Skara Brae is strangely quiet for a town under an archmage's curse. Huge snowdrifts block the city gates, yet the wind is not cold in any other part of the city. The taverns are still full and Garth is still in business. If anything, Mangar has brought this city to life, as now the place is bustling with would-be adventurers seeking to try their sword at ascending the archmage's tower and ending his curse.
No one ever makes it, though. Time and time again I hear stories of foolhardy adventurers falling in battle against monsters they had no hope of defeating. With the streets unsafe to travel, I can do nothing but sit here in the Scarlet Bard, waiting for someone to break the curse.
The barkeep had just lowered his hat in respect for some novice warrior and his hunter friend who had fallen in battle. I was still pondering over how they could have lost to three kobolds when a timid voice reached my ears.
"Hello?"
I turned and saw a wolf. Not your average wolf; this wolf was barely five feet tall, if even that. He was wearing chainmail, white with a red cross, except that it was all too big for him and he had to push his helm up before I could see his eyes. I tilted my head to the side as I looked at him, unsure of what to say.
"You're... a conjurer, right?" he asked.
I didn't know what tipped him off. Perhaps it was my light blue robes. Perhaps it was my old magus staff tilted against my seat. Perhaps it was the fact I was enchanting my pitcher of water into pouring itself by pointing at it.
"Yes, I am," I finally replied with a small nod.
The wolf slipped his helm off and lowered himself onto one knee, bowing his head. "My name is C-Camis. I'm a paladin... I-I would like to humbly request you... j-join my adventuring party," he sputtered.
"Oh, I couldn't do that, Sir Camis," I said, frowning. "I'm not much for adventur-"
"Please, I beseech you, dear conjurer!" The wolf looked up, clasping his paws together. "I n-need someone skilled in the arts of conjuring and healing to a-accompany me on..."
"Your quest to rid the world of the evil Mangar?" I finished for him.
"Yes! So you have heard!" He got back up to his feet, his armor shifting and rattling. "The stars have guided me here to meet you. Please, you must indulge a humble paladin, and join me on my quest..."
I sighed. “I suppose there’s no stopping you, if the stars have led you here. But I want to see the rest of this adventuring party before I decide to go with you.”
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