DM: Give me a Persuasion Check. 

Ylis Persuasion check 2

OOC: NONononon I got that 2 fair and square!

"Yeah, I figured as much. Hard times here. We get it. And… you’re doing an incredible job."

Morgan studies the map, puzzled.
"I couldn’t help but notice the 'Sacrifice Engines' marked on the map. What the heck is a Sacrifice Engine?!"

He then turns to the others.
"I’d suggest we head to the Taskhand to get a better sense of the situation. He mentioned something like 'mercenary' work, which… yeah, rubs me the wrong way. Still, we might be able to help people while we wait for more information about our dear Jewel of Three Prayers. Things could be connected."

He shrugs.
"And working with (not for...) the military might mean a 'safer' place to sleep, maybe access to equipment. I don’t know. On the way, we could also check out this Ioun Yu Novelties shop. What do you think?"

(OOC: Do we know where the Taskhand’s office is on the map?)

Jacaranda shrugged, " I've got some time to kill before I head back here.......we could combine some light shopping and demon killing...."

Foghome frowns at Ylis. “I wish I could, but the Aurora Watch has their own potion makers and I do not want anything traced to me that would be seen as skirting the law. I love my head exactly where it is and would not enjoy being separated from it.”

“Oh, those.” Foghome says with an air of inevitability. “The Sacrifice Engines are where the Aurora Watch try to herd the demons when the city is flush with fiends. Sometimes, they come in such strong waves, that they cannot easily be contained. So the Watch tries to force them into one of these pits and they pull the lever. Each pit is about 30ft deep and lined with rows of blades. You do not want to be in that pit when it is operational. It is meant to chew up any living thing in it. They were here when the city was taken by ancient heroes. Whatever the servants of the Betrayer Gods used them for, I am certain it was horrible.”

Maggie stiffens and puffs her chest. “The profession of mercenary work is often shrouded in stigma, which I find rather offensive. Many of us who embrace this mantle are, beneath the surface, fundamentally good people shaped by the complexities of our circumstances. While I have participated in numerous assignments that might not be the most palatable to discuss openly, I have also dedicated considerable effort to creating a positive impact, or at the very least, enhancing individual lives.

“For instance, I once undertook the perilous mission of rescuing a nobleman's daughter from a band of ruthless kidnappers who had held her for ransom in a desolate mountain stronghold. Her absence cast a shadow of despair over her family, who were well-respected in their community. After days of meticulous planning and intelligence-gathering, I navigated treacherous terrain, infiltrated the kidnappers' lair under the cover of darkness, and successfully brought her back to her family, restoring hope and joy to their lives.

“On another occasion, I was commissioned to safeguard a troupe of performers traveling through a war-torn region where their artistry had become a rare bright spot amid the chaos. These artists brought joy and laughter to countless souls, often performing unpaid in makeshift venues amidst ruins in addition to their standard performances in grand theaters. My role was to ensure their safety from nomadic banditry that sought to disrupt their tour and empty their coffers. As we traveled together, I not only protected them but also engaged with local communities, helping to establish temporary shelters for those displaced by unforseen circumstances.

“Though the nature of our work can indeed necessitate the taking of lives in the defense of ourselves or others, it does not inherently make us ruthless. Rather, it underscores the nuanced reality that we, too, walk a fine line in a world where morality is often ambiguous. In our quest to fulfill contracts, we grapple with ethical dilemmas that challenge our own principles, reminding us that the concept of good and evil is rarely black and white.

“So you see, mercenary work in itself is not a profession to look down one’s nose at. It is hardly noble on the surface, but it has many parallels to ‘adventuring work’”.

DM: You do not know, but after asking Foghome, he pointed it out to you off panel.

Foghome's mouth hangs open in light of Maggie's mounted defense of her profession, but he shakes his head and composes himself. "Well, if you don't mind, I must attend to my work. Please return at evening, or any evening if you find yourself occupied later today. I commune every evening." He then gestures to the door politely.