Chapter 1, Part I: The "Mercy" Unit Origins
Aervara, a half-elf wizard from Treefyre.
Aine, an air genasi cleric from Ivor.
Ardyn, an air genasi fighter from Carracosta.
Boris Mous, a human wizard from Gilding.
Darwin Fox, a tiefling bard from Hexton Grove.
Lilith Neverwinter, a tiefling warlock from Bexton.
Mews, a tabaxi barbarian from the Gleaming Desert Hunt in the city of Lux.
Sir Hector, a human paladin from Castle Glen.
Victoro, a human rogue from Gilding.
How did such disperate people wind up as the heroes of our story? Well, you could easily give thanks to fate for bringing these brave souls together. Or, you could thank the Adventurers' Guild International, a worldwide organization that connects citizens in need with heroes ready to assist them!
This ragtag group of nine adventurers were cobbled together during an Open House at the Gilding chapter of the AGI, an event that allows solo adventurers to find a party that best fits their sensibilities. Or in the case of our heroes, just happened to be there on the same day.
The first quest they took was a menial one, given by the parents of some teenagers who had run off to become "bandits" and ambush travelers as they traversed the roads. Together, these nine adventurers found the teenage bandits, intercepted an upcoming heist the bandits were planning on the roads, and stopped them. Brave and valorous as they were, the adventurers did not kill those kids; instead, they brought them in to see justice and received their reward.
They were also surprised by an Owlbear. Using the fighter's great strategy--casters in the back (up high if possible), rogue causing distraction, frontline rushing in and tanking--they were able to take down the beast before anyone in the group sustained too much damage.
Hitmen attempted to capture Victoro. They set a pitfall trap for the group, but since the frontline was strong, they overcame it. Mews and Hector fell in, but with Mews' claws, climbing abilities, and strength to help Hector, they overcame the challenge quickly. Their skills scared off the hitmen for the time being, but they needed to have a serious chat with Victoro about it later. (Notes from Mews, the party's War Keeper.)
The party succeeded in completing their initial mission to stop the Highwayman robberies, resulting in them being officially registered under the group name "The Mercy Unit." They received their first official documented quest from Judy to meet Gericho at Moonshots in Dawnway and aid him in finding his friend, Prof. Ulysses Benson.
Upon reaching the gates of Dawnway, through some unknown magical means, they were all teleported to an unknown homestead. After investigating the building to the extent they were able, nearly setting off a magical trap involving some enchanted armor and sacrificing then retrieving a peach pit, they were all once again teleported through a painting in the dining room that, freakishly, depicted a scene of all nine adventurers sitting with a tenth member: an additional elderly dwarven man. They found themselves, very suddenly and unexplainably, at their intended location. They had somehow made it to Moonshots. (Notes from Boris Mous, the party's Archivist)