As you talk with the other chosen few, Anya enters the inn, a glib smile on her face. She pulls two seats together, face to face, and sits down restfully, an arm draped over the back of one chair. "Thank you for waiting gentlemen, I had some" she smiles, "tasks to take care of." She shoots a look at the bartender. "Leave," she says harshly, and he obeys, silenced. She turns slyly to you and pulls a scroll out of her belt. She spoke with heavy sarcasm and general disregard for the weight of her words, "I'm sure you'd all like a bit of an explanation, so I'll tell you a bit about Laudicus. He has this fascination with the old Seven Shards legend, are you familiar with it? No? Well, it says that there was once a great Lich Emperor, whom, with the power granted him by a black crystal, took over the land across the sea and slaughtered and pillaged and what not and so on: horrible things. So seven virtuous and powerful men came along, stole the crystal away from the Emperor and broke it into Seven Shards. Each was entrusted with one and swore to never see each other again, lest be tempted to join the pieces together and have the power that a whole crystal can bequeath. Well, Laudicus believes that this story is true, and has spent a large portion of his vast fortune on locating the shards." She sat up and peered deviously. "This is where it gets interesting. He's actually located two of the shards, and is making progress on a third as we speak." She played with the scroll in her hand. "This is where you come in. You may have noticed an extremely large forest on the edge of town? Well, scenic as it is, there is also a road that leads into it. It's not very well kept, as the locals dare not enter and such, but it's about the only path in these parts not blocked by six story trees." She leaned forwards. "At the end of this road is Thornsgate. A thriving city in it's day, it's said that when a Shard was brought there, the very flora revolted, and the metropolis has been taken over by roots and vines and all things green. According to Stene's information there is still some sort of cult operating there, but otherwise it's abandoned." She handed the scroll to Zem and said to the group, "This is a map. You will know you've found the city when you pass through a thorny gate, and from there you must find the entrance to the catacombs where the Shard is believed to be."
She stood up. "Well gentlemen, I'll leave you to it. I suggest you buy supplies necessary here in Braethwick."
"Will we be compensated?"
Anya smiled. "You may keep any treasure you find in the dungeon, with the exception of the Shard." She started to walk away, but turned and called out "Barkeep? You may return now." As he waddled into the room she turned to leave, but remembered something. "And when your job is done, place the Shard in Braethwick fountain. I assure you, we'll come immediately." With a last twisted smirk she left into the overcast day, and rain began to fall.