I'm not your usual Halfling girl. I enjoy good food and drink, of course, but I can make do without. I don't have a large extended family, nor any particular want for one. I've learned to fend for myself over the years, receiving extensive training in the more illegal vocations. I'm better than most taller folk I've encountered at what I do, and I take no little pride in my abilities. So when I saw an employment flyer posted for a highly regarded mercenary guild, I jumped at the chance to truly prove myself and sent in an application.

Meridale Mercenary Group was one of the largest guilds around, with multiple chapters across the land. The one I had applied to had just been established in the city I currently lived in, Borhend. It was a border town, and as such constantly plagued by bandits, monsters, rebel groups, and others.

It was this general disorder that had drawn me to the town to begin with, and Meridale starting a chapter here had been a bonus. I could easily freelance on my own, which I've done before, but I know my limits. It's easier to have the backing of a good guild. Supplies are often cheaper, you get paid in addition to any found loot, and for a guild like Meridale, climbing the ranks could give you a good retirement, assuming you lived long enough.

Getting accepted into a place like that would mean the world. By myself, I was limited in the jobs I could take. But Meridale was known for their party system. With a team, my own employment possibilities were expanded. So I applied, being careful not to disclose my race or height. While halfings did work for such guilds, it was usually as a merchant or on rare occasions, intel-based jobs. I was applying for a more involved position, and didn't need any predispositions getting in the way.

It didn't take long to receive a reply, and I made my way to the address given on the note. It was a small building squashed between two larger ones near the center of town. I wasn't surprised. Each chapter had to earn their keep. The Borhend chapter, being new, had to prove itself in order to receive help from the main branch.

I pushed open the door and stepped into a dimly lit room. A young human girl was behind a desk off to one side, the only furniture in the room besides the chair she was sitting on. I tossed the note in my hand onto the desk and cleared my throat. She jumped a little. Apparently she hadn't heard me come in, busy as she was examining her nails.

"I'm sorry, can I help you?" She glared down at me. I nodded towards the paper. "I'm here for the job. It's still open, isn't it?" She laughed and waved her hand towards a door across from her. "Boss is in there. Good luck." I took the note and headed for the door, ignoring her laughter.