People have so many different views of Qork. Some see this city as a dump, with the only redeeming quality being The Tree Of Vivgudis. I however have my own view of this city and that it's beautiful.

The city was mainly littered with humans but, any race could come here if they so choose and not be discriminated against nobles because all of the higher class people left here years ago. Qork also has people from so many different backgrounds, veterans, criminals, shopkeepers, and lots of people that are just looking to hide.

That is why I love this city, it's filled with monsters like me. I don't stand out like I used to in the town that I grew up in. People in Qork always mind their own business because if you don't you'll probably find yourself either a bloody mess or dead in one of the narrow alleyways of the city.

I sat down in a mediocre chair that probably needed a cushion to make it conformable, but that however; was way too damn expensive. I laid my arm across a desk, studying any changes on it. On my light tanned skin my veins unnaturally popped out with them all being void black instead of the blue they used to be.

This was a result of one of my experiments I was doing with some strange magical herbs I found in the wetlands outside of my hometown. I accidentally spilled the chemicals on my skin and as a result I have black veins only on my left arm.

They don’t even hurt or anything, I also noted I can swing the affected arm way harder now, which surprised the boys who didn’t think a woman could destroy them in an arm wrestling contest. I normally hide my strange arms and have to wear a long sleeved shirt, even on the hottest summer days.

I sighed and looked out of the dirt covered window, I saw a strange sight. Actually, an alarming sight as I saw monsters in the main plaza, monsters with bones sticking out of their spines ranging from 7ft to 8ft tall. I counted about 20 of them. How the hell did they get here?

I jumped out of the seat and grabbed my dull weathered greatsword and ran out into the chaos.

The streets were filled with dismay, people screaming and scattering around the exits of the plaza, many of the monsters scattered as well, chasing and sinking their pointy teeth deep into the necks of people, leaving them looking like headless chickens. Only in a matter of seconds and the street was painted red with the cruel monsters licking the blood with pale tongues the size of my arms.

I noticed a lizardfolk and a hooded high elf fighting off one of these beasts. The lizardfolk smacks the beast's head with a quarterstaff as it was trying to bite the high elf.

The high elf complements the lizardfolk's effort by plunging his rapier directly into the beast.

In front of me I see a blonde half-elf with a short sword and a human with a crossbow defending a halfling that looks like he's crying on top of his wagon. I rush with the half-elf and human sliding in front of the hostile monster.

The half-elf looks over at me and says, "glad to see someone else helping, because I hate to say it but I think this is my first time holding a sword."

The half-elf emphasizes the word “think” which makes me ponder how someone would think it is their first time holding a sword. I’ll ask questions later. I have to save the halfling first.

"That's okay, if you want to run off we don't need anymore deaths"

I hold a defensive position in front of the half-elf, as a beast starts making its way over to me.

I felt a little breeze as an arrow shot right past me landing, into the eye of the beast. The beast steps back a few steps and lets out an ear-piercing roar.

“OH YEAH!” the human cheers, “I landed that! OHHH YEAH!”

I hear a small tapping noise as the human starts tap dancing.

The half-elf speaks up again, "No. I'll stay and fight, but I'll probably stay in his blind spot. My name is Baldr by the way".

“I’m Hexa, I can stay at it’s front”

Baldr nods as I quickly rush into the beast, parrying a claw attack that it launched at me and returning the attack with a large slash in the stomach. The beast puts its hand over the wound.

Baldr jumps in, while the beast is distracted, cuts the beast's back open in a quick, clean and precise manner like a pro, cutting a few spikes from the spine in the process as well.

"You underestimate yourself!" I shout, "Dare I may say, you have more finesse than me!"

"You're too kind!" Baldr shouts back at me with a smile.

I look over at the human, who no longer has his crossbow out instead, he starts playing the trumpet. I give a weird look as his notes start hitting me. A small shine appears around me as I feel my body go much lighter and stronger.

"Music magic? Huh. I've only read about that and never seen it in action." I once again block an incoming claw attack, this time with much more ease.

The human smiles as he switches back to his crossbow and continues to fire onto the beast.

The beast gets frustrated and snaps one of the bones off of his spine and quickly clashes it into my side, making me fall over.

With me on the ground the beast turns its back on me and attacks the half-elf. The bone pierces the side of his face, leaving a small mark on it.

"Heh." I spit out a small amount of blood and push myself up with my sword,

"Never turn your back on monsters like me."

I dive my greatsword deep into the beast, piercing its entire body, blood splashes onto my jacket as the beast locks up it tries to reach its claws at me however it was stopped when the half-elf cut the hand of the beast clean off.

I twist my sword inside of the beast as it tries to bend over and take a bite of the head of the half-elf.

I see out of the corner of my eyes, the human jumps up like a rabbit and fires a shot right through the head.

The beast stops struggling and slumps down, nearly falling on me with a loud THUMP.

I scan around the plaza, the high elf and lizardfolk just finished their fight and the lizardfolk rushes over to our small group. The high elf seems to cautiously walk over but not getting too close to us.

The lizardfolk waves to the group and says, "Hey! Are you guys all good? Any wounds?"

I pointed at the half-elf with a cut on his face. The lizardfolk darts over and hovers his hands over the half-elf. A bright yellow light appears closing the wound.

I clear my throat, "I didn't catch any of your names? Mine is Hexa".

The half-elf smiles as the cut disappears from the light, "I am... Baldr"

"I am known as Saaxol, nice to meet you all." Saaxol does a mix between bowing his head and kneeling down as he introduces himself.

The human puts away his crossbow as everyone's eyes land on him, "The name is Bud, not buddy"

I look over to the hooded, tall high elf, "What is your name?"

The high elf gives them all a cold glare that he holds for a few seconds before finally saying, "Mansoon".

"So, any ideas how this all happened?" I questioned.

Everyone shook their heads except for Bud who popped in closer to everyone,

"it was that guy on the wagon he gave everyone free samples of potion. In which he didn't give me any free samples, I'll consider myself lucky, but it still offends me that he didn’t give me a free sample!".

Bud points his short finger over at the halfling in the wagon. The halfling, in response shook his hands and shouted,

"Wait, I swear I didn't mean to do this... I must have been framed!"