In a far corner of the universe, there is a world, on that world there are several continents and on the biggest of these continents. In the middle of nowhere trapped between a dense forest and a desert wasteland there is a village. This village is actually only a couple of huts and some farms. But just outside of this village there is an inn. To sum it up; at the ass-end of nowhere there is an inn. Funny because the Ass-End is the name of this inn.

For its location in the middle of nowhere, it is surprisingly busy. A group of musicians is playing in the corner. Laughter and voices fill the room as food and ale are consumed. Attempts are made at an age-old game, yet none succeed, as the barmaids weave past people, tables and groping hands. Old men move stones around boards and talk of days long gone. To hear them speak you would think thousands of years have passed.

In the midst of all this, two men go all but unnoticed as they sit in a dark corner whispering over mugs of untouched ale. They whisper about death and betrayal, murder and the changing of fates. They whisper out of fear, fear of being heard. Their whispering is futile for they are heard.

Three hear the whispers and smile.

The man sitting at the table beside them, he hears and smiles. He smiles because he enjoys the chaos that their plans will bring. One of the barmaids hears and smiles. She smiles because she knows how insignificant their whispers are. And lastly, a man sitting alone across the room smiles. He smiles because he knows all their scheming and planning is a waste of time.

Others hear but they do not smile, mostly because they just don’t care.

As one of the barmaids slaps away a guard’s groping hand inches from its target, the door opens to let in the cold night’s air and a giant of a man with the image of a hawk displayed proudly upon his chest. A dagger is flung. The gigantic man roars for ale and meat. The slapped hand connects with the mug of an adventurer sitting at the next table knocking it to the ground.

Chaos erupts, the dagger finds its mark… and the innkeeper. The innkeeper smiles.