The clanking of plates and the sound of overlapping conversation filled the Donkey Diner across the road from the Really Good Inn. The wooden floorboard creaked no matter where you stepped, and the moss growing on the outside of the restaurant made Bryn pessimistic about the state of the hygiene in this particular establishment. Though he was much more concerned about Jordan and this Vince character, who were giving each other death glares across the table.

After breaking up their fight, the demon half orc had introduced himself as Mayor Reggie, and coerced the three of them into having lunch and talk over their issues. He explained that Vince was a former adventurer who had returned home to Dregmoor after hearing about the issues the village had been having since the war ended.

“If you’re an adventurer you should make sure your target is actually your target. You’re a heathen” Jordan said, pointing a finger in Vince’s face. Vince squinted his eyes, confused at Jordan’s odd choice of insult. The tiefling demon pushed Jordan’s finger away, turning his nose up at the half elf.

“The only people that come into this town that aren’t demons are the bandits that keep blowing shit up, so excuse me for being cautious” Vince said, folding his arms as his plate of bacon arrived. The rest of the table got their meals, each being a plate of just meat as those were the only options at the Donkey Diner. Grabbing a fork for his high protein feast, Reggie raised the mask of his helmet. His bright red skin contrasted distinctly with his eyes, and he began shoveling sausage into his mouth with reckless abandon.

“So we all got off on the wrong foot, but let’s start over. We are all in the same business, which is protecting this town right?” Reggie said, Vince scoffing at the comment. “Something to say Vince? I’m sure it’ll be positive and heartwarming as always.”

Vince furrowed his brow at the dig but continued to speak. “Every party you’ve hired from Everwatch was a team of lazy slobs. They did the bare minimum patrols, only occasionally dealt with the bandits when they raided our businesses, and just drank and partied while the town suffered. I shouldn’t have attacked you two, and I’m sorry about that, but your organization hasn’t given me any reason to give you the benefit of the doubt” he said, ravenously eating the bacon with both hands as he spoke.

Jordan stopped eating for a moment and looked at Bryn. They had assumed that based on what Luther had said, doing the bare minimum was an option a lot of people chose in this tiring line of work. Bryn did not stop eating however, and spoke with hamburger patty falling from his mouth.

“Don’t worry man, we’re really greedy and Everwatch is going to give us a completion bonus if we get rid of these bandits toads and… what was it plants? Yeah plants. So you don’t have to believe we’re heroes or anything, just believe we’re greedy enough to finish the job. God this is so good, how have I never just had a hamburger patty with gravy?” Bryn said, the aforementioned gravy dripping down his beak.

Vince paused his eating and looked put off by Bryn’s intense appetite and looked over at Jordan for assurance, who smiled as he politely took a bite of his food and gave a thumbs up. Vince chuckled and resumed housing his bacon as Bryn continued speaking.

“Speaking of which, after the initial check of the town’s perimeter is done we were going to start with the toads. Is there anything we should know about them?” Bryn asked as he chugged his water before resuming his attack.

Reggie chuckled, clearly pleased that the tension of the situation had been defused somewhat. “I was told Luther would tell you the basics, did he remember or was he steaming too intensely again?” Reggie asked, clearly aware of Luther’s…eccentric nature.

“He managed to do both” Jordan said, the image of the shirtless goblin burned into his mind.

“Good for him, I see he’s working on multitasking. Their patterns haven’t changed at all. If you take the northwest path you’ll run into their pack. It’s 15 strong and they all travel together. 5 houses have been destroyed from their rampages in the last month, and we’ve had over 40 people hospitalized from the weird mind freak sludge that leaks out of them” Reggie said, his voice becoming slightly more distraught.

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“Do they have a base of operations? Do toads have bases?” Jordan asked.

“I don’t know if you would call it a base, but they tend to…. I guess loiter around the pond at the end of the path that I mentioned earlier.” Reggie said, raising his hand to request another plate of bacon for the table.

“It seems like if we can avoid the hallucinogenic properties of the toad…juice, then fighting them shouldnt be too hard. They’re just toads right?” Bryn asked.

Vince scoffed and began eating handfuls of bacon off of the community plate, his own long since finished. “I’ve fought a couple, and even if you can overcome the trippy aspect, the toad is still the size of horse and can leap 10 feet in the air. If it lands on you, you’re squished like a bird that a large toad fell on” Vince said, dabbing the grease off his mouth with a napkin.

Bryn grimaced, the idea of death by toad bumming him out slightly. He looked over at Jordan, who had his arms crossed and a soft smile, though his eyes looked deep in thought. Bryn smiled upon seeing this now familiar look and sat back. He picked up his pack from the floor, beginning to sort through it silently while Vince and Reggie looked on confused.

“Just wait for it” Bryn said after a moment, the 4 of them continuing to sit in silence as Jordan sat with that same smile.

“Got it.” Jordan clapped his hands triumphantly, startling both Vince and Reggie.

“We should still check the perimeter in case there’s missing information, but I think we have it covered.” He said casually. “Rest assured gentlemen, unless there’s some crazy discovery on our recon, the toads will be gone by the end of the day tomorrow. Rangers honor.” He said, giving some sort of strange salute with both hands folded together against his forehead.

Reggie and Vince looked on awkwardly for a moment, before turning to Bryn with hopes of reassurance. He looked at the two of them before shaking his head and chuckling.

“Look, the 4 of us will probably work together a lot over the next couple of months, so you should know some things about the two of us. I’m the smart one, Jordan’s the main fighter and the social butterfly, but I handle all the traditional smart people tasks… except combat strategy” Bryn said, poking his finger into Jordan’s head. “This brain can figure out combat strategy on the fly. Once he gets that weird look on his face, the plan will be in his mind within a minute.”

“That and diffusing awkward social situations with comedy that’s even more awkward. Those two things are what my brain is for, and I’m an adult with a job so I think I’ve done ok for myself” Jordan said, Bryn patting his head condescendingly in response.

“You sure have buddy.” Bryn said as he turned back to the now bewildered Vince and Reggie. “In conclusion guys, we’ll take care of things around here. Believe in us, and how broke we are. The more broke we are, the more desperately we need the commission.” Bryn said definitely.

Jordan grabbed his pack and began to get up, with Bryn following suit. “Thanks for the meal guys, it was by far the most meat I’ve had at once so the bathroom is going to be an experience tonight.” Jordan said as Bryn grimaced.

“Let’s go Bryn, once we check the perimeter I should get this process started, God only knows how long this will take.” Jordan said patting his stomach, his eyes distant as he thought of the challenges ahead.

As the pair began to leave, a woman’s scream pierced through the cloudy night. Jordan heard where it came from and followed the sound, the other 3 at the table following after. Pushing through the door, several bystanders stood looking at the fountain. The largest elf Jordan had ever seen stood before him, standing at least 10 feet tall and made of pure muscle. He was holding a human man by the throat, and they were clearly not friends.

The elf wore traditional barbarian armor, and his non-choking hand held a massive scimitar. The curved sword was crackling with purple den, and the rage boost skill was clearly beginning to take hold. The human wore simple rags, and his left leg dangled lifelessly. Jordan didn’t need Sense Weakness to see how broken it was.

The elf boomed with a deep, boisterous laugh as he continued squeezing the life out of the man.

His piercing green eyes stared with killing intent and he spoke with a venom to his voice.

“You’re a good one to practice on,” he said as he yanked the man towards him, their faces only inches apart. “Choose a number between 2 and 5. I don’t feel like picking which skill to kill you with.” he said, his grip continuing to tighten. The man attempted to speak, but no sound came out.

“It’s rude to ignore someone when they ask you a question…” the elf said, the hand gripping the scimitar shaking with rage. He screamed at the man, eyes bulging and spiddle spraying from his mouth.

“WHY ARE YOU SO RUDE?!”

The elf screamed as he drove his weapon towards the man’s chest. The issue is that the man was not in his hand anymore, and the sword drove through nothing but air. The elf looked to his left to see the man he had been holding, and a young half elf in Ranger gear.

“I think you’re actually the rude one here” Jordan said, checking on the man he had just saved. As he gasped for air, Bryn rushed over, pulling healing potions from his pack.

The elf looked back and forth between his hand and Jordan several times, his eyes bulging out of his skull.

“What did you do!” The barbarian demanded, pulling a second scimitar from the sheathe on his side. As he wielded both weapons, Jordan drew his bow and aimed.

“I just goofed around a little.” Jordan said as he fired his first shot.