YOLO: You Only Loot Once

Leopold von Handel had managed to drag his venture company out of the ruins of the shattered building the next morning. They were run ragged, and had certainly had enough of fighting. They managed to find some valuables and mend their wounds, though Braam’s leg was still slowing him down. Leopold looked at the young man with a mixture of calculation and pity. He liked the boy, and he was spirited, but in the world of commerce, if you can’t stand on your own, you will fall behind.

The men were packing up their sleeping gear when it hit them; the familiar stench of the undead. “Lads, I do believe the elves proved a more difficult prey than we did. Let us beat a hasty retreat.” Leopold slung his crossbow over his shoulder and prepared to run. The men started moving south, then froze as they sensed unholy shadows moving in the dim light of dawn. “Leg it, boys! Your very lives depend upon it!” The crew of the company stood between their captain and the vicious jaws of the deathly hounds that leapt from the shadows.

“I know a way out from here, follow me!” Tanthalia shouted. She seemed remarkably calm; probably a trait of her kind, Leopold mused. She pointed the way as the servants of the undead climbed to a better vantage point above the ruins that were once their shelter. Arrows started to rain down on the Marienburgers as they fled their camp. Veering off behind a corner, the she-elf directed the traders into a tunnel, the entrance to which seemed nearly invisible. The company managed to slip away from the vampire’s minions without a single casualty or serious injury. It was a good day.

In their searches, they came upon a burned out tavern. Leopold initially thought of selling the left-over stocks of beer and liquor, but figured that he and his men had earned themselves a drink. As he nodded off, in the back of his mind, he noted how odd it was that their Halfling companion, Shaydo, hadn’t had anything. He mentioned something about a sensitive gut, and a sober Leopold might have pressed further. But the drunken Leopold felt it was just an unfortunate condition.

When the company had recovered from their drunken revelry, bleary-eyed and hungover, they discovered that their gold was gone, along with their Halfling companion. The thief played his part well, and Leopold was made the sucker of the deal. He didn’t like it, but he respected the halfling’s ability to spot and seize an opportunity. It wouldn’t stop him from killing Shaydo Lightfoot on sight, though.