Mission briefing

The warm light that greeted my eyes as I emerged from the tent signaled the tardiness of my wake-up call. The sun had already climbed its way to the peak of the day, its rays beating down with a persistence that matched my grogginess. A sudden pair of hands crept up and found my chest with a playful squeeze.

“Caught you!” Nia chirped, a devilish grin blooming on her face. “So, you've made peace with our arrangement?”

I pried her hands from my chest, spinning around to face her. “Let's say I'm coming to terms with it, just don't overstep,” I warned her. She responded with a dismissive shrug.

“Well, when you're done brooding, remember we've still got Oman's quest on the back burner,” she reminded me, sealing her words with a brief kiss on my lips. I felt a tinge of surprise, and then gratefulness for the reminder. “Oh shit, thanks for that.”

I walked over to the fireplace, the designated gathering spot, and rang the bell for a group assembly. As the members emerged from their respective tents, I cleared my throat to share the mission at hand.

“Alright, listen up,” I began, holding up the scroll with the details of the quest. “Our next job is a big one, folks. We're going after Varis, a notorious mob boss wreaking havoc in a nearby city.”

I explained the crimes: slavery, predatory loans, the terrorizing of innocent civilians. The bounty for bringing him to justice was a respectable sum of 5 gold coins. Varis, it seemed, had made his lair beneath a high-end clothing shop, a clever front for his illicit activities. His crew was sizable and fierce, consisting of five loyal henchmen when out in public, but swelling to thirty when at the hideout. Varis himself was not to be underestimated, known to be a master swordsman and rumored to own a talisman that granted him the ability to disappear at will.

“Does the hideout have traps?” Nia piped up, the rogue in her eyes twinkling at the thrill of a new challenge.

“Can't say for sure. Guess that'll be your department to figure out, eh?” I replied. She shrugged nonchalantly, clearly unbothered by the unknown.

Zarah, always thirsting for a good fight, practically bounced on her heels at the mention of Varis's extensive crew. “Finally, a real challenge. I've been itching to swing my axe.”

I nodded, a sly grin creeping onto my face. “Good, 'cause that's gonna be your only job. After Nia takes care of any potential traps, you're gonna have a field day.”

Turning to Esther, I continued, “Our job will be to support Zarah and Nia. We'll be their backup while they're in the thick of it.” Her gentle nod of understanding told me she was on board.

Lastly, my gaze found Oman. “You, buddy, will be our secret weapon. I need you to use that visual disruption spell of yours. Lie low, and if we get in a tight spot, jump in.”

The wizard didn't show much emotion, but I caught the slight gleam in his eyes.

I took another glance at Esther and Nia, both of whom look like nothing out of the ordinary had happened, and I don’t sense that they’re pretending either, so for now, I can feel somewhat safe trusting Cyrus.