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On this fair afternoon, the guild crier has presented us with the following options for adventure:

1. Over breakfast this morning, Kasandra, the guild's blacksmith told us of some difficulties she has been experiencing. She has asked us to investigate disturbances at a cave just outside of Endirum. She claims that they are disrupting her work.

2. A messenger arrived with a letter from Red Fang, the commander of a gang of criminals and brigands. He recognizes that we might not want to interact with him on account of his reputation, but has begged us for an audience to hear his story.

3. At the tavern, rumors abound of a recent shipwreck in the Mysterious Shallows to the north. Word has it that there was something on that ship that the Lord in Shadows at Cioll Zweng would pay dearly for.

Which of these quests shall we undertake? The adventure shall commence as soon as one of the options has received at least 2 votes. Or, if after 48 hours, none have 2 votes, then one shall be selected for us.

Voltan says that number 2 is the best reason for him to adventure. Known criminals are likely to have bounties attached, or at least be associated with those who do.

Bronan's ears prick up at the mention of a handsome reward for the item in the shipwreck.

Exile will hear out the Brigand of the Red Fang.

Rohan senses the urgency in Kassandra's voice and thinks it would be best to help a citizen in need.

2 votes for the Red Fang quest, so Red Fang it is. I will be back shortly with the opening for this quest. As a reminder before we begin, if you wish to have me roll to achieve a higher than usual effect on any particular action (bargaining, fighting, whatever) then please let me know which cliche you will be using and how many die you have associated with that cliche. If you do not mention a cliche, then I will not roll for it. This makes life a lot easier on me. :)

Please stay in character.

An additional reminder: players are free to post as little as much as they want in the thread. So if you post everyday, that's fine, but if you only post once a week or not at all, that's also fine. Feel free to jump into and out of the quest as your time permits.

*waits patiently*

On a crisp and windy morning, you met with a representative of Red Fang in the desert east of Endirum. With your consent, he promptly blindfolded you and led you to Red Fang's camp.

The man unties your blindfolds and you find yourselves underneath an open tent. Your weapons have been taken from you. Ten archers surround you from afar, with their bows trained on your heads.

In the distance, a man sits at a table, veiled in shadows. He appears to be carving a piece of wood. Your travel guide signals to him.

"You came," he laughs with a deep voice, "I had no doubt that you would. Curiosity skins the cat, as they say. Shall we conduct our business?"

Rohan sat quietly, watching intently as the man continued to carve the block of wood. His hands were rough, his eyes were full of wickedness; he was not impressed with the man who sat across from him.
"Well," he said patiently, "I don't seem to have had a choice in the matter. What is with the archers? Are you afraid of someone getting an advantage on someone as skilled as yourself? Or are they there to make sure I cooperate with your demands?"

The Elf stared down at the bandit's leader, his lips quirking in a smile as he spoke. "Am I to be impressed by this show of force, Brigand." The Knight-Mage would ask in a wiry tone of voice. His dark gaze drifted from the various soldiers to the Commander, his eyes closing. "Why did you call upon the Adventurers Guild?"

Bronan looks at his companions, then back at the deeply shadowed figure seated across him. He sneers wolfishly.

OOC: Is there anything in the room I can use to my advantage? Any items I can pick up and hurl, or to use as a weapon or object of threat?

Voltan grins. "He don't want nothin from us, lads. Nothin special. He don't want us dead, or we'd be dead. If I was a smugglin type, that's what I'd do. Ask for help from the local amateur law enforcement and murder 'em as soon as they came runnin." He spins to his companions, then eyes the archers in the distance before turning back to the bandit. He strokes his beard with one hand and laughs. "The next thing I'd do is extort the local amateurs into doing my work for me, so my boys aren't at risk or even suspect. If'n we get caught, he don't lose much and ain't implicated in the doin of the deeds."

He takes a drunken step towards the bandit leader.

"So what is it exactly you think we're gonna do for you, and how do you really think you're gonna force us?"

"I would beg your forgiveness for those arrows my men have pointed at your skulls. I would indeed," he chuckles, "but then again, I'm not the type of man to ask for forgiveness."

He throws the wooden stick he was carving down upon the table before him, withdraws a large cigar and lights it with a match.

"You are aware of the hefty bounty that Endirum has on my head, and twice the figure if I am brought in alive. Do not try to pretend that you aren't. My precautions are necessary."

Red Fang hands a piece of paper to your travel guide who reads it and shuffles away out of the tent.

"Let me tell my story. As you know, my business is all about supply and demand. I get people in Endirum the goods they want, at the price they want. I'm a people pleaser, really. I have had my run ins with the law before, but never anything like this.

One week ago, the city guard in Endirum kidnapped one of my people. They are now demanding that I pay what they call "back taxes" in order to secure her release. They accuse me of smuggling, hah! I do not think this plot rises to the top of the city guard, I suspect it is in fact a radical element within their ranks. Nevertheless, there is no way to know for sure.

They have threatened to execute their prisoner if either of the following conditions are met: if I do not pay them their blackmail money within another week, or if they spot any of my crew within the vicinity of the city.

That is why I would like to hire you to investigate this matter. I ask that you rescue the captive. I would ask you to destroy the fools that hold her, but I take it that many of you are do-gooders. But at the very least, I ask you to secure the woman they have taken from us.

If you refuse, you are free to walk away, I will not have my men fire upon you. If you accept, let us talk terms. If, on the other hand, you have come here with the nefarious purpose of capturing me? Hah, I dare you to try it!"
OOC: There is the sharpened stick that Red Fang was carving, it lies on the table some twenty feet in front of you. There are also candle holders on that table as well as a few mugs. The weapons belonging to the guild members were left outside of the tent. There are weapon racks with swords, axes and javelins on either side of you, but the archers are standing in front of them.

Exile turned his gaze to the Archers, before pushing himself up from where he was sitting. "Do not confuse me with the other members of the Guild, Bandit." The Mage stated, his voice soft, "Had I wanted to capture you, your Archers would be dead before they could release their arrows, and you'd be held in a spell cage. I came here to hear you out, now. Speak terms, or find yourself some other rescuers, but either way....Your men will drop their bows." The Elven Mage stated, bringing his right hand to display the wisp of arcane power, "If you don't mind good sir. I can't speak for my companions, but negotiations are better done under peaceful talks, rather than threatening the ones you need. Especially since the Guards of Enridium would recognize one of the Wanderers."

Voltan shrugs, looking at the archers again then saunters over to Red Fang.

"Ok. So they took one of your people. Is she your lover then? Or something else. Men are replaceable in the long run. Is she your sister? Your daughter? There's more you're not telling me mate. And I don't like having information withheld when It's my bollocks on the line."

His eyes gleam, as he approaches the table.

"You'll let us leave alive will you, if we don't want to help? You didn't get your bounty or reputation by being so soft. So what made you go so soft all of a sudden, eh? You're really afraid for this bird, ain'tcha? And you don't have the money they want... They probably apprehended most of your recent shipments, didn't they? They'd recognize your men on sight... One of your men is a turncoat and you don't know who, do ya? Tell you what. you tell your men to drop their weapons and I at least will help ya. The mage here makes some good points. What I won't promise is that I won't haul you in for the reward after we clean up the guards."

He looks at the other members of the party. "Don't know about you guys, but I'm in"