After an arduous trek through the forest Ragnar had finally made it out. He was covered head to toe in cobwebs and twigs that had lodged themselves in between his plate armour. The storm had just began to blow over and the gloomy clouded sky had become clearer and more vibrant. Upon exiting the forest he was greeted with a winding path leading to the village of Galdor, the path forked off into other directions but as of now that didn't bother him, all that was on Ragnar's mind was collecting Geoffrey Moore's bounty. Sack in hand he began to follow the cobbled road. His boots clicked before him, drowning out the sound of wind pushing against the trees. After reaching the top of a small hill, the village came into view, it was visible just before the horizon. There was still quite a ways to walk so he continued.
On approach to the village he noticed unease among the townsfolk. Merchants weren't as interested in trying to sell there wears to travellers, homeowners slammed windows shut as people walked by and children's parents dragged their kids away from each other to stop them from fraternising. This all seemed to be the doing of Geoffrey, his corrupt nature caused the people of Galdor to not trust anyone any more, both their trusts and their pockets seemed to be missing pieces. After passing the quiet markets and the empty houses the Mercenary guild came into view after making one final right.
The door to the Mercenary guild swung open and Ragnar walked in, a little bronze bell worn from use barley chimed as he entered. The place was relatively lively, mercenaries one and all were gathering together sharing tales and drinks with eachother. However in a place full of killers your going to have the odd shady person brooding in a corner and at this guild you have plenty of suspicious corners for people to hide in the shadows. At the counter a female elf stood there smiling ear to ear at Ragnar.
"Good evening sir how may I help you today" her voice was calming and accepting of whoever were to walk into this place, which is surprising for an elf as they always tend to think that they are the superior race.
"I'd like to cash out a bounty, on Geoffrey Moore." as soon as his name came out the guild went quiet, all members had turned to look at Ragnar, the bustling chatting and laughter has vanished into thin air. The only things to be heard was the crackling of the fire and the occasional cough. While Geoffrey was a criminal he was also quite popular, many people think he was wrongly convicted while others wanted his bounty for themselves.
"Okay sir do you have any proof of this bounties completion?" enquired the receptionist, her pointed ears twitching with something that was either anticipation or awkwardness. For most bounties people try to play it off like they did kill somebody but they just forget to bring proof. Not Ragnar, he placed the sack onto the desk and pulled at the rope causing its knots to undo themselves. Out of the sack was the head of Geoffrey Moore, the receptionist's smile flickered showing a hint of anger as the blood from this mans head started to leak onto the desk.
"I have the head of none other than Geofrey Moore, I think that should be proof enough."
"Yes that should do nicely thank you" Using a pair of metal tongues she pushed the head to the side of the desk and tried to mop up some of the blood left by it.
"The reward for him was 5 gold pieces, and by the looks of it you deserved it" she giggled to herself a bit hinting at how Ragnar was completely covered in rain, mud and some blood.
"What! Only 5 gold pieces I need at least 50" he began to argue. Ragnar had been in quite a lot of debt for a while, how could he help it when everything he loves costs so much money. New armour designs no one wanted to create, and even when he decided to make the armour himself he bought all of the equipment which put him in a stupid amount of debt that he has been killing the corrupt to pay for.
"If you really need to make that much it would be better if you hunted monsters as well as people, if your interested head down to the hunters guild to the left of town centre" Her face was joyful almost like she was trying to make this crazed man with a head in a bag leave.
Feeling defeated from the lack of money he just gained, Ragnar debated the idea. More money? why not, he had already fought all kinds of people, what was some monsters. And so he set off to the hunters guild leaving the decapitated head of Geoffrey on the desk, as he walked through the once quite streets he noticed something different, more people were talking outside, the families who were once separated seemed to have reunited. Word of Geoffrey's death must have spread fast as people seemed to be warming up with each other again.
The hunters guild had started to come into view, it was a large building adorned with red tiles across its roof and large timber supporting it's walls. Inside was even more impressive, taxidermied heads of beasts Ragnar had never seen hung from walls, one of the creatures caught his attention, a boar like beast with spines crawling out of it's neck acting somewhat like an armour. Something began to dawn on Ragnar, he had very little experience hunting monsters, he only had the odd encounter on his bounties. He had literally zero knowledge of any of these monsters. Either way he needed the money even if it meant he had to go into an unknown field of battle. He continued over to the main desk. There was a bald human man that had a clawmark that followed from his head all the way down to his collarbone, it crossed his eye only leaving a hole in its place.
"I want to apply to be a hunter" Ragnar knew what he wanted and so spoke with confidence.
"No problem the admittance fee is 50 silver" Ragnar clenched his jaw. 50 Silver? he had only just made 5 gold. After just getting some food for today he wold be left with scraps, he hoped joining the hunters guild would solve his money problems not add to them. The man behind the desk watched him with a knowing look on his face. He leaned on the counter with his scarred forearms.
"You look like you've been through hell already. Don't have the coin do you?" His voice was rough, the kind you get from years of shouting across a battlefield.
"No I don't, you must have something I can do to join" There was something desperate in Ragnar's voice but it wasn't very noticeable. The man jerked his thumb over his shoulder and gestured to the job wall covered in parchment.
"If your that desperate you can join the guild if you complete that hunt" Ragnar followed his gesture his eyes landing on a particular notice marked with a red seal. The writing was scrawled and seemed rushed like whoever was writing it was in a panic.
"There's been reports of something learkjng near famrlands outside of town its been tearing up crops and gutting livestock. No one has seen it and lived to describe it" The mans eye's narrowed.
"If you can bring proof that this beast has been taken care of I will waive the fee and you can join the guild"
"I'll take care of it" Ragnar pulled his hood over his head ready to embark on this quest to slay this unknown monster.
"Just try not to die before sunrise" The man scoffed.
Ragnar grabbed the notice, the corners that were pinned to the board tearing off and left the hunters guild. The parchment spoke of the location where animals had been stolen and killed, likely a spot where it would be. Easy or not this was his only shot, and if this thing was tearing up livestock maybe it had something valuable on it, claws, pelts, something he could sell. As he steps out into the night air the streets of Galdor grew quieter than before, while there was still some chattering most people had gone off back home to ready for the night. Lanterns flickered against the stone and timber, casting long shadows down alleys. His hand brushed over the handle of his axe, whatever was out there he would find it.