🍺Journal Entry 1 - A Strange Meeting

The candlelight flickers in the dimly lit tavern as I sit alone, nursing a mug of the local mead. The air is thick with the aroma of ale and the chatter of Piesons. I sit in the same corner as usual, with my back to the wall. It’s a habit I don’t think I can ever shake, even in my regular drinking spot. I suppose in my line of work, you can never be complacent - not even for a second.

The shadows dance along the walls, and the chatter of the tavern's patrons forms a distant hum. Mostly Piesons in these parts, but foreign travelers aren’t unheard of. Pieborgs looking to buy some scrap, a group of Pierates with a successful bounty, or even a lone, hungry Vampier have all been known to spend a few nights at this Tavern, from time to time.

The Huntmaster, minus 1 pint of Mead.

I scan around the room, taking in my surroundings, checking to make sure I have a clear path to the exits. Another habit I can’t break. Across the room, I spot a couple of mysterious Octopies. They are clad in robes to mask their identity, making it impossible to tell which Slice they belong to. As I size them up, one returns the favor with a nod. I reciprocate. The two strangers stand up from their table and begin to approach me. I keep one tentacle on my pint of mead, and another firmly on my dagger, below the table and out of sight. They get to my table and take a seat. As they do, it quickly becomes clear who they are - the Pieous. A rare sight outside their home on the Three Vapors. Yet, you can feel their influence across all of pieland. I’ve never been a fan of the Pieous. It’s nothing personal, they just don’t have much use for mercenaries like me. They keep their work… in-house. Yet here they are today, sitting at my table. A curious meeting indeed. A hushed conversation unfolds. These two know the game, they keep their words simple and few. Apparently, the Pieous find themselves in need of my services. A parchment is discreetly slid across the table.

Their offer is simple - capture a list of animals that roam the landscapes of Pieland for a hefty reward. Why would the Pieous, with all their resourcefulness, seek me out for such a task? I could do it, certainly, but why do they need me? Skepticism gnaws at the edges of my thoughts like a hungry beast on a bone, but curiosity gets the better of me. After all, the treasures of the Pieous are vast, and my pockets have room to spare.

So I agree to the job, and the Pieous provides me with a list of 3 creatures to get started with. Nothing too difficult - an arctic wolf, an owlbear, and a pelican. A strange ask, but an easy one. Their motives remain elusive, wrapped in a layer of mystery as thick as the foam on my pint. Fortunately for them, I have always been drawn to the unknown, compelled to unravel the secrets that shroud this world.

The two strangers take their leave, heading immediately for the exit once our discussion is over. Whenever engaging with Pieous, one must tread carefully. Every discussion is a calculated strategy. A job with the Pieous feels like signing a contract written in invisible ink - every word's true intention waiting to reveal itself in time. I remind myself of my guiding principles: Don't get involved. Don't get personal. Do the job. Get paid. Get out. Rules to live by, regardless of who the client is. Now, this new journey begins. The ink on this page marks the starting point, serving as a record of all that transpires as I take on a contract with the Pieous. And so I set off...