Chapter 18
"So, Gustavo," Evolon asked, "what is there to do in this City while we wait for the auction?" "Is there a huge Space Opera, Gladiatorial Stadium, Adventure Society to check in with, Jobs board where we get quests and complete them for cash?" she inquired, thinking of all the fun things she had done in D&D while visiting a new city.
"While our D&D experience is similar to this strange world, don't count on it too much, some assumptions could get you killed." Pierce warned with a look.
"Yes, yes, my friends, we have most of that. Though the translation tattoo often changes words to match what you already expect, Adventurers Guild, Jobs Board, and The Red Sands can be found in Dunblag. While I advise you to wear masks and use false names to apply to the Adventurers Guild, you will then be able to complete jobs for money and standing, eventually getting better jobs over time. You will also use that same membership to enter the Arena. These are all great ideas as you are wearing copies of what is to be auctioned, and this could lead to prospective bidders attributing any success you have to the equipment over your obviously low levels." Gustavo explained to the group with a mischievous smile.
"We already figured out the name thing, but I like the idea of masks," Pierce said, adjusting the worn leather of his gloves. "Do you have any on you that would be generic enough for a party of Humans?"
Gustavo chuckled, a purring rumble in his chest. "But of course, Pierce. These are essential for any adventurer who wishes to remain truly anonymous. They not only conceal your identity but also mask your physical features like skin tone, allowing you to blend in more effectively. Fortunately, they won't obscure your gear, which is crucial for our plan.
"As you know," Gustavo continued, his eyes twinkling with amusement, "the five of you have a rather distinctive group aesthetic, what with the matching low level armor. To minimize unwanted attention, I suggest some subtle adjustments. The healer, perhaps, should wear a robe fitting of your position in the group. And our archer, well, that strange bow might draw a few too many eyes. A more standard, albeit slightly less flashy, model would be preferable.
"Your staff and wand are sufficiently generic, thank the gods," Gustavo added with a wry grin. "However, those unique weapons of yours – the shield and the hammer – they simply scream 'look at me!' in the arena. We'll need to find suitable replacements, something more commonplace for warriors of your apparent skill level.
"But fear not," Gustavo reassured them, a mischievous glint in his eye. "I've taken the liberty of acquiring a small arsenal of low-level, albeit slightly battered, equipment for your use. With your enchantments, I'm sure you'll make even these mundane weapons sing. And to ensure complete anonymity," he finished, producing a small pouch from within his robes, "I've procured five of these." He tossed the pouch to Pierce, who caught it with a practiced ease. "Simple concealing masks, perfect for hiding your true identities. Now go forth, my friends, and practice your deception upon the City."
Pierce put on the black choker necklace and activated it, projecting a mask over his face that from his side was invisible, but pulling out his cellphone he could see it looked like a holographic projection that blurred out all details. This projection continued wherever his skin was visible.
"Weird man, you look like a picture taken out of focus, but your gear is as detailed as ever. I remember seeing a few people in the crowd with masks like this, but I assumed it was something about their alien race," Ignis said, trying on his own necklace.
"So on the name thing, I am assuming we are going all the way back to last campaign's names and just sticking with that?" Evolon asked.
"That works for me. House, Arrow, Thor, and Gandalf… Grok what would you like your cover name to be?" Flint asked the Orc.
"I do not know, I have never thought of being anything but Grok. It seems dishonorable to use another name." Grok says looking off into the distance in thought.
"Grok," Pierce said, "Sometimes a little deception is necessary for survival. Think of it as a tactical advantage, a way to outmaneuver your enemies. Besides, who's to say you can't reclaim the name 'Grok' once we've achieved our goals? Now, how about we brainstorm some aliases? Perhaps something… more… imposing? How about 'Grimfang'? Or maybe 'Boulderfist'?"
Grok pondered these suggestions, a thoughtful frown creasing her brow. "Grimfang… Boulderfist…" She muttered, testing the sounds in her mouth.
"I vote Azog, I was thinking Grishnakh, but it's a bit of a mouthful. Ogok is another good one, but too close to Grok for my taste," Ignis said, looking Grok up and down trying out aliases.
"Azog, I like that. It sounds fierce," Grok said with a toothy smile.
"Oh, Grok, you would also have to lose the beasts, too recognizable in battle. I suggest you play up the alchemist angle. I brought you some materials to work with. I actually brought all of you materials. After the coffee, I want to see what your cook does with all of this," Gustavo said, transferring raw materials to each party member so they could practice their new jobs, with this new purpose in mind.
"I was thinking about including magic in my cooking, maybe illusionary ice, or flames… I will get to work and see what I can do," Ignis said with a huge smile on his gaunt face.
Gustavo looked around, observing the group of powerful adventurers working on their crafts. Pierce, the blond Human with strong muscular legs, was enchanting a broken blade. Evolon, a tall pale woman with brown hair and a wiry muscular frame, was doubling her efforts to create a bow out of native copper wood, known for its mana conductive nature. Flint, a short Human with red hair and a long braided red beard with large strong arms, was hammering away at a glowing red sheet of metal. Ignis, a tall thin Human wearing a robe, was chopping, cutting, and cooking over a cast iron pan while somehow also stirring a sauce in another pan without burning anything. Grok, a towering powerful Orc woman with large tusks and a slightly green-tinted skin, was smelling and mixing colorful liquids, crushing a talon of some sort in a mortar and pestle, preparing it for the mixture.
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This group of five, with the masks, could be anyone in the city if you removed a few distinctive weapons. They have so much power and promise that Gustavo couldn't hold back his true smile creeping onto his face. His years of downward spiral after being cursed and losing his arm were the hardest of his life, but in his gratitude for being healed, and the prospect of so much profit, Gustavo knew in his soul that working with the Donner Party was going to be a story worthy of song, like those of the great heroes. He just needed to redirect them slightly a few times, and this group would propel him all the way back on top of this city once again.
"Friends, I am off, what is your new incognito party name so I can sing your praises?" Gustavo asked.
"Backup Plan," Pierce answered.
"Ye be thinking its a witty inside joke about how we're not the traditional group you approach first to fix your problems, but honestly I love trashy rom coms and the DVD was the first thing I laid eyes on when we were thinking up names for our party's last campaign. Everyone just went with it," Flint said, pausing between pumps on his bellows.
"What is a rom com?" Grok asked with a questioning look.
"We spout pop culture for two days and rom com is the one you decide to ask about?" Pierce laughs.
"Think of them as Operas or Plays where a man and a woman get themselves into funny situations, then proceed to make dumb decisions to get out of it. In the end they realize they were in love the whole time and kiss," Flint explains between hammer strikes.
"Don't forget the man is supposed to be an average joe, but is actually a top 10 most handsome man, and the woman is supposed to be some quirky ugly duckling and is actually a supermodel actress popstar with a pair of glasses and messy hair," Evolon laughs.
"Wasn't that the one with J-Lo and Matthew McConaughey?" Pierce asked.
"J-Lo, yes, but the guy is the dude from the Hawaii Five-O remake," Ignis said while blowing on a wooden spoon full of steaming sauce before sipping it.
"That guy from the horrible Twilight ripoff TV show Moonlight? I love that guy!" Pierce says while focusing on enchanting a rusty helmet.
"That's the one!" Flint confirmed, brushing the metal swarf off of his new shield with a wire brush.
"What do you think of this?" Flint asked, showing the group his new shield.
"Give it the Stars and Stripes and it could be Captain America's first shield," Ignis said with a snort.
"I didn't want to go full Kite Shield, or another Round Shield, so I figured I would stay with a classic. No paint job though… I like the raw metal look!" Flint exclaimed as he started working on the handle to his new shield.
"Check this baby out!" Evolon said, pulling out her new copper wood bow. "I leveled up Bowyer and my bow is now up to double my previous damage, and with a mental command can auto-nock arrows from my quiver. I can fire as fast as I can draw, aim, and release now." She demonstrated by commanding an arrow to appear pre-knocked into her bowstring, then firing it into the bunk room with a "TWACK!"
"My shield can also double my Armor, and I can move it as if it has no weight," Flint says, moving the heavy shield around easily.
"That is great! Let me enchant them for you guys!" Pierce says walking over to Evolon, then Flint, enchanting their new gear.
"Taste this," Ignis said as Pierce was walking back to his enchanting station.
"Wow that has a creamy texture, but is also fulfilling that craving for something crunchy. How???” Pierce asked.
"I also leveled up cooking. I can mix visual and textural illusions into a dish," Ignis said proudly.
"While we are showing our gains, observe," Grok said, drinking a potion that looked like water in a small bottle after removing the cork lid.
"What is that supposed to…" Pierce asked before stopping awestruck as the huge orc fades into invisibility before his eyes.
"Grok can now make Sneak Potion, but it does not hide smell or sound. Eventually, I should be able to help with those, but for now, this is the best I can do. Lasts one minute per Cadium of creator," Grok says, moving around the room as a voice with no visible body to the rest of the party.
"We really need to get Grok more Cadium, being invisible for an hour would be awesome, but I could do a lot in two minutes, Grok, make several of those for each of us if you can, and some healing potions, and whatever else you can make," Pierce says with a smile, trying to figure out exactly where the huge orc is in the room.
The whole group pauses, looking around the room as a piece of Linax steak floats into the air, disappearing with a smack into an invisible mouth.
"Hey, you know the rule, wait for the final presentation! You could steal a cube of steak and end up with an empty belly!" Ignis says, slapping at the empty air.
"Sorry, It just smells too good, Linax Steak is what we lived on in the stables growing up, both the Drakes and the children. It reminds me of home," Grok says as she fades back into view, back at her alchemy station.
"For me it would be Tato Skins, Swiss Rolls, and Dr. Pepper," Pierce said, closing his eyes, remembering his middle school days with that combination of food for lunch every way.
"Before we head down memory lane, are we all ready to go register at this Adventurers Guild?" Evolon asked, stowing her crafting gear in her inventory.
"Afterwards, I would like to check out this Arena, The Red Sands," Flint said, swinging his hammer and bashing his new shield with a loud GONG!
"Jobs Board for me, I love collect, kill, and escort quests!!" Ignis says, plating up the food and stowing it all into his inventory, waiting for mealtime.
"If I have to do another escort quest where enemies come out of the woods every 15 feet ending with the boss just before we get back to town… I am going to go crazy!" Evolon shouted in frustration.
"Backup Plan, mask up!" Pierce says, activating his mask, sliding on a spare robe, and wielding his enchanted staff.
"I will lead you to the Guildhall," Grok said, leading the masked party through the underground hallways to an exit beneath a wine cellar, then out a side door to the street. With the large sun shining down from directly above them, the group moved towards the center of the city.