Cold nights on the plains were common and this night was no different. The warrior known as Brand sat as close has he dared but the heat of the campfire still struggle to penetrate the cold night air of the Homeless Plains. Brand closed his eyes. The silence of the night was only broken by the crackle of the campfire and he remembered his friends. Donn, stupid lovable giant of a man. Luca, always sharpening his two-handed sword. Jundal, a man too smart to be born to the poor of Yachium. Together the four of them were going to get out of the slums. Together they were going to get rich and take care of their families. Together they were…

Brand opened his eyes. Some nights, it was just too painful to remember. He threw a dry, withered piece of wood onto the fire and watched as the flames licked at the wood. As red sparks danced in the cool air, the warrior drank from the flask. Yaslay Ale, the best in the region. He was never a man that drank in excess but the ale helps and Brand consoled himself with the knowledge that at least one of their dreams had been fulfilled. The small green crystal he had bought back from the cave was extraordinary and the Mage Council had bought it off him at a very high price. Brand had spilt the rewards with the families of his deceased party, making sure all of them were taken care of. That was the reason he was here tonight. His friends were dead but their families had been taken care off. Now all that was left was a word. Vengeance.

“A city boy drinking alone on the plains? One might think such a man has some sort of a death wish.”

A few years ago, before the cave, he might have reacted to the taunt but now Brand just took another drink from his flask. “Yaslay Ale!” He shouted into the night. “You want to come in or stay out there in the cold?”

His shout was greeted with silence and then two figures appeared at the edge of the light. Knowing the reputation of the Clan, Brand knew this was their way of showing that he had nothing to fear from them. Brand took another gulp and offered the flask to the duo. The two barbarians came and sat by the fire. One of them took the flask. Brand considered this a good start and took a good look at the two Clan barbarians. Both of them were wearing leather as was customary among the barbarians but the one who took the flask had a bow which indicated to Brand that he was a hunter. The other had no weapons on him and Brand thought he was probably a mage of some sort. He was supposed to meet only the hunter.

Brand pointed at the mage and asked. “So who is he?”

“Vall here is a shaman. He heard that you were looking for a guide to the ‘Cave of the Spirit Beasts’ and wanted to join in.”

“Why?”

“We never got to see the Boss of the third floor.”

Understanding bloomed. Brand finally understood why it was so easy to find a guide. These two had been to the cave before and ‘Cave of the Spirit Beasts’ must be the name given to it by the barbarians. He asked for confirmation.

“You two went there before? The dungeon you call The Cave of the Spirit Beasts?”

“A dungeon? Is that what you city folks called it?” The hunter sounded bemused. “Why do you call it that? Strange name for a cave isn’t it?”

“It’s underground and it is a place of death.” Brand immediately noticed his mistake. His answer was too quick and too full of emotion. The hunter took a look at him after his answer and Brand knew he had to move the conversation along. “Can you do it? Get us to the dungeon via a route over Big Keg?”

“It was how we got to it the first time so yes but the route won’t be easy. It was difficult even for us and that was years ago. The skies are different now. How many people are in your party?”

Brand nodded. He understood where the hunter was coming from. The first time he went to the dungeon, his party went through the Great Kar Forest. That route had been cut off since the explosion of strange creatures made by the dark mage but there had been rumors for years that the Clan knew of a route over the mountains. If such a route existed, it would make getting to the dungeon much easier. That was why Yachium had approached the Clan and as many in the city had suspected, the barbarians must have misgivings with the dark mage as well. The Clan responded well to the enquiries but the dark mage was also no fool. He or she had made several flying creatures and anyone crossing over the mountain had to chance the creatures spotting them.

“Six.” Brand replied. “With you two, that will be eight. Would that be a problem?”

“Not really but why are you going there? I mean what is the quest?”

“Death.” Brand answer immediately. On this question, he had no problem telling the barbarians the truth. “We are going to kill the dark mage.”