Brazen Wolfe Tabletop

Unfriendly Ally

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The streets of the city pulsed with restless energy as the party stepped into the open air, shaken but standing. The bounty hunter who had led the crew that hunted them, Jet, had slipped from their grasp – vanishing into the twisting alleyways before they could land the finishing blow. His presence still lingered like the scent of sweat and iron, an omen of trouble yet to come. He wasn’t gone for good. He would regroup, reassess, and return.

But the party had little time to dwell on the outcome of the fight. Their reputations hung by a thread, rumours creeping through the city like an encroaching fog. The accusation against them – false and malicious even with the evidence stacked against them – had spread fast. Too fast.

As they strode down the cobbled streets, they felt the weight of prying eyes. It felt like the whole city had turned against them, whispering suspicions and uncertainties whether directed at the party or something else remained to be seen. They weren’t fugitives – yet – but the wrong move could seal their fate and prove their guilt – only cementing their doom.

One member of the party scanned the faces in the crowd, searching for hostility, searching for recognition. A vendor tightened his grip on a sack of grain, eyes darting away. A pair of city watchmen lingered near a lamppost, discussing something in hushed tones but neither interactions seemed hostile – more uneasy. The party’s presence did not exactly go unnoticed but it wasn’t outright hostility from the whole city which was a relief.

Another party member kept their focus on the task at hand. They needed answers. Someone had orchestrated this, set them up to take the fall for the theft of the royal vaults. The bounty hunter was just the blade; they had to find the man or woman who mislead it. Then, a flicker of movement caught their attention.

Near the entrance of a quiet alley, someone stood apart from the crowd. A figure draped in unassuming cloth, blending just well enough to be overlooked – but not well enough to escape the keen eyes of those who had spent years learning when to trust their instincts.

This person wasn’t watching the streets, nor the vendors, nor the city watch. Their gaze was fixed entirely on the party. And when they noticed they’d been seen, they turned sharply and disappeared into the alley.

Without hesitation. The party followed.

They moved quickly, slipping through the narrow passage lined with damp stone and scattered refuse. The sounds of the city dulled, replaced by the echo of hurried footsteps. The figure darted through the maze-like corridors with practiced ease, leading them deeper into the underbelly of the district.

One member of the party signalled to the others. They had to be smart. If this was truly their accuser, there would be dangers ahead – perhaps more than they were ready to face.

The chase pressed on, winding through the city’s veins until the figure finally halted in an empty courtyard surrounded by towering, neglected buildings. The scent of mildew and forgotten things hung thick in the air. The figure turned to face them at last.

A young man. Thin, wiry, yet standing with quiet confidence. His clothing bore signs of wealth – not a noble’s robes, but the sort of attire worn by those accustomed to lingering in the space between legitimate dealings and more questionable pursuits.

‘I didn’t expect you to be this quick,’ he admitted, adjusting the cuff of his sleeve. ‘Though I suppose I should have.’

The party spread out slightly, cautious but prepared. One stepped forward, eyes locked on him. ‘You’ve been watching us.’

A slow nod. ‘I’ve been watching the mess you’ve found yourselves in.’ He tilted his head. ‘And the mess I know you didn’t create.’

The party exchanged glances. The person who could potentially prove their innocence and who might know who the true perpetrator is was standing before them, smug, calm, unconcerned. Not a fleeing coward, but someone who had the look of someone with a winning hand.

A knowing smile curled his lips, but he did not speak immediately. Instead, he took a slow step forward, hands clasped behind his back. ‘You’ve not upset anyone in particular – just in the right place at the right wrong time. You provided an opportunity for someone to slip away unnoticed without drawing any attention to them.’ He glanced toward the exit of the courtyard. ‘These people wanted to make sure they control every aspect of this situation. And powerful people don’t like problems they cannot control. So they set you up and like other bounty hunters I get a chance at a big reward for bringing you in.’

The party braced themselves. The tension grew, the silence stretching long enough to be unbearable.

Then, he exhaled and offered a shrug. ‘But, lucky for you, I’m not particularly interested in bringing in the wrong people. But if you can help me get the right people we can help each other out.’

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