Sellsword's Gambit

 So our story takes place right on the border of the human kingdom of (undecided) The largest and most westward of the human Kingdoms. It's size and neglectful monarchy often leaving the frontier in flux for centuries. the land changing hands so often that there was no chance to develop them before they were lost again. the small town of Tuta the only settlement left outside of Army forts and castles. Only even remembered on maps for the ruined cathedral of a long forgotten civilization.

There are a few different sorts of races outside of the human lands but they rarely mixed and tensions often spilt over, (...) often watching from the ramparts as host's of beasts and slaving parties would pillage the frontier often clashing with each other within the (...) Border. Finally the (...) cavalry was sent West in a rare lapse in the kingdoms woes on the Eastern frontier. They conducted a counter raid, spending months in hostile lands until finally catching and slaughtering a slaving convoy worth returning home with. Not only were there many a rescued (...) citizen but amongst these slaves were a group of elves. Elves came from a land so far away most assumed they were myth, renowned for their beauty and unique abilities of healing magic they were truly a sight to behold. 

The Elves set up in the old cathedral and aided the humans in their wars and helped bring a fragile peace to the surrounding area. The small town exploded in it's popularity becoming a melting pot of the races and cultures, The prospect of healing magic made it a hot bed for adventurers and sell swords like you and by now it was a bustling city of traders, smiths, etc. 

But the reality on the ground is rather different, The cathedral is run like a high class Brothel, the closest thing to healing magic you've ever seen was a weak elixer used to dull a dying mans pain. And even something like that was out of most's price range, life here was pretty tough, and dangerous without a sword. You spent most nights in one of the poorer inns, cradling your coin purse as you slept, dreaming of what it might be like inside the great cathedral looming over the city. Long since expanded. 

Sometimes you cant help but drift off to sleep thinking of the rumors surrounding the Elves magic, apparently they can reset bone with their touch, weave and stich even the worst of wounds back together with a dance of their hands, that even sharing a bath with one is enough to make a man feel 10 years younger. Then there are darker rumors, defective half breeds, blood magic... It's said that they can even bring people back from the dead... 

How much of it was true or not would remain a mystery, As war abruptly shattered life in the border city, a rag tag band of mercenaries and sell swords and the local garrison were going to be little match for a marauding army, and in spite of your somewhat best efforts and many of your braver fellows lives, it's clear the fight is lost, You flee just before the route, under the guise of helping one of the garrison soldiers back towards the cathedral, this was for you to escape more than it was to help the man, and as soon as you'd done enough you were ready to flee, but something possessed you, you'd never even been this close to the cathedral, and you might not ever get another chance to see an Elf in your life and you just have to at least peek inside. The situation is grim though, security is lapse, nobody is bothering to stop you. wounded men litter the halls and only a few are bothering to try and set up a barricade, Most are fleeing and looting. than face the doomed task ahead of them.

You're running by now, feeling your heart in your throat aimlessly running from room to room like a gawking tourist knowing this could all go so badly every minute you're staying here but you just have to see one, you have to try and save one of these creatures, they'd be incredibly valuable if nothing else, though you try to convince yourself of noble intentions, selling one could earn you more than a enough to live like a king back East. Then with the sudden creak of the door you swing open you finally see one, Stunned and plan-less as you stare at a beautiful Elf.  

(Thanks for reading... this was an idea i had with someone but it never really got off the ground so i thought i'd post it as a fun starter if nothing else, I left the names of Kingdoms, and other races etc. blank to be more tailored with specific partners)