[RF] You are really nailing a job interview when you get asked an odd question

...

Jarl Congrad had a busy evening, signing and parsing out the contracts and coin allotted for the commissions of late. As always, Jarl had plenty of ruffians stumbling in for signing, and as always Jarl had politely turned them away for the rare exception of those few he wished to keep; both occurrences always happening without complaint. His agreements were well-known: No one refused Jarl Congrad of the Adventurer's Guild, after all.

The final meetings for the day had arrived and waited politely, unlike many of their nature and potential career path. Jarl waited far longer than was necessary, watching as they stood beside the guards at the door, perhaps idly considering what was keeping him. In truth, there was little more than paperwork (which would normally have waited) but potential Ranked members of the Guild didn't come along very often, and ones with a hint of manners about them were even less prevalent.

Another moment passed, and Jarl waved a practiced hand, releasing the pair waiting from the aggressive posture of the large men with weapons blocking their entry. It was time to hear them out.

"Hello travellers, welcome to the Guild. It's always pleasure to meet with veterans looking to join our ranks." Across the table, he held his posture formal, gilded scroll and books set with perfect right angles to one another. The quill and ink in his hands furiously scribbling in the final details of whatever work had come prior to their meeting. It always helped to add some atmospheric effect for such interviews. His spare hand motioned for the two to sit. "Please, please have a seat. My name is Jarl Congrad, Leader of the Northern Hall."

"It's a pleasure to meet with you." The larger of the pair spoke, a man wearing non-traditional clothing and mindful of an instrument slung over his shoulder. Wood and metal were visible in the construction. "The last outpost told us only the more populated regions have official Halls to meet like this. Apologies for the late visit, but we've been looking to finalize our contracts."

"Ah, and so it is, so it is. That's all quite standard, not to worry." Jarl waved his free hand as he dipped in quill one final time amid the ink, signing off a final signature on the scroll before him. It settled with a curious hiss and scent, before fading off the paper with a silent glow. "I understand from the forms reviewed that your team consists only of you and your companion. A single Human battle-mage specializing in ranged combat, and Sola- the Dark-Elf who is very capable in close combat. A very interesting mix there."

"Yes." The man seemed unwilling to elaborate the prompt of Jarl's statement, but he nodded along as the elf beside him smiled politely. "We bought our permits at the last outpost so we're technically members, but we haven't obtained our ranks yet."

"Oh, that certainly can happen from time to time. Why, once we had a man enlist among the Guild with outstanding credit of several hundred Gold pieces. He'd not had the slightest idea until we signed the papers." Jarl opened the largest of the books upon the table, pulling it open to a blank page as he dipped his quill once more, writing quickly with another hiss of magics. "Now, do you have previous records among the Scribe's Network? If you've already turned in bounties, the magics should turn up results for us to assess you fairly I'd think. Two seasoned travelers such as yourselves." Jarl teased the words out, carefully.

"We... Well, I think we do." The man glanced at his companion, who nodded once. "The Ghouls at the very least. Those should be recorded."

"Hmm... Well, let us see..." Jarl wrote into the page, letting the ink soak in and dissipate, before information floated to it's surface in a quick flourish of spots and patterns to settle out as text once more. His brow raised in astonishment. "Well! I'd say you've certainly turned in a record number of Ghouls! Well done! Bounty already collected, still an impressive number for certain!"

"There were quite a lot." The dark elf spoke this time, faint grin. "He lost one of our shovels in the middle of it." A waving gesture in the battle-mage's direction brought a frown to his face and a mild grumble as Jarl watched. Sure enough, she did seem to be carrying a shovel he'd all but overlooked as a spear prior.

This was an interesting pair, to be sure.

"Are their any other bounties you might have partaken in? Any titles you may have been bestowed in the past?" Jarl pressed his quill to the page, hesitant. Where there was one impressive deed, there were often others lurking- among other things.

"I dealt with some Goblins... The province of Red Stone. I didn't know I could claim those, but if there's a record."

"Oh, you might be surprised. The Scribe network is very diligent to record major events; they're also very diligent to record those responsible, and if the bounties themselves have been paid out. We always welcome those who can turn over their share of bounties." Jarl's quill moved with practiced ease, letting the ink scribble along as he idly considering the most functional request. "After all, there's a reason the masses pay their taxes... Red Stone, eh?"

The ink bubbled back atop the page after a moment's passing, bringing another record to view.

"Yes, yes... Oh here it is. Ah, well you've come up quite a ways, the Southern Territories does seem to have a record of you." Jarl clicked his tongue. "By the gods, you certainly were busy down there. Goblins, Goblins, and more Goblins... May I ask: Was Sola involved at that time?"

"Oh, well that's great you've got it then. No, Sola wasn't involved then." The man paused, scratching at his bearded chin. "You said outstanding bounties can get collected anywhere among the guild? That's convenient."

"Yes, oh indeed that certainly is the case. I'd say, at a rough count..." Jarl tapped his quill, jotting numbers quickly on a scrap sheet of paper. "You have earned... About three gold pieces, two silver, and thirty-seven copper from those Goblins alone."

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

The battle-mage coughed as though he were choking, prompting his companion to swat his back- almost throwing him face-first into the table.

"That much?" The mage managed to wheeze out, once again maintaining posture.

"Well, the number of Goblins... A whole tribe mostly single-handedly, short of minor local assistance from a man referenced in the report as Tomas Mathimule." Jarl checked the numbers one final time. "Yes, this is perfectly accurate for the standard going-rate of Goblin bounties. Quite the accomplishment, if I do say."

Beside the man, his Dark-elf companion seemed to be containing ecstatic emotions at a barest minimum, her hand slapping the mage's back with a congratulatory motion that once again almost grounded him to the table. Jarl continued reviewing, quill stopping short on a ledger note towards the farthest reaches of the page on a perfect script.

His favorite part of the formalities was soon to arrive.

"Ahem." Jarl coughed once, taking back the attention from the pair, interrupting whatever hushed conversation had been taking place between them. As their eyes turned, he spoke again. "Yes... So far as I can see, there is certainly no reason not to accept you into our ranks under the normal conditions- but there is one final issue that needs resolving."

"Yes?" The mage asked this time, smile already fading on his face. The Dark-elf held no such constraints, grin happily planted and settled.

Jarl had to respect the mage's demeanor. Calm, collected, but undeniably a realist. There was a man who had seen some things in life head west in life! Darkness take Jarl himself, if the Guild wasn't in dire need of more of that sort. Here was one not fitting to the arrogant mold: In its place was a outlook on the world not yet inflated upon its own ego and delusions. Next portion of the interview aside, Jarl was certain he wanted to keep this one close at hand.

"Now, did you know that you happen to have a bounty out for your arrest?" Jarl asked politely, lips widening to a vicious grin as he watched the expression on the Mage's own catch. As though a lever had been pulled, it held halfway between calm and grim, like a player of the dice and cards; tint of desperation painted on an almost impeccable mask.

Oh, the Mage most certainly did know, but he most certainly hadn't expected Jarl to bring up the topic.

"A rather pressing one as well, Church stamped, signed, and sealed." Jarl pressed in, fingers tracing the ledger beneath them. "Serious crime, apparently..."

"Oh... really?" The mage spoke carefully, eyes wandering about the room as Jarl had watched them do prior to the meeting: seeking out the doors, windows, even the very beams above their heads. To the far side of the room, the Guild enforcers stood quietly, watching. "Go on then. Tell me more."

Clever, talented, aware, cautious... Not overly self-confident or headstrong. A rare combination of traits.

Jarl smiled, he did like this mage. Yes, quite a bit.

"Now, now... We're non-partial here in the Adventuring Guild. You see, we understand that these things can happen. Doterra Governance will take these their rules rather seriously, especially Paladins of the Faith." The mage visibly stiffened, calm breaking as the strange piece on his shoulder slipped into waiting hands. A unfamiliar device to Jarl's eyes, presumably dangerous- if hewas to trust the Mage's track-record for slaughtering Ghouls and Goblins. Beside him, his companion had lofted the shovel, metal piece stained curious colors by what Jarl could only guess was blood.

He quickly raised his free hand, waving away whatever foolish notions were settling into their minds.

"Now- hold on one moment. Just one moment, please." Jarl spoke in a pleasant tone, formally letting his pen scribble a final bout of notes upon the scrap parchment for future reference as he continued; not a single hint of worry reaching his features. "You're both acting with haste, as I feel my words might have been misinterpreted." The ink continued, scribbling on the scrap parchment where he'd previously recorded the bounty numbers. "You have outstanding credit you've yet to receive here, and as I said before: We welcome those who can turn over contracts and bounties with such ease. You're a valuable resource that we at the Adventuring Guild welcome with open arms."

The mage didn't seem convinced in the slightest, odd contraption of metal and wood shouldering itself in Jarl's direction. staring down the piece's barrel, He would eat his own quill-set if he didn't spy what seemed to be an expensive looking-glass mounted on the top of it, before he continued.

"We, generally, would turn you in: You're not wrong about that."

Jarl snapped his fingers as the magic contained within him erupted towards the air above, and a large glowing sword summoning over his head. Its sparks of blue essence sprayed in a wildfire as its blade began pointing like a compass, tip shimmering towards the pair. The two guards walked calmly into position behind them, grim satisfaction etched into their stone faces as if it had been carved there: Just one reason among many Jarl preferred the two cut-throats the over his many alternatives.

They enjoyed their work as much as he himself did. This was always Jarl's favorite part.

"I think in this case though, we can come to some agreement." He gave his best smile. "I should hope so, anyways."

Little action came from the show of force, but the mage continued pointing his presumed weapon in Jarl's direction, trusting as the elf behind him spun that shovel of hers rather quickly. By the time the mage spoke, the swooshing of air was audible from the motions. "Terms and conditions quick, or this thing blows your brains out."

A hard voice, and confident no less. Somehow, Jarl didn't doubt the odd device in the mage's hands possessed such claimed capacity. In fact, Jarl Congrad was all but certain of it.

"Your bounty is four gold." Jarl smiled, setting down his quill and crossing his hands as five more glowing swords summoned over his head, whining pitch of accelerating mana flooding into the room. "A heavy price indeed, but I'm willing to round the difference if you agree to take on some Guild Credit." The swords began to spin, whirling with tremendous speed in terrible swooping arcs. "Not much, of course. Just one gold of debt. A small loan, of trust."

The humming of the swords intensified further, as more apparated from thin air as Jarl spoke one more time, grin all but glowing in the pale blue light overhead.

"You can always refuse."

Watching them, Jarl appreciated the wide eyes and apprehension, their short glance at one another considering in fearful seriousness. A precious moment passed in its full entirity before the mage nodded once, lowering his odd weapon. Jarl considered that with the smallest lapse of his grin, before his smile once again returned.

The man might very well have been able to kill him- but thought better of it. Was it doubt in his own ability, or had he thought ahead, considering the deal in the longer-terms? Jarl suspected the second.

There was yet another aspect of the Battle-mage Jarl could truly appreciate. He and his companion would make fine additions to the Guild.

As Jarl passed the pen around, signatures meeting the book's imbued parchment with the hiss of mana and steam, he still couldn't help but beam a wide grin as he shook their hands and formally welcomed the duo to the Adventurer's Guild. The doors soon closed behind them, directions of the area and Adventurer's contacts and resources provided in a semblance of normality. As the wooden pieces slid back together, blocking out the world beyond the light from windows of thick coarse glass, Jarl Congrad leaned back into his wooden seat at the table, stirring the ink slowly with his quill.

For some reason, one he couldn't quite place, people almost never refused his deals.

Sometimes though, he wished they would.