OOC: Continue to talk amongst yourselves as you like. For the sake of keeping the game moving I'll continue as if you've verbally accepted.
The would-be Lord Georold waits patiently for your response. At your acceptance he visibly relaxes. "Thank the gods. I feared that I would have to hire some mercenaries and then have to pay a ransom for it. When I am titled and landed you will each be titled and given lands in my domain; don't mistake me however. The lands won't be particularly important and, in Thracia at least, the titles are worth far more than the lands. In addition I'll grant you one boon each, anything you ask of me that is, reasonably, within my power to accomplish."
He stands, "At the moment however, I can only offer to fully fund your expedition and pay you a retainer of 500 gold crowns now, and another 19,500 when the task is completed. That's about equitable with a decent-sized tournament win back in Thracia."
"I've already made arrangements with the hobgoblin known as Havelock. He seems to control most of the expedition outfitting that goes on out here. He will supply you with good mounts, a supply wagon or pair of mules at your option, and anything else you might need. There's a local halfling alchemist called Ribble that will supply you with 1/2 priced potions should you need them. Just tell her that I sent you."
"Please make haste and bring me the talisman as soon as you can. Also, know that we are not the only interested parties... my sister will also surely be after the talisman as well. And I don't know if it will help or not, but that Lyssan dog that my half-sister married maintained an apartment here in Scott's Bluff. He'd been studying the ruins for quite some time, it may be that he left clues as to where in the ruins they were when they were killed. Or it may simply be an empty apartment. Follow that lead up or not at your option."
As you are leaving he speaks up again. "I hesitate to tell you this as it may not even be true... one of my great-great-grandfather's children may or may not still be living here Scott's Bluff. By Thracian law Telwyn Marten may have a claim better than my own... if he's even interested or if he even lives. The Marten's control a local gem mine... though from what I've been able to piece together no one has seen a member of thier family in the last 7 years. Thier mansion is supposedly haunted. That's all I know."
