Bay 12 Games Forum

Hmm, and there I was today thinking what to do with all that rice that my family got yesterday.

"Good. Begone, then."

---

"By the look on your face, I will assume everything went as she have planned and discussed with me. Which means I will have to take your group to the armory. We will supply you with iron weapons if you want them, but of course you can keep your lightweight blades instead."

Aaron turned to look at Ami and Henry with a slight grin.

"Unfortunately, we cannot be that generous in terms of magical tomes and staffs. Our garrison's healers and mages need them as well. So, who wants to exchange their weapons for iron ones?"

((In case yer too lazy to check: Iron weapons are heavier and have higher dmg, but lose the critical bonus and have slightly lower hit chance.))

Prixima laughed and leaned against her chair, then she looked at Sterling with a grin.

"Oh, the actual mission is still beyond your reach, as I believe you're still neither competent nor experienced enough to even try to accomplish the mission. I've seen your training, I've got reports from Aaron and the other two, I heard some things about you... You of course understand, that this means I want to void the contract. Unfortunately, it would leave a stain on the honour of Kesselring family, which was dealing with mercenaries for almost a century Still with me, kid? Fortunately, in my ingenuity, I thought a plan that could easily let me kill two birds with one stone. And it involves your group. Do you agree to follow it?"

Prixima clasped her hands and grinned widely, showing her way of satisfaction. She could easily pose as a demon too.

"Wonderful. Per contract with the Mercian Mercenary Guild, the mission that I've assigned with Sarius was for five thousand golden coins of reward. That sum would be yours if you could perform duties that I wanted to entrust to Sarius, but he is dead, and now that you've taken the responsibility, you have to see the contract fulfilled. I hope you understand so far?"

"That's why Sterling is going inside. Well, that and few other things that Lady Prixima wants to talk about with him." Aaron explained, and closed door after Sterling when he went inside.

Lady Prixima was waiting for the young lad, sitting behind her desk. She looked over Sterling, and then licked her finger, turning a page of a book, but it was clear she didn't paid attention to the words - it was all about making the moment a little more dramatic.

"Well, isn't it... Sterling, yes? First of all, tell me; do you take responsibilities of the leader of this mercenary group?"

Aaron silently took the mercenary group upstairs, through the same amount of staircases and corridors as at the first time, a week ago.

Gregor was standing right near the door leading to Prixima's study.

"Please wait a moment." Captain Aaron said, knocked on the door and then slipped in. Less than a minute later, they could hear elevated voices, and few words that Gregor could catch in his ears, were 'certain death' 'incompetent kids' 'one more chance' and such. Suddenly, there was shouting, abruptly replaced by silence, and amidst that silence, Aaron came out, letting out a sigh.

"She will only see Sterling, no one else."

"And where will you go if she doesn't agree, Charlotte? You will be back to the life of vagabond and trespasser? Sterling, please gather your group, I will wait outside." Like he said, that he did - he left the bedroom and closed the door.

"If it hurts, it means it's working. Now, Lady Prixima wants to see your group today. I believe she will decide today if you're up for the job she promised to your late leader Sarius."