“Let’s hurry back. We can drink twice as much if we hit the tavern before the dinner rush.” The gravely, yet oddly high pitched voice of Horton Battel says as he shakes the dire weasel pelt free of blood. The man is all of three and a half feet tall, but one look lets anyone with a brain and functioning eyes know he is not to be trifled with. The halfling wears a sleeveless green tunic with a white cross offset upon the chest, marking him as a Crusader. The warrior medics of the crusading order are a common site on battlefields and adventuring parties. Nobody has needed his healing skills yet, for which you are thankful, instead you have seen his skill with the unique fighting style of the “Crusader fist” and his impressive command of force magic. Though you know force magic as well, you have to admit the tiny warrior/healer is much more practiced at it than you.

“Verily, we shall already be well appointed with drinks due to our most welcome fortune!” Echoing inside his helmet, Mal longstride also sounds eager to return. To be fair, dire weasel hunting is tiring and usually unrewarding grunt work for adventurers such as yourselves. Especially so for the Nekon knight in his half suit of armor. The recent troubles with the supply caravans made the guild put out a double bounty for the oversized rodents, and so the quest to kill 20 of the creatures your party was already undertaking had become quite lucrative. His rabbit like ears are twitching, which you have taken to be a good thing, especially when his cottontail also twitches.

“You know, to drink, you’ll have to take off that helmet.” Says the teasing voice of Lyrrica Murrs. Ever since your party was formed by the adventurers guild to prove your mettle with some basic quests, the roguish alchemist had been relentlessly teasing your armor clad Nekon warrior. While she usually fought by chucking flasks of potions around the battlefield, and letting those that got too close know her knife wasn’t just for show, you find yourself thinking that her body is her main weapon. Her scandalous curves go well with her aggressive nature. So far, though, Mal had not even seemed phased. That might just be because you’ve never seen his face though.

Your group has been questing together for about a month, and you have worked well together. The reward waiting for you back in the guildhall at Jihmanee has you all in high spirits, and if the banter between you is any indication, lots of spirits will be in you very soon.

***

The reward is a nice sum, especially since you didn’t have to fight over the weasels with the other adventurers just getting started too much. Your purses nice and heavy, you retire to the tavern to celebrate. The only question is, how do you like to party? Drinking is always an option of course. It’s been awhile since you really had a chance to mellow out with some amber.

You could also take a page from Lyrrica’s book and do some flirting. You’re not the same wallflower bookworm that graduated top of the class from the magic academy at Farfalls anymore! Live a little!

Then again, a nice meal would really hit the spot. Nothing like a full stomach to go with some success! The bowls of “whatever keeps us alive goes in a pot” stew are getting old.

A nice talk with a member of your party could also be nice. After the initial toast to your success, it seems like everyone’s going to split up and find their own fun for the night. Maybe you can tag along?