It is the 7th of Netus, 3 adventurers sit in the Gargling Grick tavern; Aaloka, The Tinkerer; Hyder, The Runaway; and Llanos, The Vagabond; they are well introduced, the night before they and 2 other mercenaries delved into the cities sewers to exorcise a spectre from within the walls of the town known as Nebuchadnezzar, who they aren’t well introduced to however is their soon to be employer. Argennon is a stout and stalky man, his head draped within a fabric mask that paints one half of his face in stripes and a toothy maw, and the other half in checkerboard and single watching eye, as is Killgarian fashion. He introduces himself to a less than talkative crowd of adventurers, the two mercenaries they were traveling with left but signed the group up for some work before they did Guarding the Guild Aligned Caravan Argennon runs as they travel to the Flyggs, the group looks at each other in silence for a moment, The Tinkerer pipes up that they will need the money the Runaway and The Vagabond agree cagedly, and look to Argennon, inquiring about when they'd be paid for the job; The Answer unsurprisingly is when they finally arrive at the Flyggs in one weeks time.
The group leaves through the northern gate to find the caravan, a stretch of karts filled partly with goods, but primarily bringing along diplomats, Argennon introduces them all, Vitruvius from the far off land of Zyzaxtyx in Veldeth, Martistravius from the United Groves, and most importantly Magnus Sumner a Secutor from the Flyggs on a long and arduous campaign throughout Hehrokos to foster better relations amongst the kingdoms that have been so split after the 100 era war. The Secutor introduces himself gladly to the party, after all first impressions are the most important to a man of his status, his stature is diminutive in comparison to all present barring the vagabond, but his presence makes him seem like the tallest one there. The party of course moves on, their job is to protect the caravan, not fraternize with politicians from places they've never even been. Argennon waves to the side without stopping as he introduces the kart with the caravans hirelings, amongst them smoking a pipe as she sits at the edge of the kart filled with bedrolls is laverne, she nods towards the party as they pass by and Argennon gets to assigning the adventurers to their spots on the caravan the Vagabond at the front, the tinkerer in the middle, and the Runaway at the back.
The Caravan speeds of its goats pulling along as the party attempts to pass time, Aaloka introduces himself to laverne, who asks about his interest in machinery and has to cage her enthusiasm when he mentions magic, Hyder gives the cold shoulder to Magnus who attempts to drag her into conversation between his further negotiations with the diplomat from the groves, and Llanos stares out into the expanse before them, cautious, his dragonmark picks it up long before he does, a figure out in the distance. Llanos falls to his knees onto the stack of barrels he stands atop, clutching his head in his hands as his dragonmark screams the word danger into his head, in front of the caravan a cloaked figure stands, towering over the caravan as they toss off their cloak, their armor, red with blood and ichor still shines like polished silver as they look towards the caravan with a horrible malice that their skeletal mask can barely contain, their armor is wrought in the symbols of the red claw, a legendary clan of mercenaries who have dragged a trail of death across Hehrokos, they raise their hand, a gauntlet covered in glistening knives that await fresh blood, they emit a menacing command “Surrender the Bride, Lest I begin making examples of you” the caravan freezes, Llanos is in too much pain to act, Hyder immediately takes to the shadows, Aaloka, Laverne, and Magnus are the first to move towards the assassin, Magnus attempts negotiations, asking for who the assassin means “Saphire Aseleduex, Bride to Gargell Vainge.” Magnus retorts that she's been missing, insulting the assassins informants “You would do well not to insult my pedigree secutor” the assassin replies as the Vagabond jumps from the top of the caravan, entering a rage as he brings his blade down upon the armored giant. The assassin rears back his hand before attempting to cleave the Vagabond in two his aim is made to falter by Magnus’s silvery barbs as the Secutor casts Command, ordering the assassin to grovel, allowing the party a window to attack, but it's not long before they break free from the enchantment, moving to make attempts on the pesky secutors life before he finally sees no opportunity “You will rue the day you crossed the red claw!” He proclaims as he teleports away, scarring a sigil into the ground.
Llanos Laughs, as the rest of the caravan recoups, deciding they will need to stop at dungeon city for a few days as Argennon will need to report this to the guild, the caravan gets back on the road, before arriving at dungeon city, Magnus sends a letter back to the Flyggs, and the caravan eventually finds themselves at the only inn in the city available to passerbys such as them, the Brick n’ Murder. Magnus within a few minutes is stood atop a table, rallying townsfolk to his ideology, bringing in laverne to describe the pains of her youth in the Neverhood, all the while hyder sits at the bar, drinking snail ale straight from the bottle, as just an hour ago she received a horrible message, Magnus knows her secret, and she'll need to meet him later tonight to discuss. Magnus ends off his speech and heads back to the bar, purchasing rooms for the whole caravan, before heading to hit the hey, the barkeep offers to bring the party some work come next morning, and everyone heads to bed.
Hyder steps past the threshold of the room, the door shuts behind her as magnus begins to speak, the Secutor knows Who she is, Sapphire, The noble woman that was to marry and secure an alliance between the Flyggs and Nastingur, Magnus has two envelopes, one contains a message with no mention of her existence to be sent to her suitor, the other contains explicit news of her whereabouts for her suitor and her family to hear, and he makes her an offer she cant refuse, hell keep her secret, shell owe him a favor later on, hyder hesitantly shakes on the deal, magical strings wrap around their arm, the pact is sealed, the secutor leaves the room.