First Quest

Rasa looked over the board. She scanned each slip in turn. She went up on tiptoe, craning her neck to see the ones above.

"Ahem."

Rasa blinked. Then she turned, to see the clerk regarding her. The pair stared at each other for a moment; then Rasa raised her hand in a tentative wave.

"Yes, hello," the clerk said. "Look, don't expect me to do this every time, but I suppose I should mention that there is only one quest suitable for probationary adventurers."

"Oh!" Rasa said. "Which one?" He pointed, and she followed the line of his finger. There was a slip in the bottom left which, unlike all the others, did not have a 'Required Rank' on it. She read the text aloud. "Why is our water drying up, the Goblin Crew?" She glanced back. "Wait, goblins? Aren't they..."

The clerk gave her a particularly withering glare, and her words died. "Indeed," he said. "Dealing with rural bumpkins and their provincial attitudes is one of my least favorite parts of this job." He sighed. "Goblins are usually free-spirited, but they aren't evil. At least no more often than humans are."

Rasa considered that. "I...have never actually met a goblin."

"Well, here's your chance," the clerk said. "Although...There is perhaps one more possibility." He gestured over to another side of the guild hall. Rasa noticed a man and woman standing together, chatting. At a glance she could see that their armor was both well made and well used. "Alistair and Verin," the clerk said. "They have a reputation for helping newbies. You could ask to tag along."

"I see," Rasa said. She gazed over at the pair, then she looked back to the clerk. "Um. Thank you! You've been very helpful."

"Anything to stop you standing around the hall," he muttered.