Path To Radiance; First Ascent

Chapter 6 - Ground Work: Part 2

"That's how I met this guy." Brick nods at me. "What's with that quest, Jut?"

I look at Moss and Tella. "Who wants to party up?"

Brick erupts from his seat and throws his fist in the air. "Great idea! You know I'm in. That would be four. If everyone else is in, that is. We would just need heals."

"I am also 'in'," Tella says meekly.

"Sure, me too," Moss says smiling. "I'll catch up to Aeona another day. This sounds like fun."

I recount my morning to give context to the quest. When I get to the ally examination, Brick is as bummed as I was over the missing out on the loot.

"Ah, man. That blows." He scoffs.

"I know, right?" I commiserate. 

"Actually, my Lord, I almost forgot." Tella steps forward and spreads out a moderate pile of coins on the bed. "This is your loot from the kills in the ally." She steps back and gestures at the pile with both hands.

"You're the one who claimed the loot?" I ask.

"My Lord?" Brick asks, his eyebrow cocked in suspicion.

"I went back first thing and all of it was just piled there." Explains Tella as she nods to me.

I went on to explain the rest of the morning to Brick and Moss as I invite Moss and Tella to our party and share the new quest with everyone. I then split the coins into four even piles and pass one pile to each party member. Tella tries to refuse but when I insist, she bows and takes her cut. Neither of us answers Brick and I leave out Tella's pledge.

The four of us discuss the quest and what we thought we should do next. Everyone defers to me which I don't like very much. It's a bit frustrating but I'll go with it. Easier to just get it over with than fight it. Besides, can't bitch about poor leadership if I'm the one steering the boat.

I split us up individually and have everyone spread out and ask around about the Governor. I want to know where to find him, when he was approachable, and any other useful information. Everyone agrees and goes their separate ways. We were to meet up again that evening at the South Tower Tavern to discuss everyone's findings.

It is going to be another very long day. I sigh to myself and make my way out into the town.

At 8:00 pm, I meet my three companions at a table Tella had secured for us. The South Tower Tavern seems to always be packed. How Tella managed to grab a table is beyond me. Players are all milling about after spending days without doing anything productive except drinking and eating. I wonder how long people can afford to do that. I would be running low on coin without my so-called blessing.

Tella makes it a point to sit on my left. This unnerves Brick more than anyone else. I don't get why. Since she insisted on joining the hunt for information, she had also ventured off on her own. It worried me a little at first, but if she is fine going out alone and has returned safely who am I to fret?

Nobody found anything too interesting, much to my disappointment. At least, they found nothing to do with the Governor. Everyone did contribute something, however.

Brick had located a "Skill Game Vendor". The shop was to the North and seemed pretty small. Brick's description of the shop's interior matched that of a common video game store back home with racks and racks of plastic cases. We banter about whether or not they would have a good return policy. Brick had branched off from there but ended up getting lost until he managed to find his way back to the tavern. The rest of his day was spent "mingling".