The horse trembled with each step beneath Raffy and walked with a lulling rhythm, so much so that the redhead had almost fell asleep. The stolen horse mis-stepped causing Raffy to almost tip off of it and she startled awake. Blearily blinking, she signed under her breath when she saw the town come in view. With stiff fingers, she reached into her pocket and removed the letter from it.

[i]Dear Sir or Madame, 

You may not know who I am, but I know who you are very well. Hieledran, this land that we all love and adore, she is falling into darkness. A great and powerful evil lurks among us now and threatens to choke the life from all. It has already begun to affect many places, trees once so tall and mighty now slender twigs. Prairies and grasslands that were once so beautiful with their emerald shades and their colorful flowers...they are nothing more but vast fields of ash and blackened soil. My heart weeps as I write this letter to you, for I....I was too late to stop it, to seal away the horrors that emerged from that wretched tower. But you, your time has come. You are all warriors of Hieledran, brave, cunning, and wise. You have skills, attributes that are far beyond those of your fellow men. That is why I have called upon you. For the fate of all, I ask that you meet at Hearthstone Inn in the city of Vaele. Once you have gathered, journey South of the city to the Temple of Agatha. There is where I will meet you, and I will explain more. Hieledran rests in your hands now, as does the fate of her people. 

May the Goddess bless and keep you O brave warriors of Hieledran, and may my love be with you as well...[/i]

The paper slipped from her fingers and onto the ground before being trampled over by the stolen horse’s hooves. “Shit.”
It didn’t matter now, it was gone. She just hoped that they didn’t expect any proof or anything. 

When she got the letter, Raffy had first not wanted to go, but decided that it was best to save the world or whatever was expected of her. It wouldn’t do much good to steal from a bunch of poor people ravaged by evil. And, so, with a heavy, bored heart, she stole the plain brown horse beneath her that was so average that Raffy named it Mediocre and made her way to Hearthstone Inn. Raffy bit her lip, kicking the back of Mediocre’s hide and urging him forward until she came upon the inn. She dismounted Mediocre and left him untied, deciding that if he left she would hitch a ride upon the horse of another…or just steal a more useful horse – but Raffy had a sinking feeling that Mediocre would still be around by the time she finished.

When she entered the inn, heat blasted her face and sweat immediately beaded her forehead. So much so that she removed the cowl that covered her face and removed the hood from her head, exposing the blood red hair that made her easily spotted. Sighing under her breath, Raffy easily located the group of people she would be [i]travelling[/i] with. The mere thought left a bitter taste on her tongue.

The people were obvious. They were fighters, just by the weapons they carried, and dignified with the way they carried themselves…not to mention there was an elf amongst them. Why else would an elf decide to tarry in such an inn as this? Raffy scowled. They looked most annoying.

She approached them and stabbed a dagger into the wood of the bar for mere intimidation – the bar wench gave her a nasty glare but a nastier glare silenced her. “I would like a tankard of mead, dearie.”

Raffy turned to the others and narrowed her eyes, her shoulders hunching and she looked much like a vulture sitting on a branch, scoping out a dead corpse. “Are ye fellows those who I shall accompany? If ye say nay, I shall fall to me knees in thanks.”