The stand along the side of the road is of ordinary construction. In fact its construction is so ordinary and plain that it stands out because of this. All of the other stands along the road made great efforts to stand out. They all had bright vibrant colors, large signs with bolded letters, made of rare and elegant materials and numerous other features that made them blend in with the other extravagant stands. The only one that stood out was the one put together in such a rush that the maker could not afford to put in any extra details. The owners of the other stands did not appreciate the irony. It was this stand that caught your attention, be it boredom, lust for adventure, curiosity or whatever happens to motivate you. The owner of the stand is a very muscualar man with a large dark red mustache and a measurably larger sword whose condition signified its frequent use. He stares fixedly ahead with his arms crossed. As you approach the stand he does not move or even acknowledge your presence. Then finally he scratches his mustache. He then resumes his posture.

There are five others beside you when you reach the stand. All of them are unique in their own special way. After around a minute of waiting at the stand the man still does not acknowledge your existence. It is now that you notice a small scrawny man running along the road. His clothes are much to large for him and this seems to have a noticeable effect on his running. They are very nice clothes, and would suit him quite well had they been of proper size. He trips and lands on his face. By some odd occurence this does not seem to hamper his progress towards you in the least. He quickly gets up and continues. Upon arriving at the stand he bends over for several seconds to catch his breath. Then very abruptly he looks up at the six of you.

Slightly less abruptly he turns his gaze to the mustached man currently sitting at the stand. He speaks in an appallingly ordinary voice, "Thank you for looking after my stand." He holds out several coins as payment but the man rises and walks away without even looking at them. He mumbles something that sounds vaguely like, "Could you hold the onions?" but it is unclear enough that it must have been something else. The scrawny man stares at him with a very confused look for several seconds before returning to the hopeful adventurers before him.

He gives you a quick look over and then sighs. "I have a slight problem."

Hundover took a swig from his waterskin. It had been a long trek to this town and Hundover had just heard the unfortunate news that there were no inns. He'd been directed to this adventure fair by a couple farmers who for their part seemed only to eager to redirect an adventurer. It seems this town has reason to dislike adventurers. Hundover thought to himself. It also seems Master Haito was correct that they have a need for them. This last thought was in response to the signs that flashed before him. Many of the signs were gaudy and manned by courtiers, and for some reason purely unattractive. Hundover was looking for an adventure to test himself. Having just exited from formal training he considered himself too young to undertake the more lucrative quests.

"Rescue a princess and you're expected to marry her. Save a kingdom and you're expected to rule it." It was one of Master Haito's favorite saying and it made sense. And I'm not ready to marry or rule. Hundover thought. Unlike his older brothers Hundover had little ambition. It was one of the things that had played into his father's hands when Hundover chose the adventuring life. Hundover would rather enjoy himself traveling, carousing, and sword fighting than tying himself up with the affairs of state. He looked over the clearing once again taking in all the sounds and sights. Some cryers were calling for conscripts in some army, others were calling for a quest to retrieve an invaluable family relic of one sort or another. All were proclaiming glory and undying thanks. All were unappealing. It wasn't as if they were below Hundover; they just didn't sing out as 'I'm the one pick me.' Hundover sighed and readjusted the longsword his father had bought him. Resting his hands upon its hilt Hundover reappraised the clearing. It was upon this reappraisal that he noted a plain sign hastily erected. The very plainness of the sign seemed to call to Hundover, the plainness and the fact that a courtier did not attend this booth, but instead the booth was attended by what seemed to be a battle hardened veteran. Perhaps that is the adventure I will set upon. Hundover thought as he approached the sign and its tender. He watched as five others approached. "Adventuring is a risky business from signing up till payout. Adventurers are more often than not mercenaries and despite your better intentions you are as well, and mercenaries can't be trusted. There are two types, one will treat you as a brother and be where you need them when you need them. The other will see you as competition and will take any moment to remove you" Master Haito's words flitted through Hundover's mind as he watched the others approach. "Always prepare for the worst and you may just live as long as I have." Hundover laid his hand upon his sword loosening it just a little in case one of these mercs decided they could handle this adventure alone. He strode to the sign with easy practiced strides that belied a formally trained bladesmaster his chainshirt glistening in the sunlight pulled tight with cloth breeches, belted to his waist by a leather was a beautiful longsword with elven etchings embroidered into the hilt. Completing the entire assemblage where leather boots also embroidered with elven artwork across the hem of the boots. He has a backpack secured tightly to his back so that it wouldn't impede in any altercations that might take place. As Hundover arrives at the sign he sizes up the man before the sign.

"Greetings my name is Hundover. What quest are you offering, and what are the rewards?" Hundover asks of the big man as the other five arrive. The man sits there with his arms crossed as though he didn't hear Hundover, knowing that his voice was plenty loud enough for anyone to hear Hundover sits with his back to the sign. I suppose he will speak when he is ready. Hundover watches as the rest of the party reacts to the silent and immobile man. Ah perhaps now we will learn of the quest. Hundover thinks as he watches what looks like a child run for the sign. Obviously we have been waiting for this child. As the child gets closer Hundover notices that it is in fact not a child but a skinny man dressed in clothes that seem to belong to a bigger man. I wonder who he stole such expensive clothes from Hundover thinks slightly bemused. Not that it matters as aside from what I wear I own nothing that would compare and so the little thief would probably find my belongings a little drab. Hundover watches as the exchange from the little man and big man happens feeling extreme disappointment when the big man stalks off. Ah well I guess today is simply a bad day to start adventuring. In that case this quest will most likely be as good as any other and since I'm here anyways I might as well participate. Hundover rose as the little man looked at the party.

"I have a slight problem." The little man sighs. Well duh Hundover thinks as he leans against the sign. If you didn't then you wouldn't need adventurers

Sir Kindern walked down the lonely road. At first he thaught this was just another town looking for someone to dig up some old relic for them and stab them in the back by saying that they didn't have any money left to take care of the adventurer other then some food and a place to sleep afterwards. Non of these appealed to young Sir Kindern. For he was looking for an adventure in which the bards would sing of his tales. He needed that moral boost right now.


When Sir Kindern came to a roughly put together sign that showed something that he wasn't expecting it not only screamed I'm the adventure you want. But it also said that it would suit the knight well. Sir Kindern walks up to the dingy man stares him down. Looks like he'd be a good companion to fight with. The knight thought to himself.


"Hello My name is Sir Vanlen Kindern." The Knight says to the muscular man. "I was wondereing what type of mission you have and what are the rewards."

The Knight waited when he noticed what looked like a elven fighter leaning against the sign and four other adventurers approching. The elven fighter seemed to turn his hands up in a shrug as if he had gotten the same response. When a small halfling comes running down the street trips and runs again. He gets to the booth and tells the big man thanks in which he replies something rude but sir Kindern couldn't make it out.

After a little while the little halfling says I've got a bit of a situation.

Oh great. Sir Kindern thinks to himself he starts to walk away when he remembers that he's a Knight of Valor and they don't turn their backs when a cry for help is called.

Efen’s eye was immediately caught by the bland stool, erected in a hurry with a hulking man standing behind it and a worn sword beside the man. Drawn to the stool not particularly by it’s roughness of it’s build but repulsed by the other stools and their vulgarity, in his home simple but elegant designs, carved from the ice itself, prevailed. Approaching the table he didn’t seem to be alone, there were five others, two of them wers questioning the large man and getting no reply. The idea of sharing whatever money offered with these others didn’t worry him, he hadn’t come for money, nor did the idea of having to journey with them, and he’d been lonely on his travels after leaving the Frozen Coast. So long as he could, through his own efforts and not have it gifted to him, gain a gift and a story to return to his home with.

The man behind the stool hadn’t answered the question yet, he didn’t look like the type of man who would answer questions though, the man looked like the type of man someone might get to break someone else’s legs or do other painful things. It was in Efen’s nature to wait, the moon rises in her own time and no one else’s, so he began speculating what this man needed help with. He was a big guy but only one, perhaps he intends to lead a party into unknown wilds he wondered or to raid a tomb.. So ridiculous burying the dead with their belongings in his society the dead were burn to release the body and spirit from the icy grip of this world. It must be something urgent though, if it wasn’t the stool would be vulgar like the others, maybe this man was recruiting a mercenary arm to help defend a village All grand thoughts but he suspected he was no closes the guessing the truth then they were to getting the man to speak.
The two others who had already spoken announced themselves to be Hundover and, rather pompously, Sir Vanlen Kindern. Efen had to suppress a snort at Sirs names but his eyes showed what he really thought, the eyes were the window to the soul, only Efen was particularly good at leaving the curtains open.

He introduced himself as Efen of the Frozen Coast as his pony bends to nibble on some grass by the roadside
”Well I’m Efen of the Frozen Coast but you can just call me Efen.” and added as an afterthought he spoke to Van
”I think our friend with a big sword isn’t that impressed with your title.”
Just then a small fella, a child, no a a small scrawny man runs towards then, tripping up on the way. Van turns to leave but must have remembered something so decides to stay. After a quick exchange with the man with the big sword he addresses the group. "I have a slight problem."

Standing back from the row of stalls lining the road in this area, Baron noticed that there was a group forming at the plainest stall around. Walking over and overhearing the introductions and lack of response from the stalls apparent holder Baron walks up and says one word to the group "Sup"

When the short person ran up, Baron couldn't help but chuckle once when he fell, but he did restrain himself from any more.

As the short man said "I have a slight problem" Baron responds, as no one else seems to, "What's the problem and the compensation?"

This wasn't a good place for Dracone lots of humies, meant lots of danger so he hoisted his coat tight and flicked his hood over his face. Years of persecution left him with no trust for these loathsome humans, but he saw something that for some reason made him tingle this was a sign of adventure.

Dracone hastened his pace and was almost jogging as he moved towards the stand it was ordinary but extremely odd. As he got there fear spread through his body at the sight of the mustached man, big muscular sword wielding humies, the worst kind. Still he joined the group that was waitng there.

Then a scrawny man who looked little less than a skeleton this man looked as though not much much was going his way he owned a distinctly average stall and seemed like he failed at even the most menial of tasks as Dracone thought this there it was SPLAT! he faceplanted into the mud.

Dracone thought about the humies once again how could they all be so different one muscly and resouloute others scrawny and jittery where he come from he was the most unique being in centuries and still he was fairly normal, if he was human.

As the scrawny man asked his question he hung back and let the others have their say Dracone must be cautu=ious he had learnt that ten times over and thats in the last week.

Matthias Swan began the day at one end of the Road and steadily worked his way through the forest of flashy stands advertizing their needs. “Glory! Gold! Greatness! The Heirloom Chalice of Cromwell has been stolen and . . . ” Mattes moved on. A Servant of the Lion takes on every cause worthy of his or her ability, however not every cause is a worthy one. There would be other adventurers to pass this way—many others, in fact, and sooner or later the Chalice of Cromwell, the goblins who raided the Drakes’ country home, and the untold fortunes of the ancient King of where-ever would be seen to in their due time.

About midday Matthias took a seat outside an enterprising drinking den owned by a man who saw the potential demand for refreshment by adventurers travelling the Road looking for fame or fortune. He downed his water in one shot, leaned back in his chair, and closed his eyes, still over stimulated from the myriad of colours demanding attention.

In a sudden flurry of motion, a halfing—no, too tall; a human wearing too-large clothes—broke past Mattes’ table. He made it a few more metres before he slammed into the ground. Matthias started to get up to assist him, but the man was up faster, and running again. He didn’t appear to be running away from anything, so Matthias followed his course to his destination: a small, hastily made stand stuck out from the rest, near the far end of the street, advertizing only “Help Wanted”. He glanced up at the heavens and smiled. The Way is always shown to those who watch.

Matthias joined the crowd—a elven blademaster wearing a chainshirt, a fellow with the sizing gaze of a fighter, a man with a pony dressed in blue, (and two other individuals, one of which I’m assuming is human, another whom I’m more doubtful about)—just as the large man watching the stall left. He was of average height, wore his brown hair to the shoulder with a short beard full-beard, in a red tunic and black leggings. Swan wore a large, half-and-a-half sword at his left and carried his shield, bearing a lion risen on it’s hind legs and looking at the viewer, over his shoulder on a guige strap.

“I have a slight problem,” the scrawny man said. One of the people standing before him responded first. “What’s the problem and the compensation?” Matthias waited for the answer, his curiosity piqued at the refreshing plainness after a full morning of recurring flashes of uniqueness.

(If anyone's curious, 'lion rampant guardant' is the description of Mattes' shield- literally a lion standing in profile on its hindlegs with its head turned to face outward. Now to lunch.)

"Goblins." He says. However feeling that he may have to elaborate on this he continues, "My name is Thomas Burswater, you probably haven't heard of me but I'm a fairly well known nautical engineer. My estate lies just south of the city. Just a couple of days ago a band of goblins seized it and kicked me out. I contacted the city guard requesting of their help, but it would appear they've gone on strike until the taverns reopen." He then directs his attention to Baron and Sir Vanlen Kindern, "As for compensation, I assure you you will all be paid handsomely. However," He pauses for a moment for emphasis, "I have one condition involving the payment. Inside my estate are many valuables, if you manage to chase away the goblins I want to be certain that you haven't taken anything. If I return and everything is accounted for you shall recieve your reward."

"Don't worry about your reward being taken, I've hidden it in a large black safe inside the estate that is next to impossible to break into. Only a master theif would even have a chance at getting in." He stops for several seconds pondering why all he didn't put all his valuables in there. "Are you willing to get rid of the goblins for me?"

"I have a slight problem" The little man says as he approaches the party. It was a formidable party, almost like something one would see in a party signing up to join one of the armies currently recruiting in the next stall. All except for one character who seemed to dodge the light and the glances of all the rest. Hundover watched this suspicious character closely. (If any of you are wondering it's Dracone but since he didn't introduce himself we don't know that) The words Master Haito said about every adventurer being a mercenary looping through his mind once more. I'd better not expose my back to that one. Hundover thought as one of the warriors stepped forward.

"What's the problem and what's the compensation?" The warrior asks. A mercenary to the end. Hundover thinks as he briefly lets his gaze move from the warrior, the little man,to rest back on the most suspicous of the group. Another member of this group that bears watching.
"Goblins" the little man says pausing for dramatic flair. The flair was lost on Hundover. Goblins known the world over
as wild fighters with little motor control. They were as dangerous to themselves and their 'allies' as they were to their enemies. Still in numbers they are dangerous and its not a princess or castle in trouble. Hundover leaned a little more into he sign. "My name is Thomas Burswater, you probably haven't heard of me," Yep haven't heard of you. "but i'm a fairly well known nautical engineer. My estate lies just south of the city. Just a couple of days ago a band of goblins seized it and kicked me out." A little man like this was kicked out of his estate by goblins and lived? There's probably a hidden exit in the estate which usually means a hidden entrance. Hundover thought as he appraised the little man's fighting prowess. Or he's a wizard. "As for compensation, I assure you you will all be paid handsomely. However," The little man pauses and looks at each member of the party. "I have one condition involving the payment. Inside my estate are many valuables, if you manage to chase away the goblins I want to be certain that you haven't taken anything. If I return and everything is accounted for you shall receive your reward." Well that won't do, the goblins have probably emptied half the place out by now. Hundover thought and was about to say so when the little man began speaking again. "Don't worry about your reward I've hidden it in a large black safe inside the estate that is next to impossible to break into. Only a master thief would even have a chance of getting in." He stops speaking for a second. "Are you willing to get rid of the goblins for me?"

"Not under those conditions." Hundover says as he stands up. "I'm sure all of us are thinking this: how do you know what the goblins have taken versus what we will likely take? Your conditions are impossible and unrealistic. The goblins have probably broken several things as well as carted off several others."

Van looked at the little man the terms were steap "I'll pay you your reward if you I find all my prossions still there."
Sir Van Kindern had to let out a laugh at that one. " You got to to be kidding. I agree with the blasdesmaster even if we do manage to get these creatures out they probably have gotten half or more of your prossions out now if you have a mission to not not only exterminate the goblins but also get back your prossions and not care about what gets broken. I'm willing to give it a chance but otherwise that other booth is looking more intersting right now."
Van doesn't wait for a reply and starts heading down the road.

The little man had explained the situation to them, goblins had overrun the man’s house and were, as Hundover was just pointing out, most likely trashing the place or currently flogging everything they could find. Efen had never heard of the man before, or his profession but he guessed it had something to do with the sea, but this problem of being broken into was relatively new to him. In his community on the Frozen Coast everyone knew everyone else, they worked together so wouldn't steal from each other and generally most creatures avoided the area not because it was well defended but because it was hostile, the only way to get to the tribe safely was by sea and pirates would never dare attack a waterbender from the water.

"I'm willing to help but it would be suicide for me to go alone. Gold and possessions mean little to me, all I would ask for is if you could provide a bed for a night and food, lodgings for my pony as well."
Efen looked around the group, not pleading them but, inviting them to join him, he didn't even look at Van as the man walked off. It was obvious for anyone to go into a goblin overrun house on his own, let alone someone so pathetically armed and armoured as Efen was, and he knew that. Once his abilities had risen it would be different but for now he was simply a healer, a lower cast of the only society that mattered to him.

"If you trust us to not damage or steal anything then we can come to some agreement, otherwise you might end up without a home tonight."

Van turns around he couldn't believe what he was doing. He was a Knight of Valor how would he feel if he got kicked out of his house. Van looks at the little man "Look all your prossions are probably taken which means that we won't be getting any reward but lets see what we can recover and recover your house. Though I must say that you got an awful lot of fire power to fight one band of goblins are you sure that you need all of us? Or is there something else there your not telling us about?"

Pondering on what his fellows were saying, he thought to himself 'these people may come to like me especially if i become part of a team' Silly idea! things never worked out like that but he could at least try it.

Then he spoke up "I am happy to do this, i trust this man and any of you guys got anything better to do lets help this poor man and potentially make some money."

Then he sunk back hoping at least one of the others would agree with him.

The elv-- not elven blademaster replied to the nautical engineer’s terms, expressing doubt in the goblins’ manners and respect for property laws. Matthias, in the meantime, couldn’t help feeling some of the levity he had felt in approaching disappear. Surely there were places he was more needed than to clean out some one’s estate of some unwanted tenants? Perhaps there was an element that he wasn’t seeing? There were always factors in a situation that weren’t immediately known.

Matthias considered his decision. He had been certain that he had been Shown the way to this stall, but one had to consider that not every suspicious combination of events was necessarily a Sign. If the goblins had invaded a few days ago, where was this man staying? If he had secondary dwellings in the city, Matthias was disinclined to help him, though considering the standard set by the other men and women vying for the attention of a handful of adventurers, the condition of this stand indicated that this man was either in real trouble, or much more clever than his fellows.

The knight had evidently decided that the condition of leaving the items in the estate untouched unacceptable, given the renowned motor control of the aforementioned guests. He turned to leave, but then the man with the horse spoke up.

“I'm willing to help but it would be suicide for me to go alone. Gold and possessions mean little to me, all I would ask for is if you could provide a bed for a night and food, lodgings for my pony as well.
“If you trust us to not damage or steal anything then we can come to some agreement, otherwise you might end up without a home tonight.”
The knight had a change of heart, deciding to commit himself to the engineer’s quest. “Though I must say that you got an awful lot of fire power to fight one band of goblins are you sure that you need all of us? Or is there something else there your not telling us about?"

“I am happy to do this. I trust this man and any of you guys got anything better to do let’s help this poor man and potentially make some money,” said the man standing in the back next to Matthias. He arrived at his conclusion and stepped forward. “I didn’t get a chance to properly introduce myself earlier.” He bowed his head toward Thomas, “I’m Matthias, a warrior of the Lion. Like my fellows I am happy to help you, though perhaps I can offer a suggestion? I would suggest that we give you our word not to thieve your belongings. Let the dishonest who would take advantage of your position shirk from the call, and seek their prey elsewhere.”

(Here's hoping I don't spend the entire adventure playing as the catch-up post)

Listening to all the responses, Baron thought the last suggestion was the best.

"Aye, I am willing to go along with this adventure so long as I am paid. I do not believe your condition that everything remain as it was is reasonable as goblins are known for breaking things for the shear fun of it. I would give my word not to remove any of your items, although I would not say the same for items found on the goblins such as weapons and armor. If an item appears to be plunder, I will not remove it."