"Let's just say we seem to be at least intrigued. Maybe we can actually go somewhere more comfortable to discuss this, maybe the pub over there? Then we can figure out the remaining details, for example what the approximate size and weight are, what exactly we need to do, and how many attacks or traps we should expect on the way."

"Indeed. We can retire to the guild house, there are refreshments there as well." the Atherian replies and leads the group down the pier to the office of the local Freelancer chapter. The building looks very much like all Freelancer offices, though in the local architectural style. It is a three storied building with a steep angled tiled roof, with a weathered stucco'd exterior, and the iconic Freelancer emblem.

Harrel Nashun brings the group inside to a meeting room. There is a pitcher of water and glasses on a counter against the wall, while a large rectangular table surrounded by chairs occupies the center of the room. He motions the group to sit, pours and passes around glasses of water and then excuses himself while he retrieves the package in question.

Yuu, now seated, looks curiously around the room. Not for anything in particular, just a taking-it-in kind of way. His attention drifts to the glass nearest him, filled with water, condensation blanketing the sides. He draws a happy face with his finger.

"You seem in a good mood" Zelpuz says to Yuu. "So what do you think? Should we take the job as long as the package doesn't look like a wild dragon on a leash?"

"I'll take it myself if you two won't." Vanyra interjects.

"Dragons on a leash could be kind of fun." Yuu quips.

A couple minutes later Harrel returns with box wrapped in ornate paper and secured with fine silk ribbons. It is not a large box, roughly 40cm cubed. "This is the package," he informs the group while presenting it for all to see. "As mentioned I've no idea of what is in the box save that it is not alive nor perishable. The desired delivery timeline is due to the scheduled event." With that he sets it down on the table.

Yuu asks if he can pick it up.

Harrel gestures to Yuu in invitation. "Just don't shake it or something, we don't know what's in it after all," he adds in warning.

The box is about as heavy as Yuu would expect, it's not filled with feathers, but nor is it filled with bricks. It's probably 4 or 5 kilograms. The construction appears fairly solid, or at least the packaging inside is, and the mass is centered in the middle.

"Were there any other instructions? Or just the package and a delivery address and time?"

Yuu puts it back down, shrugging to himself, and awaits Harrel's response.

"Just that, and with the obvious requirement that no damage befall the package or the contract will be void." Harrel responds. "Should you accept, once delivery is confirmed by the client, you can pickup your payment at the Freelancer office of your final destination. We'll notify them of the contract completion."

"Sounds good to me" Zelpuz says to his friends and turning back to the Freelancer, "We have some time before the ship takes off again, can we pick the package up in the morning before we take off?"

"Who is the paying client?"

"If you agree to take the contract you can pick it up in the morning. The contract is from House Galadorn, one of the most powerful in the city. Specializes in shipping, but also has their hand in some banking and legal firms." Harrel responds. "They're not any more hated than any other house, which would lead me to assume this gift must be something special, either of itself for the event being hosted by House Shi-Fain."
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:09, Thu 23 May 2019.

Yuu looks to his companions. When no one seems to appear against the idea, he turns back to Harrel.

"I guess we'll take the contract. Is there is any resistance this House Galadorn expects?"

"They didn't say as much, but no one pays this kind of money for a simple mail run. I would expect all manner of interference as soon as it leaves this office. Likely the opposing parties know it is here, but they won't move against the Freelancers directly by invading our office here. Once it's out of here though they're likely to strike... probably someone will try to prevent it from getting on the airship if they can, as that would be the quickest and easiest." Harrell informs the group.

"Sounds like fun. Do you think they would go as far as to interfere with the airship after it took off?" Zelpuz asks.
"I guess we can expect some interferences already, how would they know that we don't have 'the package' yet. Good test run for tomorrow. Do you have some less obvious exits we could use? Maybe one for today when we leave to see how well prepared others are, and another two for tomorrow both as entrance and exit?"

"I doubt that, the deaths of a few hundred people doesn't look well in the papers. Similarly I doubt they'd try to get it while you're on the airship as they'd but stuck in there for the duration of the flight with you. I suspect any attempts will be before and after the flight." Harrel explains. "We have the front door you're welcome to use. This is an office, not a fortress. If you can't make it out the door then you're probably not the people for the job," he quips at the end.

Vanyra grins thinking about ways other than doors to get in and out of places.

"Thank you, Harrel. We'll pick up the parcel tomorrow morning."

After arranging a pick-up time that would leave the group a solid hour to get back to the airship they set off into the city proper. Longing for some food and refreshments the trio makes their way back towards the port area, but through the side and back roads to scout alternate routes for tomorrow's extraction.

The harbor district is at once familiar to that of Ossylia, much hustle and bustle, but with a distinctly more eclectic atmosphere and appearance. Here there is a much greater collection of cultures from within the Equatorial States and neighboring locales compared to Ossylia's mono-cultural capital. The streets are ordered in a grid system like Ossylia and almost all cities, a remnant of the Zhen Halan Empire, but vary in width with the presence or lack of street stalls. Much of the area has a more fluid and temporary feel than the large shop fronts and storehouses of Ossylia's harbor.

After sampling some street foods, skewered grilled spiced meats, fresh shrimp, squid and an assortment of red and white fish, and a salsa-like vegetable dish served with crisps the group settles at a waterfront restaurant and lounge some ways north of where their airship docked. From here they have a good view of the entire dock area.

From there the group finds a small boutique hotel near the docks with rooms that look over the harbor, which were a more expensive but provided an excellent vantage point. After settling into their rooms and getting refreshed they head back out into the streets, seemingly meandering through the sights, shops and locales of Escarmina while planning their evac routes for the morning. After a few hours of wandering and identifying 3 solid paths to the airship the trio parks on a rooftop wine lounge that serves a number of famous local varietals. The wines here are dryer a sharper than the wines usually found in Ossylia, but that pair extremely well with a pinchos received with every glass. The wine lounge is not overly crowded and quiet enough for a hushed conversation. From here the group is able to review the routes they just surveyed, assess possible issues and decide on a final course of action.

After another taste of the pinchos and wine, Zelpuz leans forward to discuss the possible routes of action.
"This place is perfect, let's see, those three paths seem reasonable to the airship. How do we want to proceed? Should we all stick together, start with a diversion, or even go for a trial run this evening?"

"Why don't we get get the package tonight, like late stupid early hours? Zelpuz slips in, Vanyra can provide overwatch. Return here. Then in the morning we'll make our way to the Freelancer hall... and just pass right by. We'll stop in front, argue a bit... like we're trying to decide to go in or not. Then head to the airship, appearing to have decided against going in. This may confuse anyone spying. And if not, we aim for the quickest route, and we're all together should anyone try anything."

Yuu pauses.

"Or is that just being overly complicated?"
This message was last edited by the player at 06:35, Wed 12 June 2019.