Luthvin had refused to come. Even when she’d reassured him that he could be her guest, the allagi had turned it down.

  It hadn’t been until he’d mentioned how close it was to the full moon that she’d backed off.

  I really need to find out what that means.

  The adventurers guild had almost emptied in favour of The Grinning Broccsus. More than a score were next door already, but the figure of Fila was standing just outside the guild doors, waiting, arms wrapped around her chest. The woman’s smile wasn’t as confident as it should have been and, sequestering Napoleon in her office, Marie took her by the arm and pulled her to one side.

  “Pour l’amour de Dieu. Fila, did you or did you not go out to fight [Bandits] with the others?”

  The noble woman, immaculately dressed in dark green, shifted in place.

  “Well, yes, b-”

  “No buts! If you went out to kill people with them; you can certainly sit down for a drink with them.”

  “I don’t really know what to do though.” Fila blushed as she blurted out her concern. “The only people I’ve socialised with before are friends of the family.”

  Marie stared at her for a few seconds, trying to process the information.

  “Do you mean, you have never been out to a bar or a c-” she cut herself off as she realised clubs probably weren’t a thing in this world, before filing the idea away as a potential opportunity for the future, “-casual drink with other people?”

  Fila shook her head.

  “Only to the houses of the other minor nobility. Or some of the wealthier [Merchants] if they are looking to do business with father. Nothing… casual.”

  It wasn’t what Marie had been expecting. She stood for a minute as she tried to put herself in the noble woman’s shoes.

  “Ok. For your first time, here is what you do: stay close to me, but not as though you are hanging on my arm. Listen to what others are saying. If you think you can add something relevant to a conversation, wait for a gap to do so, otherwise wait until someone asks you a question. If someone offers to buy you a drink, accept and keep it simple - ‘wine’ or ‘beer’ or ‘cider’ - or have whatever they are having, and then tell them you will get the next round. If you are unsure of something or need to get out of a conversation, ask to go to the bathroom and I will try to meet you before you come back. How does that sound?”

  Letting out a sigh of relief, Fila nodded.

  “That sounds doable.”

  “Just remember - you’re an adventurer like them. You have spent ten days out in the wilderness with them. You’ll have a better idea than me what they talk about amongst themselves. If in doubt, bring up something you did with them or ask about a monster. They are bound to tell you all about that sort of stuff.”

  Before any further doubts could creep into her companion’s mind, Marie dragged her to the tavern next door and entered a room with more than a score of adventurers and locals already on their second round of drinks.

  “Marie! You finally grace us with your presence!” There was no discontentment in Dap’s greeting, only friendly ribbing. “Oh and Fila too! We weren’t expecting you. Grab a drink, both of you. If you get to the bar in the next minute Eldun’s tab is still open.”

  That feat proved harder than it sounded, as Sirro and Brunalda both gave her enthusiastic welcomes.

  Fila followed, doing her best impression of a shadow, but at least managing to smile.

  As soon as they’d gotten a drink, Marie pulled the two of them into the main gathering, Leaping Mist and Embris parting to make way for them as almost all the adventurers stood around Rina, the [Rogue] working to open a leather tube as long as her forearm.

  “Careful.” Chuffa whined, earning him a cuff round the back of the head from Brunalda.

  “Shut up dog-breath. She knows what she’s doing.”

  The gnoll glared up at his team-mate but all of them were focused on the frizzy-haired brunette as she bent over with the tools of her trade in hand, working at a clasp on the top.

  Marie had finished half her pint before a faint snick sounded and the [Rogue] leaned back with a satisfied grin.

  “Got it! Who’s reading it?”

  Quartz was short enough that he was eye-level with the cylinder.

  “Might wanna make sure it’s not trapped kid. Might be rigged to ignite when it opens.”

  A withering look accompanied the glare she gave him.

  “I might not be at your level, or the experience that comes with your age, but I know what I’m doing.”

  Marie reached out with her senses, and got no hint of danger, though her [Treasuresense] gave off a faint ping.

  Her attention didn’t go unnoticed though, and Sirro raised his eyebrows at her.

  “Watch out people. I think a new tax is about to be levied on whatever is in this thing.”

  Returning a deadpan stare, Marie waited a few moments for the tension to build before waving a hand in dismissal.

  “Nope. The quest came before we implemented the system, so it is all yours.”

  The crowd waited with bated breath as Rina handed the tube to her group leader.

  Eldun glanced round the dozen other adventurers that had hunted down the [Bandits] and eased the lid of the tube open.

  It came off with a pop, and from inside he withdrew two sheets of parchment, rolled up to fit.

  As they were pulled fully out, a liquid on them made the people on either side of him draw back but Chuffa sniffed and dismissed any danger.

  “Mana potion. Must have broken when I rode the guy down. Sorry.”

  “Don’t apologise. Any loot or information is a bonus.” Chiritta clapped him on the shoulder. “Better than anything the rest of us managed to get.”

  Eldun’s whistle of appreciation drew their attention back to the loot.

  “Better is the right word. We’ve got two spell scrolls here, and unless I miss my mark, they’re second level.”

  Brunalda didn’t have to move as he held out the scrolls for their only true [Mage] to examine; the goliath’s arm stretched most of the way across the gathering, and it only took her a moment to analyse the first one.

  “Second level. {Ring of Rime}. Decent spell.”

  The next took a little longer to decipher, and the giant woman’s muttered Skills were audible over the tension. The beaver-headed Fordin slurped his drink until someone punched him in the arm. Eventually, Brunalda’s eyes lit up and she made her announcement.

  “{Chant of Celerity}. Third level. Very good spell. Probably worth more than we made from the entire mission.”

  A chorus of excited muttering broke out amongst the group, but Quartz’s huff was audible over it all.

  “That’s quite the haul Brun. Congratulations.”

  The goliath peered at the part-halfling.

  “I still can’t tell whether you’re mocking me.”

  “I’m serious. Who else is gonna learn spells?”

  Putting the scrolls down on the table in the middle where Rina still sat, Brunalda regarded the group.

  “I’m not taking both of them. That’s far too much.”

  “You can have them if they’re good for you, Brun.” Sirro spoke for the group and Eldun agreed, though some of the others looked green with envy. “After all, no one else here can use them.”

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  The half-giant shifted from one foot to another uncomfortably.

  “We could sell one…” Her eyes widened as she spotted Fila hovering behind Marie. “...or give one to Fila. She could use it.”

  Sirro’s enthusiasm faded in an instant, and the fact was not lost on Marie or Fila herself. The [Verseblade] cleared his throat.

  “Well, let’s not be too hasty to decide. Fila did fine, but she was only there as part of an agreement with Lord Entoll. She might not even stay with us in the long term, or even if we go after the [Bandits] again.”

  Eldrun frowned and turned his attention to the noble woman.

  “Really? Are you not planning to continue, Miss Entoll?”

  Fila’s mouth opened but nothing came out, until Maire turned, gave her a raised eyebrow and mouthed ‘answer the question’.

  “...I would quite like to continue. I’ve only reached level 16 and I’d like to go further. If you’ll have me.”

  “Of course, we’d love to have you.”

  Fila flushed at Dap’s support, and continued with more confidence.

  “I know there’s worry about the pay, but I don’t need a share of whatever the quest paid. Sirrochon is right: my father is paying for me to be trained up, so it wouldn’t make sense to take from your earnings. In fact, perhaps I could make an offer for one of the scrolls? I’m sure I could get my father to purchase it for a good price - more loot to split for the group?”

  That statement brought a much more enthusiastic response, and as the scrolls were returned to their case, the adventurers split off into smaller groups, with Brunalda and Fila being taken over to one side by Eldun and Sirro to discuss options.

  Marie was just about to head back to the bar when the door to the tavern opened and a new adventurer joined the crowd.

  “Well well well. If it isn’t Ol’ Chompy, back again. Just couldn’t stay away could ya.”

  “Dusty, you nut-head.” Chiritta’s eyes scrunched up as she grinned. “Shouldn’t you be at home cooking? I heard you couldn’t hack it and retired.”

  Dusty pulled a face and then brightened up.

  “Oh, hey Specs, you’re here too.” She nodded to Marie as she turned her attention back to the squirrel-woman. “This one can tell you just how un-retired I am. Squished a few goblins the other day. From what I heard that makes me more successful than you lot.”

  Half the adventurers gathered round raised a finger to the irrepressible tabaxi and she laughed it off.

  “Want to swap?” Leaping Mist pushed a drink towards Dusty and ordered another from the server. “I’d like to see you do any better.”

  “Maybe I would. I didn’t like the greenskins though - too much open ground. Besides, once Marie had found their camp all we had to do was pull off a fighting retreat until we got back to town.”

  “At least you knew where they were.” Embris gave a pointed look towards Marie. “Most of our time was spent traipsing over hills and sticking our necks into caves.”

  Aelind? rubbed her friend’s shoulder.

  “And chasing after runners.” The elf grimaced. “The ones on foot were bad enough - I swear they all have movement Skills, or maybe their leader does - but the mounted ones were impossible to catch, even for Chuffa and Chiritta.”

  “Hey, I got one of them.” The squirrel woman protested as the gnoll went red and hid his face behind a drink. “It’s not my fault that the Spellswords are so noisy, or that Brunalda’s visible from miles away. You’d have hated it, Dusty. Days of walking and searching. No good place to make a stand.”

  “No good way to make money either.” Rina griped. “I had to use a healing potion. I think I almost lost gold on this mission.”

  Chiritta leaned forwards to pat the [Rogue] on the back.

  “Don’t worry kiddo. The council might have more funds to send our way. Better rates too, thanks to this one.” She nodded her thanks towards Marie. “They’re debating what they can afford, but that fat tabaxi is pushing for the camp to be found and put down quickly. They should make a decision in the next few days. You’ve got enough to get you through to next month?”

  As the younger woman gave a resigned nod, Marie spoke up.

  “What about your pay for guarding the town for the full moon?”

  Dusty was already shaking her head before Marie had finished speaking.

  “There’s no pay. Not for that.”

  “But I instigated the new rates.”

  “Doesn’t matter Specs. The guild has an agreement with Wayfarrow: we help out at the end of the month, and the guild gets a big tax cut.”

  “And that benefits you adventurers how exactly?” A round of shrugs came from the group, and Marie frowned. “Let me think about that and see if I can do something.”

  Perhaps the previous tax-free loot rule made some sense…

  But she needed that money to improve the guild. That was a problem for tomorrow though - not one for a night of drinking.

  The gathered men and women chatted away as a piper made music in the corner, the warmth of the evening and press of bodies alleviated by iced drinks, courtesy of a Skill that the [Innkeeper] Tondrun had.

  The adventurers were in good spirits, but as they talked more and more about their days traipsing across the wilderness Marie sensed the undercurrent of frustration that the drinks were helping to wash away.

  Taking orders for the next round, Marie went back to the bar and returned with a tray of drinks, and a server to carry the second tray. She waited until they’d all been handed out to ask the question that had been building for what felt like an age.

  “What exactly happens to the allagi on a full moon?”

  Silence descended on the group, and all eyes turned to regard her.

  It was Aelind?, blinking incredulously, that finally responded.

  “You don’t know?”

  No - I am not from this world.

  But she couldn’t say that. Could she? They’d think she was mad. Or playing a joke.

  They do not need to know. It is not important. Not for them.

  “I… I have heard rumours, of course, but I have never seen it myself.”

  “You’ll see soon enough.”

  Chiritta clipped Dusty round the back of the head.

  “Don’t be a burr. It’s bad enough having to do it for free, especially here; you don’t have to try and make it sound worse. Rina, you’re a local. You can tell her what it’s like.”

  The slender [Rogue] grimaced, but bowed to the higher-levelled adventurer’s will.

  “I’ve not been on many myself, but I’ve seen hundreds. Hundreds of beastwatches I mean. I’ve only seen two that had turned.”

  “Beastwatches?”

  “That’s what they call going on patrol around the full moon in these parts. The guild sends everyone available to help the Watch look for allagi that turn. We’ll go out from sundown to sunup - it’s a curfew for all allagi - not much chance for a break. We have to cover every house and street possible. They’ll either post us at corners and crossroads or have us on patrol round the allagi parts. If you see one, you give the shout: ‘Ware the beast’, and then you either hold them off until backup arrives or try to subdue them if you’re strong enough.”

  “I wouldn’t try that unless you’ve got a good seven or eight levels on them.” Embris said. “When an allagi turns, they get a lot stronger.”

  “Physically yes, but they become more feral.” Rina said. “They lash out. Hunt people. They can even hurt their own kind.”

  “How do you know if one has turned though?”

  “Oh, you’ll know.” Chiritta said, eyes sober. “They don’t all look the same when their form shifts, but you’ll see the madness in their eyes, and the intent to fight and kill.”

  “They swell up.” Dap added. “Their muscles bulge like a [Berserker]’s. They might grow fangs or claws. I’ve even seen some get tails as strong as a limb.”

  “More dangerous than a berserker though.” Rina said. “They’re cursed. If they bite you or catch you with their claws there’s a chance they can infect you. Makes you go mad or feral yourself. Not like they do - but you can get sick. Not many people can cure it.”

  Chiritta gave a sage nod.

  “That’s why there are laws against them turning. It can happen even outside of the full moon if they have Skills to control it. But they’re never really fully under control.”

  “I’ll be okay. Can’t affect me.” Embris chimed in, drawing raised eyebrows from the seasoned adventurers round the table. She shrugged. “I’m genasi. Doesn’t do anything to our kind.”

  “Well in that case you can take a beastwatch patrol on your own.” Quartz grinned. “And I’ll keep the elf company.

  Before Aelind? could kick the quarterling, Marie jumped in with another question.

  “So they do not turn into wolves?”

  Leaping Mist blinked.

  “Wolves? Why would they turn into wolves?”

  Rina shuddered.

  “There was one last year that turned and ran amok in the crafter’s district. He looked almost wolf-like. Took a squad of the Watch and a [Sorcerer] to take him down.”

  Dap shook her head and sighed.

  “There’s always one that thinks they’re above the rules.”

  “Or thinks they can control it.”

  “Or that they shouldn’t have to control it.”

  Silence stretched as the adventures sat, sipping their pints, remembering past full moons.

  A minute later, Sirrochon sauntered back over, leading Eldun, Brunalda and Fila.

  “Hey, what are you all? Centaurs? Why the long faces?” He laughed at his own joke. “Cheer up. Next round’s on me. Fila’s going to get Lord Entoll to buy the third level spell. We’re more than doubling our money for the mission!”

  —

  Marie staggered a little as she left The Grinning Broccsus. It was well past midnight.

  “Shtupid Tondrun got no roomsh…”

  She patted the ever-decreasing pouch of coins at her side. Perhaps it wasn’t such a bad thing that the Broccsus was full up. Drinks and baths and Everfill Quills and new uniforms added up, even with the discounts she got and the bonuses the guild paid for her rapid level gain.

  “...maybe no more hangover cures… they’re a lot.”

  And with fewer drinks she’d need fewer cures.

  But it is fun.

  Fila had begged leave to return to her father’s mansion, but Marie thought the woman had enjoyed the night. The adventurers had opened up to her, especially after she’d promised her father would buy the scroll for over a thousand gold.

  That is not fair. Some of them were welcoming to her before that decision.

  But with the [Arcane Songstress] gone, Marie found herself leaning on Dusty as the last of the adventurers left the Broccsus. Marie turned in the direction of the guild, half-dragging a tipsy Dusty with her. She stopped as a figure loomed out of the guild’s ever-open doors, pausing as it stepped into the moon-lit square, and a great dark-furred head swung her way.

  Two gleaming eyes bored into her as guildmaster Thror’s gaze flickered to the tavern and back.

  Marie’s grasp on her friend’s arm grew tighter and she swallowed.

  The [Guildmaster]’s warning from earlier echoed in her mind before he walked into the Wayfarrow night air and disappeared round a corner.

  The other adventurers stopped and stared as Dusty hissed in annoyance and prised Marie’s fingers off her arm.

  “Ease off, Specs.”

  Sirrochon grinned.

  “You going to be okay there, Marie? Need one of the ladies to help you in?” He nodded towards the wide open doors.

  Stupid [Carouser] class and not…oh. I feel sick…

  She realised her sudden nausea had come on because she was shaking her head. So she stopped.

  “‘m not sleep ther now. Merde. Need m’ tent.”

  “Tent?” Eldun raised an eyebrow. “You don’t look in any condition for that. And with the full moon so close…”

  “‘ll be fine.”

  Dusty looked at her companion, nose wrinkling.

  “Sure, Specs. I’d offer you a blanket on my floor but you wouldn’t want to be in my house come dawn and the screeching kids. I don’t want to be in my house come dawn…”

  “She can come with us.” Dap said, also swaying slightly. “We’ve got room on a settee.”

  “But I have tent to go sleep.”

  Sirrochon suppressed his laughter with difficulty.

  “I’m sure you do, Miss Marie, but there are snacks at our townhouse. Consider it a pre-emptive thank-you for scouting for us in the future.”

  “Well okayIcan…what snacks do you got in the house?” She lurched in the direction of the guild and waved off the arms that tried to steer her back on track. “No s’ok I gotta get poor old Boney firsht. Locked up. Prob’ly no idea I come back.”

  The adventurers gave Sirro aggrieved looks but he shrugged as Marie retrieved her undead hound from her office.

  “‘s ok, now where ish the food?”

  .