Alexei looked into his empty mug sadly. He had finished with his story. Now he was just looking to drink the day away. Alexei raised his hand to order another drink. While he waits for the Waitress to bring him another mug, he takes that time to look at the other grunts sitting around the table. During his little story time, they all had introduced themselves. The Mexican introduced himself first, it seems like he has a lot less hostility than the other two.

His name is Xavier Cruz, apparently, he is a mechanic from northern Mexico. Though he wouldn’t say much else. After a lot longer into the story the second man introduced himself as Corporal Mc’cullen, royal engineer, 2nd SCOTS, The Royal Highland Fusiliers. ‘So that’s why he is so pissed off. He is a Brit (I know that Scotland is not British but I don’t think the character does). fuck’ Alexei thought as he told his story.

The last person to introduce themselves was the Pole. But, eventually, he introduced himself as Leszek Cackowski, Starszy Kapral (First corporal) in the 18th Mechanised Division.

A different waitress came over and placed a mug of bubbly rum in front of him then moved away to get other patrons more drinks. Alexei quickly snatched up the mug and started drinking. After letting out a happy sigh than a burp. Alexei started speaking in a slightly tipsy manner.

“So, I told you guys my story, what’s yours?”

Mc’cullen shot a glance at Leszek, who gave a slight nod, then leaned back in his chair and took a deep draft of his beer. Alexei leaned in, readying himself for a good tale. Mc’cullen started to speak,

“We were summoned to this place a couple of days ago. Les (Leszek’s nickname) over there was the first to arrive. According to him, he had wandered the landscape for a day or two. Then he found that salsa love’n, sombrero wear’n man over there.” he nodded in Xavier’s direction, “A day later was when they happened to stumble across a handsome, strong, individual, known as yours truly.

They had found me wandering down a road. So after exchanging pleasantries, some food, and spare ammo for cigs. We all decided to continue down the road. Making us eventually end up in this hellhole. When we first got here we couldn’t find work except for a couple of beginner quests you’d find in an RPG game.” he jerked a thumb at the front desk. “Lucky for us, the big man in the sky found some work, in the form of the city getting sieged by fucking organized posh goblins in armor.

The guards needed fighting men, and well. Let's just say they weren’t disappointed. Instead of explaining the whole thing we just told them we are lost mercs. They didn’t really give a damn to be fair. We probably could have said ‘we’re from a wandering circus’ and they would have handed us a spear and asked us if we knew how to fight.

Of course, we all knew how to fight. This was surprising to me at least, because I thought that Xaviar had no combat experience. But he had pulled out a highly ‘customized’ M1911. That first night we got the short end of the stick and got put on guard duty. While both me and Les had NVGs, Xavier had no such stuff. But, that bugger had a great idea and he perfected it through the night. When morning came this inglorious bastard had come up with the idea to make nitroglycerin or something else that goes BOOM.

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This genius remembered a quest he had seen to clean out a bat-infested basement complex. That plus a little bit of crafty knowledge on some chemistry add in a little bit of scrap that we ‘acquired’ and that's how to get that pockmarked hellscape out beyond the wall. That reminds me this party” he gestured to the surrounding party “is to celebrate the breaking of the siege by ‘the metal dragon’ AKA the A-10.”

“Huh, a metal dragon that’s the local’s name for… wait you said A-10 right?” Alex said, more than slightly slurring his words now.

“Yep, I said A-10. I was up on the walls watching for another desperate wave of goblins to come charging out of the trees. That’s when one of the other guys saw it. He screamed, pointed,

Then got the hell off the bulwark. I wasn’t afraid, in fact, I was very exhilarated that someone had the hog. I watched it circle for about a minute, then it turned out of it’s circling, probably lining itself up for an attack run. After a few seconds, the hog stopped turning and began diving toward the ground.

I saw the smoke billow from the cannon and wash over the aircraft. I heard the BRRRT a few seconds later. Then as it was pulling up and away it dropped a pair of bombs. The blasts were music to my ears.”

“Shit, so that’s what Harly was up to.”

“I’m guessing that was your friend’s doing then?” Les asked.

“Seems like it, when we first got here he got his radio infused with the ability to call in support. I know he was doing something at the time of the airstrike, and I can’t think of anyone else with that ability so yeah. I think he did it.” Alexei answered.

____________________________________________________________________________

I woke up from- from… fuck I can’t remember. I just remember running, explosions. My inner dialogue was interrupted by a familiar voice.

“Look who’s up. Wake up princess, or do I have to give you a true love's kiss.”

I went stock still. ‘What the fuck Kazamir.’ I turn and look him dead in the eye.

“You try that and I kill you.”

“Can’t take a joke.”

Now that I’m looking at him, I can see that he was leaning against the wall. He pushed himself off as he said his last sentence.

“I can, when it’s a good joke. You got to try harder than that.”

“Alright,” he said with a mock dejection.

“So, where in all of the nine circles of hell is Alexei?”

“He’s at the guild hall.”

“Guild hall? What the fuck is a guild hall.”

“A guild hall is a place for adventurers, mercenaries, and other people in that line of work. It is used as a place to hire these people and for these people to find employment.” Kazamir explained while sounding board.

I nod and think ‘that makes sense, without the internet they would have to meet in one spot.’

Then I ask the important question. “Do they serve alcohol?”

“Does grass grow?” Kazamir answered.

‘Great, that’s just what I need.’ I thought to myself sarcastically.

I let out a pained sigh as got out of bed and stood up.

“Alright, let’s go and see what Alexei is up to before he sells us all into debt for drinking money.”