Atrus looked up from one of his books and around the small area that was the Greenspring Tavern. The town of Greenspring wasn't that big, but it was close around to one of the bigger cities to get word on just about anything, whether it be Someone looking for a bodyguard of sorts, or in some cases rumors that sound more like children's tales than anything else. He was by no means someone who would simply dive head first in to the unknown just to see the possibility of walking away rich, but one of the rumors that had spread to the tavern had interested him to some fair extent.

As the tale went, one of the kings from more than a century ago had hidden all of his family's treasure in one of the ancient kingdoms that hid underground. The legend of the kingdoms was just that, a legend, and it had been so long that no one even remembers the existence of such a thing. If it were even possible to have such a thing hiding underground, it surely would have been destroyed at some point in the time that even is someone did find it, it would not be salvageable and in the end, worthless.

The same rumor had been told to his ears in a number of different ways in the past few months, and he did his research to find anything about underground kingdoms only to find nothing. But this wasn't like the regular nothing where not even a single word relevant would appear, but instead they would just suddenly stop. Everything he had looked at that had been made one hundred years before all talked very breifly about these kingdoms. It any of them were talked about directly it would suddenly stop and change to another subject. He now knew that they existed and he wanted to find them.

He had even gone as far as to ask about the rumors and learn more, and from what he had heard the kind was not a dumb man, and even built excess kingdoms just to lead anyone away that wanted his treasures... Now Atrus was waiting. Waiting for someone to answer the ads that he had asked all of the traders to give out when they went to the more populated cities and some of them even traveled to the kingdoms. His eyes were practically glued to the door as he waited for someone much like himself, seeking some sort of adventure and a reward that was well worth the search.

The only things he was lacking were the people needed for such a quest, and the location of the kingdoms. He knew very little about it, but from what he had heard they were scattered all over what they knew as the world. the possibilities of where they could be were endless, the tundra, the forests, the heart of the mountains, anywhere. He only hoped that something came along and pushed him in the right direction.

"What do you mean I can't come in?!" The shrill, almost squeakily adorable voice came from somewhere around the portly tavern keep's stomach. The Gnome was barely over four feet tall, atop her dark hair perched a pair of goggles and slung across her back was a some how cute, yet wicked looking scythe.

"You blew up my kitchen not a fortnight ago!" The man glowered down at the pink cheeked, black and purple clad creature in his door way. "You're a menace and you're not setting ONE SINGLE TOE back inside my tavern!"

"It's still standing isn't it?! It was ONE teeeeeeennnsssyyy explosion! I can't help it was a bad squirrel. The building's still standing, isn't it?! You're still using the kitchen!" Kollista whined, stamping one her foot to little sound effect. The bell attached to what appeared to be a collar around her neck jingled a little with the motion. She crossed her arms and stared down the man with heterochromic eyes, "I need to get in to answer an ad for adventurers! YOU ARE SINGLE-HANDEDLY KEEPING ME IN GREENSPRING RIGHT NOW!!"

Several other patrons, those who had had the experience of meeting the little warlock in their own places of business turned to glare at the tavernkeeper at her loud proclamation. The large man turned several shades of red before finally standing aside murmuring various things about getting her out of town the sooner the better and pitying any party that picked her up. She didn't care. What did that silly human know about her, anyway? Nothing. Not a thing. She smiled sweetly and skipped inside, "Thank you. Hmm... I wonder who he could beeee~"

The young mage's head was just about to sink back in to his book until he heard screeching in such a high pitched voice that his head was forced to pick up and look at the door. He sat on the opposite side of the tavern and watched as the man owning the tavern yell with anger at a figure that he couldn't yet see. Hearing the word 'Adventure,' Atrus knew that this woman, assuming she was a woman anyways, was here about the ad he had given out to the traders and merchants to spread word. He kept his eyes on the man until he moved aside to let her in. His eyes focused to the incredibly short woman who had just entered.

Atrus wasn't all that tall, he stood a little over five and a half feet, but he knew short when he saw it, and she was exactly that. Of course appearances weren't everything, but it was the first thing he noticed so he couldn't help but dwell just a little on that fact. Seeing her skip inside, and despite her dark clothing, she seemed to give off an odd sort atmosphere that was just the slightest bit pleasant. After a moment of sitting there after she skipped inside, Atrus set his book down and got out of his seat, walking over to the young woman who proclaimed that she was here for adventure!

The Gnome nearly collided with a man that walked up to her from a near by table. Adjusting her goggles from her sudden stop, she looked up at the man who, like almost all adults and most children, dwarfed her in height. She gave a somewhat embarrassed giggle, "Sorry 'bout that! I didn't mean to almost run in to you. Maybe you're the man who sent out the ad for adventurers?"

She didn't pause for more than a breath before holding her small hand up for a handshake or a clasping of forearms, whichever the human before her preferred. Grinning broadly, she was clearly full of excitement. "My name is Kollista Lilith Nightbane! I'm a Gnome, well technically still a Gnomeling. I'm only 70... But I am a Journey rank now! So I can go out and adventure while I study my crafts! I'm here because of the ad for adventurers. I'd love to go on one, but my auntie always told me I shouldn't go alone. So here I am!"

Merek wandered into the quaint little town, his face salty from the long walk. His back ached, and his legs burned, but yet he was spurned on to keep walking. In a larger village to the North, he heard of a man looking for companions in a quest of his. While Merek was not the sort to band together with others, he was no doubt intrigued by the journey. This had brought him here, walking the road into the town of Greenspring, looking for somewhere the man would be.

The village was rather normal sized for a town, not the smallest he had seen, but he had to search around for the Tavern. A tavern was usually the place people gathered for business, so there likely was one here. He was interrupted from his search by a commotion, what he thought must've been a mugging. Turning the corner of a building, however, led him to where the sound was coming from. Merek grinned; a child was trying to get into the tavern, evident from the aroma of ale that drifted through the open door, and was getting quite worked up about it. Merek couldn't hear what was being said, and was shocked; the man was letting the child in! To a tavern!

Merek shook his head, but minded his own business. He had found the tavern, so he was set. Opening the door of the establishment, thick plumes of smoke hit him in the face, but he shook it off. Inside, he raised his voice over the loud chatter.

"I am looking for a man in need of aid." Hopefully, if the man Merek was looking for was here, he would be called over. If not, perhaps there was some other work he could find around here. His coinpurse was dangerously light, the reward of his last hunt nearly all spent up, and he needed a job.

Atrus nodded as she woman in front of her asked him if he was the one sending the word out about an adventure. Although people spoke about it like it was a fairy tail, he knew that the underground kingdoms were real, and although he wanted to carry untold riches out with him, he couldn't carry it all and would probably need help getting there. He hadn't talked or even been around gnomes before, so he was somewhat surprised to hear that being 70 years of age was considered pretty young for her race. He shook hands with the gnome and smiled at her. "Well, your aunt is right, and for this kind of adventure going along would be the worst thing to do." He nodded once more and let go of her hand, allowing his to fall down to his side while his other held his ornate staff. When speaking he would sometimes motion it around, but he had to stop especially when in public so that he would not hurt anyone.

"The quest we'll be going on is-" he was interrupted by a man who also said he was here for Atrus. He was glad to have a group of people, and although it wasn't many, they should be fine together. Atrus motioned for the man to walk over to himself anf the gnome and smiled slightly. "I was the one who asked for assistance. You will be payed well if all goes right, but if not you will still be a legend for what we will be doing. Follow me." He motioned for the two to follow him back to his small table so they could sit down, get a few drinks, and maybe a bite to eat before they left. Atrus sat back down at his chair and looked to the gnome and the fellow human, resting his staff on the table so he wouldn't have to hold it.

"As I said before, the quest will be big, and there is little chance that we'll walk away empty handed. Before anything else I want to make sure that the two of you are willing to delve in to the deepest parts of the earth in hopes of walking away so rich you could start your own empire and conquer the world." Of course he was exaggerating that, but the tone that he said it all in made sure that they knew he was stretching out the truth.

Kollista hopped up in to a chair around the table that was indicated by the human with the staff. Another mage? She wondered to herself, contemplating what, were he such, he might study. Unable to reach the ground, she swung her legs back and forth as she listened to the man who had called for them. The other human interested her as well. Most non-Gnomes did, really. She'd not seen much outside her own kind until she left the mountain settlements for other territories. Granted, by "left" it was generally understood to her kind that she was unceremoniously cast out on her arse into the outer lands. She was pretty aware of the fact as well, not that she particularly cared. Especially at that moment, as she became enthralled by the thought of traveling to the farthest reaches and deepest parts of the world for this adventure.

She attempted to stop a passing barmaid, who looked down at the Gnomeling and cringed but obliged herself to stop. She blatantly refused Kollista any alcohol, citing it's combustible and flammable properties, to many grumblings of the warlock. With a small sigh, she restored her cheerful demeanor and asked for a plate of whatever was for lunch- sans anything green- and a glass of milk. While the barmaid took everyone else's orders, Kolli took the opportunity to flash an almost-creepily cute grin at the other two and her voice changed to a somewhat shadowier tone, "You two can split most of my share. I don't care much for riches. I want to go on an adventure for... other opportunities! Of course, I'll keep a little of most anything shiny that could be of use for alchemical purposes, or that could purchase various items for esperiments, but no more than I really need."

As though the slight change in demeanor never occurred, she smiled twice as brightly and giggled, "You can definitely count me in!"

Merek followed the man to a table in the tavern, glad he had not missed the meeting. He had taken his time wandering on his way here, and he was sure he must have been too late, and that the party had not left just yet. Merek cast a glance at the child that had been allowed into the tavern, and nearly choked when he found she was here for the same quest as him.

He sat heavily on the chair, sighing in relief as his legs immediately relaxed from the long walk. He was getting on in years, and his adventures had taken a toll on his body. Merek listened to the man as he spoke of the rewards of the journey, weighing the risks. If the man was not lying, and this quest would set them up for life, there had to be more to it. Waving off the barmaid as she asked for his order, he questioned the man. "While this does sound lucrative, what is the job? This is not a simple quest, or you would not have actively sought help. And who are we doing this for?" His interest was piqued, but he would not walk into this blind. He had made that mistake before, and never without any lasting consequences.

"Hold on, hold on. Before as start getting on the mission, I think we should all just take a break and introduce ourselves." He made a quick decision and stalled giving out the information about the quest that they were to be going on. He wanted to see just how much suspense he could build up, and he wondered if it would actually work. He was glad to hear that the Gnomling in front of him was an alchemist, but the way that she had said that she was going for 'other opportunities' had just seemed out and out of place. He wanted to press on it further but saw that it would be useless in the end and he would simply find out later on.

He looked to the barmaid and simply waved her away, not needed a drink or anything as of yet. "Well, I guess I should start this off. I'm Atrus Talan, and I'm a Human Mage. I'd prefer to just leave it at human, so don't ask any further on that. I grew up in a town filled to the brim of mages, some of you may or may not have heard about the town of Sayrill. I came to GreenSpring a few years ago to make a nice living in a place where Mages were few, and I hope to use this quest to make sure that I'll have my name in a book somewhere."

"I guess I can introduce myselfs again. My name is Kollista Lilith Nightbane. I am a Gnome. Normally, a gnomeling of my age would be in training for at least another twenty years before becoming a Journeyman and getting to go out and esplore, but almost fifteen years ago Master Bonefinger said there was nothing more he could teach me. So, he gived me my goggles and my scythe and told me to go out and learn on my own." Kollista grinned rather broadly at her tale of supposed prowess. Her little feet tapped a rhythm against the legs of her chair as they swung back and forth and heterochromic blue and green reguarded the two humans for the briefest of moments before she added to the one that was not Atrus- who already knew her age, "Oh, and don't let my size and manners confuses you. I am, almost certainly, quite a bit older than either of you."

Her milk was set in front of her a moment later she took a sip before realizing she had forgotten, "Oh dear, I'm being a scatterbrain. I'm a mage too!"

Merek listened to the others introduce themselves. The two were mages, and the girl was a gnome rather than a child (although the differences were slim). He nodded, thinking they would have some advantages Merek could never have. "Then I guess it is my turn. My name is Merek Aesland, and I am just a human. I have no magic like you, but I am skilled with a sword. For a long time, I have made a living by hunting the creatures that plague the land, animals and monsters too much for normal hunters. I am entering the final stages of my career, hopefully, and I expect this journey to be my last." Merek tightened his brow. "I will ask again. Before I can accept this mission, what is it's objective? I will not put my hide on the line for an unworthy cause, regardless of the reward. Are we battling an evil warlock that has wronged the benefactor? Are we gathering his groceries?"

Atrus smiled at both of their introductions, and he knew that with two others, it will make things so much easier in certain aspects. He took a moment for the new information to sink in before speaking, much less moving. He leaned forward in his chair a little and looked at the two of them, knowing that this quest, if gone right, will set all three of them up for the rest of their lives and most of the afterlife. "Well, it's nice to meet the two of you, and now that I'm sure that you aren't just some 'new to the world teens' I know that you won't run away the second things get bad." He paused for yet another moment and smiled. "My friends, we're going to find the treasure of the king of the mountain!" He laughed lightly and then shrugged, unsure if that was his actual title or not. "Well, he may or may not be called that, but we're going to do a lot of traveling, over ground as well as under, and if everything goes right then we'll all walk away rich!"

Kollista stifled a disturbing, child-like giggle at the mention of an evil warlock and remained silent as Atrus answered the Human Merek's questions, sort of. She seemed patiently thoughtful as she munched the meal she had ordered. It was a strange sight given all the energy she had perviously displayed. Sipping her milk again before she spoke, she asked, "So, you are the benefactor and we are playing treasure hunter, correct?"

Her wide heterochromic gaze of green and blue swept the tavern occasionally, as if she were looking for something or someone. However, she was yet to find it (or was simply being paranoid) and continued, "Also it is quite nice to meet you both. A Gnome is always happy to have new te- friends."