Noxim, town of the Adventure Guild

I whipped the horse's reigns into full speed, travelling along the forest path out of Shorm. During my time within the wood, I saw numerous wonders. A tall, yellow stalked bird clashing with a large, white furry beast. I heard a few adventures camping in the woods, singing a few songs while they celebrated a victory. And when passing over Shorm's last line of land, I crossed a giant stream which ran into a spilling waterfall that cascaded down the forest trees into a large pond.

Over my journey out of Shorm, I gave the name of Stella to my horse. After all, I believe that me and Stella will be together for a while since our journey had only just began. We continued on, using up roughly half our supplies to reach the largest town in the countryside of Averlon...Noxim, a town home to one of the many the Adventure Guilds.

Me and Stella rode into the town of Noxim, a humble aboard mainly catering towards the many adventurers that passed through. Many inns, restaurants, blacksmiths and markets lined the streets ready and waiting for adventurers to spend their hard earned coins. I tied Stella up at the stable and wondered through the market in awe. I had to pinch and remind myself that my dream really was becoming a reality.

I trekked on and eventually found the Adventure Guild. It was a large inn with an unassuming brick exterior. But once entering, the place came to life! Groups of all races were spread out among various tables while the bartenders danced between table to table, offering food and drink. Some celebrated, others mourned while a few parties seemed eager to recruit others who might fill the missing gap of profession in their group.

Careful not to get too distracted, I wondered over to a counter at the entrance. A older, kind faced woman dressed neatly greeted me. She smiled widely as she beckoned me closer.

"Come here, dearie. First time here?"

I nodded, flinching as a group of men roared in cheers and smashed their drinks together. "My name's Oren Faride. I'm from Shorm, here to sign up under the Adventure Guild."

The lady beamed. "How exciting! Let's get you all set up them, shall we?"

With the lady's guidance (her name was Rumith), she inducted me into how the Adventure Guild operates. She toured me around the building, showing me the Adventure Board which posts listings for Adventures to take up. Each listing is graded from A-E on a scale of difficulty, A being only for experienced adventurers but yielding the most rewards and coin.

Next was a short introduction to the rooms upstairs at the inn, which were offered at a discount to adventurers. Although Rumith noted I could get a cheaper stay at another inn, the Adventure Guild inn offered protection and security through the night to prevent robberies or worse. She showed me the bar too and how to order food and drink, hinting that this was the best place to meet other adventurers and a very popular place in all of Noxim.

Finally, we finished back at the counter where she continued. "I've put you down as Solo for now, but I'm sure you'll find a Party soon enough. Once you've joined a Party, come back here and I'll switch you over. And here's a key for a room tonight - all new adventurers get one stay on the house when they sign up."

I took the key she offered with care. "Thank you! And when can I start adventuring, Rumith?"

"As early as tomorrow! Although Solo adventures can accept any listing, we recommend you join one a Party regardless, especially if it'll be your first adventure!" She happily replied.

I thanked Rumith and made my way up to my room. It was a cozy little space, fit with a bed, table and fireplace in the main room. I jumped on the bed, feeling the sense of anticipation run through me as I enjoyed the feeling of a soft mattress compared to hay bales. I soon fell asleep, unaware of how exhausted I was from the trip to Noxim.

The next day, I sprung into action. I spent the whole day in the bar downstairs, meeting and talking with different Parties and adventurers. Being from little old Shorm, I'd never seen so many different races before! From warrior elves, to Mage dwarfs, archer orcs and bard tieflings - I shook hands and greeted many kinds of adventurers with all kinds of professions.

But as the day went on, I failed to actually strike my way into a Party. Many already had a full limit of 4 and some brushed me off with excuses like "you should train up a little more first" or "we'd be too boring to be your first party." At this point, I was getting ****. I needed to find a Party, to take a listing and make some coin. I was already running low with the amount Ishi had generously gifted me. And now needing to pay for a room every night, that would decrease very quickly.

It was in the late hours of that night I was approached. Sulking in a corner, trying to motivate myself, was when I was interrupted by a three adventurers. Once slapped their mug of beer on the slap, startling me as I looked up.

"Whatcha doin' lad?! Can't be wastin' all yer first day cryin' , hey?!" A voice boomed.

The voice that spoke was a short but solid dwarf, with broad shoulders and a stocky frame that fit into a heavily plated suit of rusted armour. His ginger hair was thick and tangled, unlike his beard which was long and well-kept, braided with beads of iron and steel. Scars marked his face, the most prominent running across his left cheek which didn't take away from the kind face he showed me. At his side was a massive, gleaming longsword and with a symbol of a hammer striking an anvil - a sign the blade was finely crafted with dwarven steel.

The next was a tall, slender woman that embodied elven grace. Draped in the elegance of a forest green and silver-trimmed cloak, her long hair ran like a river down her back, shimmering in shades of pale blonde and near-white as it caught the light. Her eyes were an ethereal silver-blue, reflecting the quiet wisdom of her people and sense of focus. Across her back, she carried an intricately carved longbow. It's looked crafted from the wood of an ancient tree, its string humming with magical energy. Her quiver was filled with arrows fletched with raven feathers, each one perfectly put together.

The third and final person was a lithe, almost ghostly pale woman skin with long, raven-black hair to contrast her skin. Her fell over her cold, calculating eyes, which were a dark shade of amber that gleamed with intensity. She wore a black leather tunic adorned with a hooded cloak that seemed designed to make her blend into the dark. Her weapons were sleek and deadly: twin daggers, their blades curved and wickedly sharp hanging from her belt. On her belt was also a set of throwing knives, a small knife and other small, unknown items.

The dwarf pointed around the table. "The name's Torin! Miss elf over here is Aelira and the 'ther one is one is Lilith!"

Lilith smirked, her eyes gleaming. "Aren't you interesting..."

Aelira bowed her head slightly. "Excuse Torin and Lilith, if you don't mind. It's a pleasure to meet you."

"It's nice to meet you all. What brings you over here, though?" I ask them.

"Well, we had just completed a C rank listing and thought to celebrate. But as Torin seems wanting a table, this one was the only one free..." Aelira replied.

I looked around, seeing she was right. In my mulling, I hadn't noticed the bar had gotten full as more adventurers filled in to relax after another big day.

"Since we're stealin' ya table, let us buy ya a drink!" Torin bellowed, seemingly already a little tipsy.

"Sure thing. I'd love that!" I laughed in reply.

And so, the night progressed with me talking and drinking with Torin, Aelira and Lilith. Torin quickly became drunk, smashing drinks and laughing at almost every sentence. Lilith too drink quite a lot, smiling widely and becoming more of a friendly talker rather than a scheming one. Aelira and I stayed relatively sober, opting for talk over drinks.

"So," I began, looking to Aelira. "What’s your best story for a new adventurer like me?"

Aelira raised an eyebrow, her lips curving in an amused smile. "Well, there was the time I single-handedly took down a wyvern in the north. It was a long, cold night, and the creature had been terrorising villages. But," Aelira paused, her eyes glinting with mischief, "I wasn’t the one who slayed it in the end. No, I only distracted it long enough for a group of hunters to set up traps. They were hardly worth my time, but I got to keep the skin as my prize."

"Yer right, I bet ya didn't even get ya hands dirty!" Torin burped out.

Aelira shrugged, unfazed. "I prefer to leave the hard work to others."

Lilith leaned back, a faint smile dancing on her lips. "That’s one way to look at it, I suppose. But, Aelira, you could’ve slain it yourself, couldn’t you? Or did you feel the need to let the humans have their moment of 'heroism'?"

Aelira’s smile turned wry. "I suppose I didn’t feel the need to, no. What's yours then, Lilith?"

Lilith took another sip of her drink. "I could tell you about the time I infiltrated a city’s most guarded fortress, or the time I made a king believe I was his long-lost sister. But honestly, I think the most amusing part of my life comes from all the fools who try to follow me. None of them ever lived to tell the tale..."

I shuffled nervously but Aelira looked at me, rolling her eyes in humour.

Torin let out a deep chuckle. "Well, ya certainly got a way with ya words, Lilith. Now it's my turn!"

He scratched his beard thoughtfully, his eyes twinkling as he shifted his weight and took another swig of ale. His fingers tapped the tankard in his lap as he looked into the fire, the flames dancing like memories in his eyes.

And he collapsed on the table head first.

We all burst out laughing as Torin lifted his head, looking around very confused. The night continued and by the end, Aelira pulled me to the side.

"Oren, I'd like to ask you something."

I stop, pausing to look at Aelira.

"Tomorrow, we plan to take on a B rank listing - but it requires 4 people to a party. Not everyone gets along with our Party, so we've been struggling to find someone to join us. Would you consider entering our Party?" She asks, her face serious.

I blink in surprise. "You want...me? To join YOUR party?"

"Come on, don't be so down. I'm sure you'll be a great help to us. Are you in?" She pressed.

"Of course! I can't thank you enough, seriously!" I exclaimed.

She smiled. "Excellent. Then tomorrow, meet us at the front desk. We'll have you join our Party then set off immediately to complete the listing."

Aelira turned away, giving me a strange wink as she walked off. I couldn't help but lust after her body - slender, tall yet beautiful. Elves were truly beautiful and this one had just asked me to join her Party!

I headed up to my room (which I had booked from Rumith earlier that day) and tried to sleep, the night's events and turn of good luck causing me to silently celebrate in joy throughout the night.