Yelxidor laid into the council. The speech was heated and intense. Richard didn't hear a word of it lost as he was in his own thoughts.

'I can't believe this was their decision... I FINALLY GET TO GO ON AN ADVENTURE!'

Richard was deep in his excitement when he finally noticed a tugging on his sleeve. Looking down he found another Gnome presenting him with a small packet. Richard opened the packet glancing at the contents. Inside was an envelope and a sheet of paper. He looked at the paper first.

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WYVERN EXTERMINATION

The farming community of Ott is currently being besieged by a group of Wyverns. Our livestock is dwindling daily, and we are afraid it will be our family and friends next. We seek brave adventurers who would be willing to aid us in ridding the area of these beasts.

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Then scrawled along the bottom was tomorrow's date. That was it. No other information on the task at hand. He pulled the Envelope out next.

TO: Captain Krr'rrk

RE: Human

Richard sighed inwardly. They couldn't even put his name on what he assumed was his introductory letter to his party leader. He shoved the paper and envelope back in the packet just as Yelxidor finished his tirade.

"Your arguments are noted and overruled Elder Gembell. The Human will report to the main hall of the Explorers of the Gray tomorrow at first light, where he will aid a party that was previously chosen by this council." The leader of the Council said his face having turned red. "And might I remind you, that while we give you a great amount of freedom, that you are not above the council nor above being disciplined by it." At that last comment, the other Elves eyes widened and they pointedly looked anywhere except at the two arguing in the center of the room.

"You are welcome to test that hypothesis at your convenience." Yelxidore spun around and grabbed Richards arm, physically dragging him from the room. He didn't let go of Richard until they were outside of the Guild.

Richard straightened his robes and followed as Yelxidor sped off down the street. He tried to ask Yelxidor where they were headed, as they were moving off in the opposite direction of the way they had come, but Richard got no answers. After weaving his way through the city they came to a large two-story smithy. The sounds of hammers echoed off the walls as a dozen smiths worked their forges. Yelxidor went straight to the back, to a small office. The office must have had a sound-dampening spell around it because as they entered the sounds of the forge all but disappeared. At a small desk covered in papers sat a Dwarf with the longest beard Richard had seen on one yet, even braided as it was it came down almost to his knees.

The Dwarf looked up angrily at the sudden intrusion, upon seeing Yelxidor though his scowl turned to a smile. "Yelxidor! I haven't seen you in bloody forever! What brings your scrawny backside to my smithy?" He hopped down from his stool and hugged Yelxidor who grunted. Richard swore he heard bones cracking.

Yelxidors face finally softened as he returned the hug. "Hello, Nuvirlum. It has been much too long. Though I am afraid this is not a social call."

The Dwarf looked up at Yelxidor. "In trouble again are you? Can't bloody well say I'm surprised. You got a knack for finding the biggest damn problem you can and bloody throwing yourself headfirst into it, you do." He grabbed a pipe from his desk and loaded it up. "And let me guess, you came to get me to join you in some damn bloody fool quest." He lit the pipe from a small brazier on the table and puffed heavily shooting thick streams of smoke from his nose. "Well, I can't."

Yelxidors smile widened. "Well, actually..."

Nuvirlum interrupted. "No, you bloody fool. I said no, and this time I bloody well mean it. I'm too damn old, too bloody busy, and there's nothing you can say to change my mind."

"I am not here..."

"Get the cotton out of your ears ya daft old Elf! I said no! I have a dozen bloody apprentices out there that couldn't forge a barrel knife if I spotted them the bloody handle and blade! I'm not..."

"Nuvirlum!" Yelxidor raised his voice above Nuvirlums tirade. "I am not here to recruit you for a quest."

Nuvirlum blinked and studied his pipe for a moment. "Ah... Well..."

"You almost sound disappointed Nuvirlum." Yelxidor said a mischievous look on his face.

"Don't be bloody ridiculous! I told you didn't I. I'm too bloody busy." The look on Nuvirlums face was one of disappointment though. He sighed and climbed back atop his stool where he puffed more on his pipe. "So, then what are you here for?"

Yelxidor gestured to Richard. "My new apprentice needs to be outfitted for a dangerous mission. I trust no ones work more than yours."

The Dwarf laughed. "A Mage needing my bloody equipment? What ridiculous bloody thing have you got going on this..." He finally actually looked at Richard. "Since when do you train Humans Yelxidor?" Richard threw up his hands exasperated. Nuvirlum coughed exhaling a smoke ring. "Calm yourself, lad. I don't give a figs ass what race you are. It just surprised me is all."

Figs ass? Richard hadn't heard Yelxidor curse at all, and Grogg wasn't much for conversation. The two of them being his primary sources of this world's language meant he had no idea if this was normal or if Nuvirlum just used whatever phrases came to mind as a curse.

"Richard is not a Mage per se." Yelxidor launched into an explanation about everything that had happened over the last six months.

Nuvirlum sat with his mouth hanging open. "By Moradins hairy love eggs! They're trying to bloody kill the boy!"

Yelxidor nodded. "Now do you see why I need your help old friend?"

The Dwarf nodded. "You said he leaves in the morning. That means we haven't got much time." He hopped down and exited the small office back to the main hall with the other smiths. "If he's supposed to fight with a sword and shield then I have a few things that should work." He had to raise his voice above the cacophony of hammers that returned in full force once they had left the office. He led them to another room, larger than his office, but still much smaller than the forge. Equipment filled every available space of the room. Weapons were hung from the walls. Rows of shelves of tools, armor, and various other things filled the space along the floor. Decorative items hung from the ceiling.

Nuvirlum grabbed a small tape measure and step stool. Coming back to Richard he started measuring him. Head to the ground. The space from one corner of his eye to the other. Fingertip to Fingertip with arms fully stretched out. Fingertip to Shoulder. Shoulder to Shoulder. Knee to hip. On and on it went until Nuvirlum must have known every single inch of Richards body. Finally, though he tossed the tape back on the table and disappeared into the rows of shelves. There was plenty of clanging and cursing before he came back out with a pile of armor.

"Something in this bloody mess should fit you well enough to have ready by morning lad." He began separating things and tossing them to Richard to try on. Every time Richard would get something on Nuvirlum would check it over making sure cinches tightened correctly and it fit without much spacing or pinching and taking notes of things that needed altered. After all was said and done Richard ended up with an open-faced iron helmet, a leather chest piece and grieves, and a chainmail sleeve for his shield arm.

Next, they went through shields and pretty easily settled on an iron heater shield that would cover a good deal of his torso. Finally, they went to work on finding a decent sword for him. He had been training with Grogg using a wooden hand and a half sword so Nuvirlum dug out a handful of them. After testing them, they all seemed fine to Richard, but none seemed to sit right with Nuvirlum. He disappeared into the shelves again and was gone for much longer before coming out with a slightly shorter sword.

"That Orcs a bloody fool lad. You need a bloody Short Sword if you're gonna fight with a shield. Should have just brought this out to bloody begin with." Richard took the new sword from Nuvirlum and immediately noticed the difference. It wasn't as heavy or unwieldy as the others had been. This was definitely better. At the Dwarfs instruction, he began removing all the equipment and laid it out on a table by the door.

"Thank you, my friend. What do I owe you for the equipment?" Yelxidor had his purse out already pulling gold coins.

The Dwarf scratched his nose. "Let's call this even for the silver mines."

Yelxidors hands froze as he looked up at his friend, and in a deadpan voice said. "You think this makes us even for the silver mines?"

The Dwarf laughed and scratched his beard. "Aye, can't bloody blame a man for trying. How about mostly even for the silver mines?"

Yelxidor nodded and put his coin back. "'Mostly even' for the silver mines." He said with a grin. "You really should come by for lunch. I miss our chats."

"Aye, so do I, ya' old coot. It's just bloody hard to get away. My eldest apprentice has been here for 80 years now..." He scratched his beard in thought. "I suppose he could stop the rest of those bloody lazy stumps of Dwarves from burning the place down for an afternoon."

Yelxidor and Nuvirlum made plans to meet for lunch in a few days before Nuvirlum shooed them out. "We have a lot of bloody work to do to make sure you'll have this stuff early tomorrow. Go now, and I'll see you in a few days. And Richard. Try not to die."

The rest of the day passed by in a blur as they bought travel supplies. Richard hadn't needed much before since he just lived in the apprentice quarters of Yelxidors apartments. Now, though, he had a sturdy pack, a coin purse full to bursting with his whole one silver piece that he had received on his first day in town, a thick hooded cloak to help keep off any weather and that would double as a blanket, as well as various bits and bobs that would help him on the road.

Between not having not eaten since breakfast, and running around since lunch Richard all but inhaled his dinner, not even tasting it. And then it was off to bed. Richard lay on his small hard mattress wondering what tomorrow would bring.

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Richard was awakened a couple of hours before first light by someone knocking on the apartment doors. The apprentice quarters were right in the front of the building so it was their job to answer the doors when not in training. As it was just Richard it fell to him to throw on a shirt and pants and run to answer the door. Opening the door Richard was greeted by a Dwarf who barely had stubble crossing his face. His arms were full of the things Nuvirlum had helped him pick out. He invited the Dwarf in just as Yelxidor entered the main hall. Ignoring Richard the Dwarf bowed to Yelxidor and proffered the items to the Elf.

Yelxidor pointed to Richard and the Dwarf took a long look at him before helping him get into his gear for one last measurement. The helmet had been a bit loose the day before but some padding and a slightly shorter strap around his chin had fixed that. The leather chest piece cinched together much more comfortably having been a tad too small the day before. He had no idea how Nuvirlum had made it fit better but he appreciated it all the same. The chainmail sleeve had actually been fine and not needed any adjusting, but the grieves had had to be shaved down a bit to fit Richards shins better. All in all, everything was fitting perfectly. The Dwarf took his leave and Richard removed all the items once more making sure he knew exactly how each piece came off so that he could put them back on without help next time.

"It is almost time Richard. We must get ready to leave." Yelxidor left to get his own things as Richard returned to his small room. His stuff was mostly packed already. He had precious few things. He strapped his mostly empty purse to his thigh, a trick he had read about back in his homeworld. It helped keep your money secure from thieves. He stuffed all his shirts in his pack as well as his trousers and slid on the leather pants he hadn't worn since his first day here. Making sure he had his pack cinched tight he returned to the hall where he had left his armor and slowly got it on first his sleeve, wrapped around his chest and opposite shoulder. Then the grieves, chest piece, and sword strapped to his waist. The shield hung on his back and the helmet on the opposite hip of his sword.

Richard caught a glimpse of himself in the hall mirror. He really looked like an adventurer. He heard Yelxidor return to the hall and turned to face him. The Elf looked older than Richard had ever seen him. He had always looked old of course. But now it was like he was truly showing his years.

Smiling sadly Yelxidor took Richard by the shoulders. "I need to apologize to you, Richard. This is all my fault."

"Yelx this is in no way your fault. The council has a stick stuck up their collective-"

Yelxidor interrupted. "It is my fault, Richard. I pushed you hard. I believed if you did not show some sort of promise quickly they would refuse to allow me to continue training you." He sighed. "It seems my plan backfired. It does not help that you learned even quicker than I hoped you would. But still, I take responsibility for your current situation."

Richard smiled and hugged his Master. "Yelx, I don't blame you, so please don't blame yourself."

He received a hug back and Yelxidor cleared his throat. "While I thank you for that, I still hold myself responsible." A bell rang in the distance. One hour till first light. "Let us go. We do not want to be late for your first adventure. And stop calling me Yelx."

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Yelxidor walked with him to the Guildhall but waited outside. Upon entering the hall Richard noticed several people already there. Two Orcs, two Dwarf, and two Elves. Richard walked past them to the main desk. There was a different Gnome at the desk this time. Looking up at Richard the Gnome spoke in a bored manner.

"Welcome to the Explorers of the Gray, what can I help you with today?"

Richard cleared his throat, he was suddenly nervous. "The council assigned me to a party yesterday. To the Farming community of Ott."

The Gnome looked him up and down before pointing to the small group of others he had passed. "Good luck small fry." Richard frowned, 'Small fry? You can't be higher than my waist.' He didn't say anything though, instead walking over to the small group.

One of the Elves noticed him coming over and stopped his conversation, shortly they were all looking at him. "Can we help you?" The Elf asked. He had black hair that was cut sharply at his chin. He stood almost as tall as Yelxidor so Richard had no issue looking him in the eye.

"Hello, my name is Richard. The Council assigned me to your party."

There was a beat where every one of the group was silent before they all burst out laughing.

"A human?"

"What you do Human? Bore Wyverns to death?"

"The councils gone off their rocker if they think a Humans going to be any help!"

There were several other remarks like these before a door to the side opened and a gold-scaled Dragonkin walked through. He had an arm wrapped around the waist of a slender green-scaled lizard girl and was whispering into her ear while she giggled and turned a darker shade of green. He let her go running a claw along the ridge of her tail and she jumped forward going darker still. He finally noticed Richard standing there and gave him a dark look. "What do you want?"

Before Richard could answer one of the Orcs spoke. "Says Council sent him to join Captain."

The look on the Dragonkins face grew harsher still. "My mother's cloaca I'm letting a Human join my party. He probably just saw us here and thought he'd try to stick his nose in. Well, I'm not having it. Go on! Get out of here before I tear your tongue out for telling lies!" In response, Richard pulled out the envelope the council had given him.

"I assume you're Captain Krr'rrk?" He angled the envelope so that the councils' mark could be seen. Krr'rrk snatched the envelope and using his claw ripped into it, pulling out a piece of paper. After reading through it he got so heated that he tore the paper into shreds throwing them into the air, and with a great inhale let out a jet of golden fire burning the shreds to ashes.

"HEY! You know the rules Krr'rrk!" The Gnome currently at the desk had more courage than Richard for chastising the Dragonkin like that. Krr'rrk growled at the Gnome who stared defiantly. Finally, Krr'rrk calmed down and turned back to Richard speaking low and threateningly. "Fine. If I have to take a Human with me on this trip then I will. But I'm not going to babysit you. You carry your weight and if you fall behind. Then you fall behind." Without waiting for Richard to reply he stormed out of the Guild the part following in his wake.

Following the party out he saw Yelxidor still waiting at the entrance. He smiled at his Master and Yelxidor nodded back. There were now two covered carriages waiting in front of the Guild and two Humans were loading supplies onto the backs of them.

Yelxidor came over to Richard and handed him some food wrapped in wax paper, and four more silver coins. "In case you need anything." He ignored Richard's protests and glanced at Krr'rrk. "I have heard of him. He does not just not tolerate humans. He outright hates them."

"Why are humans treated like this Yelxidor?" Richard could finally not stop himself from asking.

Yelxidor looked at Richard for a moment before answering. "We will discuss that when you return. And you WILL return Richard Reeds. I am not yet done with you." Richard nodded and Yelxidor patted him on the shoulder before walking off into the city.