Calling All Adventurers: S1 E1 - Step Out

S1 Episode 1: Step Out

Intro & News

Calling all adventurers, I repeat, Calling all adventurers. Some news and potential job opportunities came through that may interest you, so listen up.
We have reports that there has been another bear attack in the Southeastern town of Thallow. The town's guards have slain the creature but authorities are currently looking to hire a team to get out there and figure out what's going on.

This is the second attack this week so something bigger may be at play there. Bears can be trouble if you aren't careful, so remember, don't run...edge away slowly. 

Otherwise, any parties near the town of Dunwissen, out past the Yellow Fens, may want to check in with them. A floating orb decorated with, what appears to be, a large iris and pupil at its centre, has been spotted meandering around the streets in the late evenings. There have been several eye witness reports but attempts at peaceful communication have not yet been successful. If anyone in Dunwissen is listening; keep trying. In my experience, most mysterious floating eyes are just friends you haven't met yet.

In other news the fast growing Church of the Most Holy in the eastern city of olumn has recently denounced claims that they made their god up for money. Despite their adamant refusal to explain who or what the 'Most Holy' actually is, they have assured their detractors that "those who believe will be saved, and trust us, you want to be saved." The church is currently offering a 'save two souls for the price of one' deal in this trying time. 

Research performed by the Sistian Institute of Study has shown that, statistically, 80% of adventuring parties form in taverns. The study also found that 90% of those party members had no prior knowledge of each other up until that point but still agreed on fighting monsters together that same evening.

Now, I've gotten requests from a few of my listeners saying they want me to speak on some of my experiences. Maybe share some wisdom. This is as good a time to start as any, so I'll give it a go. Let me tell you the story of how I left the quiet little village of my birth, met the first member of what would become a pretty famous adventuring party that many of you may know of. And if you like the story, maybe I'll keep telling it next time.

I guess there's no better place to start than at the beginning.

Story Start

I was born and raised in a farming village by the name of Rulshall. Located between rolling hills of verdant meadows with rivers running through it like veins, the area was peaceful and quiet.

In all my 20 years in that community, I never saw a goblin, a dragon or anything in between. Safe to say the place was quaint, if not a bit boring. I grew up there with my family, my father left shortly after I'd seen my 8th winter and my mother tried her best. Growing up, I was a troublemaker and found myself neck deep in nonsense more often than not. Running around, climbing trees, stealing apples, and sword fighting friends with leaf-stripped tree branches.

I was the opposite of my older brother. Benjy was handsome and a hard worker. Popular with a lot of the village girls too but would do anything for a quiet life. He took over the local Blacksmiths and made great use of himself to the village. Of the two of us, everyone knew it was my time in the village that wouldn't last forever. I had my sights set on adventure. Something to be said about younger siblings there, I'm sure.

Shortly after my 20th birthday, I decided it was time. My family were concerned but supportive. They knew all too well how village life could be and that I never really fit in with it all. The small community mindset had begun to frustrate me. I was living in a culture that did everything a certain way, just because that's how it had always been done. Where tradition was somehow the enemy of progress. I didn't hate the people or the place, I just wasn't interested in the life it was selling.

Within days of word getting out about me leaving, people who had barely spoken to me before were knocking on my door, telling me that it was irresponsible to leave, that I couldn't handle the world out beyond the local acreage. I will tell you now, nothing in my life motivated me to leave more than that sentiment.

Over the next two months, I did as many odd jobs as I could around the village to earn some coin for the start of the journey. I asked my brother to make me a sword, just in case, and he was more than happy to oblige. I remember when I first saw it; crude and heavy, but sharp and reliable. After that, I packed a rucksack with spare clothes, dried food and equipment.

For the next two days, I claimed I was resting, but really, I was building up courage. On the third day of autumn, I woke up very early in the morning, slipped on my coat, bid my mother and brother farewell and left. I'll admit, in the heat of excitement, I may have forgotten to say goodbye to anyone else in town. But by the time I realised that, I was already half a day's walk away. Besides, I was planning on returning in a few months anyway.

Break

We've got a couple of updates, so let's take a quick break.

We've had a few reports of a bizarre incident that occurred in the Northern City of Ardross a few days ago. A small group of adventurers were passing through the city when a member of their team attacked a local merchant for, seemingly, no reason.

Witnesses claim that, when the rest of the party questioned his sanity, this person, clad in black leather armour and a cloak, responded in furious surprise at their questions. As the attacker was being dragged away by the city guards, they kept screaming "It says that I'm like this on my character sheet." 

No one knows the meaning of his cryptic protests. 

If I can offer any advice; don't lose your mind and attack civilians. It gives adventurers a bad rep and you'll likely wind up behind bars or dead as a result.

In other news, an issue has arisen in the town of Othen, in the Kuval Region. Reports state that it is some kind of undead outbreak. Any sellswords in that area might want to take a look and sort that out. Mayor Devaine has apologised for the inconvenience in a statement delivered by an owl. 

The owl is currently refusing further comment.

That's all for right now.

Story Resume

Let's get back to the story. Where was I? Oh, yes.

I was on the road and, by this point, I had been walking for days. It was early in the evening but late in the year and a chill was beginning to set in. Orange leaves covered the road. The sun was setting, and I was in good enough spirits but tired. I wanted a warm drink, and a hot fire to rest beside. I began looking for any settlement on the way.

Before long, I stumbled upon a large town called Greywall. It seemed nice enough, so I asked a local where the nearest tavern was. He pointed to an old establishment a few streets down; The Golden Stag.

I went to pay it a visit, it had a fancy name but it wasn't anything to look at. Made from old grey bricks, the building hung off the two beside it like a drunk being carried home by sober friends. 

Walking inside, I immediately caught the tell-tale aroma of mulled wine, and the heat pouring out from the large stone fireplace made my eyes sting. Many of the locals had stopped in for a few rounds and the place was busy. I know a few people who prefer a quiet drink, but I have a longstanding love for the hustle and bustle of a lively barroom.

I took off my rucksack, grabbed a seat by the bar and asked for some water and a cup of mulled wine. I necked the water and sipped on the wine for the next half hour. I was relaxing, eavesdropping on strangers, when someone else sat up at the bar close to me.

An elf, dressed in a green and brown tunic. A long, dark green hooded cloak hung from her shoulders. I was in awe for a moment. I had never seen an elf before that point, so she definitely stuck out to me. 

I could only see parts of her pale face. A sharp jawline and nose, with dark brown eyes and hair. Without really thinking, I introduced myself with an outstretched hand and my name. She seemed surprised by my forthrightness at first but she shook my hand and gave her name in return.

Val: “Valuin Emmaris.”

A unique name, I thought.

For a while, we sat in silence. I was beginning to think the quiet would go on forever when she finally spoke again.

Val:  "What brings you to these parts?"

The nature of the question was not particularly strange, but perhaps it was the manner in which she asked that stirred the uneasiness in me. 

Host: "I am just a traveller...passing through."

I replied.

I had no intentions of being coy, but I felt that offering too much information would have left me at a disadvantage.

Val: "Are you looking for work, Traveler?" 

She asked with a sly smile and a poor effort to conceal eyes brimming with excitement.

Val: "I have something that could pay."

I stopped mid-swig and thought on it for a second before continuing, 

Host: "Well, that depends on the work." 

It sounded like a cool thing to say in my head but out loud I just seemed pedantic.

Host: "I can swing a sword, if that's what you need.” 

I reassured her. 

I was no master swordsman, but I also wasn't exactly rolling in coin at this point, and a job was a job. The fact was, whatever Valuin wanted, provided it was above the law, was a start. I didn't set out on this journey expecting to slay dragons and dive into grand battles over the fate of the world, I saw myself as an explorer. But explorers need to eat and sleep in a warm bed sometimes. So, with that in mind, I decided to hear her out. Besides, I had heard much about many of the monsters that filled the world. I was sure I could handle a Goblin or two, if needed. It might even be a little exciting.

I booked a room and deposited my rucksack there for the remainder of the evening but kept my sword strapped to my back and departed the Inn with Valuin. Where I found myself next was not exactly where I expected I would. I didn't really know what I expected, mind you, but it wasn't the living room of a local. 

We stood in a small, dark room, lit by a handful of candles and a small stone fireplace. The client, an old man with thinning white hair and tanned, wrinkled skin, was fidgeting in his wooden rocking chair, fumbling a handkerchief from hand to hand, telling us something about a lost cat. 

At least I think it was a lost cat, I must have missed him specify, but Mittens isn't a name you give to a child. At least not one you like.

It was at this point that I was beginning to realize how tired I was. The ale I'd had at the Inn was watered down compared to what we had back in the village but it was having the intended effect when all it had to compete against was an empty stomach. 

I was catching myself losing focus, fighting to keep my rapidly decreasing attention span from diverting my mind from the present, to what I wanted to have for dinner or daydreaming about crawling into bed. 

I was quickly pulled back to reality by—

Client: "So, do you think you can help me?" 

Piercing the veil of interference from my subconscious. My eyes refocused in time to watch Valuin vigorously shake the man's hand.

Val: "Absolutely good sir, you have my word! We will retrieve your feline friend post-haste."

This was it? The job he was on about was cat retrieval? Not exactly the exciting monster hunt that I expected but I won't say I was sad about it. Messing around with monsters means a much higher chance of an unfortunate accident, and there's no harm in some honest work. Or so I thought.

Outro

Well, let's call it there for this session. There is still a lot to go over just regarding my first job, so if you listeners enjoyed it, maybe I'll keep going next time.

For now, however, the sun has long since set. I hope the story has soothed your mind and helped you unwind. Don't forget to tell your friends and fellow heroes about us here at the Tower Array. Be sure to teach them how to make one of our receiver boxes and have them listen in too. The bigger this web of connections, the more information we can share with it.

Till next time, keep your wits about you, adventurers. 

Rest well and good hunting!