Act I - Recruitment.

[Odder]

As Beno reloads any drained mugs and downs as much beer as he can he says"xenophobia! my mother taught me better an treatin women like THAT! Why I ain't gonna stand fer it!" he slams down a mug in front of the new Wizard.

"You can go blind fer doin it as well,only fools mess around wit that stuff! This here mortality guild sounds d**n right fishy!"

Beno looks around in outrage for support. He smears wet beer stains running down his tunic with his left hand while walking back behind the bar to fetch his spear.

[danhem]

William looks at the two hobbits and thinks that the Mortality Guild just might have the right philosophy. He looks down at the bag on the table and back at the robed individual.

"Yes, it would be useful if we knew who we were reporting to. It seems that this Mortality Guild is a pretty dangerous group. If we join them as spies, it seems that we are putting our lives on the line. I won't do that for a person whose face I don't know and for a little bag of coins."

[kilsern]

BURP! Keep it comin' Beno. . @the gentleman, So just how much jink does that bag of jangle hold?

[cartomancer]

The robed man turns to Robert to address him. "Very little my friend" he says with a slight hiss. "The last thing we wish is for outsiders to get involved in what is essentially an internal matter. We simply need you to observe the actions of the guild and report back anything that may be of interest to us. Nothing more. We certainly dont want you to take up arms against the guild. That would only serve to agitate an already volitile situation".

"With regards to thanks, i hope you'll appreciate that my patron wishes to remain anonymous. Should you fail, it would not serve them or you well to know more than you really need to would it?" Although still concealed, Robert could almost swear that the man was giving a dark smile as he spoke that last sentence. Beno yells across the bar in disgust at the guilds attitudes and the man is quick to play upon them.

"Your small friend is quite right gentlemen. Whilst i appreciate that you may not fully trust me and, that anything you may do will be motivated by little more than advarice, i would urge you to take a look at the larger picture. The guild hunts monsters, all well and good, they make a nuisance of themselves at the best of times and delvers have been doing much the same for generations but, in all the years of hunting never has a group so activly sought the complete erradication of monster kind. Imagine if you will the power vacuum it will create if they succeed. Also consider the many lives that will be lost on both sides as there is no way the creatures of this land will take it lying down. Imagine the cultural damage!"

The man seems a little flustered with his passion and anger for a moment and a bolt of raw Kremm leaps from his gloved hand scorching the table before he is able to calm himself.

"Sorry gentlemen. You see this is a matter very close to my own heart. The guild has already taken my job and my home and, once they've killed all the kins they consider impure i doubt they'll stop there. The big picture is a war unlike this land has ever seen and, they'll be the cause of it!"

The man turns to William. "They are indeed dangerous but as you see there are much larger things at stake here than any of our welfares. We don't expect you to risk your necks for nothing though" Pulling loose the drawstring on the sack Beno's eyes light up when he sees the riches inside.

Among what you thought was only coinage are a number of peeble sized gems of various colours that seem to glow in the dim light of the bar, each one of them perfectly cut, polished and flawless in quality. "My patron appreciates that you are men who require a little financial motivation for your services and they are not without generosity. This is but a small sum of what you can expect if you choose to do your country a service".

Back over to you guys!

[Odder]

"OY!"Beno takes in the gems and exclaims "‘I’ll be your Huckleberry".
Beno downs the last of his beer and slams in onto the counter.

"You all heard da man a while ago. They don't like Hobbits an Leps and such and so what with this man saying his fill on em I don't see no reason ta not keep an eye or two on em. Besides this here monies can be spent to get us some better gear. We aint got ta do nothing but keep an eye on em for it!"

With that Beno sits back to see what the rest have to say on the subject. He also looks around the Inn while waiting for any of the Trolls goods or personal things of interest that might be about. Not to steal per say but stuff that might be better off in the hands of someone who could use it instead of just left for thieves to steal.

[Toad-Killer-Dog]

Robert Angus Everybody
Leprechaun Wizard lvl 1 Att: 2d6+6/ 2d6+12 Ranged Con: 9/9 Wiz: 15/15 AP: 6

Robert nods sagely towards the stranger.

"I think I understand your point of view and as a leprechaun I can understand the discrimination of organizations like the wizards guild"

Robert motions to the bag of loot on the table.

"With such generous considerations provided by our anonymous benefactor I don't think there should be any problem securing our whole hearted cooperation and support"

Robert pauses for a moment seemingly hesitant to continue, then girding his courage he presses on.

"Forgive me for noticing, but you appear to be a wielder of arcane forces and while I have the talent human prejudice forbids my formal tuition in the magical arts"

"Would some small training in spells be possible as part of my reward?"

[danhem]

William looks at the bag of gems trying to hide his surprise and excitement over the riches sitting before them.

"Well, if you only expect us to observe and report, perhaps we can risk it for such a reward," he says simply. "Understand, however, that we will likely be doing a little of our eradicating while we are in the Guild's employ. Now how might the reporting end of this little arrangement work?"

[cartomancer]

"Indeed" the man agrees with a nod of his head to Beno's comments. "Should the worst come to the worst and you are discovered, we'll have operatives close at hand to come to your aid. The guild is due to leave town tommorow or so our sources tell us and our agents are already a day ahead of them. We'll also send a discreet scout to follow your movements once you are safely away from the town. Believe me gentlemen, you'll be quite safe".

The man then turns to Robert. "Certainly. Once we've achieved our current aims we will actively be seeking to address such matters of human descrimination. In fact, you sir seem like an ideal candidate for a post that may, shall we say, open it's self up. How do you like the title, Archmage of the Leprechauns Guild? You see, my patron can be most generous with power as well as wealth if that is more to your tastes".

"Good points young William", the man continues, "my patron understands that you may have to perform certain, shall we say 'tasks' in the service of the guild and, also understands such things to be neccesary evils. You can't make an omelette without breaking eggs after all". The man then leans back and reaches into his robe and proceeds to produce a small iron whistle that looks like it's seen better days. "When you have anything of interest to report simply press this whistle to your lips and speak of what you wish me to know... The winds will do the rest. Take care of it though as these things aren't exactly easy to come by". The man then proceeds to place the whislte on the table next to the small sack of gold and jewels.

With this shameless attempt at bribery, it's over to you guys!

[kilsern]

Stieg takes all of this in, his silence was caused by his admiration of the jewels and loot. He can't help but think that if he and his new companions should become "at risk" that they will be the eggs broken to make the omelet. Dead men (and hobbits) don't speak and all of that. At some point in the near future, when it is convenient, he will entrust his fears to the party, when he is sure no one is listening.

to the mysterious manI'm a bit of dabbler in the arts myself, and wouldn't mind a bit of training in trade

[Toad-Killer-Dog]

Robert Angus Everybody
Leprechaun Wizard lvl 1 Att: 2d6+6/ 2d6+12 Ranged Con: 9/9 Wiz: 15/15 AP: 6

Robert nods slowly along with the stranger.

"Tha..That sounds reasonable to me"

Robert wipes at the sudden perspiration coating his brow.

"What say lads are we in or out"

[danhem]

"Alright then," William says. "I'm in as well. If things get hairy, though, I'll be expecting more of this," William finishes pointing toward the small bag of gems.

"Why don't you take charge of the whistle Robert. You said you're a wizard after all."

William leans forward and start to poke through the assorted gems.

"I don't suppose there's time for some shopping before our other employers arrive do you? Although it might look a bit suspicious if we're all sitting around in shiny new armor polishing brand new swords."

[cartomancer]

As he rises to leave the table, he looks over to Stieg "So, you wish to learn a little of the arcane arts do you? Very well, i'm sure something can be arranged..."

"It's agreed then gentlemen" the man concludes. "I must be departing now before your new comrades arrive. It wouldn't be wise for them to us together after all would it?"

The man proceeds towards the door of the inn, leaving you all alone to discuss todays events before your escort arrives.

Only a short update today guys to give your characters time to prepare plans and exchange thoughts and feelings before the story runs away with them. The party has about half an hour or just under before the guild arrives in which to plot and scheme but, unfortunately all the shops are long since shut (not that anywhere in this town sold anything of any real value to them anyhow).

Speaking of which, in the pouch there where 9 gems of varrying colour worth 50 GP a piece along with about 30 GP in loose coinage. How you distribute this is as ever up to you but, suffice to say, you don't want it just sitting there when the guild turns up and, you probably don't want them to know you have it.

Over to you guys.

[Toad-Killer-Dog]

Robert Angus Everybody
Leprechaun Wizard lvl 1 Att: 2d6+6/ 2d6+12 Ranged Con: 9/9 Wiz: 15/15 AP: 6

Robert pockets the whistle and carefully scans the room with his senses both magical and mundane.

Once he is satisfied that the group is alone he quietly addresses the group.

"So....now the real question, do we carry out the monsters mission or do we reveal our contact to the guild?"

"Perhaps it was the robe...reminds me of nuns "shudder", but I'm not sure we can trust the unnamed agent of a force that just recently tried to kill us"

"The attack was not directed at us personally, but that does not mean our deaths would mean anything to them one way or another"

Having said this Robert shrugs on his now hopefully dry clothes and sits were he can watch the door.

[danhem]

"Let's keep it under our hats for now," William says while picking through the gems. "No sense losing our new job before we even get started. I'm fairly certain if we told them about this they'd cut us loose without hesitation."

"Well, it seems our benefactor has left us with an uneven cut here boys. Crafty fellow. That's two gems and seven gold each with one gem and three gold to spare. Seems like he's trying to start trouble."

[Toad-Killer-Dog]

Robert Angus Everybody
Leprechaun Wizard lvl 1 Att: 2d6+6/ 2d6+12 Ranged Con: 9/9 Wiz: 15/15 AP: 6

Robert nods.

"How about we keep it separate and use it for group expenses"

"We may be expected to pay guild dues or need a cart or horses to pursue whatever goal the guild sets us"

Robert gestures at William.

"Let the Big'un hold it, he'll be easier to find and frankly he seems the most trustworthy......of course in this group thats not saying much!" ;D