Systole
First Post
At last Fallson Hev looks up from his work. “I’m sorry to have kept you waiting, but I was in the middle of tabulating the projected flax harvests for the upcoming year. It’s dreadfully important for the Guild to set the correct prices, you see. If we’d simply used last year’s numbers, we would have been undercharging by almost one and a quarter pence a sheaf!“ The old man looks extremely proud of this catch, as if he’d singlehandedly averted a major economic catastrophe.
“Well, you’re all here about the job, I expect.” He pulls several complex-looking legal documents out of a drawer and hands one to each of you. “Our standard contract. You’re entitled to any goods you find with an independently appraised value of less than 10,000 gold sovereigns, adjusted for inflation from the date the contract is enacted. Above that, there’s a sliding scale of dividends – quite reasonable, I think you’ll find. We also offer a generous per diem salary. I’m afraid that expenses, however, are not covered. Just sign at the bottom, please.
“Oh, dear me! I’ve forgotten to tell you what the job actually is! Well, on the premises of one of our guild members, a swine farmer named Ivio Mallack to be precise, there is an ancient dwarven tower.” He shakes his head. “The Venzan landscape is positively studded with the ridiculous things. We’d have acres more arable land if we simply pulled them all down, as I’ve suggested on many occasions. But I digress.
“This particular tower had been sealed for as long as anyone can remember, with no way in or out. Recently, we had a very minor earthquake in the area. Nothing to speak of, really. I myself slept through it. Unfortunately, it partially collapsed the tower. Since then, Mr. Mallack has been complaining of a strong odor whenever the wind blows from the direction of the ruins. He claims that the smell is causing his pigs to be unsettled, and he wants the problem solved before breeding season starts.”
Fallson shrugs. “I myself find this somewhat hard to countenance, but Mr. Mallack is a member in good standing and is entitled to remediation as per Guild rules. His farm is about three hours south by cart, and then about an hour’s walk east down Old Puerco Road. If you leave soon, you’ll be able to arrive by the evening. Mr. Mallack can put you up for the night, and you can commence your investigations tomorrow.
“Do you have any questions?”
...... Fallson Hev ......
“Well, you’re all here about the job, I expect.” He pulls several complex-looking legal documents out of a drawer and hands one to each of you. “Our standard contract. You’re entitled to any goods you find with an independently appraised value of less than 10,000 gold sovereigns, adjusted for inflation from the date the contract is enacted. Above that, there’s a sliding scale of dividends – quite reasonable, I think you’ll find. We also offer a generous per diem salary. I’m afraid that expenses, however, are not covered. Just sign at the bottom, please.
“Oh, dear me! I’ve forgotten to tell you what the job actually is! Well, on the premises of one of our guild members, a swine farmer named Ivio Mallack to be precise, there is an ancient dwarven tower.” He shakes his head. “The Venzan landscape is positively studded with the ridiculous things. We’d have acres more arable land if we simply pulled them all down, as I’ve suggested on many occasions. But I digress.
“This particular tower had been sealed for as long as anyone can remember, with no way in or out. Recently, we had a very minor earthquake in the area. Nothing to speak of, really. I myself slept through it. Unfortunately, it partially collapsed the tower. Since then, Mr. Mallack has been complaining of a strong odor whenever the wind blows from the direction of the ruins. He claims that the smell is causing his pigs to be unsettled, and he wants the problem solved before breeding season starts.”
Fallson shrugs. “I myself find this somewhat hard to countenance, but Mr. Mallack is a member in good standing and is entitled to remediation as per Guild rules. His farm is about three hours south by cart, and then about an hour’s walk east down Old Puerco Road. If you leave soon, you’ll be able to arrive by the evening. Mr. Mallack can put you up for the night, and you can commence your investigations tomorrow.
“Do you have any questions?”
...... Fallson Hev ......
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