“Now that that’s over-“ Kara Marsh stood before the fellows who helped her escape the prisons. “I believe that introductions are in order.” The amber-skinned woman gave a bow, emphasizing a sleek form, now clad in cheap leather armor that was not a perfect fit, but was well enough and worn from use. She stood about five feet; ten inches tall. Knives on her belt and a small crossbow on her back, illuminated by the light of a crescent moon. “I am Kara Marsh, as I said in the prison. Thanks again for getting me out of there.”

“It’s no trouble!” The Drow woman stated, waving off the thanks. “But now you owe us, so you’re gonna help me and Boris from getting arrested again!” The underdark woman slapped her bulky minotaur friend on the back. The latter didn’t seem to respond or care that much.

“Right. I’ll do what I can, but first…” Kara gestured for the drow to introduce herself.

“Okay.” The silver haired druid gave a little bow to the others of the party. “My name is Alydrezea. But you can call me Drezea for short.” Her mood rather upbeat, despite the dower back alley at night setting. The wind blew, and the sign to Candied Apples whorehouse creaked and swayed.

“How did you do that thing with the rats in the prison?” Ms. Marsh inquired. “I’ve never seen anything like that before in this city.”

“I’m a druid!” Alydreza puffed herself up. She was short, for any kind of elf. Only five foot eight. Kara herself was a few inches taller. Alydreza’s form fitted into armor made of simple tanned leather. Not a full set like Kara had, but a simple breastplate and shoulder pads. She wore simple traveling clothing and pants but had no shoes. She did not seem to mind being barefoot. Her only weapon was a simple staff, that looked more like a fallen oaken-tree branch. “I can change shape and talk with all my animal friends.” The drow looked up to the stars above in the night sky with a smile.

Kara glint in her eyes, and a half smile parting her lips. “That sounds like it will come in handy.” Her words hung in the air, like a baited hook. Before any of the party could bite, she spoke up once more. “What about you, Mr. Boris? Care to share a bit about yourself?”

“No.” The minotaur said flatly. In the light of the moon, the details of his form were more obvious. He was big. Not only was he the tallest of the group, standing a full head over the half-orc, but his form was thick and built like a tree trunk. From his cloven hooves, to his bovine tail, to his huge head that resembled a caped buffalo. To large horns stained black as soot at the tips. Dark reddish-brown fur covering dark black skin. He wore little clothing. A large loincloth and sleeveless vest made of uncertain animal furs. His eyes were brown and had a predatory look too them, and a simple iron glaive was strapped onto his back.

“His name is Boris. When he gets angry, he gets even stronger! Oh! And he can cast magic as well.” Alydrezea spoke for her huge, quiet friend. “Not sure what kind of magic it is though. He still hasn’t told me.”

The minotaur turned his gaze away from the short dark elf. All while Kara rubbed the bridge of her nose. “Great. So a bumbling druid, and a huge brute. Getting you two through the city unnoticed is going to be a headache.”

The thief named Marsh looked towards the Half-Orc, who was currently looking through his pack. “Grukk!” She called. The half-orc stopped and looked up. “We’re having a sharing circle here. Your turn. What can you do?”

“What can I do?” Grukk’s smooth baritone voice asked. He had light grey-ish skin and visible tusks from his lower jaw that were visible when his mouth was close. His hair was an earthy brown. Shaved short on the sides with a longer ponytail in the back from swept back hair on the top. His face had a small bit of stubble on it. He was just a head shorter than Boris. Though his frame wasn’t as large, he had the build of a soldier. Toned and athletic beneath a layer of simple cloth traveling clothes, a chainmail shirt, and leather padding. A shield on his back, and a longsword sheathed on his belt. Not to mention, pants and traveling boots. “I have some skill with a blade. Plenty of basic training with most weapons. But why do you want to know?”

“Because, if we are going to be stuck together, we need to know what the others can do.” There was truth in her statement. However, Kara was not the trusting type. Better to know who she could and shouldn’t cross. “Thank you all. I, myself have a talent for finding things, and getting out of sticky situations. Not to mention the odd connection that may help us. One of whom, is right in here.” The thief pointed to the working-girl house.

“Candied Apples.” Grukk read the sign, aloud.

“Ooh, I loved candied apples!” The little drow exclaimed with excitement, heading towards the door.

“Whoaaa! Whoa there, rat charmer.” Kara darted to intercept. She was quick and light on her feet. “Listen, my friend isn’t going to help us out of the kindness of his heart.”

Alydrezea gave a confused look, but Grukk caught on quick with a sigh. “We have to pay him.”

“Bingo.” Kara pointed at the party’s fighter. “Anybody have any coin on them?”

Boris and Alydrezea shook their heads. “We spent all of ours to just get into the city.” The druid said with a pout at the entrance fine for their kind.

Grukk pulled out ten gold coins. “This is everything I could get from the prison chest before we ran.”

Kara counted the coin up. “That means we have ten gold, and seven copper. Ugh! Nowhere near enough to buy him.” The prison flower plunged herself deep into thought.

“I could force help out of him.” Boris grumbled out.

Kara Marsh had a worried look on her face. “Uh…thanks big guy but, I’d rather you didn’t assault what few contacts I have.” She rubbed her amber eyes, as if they were full of sand. “Well, looks like we’ll have to bribe him with a favor. Now, I know this guy and he knows me. So once we’re inside let me do the talking.” She opened the door; the scent of alcohol and cheap perfumes assaulted their noses. Stepping in one by one. Their presence earned a few glances, but soon both worker and customer alike went back to their business.

A few of the girls at this establishment came up to them, offering their services. Kara ignored them and made sure Grukk didn’t spend what little money they had right now. Boris had no time to accept or decline any offer or woman thrown his way, as every single one was shooed away by a sassy Alydrezea.

At the far-right corner booth, was an older human man. Bald, a bit pudgy, wearing some mix of noblemen’s clothing and common cloths. He had a blonde half elf under his right arm, and a human redhead under his left. Some food and drinks were on the table and he was currently spinning a tail about his ‘business ventures’.

The rogue smacked her hand on the table. “Joshua! Joshua el Rizen. It’s been so long!”

The man in question looked up in frustration at being interrupted. Expression turning to one of exasperation at seeing Kara’s face, and curiously eyeing the rest of the party. “Ladies.” His voice a nasally and had a face posh sound to it. “You’ll have to excuse me for a moment. Why don’t you head up to the room, I’ll see you there.”

As the two women got up and left, Joshua turned his attention back to the pickpocket. “Well, Bahamut bless me! Kara Marsh! I thought you were supposed to be rotting in a cell somewhere. Since you’re out, does that mean you have the money you owe me?”

Kara chuckled that last comment off. She could feel the eyes of her new ‘team’ on her. “Now that was just a small fee.”

“I’d hardly call 20 gold worth of fine elven silk to be a small fee. You want something, as usual.”

“Heh. You got me, Joshua. No pulling the wool over your eyes.” Kara spoke in a smooth, soft voice. “You’re too smart for that.” As she continued to butter this man up, his expression became more curious. “Now, these people here…uh, we met not too long ago. They’re in a pickle and-“

“We broke her out of jail.” Alydrezea interrupted. Causing Kara to winch and grit her teeth, and el Rizen to laugh.

“No shit!” The fat man chuckled. “Kara Marsh needed help from a circus crew! Oh, that’s rich. You must be in a bad way.”

After giving the druid a death glare, Kara smiled back at Joshua. “Yes. We all are. See, now our names are out there, and we need your help getting them cleared. Or, at least, helping us out of the city.”

“And what makes you think I can do that?”

“Cut the crap, Joshua. The whole underbelly of Iroas knows that you’ve got the city guard in your pockets.”

“Not the whole city guard. And I can’t pay off every last one in my payroll. But, I may be able to smuggle you out of the city. Out there you could lay low until the guards find something better to worry about. For a price, that is.”

“We can’t really pay you right now...”

“Of course you fucking can’t. That’s why I’m going to ask a favor of you instead. You may have heard that my business has been suffering as of late. The new Queen has tightened security for incoming goods from Red Wake. Thanks to the losses, some of my boys have gotten it in their heads that my time is out. They left, and started their own little gang by the docs.”

Kara shrugged. “So? Doesn’t this happen all the time? And why not take care of it yourself?”

“Because these idiots are sloppy. Think they’re fucking invincible. They’re harassing the common folk. Mugging and robbing small trade vessels in the docs in broad fucking daylight! They’ll bring the whole guard down on my head at this rate. I can’t send my own men after them. See, one of the traitors is named Maxie. Young lad, he was well liked by a lot of my men.”

“So you want us to kill him for you? Instead of risking more losses in morale” Grukk interjected. Kara winched again but said nothing.

“Finally, someone gets it! You all look like you can take care of Maxie and his gang easy enough. I can’t clear your names, but if you can take care of them quietly, I’ll consider my debt to Kara paid in full. And I’ll get the four of you out of the city. After that, you’re all on your own.”

“Um…Joshua, isn’t there another way? I’d rather not-“

“You’d rather not what, Kara?! These men know too much about my operations to let them run loose or be arrested.”

The rogue sighed, defeated a bit. Alydrezea noticed something was wrong, but she just frowned a bit at her new friend.

Grukk spoke once more. “But we can’t kill them in broad daylight.”

“True.” Joshua responded with a nod. “But the guards aren’t as active in the docs during the night. And since Maxie is such a thorn in their side, they probably wont mind if he and his crew turned up dead one day.”

The half-orc gave a nod. “I’m in.” The rest of the party agreed on this course of action.

“Good. Now you lot get moving. The night is still young, but time is money.” Joshua got up from the table and headed upstairs to the rooms.

“A bandit hunt. At least it’s not boring.” Boris stated, heading towards the door to exit the brothel. Followed quickly by Grukk and Alydrezea. Kara sighed at the table. Taking a swig from the fat smuggler’s unfinished drink before catching up with the rest of the party.