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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Viktyr Gehrig" data-source="post: 1236444" data-attributes="member: 9249">On a primitive, backwater Prime:In a sparse audience chamber, an aging aristocrat holds court over a barony that is rapidly slipping through his fingers. As a last, desparate grasp to retain control, he has hired a crew of mercenaries that appeared through a portal in his wine cellar. For three weeks, they have filled their purses with his gold, their stomachs with his food, and his patience with their demands and their abuse of his realm. After weeks of drilling his troops and rooting out spies in his court, he considers them to be worth their high price-- however, finally a large threat has arrived that he can use to get the mercenaries out of his court for awhile, and possibly permanently. A series of daring, well-organized goblin raids against his borders have threatened to destroy the town of Pike Falls, and he wishes our heroes to investigate. The mercenaries' spokesperson, a frail human girl of no more than ten years old, negotiates with the Baron regarding their fee. She wears a simple, threadworn black dress, and her dark hair falls to her shoulders, mostly concealing her face. Dagger: "This sounds more dangerous than scaring your troops. I want triple the pay for hazardous duty that we agreed upon." The Baron's brow furrows. He knows it's hopeless, but he tries to protect his already faltering treasury. "That's ridiculous. We've set a price." The girl smiled. "And our price is changing... unless you want to defend from all those horrible, horrible goblins all by yourself." The Baron frowned. A tall, broad-shouldered man, pale and haggard-looking, turned to him. "You know it's hopeless, your Excellency. Give her what she wants so that we can get started." Sighing, the Baron nodded and waved the mercenaries away. The pale man placed a hand on the little girl's shoulder and walked away, almost regal in his ceremonial armor. They were quickly joined by their other companions, a pair of Tieflings they had grown to trust. Ortac, a finely-dressed swashbuckler, addressed the pale man. "So, what does his Excellency have for us today, Dagan? Terrifying the locals into paying their taxes? Strongarming his neighbors into aiding his defense?" Dagan frowned. The nature of the work ill-suited him. Ortac, undaunted, continued cheerfully probing. "Or are we to spend another night drinking and dancing as a 'show of force' to his enemies, whoever they might be?" Sighing, Dagan relented. "The Baron is having problems with goblins on his frontiers. He wants us to take care of them." Ortac smiled. "So, are we starting today or tomorrow?" Dagger giggled, and then answered. "Either way, we start getting paid today." Dagan shook his head and kept walking, intent on completing the newest bit of sordid business as quickly as possible. The other Tiefling, a young woman brightly dressed in well-maintained leathers and fine silks, followed Dagan. "I'm following the big guy."</blockquote>

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