A meeting at the docks

You disembark from the ship and think about what to do next. Searching out a tavern seems to be the most logical thing to do- you'll probably find some work to do there, and who knows, maybe a nice wench...

You never get the chance to put your plan into action, though. A servant in full livery comes running up to you, panting. "Sir John?" he asks.

"Yes?" you answer, surprised that he knows who you are.

"Forgive me for my haste sir, but my mistress, who is the lady Rithalle and who is a loyal subject of the kings, wishes to speak with you on a matter of great urgency. It would be much appreciated if you would come immediately, for this is the king's business as well as her own."

You raise an eyebrow at that- the king's business, eh? Well, you're not one to turn down a job, and you follow him to where a fine carriage awaits on the road nearby. He hops up onto the front and takes up the reins as you climb inside and sit down.

Opposite you there sits a woman who is no doubt the same Rithalle who wishes to speak with you. As the carriage rumbles into motion, you can't help but admire her. She has dark caramel skin, with very deep brown eyes and dark brown hair that is almost black. Her features are delicate and her body slight, but she is imbued with enough curves to keep you interested and her breasts are slightly larger than average. She wears a form fitting white dress which leaves alluring sections of her midriff bare.

"Sir John," she says, her accent unlike any you've heard before. "I am sorry to summon you like this, but I really have ****."

"It's hardly a problem. I'm curious to know how you knew I was coming though, and even more curious to know what the problem is."

She smiles slyly. "In answer to your first question, I am a seer; I catch glimpses of the future. One of the things I saw was your arrival here, and I immediately knew that I would need your help. As for the second... that is somewhat more complicated."

She starts a story that you can barely believe. "I have foreseen that tonight, at a banquet at the palace, a monster will attack. It will beat back all attempts to destroy it, and kidnap the young prince who is only ten years old. The monster will take the prince into the catacombs beneath the palace. I want you to rescue him."

"Why not just stop the monster from **** him in the first place?" you ask.

"I have already foreseen that the prince will be kidnapped- nothing you can do will stop this. You must remain away from the banquet until after this has happened, then you can go after the monster. I have every faith in your ability to succeed."

"And who says I will? You said this monster defeats every attempt to destroy it. How do you know that I will defeat it?"

"Because I have seen the aftermath. I have seen that you live."

You nod, accepting this fact. You don't bother asking her what she's seen of you after you kill the monster; seers are notoriously tricky about not answering questions. Rithalle will tell you the things you need to know, so that she can use you as a tool to destroy the monster, but she won't say anything more.

"Does the king know about any of this?" you ask.

"No. He would only panic if I said anything, and that would be pointless. He is a powerful sorcerer, but he does not understand the gift of foresight and how it works. That is why he keeps me around; because I, unlike him, can see the future and safeguard against it. He trusts me to fulfil this task; and this time, in order to do fulfil it, I must deceive him. He will accept this."

You accept the job Rithalle has given you, under the terms that you get payed a fairly large sum of money. After all, it's fairly risk free since she's seen you alive in the future after you've killed the monster. What could possibly go wrong?

That evening you wait until you hear the screams coming from the banqueting hall. After all goes quiet at last, you enter to find the king distraught and Rithalle calmly sitting close by. "I have planned for all of this, sire," she says to the king. "I was necessary to let your son be taken so that the monster could be defeated. This is Sir John, and I have brought him here because I have seen that he can succeed in this."

The king turns to her. "I have trusted you this far, Rithalle, and I will trust you further. Sir John! It is destined that you will be victorious. Go now, with my blessing, and save my son!"

You immediately set out, heading for the catacombs that spread like roots under the vast and ancient palace.