Niera Seacrest jauntily sauntered down the streets of the Baywalk. As she walked along the roads and bridges cutting over the canals leaving her family’s manor and property behind her, she made her way to the Gildton home to Yellowfield’s more prominent merchant families. Here one could find highly talented and capable tailors, blacksmiths, alchemists, herbalists, engineers and anything other tradesperson that one might need. The residents of Gildton were all members of the town’s most prestigious merchant and trade guilds. Though they were not of quite the same status as the Seacrests or any of the other nobles, they were as close as a merchant family could hope to get. 

As Niera turned further inland, putting the water behind her, she thought of her close friend and lifelong compatriot, Rhenigan Lightborn. The Lightborn family always impressed Niera as once being a noble family of Paladin’s but choosing to retire from these duties to create a rich tradition of some of the best engineering that Yellowfield has seen. The town has the Lightborn family to thank for their advancements in agriculture which has boosted the town to a major trade center. Since the Lightborns have contributed crop dusters, automated harvesters, soil toxicity and acidity meters, and so much more the town has been able to drastically increase their grain production making them one of the largest food distributors in the region. That, coupled with their proximity to the water, made it light work for families like Niera to bring in more merchants, businesses, and guilds. With that growth came the one thing that Niera was truly interested in, quests. 

The Seacrest family has been one of the town’s premiere protectors ever since the family’s founder ascended becoming the first, and one of only two, families of Suu’mahri. Unlike other celestial-touched beings, Suu’mahri pass on their memories and powers through a sacred blood lineage and as the youngest born in her family, Niera is next in line to inherit her family’s and father’s legacy.   

Whilst glancing over her markings, Niera felt a mix of excitement and dread for the day that she received her glow. The only way for her to receive her powers would be at the conclusion of her father’s life and that was something that Niera was not eagerly waiting for. 

As she tried to push the thoughts of her weighted future away, Niera was pulled back to the cobbled streets by a voice that she yearned to hear. 

“I’m almost ready. Just give me two more minutes to finish packing my bags.”

“‘Bags’ plural?” Niera replied, as she looked her friend up and down. 

Rhenigan Lightborn, the middle born child of the Lightborn family but the one showing the most promise as a future artificer and engineer. Strapped to his waist and back, were several packs and bags but this did not stop him from packing one final large backpack. Niera could already see over his shoulder the odd assortment of bottles, vials, gears, and tools that Rhen swore were essential to his work; she would never dare to question Rhen though. Whenever Niera needed something, even as slight as a sword sharpening, Rhen was always available. The two had been close friends since they were children and their families had a wonderful working relationship. Niera’s father always used to joke that she had ‘better not mess that up’.

“Okay, I’m ready.” Rhen closed his final bag and threw it over his shoulder. As he turned to look at Niera the lights in his eyes faded quickly to anxiety. “You think it's too much stuff?”

“I’ve not said a word.” Niera spoke, as she stifled a laugh

“It’s on your face. You think it’s too much and you think I look foolish.”

“I think you look prepared and I think we look late.” As she finished her sentence Niera turned on her heel and began walking towards the market commons. “You asked for two minutes, I gave you three. I’m leaving with or without you now.”

As Rhen followed Niera’s footsteps towards the commons his thoughts were everywhere all at once. I wonder what the guildmaster is like. I wonder if they have any other artificers. Am I going to be the guild’s only artificer? Would that make me the official artificer for the Knights of Yellowfield?” Rhenigan smiled as he thought about his prospects. “I could charge double my normal, maybe even triple my normal prices.

“What are you back there thinking about?” Niera turned and stared, carefully inspecting Rhenigan’s expression.

“I’m thinking about your bright future as a paladin of Yellowfield. And what that will do for my shop when people find out I’m your favorite smith, engineer, alchemist, and person in general.”

“So you assume.” Niera whispered quietly under her breath, careful not to let Rhen hear and risk one of his tantrums.

“You’re late. Both of you. On your first day nonetheless.”

Niera turned forward to see him standing there, Avery Mistmoor, the golden child of the Mistmoor family; accompanying him was Lance of the Dreer family. Both of the men before her were easily the best in their respective professions, not just in their families, but within Yellowfield. Unfortunately, Niera also knew that each of their families had a personal beef with Niera. 

“What are you doing here?” Niera met their eyes without a hint of fear. “Did your brother send you to fight his battles? Because he was asking for it and I warned him what would happen.”

“Lords, stop talking because I don’t care. Surely you should be able to figure out, we are here because we are your new appointed stewards.”

Niera recoiled with nausea at the thought of having to work with either of the two. “No, I was told that I would be working directly under the guildmaster.”

“No, your letter requested that you work under the guildmaster.” Lance stepped forward as he spoke. “Now it is already exceptional enough that you were accepted on your father’s word alone and the fact that, despite my personal feelings towards your brother and your family, I do respect your skill. Don’t ruin this by being arrogant. You should consider yourself lucky to be placed in my charge.”

Before Niera could get a word out, she was pulled back by a hand. 

“We’re extremely grateful for this opportunity and we can’t wait to begin. Should I assume then that I will be placed under your charge as well?” Rhenigan spoke with a calm and disarming tone. 

“Hm? No, you'll be Mistmoor’s apprentice.” Lance stepped back and leaned against a stall counter

Avery Mistmoor, of the infamous mistmoor family, the only family of drow living within Yellowfield. It surprised none to know that Avery was one of the most exceptional and cunning spies that the Queen has ever employed. Little was known about Avery except for the fact that he was originally adopted into the Mistmoor family. 

“I understand you're quite the inventor, yes?”

“That’s correct. I personally overseer the maintenance of several adventurers equipment”

“Well, now you only oversee the maintenance of ours. Those gadgets of yours will come in handy but not if there is an identical copy in every hand on the street. Do you understand?” 

Rhenigan nodded slowly and waited for his new superior to retreat from his face.

“Oh, and another thing. Just because you’re friends with a Lightborn being tardy, on your first day no less, is unacceptable,” just as it seemed Avery was building in his lecture he was abruptly cut off. 

A small figure aggressively pushed past the group running into the crowded square. Lance immediately began to laugh and slap Avery on the back.

“Hmm. It seems my coin purse has been lifted by a thief.” Avery spoke with a strange calmness before looking at Rhenigan and Niera. “Are you just going to stand there? I suggest you hurry cause I don’t want to see either of you at the guildhall without that coin purse; and it better have all of my money in it.”

Niera’s eyes grew wide as she spun around scanning for the thief. Before she could locate the figure, Rhen was taking her hand and charging through the common’s.

“You’re useless. She went this way.” As the figure came back into eye shot Rhen began to scream. “STOP! Comeback! Please!” His words were seemingly lost in the noise of adventurers gossiping and merchants advertising to patrons on the streets.

As the two rounded a corner in pursuit of their quarry, they found themselves cutting through the patio of a small cafe. The thief turned around briefly before leaping onto a table. Before Niera and Rhen’s eyes the girl instantly shifted into a small black cat leaping across the surfaces of each table. The patrons at the cafe all stood, jumping and screaming as their pleasant meals came to a disruptive halt. As the cat made its way seamlessly through, the two apprentices found themselves caught in the confused swarm of bodies. 

“We’re never going to catch her now,” Niera looked towards Rhen who’s eyes seemed as hopeless as her’s felt. 

“We’ll just have to pay Avery back when we get to the guildhall. Maybe he won’t notice if we get an identical coin purse.” As Rhen spoke he was approached by another. A green toned devilkin woman who silently stepped up to him. 

“Hi. Sorry to interrupt but, was that your cat?” The devilkin’s question seemed innocent enough and her smile was immediately disarming.

“No. That was a thief,” Niera responded.  “Likely a druid of some sort. Unfortunately, if I can’t track her down I think I’m out of a job.”

“Job? Are you guards?”

“No, we’re apprentices to members of the Questing Beasts”

The woman’s eyes illuminated and she clasped Niera's hands in her own. "You’re members of the Knights of Yellowfield and apprentices to the Questing Beasts?" 

"Yes, we are. Can we help you?" Niera became uneasy, but the woman's smile was eerily comforting. 

"Yes, you can; and I can help you. The questing beasts think I'm too weak to join but I'm not. If I help you track down this thief, they'll know I do have a wide skill set."

"How are you going to help us track her down? She's long gone by now and the city is huge."

              The woman leaned in, locking her eyes to Niera. "The city isn't that big if you know where to look. I can tell you don't truly know this city so let's be friends. Call me Roze and I'll be your undercommons tour guide. What shall I call you two?"