# 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.

<figure><img src="https://3171672344-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FKujIIO4tEBcSbwozkkpG%2Fuploads%2FCXTY6utQvM06Hf7g0jEv%2Fimage.png?alt=media&#x26;token=6457ea08-736f-47b5-9dd4-23079df9fd27" alt=""><figcaption><p>The Huntmaster, minus 1 pint of Mead.</p></figcaption></figure>

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.\
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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.\
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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.\
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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.&#x20;

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:\
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Don't get involved. Don't get personal. Do the job. Get paid. Get out.\
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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...\
