As the group was making their way to the Mayors’ office, Drazdan heard an unusual creak from the ceiling. The group was walking side by side, Drazdan to the far right of the formation, allowing him to look at Marcus and Xandarr from the corner of his eye. Noticing that both men are waiting for a signal, he nods and Marcus immediately casts Detect Evil, finding the man in the attic.

Upon detecting the man as evil, Marcus instantly stabbed his sword through the ceiling, a scream was heard as it pierced the man's foot, catching him off guard and pinning him to the ceiling.

This gave enough time for Xandarr to use Shillelagh and smash a hole through the ceiling with the magically empowered staff, creating an opening big enough for Drazdan to jump through and land inside the attic facing the man.

“Hello there.” he greets the man as he drew his sabers.

The man utters a panicked, “SHIT!” before ripping his foot out of the longswords tip and attempting to run out of the attic through a window held open by a wooden arm, but before he could reach it Drazdan threw his right-handed saber at it, breaking the arm and closing the window.

“Leaving already? Won’t you stay for tea? I’ve got many questions for a rat who skulks around in someone else's home.” Drazdan says with a glint in his eye.

The Man now well and truly trapped pulls out a dagger with a green glow and screams, “FOR THE ELDERS!” before stabbing it through his neck.

There was no way for Drazdan to stop his actions, and by the time he got there to inspect the wound, the man was already dead. Not only did the dagger destroy the men's vocal cords, it ripped his trachea wide open, it also cut multiple arteries and to really drive it home the dagger was thoroughly covered in poison. The unknown magic on the dagger itself was the final nail in the coffin.

Drazdan was hesitant to touch the dagger because of its greenish glow and instead opted to jump back down the hole and informing the group, butler included, about what just happened.

After telling the butler about the would be assassin, the whole village went into high alert and the guards doubled their patrols, in fear of a repeat instance.

The body was disposed off after a skilled sorcerer came and inspected the dagger and safely removed it. The rest of the day was spent in the mayor’s office discussing the events of that day and the completed job.

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“So you’re telling that where were 15 kobolds in that cave? Where’s your proof?” the mayor asks, stroking his mustache deep in thought, doubting the claim of these adventurers.

The wet thud on his table broke his thinking as a bloody bag is now sitting on his table.

“And this is?” he asks.

“The head of the kobold Chieftain. It was leading the pack and the reason why they attacked a human settlement.” Marcus stated plainly.

“Great…” the mayor said as he pushed the bloody bag further away from himself.

“Also, we are pretty sure there is a different monster further in the cave system.” Drazdan said.

To this, the mayor raised an eyebrow and asked, “And did you take care of it?”.

“Nope.” Xandarr quickly replied.

“Why is that? Didn’t I hire you all to take care of a problem?” the mayor asked, seeing a chance to not have to pay the men.

“2 Reasons. 1, we had civilians that needed medical attention. And 2, our job was to find and save the civilians, not clear the cave.” retorted Drazdan.

“Ah, it was wasn’t it… Darn... Sigh~ Fine here take your money that's 22 Gold and 5 Silver, split it amongst yourselves as you see fit”

“Nice, thank you. If you’ve got other jobs, we’ll be around for a while.” Drazdan responded as he turned around to follow the 2 others out of the building.

Once the butler closed the front door behind the party, he was promptly summoned back by his master. Alfred knocked 3 times on the door, the final knock was several seconds late compared to the 2 faster predecessors, before letting himself in.

“Sir.” Alfred began, “I do believe I warned you before.” he said plainly.

“Don’t even start, Alfred… Honestly… How was I supposed to know they would succeed. I was hoping the kobolds we armed would’ve at least gotten one of them. Hell, the traps we left before the Leucrottas’ cave were perfectly crafted and hidden so that once you go in you can never leave…” the mayor let out a large sigh as he stroked his forehead.

“Alfred… When have I ever misjudged a party before?” he asked, exasperated.

“Never, Sir. This is a first. I suggest we take care of them soon, losing Jason and the kobolds has already hindered the initial plans enough. These adventurers cannot be allowed to grow stronger.” Alfred stated with a blank face fitting of a weathered Butler.

“You are quite right, my friend. First, let’s feed our dear Leucrotta, we don’t want him starving. Take a few chicks out of their pen and send them away to their new home. Also, we must contact the Elders about the delay to the plan. We cannot fail.” the mayor said with great conviction.

“Understood, Sir. I shall return shortly.” Alfred said, sporting a wicked grin before seemingly melting into the shadows and disappearing.

The mayor now alone in his office was thinking out loud. “The day of Reckoning cannot be stopped. The continent must sink if we are to awaken it.”