<div align="center">†††</div><br/><br/>This place held an interesting atmosphere. It was as rowdy as any tavern; more organized than a militia or group of like-minded street dwellers; and far less structured than a military or war camp. Open eagerness for battle came together with a thick, lingering air of competitiveness in a mixture that could scarcely be found elsewhere.<br/><br/>Amidst the organized chaos of this vaunted hall, the group of Unaffiliated came together in an uneasy sort of alliance. And just in time, it seemed.<em><strong>"Quiet down, everyone. The hunt is nigh."</strong></em>The blond announcer's voice boomed with the same magic essence as before--an essence Jenny Sticks would recognize very well as Thaumaturgy.<em><strong>"Now presenting the contracts: Lucilla, the Radiant Moon!"</strong></em><br/><br/><hr/><br/><div class="floatright">(https://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/8/8f/Rima_of_the_Felmoon.jpeg)</div><br/>The others' conversations slowly died down as attention was drawn to the great door ahead. Murmurs danced among the crowd, coming alive with each merc's added enthusiasm, reaching a twirling crescendo as Lucilla's slim figure emerged, and finally collapsing into stillness as she stood before them. She seemed the definition of poised and regal, from her posture to her attire. Her white robes and hair starkly contrasted her brown skin, calling more to them than the golden embellishments and adornments they held ever could. Most notable was the necklace hanging around her neck, its task seemingly to denote the phases of the moon in the most expensive and stylish way.<br/><br/>Her expression was severe--calculating--as her luminous golden eyes scanned the room, perhaps looking for something in particular. Those eyes lingered on the 'Unafilliated' party for a few moments longer than anyone else, but even so, it was not a moment too long.<br/><br/>"Well then, you all look rather tough," she called, her voice holding a richness and strength--such that it did not demand magical enhancement. "This is good. The contracts I have for you are quite dangerous, and I must say I don't see many of you making it out alive." One might have expected a smile to break the tension at a moment like this, but she clearly didn't care to abide. "Let's get down to business, shall we?"<br/><br/>Her hands had been clasped before her since she came to stand here, and noticeably empty. They remained just the same as two separate stacks of parchments came floating from behind her. Appearing on the first stack was a detailed drawing of a goliath woman (https://www.worldanvil.com/uploads/images/0f624994cb652a0a30d50f5586de8f75.jpg) with haunting, milk-white eyes, and on the other appeared a rather imperious (and old) gnomish man (https://i.imgur.com/ieHvrNl.jpg).<br/><br/>Lucilla gestured to the floating parchments to her right. "Your first option is to hunt a druid goliath and bandit widely known in southeastern countryside as the 'Bear Queen.' A ridiculous title, but illuminating, I should hope. She last struck a village called Feradin, and days before that, Oxam, to Feradin's northwest. These two villages, and a few more, pooled their resources to afford our--or rather, your--attention."<br/><br/>Next, she gestured to the parchments to her left. "Your second option is to hunt down this gnome. He goes by the name of Raz Ilden. The town of Eln has generously paid for his head on a platter, quite literally. They blame him and his 'cultish followers' for spreading disease through their settlement, and its mayor should have leads on where to find him. Heed these two pieces of advice: we were paid for his death--not necessarily to solve Eln's problems--and he has firm knowledge of magic and will be quite dangerous despite his age. Do what you must with that information.<br/><br/>"These are your contracts," she said, her tone holding a coldness and finality to it. With a wave of a hand, she bid the posters to stack themselves neatly on the long oak table between herself and the crowd. "The first parties to complete their chosen bounty will have the honor of joining us. Deliberate amongst yourselves, and if you have any worthwhile questions, direct them to Elben here." The blond man who'd greeted the gathered mercs gave a curt bow in response, after which Lucilla continued. "May the best mercs win, at any cost." Finally, a smile touched upon her face, and the wickedness of it held the power to stop a heart in fright, or make it skip a beat. And as the invigorated yells and deliberations began, she turned and strode back out of the doors she'd entered.<br/><br/><div align="center">⸸⸸⸸</div>