Chapter 120

Wine was brought out in tall narrow glasses and M'redith offered a simple toast, “Thanks for saving us! To Redguard!”

“Redguard!” yelled the crowd back as people downed whatever drinks they had at the moment. M'redith's toast hadn't been quiet and everyone had heard her. Some joined in.

It was short. It was simple. It was perfect. The Redguard loved it – they got to go straight to partying and skip the speeches part. A simple thank you would suffice.

Menus were brought out to the table by Sha'li who had begun to ferry items back and forth. Wines. Beers. Trays of various finger foods and snacks. She would occasionally return with another person, such as a head chef, or the sommelier and the table would speak with them a time before Sha'li would lead them away only to return with something else.

No one ever 'ran out' of a beverage or of something to eat. There was always more, before they even knew they needed it. Sha'li seemed to anticipate their needs without them needing to tell her.

“It's spooky!” Norri whispered to M'redith at one point while Sha'li was off doing something or other. The rest of their group was talking with the other Redguard and having a good time.

“If she's a half-elf can you imagine a whole-elf?” M'redith whispered to Norri.

“No, I can't!” Norri hissed and the two of them broke down in to giggles before Sha-li returned once again.

The entire group had been wound up tight for longer than they could remember. They had been hunted, chased, and repeatedly almost killed. Now that the danger was gone and they had a bit of alcohol in them they could afford to act a bit silly.

When Sha'li returned she sought out M'redith specifically. “Do you need anything?” she asked as she smoothed the front of her robe.

M'redith looked at her and stared for a moment before she caught herself and apologized, “Sorry, I know it's rude to stare and you must hate it.”

Sha'li laughed lightly, like perfect musical notes mixed with a bubbling brook. “I don't feel anything about it at all. No apology is needed.”

“Can I ask you something?” M'redith finally said as she leaned towards Sha'li slightly.

Sha'li gave M'redith a brilliant white smile and nodded.

“What is going on with your... scent? I guess is the best way to phrase it?” she asked her seriously but haltingly. “Can you keep that down a bit? It is very distracting.”

Sha'li shook her head sadly, “No. I can no more stop it than you can stop breathing. Sure, you can hold your breath for a time, but eventually, you're going to have to breathe in and out. I am sorry it causes you so much distress,” she said with a facial expression that looked truly apologetic. “As for what it is – I think it's speech, or part of how elves are meant to talk with each other. It has been remarkable trying to figure it out on my own.”

M'redith shook her head, “I'm sorry. It doesn't cause me distress. It's just... distracting is all.”

Sha'li look whimsical for a moment, “Stop apologizing. It's ok. I will try to 'exhale' while away from your table if you would prefer.”

M'redith was surprised to find that she did not want that. She liked the scent. She looked over at Jay for a moment and Sha'li laughed and looked at M'redith with a sweet smile.

“No, that's ok. As long as we can think straight I'd say it's fine.” M'redith finally said.

Sha'li nodded with a smile. “That should be doable.”

They were interrupted by Jay who waved to get M'redith's attention. “I forgot! Here!” he said as he took the silver and violet chest out of his backpack and dropped it on to the table with a thump.

“Whoa!” Aiden said a bit loudly as the others at the table quieted down so they could instead focus on the treasure chest. “Where did that come from?”

Jay shrugged, “I don't know! That's the problem!”

M'redith chuckled, “Only you could lose track of where you found a treasure chest, you know that, right?”

Jay looked sheepish, “Sorry?”

The Redguard laughed and found the whole thing hilarious. They didn't deal with treasure chests very often and the idea that you could be carrying one and not remember where it came from was absolutely ridiculous.

After everyone had calmed down a bit from teasing Jay about it M'redith finally spoke. “Well when was the last time you remember NOT having the chest in your bag?”

Jay pursed his lips as he thought. “We were in Ashagi getting ready to go. I'd double checked everything to make sure I didn't forget anything.”

Aiden nodded but Norri spoke before he could and smiled when he turned to stare at her, “So you got it between when you left Ashagi and arrived here. That narrows it down.”

Redguard had been watching in amusement but Lt. Fries interjected, “Did you receive a notification when you left Ashagi?”

Jay slapped himself on the forehead and sighed. “One sec, let me look in my log.”

One of the things players such as Jay had access to was a log of every notification he'd received. He could bring them up and scroll through them. He scrolled back a bit to the applicable section and shared it with those at the table.

You have completed a World Event quest! Accidental Librarian: escape Ashagi 1/1!

Congratulations! You will receive the following:

500xp

Small Group Treasure Chest

Title: Pan-dimensional Librarian – Your library card is good anywhere! +1 INT. This title does not need to be visible for the bonus to take effect and is always active.

M'redith laughed. “Well that explains it. You got a treasure chest for our group completing the Ashagi World Event quest. Now stop stalling, what did we get!”

Jay chuckled and the Redguard all egged Jay on to open it. Smiling Jay refused. He did double check it for traps before speaking though.

“I open chests all the time. Anyone else want a chance?” he said.

“Me, me!” Norri said with a hand raised so high it made her shoulders crooked.

Jay pushed the chest across the table to her, “Go nuts.”

Norri raised the lid and squeaked in pleasure when she discovered that the chest was lit internally by magic. It glowed yellow light as she opened it and her face was lit with a yellow light as she leaned over it to peer inside.

“Oh?” she said and the rest of the table leaned forward to try and see as well.

Norri took out a small wax package roughly the size of a person's hand. She set it on the table so that everyone could inspect it.

Jay peered at it for ten seconds and was rewarded with a notification.

Ashagi Patch x 5, Wrapped

“So what does...” began Lt. Fries but he was cut off with a high pitched screech, then another, and another. A yellow and green parrot appeared on Jay's shoulder and continued screeching. Other patrons in the room turned to try and locate the source of the screams. Many turned around just in time to witness a tropical parrot extend its wings and launch in to flight.

The bird drew lazy circles over the heads of Jay's party as well as the patrons in the room. Finally the bird landed on Norri's shoulder and screamed, “UPGRADE.”

Jay and the people seated at his table all saw the following notification right as the parrot screamed.

Congratulations! An item of yours has received an upgrade in rarity thanks to party member Jay! Your Ashagi Patch is no longer ERROR and has been upgraded to ERROR. Please check the item for additional information!

ERROR – item has no rarity, item duplicated instead: Ashagi Patch x 1

Congratulations! Achievement Complete! Jay has unlocked a secret Class Ability choice! When you next level up you may select the new Class Ability if you wish. Class Ability: Lucky Mascot II (Dupe) – very rare

Jay carefully unwrapped the package and took out the patches and counted them. There were indeed now six patches instead of five. They were the standard size, a few inches across. The patch was ringed with gold thread, the top rocker read Ashagi Pan-dimensional Library in tightly spaced tiny letters. The bottom rocker held the date that Jay's party had escaped. In the center of the patch was the library desk itself with Ashagi's roiling black mass above it, its animated form moving slowly on the patch.

Sha'li had been watching and was fascinated by the patches. “May I?” she asked as she motioned towards the stack of patches in front of Jay. Jay nodded, he was only too happy to help.

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She picked up the patch and turned it over in her hands. She attached it to the chest of her robe before carefully peeling it off once again. She watched the black animated Ashagi on the patch for a moment before handing it back to Jay. “They're beautiful, I haven't seen any like it. I want to collect these they look so good! How did you obtain them?”

Jay chuckled, “I didn't even know where the chest was from a few minutes ago.” The others laughed kindly at Jay before he continued, “It seems that if I am in a party and that party finishes a dungeon then the party members each gets a commemorative patch. The more difficult the run, the fancier the patch. These are fairly fancy.” he said as he inspected the patch once more.

Sha'li chuckled and it made everyone at the table smile. “Well they're wonderful. Congratulations to all of you.”

Jay's group all nodded in thanks before Norri spoke up. “There's more in there you know.”

“Show us!” Aiden insisted.

Norri leaned over the chest and pulled out a beige credit card. At least Jay thought it was a credit card at first but as he watched Norri inspect it he realized it was something different. She placed it on the table so that everyone could inspect it. After staring at it for ten seconds Jay was rewarded with a notification.

Ashagi Library Card – Very Rare – A small rigid card the size of a business card. On one side is an image of Ashagi's black roiling cloud floating over a library desk, the desk piled with books on top. The opposite side of the card simply reads 'Title: Honorary Pan-dimensional Librarian.' When bound this card will bestow upon the bound user the title Honorary Pan-dimensional Librarian. Once the title has been granted the card will become a non magical item. It will retain the images and writing on the card but will lose all other functionality.

The Redguard as well as Sha'li all drew in breaths of shock and surprise. Titles were a thing of legend yet Jay's group walked around with not just one but several. Items that granted a title were even rarer than those. Yet there was one sitting on the table right in front of them.

“Who of you will use it?” Lt. Fries asked as he watched Jay and M'redith.

Jay grinned as did the others and they all turned their titles on at the same time. The sudden blooming of titles above the party caught people by surprise. You couldn't see them unless you inspected a person but inspecting a person was a fairly common activity on Eden.

Even though the Redguard were aware that Jay's party possessed at least one title that was quite a different thing from seeing four matching titles sitting at the table in front of them.

Jay shrugged, “We already have our titles. This is the first time we have an opportunity to give someone else a title though.”

“What will you do with it?” Lt. Swan asked seriously. The table's vibe had quickly changed to a serious one as the Redguard detected an incredible opportunity.

M'redith ran a hand through her hair which made Jay smile while he watched her. “Well,” she said, “our standard loot rules are to give everything out randomly. This though I think we will sell and split the proceeds between us. No idea what we'll sell it for though.”

“I'll give you five gold for it.” Lt. Fries said.

“Eight.” Sgt. Combs offered. Lt. Fries frowned at him but didn't say anything else.

Bidding began in earnest.

The other Redguard argued among themselves for a bit before Lt. Swan finally spoke, his voice cutting through the arguments.

“15 gold.” he said and the table went quiet including Jay's group.

Fifteen gold was... well fifteen gold was a lot. And maybe not enough. Jay thought they could get more right now if they opened the bidding to whoever else was in the room. Most of the other people in the room were remarkably rich. The other people in the room hadn't saved Jay's group's lives however.

Jay exchanged an approving look with M'redith before she checked with Norri and Aiden. Both seemed to approve of the incredible sum that was being offered. Even if they could potentially get more money for it sometimes there were more than just fiscal issues to consider. Where other groups may feel motivated to squeeze every copper they could out of any treasure sales Jay's group had a different outlook.

Jay could always find more treasure. He did it constantly. If they wanted more treasure all they had to do was go out and get it. It was a near certainty that Jay would find something. Jay's group's outlook on treasure was that there was always more out there – no reason to stress over the treasure you had.

Sha'li seemed pleasantly surprised to be present for such a unique event and a sudden wave of pure happiness only in scent form washed over Jay's group and they all smiled. They couldn't help it.

Jay detected notes he hadn't smelled in years. The scent of his favorite child hood stuffed animal, the blanket he carried everywhere until he was 5, the first day of spring, his mother when she would hold him as a toddler, freshly baked after-school cookies, there were more notes than he could count or even detect. The few that he managed left him stunned and confused over the intensity of the emotions they conjured up.

Being around a half-elf was emotionally exhausting Jay thought to himself.

Sha'li didn't apologize but merely smiled as she consciously regulated the scent's flow and it dissipated enough to clear the confusion from the table's occupants.

“That was...” Jay started but was interrupted by Norri.

“wonderful!” she interjected.

“It's like being drunk on a scent.” Jay said as his head cleared.

Redguard had been affected but not to the degree that Jay's group had. Redguard seemed more entertained than anything else by Sha'li's scent.

“So?” Lt. Swan asked. He desperately wanted that title. All of the Redguard wanted it but only Lt. Swan appeared to be able to afford it. The amount was huge. Even split five ways it was still a large sum. Jay's group was about to learn what it's like to be slightly rich. Glenda would be pleasantly surprised, Jay was sure.

The two groups that had been running the Dungeon Table at the front of the room had just finished and the crowd clapped appreciatively except for a few boos from patrons who had lost money. The other patrons couldn't understand the boos. It was just money, what was the big deal?

Jay pursed his lips for a moment before he had an idea. “Tell you what. Do you guys feel like playing a round of Dungeon Room? If you can win against a challenger then we'll sell you the library card for fifteen gold.”

Lt. Fries leaned forward, “Deal.”

Sgt. Combs looked over at Lt. Fries, “What happens if we lose?”

Lt. Fries looked at him aghast as if he wanted to smack the back of his head again. “Do you plan on losing Sergeant?”

Sgt. Combs' body went rigid and he almost sat at attention. “No, Sir!”

“Then who cares what happens? We're not going to lose.” Lt. Fries insisted.

Lt. Swan shrugged, “I don't mind stomping things to death if that's what it takes.”

The rest of Redguard laughed and Jay's group smiled. “Let's do it then.” Jay said and leaned over to have a private conversation with Sha'li. M'redith watched the conversation carefully but seemed mollified that nothing untoward was taking place.

Sha'li left for a few minutes before returning with a pleasant infectious smile that spread across the table as she arrived. “Everything is ready, if you would just” she started before she was interrupted.

“LADIES AND GENTLEMEN” came a loud strong voice from a hidden speaker in the room, “If you would kindly make your way to the Dungeon Room area we have prepared a special treat for your viewing.”

Sha'li grinned, “follow me?”

Redguard got up out of their seats and joked with each other over how the coming combat would turn out. They followed Sha'li up and on to the front stage where chairs had already been set up for them.

As they took the stage the other patrons recognized them and went wild with cheering and clapping. “REDGUARD!” more than a few of them yelled out with drinks raised.

“TONIGHT ONLY – we bring you a challenge unlike any you have seen. A battle between two teams for a TITLE. Yes, you heard me correctly, the winner of the bout will receive an item that bestows an actual title. Don't believe me? Come see for yourselves!” the announcer cried over the mutterings of the crowd.

The crowd was now talking quite excitedly. Sha'li had taken the library card and placed it on a podium behind the Dungeon Room table where it's elevated position allowed it to be viewed – and inspected – by the crowd.

“Is that real?” cried out one patron.

“Where did you find that?” yelled another.

The announcement system crackled to life once more, “Tonight only, watch the legendary Redguard go up against Seven Dogs Group in a dungeon run for the ages! Winner takes the title Honorary Pan-dimensional Librarian! An ACTUAL TITLE!”

The volume in the building increased no matter what room one was in. Everyone began to talk about the announcement and most of the building's occupants that weren't already otherwise occupied ventured over to the Dungeon Room table area to witness the coming bout. No one wanted to miss it.

Jay's group were now alone at their table and watched Redguard get comfortable in their chairs. An attendant approached Redguard and gave them each a Figurine that matched them as closely as possible. Runners had picked them up earlier that night from the crafter's district just in case Redguard wanted to try the Dungeon Room table.

The crowd was getting rowdy and argumentative. They were all used to having their questions answered immediately by an underling or employee and were frustrated that such an incredible mystery as a working title had been so carelessly displayed at the front of the room without any additional information.

Sha'li stepped to the front of the stage and raised one hand, “Peace,” she said and a wave of scent washed over the crowd. Again Jay was struck by the incredibly complicated nature of the scent. So many notes all wrapped together, any single one enough to drag up memories he had forgotten about years ago. The effect of so many powerful memories attached to the scent that filled the room quickly quieted the crowd.

Many had never seen a half-elf before. Some had heard fragmentary rumors about them, or had heard that Redgrass had a half-elf working there. None had expected the powerful effect of her presence or her scent or her voice. Each called to something deep inside of Jay as well as the people around him. They all could feel it, as if their memories and emotions were locked away and she was the key that unlocked them.

It was a powerful, silly moment. She didn't do anything special, didn't sing a song or say anything deep. Just her being there was enough. If the front stage hadn't drawn everyone's attention then Sha'li made sure it did. Her fiery hair streamed down her back in a constantly shifting pattern of reds.

“Please,” she said in a musical voice, “place your bets! We will start the run in five minutes. Until then, place your bets, order your drinks, and get comfortable!” she said with her arms opened wide in supplication to the crowd.

“I love you!” shouted one of the patrons in the crowd.

Sha'li laughed lightly. “You don't know me. But thank you, you're sweet.” It was delivered with just the right tone that the patron knew he had been turned down but was kind enough that he couldn't take offense.

She smiled brightly which everyone seemed to enjoy before she left the stage and returned to Jay's table. Most of the eyes in the room followed her as she moved.

“How was that?” she asked Jay with a flushed grin.

“That was great! You did so well!” Norri insisted as she cheered Sha'li on.

Sha'li's flush deepened and she smiled widely.

“You know how to draw a crowd,” Jay admitted and M'redith chuckled while Sha'li smiled, pleased.