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Chapter 2 - The Tavern

Willow found herself immersed in her usual antics at the Devilish Twist, a place where her schemes often unfolded. As a regular patron who sometimes lent a hand behind the bar, Willow's presence was tolerated by Terry, the formidable beastwoman who owned and operated the establishment single-handedly. Terry's strength and speed were legendary among the locals, and Willow had witnessed both her prowess in serving drinks and her ferocity in dealing with troublemakers.

On this particular evening, the bar seemed devoid of promising targets for Willow's mischievous designs. However, her boredom was swiftly interrupted by the entrance of a peculiar figure clad in a green robe with golden accents. The man's appearance drew the attention of everyone in the bar, signaling the potential for an interesting turn of events. Willow's mind immediately began to churn with possibilities, anticipating a chance for profit or valuable information.

Approaching the man at the counter, Willow engaged him in conversation, seizing the opportunity to glean any useful tidbits of information. The man, clearly in search of a drink to alleviate his displeasure with the establishment, dropped two gold coins on the counter and requested to be surprised. Willow, sensing an opportunity to capitalize on the man's apparent dissatisfaction, poured him a mug of the cheapest drink available, a decision met with a mixture of skepticism and amusement from the patron.

To Willow's surprise, the man consumed the drink without complaint, humorously acknowledging its lackluster quality. Their exchange continued, with Willow subtly probing for information about the man's background and possessions. The man divulged that he had hired three mercenaries to guard his belongings, indicating a wagon outside the tavern as their current location.

As the man grew increasingly intoxicated, Willow seized the opportunity to extricate herself from the conversation, excusing herself to attend to other patrons. She covertly handed Terry the two gold coins she had received, earning a rare nod of approval from the beastwoman.

Stepping out into the back of the tavern, Willow set her sights on the wagon guarded by the mercenaries. Assessing the situation, she devised a plan to distract them, utilizing a rat and eventually resorting to setting a nearby cart on fire to create chaos. Amidst the commotion, Willow seized her chance to infiltrate the wagon and pilfer its contents, utilizing her lockpicking skills to gain access to a chest filled with enchanted items.

As she began to fill her sack with the valuable loot, Willow was interrupted by the return of the mercenaries, led by the determined dwarf. With quick thinking and agility, Willow evaded capture, darting away with her ill-gotten gains as the mercenaries pursued her into the night.