You all meet in a tavern. The Tavern of Laom, to be specific. It’s small- what can you expect from a tiny hamlet of barely triple digits?- but has been kept in immaculate form. It’s rather crowded, and you aren’t the only fledgling adventurers here. You’re not here because you’re about to be drawn into a bar fight (probably), or because you are about to meet a mysterious benefactor (you already have). Taross of Eldewick has sponsored you, fledgling dungeoneers, and he needs to send you a few documents.
“My name is Elryian”, a woman greets you at the tavern’s entrance. She is a tall, willowy human with eerily pale skin and translucent pale pink eyes. “Lord Taross has sent me here to clear up some final agenda items with you before you all set off to go exploring. Would you like to talk this over over some food? It’ll be on me.”
Leon Saber turns his face full to the left as Elryian speaks. Though she was there when the guards released his manacles, and though the arcane and archaic tattoo —that brands him a criminal still in so grand a debt of justice that it covers his left half from crown to toe — still stands ghastly and lurid; though he has grifted through Laom twice before and met her thrice with different wigs and disguises, still he ventures…
”Grub’d be good.”
The Human sorcerer sits softly and slowly, kicking his legs one at a time over his seat, exactly like a man used to heavy iron ankle apparel. He sits in a slump, and tries to shrink from the eye of others, though if not for his brand of conviction he’d be quite a fine figure.
"Food would be lovely, thanks." Riiza gives the group a sly smile and sits back casually in her chair, sizing up her companions. Her eye catches on Leon's tattoo for a moment in curiosity but she doesn't say anything about it. She gives Erhorn a small nod acknowledging the other elf at the table.
"They don't have much of a menu here, I'm afraid", Elryian says, "But the stew is wonderful. If you give me a moment, I can get some for us."
She lifts herself out of her chair. At her full height, the woman looks even more ethereal. The look is no doubt helped by her pastel blue dress, which seems to fade to nothing at its edges and shimmer in even the mutely-lit tavern. "I'll be back in only a second."
The dwarf at the table, a gruff fellow of musclebound stature and the garments of a druid, looked up, slow to respond to the rest of the talk at the table. His eyes followed the retreating woman with a suspicion that he also gives to any other humans in the tavern who take notice of him and the massive, wooden hammer he set on the floor with a heavy "THUNK" when he entered earlier.
"Wha'd'ya mean 'Artifact'?" He says in a deep, growling voice, that despite the clamor of the tavern seems to almost vibrate in your chests with its earthquake like rumbling. He leans forward, bald head glowing with sweat in the candlelight, setting his massive forearms on the table. The twisting, stylized runes carved onto the umber skin of his face seem almost to glow with a faint pulse of emerald energy, as if they possess some sort of magic.
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Hi, I'm Raccoon_Master, a young genderfluid actor, writer, explorer, and bass vocalist. Pronouns They/Them/Theirs
My Characters: Brorminthe Devout Crusher; Morgrom the Cunning Summoner;Theathe Rebellious Beauty;
Leon points at the shimmering, ethereal dress that the Lord’s agent is wearing, the slight magic that limbs its edges practically waving at him.
“Artifacts. Magic wear. Treasure. The reason tight fisted nobles are willing to sponsor those who they might otherwise disdain — if’n those sponsees might bring back more than the value of our common lives in plunder. Haven’t any of you been treasure diving for ancient’s work in ancient dungeons before?”
Elryian returns only a few minutes after she leaves, bowls of stew in hand, balancing dishes on her arms in the way a server might. "Here," she says, giving a bowl to each of you. "I have three things to discuss with your group. The first is your signature on your contracts."
Leon falls on the stew like a hyena, barely breathing as he brings spoon to mouth, spoon to mouth, spoon to mouth. With his right hand he gestures to Elyrian for a pen and the contract.
To delve is his sentence, his lawful and magical compulsion. He doesn’t even look at the contract as he signs it.
Erhorn, looks through the contract while he eats his food... "Thank you for the food, and the reading material, the other two things you mentioned are? "
For those you look through the contract's details:
At a cursory glance, the contract is fairly simple: you agree to all the risks associated with dungeoneering, cannot sue, et cetera. The juicy part is near the bottom.
As an adventurer taking on a dangerous job, you'll be paid both a salary and will be paid on commission. Daily, you will be paid 3GP (gold pieces), enough to support a comfortable lifestyle with 1GP left over. The commission part, though, is where the money is at.
A rubbing or transcription of text in the dungeon will be valued at 1GP/page
Even just bringing a trinket will net you 10GP
Common magic items will usually be 25GP
Uncommon magic items will earn you a commission of 100GP
Rare magic items are worth 1000GP
Additionally, providing context for a magic item's discovery will be worth 10GP. The contract is not specific on what context means.
The Lord of Eldewick may ask you to guard him or one of his agents should he wish to enter the dungeon. You will be reimbursed 5GP per person protected per day in exchange, with bonuses (not specified) for any encounters.
The contract mentions even rarer or unique magic items may be worth more, but are usually individually appraised, and that consumable items are worth half the usual commission. It also notes that you can buy a magic item by foregoing the commission and paying twice the commission's cast (OOC: This is basically a 25% discount).
Near the bottom of the contract, it states several requirements.
You must maintain daily contact with your agent, unless you give them advance notice or can explain why you didn't contact them in retrospect.
You must hand over any artifacts you find in the dungeon.
If you hand over no artifacts or otherwise fail to earn any commission for a month, your contract may be terminated.
In exchange for this, you are granted several things.
You will be given a 50GP bonus for signing the contract.
The Lord of Eldewick will sponsor your otherwise very costly Dungeoneering Licence.
You can take on other, short-term jobs in a dungeon as long as it does not involve you acquiring artifacts- though accompanying others to an artifact upon their request is permitted
(OOC: There was a mention of crooks. I copied this from Group A's thread. They have two crooks. I forgot to cut that.)
"The first are your dungeoneering licences. They tend to be expensive, so they're covered under your contracts. The second are these."
Elryian pulls a pair of stones out of seemingly nowhere. "These areSending Stones. I get one, you get the other. Near the bottom of your contract, it mentions you have to keep daily contact with me. This is how you do it in the dungeon; just send me a quick summary of what you did for the day before you go to bed and you're good."
“Thank you for this info. Looking this over, I think there should be a part that states in the contract for ever three items of a certain rarity that we would be credited the ability to receive one as a bonus. Basically find three keep one.
it is in our mutual employers best interest to ensure we are well equipped to further our adventuring activities.
Also what about borrowing items how will that work?” “Also when we are underground. Do you have any contacts that work for you or who might help us out -for coin most likely, and who might be trusted ? and any chance we can get a set of darkvision goggles for our human traveling companion (looks over -“no offense intended” ) we’d be better off if we’re not waving torches and lanterns for the cave dwellers to see miles away …”
Leon looks over, eyebrow raised, but says nothing. He knows someone asking for a lot so that they get a little when he knows it, and he’s not against it. While they talk, one of his hands reaches out to swipe one of the sending stones.
She tries to tackle Erhorn's questions. "If you want to borrow an item, I'd recommend asking the Lord of Eldewick himself. I can't really speak for keeping magic items, though many groups are prosperous enough to afford to keep the ones they most want. And I'd not be worried about your last qualm. Some dungeons have areas lit up by ancient illusions, and the explored part of the first floor is on some sort of day/night cycle, so your human's lack of darkvision is unlikely to be a problem. I do know a pretty reliable merchant who does trade regularly with the Lord if you want a specific magic item, but it may take a while."
Erhorn looks at the party - hearing no questions signs the contract and passes it to each party member
”thank you, it seems that our best path forward is to become expert explorers and make our future”
Looking at the dwarf “ looks like you nominated yourself to be the communicator. “
”Are we all ready to leave ? And I assume you (looking at the woman ) have the proffered signing bonus with you…”
once the signing bonus was handed out he thanks her for the meal and asks if the party is able to leave now or if they still need supplies? “I may buy two potions of healing. The under dark often makes a person responsible for their own health .”
You all meet in a tavern. The Tavern of Laom, to be specific. It’s small- what can you expect from a tiny hamlet of barely triple digits?- but has been kept in immaculate form. It’s rather crowded, and you aren’t the only fledgling adventurers here. You’re not here because you’re about to be drawn into a bar fight (probably), or because you are about to meet a mysterious benefactor (you already have). Taross of Eldewick has sponsored you, fledgling dungeoneers, and he needs to send you a few documents.
“My name is Elryian”, a woman greets you at the tavern’s entrance. She is a tall, willowy human with eerily pale skin and translucent pale pink eyes. “Lord Taross has sent me here to clear up some final agenda items with you before you all set off to go exploring. Would you like to talk this over over some food? It’ll be on me.”
Leon Saber turns his face full to the left as Elryian speaks. Though she was there when the guards released his manacles, and though the arcane and archaic tattoo —that brands him a criminal still in so grand a debt of justice that it covers his left half from crown to toe — still stands ghastly and lurid; though he has grifted through Laom twice before and met her thrice with different wigs and disguises, still he ventures…
”Grub’d be good.”
The Human sorcerer sits softly and slowly, kicking his legs one at a time over his seat, exactly like a man used to heavy iron ankle apparel. He sits in a slump, and tries to shrink from the eye of others, though if not for his brand of conviction he’d be quite a fine figure.
Erhorn nod at the group, and grabs a seat at the table.. as a drow he has accepted the fact that people often look at him from the side.
"thank you for the offer of food, could be awhile before we get another hot meal."
"Food would be lovely, thanks." Riiza gives the group a sly smile and sits back casually in her chair, sizing up her companions. Her eye catches on Leon's tattoo for a moment in curiosity but she doesn't say anything about it. She gives Erhorn a small nod acknowledging the other elf at the table.
"They don't have much of a menu here, I'm afraid", Elryian says, "But the stew is wonderful. If you give me a moment, I can get some for us."
She lifts herself out of her chair. At her full height, the woman looks even more ethereal. The look is no doubt helped by her pastel blue dress, which seems to fade to nothing at its edges and shimmer in even the mutely-lit tavern. "I'll be back in only a second."
“Artifact?” mutters Leon.
"What?" Riiza asks Leon, one eyebrow raised
The dwarf at the table, a gruff fellow of musclebound stature and the garments of a druid, looked up, slow to respond to the rest of the talk at the table. His eyes followed the retreating woman with a suspicion that he also gives to any other humans in the tavern who take notice of him and the massive, wooden hammer he set on the floor with a heavy "THUNK" when he entered earlier.
"Wha'd'ya mean 'Artifact'?" He says in a deep, growling voice, that despite the clamor of the tavern seems to almost vibrate in your chests with its earthquake like rumbling. He leans forward, bald head glowing with sweat in the candlelight, setting his massive forearms on the table. The twisting, stylized runes carved onto the umber skin of his face seem almost to glow with a faint pulse of emerald energy, as if they possess some sort of magic.
Hi, I'm Raccoon_Master, a young genderfluid actor, writer, explorer, and bass vocalist. Pronouns They/Them/Theirs
My Characters: Brormin the Devout Crusher; Morgrom the Cunning Summoner; Thea the Rebellious Beauty;
Check out my EXTENDED SIGNATUR and don’t forget to join the Anything but the OGL 2.0 Thread!
"I don't make sense to you, and I don't make sense to myself. Maybe the only one I make sense to is God" ~ Me, trying to sound smart
Leon points at the shimmering, ethereal dress that the Lord’s agent is wearing, the slight magic that limbs its edges practically waving at him.
“Artifacts. Magic wear. Treasure. The reason tight fisted nobles are willing to sponsor those who they might otherwise disdain — if’n those sponsees might bring back more than the value of our common lives in plunder. Haven’t any of you been treasure diving for ancient’s work in ancient dungeons before?”
Leon coughs a hacking cough as he waits for the food to come back and a silence descends on them.
He turns to the door, and with one last great cough, casts Elementalism and takes a hold of a passing breeze to slam the inn’s main door shut.
“Gracious Lord’s dank dungeon didn’ do my damned lungs no good.” And he smiles at them all with yellow teeth, stained and less than cared for.
Elryian returns only a few minutes after she leaves, bowls of stew in hand, balancing dishes on her arms in the way a server might. "Here," she says, giving a bowl to each of you. "I have three things to discuss with your group. The first is your signature on your contracts."
Leon falls on the stew like a hyena, barely breathing as he brings spoon to mouth, spoon to mouth, spoon to mouth. With his right hand he gestures to Elyrian for a pen and the contract.
To delve is his sentence, his lawful and magical compulsion. He doesn’t even look at the contract as he signs it.
Erhorn, looks through the contract while he eats his food... "Thank you for the food, and the reading material, the other two things you mentioned are? "
For those you look through the contract's details:
At a cursory glance, the contract is fairly simple: you agree to all the risks associated with dungeoneering, cannot sue, et cetera. The juicy part is near the bottom.
As an adventurer taking on a dangerous job, you'll be paid both a salary and will be paid on commission. Daily, you will be paid 3GP (gold pieces), enough to support a comfortable lifestyle with 1GP left over. The commission part, though, is where the money is at.
The contract mentions even rarer or unique magic items may be worth more, but are usually individually appraised, and that consumable items are worth half the usual commission. It also notes that you can buy a magic item by foregoing the commission and paying twice the commission's cast (OOC: This is basically a 25% discount).
Near the bottom of the contract, it states several requirements.
In exchange for this, you are granted several things.
(OOC: There was a mention of crooks. I copied this from Group A's thread. They have two crooks. I forgot to cut that.)
"The first are your dungeoneering licences. They tend to be expensive, so they're covered under your contracts. The second are these."
Elryian pulls a pair of stones out of seemingly nowhere. "These are Sending Stones. I get one, you get the other. Near the bottom of your contract, it mentions you have to keep daily contact with me. This is how you do it in the dungeon; just send me a quick summary of what you did for the day before you go to bed and you're good."
“Thank you for this info. Looking this over, I think there should be a part that states in the contract for ever three items of a certain rarity that we would be credited the ability to receive one as a bonus. Basically find three keep one.
it is in our mutual employers best interest to ensure we are well equipped to further our adventuring activities.
Also what about borrowing items how will that work?”
“Also when we are underground. Do you have any contacts that work for you or who might help us out -for coin most likely, and who might be trusted ?
and any chance we can get a set of darkvision goggles for our human traveling companion (looks over -“no offense intended” ) we’d be better off if we’re not waving torches and lanterns for the cave dwellers to see miles away …”
Leon looks over, eyebrow raised, but says nothing. He knows someone asking for a lot so that they get a little when he knows it, and he’s not against it. While they talk, one of his hands reaches out to swipe one of the sending stones.
Elryian won't stop Leon from taking a stone.
She tries to tackle Erhorn's questions. "If you want to borrow an item, I'd recommend asking the Lord of Eldewick himself. I can't really speak for keeping magic items, though many groups are prosperous enough to afford to keep the ones they most want. And I'd not be worried about your last qualm. Some dungeons have areas lit up by ancient illusions, and the explored part of the first floor is on some sort of day/night cycle, so your human's lack of darkvision is unlikely to be a problem. I do know a pretty reliable merchant who does trade regularly with the Lord if you want a specific magic item, but it may take a while."
Erhorn looks at the party - hearing no questions signs the contract and passes it to each party member
”thank you, it seems that our best path forward is to become expert explorers and make our future”
Looking at the dwarf “ looks like you nominated yourself to be the communicator. “
”Are we all ready to leave ? And I assume you (looking at the woman ) have the proffered signing bonus with you…”
once the signing bonus was handed out he thanks her for the meal and asks if the party is able to leave now or if they still need supplies?
“I may buy two potions of healing. The under dark often makes a person responsible for their own health .”
"Yes, the bonus is here. It's in platinum to not weigh you all down as much, but it is of equal value."
In front of each of you, there are five platinum coins. Were those always there?
“Thank you
looks to group. Any thing you all want to buy before we leave?