Nyara pulled her cloak tightly around herself, doggedly pushing her way through the Frosting month wind nipping at her pointed ears. She sighed in relief when the Explorers Guild building came into view and when she stepped inside she allowed a small hint of a smile to flicker on her face. She walked up to the guild's reception desk. The receptionist looked up at her, her bored expression quickly turning to excitement.

"Oh- Explorer Nyara! How can I help you?"

"Lydia." The elf nods to the receptionist, dropping a bag full of severed orc and goblin ears onto the counter.

Lydia quickly collects them, counting out a gold coin for each orc ear and 3 silvers for each goblin ear. By the time she is done, a pile of 6 gold coins and 21 silvers lies on the counter. Nyara offers a small smile, sweeping the coins into her pouch with a soft clinking sound.

"Any interesting quests for me?" Nyara asked, her pointed ears twitching slightly. "Preferably something other than a simple extermination," she added.

Lydia shook her head ruefully. "Sorry, there's not much going on beyond the usual clean up or extermination quests."

Nyara's face remained blank but inwardly she sighed.

"Looks like it'll be a pretty boring week."

She thanked Lydia once more before making her way to the quest board, scanning the posted options. "Collect two pounds of willow bark," "Exterminate goblin warren," "Exterminate roving band of orcs," and "Apprehend bandit group, Fireclaw Marauders." The last quest caught her interest and Nyara snagged it off the board heading back to Lydia.

"Is this a new one?" She questioned, knowing that the receptionist is usually quick to point her in the direction of the more unusual quests.

Lydia looked up. When she saw the quest her face blanched. "I-I wouldn't take that quest, Explorer Nyara. That bandit group is both deadly and cunning. Their leader is a half-dragonkin half-elf with strong fire powers and totally ruthless."

Nyara grimaces. "Sounds like just the sort of trash I enjoy taking off the streets," she responded. "I assume the guild has a cell capable of holding him when I drag him back?"

The guild receptionist nodded affirmatively and Nyara sighed a muscle in her jaw flickering briefly.

"Go ahead and mark me down for the quest. Do you have any additional information on his favorite hideouts or place of operations?"

Lydia shook her head. "No, not really. All anyone knows is that he likes to ambush young woman of all races, usually in the Crimson Forest."

Nyara's eyes narrowed. "Likes to prey on unsuspecting females does he?" She smirked. "Sounds like I'll have a chance to practice my acting skills."

Lydia's face went pale again at Nyara's casual statement. "Please, I know you are strong but I implore you to take this seriously Explorer Nyara." Her voice trembled a bit and she fidgeted with her fingers, clearly worried for the bold elf.

Nyara smiled at the human receptionist and turned away briefly. When she turned back around it was like she had become another person entirely. Her usually confident posture, with squared shoulders and her head held high had been replaced with slouched shoulders and a low head. Nyara wrung her hands together, eyes filled with fear.

"P-Please don't hurt me!" She whimpered.

She remained like that for a few moments before straightening and laughing at Lydia's expression. The guild receptionist's jaw hung comically low and her eyes were wide as saucers. The human sputtered for a moment then grinned wryly.

"I suppose I deserved that." Lydia admitted. "Now quit teasing me and go catch that son of a bitch!"

Nyara grinned and tucked the quest into her storage ring, stepping back out into the chill air. She walked to the closest tavern The Staggering Stallion, and winced as the chill air from outside was replaced with a cacophony of voices and the reek of liquor and unwashed bodies. She began to make her way through the crowd, pushing towards the bar. A large hand suddenly descended on her ass and grabbed it roughly. Nyara didn't turn around, speaking in a deceptively calm voice.

"You have five seconds to remove your hand from my body before I do it for you."

A loud guffaw sounded from behind her and the hand on her ass tightened its grip.

"One......Two..." Nyara started to count, her voice steady. "...Three......Four.....Five."

She reached back in a flash and twisted the offending hand's fingers expertly, snapping then with sickening popping noises. The entire tavern grew quiet for a moment as Nyara got her first look at her groper. The man was clearly human and, just as clearly, drunk out of his mind. He was currently clutching his broken fingers, curled in on himself to protect the digits from further damage.

"Next time don't touch a woman without their express consent." Nyara told him, her voice low and dangerous.

Her eyes were steely and the man nodded, clearly realizing he had bitten off a bit more than he could chew. Nyara straightened and made her way to the bar. The barkeeper, a male dragon-kin with grey scales splattered in patches on is skin grinned at her. His stark white horns were about five inches long, marking him as a full blooded dragon-kin, as did his face, which was almost completely covered in more dark grey scales.

"First drink is on the house!" He declared, his slitted eyes shining with mirth as he, set a foaming mug of ale in front of her.

Nyara inclined her head in thanks, sipping at the frothy beverage and observing the room. The tavern's patrons were mostly male, the majority human with a few half- or full blooded dragon-kin sprinkled throughout the mix. Her eyes landed on a hooded figure in the back, their form obscured completely with a heavy cloak. She nodded to the mysterious figure.

"Who's that?" Nyara questioned the barkeeper.

He glanced to the area she had indicated.

"That's one of my regulars." He grunted.

Nyara set a silver coin on the counter.

"Give me whatever they like and keep the change."

The barkeep eyed her for a few moments then swept the coin into his register and began mixing a drink. A few moments later he handed it to her.

"Dragons Breath, our most potent beverage!" He exclaimed proudly.

Nyara thanked him and made her way to the back, her mostly full ale in one hand and the mug of so-called Dragons Breath in the other. She reached the hooded stranger's table.

"Mind if I join you? I'd like to have a chat." Nyara asked, her voice friendly. The figure gestured for her to sit and she did so, sliding the mug across the table to them. Even sitting across from them, she could not make out the stranger's features. The stranger took a sip nodding in appreciation. Then they placed a small stone tablet on the table and muttered a few words in Old Elven. Nyara recognized. the engravings on the tablet as ones for silence and hiding. She sat patiently waiting for the stranger to finish. Once the tablet lit up, glowing blue with mana the figure lowered their hood, revealing a female human with dark brown hair and green eyes. The woman had a nasty scar running across her left cheek stretching from her ear and snaking under her jaw.

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"Nice ward. Not a lot of humans know enough Old Elven to use them properly. I'm Nyara, full blooded elf and Explorer of 7 years." She greeted the human.

The woman scrutinized her for a few long moments, sipping at her drink.

"Thanks. Not a lot of elves in these parts. I'm Riona, human and long time merc." The woman replied.

Nyara nodded. "Any bounties on your head?" She asked her voice still casual and friendly.

Riona smirked. " Oh you're good." She chuckled. "No elf, there are no bounties on my head. I'm a rather picky mercenary. Now tell me what caused you to approach me?"

Nyara lifted on shoulder in an elegant shrug. "Experience and a bit of elven intuition. The barkeep mentioned you were a regular and I had a feeling you might be suited for a task I have recently taken on. I'm hunting a group of bandits, the Fireclaw Marauders. The Explorers Guild has issued a request for the capture of their leader, a half elf half dragon-kin with fire powers and a penchant for preying on females."

The human raised a curious brow, her forehead wrinkling. " What do you need me for?"

"Backup of course! I'm fairly confident in being able to handle this group on my own but I'm not cocky enough to go in alone. I have a contact who can get us set up in a fancy carriage, perfect for luring in the scumbags. I'll let them "kidnap" me and take me to their base and then we'll be able to completely obliterate their little criminal ring."

"Not a bad plan." Riona admitted with a grudging smile."How do you know you can trust me not to leave you? After all you just met me."

Nyara smiled, pulling a glowing sheet of paper from her ring. Riona seemed to realize what it was immediately.

"A contract?" She queried.

"Yes." Nyara nodded in conformation. " It's simple. It only states that we won't purposely screw the other one over. But if you can't do your part without certain or near certain death you won't be penalized. It's pretty mild."

Riona nodded her head in agreement.

"Alright elf," she replied gulping down the last of her drink, "lets get this show on the road."

They both signed the contract, Nyara also draining the rest of her ale and the two headed off to the local transportation shop. The weather seemed to have taken a turn for the better, with the sun shining through the clouds and warming the air. As they walked they fleshed out their plan. By the time they had got to the transportation shop it was mostly done. Nyara would give her sword to Riona, not wanting the blade to end up in the bandits hands. With the blade marking her as a warrior out of the way, she wold assume the role of a naive and helpless elf girl, on her first long trip. When the bandits "captured" her, RIona would follow them as close as she was able and wait for a 24 hours before beginning to execute phase two of their plan, which was allowing Nyara to escape and wreaking havoc on the bandits home base.

"I just have one bit of hesitation." Riona says after Nyara outline the plan with more detail. "Don't take this the wrong way but......you don't seem like the helpless sort to me."

Nyara grinned and spoke softly. "A human man has been following us for a while now. Act like I just said something rude or disgusting and storm off but stay close. I'll show you just how good of an actress I am."

Understanding that the elf was giving Riona a chance to see her abilities Riona nodded almost imperceptibly and then struck Nyara hard across the cheek.

"You disgusting knife ear! Your kind is only fit for working in the bedroom yet you refuse me!?" She shouts her voice carrying anger.

Nyara cringed away as RIona raised a hand again but lowered it and stormed off. The "furious" human quickly moved out of sight leaving Nyara alone. She cradled her cheek and began slowly walking, her head hung downward in a dejected and hopeless manner. It didn't take long for a rough hand to yank her into an ally, the other quickly covering her mouth. Fetid breath washed over her as the large human man pulled her further back into the ally. Nyara wiggled and squirmed, her attempts to "escape" not causing her "captor" any trouble. He drug her to an abandoned building gagging her. Tears rolled from Nyara's eyes and she looked at the man a pleading expression on her face.

"Ha! Not a chance little knife ears! That lady was right. All you pointy eared freaks are good for is a good pounding. If you please me I might let you go."

Nyara whimpered around the gag, her face flushed. The man was so confidant of his victory he didn't bother to tie any of her limbs. He stroked her cheek and Nyara jerked away cringing. When the man went to grope at her chest, Nyara promptly placed him in a elbow arm-bar hold, eliciting a series of slow claps from the rafters where Riona had been watching. Nyara tied the man's arms behind his back and they dropped him off at the town jail before making their way back to the transportation shop. An elderly half-elf half-dragon-kin man greeted them. His horns were only an inch or two tall and his ears were not pointed nearly as sharply as Nyara's. His few scales were black and he smiled at them, his blue eyes lighting up when they landed on Nyara. The male exclaimed "Nyara!" and pulled her in for a hug. Nyara greeted the old man affectionately.

"David, it's good to see you." Nyara replied.

The two took a few minutes to catch up then Nyara broached the subject of why she and RIona were here, after introducing the human woman as her temporary work partner.

"We need a fancy carriage David. I'm going after the Fireclaw Marauders and a fancy carriage with a lone driver and female elf is the perfect bait for them. I have the gold to cover the cost of repairing or replacing it. All i need form you is a driver who can run away really really fast and the carriage of course."

David nodded looking thoughtful for a moment before he spoke.

"I have a young man, Fredrick Fleetfoot, folks call him, on account of him being so light on his feet. He can drive a carriage with the best of em."

Nyara and Riona agreed and got ready. Nyara gave her sword and Explorers identification to Riona and hopped into the carriage, assuming a sweet and naive demeanor. The carriage was indeed fancy, easily worth the 5 gold she had insisted David accept for it's use and potential destruction. The insides were red velvet comfortably padded and its polished ebony exterior screamed wealth. The carriage made it's way into the Crimson Forest.

"I hope this works......it would be a shame if they don't bite. I'm looking forward taking these bastards down. Their leader especially. He sounds like a real piece of work."

Nyara mused as the carriage continued into the Crimson Forest. She intentionally stuck her head out of the window, her unbraided hair falling in loose ebony waves over her collarbone.

"Oh my," she gasped breathlessly, "Driver, are these woods always so pretty?"

To his credit the young man played his role well.

"Yes miss, this is called the Crimson Forest on account of all the trees having such nice red leaves."

Nyara blinked innocently, a soft smile on her lips.

"Well I think it's just-AHHHHH!"

Her continued compliments of the forest were cut off as a ring of men sounded the carriage. Fredrick quickly ran off.

"N-No come back! Please don't leave me here!" Nyara wailed, her face full of disbelief as the bandits closed in on her. She did her best to block the doors but the bandits managed to force their way into the carriage. She shrieked, flailing ineffectively as two bandits hoisted her out of the carriage. One of them shook her.

"Shut up you elven whore!"

Nyara's face flickered to show a hint of anger before she was shaken again and fear relit her eyes. She gulped in air, trying to stifle her whimpers.

"These fools. Do they really think all females are so damn helpless?" Nyara sneered inwardly not letting her disgust show on her face.

The bandits threw her up on a horse, the highest ranked bandit swinging up behind her and constantly fondling her chest as they rode back to their boss.

"Don't break his dirty fingers, not yet. That would ruin the plan." Nyara told herself, gritting her teeth at the rough groping of her breasts.

"Boss'll be happy with this lucky find, Captain! One of the men jeered.

The Captain grunted and continued fondling Nyara's breasts as she squirmed. He had already hit her once when she tried to "protest" and a bruise was swelling on her left cheek to prove it. The band of 15 or so riders arrived at the base, the leader groping at her ass as he pulled her off of his horse. She whimpered in pain as his rough grip bruised her arm and hung her head, allowing the man to drag her into the stone building where the leader waited. The Captain shoved her to the floor as he kneeled. Nyara's knees barked in pain as they hit the cold rough stone floor.

"Keir, I brought you an unexpected treat."

The fire using elf dragon-kin man smiled and dismissed the Captain. Nyara shrank away from him, her gaze fixed on the floor. Keir pinched one of her ear tips, causing her to let out a yelp of pain. The bandit leader smirked at her.

"You damn pure bloods always think your so good. I'll show you." He sneered.

Nyara cringed, a few tears slipping out of her eyes and falling onto her cheeks. She raised her hands defensively.

"P-please......please don't hurt me!" She whimpered.

Keir laughed, twisting the point of her other ear.

"He really know what to go after to make it hurt with barely any effort. Damn my sensitive ears! It'll make it all the more sweet to take them down, but I'm gonna end up with some good bruises from this fucker and his little cronies." She mused, keeping up her meek and fearful demeanor.

"That's right little pure blood, beg. It won't help you but I do so enjoy seeing you on your knees."

Eventually he got bored of teasing Nyara and kicked her to the side of his "throne", ordering her to stay there. She did so, and spent the next several hours crouched awkwardly on the cold stone floor. Her left cheek was throbbing in pain and her lip had a small trickle of blood making it's way down her chin courtesy of Keir.