Joe stood in the main hall of the Adventurers Guild. This was the first time a general assembly had been called since he and Hah’roo had arrived in Fort Coral. There were more guild members than Joe had ever seen before. He counted a dozen people besides himself and Hah’roo.
He knew at least half of the people in the great hall. Myllo, Kendell, and Puqmup stood beside the stage, talking. He saw Vexor standing with an armored warrior he didn’t know. The monster hunter, Edror, had his feet up on a chair, which he had spun around to make his footrest.
As Joe entered the room with Hah’roo, Earcellwen flashed him a relieved smile and immediately headed his way.
“Oh, thank goodness. I have been ducking Isais for fifteen minutes now,” the elf whispered, nodding her head subtly in the direction of a woman speaking loudly with Tezeno Rhal. The archon did not look pleased. “Maybe if I’m with you, she will stay away.”
He looked over at the woman with Tezeno. Isais was also an elf and an archer, but that is where her similarities to Joe’s friend ended. RC was all about functional practicality. She had quality gear, but it was designed to help her stealthing skills, meaning it was all tinted with browns and greens and had minimal ornamentation. Isais, on the other hand, was audaciously dressed in elaborately embellished leather armor. Jewelry dripped off her everywhere: ears, wrists, neck, waist, ankles, fingers, all topped by a golden tiara. The quiver she wore across her back was ornately tooled and far longer than Joe would expect. It ran diagonally all the way from her left hip to her right shoulder.
“She is an amazing long-distance sniper, but she has all these passive charm traits,” Earcellwen explained. “She is always bludgeoning people for little favors with her influence. Sometimes, I’m not even sure she realizes she is doing it. Other times, it’s painfully blatant. She drives almost everyone in the guild nuts.”
“Great,” Joe groaned. He had very little tolerance for choosing beggars. Looking over at Hah’roo and the stern set of her mouth, Joe guessed she felt the same way. “Who is the guy with Vex?” he asked, switching the topic.
Earcellwen’s expression brightened. “That’s his boyfriend, Kerrig. He’s great. Defensive specialist. I’ve quested with him a bunch of times. You two would make a formidable front line.”
“Good to know.” Joe saw that Kendell had broken off from her discussion by the stage and was moving over to them.
“Hey,” she greeted the three of them. While Joe couldn’t be positive, it felt like her smile lit up for him more than the other two. “We should grab seats. Guildmaster Silver will be here any minute.”
The four of them moved to a table and sat down. The act prompted a few others to do the same. Vexor and Kerrig joined Edror. Tenzeno went to sit with a mouseling woman and looked somewhat chagrined when Isias followed him. Against opposite walls were two figures in dark cloaks, one filthy and tattered, the other gothically stylish. The shabby-looking figure moved to sit by itself, while the man in the dark robes merely crossed his arms and stayed leaning against a wall.
“Who are those two?” Joe asked once they were seated.
“That one,” the elf replied, indicating the man on the wall, “is the douche-noggle we discussed. That’s Lexaroth.”
“The warlock?” Joe whispered.
“One and the same,” she confirmed.
“Douche-noggle?” Kenda prompted. “Where did you get that expression?”
Earcellwen chuckled and tipped her chin at Joe.
“To be fair, it is surprisingly fitting,” Kendell observed. “Tezeno and I have run out of people to pair him with. He’s just such a … you know, douche-noggle works better than anything else I can think of.”
“What of the other one?” Hah’roo inquired, looking towards the grubby tatterdemalion seated alone.
“That’s Yuk,” the trainer supplied. “They’re a good guy but painfully shy. I have never seen their face, and I have known them for years. They always work alone. Vermin are their specialty.” To punctuate her words, Joe saw several insects skitter across the frayed robes and vanish into the folds.
“I helped them out once,” RC added.
“Oh, that’s right. McDerron’s Farm. The horrid corbies.”
“Yeah. Yuk’s swarms were brutal. They probably could have done the whole quest without me if the corbies didn't keep flying off.” Seeing Joe’s questioning look, the archer explained. “Oh, monstrous crow-like creatures. Yuk could drive the birds off without really taking any damage, but they needed someone to pick off those that were retreating. Otherwise, Yuk was stuck there on the farm until the corbies came back again.”
“I was going to send Isias,” Kenda mentioned, “but she won’t work with Yuk. Their bugs freak her out.” She looked around the room. “Is there anyone else you don’t know?”
“I think just the mouseling,” he noted.
“That’s Taylyn. She’s a sweetheart. Her base class is grenadier. She creates explosives with plant-based objects such as nuts or seeds.
“She’s a bit of a worrier,” RC added. “But then again, I guess anyone would be, too, if their specialty were making things explode. ‘Caution is an old man’s friend’ as my father always says.”
The four of them talked quietly for a few more minutes until the door at the end of the great hall swept open, discharging a regally dressed man with bright silver hair. The man strode confidently onto the raised stage at the end of the room. “Take your seats, everyone,” Guild Master Septimus Silver announced. “We have much to do and a short amount of time to get it done.”
He waited at the podium onstage while Puqmup scooted over to join Vexor, Edror, and the armored Kerrig. Lexroth sighed and begrudgingly tromped over to sit alone at a far table. Only Myllo remained standing beside the stage.
“Alright now. Let’s start with introductions for those who have not met our newest members. That young man sitting with the bevy of lovely young ladies is Joseph Morris, a healer from Duskrug. The city council has been reporting some very good things about your clinical efforts on behalf of the guild in Swift Water. It is heartening to know that our treasured Mercy Suku is gaining aid in her advancing years. We thank you, Joe.”
“And sitting next to him is Hah’roo, a tracker and manhunter from the far-off wind-swept Sapphire Coasts. It was she who added confirmation to the warnings of the Weather-Watchers of the upcoming storm we’re here to discuss.”
“For starters, I would like to say …” the Guild Master began, only to be interrupted by another door being tossed open and the entry of a lizardfolk in golden armor. “Greetings Ambassador Kiinim. So nice of you to join us, even if you are a bit tardy.”
“Not much later than you, Septimus. And these good people were not waiting on me,” the newcomer rebutted.
As Joe looked, he realized that the man was not actually one of the saurian people. First, his golden scales were much finer. Secondly was the shape of his head. It was less lizard-like and more draconic.
Kiinim Skoalinon: Dragonkin: Dragoon/Lasher/Crusader 36
Joe had not seen dragonkin as a racial option when he was joining Illuminaria. The man looked fierce. His eyes glowed red, and a crest of horns rose from his head. Much like how Hah’roo draped her rope-dart, Ambassador Kiinim had a heavy metal chain hanging in loops around his body. It ended in a heavy triangle that looked like the tip of a dragon’s tail. Even though he was wearing full plate mail, the draconic warrior moved with a light, smooth grace.
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“Very well,” Master Silver replied. “As I was stating, thanks to Tracker Hah’roo and the Storm-Wardens, we have advance warning of what looks to be a Legendary storm headed our way.”
“And I find it unsettling that no one thought to question this concurrence,” Kiinim interrupted. “Here we have a weather witch from the rebellious Sapphire Coast settle into our midsts, and the next thing you know, a storm of the century is bearing down on us. While it could be coincidence, I think it foolish to ignore the possibility of treachery.”
“I have no standing, Ambassador,” Hah’roo breathed angrily. “Shaming me will not further the Dragon Empire’s effort with the homeland I left long ago.”
“You would do well …” the warrior hissed before being spoken over by Septimus Silver’s commanding voice.
“We had confirmation of the storm’s potential long before this woman ever reached our shores, Kiinim. Let’s not devolve into politics while there is work that needs doing now. If you wish to discuss this matter with the council, we can do so this afternoon.” The man on stage stared down the dragoon, who eventually growled slightly before taking a seat. Septimus tugged his vest down and looked firmly around the room, much like a schoolteacher, looking for any signs of trouble-making brewing.
“Very well then, as I was saying, this will undoubtedly be a legendary-level event. We will need teams on rescue detail, but we will also need teams watching the shore. We should expect that the Shellycoats will use this opportunity to ride the storm surges over the bay wards and raid the city. With a tempest of this magnitude, we should be ready for excessive numbers of marauders.
“Myllo will have your assignments. I want to ensure everyone stays in their teams or with their partners. Solo heroics in weather conditions like these are how we lose good guild members. The city watch will have all guardsfolk on duty, staffing each outpost. If you need assistance, do not hesitate to engage their squad leaders.
“Lastly, remember your demeanor and discretion are a direct reflection of the guild. You are to act with professionalism at all times. Our standing in this city comes from our steadfast resolve and competency. I will be very dissatisfied if I hear reports of guild members succumbing to panic or failing to meet their duties. Am I understood?”
A murmur of consent ran around the room, but so too did an undercurrent of disgruntlement. These folks did not like being scolded like children. Joe realized that the Guild Master’s methods were ultimately more divisive than constructive.
The tall, aristocratic man exited the stage and the hall, leaving Myllo to take up the reins. The mood immediately changed. The tension went with the Guild Master. Joe noted smiles break out on most faces as the bearded artificer grabbed a stool to elevate himself behind the podium. The korrigan spread a few sheets of paper and dabbed a pen against his tongue.
“Ok. Let’s start with the bad news. The Hellions are on a ship heading this way, but they will have to turn around and find a safe harbor to wait it out. That means we will not have some of our heavy hitters tonight. Hah’roo and Joe, you haven’t met them yet. The Hellions are an interesting group. They are not usually well suited to city duties, but they would have been a big help for this mess," Myllo stated. “So, I am going to need a good combat-savvy shore team. Edror, as our senior ranker, would you be willing to lead it?”
“Sure thing, Myllo. Who ya given’ me?”
“Well, for starters, you will be teamed with the Rattler Squad of the City Watch under Cricket Yzswari. I am adding Ker, Lex, Kenda, Isias, and Yuk to your group.”
“I know Cricket. She runs a good team,” the old monster-hunter noted.
“Umm, MMMyiyiyilolololooo. Cacacan’tn’tn’t.” spoke an eerily reverberating voice from behind Joe. He looked to see one called Yuk with their arm raised. The disjointed voice sounded as if it was made of dozens of mouths speaking collectively. The weird humming words were so alien a slight shiver ran up Joe’s spine as Yuk spoke.
“You sure? You can’t do the shore?” Myllo asked in a voice that had zero judgment to it. Clearly, the guild leader knew that the strange loner had conditions as to what they could and could not do. “Can you help the street patrols?”
The cloaked figure shook their head and then droned, “Cacacacannnn serserserserchch wreakageageage.”
“OK then. Thanks, Yuk. If any buildings come down, we’ll be counting on you to let us know if anyone is trapped inside. Get some sending stones from Puq. Lex, you’re with Yuk.”
“Must I …” the warlock began, while at the same time, the ragged loner began to vehemently shake their head.
“No arguments,” Myllo shot back. “We are doing tonight in teams. Lex, you have the broadest bag of utility skills. Who knows what you will need on rescue detail. Yuk. Sorry, but I have to insist you partner up with someone this time.”
“That leaves the shore team a bit light. Ambassador Kiinim, would you be willing to help teach the Shellycoats why they should stop trying to raid Fort Coral.”
“I would be happy to administer that lesson, good sir,” the armored dragonkin hissed with a fierce-looking smile. He glided to where Edror sat and shook hands with the man before taking a seat. It was obvious they were well acquainted with each other.
“Oh, and as usual, Puq will handle communications and coordination. Taylyn will be his backup. Each team should have sending stones to relay messages. Try to direct messages through the guild house and Puqmup here. I know that seems inefficient rather than just messaging each other directly, but it helps us keep track of who is where and where resources are needed. Oh and everyone gets a tracker too. If we have to get to you I want everyone to be able to find you.”
“Next is my lookout team. Ears, I want those eyes of yours out there. We’ll get you a darksight enhancement for the night. I’m going to team you up with Hah’roo. Her ability to listen to the winds should allow you two to move around and figure out where the city watch is needed. Vexor, you are their taxi service. You three will not be able just to wander around out there tonight. Vexor will be able to jump you from district to district.”
“But if we are magically skipping around the city, how will we be able to hear and see where troubles have occurred,” Hah’roo objected. “Scouting requires one to pass by an incident; we cannot do that via teleportation.”
“That’s fair. You are going to be our eyes and ears out there, so we will need you to cover a lot of ground,” Myllo gave an apologetic shrug but spoke to them confidently. “I trust the three of you will figure out how to balance coverage against vigilance.”
“Without Mortalius,” the korrigan continued, “Joe, you are going to be our only medic. Tezeno will be your partner. His ability to instill order should give you some protection from the chaos of the storm. You’ll be getting your assignments from me or Puq.”
Joe looked over to Tezeno Rhal and received a stoic nod. The archon always looked a bit stiff, even when Joe knew he was amused, so Joe didn’t take any insult from the flat expression. He tossed a thumbs up back.
“Okey doke,” the red-bearded man wrapped up. “The Storm-Wardens are predicting this shindig is going to kick off around seven this evening. Everyone should go grab a good meal and get some sleep. It is going to be a very long night. I want everyone back here at five bells. Got it.”
The response Myllo received was many times louder and more sincere than the one the Guild Master had obtained. Joe now saw why Kendell and the rest of the group he had been researching with preferred the short fey over the tall Guild Master.
As people began to file out, Joe watched Hah’roo’s fierce gaze follow the golden-armored ambassador. He was studiously avoiding meeting her eyes as he strolled from the great hall.
“What was that all about,” Joe couldn’t help but ask her.
“The Dragon Empire resides on Cazmaloq,” she started. Joe had seen maps and knew the island nation she was talking about was about the size of Iceland, located across roughly 300 miles of ocean east of Fort Coral. “For centuries, the empire has been trying to annex my home. The peaks of my nation are one of the few mountain ranges that are not home to dwarvenkind. Cazmaloq and a few other nations have long sought to plunder the wealth they believe lies in the roots of the Blue Mountains. Though my homeland has fallen several times, we have never remained conquered for long. The Sapphire Coast is not forgiving, and few but the giantfolk and galelings can thrive there.”
“So he was dumping on you simply because of your race?” Joe prompted.
“The dragonfolk of Cazmaloq are a proud people,” Kenda interjected, “They have a powerful and highly magical nation. But if I’m being honest, they can be arrogant pricks more often than not, too. I think the city guards have to break up more fights between us Forters and Cazmaloqian crews than any other nation’s sailors. They really hate not getting their way.” The trainer rubbed her neck and leaned close to the rest of the group. “I can see why they would have a real tack in their ass about the Sapphire Coast.”
“Exactly,” Hah’roo agreed. “Nevertheless, his nettling me will accomplish nothing. I have no rank among my people. I am just a wandering wild wind.” The galeling shrugged away the irritation and then turned to face her teammate for the night, as well as Joe and Kenda.
“You heard the man. Food and a nap before the coming storm. I could not think of a more perfect day.” Linking arms with Joe and RC, leaving Joe to do so with Kendell, the lithe white-skinned woman led them down the street toward where her favorite cafes resided.