After leaving the home of her father, Frey and Darus journey to the town of Lydel, searching for independence and pride. Upon arrival, they learn that a rogue Yuan-Ti has been harassing the incoming merchants and travelers, which in turn has been beginning to affect the local economy. Finding this to be a suitable start to prove herself capable without her father, Frey decides to take on the challenge.

Meanwhile, Meri has been in town for a few days and rumors have only gotten bigger concerning the Yuan-Ti — first it was a snake-man, then it was an evil snake, then a snake-demon. With the rumors, the bounty has grown from 20 gold at the beginning of the attacks to 50 gold as of yesterday — and that money is starting to get very hard to ignore. Before she’s able to prepare for her evening set, she overhears a fighter admit to the barkeep that he would like to attempt to slay the monster, but isn’t confident he can do it alone.

Frey and Darus choose to wait just outside of town, hoping that someone will come along sooner rather than later to seek passage to somewhere else and end up engaging with the fiend. While they wait, Meri convinces the fighter, named Brutus, that she is competent in battle; they make their way out of town, toward the location of the majority of the attacks, unknowing of the shadows they have unwittingly gained.

After nearly an hour of travel, they come across a Yuan-Ti napping on the side of the road, unaware of their presence and doubly so of those following. Meri creates a distraction and Brutus charges in before the creature can react, lopping off an arm. Darus and Frey jump in, subduing the creature with multiple stabs of rapiers, daggers, and ultimately bisecting its torso with a short sword. They leave the bounty to Meri and Brutus, for glory was all that was needed.

However, returning to town, Brutus and Meri are confronted by a snake the size of a man, whom transforms before their very eyes! There was never only one Yuan-Ti after all, but that matters little as it hacks at Brutus until he falls. Darus and Frey arrive just in time to prevent his death, finishing it off with a team maneuver as it decides to retreat, once again in snake form. They return to town two hours later, with a large and beaten comrade in tow.

After receiving their bounty, they turn in to the Hungry, Hungry Hippogriff: the town’s largest tavern and most recent home to traveling Meri. She shares her suite with newfound friends and the three fall to sleep quickly in the afterglow of a day’s work well done.