The city of Varen, capital of Frasc, is a dirty, dangerous place to be. There aren't many guards to speak of. The majority of the king's men are sent to the front lines and the guards that remain have so little overhead that they have no problem abusing their power. The people are miserable and poor and often have no love for the king, but they don't have the means to do anything about him. He is always hiding in his castle, guarded by the greatest soldiers in the kingdom that haven't been sent to fight in a war. Not that they'd want to rise up anyway, as the most common punishment in many kingdoms is simply being drafted into a war older than anyone still fighting it.

Ironically, this also means that the people are likely to turn a blind eye to oddities going on, with the exception of petty thugs who do little more than rough up traveling merchants before pissing away their ill gotten goods at their preferred taverns and pubs. At the very least, this makes a tavern in the bad part of town a perfect place to plan an assassination.

You don't know how the others made their way to Varen; Gav specifically ordered all of you to travel alone. What you do know is that you were told to meet at the Grey Ox Inn, a small back alley tavern and inn that has a particularly poor reputation. The barkeep is in on the plot to an extent, but only so much as he knows some associates of his old drinking buddy are coming to make use of his back room.

Gav has told all of you to arrive alone. You were told to arrive, make your way to the bar and order a Black Mead, a popular drink in the western nation of Halla. You were individually given a pass phrase. Only two people know all of them: The barkeep and Gav himself. With the phrase, according to Gav, you will be given further information.

Your journey begins here. You've been chosen for this mission for a reason. You were told its because Gav believes you to be the best shot at turning the war in favor of his kingdom, but you have a feeling that something is brewing that goes far beyond one assassination plot.