"Gather round, people!" A strong, purposeful voice rang through the expedition camp, drawing everyone's attention to a tall, muscular woman standing on a wooden bench. Conversations cut off abruptly as the group turned to face her. "Now, I know you all think you know the plan, but I'm going to make sure." Her gaze swept over the semi-circle of adventurers—about thirty in total. "We're heading on a ten-day excursion into the Devouring Valley, so I need every one of you alert at all times. That means no messing around and no stupid risks." Her eyes lingered on a few particular faces as her voice cut through the crowd. "If you run into something you can't kill with absolute certainty, you turn tail and run. Am I clear?"

  The group shouted their confirmation, and she nodded, satisfied. "Good, because if you don't, we'll be hauling your bodies back instead. Do not risk your life, or anyone else's."

  Reaching into the pocket of her knee-length leather coat, she pulled out a deep blue orb and tapped it. It gave off a low hum, casting a faint light as a map of the valley and surrounding regions shimmered in the air. She pointed to the centre. "This is our target. A strong, unidentified magical reading was detected in this area." She channelled magic into the orb, zooming in on the spot. "The area is teeming with dangerous creatures rated at a minimum of 'D' rank, so—"

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  A cry cut her off. "'D' rank minimum? Are you serious? Most of us can barely handle 'E' rank! This is suicide for a group this small!"

  Murmurs of agreement rippled through the crowd. The woman fixed her gaze on the source of the outburst—a man in full plate armour. "Quiet!" Her steel boot slammed down on the bench, sending splinters flying as it creaked under her weight. "Didn't you hear me? The guild is fully aware of the risk, and so are you—or did you all just see the reward and agree without a second thought?"

  Like chastened students, several of them dropped their heads, some scuffing their boots against the dirt. She sighed, pressing a hand to her face. "For Caldris' sake... Look, if you stay sharp and stick together, you'll be fine. I've been through this valley before. Most of the creatures here are solitary, and they're as likely to fight each other as they are to bother with us." This seemed to ease some of the tension in the crowd. She nodded confidently. "Now, let's talk about formations. Then everyone, get some rest—we've got a long day of travel ahead."