"You looking for who?" the tavern owner asked, "Why're you, the famous Daemon, looking for someone in this part of town?"
Daemon was standing in front of the bar counter as he gave the owner a frown, "Hey man, don't be answering my questions with questions of your own. I said; Do you know if the Tiefling Mage is here?"
This was a bar on the outskirts of Ashborne, the Capital of The Drahan Kingdom. Most customers were rough and rowdy men from the lower quarters of the Capital.
Both Azael and Lydia were slightly uncomfortable, as this was a much different vibe from the Guild's Headquarters. While the Dragon's Fate Headquarters' lobby has many adventurers drinking and having a good time, there was an honest and good vibe from this. This bar, however, had extremely drunk and borderline psychopathic patrons.
"Vulgar...." Lydia whispered
"That's the word I thought as well..." Azael said as he stepped to the side to avoid a collapsing drunk
The owner scowled, "If ye don't like my bar, get the hell out, ya high-horse fucks!" He snapped, "I'll be damned if-"
"Hey." Daemon snapped his fingers before his face, "I ain't done talking to you, answer me. Do you or do you not have a Tiefling mage here in the bar?"
The owner scowled, "Look here..." He said before stopping himself, "Hm.....Hey, Zaphira!!!"
Daemon raised his eyebrow as he looked at him, "That's her name?" He asked
"Yea..." the owner said, "Hey, Zaphira, dammit!! Someone's looking for you!!"
The doors to the back of the bar slammed open and a young Azuroth Tiefling woman walked out. She had the greyish-blue skin of her subrace and the short black horns. Her hair was also shoulder-length and black, with dark red highlights and azure blue roots. She was a beautiful Tiefling woman, the leather armor outlined her slim but full figure.
The most notable feature was her eyes; black sclera with sapphire blue irises and pitch-black pupils. They were mesmerizing to look at.
She had a serious scowl on her face, "You tell those drunk creeps that no, I will not spit on their faces while they kneel on the floor butt-naked, sweaty, and covered in goat's chee-" She said before stopping and looking at Daemon and the others, "Oh."
"No, what?" the owner said with a frown, "Daemon, the Black Dragon, is looking for yo- Who the fuck is asking you that?"
Zaphira tilted her head as she crossed her arms, looking at Daemon, "The Black Dragon, eh?" She said with a curious face, "Did I do something wrong?"
Daemon looked at her, "So you're into the kinky shit, huh? Goat's cheese, that's disgusting." He said
Lydia gasped, "D-Daemon!"
Zaphira chuckled, "No, I'm not." She said, "These fuckers are, though, assholes...."
"Watch it." the owner warned as he walked past her
Daemon leaned on the counter, "You a registered Dragon's Fate member?" He asked, "I'm forming a party, I need a Mage."
Zaphira smiled slightly, "The famous Daemon, asking me to join his party?" She said, "That's something. What's the job?"
"The Hightowers." Daemon said simply
"Ooooh, nice~" Zaphira said, "I'm in~"
"You know about that job?" Azael spoke up
"Whoa!" Zaphira said with her eyes widened, "Who's this sexy hunk? Daaaamnnn..."
She was taken aback by Azael's good looks. Zaphira had already seen Daemon from afar, so she was used to his good looks, but didn't expect another handsome man other than the famous adventurer.
Azael slightly bowed, "I am Azael, Daemon's healer." He said
Lydia walked up, "I'm the fighter!" She said with a smile
Zaphira frowned, "I thought Daemon was a fighter." She said, "And you're quite young and short to partake in this job."
Lydia frowned, "What? I'm fully capable!" She said
"Settle down, kid." Daemon said, "So, you're in? I am a fighter, by the way."
He said the last part a bit too quiet.
Zaphira nodded, "Sure." She said, "I'm an Iron-Rank, mage. Don't really do much since that brawl I got with one of the Rangers in Gold-Rank?"
"That was you?" Daemon asked, "The one who kicked Devin's ass?"
She nodded, "Yes." She said, "He was more fragile than a goblin's asshole."
Daemon blinked, "What?"
Azael looked at Zaphira, "You didn't answer my question, you know of the job?"
"Oh yea, who doesn't?" Zaphira said, "That Teo'varna Noble is spreading the request like a wildfire, nobody wants to take it though.....the only Adventurers I've heard of that were trying to get in were the Diamond-Ranked groupies that had some problems and this gigolo here."
"I'm not a gigolo..." Daemon muttered
"You are very popular with the ladies....." Lydia noted
"Yea, like you, apparently." Daemon said
"Hey...." Lydia said
Azael ignored them and continued his conversation with Zaphira, "So you're aware of the risks of this job? The Hightowers is a dangerous place to be." He said, "The largest bridge in Otia, if you can call it that."
Zaphira nodded, "Runs across the Death's Gullet." She said, "The most dangerous thing about the Hightowers is the people of the entrance's town. Those guys are crazy."
"And yet, we embark on this mission," Azael said with a concerned face
"Meh. I've been to that town, they're pushovers." Daemon said, "As for the bridge itself, not just anyone can get in. It's under the control of the Royal Army; General Rickard oversees it. I'm surprised he's letting an Elven Noble call some shots."
"It's deeper than that." Zaphira said, "Talking about Elves, there's an Elven Ranger over by the City Guard's stables, she was looking for work. She's also an Iron-Ranked member."
"Oh, what a coincidence, we're going to her next." Daemon said, "Get your stuff ready, we leave in a bit."
"Oh...right now? Today?" Zaphira said with a surprised expression
"Well, ideally by tonight so we reach the Midpoint by first light." Daemon said, "We'll meet you at the City Guard's stables if you need time."
Zaphira nodded, "O-Okay." she said, "I have some stuff to do, but I am for sure down to roll with you."
Daemon smiled, "Great." He said, "Now, my fellow party members, onwards, we must go and recruit the Elf."
Daemon turned around and began to walk away.
"Wait, Daemon, you're not asking her what kind of magic she wields?" Lydia asked, "We known Azael is a Monk and Cleric, what is Zaphira?"
Daemon stopped and turned around, "Oh, you're right." He said before looking at Zaphira, "You better not be a Druid subclass, oh that'll be so dumb..."
"Heh." Zaphira chuckled
She raised her hand and fire sprouted from her palms, blue fire. As soon as she did this, the entire bar erupted in screams of fear.
"Ruuunnn!!!" the drunks bellowed, "She's doing it again."
"Warlock." Zaphira said, "I'm a Warlock."
Daemon smiled, "Oh, that's cool." He said,
"Something fresh."