"Varuk was sitting on a grassy hill holding a bow next to the adventurers guild when we first spotted him" Morghul began, taking a swig of ale from an iron tankard the size of his dark green brutish head. "Skinny little thing he were, looked nervous too. Like a bonedog that'd lost 'is warlock." He grinned "There were four of us, including Varuk going on a mission that day. Were." Morghul tapped his tankard and nodded at the barkeep, who had a long scar which ran diagonally across his face. "We approached him and he shot right up, greeted us and offered to carry the potion bag. In-fact he kept asking throughout the entire trek to Fort Valis, which we'd been tasked with cleaning."

"Cleaning...?"

"Yeah, of skeletons, Fort Valis is always being overrun with the bastards."

"...Skeletons?" Morghul smiled, taking another swig of ale. He sat in silence for a short while, playing with his braided beard, which rested in his lap. "We arrived at Fort Valis Soon after Moondown. Have you ever been to Fort Valis?"

"No."

"It's really something. Lord Vaeris had it commissioned some 500 cycles ago. Walls as high as the giants who were forced to build it. Made of pure obsidian rock. It's beautiful in a way, but watcher guide those who happen upon it at night time. They say the darkness swallows you and traps you within it's walls, and at brightest light you can see their souls glinting within."

"That's just a myth. You can't believe that?"

Morghul shrugged "Not really, I wouldn't have went if I did. Then, I've never been there at night." He took another mouthful of ale, this time it spilled out of the side, seeping down his beard. He didn't seem to care. "We opened the doors and eased our way into the building. Cobwebs covered the far corners of the great hall and bats hung from the candles that lined the ceiling but apart from that, just looked like every other fort built by a warmonger. There were two halls leading away. Varuk and I took the left wing. Arthur and Jaelock went right. I'm still not sure what happened to them." Morghul drank again, this time the bartender also drank. "We heard their screams though. We hadn't even reached the end of the hall but we were a good 5 minutes in. Voices carried so well in that forsaken place we heard their dying howls as if they were right behind us."

I sit upright, my mouth falling open slightly. "And then?"

"Well we ran back, as you would I'm sure. We weren't prepared to just leave them, but we were ambushed as we arrived back at the great hall." Morghul sighed. "We tried but it was no use. I managed to destroy them but not before Varuk took an axe to the face. I had no choice. Retreating was the only option." Morghul turned back to the bartender, scratching his chin.

"That's it? That's the end?"

He turned to me and shrugged once more. "It's not all gold and loot, kid. Now, are you ready to get going?"

"I guess." I nodded, reaching for my staff.

"Where to this time, friend?" asked the barkeep

"Fort Valis" Morghul responded.

"Fucking Skeletons" replied the barkeep, reaching under the bar and pulling out a longbow.

Morghul left the tavern, Varuk following him out and flipping the open sign to closed on the door as he left. I took a deep breath and followed them out.