Eric got to the meeting point first, he hadn't bothered doing a full check, mainly because he doubted he would find anything now. The meeting with Diversity and Inclusion played through his mind over and over as he tried to think what to say to his party when they arrived.

"So, did you find anything?"

The sound of Uruks voice broke him out of his circular thinking. Startled he turned towards him his face white as a sheet.

"Are you ok?"

Annie asked moving towards him, he looked away.

"I'm fine, you just startled me that's all."

"Why? We catch you at a bad time or something?"

Uruk grinned at him.

"N no, I was just lost in thought is all."

"Yeah? What about?"

"Oh look the others are here."

Annie pointed towards Fred and Astrid as they appeared from round the corner of a small cottage.

"Sir"

Astrid gave her customary salute as she approached Eric who simply nodded in response.

"Nothing to report sir, only a series of empty buildings."

"Same with us, what about you Mr leader, find anything?"

Eric shook his head and turned back towards the empty village.

"Same, no villagers, just empty buildings, its like everyone just......up and left."

"Hey....do you think there is some kind of....human eater here?"

The party turned towards Annie who shifted uncomfortably at the sudden attention.

"Maybe there is a gnome eater too?"

Uruk winked at Annie who then made a comment about potential Ork eaters as well. Eric shook his head at the pair.

"I wouldn't be surprised given what else we have encountered here, but unless we actually meet one I don't think we should be reporting it."

"Sir, I'd like to suggest we do another quick sweep before we leave."

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

"Alright, lets go, same side as..."

"Nope, I'm going down the middle."

Uruk pushed past Eric and started walking down the road, Astrid looked like she was going to protest but Eric just put his hand up to forestall any comment she may have had. In the end he went with Annie down the side Astrid and Fred had gone down and he went down the other with Annie. Nothing was found on the second sweep and when they all regrouped Uruk muttered something about the quest being another complete waste of time before stomping back towards the town.

-----

When they got close to town Eric spoke up.

"So uh... Why don't you guys go relax while I find the priest and tell him what we didn't find and don't know."

"Fine"

Uruk turned and marched towards the tavern, Annie following closely behind him nattering away. After a quick salute Astrid made her way to the inn where they had been staying. Fred was the last to leave stating that he would be in the nearby healers building helping with the sick or injured. Eric walked down the street trying to find where the priest was, he wasn't sure how, but for some reason he seemed to know where to go, almost like an internal instinct. He found him sat outside a fancy and expensive looking hotel within what seemed to be an upper class district full of large houses, jewellery shops and a custom order blacksmith. He looked up at Eric as he approached and raised an eyebrow.

"Ah, the player, well I have to say I didn't expect you back quite so soon."

He looked down at his plate full of food and sighed.

"So did you find any roaming undead? Hardly seems like you was gone long enough to look."

"Well, the village was empty, like everyone just decided to up and leave at the same time. We didn't see any undead roaming around, and there was no sign of battle. We didn't know what to make of it, so decided to come back and report,"

The priest continued to stare at his food while Eric spoke, a small smile starting to creep up his face.

"Well, that's unfortunate, will have to commission a party of scouts for a more rigid examination, see if they can find any tracks...... could take days."

The priest seemed to get happier as he spoke, practically jumping out of his seat to hand Eric a small coin purse, as soon as he touched it it disappeared.

You have received 10 silver pieces.

The priest turned to look back at his plate.

"Starting after I finish my meal."

He sat back down and started eating, Eric apparently having already disappeared from his mind. Eric shook his head at that then turned to walk away.

Quest failed: you chose not to.... Overwritten.

Quest completed: You told the priest what he needed to know, now it's someone else's problem. Reward+ 1 level.

Incoming message: Diversity here, good job, didn't even have to lie, I mean Pamela while she is a zombie she wasn't exactly "roaming" was she *wink wink*. Here's a nice little bonus from me to you +1 str.

Eric gritted his teeth when he read the message.

"I don't want it." He said quietly to himself.

Incoming message: I don't care, here maybe this will help you stomach the necessary work that needs to be done +1 con.

"Are you spying on me?"

Incoming message: Hey, I resent that, we have a contract, I am simply making sure I know what you are doing so I can make sure you are adequately rewarded for your efforts.

Without responding Eric simply walked towards inn the party stayed at, he would be spending the rest of the day at their bar.