"So are we to investigate as to the truth of the matter so that we may deal with it as we see fit, or are we to believe the rumors without any evidence of our own? My own experience is that rumors travel badly, and the truth of a matter when heard first hand, is far from the word that travels on the lips of merchants and common folk."

"I ask nothing more than a cursory investigation." Jeb replies. " If there is any truth to these rumors, Nethercrown and his daughter may be in dire circumstances. Not all deceased souls that return to the material plane do so with benevolent intent. "

"Well, let us be off then. If there be anything to make sense of, the daughter and servants be more likely to help than any rumor, having lived through it for years."

"Agreed - there is nothing pressing that ties us down to Thithladroth at this moment. Though... Jeb, are there any runner boys hereabouts? I could use their services."

"This is quite a trip just to look for ghosts... what exactly will be in it for us?" Duncan asks

“Duncan here asks a great question. How are we compensated, and by whom,when we fulfill our obligation of keeping the realm safe?”

"By the elders! He already said the family be in debt and broken by their ill fates, and asked only for to confirm a rumor. Either way, Kai be on his way to Conwe for his reasons, and I be following him."

Duncan chuckles, replying "The elders don't put food on the table or clean my armor. Last I checked, adventuring generally makes people rich."

"Asking the messenger what bounty a broken family offers be no adventure."

"Broken families cowering from ghosts isn't either." Duncan says, shrugging "The messenger should have more information than simply that they are hiding in their home. What is the Guild's stake in this?" He'll ask to Jeb

Kai chuckles, "And so the price is revealed...  Thank you for signing, now go forth and slay Tiamat!  Friends, friends, surely this guild has resources for us to draw upon, food, weapons, perhaps mounts?  Even a palace in Conwe with pillows made from clouds to rest our weary feet and heads."   With a twinkle in his eye, "We went forth against the alchemist and his aberration simply to ease our boredom and curiosity, and little material we got for it, not even the dwarf's thanks.  It is a long way to Conwe, and who can tell what adventure may befall us on the road.  Perhaps, there is a princess for Duncan to rescue, or a magic harp Landrae, a giant for Elber to test his prowess against, or a rich jackass for Jack to teach humility through poverty," he finishes with a wink at Jack.

Elber looks thoroughly disappointed at Kai and leaves for the door. "You can all stay here and make light of the humble request for us to look into these ill rumors, but I will be waiting outside for when you come back to your senses."

Kai shakes his head, "I thought I was on his side?"

((I thought so too haha))

"Kai, you are traveling there anyway as Elber reminded us, so I'll join to accompany you on your task. As you say. We can look for reward on the way. Though I'm still curious why the Guild cares about this beaten family." Duncan adds.

((Elber might have overreacted after Kai's choice to equate "could you perhaps please just give a look into this rumor" with "go slay Tiamat!" and making jokes about pillows of clouds, but hypothesizing that there could be other more(?) worthy adventures on the road didn't help much.))

Kai walks out to mollify Elber, "Good friend, sorry to have poked fun at all for signing up for this guild.  There is always a hidden price.  But truly, we seem to find adventure, or misadventure finds us, with alarming frequency.  Think you we can make the journey without adventure?  Perhaps there will not be giant, but perhaps so, and we have a skald of uncommon skill to let our deeds and honors be known.  Now, let the others complete their questioning, and we shall be off.  And it will be good again to be outside these city walls and into the forest."

Elber nods and sits down outside. "You be right, but the price of life be adventure, and the rewards be a more glorious life. This guild be no more a way to find more of both, so I expect no sums of coin from them, nor any challenge I would not seek out myself."
He's quiet for a little bit, then continues.
"...I do not admire their habit of asking for more payment before the task has even begun, but I hope that the others be willing to see where this adventure leads."

"Tis the way of civilization.  We know the wolf hunts, and expects his reward at the end of a successful hunt, and not before it has begun."

Jeb looks confused. "You are adventurers, are you not? There is no hidden price. You have been given gifts from the gods, and you have the responsibility to protect those who cannot protect themselves. That is what it means to be a member of the Adventurers Guild."

"No Jeb, there are no god given gifts here. Just folk who by desire or circumstance have had to forge their own way in the world, who were not contented sitting in a mundane trade living a life of ambiguity. Our responsibility lies to our own codes, and we try to do right by those we respect or who are unable to help themselces, or just those that pay us well. A girl's gotta eat after all!"

"How about you tell us if there is anything else that currebtly needs the attention of any adventurers, or send a note to the Silver Thorn, and we'll pick it up when next we pass through. Otherwise we shall bid you a good morning and discuss this among ourselves." Landrae gets up and nods her appreciation to Elber for holding the chair, before gesturing for them all to leace so they can discuss the matter of where there next journey lies in private.