I stepped back, letting my opponent's axe slash down in front of me, before I step back in and place my hand against his chest. I muttered a quick incantation, and lightning discharged from my palm. The orc's yellow eyes widened as he was launched back into the side of the wagon I was supposed to be protecting. There was the crunch of wood, the tearing of cloth, and shrill screams as my victim crashed through the thin wall and injured the occupants...

Hi, my name is Arren Cole, and without a doubt... I have the worst luck in this world. Oh? Luck is what you make it? It's all in my head? You're wrong. Disastrously so. You don't have to believe me. You probably won't. Opinions and all of that, right? In order to tell you my story we're going to have to go back a short time. Catch you up to the present. It's great timing actually. A flash of red hair, icy blue eyes, and the cold grey steel of drawn blade, as one of the surviving passengers from the wagon pushes free of the wreckage and corpses, has my life flashing before my eyes.

____________________________________________

"Arren!" The very shrill screech right outside of the window sat me bolt upright in the bed, which is unfortunate in and of itself. My skull collided with the bunk above mine, which in turn knocked it loose from its hooks... which in turn set the bunk, and its suddenly wide awake occupant, who was now clinging to the bed for dear life... to crash down on top of me. Serah poked her head in the window to find me sandwiched between the two beds and a still half asleep, half absolutely terrified Tortle on top of the whole setup. "How... does that... even happen?" she asks under her breath, as she climbs inside to help.

I bow and mumble the best apology possible to the humanoid turtle as I grab my kit and follow Serah outside. She looks at me somewhat irritably, red hair and blue eyes shining in the morning light. "Today is the day we get our adventurers licenses, and you're oversleeping. You somehow manage to crush yourself just by waking up. Just... make sure you make offerings to ALL of the shrines before we leave." She lectures me irritably as we walk towards the village circle. I raise an eyebrow and study her.

"You didn't have to come collect me, you know." I say before licking my pointed teeth frustrated. "I'd have gotten up soon. I wouldn't miss this for anything."

She rolls her eyes. The bow on her back, the daggers at her waist, and the way she carried herself were full indications of her class and skill set. "We're going to be partners. At least until we split up. So... if you mess this up for me..." her voice trailed off ominously. I raise my hands in mock surrender.

"Yeah... might as well dig my grave now." I mutter as she walks towards where the village elder was waiting. The old man looked down at us kindly as he leaned on his staff.

"Arren Cole and Serah Graff." he greeted. Elder Maccai was still powerfully built, despite being older than the village itself by all accounts. His mixed elven blood highly apparent in the streaks of blonde in his beard and hair, and his pointed ears. His eyes carried a spark of mischief still, and his voice was still powerful after decades of calling on his chosen god. "Today you two leave our humble village. And I'm pleased to be the first to give you two promising young adventurers a quest." I looked up, immediately wary and excited. On the one hand... knowing Elder Maccai, the job wouldn't be too difficult. On the other... knowing my luck... well... I sighed heavily and Serah turned to give me a look. "Relax, boy. All you have to do, is make sure a delivery makes it to the next town. Orc raids have been becoming more common. I have faith in you two." He smiled before reaching into his robe and pulling two scrolls. I stash mine in my pack, being absolutely careful to put it somewhere it wouldn't fall out, or gods know what else could happen to it. I look warily towards where the wagon of supplies waited and balance my short stave on my shoulder. Serah tucks her license away and we bow politely to the ancient being in front of us.

"I'll do my best." I say before starting towards the shrines. Serah follows and watches as I pray at each of the small statuettes of various gods. After pleading with each of the deities for a lack of my usual luck, I turn to her and smile wanly. "Here goes nothing." I say with forced cheerfulness. She eyes me with suspicion before climbing into the back of the wagon with a couple of other passengers from the village we were destined for. I resigned myself to keeping pace alongside the wagon, knowing that it was safer for everyone involved for me to have as little to do with the wagon, its goods, or its passengers as possible.

Soon the wagon, Serah on top of it, and I were on the road south out of the village. It was fairly uneventful at first. An almost pleasant hike along an empty road, gently rolling hills and fields, the sound of birdsong, and the gentle sunlight the backdrop for my first adventure. I snuck a glance at Serah, wondering idly why she chose to leave the village on the same day as me. It's not like... I stiffened and leaned back as I heard a faint whistle then a thud. An arrow traveled through the space my head had been and embedded itself in the wagon. I growl softly under my breath and turn, dropping into a fighting stance as the orcs stepped out of the trees.