The cold, grey afternoon sky complemented the dingy lighting of Sean's Bar perfectly. The heavy drops of rain crashed through the forest canopy of Wildenwood, and inside the bar, a robed man watched the door from the table at the very edge of the bar.

The doorknob turned and the door swung open, dinging the bell that hung over it. In came a man in a grey robe. His face was obscured, save for his short, orderly, white beard.

The laughter and merriment in the bar was drowned out for a moment, as the sounds of the rain overcome their voices. The man walked over to his colleague across the bar and sat down, pulling off his hoodie and revealing a silver mask that covered his eyes and nose.

" Revealing your identity in public I see." said the man in the purple robes with gold trim.

" I am known for my Mask. It would show one way or another." replied the Masked man.

"*sigh* There's no point in trying to argue with a lazy elf like you. Do you.. have what I asked?"

" Only a fool would ask for a map to the Mistique Mountain."

" That is HIS home after all." replied the robed man heartily.

" You must have a death wish."

" Trust me, old friend, my Party and I can handle a few balls of Fire."

The Masked man laughed heartily!

" Well, just in case your Party finds themselves overwhelmed, I called for.. uh... Reinforcements."

" Re-in-force-ments--"

The door swung open with a mighty "BAM!" and the bell rang wildly! In the door way stood a short, pudgy, well dressed man. He was in a white dress shirt, black dress pants that were rolled up to his calves. A black tuxedo vest was worn over his shirt- which's sleeves were rolled up to his elbows.- and his red bowtie was loose under his collar.

His reddish brown hair was wet and stuck to his forehead, perfectly framing his fuming face.

" REYLEY!!!!" he roared at the Masked man. He began to breathe heavily.

" Yup. There 'e is." Reyley said calmly, before taking a sip of water.

" Him? " the robed man replied with distaste, his red beard swayed in the wind from the open door.

The entire bar went silent and watched as the barefooted Dwarf crossed the bar with his muddy feet.

Reyley placed his glass of water on the table and tried to speak.

" Deal! How are you--" The Dwarf slapped the glass of water off the table and it shattered against the wall next to an elegant Elf.

"oh my!" said the Elf.

" Don't 'Deal' me, Reyley." snarled the Dwarf. " You Elven piece o' shit!"

" Nice to see you too, Deal." Reyley replied as the robed man awkwardly took a sip of water.

" Cut to the chase, Reyley! You knows what I wants. And I wants what I wants."

" Ah. Yes. Of course."

Reyley reached into his robes and pulled out a white pair of underwear that had been stained green around the legholes.

" Here you go."

' Deal' grabbed them away from Reyley angrily.

Through clenched teeth he spat: " ThAnKs."

He hastily placed them in his right Pocket and sat down, pushing Reyley off his seat.

As Reyley took the another seat, 'Deal' spoke.

" So, what's the deal, Reyley? Why'd you want me to come here?"

" An offer." said Reyley. " An expedition with the promise of Treasure!"

" I told you before, Reyley, I ain't no sellsword any more." He slammed his the table with his thick, hairy arm. " And I certainly am not interested in losing any more hair to Dragons."

" It's just a small job. No real danger for you. All you have to do is help my dear friend here, Tarott, take care of a molevolent worm down at the Mistique Mountain."

A bottle of Ale flew through the air towards the little gathering and ' Deal' caught it with his left hand. For the first time, ' Deal' noticed the purple robed man sitting across from him.

" You're 'Parrot?" ' Deal asked opening the Ale.

" Uh.. Tarott." Tarott corrected. " It's a pleasure to meet you Deal."

" That's my stage name. The real name's Baggle." He took a sip of Ale.

"Well, Baggle, if you're interested, there's a short three day expedition to the Mistique Mountain in Eastwood. But at the end, there is an entire horde of Treasure just waiting for us! Enough to feed a Dwarf like you for a year." Tarott said. " My Party and I could really use a Dwarf like you on our side in the battle against the Dragon."

Tarott offered Baggle his hand for a hand shake. But Baggle looked at it distastefully and handed him the bottle of Ale instead.

" I don't shake hands." He then began to unbuckle his belt. "And" He slid his trousers off. " I'm not interested."

As Tarott spoke, Baggle put on his underwear.

" Well I--" Tarott began, but he was interrupted by Reyley.

" You see, Mr. Deal, there's an even GREATER reward in it for you..." He pulled a small, wooden square of wood from his robe. " That is... if you'll do it."

Baggle gave Reyley a dirty look, then he looked at the Rune in Reyley's hand and narrowed his eyes.

" You Elven bastard." He tapped his finger-tips against the table twice.

" When can I start?"

to be continued...