Athea and Inexperienced Adventurers...

There they were, her best of friends. After joining forces to empty a goblin warren several months ago, the team immediately recognized their synergy. Now with three minor quests completed, this might be their most difficult task yet. Or at the very least the most important, if the promised reward was any indication. Four hundred gold pieces to merely scout out a town? That was enough for each of them to buy a quality horse and still have plenty left over.

Pushing past the others came Varakku the Unbroken. A wall of muscle and scars, the green-skinned half-orc struck an imposing figure. Her brief time spilling blood in the last local fighting tournament earned her enough coin to retire to a modest lifestyle, but the foolhardy brute refuses to stop fighting against newer and greater challenges. Althea smiled and beckoned the green champion to join her. Standing by the door stood the slender figure of Silaqui Enanduil, shrouded in her opulent, purple robes. Despite over a century of life, she was still young in the eyes of her elven kin. Yet her keen mind for strategy and her affinity for the arcane made Silaqui's wizarding ways invaluable to the party. And she never failed to remind them of that fact on a daily basis. Pinching her nose in disgust, Silaqui glided across the surly tavern, weaving between thugs and cutthroats with the grace of a dancer. Back at the table, the chair to Althea's left squeaked as it slid along the floor, and she nearly fell out of her seat in surprise. Without delay, the familiar, pink pixie-cut of Flitwik Knobhobbler popped above the stained tabletop. Tricksy as ever, the gnome thief reveled in getting a rise out of her comrades. And she always found the fastest shortcuts. Varakku and Silaqui arrived at the table and made themselves comfortable.

"Spill it, blondie. Why the rush to meet up?" Varakku narrowed her eyes and flashed a toothy grin. She cracked her knuckles, leaned forward, and growled a whisper, "You found us a real challenge?" Althea pursed her lips.

"Well..." Althea murmured and dropped her gaze to the table, tracing a finger along the broken wax seal of the quest scroll, "This task comes from the high priestess herself. This is Helestria's will, after all, and--"

"You're avoiding the question again, Althea dear," Silaqui sighed heavily, her look of disgust only deepening, "If you're to tell us a tale, then can we tell it somewhere less... revolting?" she mused and cast a glance over one shoulder. Just in time to see a bearded man empty the contents of his stomach all over the back wall of the tavern.

"Four hundred gold..." the priestess mumbled, and Silaqui immediately sat upright in her seat, long ears twitching at the number. Varakku snorted and now leaned over the table.

"I didn't catch that, kiddo. Once more, with feeling!" the half-orc barked. Althea winced. Her muscled friend only wanted to inspire confidence in her, but Varakku could never be called a master of tact. Althea shifted in her seat again, but straightened her back.

"Four hundred gold pieces," Althea repeated with a clear voice. Flitwik's large, green eyes shot wide and she let out a sharp whistle. No sooner than she did, the gnome cast furtive glances over her shoulders. "Yet the quest itself is oddly vague," she continued, garnering the full attention of her companions, "It speaks of a sacred relic in Sapila, but makes no mention of its power or origin. We are to investigate the rumor and report back what we find."

"Four hundred gold for a simple scouting mission? Sounds too good to be true..." Silaqui said with the utmost certainty and tucked a strand of platinum hair behind her ear. "I too have heard of this Sapila. One of my colleagues--former colleagues--studied the healing properties of their locally-grown mushrooms, but that is all that I have heard of this village," she steepled her fingers in thought, locking eyes with Althea.

"Magic mushrooms?" Flitwik chirped, her squeaky voice brimming with excitement, "If we can get ahold of those juicy morsels, I bet I could track down a nice bonus for us," the gnome rambled, rolling a gold coin along the back of her knuckles. All eyes looked to her for explanation, but she just beamed an impish smile. "What? I know a guy who knows a guy," she giggled.

"Bah!" Varakku spat. Her thick, muscled arms crossed over her prominent chest, "Where is the thrill in searching a pathetic village for some trinket?" she balled a fist and pounded it into her thick palm. "Pass!" Varakku growled before slumping back in her seat. Her sheer size **** a pained creak from the old, tavern chair.

"What?! We can't pass up coin like that, you big dummy!" Flitwik pounded her tiny fists onto the rough tabletop, barely shaking the flimsy surface, "Just because you don't need the money doesn't mean the same for the rest of us," she pinched the bridge of her nose before looking to Silaqui, "Talk some sense into her, would ya?"

"Varakku," Silaqui said in a sing-songy voice, eliciting a snarl from the half-orc, "if you intend to stay behind, what would you do instead?" Despite the simplicity of the question, it set a confused scowl upon the Varakku's face. "There are currently no fighting tournaments to be found in the region, so would you really pass up an easy hundred gold out of spite?" Silaqui batted her long lashes for added effect.

"Eh, let her stay behind. I'd gladly take a third of her portion if she doesn't need it," Flitwik playfully murmured.

"Now wait just a moment! No one's taking my share!" the half-orc fumed.

The three bickered amongst themselves for a time, and Althea sat back and watched. She adored her friends, but they fought each other almost as often as they fought goblins and bandits. As amusing as it was now, she felt the time would come when their lives depended on a united resolve and unwavering teamwork. Thankfully, Silaqui's reasoning seemed to persuade their green comrade. With a few preparations, they would be ready to set out on their journey before midday. With luck, they could reach Sapila before sunset tomorrow. And, Helestria willing, the quest would indeed be as easy as they said.