Joseph
*A human man walked into a tavern. By all accounts, he was utterly average. There wasn't really much that stood out about him. Nothing apart of from the bags under his eyes and the white theater mask on his hip. As he entered he looked around and frowned. He seemed to be looking for someone, but he couldn't find them. He sat down at a table and ordered a pint to drown his sorrows.*

"...Wait? Wait for what? For who? ...God I hate you."

*He seemed to be talking to no one in particular. He took a big swig and sighed. Looking around again for someone who was supposedly supposed to stick out from the crowd of halfling and gnomes.*
Paul
A sketchy looking man came in dragging a 25lb burlap sack. The man looked like he had gotten in quite the fight. He sat down at the bar and ordered himself a strong drink and 5 turkey legs. The sack started to move so the man promptly kicked it to make it stop.
Joseph
*Something clicked in Vern's mind. This was the guy. He was certainly... Interesting, to put it kindly. He walked up to the sketchy fellow and looked him up and down. He gestured to the sack.*

"What's in the bag? Is it... Still alive or something?"
Paul
"I caught a little vermin trying to pick pocket me... Good fur, I think I'm gonna get it skinned..." The sack started to move again. He gave it another much harder kick. The sack started growing which earned it another kick.
Joseph
*Vern furrowed his brow. Everything suddenly making much more sense. Vern wasn't after this guy. He was after who was in the bag.*

"Uh huh. That's very interesting. Hey could you look over there for a second? Someone is trying to get your attention."

*Vern points over the man's shoulder then summons a dagger in his other hand, hiding it behind his back.*
Paul
The bag suddenly ripped open and a hulking 8 foot beast emerged.

The beast roared angerly.
Joseph
*Vern blinked in surprise. This was not what he was expecting. He was expecting a kind of animal folk, not a beast. Still, he was in too deep. He might as well help the weird monster out.*

"Shit."

*He lashes out with the dagger, catching the sketchy man's arm. He then grabs the beasts... Paw, and pulls it out of the tavern.*

"Relax, beast! I'm here to save you from being skinned! If you're smart, you'll come with me."
Harold
The hunter howled in pain as they left. The beast thrashed about in panic and confusion as he was dragged out of the tavern. The hunter who had captured him came storming out of the tavern soon after angry and a little drunk with a sword in his good hand. The beast turned around to confront the hunter. The hunter charged at the beast and stabbed it in the shoulder.
Joseph
*Vern groans. He really didn't want to get into a fight. But, there isn't much of a choice if he wants to help out this poor creature.*

"You need to learn to pick your battles!"

*Vern swings an empty hand at the hunter. Halfway into the swing, a longsword appears in his hand. The blade is moving far quicker than it should, with much more momentum. This blade rips into the hunter's shoulder, cleanly snapping one of his collar bones. Vern then kicks him over so he lands flat on his ass.*

"Come on now, weird beast! Follow me and you won't get killed."

*Vern backs up a few paces gesturing to the beast to follow him.*
Harold
Nyxalor shambled after vern. He could hear guards start to gather at the tavern. The cowardly hunter claimed that a giant cat monster attacked him unprovoked. As they got further away more blood driped from his injured shoulder. He started to shrink back down to his normal 25lb size.
Joseph
*Vern looked at the shrinking beast. Well, not much of a beast anymore. More of a large cat. It was in a bad way, leaving a trail of blood.*

"Hm. If you leave a blood trail, we'll get caught for sure. I'm going to pick you up and take get you out of the village. Then I'll patch up the wound."

*This isn't a question, this is a statement. No room for arguments, though he isn't sure if this weird cat can even talk. Vern hoists the cat over his shoulder and speed walks out of the village, careful not to leave a blood trail behind.*
Harold
Nyxalor was too weak to fight back anymore. The cat-kin went limp soon after he was hoisted up.
Joseph
*Vern carried them a good ways away from the village before setting them down in the grass, leaning them against a tree. He got a good look at the cat-folk's wound. Nothing he hadn't seen before on himself. He could patch this up.*

"Hold still. If you struggle it'll just make this harder."

*He reaches into his bag and pulls out a cloth, soaking it with water. He cleans the wound, then disinfects with a splash of alcohol. He quickly wraps up the wound with some gauze and sits back, giving the creature some space.*

"You're lucky I get injured so often. I've had that exact kind of injury more times than I can count. So... What now? Can you talk? Some thanks would be in order, you know."
Harold
Nyxalor tried to figure out his words. He knew how to speak but he was still very stunned and groggy from the blood loss. 
"Th-Thank-Y-you..." He squeaked.
Joseph
*Vern raises his eyebrows. It can speak. Relatively surprising. This would make things much easier.*

"You got a name? I'm Vern. Vern Enthid."
Harold
"N-Nyxalor..." His ears twitched as he heard the guards approaching nearby. *"The blood trail leads this way..."*
 **"I got the beast in the shoulder with my sword. Make sure you leave it's pelt mostly intact when you catch it..."**
Joseph
*Vern sighs and closes his eye in frustration. He stands up and turns towards the people approaching the two of them. He turns back to Nyxalor.*

"A pleasure to meet you. I'm going to try and kill these guys. You try not to draw any attention."

*Vern summons a crossbow and nocks an arrow, then disappears into the surrounding trees. There is a 'Thwip!' Sound and a cry of pain as one of the hunters goes down.*
Harold
Nyxalor panicked and ventured into the forest to hide. He found a hollow tree and curled up inside it.
Joseph
*Its silent for a moment before there is a sound of brief conflict. A few slashes, a muffled cry, then nothing. Vern walks back into view, a cut across his face but otherwise no worse for wear.*

"They're dead. You can come out now."

*He's looking around, unable to determine where Nyxalor hid himself.*
Harold
Nyxalor cautiously stepped out of the tree. He was shaking and unable to calm down. "I'm sorry for being so much trouble..."
Joseph
*Vern shrugs. Then touches his face to rub something off, it's only then does he realize he actually got cut. He grumbles something about bad luck then wipes the wound clean.*

"Eh, don't worry about it. It happens. I would have helped you out, even if I hadn't been forced too."
Harold
"I owe you my life, thankyou..." The cat-kin bowed his head.
Joseph
*Vern looked uncomfortable at the cat-kin's reverence.*

"You don't owe me anything. Like I said, don't worry about it. Look if you really wanna pay me back, I do have some questions I'd like you to answer."
Harold
"Questions? Sure what would you like to know?"
Joseph
"Firstly, what are you? I've seen cat-folk before, but none that could transform."
Harold
Nyxalor's face turned melancholy. "It's a long story... I used to be human... I was turned out onto the streets by my abusive father and I got desperate for money... I robbed someone who turned out to be a powerful witch. She turned me into this and when I attacked her she cursed me with the beast form... I tried to go back to my father and he put me in a sack and you know the rest..."
Joseph
*Vern whistles low and his eyebrows raise up. He grimaces, suddenly feeling a bit awkward. That was certainly quite a dramatic story.*

"Shit, that was your dad? I thought my situation was bad. Looks like we are kindred spirits eh? I'm cursed too."

*He raps his knuckles against the mask that lay on his hip.*
Harold
"Well... At least I don't have to deal with my abusive dad anymore... What does your curse do?"
Joseph
*Vern sits down and sighs.*

"Well, firstly, I can't feel pain. At all. You'd think it'd be nice. But I have no idea when I'm actually injured. Second, the being who cursed me kinda... Owns my soul. They tell me what to do and where to go. Mostly communicating through dreams. But sometimes..."

*He holds up the mask. It's a stark white grinning theater mask.*

"It uses the mask. Whispering in my ear, or taking control of me completely. Cant say I'm a fan. But there's nothing I can do about it."

*He shrugs.*
Harold
"That sounds horrible! Hopefully it doesn't decide to kill me..." Nyxalor glanced wearily at the mask. He avoided any eye contact with the unsettling mask unsure if it could see him.
Joseph
*Vern actually laughed at this. Chuckling lightly before shaking his head.*

"It doesn't kill. Apparently it's looking for stories. That's what it uses me for. It sends me out to where it thinks I'll find interesting people or places. I talk to them, fight them, travel with them, whatever. Apparently that's enough. That's all it cares about."
Harold
"Sometimes my beast mode kills people... I sometimes wakeup covered in blood, later I hear stories about a monster feeding on innocent humans in the night. I'm pretty sure the monster they're talking about is me..."
Joseph
*Vern sighs and nods.*

"Curses, huh? Yeah they sucks. Wish I could help you, but I don't even know how to help myself. If I were you I'd just move out to the woods and get away from any people."
Harold
"I've tried that but hunters keep trying to seek out my head so I'm constantly on the move... I've racked up a huge bounty because I end up killing every hunter that comes after me..."
Joseph
"Damn. That's actually pretty impressive. Well, I'm sure you'll figure something out eventually. I promise I won't try and turn you in though. I've got no use for money."

*Vern looked up at the sky and sighed. He pushed himself to his feet and held out a hand to Nyxalor.*

"We need to find shelter. I can make something to keep us dry for a short time, but we need an actual building to take cover in."
Harold
Nyxalor cautiously took his hand. At that moment a bolt of lightning struck nearby causing the ground to shake. This spooked Nyxalor who quickly yanked his hand back to avoid accidentally clawing up Vern's hand with a partially transformed monster paw.
Joseph
*Vern jumped back and raised his hands slightly.*

"Okay, we need to hurry, I'd rather not get struck by lightning."
Harold
As they ran along in the rain Nyxalor started to smell smoke nearby. His ears perked up when he heard screaming in the same direction. Nyxalor transformed and sped up ahead.
Joseph
*Vern looked after Nyxalor, he turned to try and follow him. However, Vern was still just a man, he could keep up with this beastial fellow.*

"Wait, you're leavin' me behind!"
Harold
Nyxalor reached a two story cottage on fire. He could hear someone screaming inside. He rushed over and started forcing his way in.
Joseph
*Vern hesitated on the precipice on the burning building. Then he remembers that he can't feel pain, so he might as help.*

"I'm coming in as well! Don't burn to death!"
Harold
Inside the house a man lay unconscious facedown at a table, untouched by the flames. Upstairs, Nyxalor's ears caught the sound of someone crying. He swiftly ascended a broken staircase, barely reaching the top before it collapsed. "Is anyone up here? Call out so I can find you!" He urged. ***"H-HELP!!!"*** A child's frightened voice rang through the roaring blaze.
Joseph
*Vern walks over and picks up the unconscious man, dragging him out of the burning house.*

"Nyxalor? You okay in there?"
Harold
Inside the blazing house, Nyxalor was trapped upstairs, his fur singed, each breath a struggle against the stifling heat. He managed to reply in rasps to Vern's distant call, "I'm... Okay," Weariness and tension in his voice. Determined to save the child, he pressed on, navigating debris and chaos until he found her hidden beneath a bed. His feline appearance surprised her amidst the flames, and she let out a startled cry, "AH! MONSTER!" Fear trembled in her voice as the fiery tumult continued.

After some time Nyxalor tumbled out the upstairs window shielding the child with his beast form. A fiery explosion trailed behind them as the house collapsed into burning rubble
Joseph
*Vern stands there stunned. He walks over to Nyxalor.*

"That was insane... Why did it explode? That was a pretty big fall, are you alright? Burnt anywhere?"
Harold
Nyxalor rolled into his side with an exhausted sigh. The girl ran to her father. The cat boy shifted to his basic form. His matted fur was caked in blood mood and soot. He was too exhausted and in shock to speak. He still couldn't believe he was still alive.
Joseph
*Vern walked over to him and gave him a look.*

"You're insane. But you're a hero, I guess. Congrats? Come on, this place should have somewhere we can use to get away from the rain."

*He holds out a hand to Nyxalor. Still baffled at how quickly things are moving. How's this for a story...*
Paul
Nyxalor looked like a drowned rat as he pulled himself out of the mud. He took Vern's hand with a muddy paw. "S-sorry about the mess" The little girl ran up and tugged on his tail. Nyxalor turned around in surprise. "Thankyou for saving me Mr. Monster! I'm gonna tell my friends about you!" She then ran back to her father. The stimulation overload from everything that happened to him that day soon hit Nyxalor like a horse. Nyxalor blacked out.
Joseph
*Vern blinked at the fallen beast folk. He looked around, baffled. I mean, he saved a guy too! Where was his thanks? His gaze returned to Nyxalor. With a sigh and a groan he picked him up and slung him over his shoulder.*

"When you wake up, you owe me, you hear?"

*He stalked over to an inn, with Nyxalor's heroics he was able to unconsciously score the two of them a pair of room. Vern set him down in his bed and turned to leave, ready to turn in for the night after the insanity that made up his day.*
Paul
As time elapsed, the house had been reduced to nothing but ashes. The father and daughter were relieved after surviving the ordeal. The father sadly sifted through the remnants of his home. Among the debris, he uncovered a small black chest and carefully dusted it off, its significance would be revealed later...