The Setup

I decided to start their characters out like they already knew each other. No need for the awkward "oh hi, nice to meet you... so... you like killing things? me too! what a coincidence. we should hang out." bullshit.

They know each other because they are both presently employed by Yorik Talman; an alcoholic old sell sword. Yorik hires them to help escort a pair of wealthy merchant brothers; Tomax and Xamot (with a scar) to the capital with a ton of valuables. They are joined by four other men who are also under the employ of Yorik.

Along the way they bond over beating the shit out of highwaymen and losing every single mercenary save for Yorik and PC's. The merchant brothers were kept safe and soon they reach their destination; the capital city of Blegan. The merchant brothers pay well and Yorik was more than fair with their earnings, passing along the shares of the fallen mercenaries to the lone survivors (Tobin and Aust).

Drinks are on Yorik's tab and the ale flows freely. At some point one of the patrons and Yorik get into an argument, when Yorik turns away the other guy hits him with a sucker punch. The two get into it, grappling and rolling on the floor. A bar fight erupts. Just as it is starting to break up, Yorik accidentally stabs the guy fifteen times.

This lands them all in a cell in the dungeons of Blegan. The next day they meet with Aaron, the king's most trusted advisor. Aaron explains that because the king had used the services of Yorik's company in the past, and had owed some small debt, he would forgive the lawless actions of the group (murder and inciting a riot) if they would do something for him in return. (Who saw that coming? Anyone? Anyone? Oh, that's right... I'm writing this for no one but myself. This is lonely.)

A small boy found a cave near his home. He took his brother to it and his brother never came back. He took s father to it and his father never came back. He told his neighbor about it and his neighbor said "Get the hell away from me kid, you're bad luck or something. I don't want to go disappear in your godsdamned cave. Go tell the king about it or someone else, shit I don't care who; just get the fuck away from me!!"

This was not the actual dialogue, but sends the same message.

So the advisor says, "this is what the boy brought to us."

Two servants wheel out a big slab of marble. "That's fine marble," Yorik says agreeably. The advisor ignores him. The servants set the marble before him and a third one comes back with a sword lain carefully across a thick cloth. The advisor, a weak looking man, takes the sword in hand and with a flick of his wrist cuts through the marble like a hot kitchen knife through warm butter that's been sitting out on the counter for like all day on a hot day with sunlight beating right onto it but not to the point where it would melt.

BAM. That just happened. The players seem interested.