Midpoint

"We're here." Daemon said as the group arrived at the entrance of Midpoint

There was several massive stone buildings in front of them as the main road cut straight through it. They could tell that the city was a bit smaller than the regular Drahan cities but that didn't stop them from being impressed by the amount of foot traffic it had. There were crowds of people ranging from Humans to Tieflings and Elves that were walking down the road. 

Lydia smiled, "This is as busy as I remember!" She said cheerfully

"Midpoint....the nexus of traveling merchants...." Zaphira said as she looked at the roofs of the buildings, "We ought to make it quick or scammers will try to mess us over." 

"Of course, a Tiefling would know about scamming." Invidia scoffedd

Zaphira raised an eyebrow, "Come again?" She said, "You're talking high and mighty for someone who cooked an average stew." 

"You ate it all." Invidia snapped

"Cause I was hungry." Zaphira said, "Never said I enjoyed it." 

"I thought it was good." Azael said

"Cause you're a Monk, Azael. Monks rarely ate stuff in their temples." Zaphira said

"That's....not true." Azael frowned

"Enough." Daemon said, "Let's keep moving. Lydia, you're with me, we're going to run an errand. Invidia, Zaphira, and Azael, go and resupply." 

He tossed Zaphira a bag full of coins before walking away as Lydia reluctantly followed. 

Azael looked at the coin purse, "So....what do we buy?" 

"Beats me." Zaphira said, "I would say food and supplies....The asshole didn't even give us a list." 

"Let's not waste time then," Invidia said, "Daemon intends to leave the city before daybreak." 

"I heard the Baron is quite wealthy." Azael suddenly said

"What's that gotta do with anything?" Zaphira asked him

He shrugged, "I don't know." He said, "Just wanted to share that information." 

"You children do love to spout nonsense, let us go." Invidia said as she began to walk away

"Look at the Elf." Zaphira said with a scowl, "Thinking she can boss us around cause she's older...please, she's like 50 or something....barely getting Elven grey-hairs." 

"Elves don't get grey hairs." Azael noted

"I didn't ask you." Zaphira snapped, "Let's go." 

They both proceeded to walk away. 

***********************************************

"Why're we here?" Lydia asked Daemon as they entered a shady looking building, "What's this place?" 

"Don't worry." Daemon said as he closed the door behind him, "This guy we're gonna meet doesn't like anyone with magic, so it's just us here." 

They were in a lightly lit up room, there was nothing but a wooden counter in front of them with a candle lit; a broken down door that led to a dark room. Everything about this place was unsettling Lydia. 

"Cause of our Fury?" Lydia asked

"Right." Daemon

As he said this, someone opened the broken down door and walked into the room, standing behind the counter. 

It was a tall and lanky man with a steel mask on his face, his bloodshot eyes piercing right through Lydia as he leaned on the counter. 

"What?" His raspy voice said

"That any way to treat customers, Kort?" Daemon said as he took a step forward

"Who's this fresh meat?" the man said, "Why's she wearing Darkmoon Sect clothes?" 

"She's a Sword Apprentice, take it easy." Daemon said as he leaned on the counter, "Kort, what do you have for me?" 

"Don't tell me, you started a Party?" Kort said, "What gives?" 

"The Hightowers." Daemon said

"I wouldn't recommend that." Kort said as he reached down below the counter and pulled a back out, "That Elven Noble is sending adventurers to their deaths. The Bottom of The Death's Gullet...rumors have it that there is a Demon down there." 

"I'll try my luck." Daemon said, "Now....to business...." 

Kort pulled out a strange looking crystal from the bag, "Here." He said, "Do you know how many lives were lost just to attain this?" 

Lydia gulped, "W-What?" She said shakily

Daemon glanced at her, "Bandits." He said, "Kort here had to retrieve it from a group of Bandits north of the city." 

"Indeed." Kort said as he placed it on the counter, "You're messing with nefarious things, Daemon. I recommend you walk the other way from the Hightowers....General Rickard is waiting for the Demon to rise up so he can crush it....." 

"Demons...." Daemon said as he put a coin purse on the counter, "I don't care. I want to finish the job." 

"Do as you wish." Kort said as he took the coin and turned around, "An extra purse for the girl...." 

He knelt down and opened a small chest that was on the ground, pulling out a strange-looking gold chain, it was giving off a faint glimmer. 

Daemon sighed, "Fine." He said pulling out another coin purse

Kort handed him the gold chain as Daemon grabbed the chain. 

"What's going on?" Lydia asked

"For a Sword Apprentice, you're pretty dull." Kort said, "Charms.....you'll see what they can do." 

She looked at Daemon as he turned around and handed her the chain, "We're done here..." He said, "Let's go." 

**********************************

"You piece of shit!!!" Azael turned to see two men wrestling on the ground

"What's going on?" he said as he took a step towards them

"Don't bother." Zaphira said, "That's not our business." 

They were standing outside a building where Invidia had gone inside to buy some supplies, she had told them to wait as she won't take long. 

"But...." Azael said as he saw the two men punching each other, "Something is off..." 

Suddenly, there was a massive crowd of people that began to swarm around the two men that were constantly yelling and shouting, cursing at one of the two men. 

Zaphira raised her eyebrow, "Now that is getting interesting." She said, "I wonder what the gossip is." 

"We should interfere." Azael said

"Not necessarily." Zaphira patted him on the chest, "Let's go see." 

They both walked over to where the crowd was, across the street. They both saw as the crowd immediately parted and two men were holding one of the men that had started the fight, his face bloodied and beaten to a pulp. 

They threw him on the ground and began kicking him in the stomach. 

"Hey." Azael said as he pushed one of them off, "Enough, leave him be." 

"What's your deal?!" The man scowled as Azael crouched down and tended to the beaten man

"Azael, don't do that." Zaphira said, "We don't know the situation." 

The crowd then surrounded them and began to yell at Azael and Zaphira as the tiefling mage was pushed towards Azael, stumbling. 

"Hey!" she exclaimed, "What's your problem?!" 

"You're helping the murderer?!" a Woman yelled, "Coward! Scum!!" 

Zaphira looked down at Azael, "See?" She said

Azael stood up and gave them a frown, "Murderer?" 

"Yes!!" another man said,

"He murdered a child!"