbled, the man with the eye patch gathering his things and heading for the door.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you."
The man paused and turned towards the other man standing behind the bar.
"And why the hell wouldn't I? You're wasting my time."
The tavern owner produced a set of five contracts from beneath his counter.
"You've already signed a contract. Now, you either kill the creature or be killed, by either the creature, or the government."
With that, the owner gathered the contracts and returned to his home upstairs, completely unfazed by the terror that the group was trying to instill into him.
With gaping mouths, the group gathered in a little closer.
"He can't do this. That's totally unfair!"
"I mean, he did get our binding signatures."
"That was a signup sheet!"
"Well, there's nothing that we can do now."
The young girl finished her drink and slammed the glass against the ground.
"Well then let's just go and beat the shit out of that thing! We've got a clue about what's going on, and I'm sure if we just go investigate, things will reveal themselves." She said.
"I don't even know you're name, you've got no right to boss us around." The female elf voiced.
"You better treat your elders better!", the young girl griped back, "I'm Mizule, probably the oldest [erson you know."
The elf girl scoffed, "Sure, pipsqueak. Anyways, I'm Lilou."
The male elf politely butted in, "I'm Skody."
This was followed by the woman in robes, "My name is Van."
The group looked towards the silent man in an eyepatch.
"What about you?"
The fighter tossed a quick gaze at the group.
"Egan."
"We don't have to like each other, but we need to bear together long enough to just take care of this problem.", Van chimed in.
The group grumbled in agreement.
With much tension, and little patience, the group set off out west, hoping to take care of this problem quickly and quietly. Little did they know, that wasn't going to quite be the case.