ACT I • SCENA 8
A HANDSHAKE, A FATE SHAPED
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The cheerful trader arrives soon after the seventh bell. You are waiting by the gate.
[Guildmaster]the Guildmaster [https://i.imgur.com/iOtVQ2G.jpeg]
Cheerful trader
Cheerful trader [https://i.imgur.com/bgTd4Jk.jpeg]
[GUILDMASTER]: Excuse me, miss trader—
CHEERFUL TRADER: Greetings, Guildmaster! I've got that deal for you!
[GUILDMASTER]: Much appreciated. But we've got a lot of questions—
CHEERFUL TRADER: No worries, I should have everything right here.
She hands you a folded sheet of finely treated parchment. You open it… You look at the numbers… and your eyes unwittingly go a bit wide.
The gist of it is, if you buy her entire stock, she'll reduce the total price by fifteen percent. Of what was already a good deal.
Annessa appears beside you.
Annessa
Annessa [https://i.imgur.com/PyIhOwq.jpeg]
[GUILDMASTER]: Annessa… Do you have any objections to this arrangement?
You don't even bother handing her the document, knowing she'll just hover over your shoulder. And you don't even have to look at her to sense one of her eyebrows twitch.
ANNESSA: None…
You look up at the cheerful trader and take a step forward, ready to shake her hand.
[GUILDMASTER]: We'd be happy to accept this deal and make the entire purchase, miss, uh—
CHEERFUL TRADER: Magda!
She shakes your hand with delighted vigor. Her strength is very controlled, but you can tell—her muscles are denser than Varant's.
MAGDA: Call me Magda. No 'miss' required!
[GUILDMASTER]: Thank you, Magda. But we have so many questions…
MAGDA: I thought the document explained everything?
[GUILDMASTER]: …
ANNESSA: Excuse me Magda, but…
[GUILDMASTER]: …How did you know we were going to receive enough money to purchase this? How did you know we would even have adventurers to equip?
Her smile doesn't disappear, instead it becomes extremely sly—along with her entire face.
MAGDA: Heh heh hehhhh. Because I'm the one responsible, of course! I was hoping you wouldn't catch on so quickly, but I guess I couldn't help but make it easy after all.
[GUILDMASTER]: How… and why…
ANNESSA: Miss… excuse me, Magda—
[GUILDMASTER]: —About the Priest, Tarrian. How did you convince the House to send him here?
MAGDA: Hmm? I didn't. I just invited him like the others.
You and Annessa look at each other.
MAGDA: Is something a big deal?
[GUILDMASTER]: …The High Table diverted him to us, instead of staffing the Mayika Chamber to allow Bishop Asthon to retire, as was the original plan—the entire reason he was sent down here, from what we understand.
Magda's eyebrows scoot a centimeter up her face.
MAGDA: I'm not from around here, so I wasn't aware… Well. I had nothing to do with that. But I know you want your other questions answered. In a nutshell—you can just consider me a concerned citizen. Tell me—how many years has it been since the last Crusade?
[GUILDMASTER]:
> —<1> I kind of hate rhetorical questions, but I'll give it to you: Nine years, closing on ten.
>
> Magda looks sheepish at your response.
>
> MAGDA: Sorry. But yes. Actually I'll go ahead and throw you the other one: After the first and second Crusades, how many years did it take for the next to be announced?
>
> ----------------------------------------
> —<2> Sorry, I forgot how to count when adventurers kept showing up at my door in quick succession.
>
> MAGDA: Heh heh hehhh. I do not apologize. But it's been well over nine years, as you well know. Now think of this one: After the first and second Crusades, how many years did it take for the next to be announced?
>
> ----------------------------------------
> —<3> Just get to the point…
>
> She tries to make a petulant face, but she's not very good at it.
>
> MAGDA: Nine years! More than nine years, you fun-hater! But, for the point: After the first and second Crusades, how many years did it take for the next to be announced?
>
> ----------------------------------------
[GUILDMASTER]: …
Ten. Ten years.
MAGDA: Something has to change, Guildmaster. Skeptical as I may be, I don't think the House is lying when they call the Crusades The Cost of Our Future. Sure, the troglins have been held back for five decades. Do you think it will last? Do you think they're doing anything but getting stronger? How would you say the last Crusade went, compared to the first two? …Sorry, rhetorical question.
[GUILDMASTER]: …Your point is made. But the adventurers… How did you find them? How do you know so much about them?
MAGDA: Alright, I was going to wait to tell you this one too, but I'll go ahead and spoil it. Before the last Crusade, I was an adventurer. I still have contacts. And I still care. That's about the gist of it. Well…
She hesitates. Then she leans in, her good-natured cheer replaced by grave concern.
MAGDA: Something's happening, Guildmaster. Lady Annessa. And I'm not even talking about the Empires. Manara is facing internal chaos, Dursia might as well be in an all-out war with the lephan, and Parvia is in talks with the Emperor to become a vassal state. And Kathok… he's been making moves, you know that, and eyeing everything south of the Empires. And that might even include the Shoal, believe it or not. Except… the troglins aren't sitting still either.
ANNESSA: But we've been doing well on that front—General Issimir has secured a considerable amount of resources in and around the Tanglewood…
MAGDA: 'Secured' is the wrong word. The Crier will find out about it tomorrow. If nothing changes, mankind will lose every foothold beyond the World Wall—and that may just be the start.
You and Annessa find it hard to believe the direness of the situation, but… you can't deny it, either.
MAGDA: Something big is coming, Guildmaster. And you have less than a year to prepare for it. Make sure you survive, okay? That's what I want from you. And that's why I'll keep helping you. However…
[GUILDMASTER]: We… we do appreciate your assistance, Magda. I feel bad that we have nothing to give back.
MAGDA: But you do! That's just what I was about to get to!
At first her sudden excitement cheers you up, but then you grow suspicious… what does she want from you in exchange for 30,000 gold coins and her invaluable recruits? Have you been forced into some involuntary soul pact?
MAGDA: You should already guess how well-connected I am, and you can assume that I have detailed and up-to-date information on the situation in the Shoals. When you're ready—and not before—I'd like to make some requests to the guild. In fact, I'd like to make it some kind of semi-formal agreement. I'll post quests for missions into the Shoals… In short, I want you to unofficially assist with Issimir's Southern Mission. Invasive forays to keep the troglins off-balance, maybe a few judiciously chosen targets to keep their aggressive edge from growing too sharp. It'll be dangerous. But, combined with the Royal Watch, you might just be able to keep the troglins at bay—for a while, and in just a few areas that count.
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Out of the corner of your eye, you can see Annessa's face scrunched with concern. You yourself are not sure what to think.
[GUILDMASTER]: Annessa… I'm not familiar with the situation down here in the Heartlands. Just how important is the Tanglewood?
ANNESSA: …It doesn't even matter.
[GUILDMASTER]: What do you mean?
ANNESSA: Guildmaster… Please accept this deal.
You blink.
ANNESSA: Nobody else is going to fight the troglins. Magda is right, the other countries won't even be paying attention, and Tavar will take advantage of that. As will the Arkavian Empire. General Issimir is the only one in the world who's had any success south of the World Wall, which is why we can claim resources all the way to the south of Dursia, including the Tanglewood.
The gravity of her voice, the anxiety on her face… You can't help but think that somehow this has something to do with Savron. But she surprises you.
ANNESSA: I say 'we', and I mean the Kingdom of Karsis. I care about… about our independence. You've seen it now, the greenery on the streets and the information provided to the citizens for free… The governor's office actually tries to enrich the city. I may criticize them relentlessly, but it's because they've done enough that I can actually expect more. That I can expect something at all is a thing that I won't take for granted. And Eshram himself… I've seen him at work before, you know? He actually tries, Guildmaster… Can you say that about any other monarch in the world right now? If Tavar wins, or if the Emperor uses the troglins as an excuse…
[GUILDMASTER]: …Magda. I propose a deal. We will take on whatever quests you give us, with or without reward, as long as they are within our ability and the scope of the law. In exchange, you will continue to provide us with quality recruits… at a pace that allows us to do so, and allows the guild to survive. I will leave those specifics to your judgment.
With a somber face, Magda reaches her hand to you again. You shake it… her grip is far stronger than before, as if she's afraid to let you slip away. Then she relaxes and smiles again, lighting up the whole courtyard with her eagerness.
MAGDA: I'll be happy to help, Guildmaster. But now… let's get these wares into your storehouse! Um, alsooo… do you have anything I could snack on?
⋯
The equipment deal takes place in the guild office, with signatures and seals made by each party. The process is a learning experience for you, as the documents, procedures, and terminology involved are mostly unfamiliar. The longest part of it is waiting for the Sphere Grade seal to set—something that intrigues you, especially as watching the mana-infused wax shimmer and flare as the imprinted runic equation sorts out the ambient mana is rather delightful to watch. A Sphere Grade signet and its accompanying specialized wax are generic and commercially available items used alongside identifier seals such as your (also magically inscribed) Guild signet for purposes like this; the seals along with your signatures make for an effective form of verification. Once the setting process is complete and the mana is stabilized within the inscription, mages trained for the job can track both the time and the location at which the imprint was made.
You find that having a trustworthy method of verification is quite handy. In addition to signing off on the legal details of the trade, you have to arrange the payment of five thousand gold, which you don't have at the guild with you right now—and Magda can't accept payment through the Affirmation of Custody, as she isn't based in Mayika. But a simple notice to the Office of the Royal Treasury, signed and sealed at once by both parties, will allow her to retrieve the money within the established deadline. The deal technically isn't complete until Magda receives her funds, but no worries, she says—it's time to get those crates into the guild storehouse.
[ You lose 5000 gold, but now have an effectively unlimited stock of basic-tier weapons and armor, ensuring that none of your recruits will ever have to go without. ]
⋯
Varant had opened up the dorm before Magda arrived, and the guild staff and adventurers have been inside tidying it up. It falls to you and Magda to unload her cart—but it takes no time at all, as Magda tirelessly slings crates from wagon to warehouse, stacking them neatly in an empty corner for Varant and Messen to sort out later. Annessa meanwhile fetches some cheese and fruit from the freshly filled almery, and Magda works twice as hard after savoring some of each.
It's a quick and cheerful endeavor with her help, and you and Annessa both find yourselves a little dejected when she rolls her wagon out the gate. At the last moment, she pulls out a sealed letter and flings it through the closing gate doors. It spins through the air until it lands flat on the cobblestone between your feet. You pick it up with a wry smile, and it's exactly what you expect:
> To the Mayika Adventurer Guild,
>
> Ruvienne is a tricky one, which I know you will appreciate the value of. Having left her former group of thieves due to their ever-increasing ruthlessness, she has few options when it comes to putting her skills to use in the civilized world. She's going to try to use this guild to cement her new identity, rank up, and then negotiate a better position at one of the big northern guilds. But you won't let her because you'll value her too much. And she won't leave because she'll find friends here, for perhaps the first time in her life.
>
> Please give her a place to grow up properly!
Annessa gives you a small, happy grin, and hurries off to talk to the others. The guild is coming back to life, and it shows in her face, her eyes, her eager pace.
Suddenly you notice Marlond on your left, glaring at something in the front corner of the courtyard. You scan the area but note nothing new beyond a lone worn crate parked against the wall. You're about to ask him what concerns him when Zoel steps up soundlessly beside the lone hunter and joins him in the glaring contest with the crate.
Marlond
Marlond [https://i.imgur.com/O2Jt9wB.jpeg]
Zoel
Zoel [https://i.imgur.com/EMQi9oP.jpeg]
ZOEL: You know, I was thinking it was just about time for some basic rogue training. And I mean basic. Because everybody knows about the box trick by now, and nobody with an ounce of self respect would let themselves be caught out in a courtyard in broad daylight. So I was thinking maybe it was time to teach you some self respect, miss thief.
PETULANT FEMALE VOICE: WHAAAAAAAAT?!
From inside the crate comes a triple-time series of batters and bumps, followed by an encore in the form of a distressed squeal. Then the crate jiggles and then it jumps, and it topples over with an alarming clatter. A young woman crawls out of an opening in the bottom.
Miss Thief
Miss thief! [https://i.imgur.com/wcFhfeS.jpeg]
She's still on her knees, looking rather miserable.
[GUILDMASTER]:
> —<1> I'm going to need some explanations here…
>
> ZOEL: It's simple, Guildmaster. This one stole some of my cheese.
>
> [GUILDMASTER]: Ah, well, it's over for you then, miss thief. Nothing I can do.
>
> MISS THIEF: WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAT?!
>
> MARLOND: The cheese. You stole it. And you also ate it.
>
> [GUILDMASTER]: The death sentence, then.
>
> ----------------------------------------
> —<2> A thief and a crate makes an aberrat. Though pretty enough—for an aberrat.
>
> MISS THIEF: So rude!
>
> ZOEL: And a cheese-thieving aberrat, at that.
>
> [GUILDMASTER]: She stole WHAT?!
>
> MARLOND: She stole the cheese. And ate it.
>
> [GUILDMASTER]: …She WHAT?!!
>
> ----------------------------------------
> —<3> Aha! Our charming new rogue recruit! And what an entrance!
>
> ZOEL: She makes a better harlequin than a rogue, I'd say.
>
> MISS THIEF: EXCUSE ME?!
>
> MARLOND: …She stole the cheese.
>
> [GUILDMASTER]: The… the CHEESE?! We must get it back! Immediately!!
>
> ----------------------------------------
MISS THIEF: I didn't do anything!!
ZOEL: You didn't mean that, did you, miss thief? Because if you did, that was a lie. And we don't take liars.
[GUILDMASTER]: This is your last chance. If you don't give the cheese back, we're not giving you any more cheese.
MISS THIEF: But… but I already ate it!—wait, what?
[GUILDMASTER]: If you don't apologize, and mean it, we will remove all cheese from your meals as well as from any rations. In fact, that goes for any thieving. You thieve, you lose cheese privileges.
MISS THIEF: Wh—Wha…
[GUILDMASTER]: First offense is a three month cheese suspension. It doubles each time. Now, I believe the others are still in the dorm? Do we have another room ready for her?
MISS THIEF: I….
[GUILDMASTER]: Now's your chance to apologize, Ruvienne.
MISS THIEF: —How…?!
[GUILDMASTER]: Now's your last chance to apologize, Ruvienne.
MISS THIEF: I'm… I'm really sorry… if you'll let me join, I'll never steal again… uh, from you.
[GUILDMASTER]: The cheese suspension counts if you steal from anywhere. Got it?
MISS THIEF: Al—alright…
[GUILDMASTER]: Excellent! Then let's move on to the introductions. Ruvienne, this is Zoel, our master Blackguard trainer. And the lone wolf here is Marlond, a Ranger-to-be and likely your fellow party member.
MISS THIEF: Wow… uh, hello. Please call me Ruvi though.
[GUILDMASTER]: Now! Dormitory first, or would you like more cheese? And the fruits are great too.
RUVI: I… I would very much like some food! I'm so hungry…
MARLOND: I can show her to the kitchen, Guildmaster.
[GUILDMASTER]: Thanks, Marlond. Please eat your fill, Ruvi—courtesy of the same person who sent you that invitation.
RUVI: Thank you… thank you so much…
Ruvi gets to her feet, then she and Marlond leave for the kitchen in the far corner of the guild.
ZOEL: This is quite the turn of events! I'm rather fond of the way you deal with things, Guildmaster!
[GUILDMASTER]: I was given a heads-up, and have reason enough to believe in her character. It's Magda you should be thankful for. Let me fill you in…