"So," asks Lastergon gloomily, "Could I pay you to give me a good quest?"

"Not enough carens in Verun! No, not enough Caladorms in Verun! MWAHAHAHAHAHA!" is the psychotic reply.
This message was last edited by the player at 00:46, Fri 25 Aug 2017.

"But why me?" Lastergon groans.

"Why not? MWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"

At that moment an elderly man with a white beard and long white hair comes up the pathway to the estate.

"Plaenaro...?" Lastergon says, half rising hopefully.

"Guess again," the man mutters with a most cantankerous glare at the paladin.
This message was last edited by the player at 09:57, Wed 30 Aug 2017.

"Where is a crazy lich with a 'Power Word Kill' spell when you need one?" Lastergon groans, slumping down once more.

"Quite so," the elderly man grunts with a continued glare at Lastergon.
This message was last edited by the player at 10:00, Wed 30 Aug 2017.

"MWAHAHAHAHAHA"

The passage of a quarter of an hour finds the unlikely trio in much the same position.

"...I mean, what does it take to make an epic quest?" Lastergon is directing at his audience.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:19, Sun 10 Sept 2017.

"Epic quests are not our business," the elderly man says sternly.

"I can tell you one thing they don't have," the red haired man says with a grin, then, after a blank stare from Lastergon, "YOU! MWAHAHAAHAHHAAHHAHAHA!"

"Can I get ye fine gents a drink?" Bernard says, having no right to be making posts at all, but clearly willing to intrude into other people's quests (and indeed other Thanian eras) for the sake of a gold coin or two.

"You!" Lastergon fumes, rising and pointing an accusing finger in Bernard's direction, "You are one thing Epic Quests certainly don't have! I had everything under control! Everything! A perfect entry. Perfect speech and bearing. And what do you do? You fluff around with gelds and commons and servant children who can't even bring me the right meal! I ask you, how am I supposed to keep any form of Quest together?"

The red haired man looks as if all he is missing is the popcorn.

"MWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!"

"Popcorn?" says a voice at his elbow, accompanied by a proffered bowl.
This message was last updated by the player at 17:24, Wed 06 Sept 2017.

At that moment a grizzled ranger steps out of the foliage to their left.

"Greetings Lastergon, I am Artivon Dranerious."
This message was last edited by the player at 23:02, Thu 07 Sept 2017.

A second ranger steps out behind him, with an identical outfit, but a slightly paler and less grizzled face. He gives the first ranger a look of extreme dislike.

"No, Lastergon. I am Artivon Dranerious."
This message was last edited by the player at 23:05, Thu 07 Sept 2017.

"I've got the scar on my left eye," argues the first Artivon, gesturing to it triumphantly.

"So have I," replies the second, "Big whoop."

"I think you mean, 'So have eye'," cuts in the red haired man through a mouthful of popcorn, "MWAHAHAHAHAHA!"
This message was last edited by the player at 23:08, Thu 07 Sept 2017.

The gnomish illusionist at his elbow snickers appreciatively, and raises a hand for a possible high-five.

The red haired man seems more than happy to give the gnome illusionist a high five, however, this has the unfortunate side effect of letting off a loud 'pop' and suddenly all gathered find themselves no longer outside the Durendil estate, but outside a dilapidated two-story tavern outside which a sign reads 'The Oaken Bough'.