Whiteridge, a small and new city where lots of new adventurers gather to start their own quest. The streets are always filled with people of any race, size or color. The city is constantly under construction. Money flows like the rivers of Dandurrough here, which makes it all possible. In three moons the city has gone from a farmstead to a growing city with most necessities taken care of. For now the city lives tax free as the money adventurers bring in is enough to cover all of the construction fees.
At the church, father Wilhelm is facing a tough decision. "But father please!" a small halfling girl, braided ginger hair and fair skin is following the priest around begging him. "I've never asked you for anything in my life. I want to see the world, I want to help people too!" using her best puppy dog eyes she continues to beg. "Saral, you know that adventuring is dangerous! How do you think I would feel if I were to lose my only daughter?" Saral gives no sign of giving up "B-but father, I have received god's consent! I asked him for a sign to let me go on an adventure, so he gave me my first healing spell!"
Father Wilhelm starts getting a little more nervous "Is that so?" He looks around for an injured adventurer and plucks one off of the streets "Then show me" The man isn't badly injured, just a couple of open cut wounds on his arm. Saral steps closer to the man "Everything is going to be fine" she said whilst hovering her hands in a sandwich formation over the man's arm. She closed her eyes, focussing her newfound power to her fingertips. The wound started to glow a dim green light, fading away after slowly closing the wound.
"See father!" Saral proudly exclaimed. Father Wilhelm quickly dismissed the confused but healed man. If he let her go, that would mean danger could take her any time. Yes she can heal herself, but monsters aren't the only danger she would be to face. "Are you sure you want to do this Saral. I can't protect you anymore if you're gone" His expression started to gloom. "Father I'll be fine, I just have to find others that will protect me so I can protect them!
"You don't have to worry, I'm not a child anymore. I can take care of myself" she assured the priest. Father Wilhelm hugged the girl tightly, tears flowing down his face. "I can't let go of the thought of losing you forever, but if it's what you really want." the priest recollected himself, looking Saral into her precious green eyes "Then I have no choice but to let you go" Saral now hugged him tightly. "But Saral" the priest looked her in the eyes again. "You don't have any equipment yet. I'll send someone to gather you some necessities. And one last request from your old man." Their eyes locked, the priest's eyes welling up. "Can you please stay one more day... for me?" Saral didn't hesitate "Of course dad" She had a warm smile on her face. "Can we go to the tavern tonight? I want you to help me find a proper party." Moved by her words the priest, wiping away his tears replied "Sure honey, only the best for my dear daughter"
***
A lot of commotion is coming from inside the guard's tower. People seem to be shouting at each other. The door opens to the tower, a man almost twice the size of a human clad in full plate mail, throws out a woman clad in the same armor. "And don't let me see your face around here again!" The giant yelled before slamming the door shut. "YOU F#!%ING BASTARD, @#$&, !@#!*" The list of slurs and curses went on and on, people stopped to look at this woman shouting at the door. She turned around, her blue eyes filled with rage. Her long blonde hair covering half her face, it looked like she could viciously attack anyone at this point.
"WHAT!?" She shouted at the onlookers, as they quickly scurried away and resumed their business. 'I hit ONE noble for forcing himself upon a commoner, and I'm the one that's in the wrong!? They should be thanking me for preventing a crime!' Still mad she decided to go to the tavern, The Drunken Bard. 'Since I have nothing really left to lose I might as well indulge myself in drinks and hopefully a tavern brawl' Still mad, she starts to mock her old boss in her head 'yOu ShOuLDn'T eVEr HiT a nOBle lUCiA, my ass. He deserved what was coming to him sooner or later. I guess I'm lucky he didn't press charges since I was part of the town guard, but still! Men are just pigs." She finally cooled down a little as she arrived at the tavern.
It was still quite early in the day, but it might as well have been night time as the tavern was filled to the brim with adventurers. Everyone seemed to be in good spirits today as a small gnome bard filled the room with cheerful songs. Most patrons, drunk out of their mind, sang along with the bard and cheered until he played his last note. "Thank you everyone, you're so kind. My name is Leucis Ironhide and you better not forget it!" He looked around the room, looking for any fair maiden that he could shoot his shot with. He noticed the beautiful knightess as she entered the tavern. 'Oh what a beauty, let's hope she likes her men short!' He put down his lute next to the small stool, which might as well have been a step stool. "I'll be taking a small break, please continue the good fun" The patrons raised their tankards cheering as the gnome took off from the stage.
Weaving through the patrons as they tried to offer him drinks, politely declining them with a "Maybe later" or "I'll be back soon" His eyes were set on his "prize". The knightess was standing at the bar as the gnome hopped onto the empty stool next to her. "Hello my lady, what's your name?" he said with a big smile. Lucia having none of it replied disinterested with an "Up yours shorty" She left as the barkeep handed her a tankard, Leucis following in her footsteps. "I'm just trying to be polite, you look like you need some company" he hardly kept up with her. "Just get on the stage again, I'm not in the mood to babysit" After trying to calm herself down, she could feel herself getting more angry ready to punch the bard in the gut to make him get the hint.
Leucis, feeling pretty hurt from that snarky comment, tries to give it one more shot. "Then let me offer you a drink instead?" Lucia, still drinking from her just purchased drink, is slowly losing her cool. "Sure" Leucis' eyes lit up as he heard that word, only for it to be gone in an instant as Lucia emptied her tankard on the bard's head. "I just ran out of ale" to make matters worse she said "Hey everyone! The bard just said he'd give us all a round of ale!" The whole tavern loudly cheered as Leucis stared at the woman in disbelief. Accepting his defeat he twirled his finger around as a magical purple vortex dried him up again and went back to the stage. 'Again, no luck! Is there something wrong with me?' Climbing up to the stage again he picked up his lute and started playing again. Singing a song speaking of a great wizard that slayed countless beasts and being a champion of Whiteridge.
***
Over at the harbor, a neatly dressed goblin looked over the horizon as a lone elf moored his ship. He looked as if he had seen better days, his dark blue cloak filled with burn marks and holes. Dried blood stained his clothes and face, his gloomy expression looked as if he did not come to bring good news. "Quarion! Good to see you again, where is your party?" The goblin's tone changed as the elf approached. "Like the last party I had Gibble, looks like I might as well have been cursed" Quarion almost broke into tears. "Look at it this way mate, you should be happy that you're still alive. This way they won't be forgotten!"
"Look Gibble… I'm done, I don't want to adventure anymore. Your contract has brought only trouble for me. I want to rest, I'm ready to settle down and just live a normal life!" Quarion didn't seem mad or sad, just very tired. "You know I can't just let you go, you're a great help to our community! You're in my great great grandfather's debt, you gave your word to him to help his family and generations to come. You even signed a contract, but let me strike you a deal. One more adventure, full profit to me and I'll tear apart the contract. Deal?" He held out his hand waiting eagerly for Quarion to grab his. The elf scoffs "You're crazy..." as he walked away from Gibble.
"W-wait! I'll also give you permanent residence here in Whiteridge, free of charge on top of it" Gibble ran past him, still holding out his hand. "I know that your last house burnt down in your absence, but there is no chance that it will happen here. You'd be safe for the rest of your life!" Quarion gave it a moment's thought 'I still have about 400 years left in me, but if every adventure ends in me returning alone I can't do it anymore. The free residence sounds like a steal' He met Gibble's hand. "Fine, but this is the last adventure and upon my return I need to witness you tearing it apart. Don't try to play any tricks on me!" The goblin was ecstatic "You won't regret it my man! Now let's meet at the tavern tonight, we'll discuss your next quest after we've assembled your new party!"