Talk over lunch.

You, Niki, Amara, Eva, her father, Yin, Snow, Delphi, and even Alice, all sit around the dining room table covered in small sandwiches and cups of tea. Like always, the meal has a pleasant taste. The tea is something you haven't tasted before, so you assume she purchased it today while you were out. It has a hint of something similar to peppermint, though it doesn't taste like anything you've tried on Earth. The sandwiches are filled with fresh vegetables and slices of ham.

"This is more hospitality than I deserve," her father says.

"I'll say," Eva mumbles beneath her breath.

"Kyle Warren was your name, correct?" he asks.

"That's right," you reply.

"Allow me to continue now that we're comfortable then. The coast, where the grand capital of Tolis resides, continues far beyond the borders of the city. To the northwest, the land continues as you all know, though to the east, it's mostly wilderness leading to the edge of the continent. It's the coast there that I speak of now. This relates to an old legend. The Wicked Witch of the Sea. They say that long ago, a witch was executed on a boat off that very shore for her doing something twisted to her crewmen, and before she died, she said that one day she would return to get her ****. It's a dark, strange curse that keeps her spirit bound, and she has been attacking those at sea and people near the shore. Now nobody travels anywhere near there come nightfall. My studies say that there's only one way to eliminate her for good and get her to finally pass on."

You sip down some of the tea in your cup as you listen. "What way is that?"

"The boat that executed her housed Captain Jack and his crew of eighteen maidens. It is my belief that not only will she be guaranteed to make an appearance, but will also be ****, if we can gather that many women together on the shore come midnight, with no more than one man there with them. The problem is getting that many people together who are willing to be in danger. I have been at a loss. But I look to you all now, and you're already close to meeting those requirements."

You look around yourself. It's you and seven girls. "That's a lot. We're only a third of the way there. And what kind of weird ritual is that?"

"Curses like these are often strange. If you choose to accept this quest, I will personally reward you. All I ask if that you head out within the next few days before somebody else is hurt. The attacks are growing more frequent I've heard."

"Are you a mage like Eva?"

"I am a twelfth level pyromancer, if you must know."

"Such a lame elite class," Eva says quietly.

Her father ignores that.

"Wow. So if we help with this, can you do something for me? I've been looking for help from a powerful mage. Though we'll need actual compensation for this too."

"Of course," he says. "You'll be given a generous reward. I am putting a lot of trust into you, Kyle Warren. Protect my daughter."

"Well hold on. Do we even know that many girls?" Niki asks. "I guess we can just recruit random people."

"Well, we don't want just anyone. For one, it's kind of a creepy request. Two, they could get hurt. We need people that we trust, and that trust us enough to come. But you're right. Eighteen is a huge number. I also have no idea how we'd bring Peony, so we should probably leave her here to guard the place. That way, Yin can come."

Yin perks up. "Are you sure? That is quite the distance from home..."

"Of course. You deserve to get out there too."

"Do you think Lady Tesgella would come?" Snow asks.

That's a good idea. I bet nobody would believe it, but I have a feeling she would be willing. "Let's say yes for now and count that as eight. I bet Rabbit's Foot would be more than willing to come with us too, since we're saving people. We need nine more then."

"What about Mistress Dajy? She also lives with four others," Amara suggests.

"Oh right. I almost forgot, and that's a big one. So we're at fourteen."

"We can ask Luna!" Eva speaks up.

"It's good to see you're on board, and you're right. Fifteen. If we can track down Linzeri, she might even want to know what happened, and it would make sixteen. I guess we'll have to wait and see."

Everyone ponders in silence as they finish their food and drink.

"You have time to think about it," her father says. "If you need me, I'll be staying at the Blue Wyvern Inn. I believe I've already overstayed my welcome, so I'll be heading there now. Thank you for the meal, dear elf. And... be safe, Eva."

He stands up from the table and Yin quickly joins him to escort him to the door. Eva looks distracted, and you struggle to think up more girls you can bring. A few come to mind, but it also has to be the right ones. You can't just ask random bar maidens to come with you or grab people off the street. Though if your party can't come up with more names, you just might have to start recruiting.