Sebastian followed Rond through the bustling, narrow streets of the vilge, the midday sun beating down on his neck. The sounds of bcksmiths' hammers cnging against anvils, the cries of merchants hawking their wares, and the general hubbub of vilge life gradually faded as they approached their destination: the 'Golden Barrel' Inn. It wasn't the *only* inn in the vilge, but it was, by far, the most popur with the adventuring crowd, a fact that did little to soothe Sebastian's growing apprehension.

  As they pushed open the heavy, oak door, a wave of sound and smells washed over Sebastian. The inn was a dimly lit, cavernous space, filled with the boisterous chatter of adventurers, the clinking of tankards, and the raucous ughter that only copious amounts of ale could produce. The air was thick with the mingled scents of stale beer, woodsmoke from the rge, crackling hearth that dominated one wall, and the surprisingly savory aroma of a stew simmering in a massive iron cauldron suspended over the fmes. Rough-hewn wooden tables and benches, scarred with countless spills, knife marks, and the occasional scorch mark, were scattered haphazardly across the floor, occupied by a motley assortment of patrons.

  Sebastian scanned the room, taking in the details. A group of burly dwarves, their beards braided with intricate patterns, were engaged in a boisterous arm-wrestling contest, their roars of ughter echoing through the room. A pair of elven archers, their faces serene and aloof, sat quietly in a corner, polishing their bows with meticulous care. A lone bard, perched precariously on a stool near the back, plucked a mournful tune on a battered lute, his voice almost lost in the din. And, in a shadowy corner, a group of men in dark cloaks huddled together, their faces obscured by deep hoods, their voices low and conspiratorial. *They*, Sebastian noticed with a shiver, seemed to be watching *him*. He quickly averted his gaze.

  Rond, seemingly unfazed by the cacophony, led Sebastian towards a retively quiet corner, where a massive figure sat alone, nursing a tankard that looked comically small in his hands.

  He was a wall of a man, broad-shouldered and barrel-chested, with muscles that strained against the seams of his worn leather jerkin. His beard, a dark, tangled mass that reached his chest, looked like it was made of wire and completely obscured his mouth, making it impossible to tell if he was frowning or… well, frowning. His eyes, a cold, steely gray, scanned Sebastian from head to toe, offering no hint of friendliness, but radiating an aura of quiet, almost unsettling competence. *The kind of competence that came from breaking bones and ending lives*. A jagged, white scar, a memento of some long-forgotten battle, bisected his left cheek, a silent testament to the violence he had both witnessed and inflicted. He made no move to greet them, simply continued to stare at Sebastian with an unnerving intensity.

  Sebastian felt a weight settle in the pit of his stomach. It wasn't fear, exactly, but a profound sense of *unease*. This man was a force of nature, a walking embodiment of war, and Sebastian, with his herbs and his potions, felt utterly out of pce. He unconsciously straightened his posture, trying to appear taller, more confident, than he felt.

  "Sebastian, this is Markus," Rond introduced, his voice booming over the din, seemingly oblivious to the palpable tension radiating from the warrior. "Our guardian. Strong as an oak, and reliable as a rock. He keeps us alive, mostly". He added the st part with a wry chuckle.

  Markus finally shifted his gaze from Sebastian to Rond, a slight, almost imperceptible nod his only acknowledgment. He didn't offer his hand, didn't smile, didn't even grunt. He simply *looked*. Then, he turned his attention back to Sebastian. His voice, when he finally spoke, was as deep and resonant as the rumble of distant thunder, a sound that seemed to vibrate in Sebastian's chest.

  "Pleasure, Sebastian," Markus said, the words sounding more like a statement of fact than a genuine greeting. "Heard you're an expert in botany. Your knowledge *will* be useful." There was a subtle emphasis on the "will," as if it were a command, not a suggestion.

  Sebastian managed a weak smile, feeling his palms begin to sweat. "Thank you, Markus," he replied, trying to keep his voice steady. "It's… an honor to join the team. I'll do my best to contribute." He hoped his nervousness wasn't too obvious.

  As they settled into the corner, Markus continuing to stare, Rond cpped a hand on Sebastian′s back. "Rex d," Rond said, his eyes twinkling. He noticed Sebastian′s unconfort. "Markus is just... intense. Dont mind him"

  Before Sebastian could reply, another figure approached their table. This was Liam, and he was, in almost every way, the opposite of Markus.

  Where Markus was all bulk and stillness, Liam was lean and restless. His face, deeply tanned and weathered by sun and wind, was creased with ugh lines, and a thin, pale scar that cut across his right eyebrow gave him a roguish, almost dangerous charm. His dark hair, tied back in a messy ponytail that constantly threatened to escape its bonds, framed a face that seemed perpetually on the verge of a grin. He moved with a fluid grace, a catlike agility that hinted at speed and dexterity. He extended a hand towards Sebastian, his fingers long and nimble, the fingers of a thief or a cardsharp.

  "So *you're* Sebastian," Liam said, his voice a smooth, melodic tenor, a stark contrast to Markus's rumbling bass. His grin was wide and infectious, and his eyes, a bright, almost startling blue, twinkled with a pyful, mischievous spark. But there was also something else there, a flicker of something sharper, something that suggested a mind that was always working, always calcuting. "Rond's been singing your praises. Said you know your herbs. Gd to have you aboard, mate. With your brains and our brawn", he gestured expansively to himself and Markus, who remained impassive, "we'll be unstoppable. Or, at least, slightly less likely to die horribly". He punctuated the statement with a wink.

  Sebastian shook his hand, noting that Liam's grip, while not as crushing as he'd expected, was surprisingly firm. "The pleasure's all mine, Liam," he replied, feeling a little more at ease. "I hope I can live up to the… expectations."

  "Don't you worry about that," Liam said, cpping him on the back, a gesture that was considerably less forceful than Rond's. "We're a pretty forgiving bunch. As long as you don't get us all killed, you'll be fine". He grinned again, but this time, Sebastian noticed a hint of steel beneath the pyful exterior. *This one*, he thought, *is more dangerous than he looks*.

  "So," said Rond, breaking the brief silence that followed. He retrieved a much-folded and creased map from inside his jerkin, spreading it carefully on the table. It was a detailed map of the surrounding region, showing the vilge, the forest, and various ndmarks, some marked with ominous symbols. "Let's get down to business. We need a pn". He began to expin. "The vilgers have reported increased goblin activity, specifically here," he tapped a location on the map marked with a crude drawing of a cave, "near the old ruins. They're raiding farms, stealing livestock, and generally making a nuisance of themselves. Our job is to find their ir, assess their numbers and their strength, and, *if possible*, determine their intentions. We are *not*, I repeat, *not* to engage them in combat unless absolutely necessary. We're explorers, not exterminators."

  "A sensible pn," said Markus, his voice a low rumble. "Direct confrontation with a goblin horde is... unwise".

  Liam, however, looked slightly disappointed. "No goblin sying?", he asked, with a mock pout. "But I sharpened my knives and everything".

  Rond shot him a warning look. "No unnecessary risks, Liam. We stick to the pn. Reconnaissance only. Understood?"

  Liam sighed dramatically. "Fine, fine", he said. "But if a goblin *happens* to trip and fall on my bde... well, that's hardly my fault, is it?"

  Sebastian, listening to the exchange, felt a renewed wave of apprehension. He had hoped for a purely scientific expedition, a chance to study the local flora, perhaps collect a few rare specimens. But it was becoming increasingly clear that this was going to be more dangerous than he had anticipated. He opened his mouth to ask a question, but Rond cut him off.

  "Sebastian," he said, turning to the herborio, "your role will be crucial. We need you to identify any pnts that might be useful to us, either as medicine, as poison, or as a means of concealment. We also need you to be on the lookout for any signs of goblin activity – tracks, discarded food, unusual disturbances in the vegetation. You have a keen eye, I trust?"

  "I... I believe so", Sebastian replied, trying to sound confident. "I'm familiar with most of the pnts in this region, and I'm a good observer". He hoped he wasn't overstating his abilities.

  "Good", said Rond. "Then we're agreed. We'll follow the Whisper Creek upstream, as it's the most likely route the goblins would take to and from the ruins. Liam, you'll scout ahead, using your… *unique* skills to ensure we don't stumble into any ambushes".

  Liam grinned, a fsh of white teeth against his tanned skin. "Leave it to me, Captain", he said. "I'll be so quiet, even the squirrels won't know I'm there". He winked at Sebastian, then, with a speed that belied his casual demeanor, he was gone, melting into the crowd before Sebastian could even blink.

  Rond turned to Markus. "Markus, you'll be our rearguard. Keep an eye on our fnks, and make sure nothing sneaks up on us. And try not to crush any of Sebastian's precious herbs, eh?"

  Markus nodded, his expression unchanging. "Understood".

  Rond then addressed Sebastian. "You'll stick with me, d. I'll keep you safe, and you can point out anything interesting you see".

  Sebastian nodded, feeling a mixture of relief and anxiety. He was gd to be under Rond's protection, but he also knew that he would be expected to pull his weight.

  The rest of the afternoon was spent in preparation. They gathered their supplies: sturdy backpacks, bedrolls, waterskins, flint and steel, rope, and a variety of weapons – a short sword for Rond, a pair of daggers for Liam, and a massive warhammer for Markus, which he hefted with surprising ease. Sebastian, feeling conspicuously unarmed, added a small knife to his belt, more for utility than for combat. He also packed a selection of his most useful herbs and potions: healing salves, antidotes, and a few concoctions that could be used to create diversions or conceal their scent.

  As the sun began to set, casting long shadows across the vilge, the three adventurers stood outside the 'Golden Barrel', ready to depart. The air was cooler now, and a slight breeze rustled the leaves of the trees.

  "Right, then", said Rond, cpping his hands together. "Let's get this show on the road. We'll make camp a few miles outside the vilge, and then enter the forest at first light. Any questions?"

  Sebastian hesitated. "Just one", he said. "What if... what if we *do* encounter goblins? What's the pn?"

  Rond sighed. "The pn, Sebastian", he said, "is to *avoid* them. But if we can't... well, then we'll do what we have to do. We'll survive". He looked at Markus, who nodded grimly, and then at the empty space where Liam had been standing only moments before. "And we'll rely on each other. That's the only way we're going to get through this".

  He pced a hand, *briefly*, on Sebastian's shoulder, a gesture of reassurance. "We leave at dawn. Rest well. You'll need it".

  Liam, who had reappeared as silently as he had vanished, gave Sebastian a brief, almost apologetic smile. "See you tomorrow, Sebastian. Try not to dream of goblins… or anything else that might bite". He winked, and for a moment, Sebastian thought he saw a flicker of something akin to sympathy in his eyes.

  Sebastian nodded, returning a nervous, uncertain smile. "Likewise", he managed to say, his voice barely a whisper.

  As he watched the two adventurers disappear into the gathering dusk, Sebastian couldn't shake the feeling that this journey was going to be far more complicated, and far more dangerous, than he had ever imagined. The forest loomed before him, a vast, dark, and unknowable entity, and he knew, with a chilling certainty, that it held secrets he wasn't sure he was ready to face. He was no longer just a simple herborio. He was, for better or worse, an adventurer. And his adventure had just begun.