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Unnerved by the sudden disappearance of dragons, you walk down the somber streets of Meld- your feet taking you anywhere besides here. The whole town was affected by the absence of those little bundles of joy creeping around. Suddenly, you are yanked by your collar into an alleyway by a figure hidden by a hood."You look like someone who can put up a good fight, come with me." A hand grasps your arm and tugs you further into the cascading shadows, and down some stairs you didn't even know were there.
The first thing that you see is light- oh wow the light. Thousands of twinkling magical lights floating around the bustling underground gathering. It seems to be some sort of underground cave. Once hollowed out by an underground stream, the place now inhabits many different kinds of folk. They turn as you enter, some shuffling in their spot and others nervously trying to make conversation with the person beside them.
It is only now that you turn to look at the person who dragged you down here.
"Sorry for the sudden request," he begins, then turning to the crowd. "but I will need all the help I can get here."
"I'm sure many of you have noticed the disappearance of the dragons around- or maybe dark figures that disappeared when you tried to take a second glace at. Either way, this impairs the town, and overall my business."
"What is my business you ask? I explain it as 'bargaining those special items you can't find on the surface'- a black market kind of deal. Most of all, I should've taken out those nasty beasts when I had the chance- when they hadn't dug their claws into my resources and associates.
The dread I feel is overwhelming, and while I want my market to thrive I have a nudge they want more than just my outlawed goods. You see, they are the culprit for the missing dragons, and I don't know why they want them. That of course, is the most terrifying, and without my men to help me on the job, I needed a few mercenaries to exterminate the thralls from their layer in town."
He hands everyone a wooden spite and a hammer- the stake in particular shaped like a festive pine tree.
" If you chose to help me, I will pay you handsomely in either treasure, gold, or Ice Coins. If not! Leave and never speak of this meeting nor my business.
....
To those who have stayed, come with me- let's get suited up. Oh, and please, call me Mal."
