(stats)"Aren't you going to introduce me to your new friends?"

"Oh, right!" Niki gestured to a busty bunny-girl in a cutesy blue outfit. "This is Eva." Next, she gestured to an elegant Elven lady in a flowing white dress. "And this is Amara. I've seen them around the Guild before. They always have trouble finding a party, just like I do. It's just too bad we're looking for warriors right now."

"We're looking for spellcasters," Shiroe corrected. "Actually, I had planned on putting Niki through her paces alone today, just to see what she can do. But, since there is no penalty for forming and dissolving parties arbitrarily..."

Shiroe
Level 3 Tactician
Wabi-Sabi Insight - know allies' strengths and weaknesses
Cantrip - minor magical effects (Instant Bath)
Conjure Basic Rations - convert mana into food and drink
(Unspent Ability Slot)

Niki
Level 3 Warrior
Shield Bash - stun and/or push back an enemy
Rushdown- run at full speed and attack a distant enemy
+Enhanced Strength
+Enhanced Durability
-Achilles Heel - left breast
-Achilles Heel - right breast

Eva Beela
Level 2 Mage
Keen Hearing
Cantrip - minor magical effects (Confetti Blast, Ominous Breeze)
Magic Bolt - single-target ranged attack
Ghost Hand - manipulate objects at range

Amara Tedrilui
Level 2 Cleric
Low-light Vision
-Gordian Knot - more powerful casting, but caster could get distracted by mana grounding
Cantrip - minor magical effects (Moonlight Gown)
Minor Heal
Gale - ranged area-of-effect; pushes opponents back

"Hmmm. There's potential here. I think I can work with this. Tell me, what does 'mana grounding' mean? And what utility do you get out of casting Ominous Breeze?"

Beela and Amara exchanged nervous glances.

What had they gotten themselves into?

They gave vague and partial answers, so Shiroe simply said "Ask Niki what happens when one keeps secrets," and then crossed the room to examine the bounty board while all three of them fretted and sweated about it.

Giant River Crab Meat
Difficulty Rating: 2
Reward: 1 SP/lb of meat

Hmmm. Low-stakes. Low-reward. But the reward scales with how many crabs they kill?

And it just so happened, he had listened to an adventurer talk about Giant River Crabs during a lull in his note-taking session, earlier that day.

It was almost ideal.

He just hoped there would still be some crab meat left by the time they got to the river.