The adventurers shifted uneasily, weighing the Fairy Maiden's words, as she simply beamed in impish beauty, afloat in her circle. Not one wanted to look at another as Fear, Pride, and Duty went to war in their heads, and chased each other across their features. Well, all but one, that is.
Firth the Mirth scratched at his beard, and then shifted from one foot to the other as he waited for the others to say something. Finally, he could wait no more.
"Ah, to the Hells with it - I'll go with you, lassie!" he said as he stepped forward, only to be brought up short by a gloved hand on his arm.
"Are you completely insane, Firth?" asked the gloved hand's owner, her voice rising with each word. Still facing towards the Fairy Circle, Firth twisted his lips into his trademark smile. "Not at all!" he quipped and tried to take another step forward, just before getting slapped in the face by the gloved hand's partner.
"Bloody Hells, woman! What'd ye do that for!" he yelped, glaring down at his attacker, who glared right back.
"What? Really?! You just about hie off into a Fairy's Circle, Luck Be Damned, and wonder at why I tried to slap some damned sense into you?" The woman shot back. "You know what'll happen if you take even a single step into that Circle!"
Firth rubbed his jaw. "Aye, Han, I do know! Drinking and Dancing and a wee bit of Debauchery!" He said as he leered at the floating Fairy Maiden, who winked back.
Han looked at him aghast, and then quickly looked at the rest of their companions, all of whom studiously ignored her gaze. Firth saw the hurt look that crossed her features, and his expression softened a little. Gentlely he pried he fingers from where they still gripped his bicep, and held her hand in his two.
"Look, Hanners," he said softly when she looked up him. "One of us must enter that Circle so that the others may receive Raang's Torc. Now, I'm a lousy bloody thief and an even worse bard-". A round of coughs and snorts from his circled companions interrupted him, but he only raised an eyebrow before continuing. "-meaning I am the most expendable one here. And let's face it, the last time I got laid was eight years ago on my 30th birthday!"
Han facepalmed with her free hand. "Seriously? You're doing this just to get laid?" She asked, looking from Firth to the Fairy. Firth paused for a long moment looking at the Maiden, who smiled and coquettishly and blew a kiss, before replying.
"You're damned right I am." Looking back at Han, he continued. "And it's not just getting laid! It's practically every man's - and that of about one-in-ten women - fantasy to have sex with a Fairy Maiden! I mean, look at her!" he said pointing to the Maiden, who stretched languidly to show off her form.
There was a visible shifting among the other adventurers at this display, and Han rolled her eyes. "Oh, whatever!" She crossed her arms. "But cross that circle, and you'll be gone from the Human Lands for years, decades even!"
Firth ran his fingers through his thinning hair. "Yeah, I know. And so what? I have no family, and no friends worth mentioning. The only reason I'm here at all is because the pay's better than busking all month down on Beggar's Notch." He shrugged a final time. "Look, I'm going!" He said and stepped into the circle.
The moment his foot touched the other side the Fairy Maiden grabbed his hand and started dancing him around the Circle. Faster and faster they went until the two figures were just a blur, and a whirlwind howled silently in the Circle. Then there was a blinding flash, and Firth, the Maiden, and the Circle were gone, and Raang's Torc was sitting on the forest floor.
