Lantern a small coastal town known for the worst retched kind of folk. It was so retched

That the buildings themselves looked retched. The buildings were missing shingles, and

Had broken windows and looked for the most part looked like they could come down at

Any moment when people spoke of Lantern it was in whispers the town gave most people,

The creeps it was said that the town was full of villains. There was a small tavern called

The Bottom Barrel it was right in the center of Lantern. It was like all the other buildings

In Lantern but for some reason it seemed to be the most popular place in the town. The

Tavern use to be called Daves Place but new employers recently took over. Some say

Dave disappeared with the name he hasn’t been seen since. As soon as a barrel was

Brought in it seemed like it emptied, so the new management called the place: The Bottomless barrel.   It was said that whiskey wasn’t the only thing that came in the barrels that came to the tavern. You could often find rangers and bounty hunters here too.  Sometime Ogers had even been seen in this tavern.  Once a Drager came in he cleared out most of the bar with just its presence. A Drager was a type of hired killer he was created from evil and magic.  They had the power to steel life from one and hold it captive.  Making it do its bidding for the Drager who took its life. Some of the most treacherous plans had been spawned here and plenty more will.  One day a man dressed in Red came strolling into the barrel. He had a red wide brimmed hat with a white feather shooting out the back. A red flowing cape hung down his back.  It had a black dragon embroidered almost the full length of the cape.  Under the cape he wore a black silk button up shirt. Under his shirt he wore chain mail stitched so finely it looked like a gray shirt instead of chain mail.  The shirt was tucked into a soft green leather pants. He kept the green pants up with a black leather belt. Two daggers were hidden behind his back.  They were crisscrossed in the center of the back were they were attached to the belt. Under each sleeve he kept two throwing knives attached by straps sometime acting as armor for his arms. The outside of his pants had sheaths sewn into them for small short swords.  At his waste he carried a long sword that cleared the floor at least of two inches. He wore black shiny boots, which looked like they never touched dirt as he entered the room he could smell the stink of pipes and ale.  No one in the room even noticed he walked as so they let on to believe.  He glanced around the room; it was quite crowded and seems dank.  In the corner he noticed a young boy sitting by himself.  He had dark hair and he couldn’t quite tell the complexion of his skin. He wore dark brown leather clothes. His hair was covering his eyes.  He didn’t have any weapons one could see. Sitting to the side of the fire place in the back of the room was a little old man with a gnarled looking stick leaning against the wall were it was in reach. As he made his way to the bar he noticed the bar tender was over weight and had a pair of ragged pants sandals and a shirt with the sleeves ripped off.  The strangest thing about the bar tender was his hair it was cut in a strip right dead center running from the front to the back of his head how odd the man in the hat thought to himself.  The bar tender looked odd but some how he looked like he belonged in the bar.  What will you have to drink to night make it quick it’s a full house.  Give me water tender.  The tender at the bar gave a hard look and said quit wasting my time.  Two women dressed rather slinky came to either side of the man sitting at the bar.  Need some company for the night.  The man looked at the women up and down and said well maybe some other time ladies. Two dark robed figures entered the tavern and stood on either side of the door.  A huge hairy beast came in and stood in the center of the door after he closed it.  He looked around the room and roared so loud it made everyone quiet. He had a very lager sword held around his waste with just a rope.  The town is mine and anyone who apposes me will die. A man sitting at a table in the middle of the room went for a dagger, instantly one of the black robed figures eyes began to glow red and the man was lifted up into the air and was threw against a wall.  The boy sitting in the corner slinked back into the shadows and helped himself right out of a window without any notice.  Except for the man in red who seemed to catch everything even the eyes turning red of one of the hooded men.  The old man sitting next to the fire place yelled out give me another beer.  The huge hairy creature roared again.  Quiet the old man yelled. There was huge flash of light and the robed figures designated into the ground leaving the black robes in a pile on the floor with smoke coming off of them.  Where is my beer!  The huge hairy beast pulled his sword and charged the old man, as he passed one of the tables a fellow in bright colors stuck his foot out and the hairy beast tripped landing on his face.  The sword slid towards the man in red.  He stopped the sword with the flat of his boot.  He bent down picked up the sword and walked over to the beast on the floor.  He pointed the tip of the blade at the back of the neck of the beast on the ground.  The old man sitting at the fire place yelled where is my beer?  No one in the room moved or spoke as if waiting for it all to play out. The creature on the floor tried to get up and the man in red put the flat of his boot right in the middle of the back of the creature and pushed it back down to the ground.  My name is Lee and I have your sword at your neck beast.  I think this tavern is someone-else and it shall stay there’s tonight and your plans ruined.  Tonight you shall spend behind bars in the jail.  Now in this seedy town there was a sheriff who only had one eye and was balled.  Most called him Cue Ball.  Most didn’t even know his name.  He was an average size man who spent most of his time at the desk in his office for this town didn’t care much for law, tonight though he happened to be eating at another tavern.  This tavern was on the other side of town.  For some reason no one ever reported wrong doings in this town of terror.  The sheriff didn’t go looking either.  It’s not that he was scared of that anyone threatened him.  But when he took the oath to the town they made it clear they didn’t want him to intervene in any activities more to keep the king out of their business. So they gave him a place to stay and paid him well.  So seems there was only one of him and the town chose to keep it that way he kept to himself and stayed at his jail house.  He was lonely and the solitude broke his heart.  But the town kept him almost as a prisoner.  Strange though on this night a young boy dressed in leather came to see him at Mud and Tea tavern.  Sheriff you need to come quick there’s trouble at the Empty Barrel.  There is a man in red that has a big thing on the ground at sword point and there is loud booms and old man asking for beer, the sheriff who had nice juicy peace of steak on his fork.  It was so juicy it was dripping on his plate.  It made the boys mouth water.  Why are you bothering me with such gibberish boy?  Well said the boy it’s just the creature said he was taking over the tavern.  The men that own it left me to watch the place.  If that creature brakes loose it rip the place apart.  They said if there’s too much trouble to come get you.  The sheriff let out a sigh put his fork down with disgust and headed out the door.  The young fellow sat down and finished the stake and tankard of ale.  A waitress came over and asked where the sheriff went. The boy looked up with a grin and sauce all over his face and said he said I could finish it Mam and he be back to settle up later.  He whipped the sauce from his face and politely excused himself from the table thank you miss it was a wonderful dinner.  He then scurried off as quickly as he came.  By the time the sheriff arrived at the Empty Barrel the huge furry creature was hanging in the middle of the room from the rafters. His hands were tied separately and tied to separate rafters as were his feet.  The man in red was leaning against a wall smoking some kind a strange paper. Near him was rope tied to an old candle holder that was built into the wall.  Well. Well. What do we have going here?  Cue Ball looked around the tavern, it was kinda hazy from the smoke and everyone was quiet.  It was a strange site to see the sheriff here.  He noticed the burning robes on the floor.  Can anyone answer for this madness?  The man in red said let me introduce myself my name is Ren Blademaster.  I come from a land distant from here and I’ve run into these creatures before, creature or no creature if you have anything to do with this.  You will be sharing a cell with hairball here do you understand me.  Ren lowered the creature to the floor and four big fellows helped the creature to its feet and escorted it to the jail with the man in red. In the back ground you could here the old man where s my beer. Once they were at the jail the sheriff and the men locked the furry creature in a cell and left. Ren pulled a parchment from under his cape.  He handed it to the sheriff what is this? The sheriff asked?  It’s a letter from the king do you see the seal.  It’s the royal crest and letter will tell you why I’m here.  Suddenly the door opened to the small office and in piled the old man, young boy as if waiting on cue outside.  What is this the sheriff asked?  It’s in the parchment sheriff if you would just read it. Stated the man in red!  They were all quiet as the sheriff read.  This is what he read; your town is a disgrace to my kingdom and needs to be cleaned up.  It has been brought to my attention by certain subjects that some think your town is out of my grasp.  I have sent one of my captains to observe and help in your efforts to clean up. His name is Ren Blademaster and he holds high authority over you.  His other companions are Thorngoo White Mage and Battle Scar One of the Captains chiefs so don’t mess up.  Your business, and then signed King Lemming.  The sheriff stared at the parchment for awhile then looked at motley looking crew.  So you have come here to make sure I clean up the town.  Then he noticed the boy dressed in leather.  Who is the fellow here the sheriff asked.  He is also with me we call him Dart.  Don’t be deceived by his boyish looks believe us he could of cleared the bar bye himself. You have two nights too think it over we will be checking on you.  We will be staying at the Gusty house Inn.  As the party left the sheriff sat in his chair wondering what to do.  The big furry creature was starting to stir.  It had been the first living thing in his cell since he took the job.  Funny he thought to himself I don’t even have a weapon.  Sure his buddy said take the job no hassle, what in the world was I thinking he thought to himself.  He headed for the stables he knew the people who ran the stables the Mr. Good he was kind of a sneaky fellow but he would be headed out to one of the farms for hay today.  I’ll just take a snoop around.  There were four horses in the stalls.  There saddles sat on a cross post held together with two sold poles that ran from the ground to the ceiling of the barn.  Hanging off one of the saddles was a short sword.  That will do for me he then drew it out of a brown leather sheath.  Not to heavy and looks kind of dangerous just what I need.  He left the sheath and went back to the jail house.  There he did some work on the handle of the sword with blue cloth from a rag that was used to wipe the tables.  Looks used good no one will ever know.  I’m not sure anyone really knows much of me.  I keep to myself and I’ve never melted in anyone’s affairs.  He pulled open the drawer and reached into the desk.  He felt something medal and put his hand over the cold medal.  It sent shivers of fear down his back. The muscles in the back of his neck began to tighten. He pulled it out and pinned it to his shirt, no sweat “He said to him “I can do this.  He slid the short sword down his pant and through his belt so he could grab it.  Its gonna be a long night.  The first man he bumped into was middle aged man and balding.  Excuse me sir, the man gave him a dirty look and said bugger off you twit, eying the badge as he hurried off.  The next person he ran into was a scruffy looking man with a huge club hanging off of his belt. But his friend left gave him a small book with the description of the people of the town if he needed it and now would be that time. He knew this man his name was Billy and the street he grew up on he needed to walk with a stick just so he could fight his way to the door every night.  Hey Billy how would you like to make some money.  Billy was actually pretty smart his looks were deceiving and Billy liked it that way it threw most people off and they stayed away, the important people they would come and see him personally. That’s the way Billy preferred things.  Well if its not  Mr. Cu Ball.  You finally come out of your pocket to play.  Listen to me you louse if you don’t want any cash that’s fine but if you insult me tonight I’ll put you in jail do you hear me Billy.  Well I guess you do want to play then.  He started to yank the club but surprisingly the one eyed sheriff had the sword and slapped him with the wide part of it right on the back of the hand.   Billy was so shocked he didn’t think the old man could even fight Let along be quick with a blade.  So what’s the proposition old man well I need two people on for each main route into town?  Think you could scrounge that up for ten gold peaces.