Rumors had spread through the kingdom for many years of the cave on the outskirts of town. Every year a group of adventurers would wander into the tavern, bragging about how they would be the one to best the creature that resided in the depths of the cave, ridding the townsfolk of the yearly offering the creature required to remain within its depths. Before the offerings, disappearances of women, livestock, root vegetables and beer were quite common.

The first set of adventurers that braved the cave returned defeated, broken and shamed, but with a message from the creature within: Put out a challenge to adventuring groups to best the creature and do not warn them of what lies within. A yearly offering of goods and a group of adventurers lured to the depths of the cave would ensure the town’s prosperity and safety from the creature.

Now a yearly celebration was held to the see the adventurers off. Not one group ever returned until this year. A crudely written note was pinned the chest of the barbarian brute, piercing his amber-toned skin: I like this group, draw in female companions for them and send them back in one year’s time. The group consisted of the barbarian, tall and extraordinarily fit with dark skin and tightly braided hair adorned with the hollowed out teeth of various creatures he had bested during his time, a young mage, lanky and just a hair shorter than the barbarian with long red hair and matching beard, at his hip he had a satchel, inside were various trinkets and potions meant to aid himself and his teammates in battle, and then there was the dutiful paladin, blonde haired blue eyed muscular and well-mannered man, and the nimble archer with the dark eyes and skin that blended into the shadows all around him. Of the group, only the mage held a regular unease as a woman wandered into the bar and asked them if they were the group seeking a fifth adventurer to cleanse the town of evil.

Over the years the unease had invaded the minds of the paladin and archer as well, but the townsfolk insisted that it would take a minimum of 5 adventurers to best the b**st and the few years more than one woman showed up the town leaders absolutely insisted that all of the adventurers go, hoping the additional team members may actually give the group a fighting chance at besting the creature once and for all. It didn’t work of course and not one of the women ever returned.

This year was no different, a lovely red-haired woman in a well-fitted buttoned tan linen top and dark green pants arrived in the bar. Her smile was intoxicating and her green eyes shone like emeralds sparkling in the morning sun. The adventurers welcomed her to the group with a round of spirits and a hearty meal, while the mage rummaged in his bag, searching and seeking out a specific potion he’d brewed in secret. He clutched it firmly when the shimmering purple vial came into view.