Q'Barra: Facing Truth Chapter 2

[Pebele]

Goludov leans forward in his chair. "I am very pleased. I knew I could count on you all.

I have received a request to retrieve an artifact from a ruin not far from the Academy. Normally, we are not in the habit of taking private requests, especially not find-and-retrieve missions. However, this request was passed on to me, and I feel that it would benefit both the Academy and the person who requested our help.

I would like this mission kept discrete, because I do not want anyone to think that our Academy has lowered its standards. We're not mercenaries, after all!"

Goludov reached for a sheaf of papers on his desk, and removes a map. "This is the location of the ruin. It is to the Northwest of the Academy. From the looks of it, it isn't very large, so I expect that it should be relatively simple to locate the artifact. There will undoubtedly be hostile beings within the ruins, so I suggest that you ready yourselves for combat.

The artifact itself is a jade statue."

Leaving the map on the desk before the group, Goludov clasps his hands in front of him. "I have issued another note of credit for each of you. 500 gold pieces each to outfit yourselves. This credit is only available for this week, for you to use to buy supplies. It will not be usable after you leave, nor can it be cashed out.

I expect that you are all tired, so I do not expect you to leave until the beginning of next week. Of course, if you'd rather leave earlier, that is fine with me."

 

[Shayuri]

Trebuchet tilts his head and asks, "Sir, is there more information on the object? There could be more than one statue of jade within the ruins. Knowing which was the crucial piece would be useful."

 

[Pebele]

Goludov shuffles through his sheaf of papers before looking up and responding. "A jade statue, approximately one foot tall, of a sphere on top of a pyramid." He reads off of one of the sheets.

 

[EvolutionKB]

Kaelan

Kaelan looks happy that they will going out together again. "What sort of ruins are these? What sort of creatures might we encounter there? Just animals and lizardfolk? That is a specific sounding statue, what is it meant to represent?"

[sblock=knowledge checks]Knowledge Hist/Nature if they apply to any questions: 17/18[/sblock]

"Thank you for the advance compensation and for the second mission, it is good to see our work is appreciated."

 

[Pebele]

Goludov returns the papers to his desk and looks to Kaelan. "We believe the ruins to be of a temple or ceremonial site. The ruins had been scouted last year, and we had sent some religious experts in a few months ago, however they met with resistance in the form of lizardfolk and humoniods. I did not put this expedition together, and they were woefully under armed for an encounter.

We have not sent anyone back yet, so we have no certain information about the purpose of the ruins.

That said, I would expect that you would also encounter lizardfolk and humoniods. I don't know if it is just some small band of bandits in the area, or if it is something else. Obviously, if there prove to be too many enemies, I don't expect you to try to be heroic. But since we don't have any reports of activity in the area, I am going to assume that there aren't that many."

He looks down to the papers again. "As for the statue, I do not know what it is meant to represent. I only have a description of it."

Kaelan mulls over Goludov's words. The symbolism of a sphere on top of a pyramid seems somehow familiar to him, but he cannot place it. Perhaps he should have paid more attention in class after all.

 

[Rolzup]

Darrick studies the map, frowning a little. "How many days travel?" he wonders aloud, tracing a route on the parchment with one finger.

"I've learned my lesson, though," he adds, a touch mournfully. "Steadfast will remain behind this time. For everyone's sake."

 

[Yeoman]

Catherine smiles at Darrick, "It's for the best really. It's hard to lead a horse through the jungle. I doubt we'll be gone long enough for Steadfast to even notice."

 

[Shayuri]

"Sir," Trebuchet asks, sounding uncharacteristically troubled. "May I ask who is sponsoring this mission, and when they contacted us? An unsettling possibility has occurred to me."

 

[Pebele]

Goludov nods to Darrick. "Not a problem. I am sure that Master Rodrick will take good care of him."

At Trebuchet's words, Goludov raises an eyebrow. "You should know well enough that we do not reveal our contracts for any mission. As for when we were contacted, I see no harm in telling you it was shortly after the six of you left.

It took a bit of time for the mission to be approved, of course, but I'm glad you're back when you are, or else I would have had to find someone else to do this for me."

 

[Yeoman]

"Could you provide us with a map, or a general location of this ruin? Even if it's just the name, I'm sure we can locate it in the library's map section. Otherwise, I'd like to prepare my equipment for the assignment."

After Catherine hears the answer from Goludov, she stands up, "Then I will take my leave, sir." and tersely heads outside.