1 - The missing villagers of Tar

Once Tianni helps Bug out of the coccoon, she hacks at the egg part with her sword.

A handsome young man spills from the cocoon gasping for breath. He is a half-elf dressed in fine clothing, and clearly far from his element. He is battered and bruised, and as he regains his wind he grabs his left shoulder with a wince. After a few moments of groaning and gasping for air, he looks up at the Tiefling and the Wild Man. "I'd thank you for my freedom," he says with a dry hollow voice, "But with those blades in hand I wonder if that sleeping bag was a better fate." He gives a dry hacking cough. "Not likely though. Who are you?"

  I stand tall and bring the torch closer to look at the person from the cocoon.

— Ve arre zose who killed spiderrs. I offer my hand to him. Name iz Meehail. Vell met, frriend.

Yes, and I am Tianni, bounty and demon huntress.

Our other two companions must have fled when the creatures began attacking, those cowards.

Anyways, let me have a look at your shoulder. Maybe I can help.

"Ay now, easy there," the man says hesitantly with a groan, flinching away from the Tiefling. He pushes himself against the cave wall, looking about as if he is finally waking fully to his senses. He gives the duo another look over. "Spiders I understand, demons who hunt demons less so."

"I’d ask where I am, but I’d sooner know the exit. If you’re here to save me then lead the way."

— Save you? Ve did not know zat you verre herre. I shake my head and point towards where we came from. Exit is zat vay. And ve kame herre to save villagerrs. Oh, da, she not demon. Have you not seen tiefling beforre?

"Once," says the man. "And even without the darkness of this cave that devil managed to make their intent known."

"Fair enough, you two are heroes." The man reaches for his belongings and begins to rummage. "Seven hells, I’ve been robbed." he groans, pulling out an empty bag. "I swear I had more coin than this." He tosses aside a broken water skin, and then kicks off his boots and dumps out some coins, giving a snort at the amount.

"Have you some water to spare? Or wine, if you don’t mind my preference. I’ll pay," he says while jangling the coins in hand. "You can tell me about these poor villagers while we drink."

— Not herroes. Merrcenarries. I take out my waterskin and offer it. I have some vater herre. Take it.

"Thanks, big guy. For this, and my life. The man greatfully accepts the water, drinking heavily from the skin as he has apparently been a long while without drink. Handing back the skin, he begins putting his boot coins into his coin purse. "Mercenaries huh. That means pay. You lookin’ for a hand? It seems I am more than one way in debt."

He draws his hand out of his coin purse, a look of confusion on his face. In the palm of his hand is a large scarab, black as night.
What the hells is this? his look conveys.

Tianni is used to the institutional racism, so she chooses to pick her battles, and this is not the one to fight. She smiles big to make it known that she is not hostile to Bug.

We must press onward. Are you coming with us, or not?

— What iz yourr name, frriend? Kan you fight?
I give him a look over, looking for any weapons on him.

The man takes his looks away from the black beetle to raise his eyebrows at Tianni for a moment. "Why with such courtesy, how could I refuse my Lady savior?"

"Bug", he says to hard packed earth as he stows away the dark token, and starts pulling on his boots. "May as well call me Bug."

"I'd rather a wine skin than a battle ax, but I don't shame myself when the time comes. I know a trick or two to deal with a sticky situation. Most, anyways." He says with a nod to his former prison.

Standing up, he tightens his sword belt, where a long thin rapier hangs in an old leather sheath, but he doesn't choose to arm himself by blade. One last rummage through his bag, he pulls out a slender ash wood crossbow. He adds a quiver of quarrels to his belt.

"I'll take a quarter pay rather than my third, I'll not have it said I wasn't thankful to my saviors. Give me that, and I'll watch your back till we're out of here."

  I nod and move a few steps past Bug.

— Shall ve move furrther down zis tunnel?

Let us go. She walks in the direction indicated by Mee'hail.

"Lead the way, big guy. Bug says, winding his crossbow so that is ready to load with a quarrel.

  I smile and follow Tianni.