When Dev and his mates, where led to the mansion of the Lord Mayor, himself, the Warrior did not know what to think. And when they actually went inside, Deverick was gawking like some country lout, newly arrived in the big city. They were talking, but Deverick was taking in all the amazing sights of the mansion. The light globes really got his attention, but that did not mean he neglected the beautiful tapestries on the wall. He lifted one up and rubbed the corner edge upon his face.

“This here be as fine a blanket as I ever seen. I bet this would bring twenty five gold pieces at least, in the market." He offered in a way of a compliment.

 Dev had a few skills, but the social graces where not counted among them.

The party was ushered into the room and it appeared to be a well furnished office or study. There was a man seated behind a rather large desk stacked with various books, scrolls and parchments. Though there were may upon that desk all seemed neatly stacked and organized. The man behind the desk for all purposes seemed quite unassuming at first glance. Though his clothes were of good quality he was conservatively dressed. He seemed to to be in his mid-forties with dark black hair and with dark brown eyes exhibiting a keen intellect. He was just a few finger-widths below six feet but was lithe and seemed to be graceful in his movements and the way he carried himself. He only wore his golden chain of office and two golden rings... one on each hand.

Deverick knew and could respect the man sitting before him. For not many people knew it now but Nerof had grown up on the streets of the Slum Quarter. It was only through his skills as a thief and his sharp intellect that he rose to command the city named The Gem of the Flanesse. That he was popular with the common man was well know. Though a thief in good standing of that guild he had reformed the system of coinage and by instituting various taxes on adventurers, mercenaries and visiting merchants had kept taxes dow for the common man.

He nodded to Ren and Derider and pointed to the two end chairs for them to sit, leaving the middle chair for Deverick. Deverick was quite aware by sitting in this chair he would be directly in front of the mayor himself.

"Thank you for coming... all of you. You are then deverick of whom I have been hearing so much of. Welcome to my office. On behalf of the City and my fellow Oligarchs, I thank you for your service thus far. May I offer you any refreshments?"

When they were shown into the office, Deverick beheld the man seated at the desk. There could be no doubt, that is was the Lord Mayor of Greyhawk. It was indicated that Deverick was to take the center seat, while the others at to his left and right.

 Dev flopped down into the chair with absolutely no grace at all. He was wearing armor, so now the chair had oil on it, not that Deverick was thinking of that, presently. He was for the life of him, wondering why the Mayor wanted to talk to the likes of him.

"Aye, Sir. I be Deverick the Tall, Bold. Or just plain Deverick. Ye be welcome, but I be paid for what me and me mates did."
This message was last edited by the player at 04:02, Tue 15 Nov 2016.

Nerof sat back in his chair and made a steeple of his fingers below his chin. As he sat for a few heartbeats, the Lord Mayor pursed his lips in thought before nodding.

"You are a honest man Deverick. I like that. Yet, what you say is of course true of many... if not all of us. I am well rewarded as Mayor but that does not mean I love my city any less. I am quite satisfied with my lot in life yet when danger comes calling I will answer the city's call. Now it seems you have served your employer very well. Derider thinks you are a capable warrior as well. What I would like to know is, are you willing to serve Greyhawk Deverick? It seems either the fates or gods... mayhaps both have thrown you into the mix of things. War may be coming... a battle is at least. We need good blades and loyal to boot. I have a mission... dangerous but worthy. Would you consider serving me along side your master Ren o' the Star?"

This was one of those I wish I had a drink Moments. Here he was, an Oligarch to the left of him, the Constable to the right, and another Oligarch, to his front. The Lord Mayor was asking if he would go on a mission and serve his beloved Greyhawk. What was the lowly son of a Black smith doing in such company?

“I was once o’ the Militia, and served proudly. I be a right proud and loyal citizen o’ Greyhawk. If th city needs th likes o’ me and mine, I would serve.”

 But just as he said that, Deverick remembered he was in the employ of Ren O Star. Deverick looked at Ren for guidance then back to the Lord Mayor.

“But I be his man, Sir. I mean, Lord Mayor. I can only do this iffen he says it be alright. Nay disrespect ta ye, intended.” said Dev, as he continued to look at Ren for a reaction.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:24, Wed 16 Nov 2016.

Ren shrugged as he reached for the goblet of wine that sat before him.

"I'll not stop Deverick or order him to stay or go. I no slave master of the Red Brotherhood Nerof. With that said, I would here more about this... this mission. Deverick has seen much danger in myservice but I would not want him to risk his life or that of the folks he cares for without reason or need."

Nerof, behind his steepled fingers, nodded "Fair enough, Ren, fair enough. I would nay have him accept the mission without hearing what it entails."

Turning to the big warrior the mayor spoke  "You were in the militia. Good and thank you for your service to Greyhawk. Have you heard of the Mist Marsh Deverick?"

 Deverick just listened to his uppers speak to one another, and only answered when a question was directed to him. " Aye, Sir, I av heard o' th Mist Marsh. It be some sort o' swamp many leagues ta th east o' the city. But that be bout it,Sir."
This message was last edited by the player at 03:33, Thu 17 Nov 2016.

Nerof nodded as he poured Deverick a goblet of wine for the mercenary.

"Aye! It does lie east of here... Greyhawk city proper. The Mistmarsh is an area of wet ground, grassland, shallow streams, and strange hazards that rests in a bowl-shaped depression in the middle of the Cairn Hills. The marsh is over sixty miles across at its narrowest point. It has no clear border, as it is surrounded by a fringe area of drier grassland. It is named for the harmless mist that lingers from two hours before sunrise to until mid-morning, and again from several hours after sunset; the mist limits visibility and also seems to muffle sound. In this place the dangers are real and many. Layers of swampy ground that can lead one to tar pits or quicksand. several groups of lizardmen who war against one another and anyone else who ventures to that place. Of recent months even bans of ghouls roam the place as if they are seeking someone or something."

The lord mayor paused but a heartbeat to sip his own wine before continuing.

"It is here i would bid you travel Deverick. For we lost something of great import there. Something that will be sorely needed soon enough. We think one of the tribes of lizardmnen hold it now."

Deverick heard the Lord Mayor's request, and while it sounded interesting, and perhaps profitable, he still hesitated.

" Sir, I always be willing ta serve our city, but it nay be up ta me. Like I said, Lord Ren O Star be our patron, and me and mine be his bodyguards. If he says go, then we go, or if he says stay, we stay. Will all respect, Sir."

Deverick looked to Ren for his response, if indeed, any. Turning on a personal request from the Lord Mayor of Greyhawk, was not done in wisdom. He hoped Ren would agree.

Ren frowned as he sat his near empty goblet upon the mayor's desk.

"Nerof? You have spoken to the location and that does nothing to ease my mind but nothing of the quest itself. Deverick be as good a man as I have ever had. I love the city as you know but I would nay risk Deverick's life on some fool's errand no matter of my love for Greyhawk or nay. So speak plainly on his mission and what he and his mates may face once there."

Nerof smiled and nodded toward Deverick "Your concern is admirable old friend. I would not see Deverick or any other risk his life needlessly nor without a chance at success. What he seeks will be very important not only for the city but for Deverick himself. For the item he retrieves, if he can do so, would be none other than the Shield of Greyhawk itself. I feel it was lost when our city's last champion went after the eye of Araz in the marsh. We think... according to Tenser and Otiluke it npw rests in the hands of one of the Lizardmen tribes. Somewhere in the eastern region of the marsh itself."

 As the Lord Mayor revealed the nature of the mission, the Shield of Greyhawk was the item they were to retrieve. Deverick felt his jaw go slack, like some half-witted beggar. That item was known of, from the lowest beggar to the Oligarchs. It was a thing of Greyhawk legend. He found himself speaking without invitation.

“Sir! I mean…Sir… Lord Mayor… The Shield of Greyhawk be a thing of legend in this city. If ye av a thought as to its whereabouts... Hero’s should be sent ta fetch it. While me and me mates be willing enough, and good with weapons. Well... I mean, we be just mercs… Hero’s be needed fer this quest.”

 Deverick was almost pleading in tone. He was so far over his head, he felt like he had been plunged into the Selintan River.

Nerof looked from Ren to Deverick. finally he gave the big warrior a sight shrug.

"What you say may be true Deverick. Yet, I was not always the mayor of the greatest city on Oreth. I was just a homeless lad running with street gangs in the Slum Quarter. However, here I am. I made the best of each and every opportunity. that's what you must do as well. You have already saved one Oligarch, rescued Ricard, thwarted some conjured monster, and helped us the ruling body uncover a plot that may have conquered the city without even a fight. Now there may be a battle. We will need every advantage we can muster. The shield would make someone almost invincible. You could be that person Deverick."

 The Lord Mayor’s words had an electrifying effect on the Warrior.  The mention of a possible invasion of the city, make the choice moew easy. “If Ren say it be alright, I will try and talk me mates into going to get this thing to save the city, Sir.”
This message was last edited by the player at 04:24, Sat 19 Nov 2016.

Ren drained his cup and placed it back upon the desk.

"I will bid you to do as you will Deverick. I will neither tell you to stay or go. The only advice i can give is follow your heart. Like the mayor, I did not become the master merchant I am by staying put about the hearth. Whatever choice I will support it."

The mayor pored Ren another goblet of wine before turning to Deverick.

"Well? His advise is just as good as any I may offer. I will not force you to go. The lands there about are dangerous. Finding the thing will be the problem. If it takes overlong then it may just be too late when i foes attack."

 Deverick looked from Ren,then back to the Lord Mayor. This was the moment of decision and destiny. Deverick knew, that his next words might well shape the course of the rest of his life.

" When ye put it that way,and since the wellfare o' th city be in the wind,I can nay say aught, but Aye. I will av a go at getting this shield o' Greyhawk back into the right hands,Sirs. I will av to speak with me mates o' course, but if the reward be right, I think I can sway em."

The mayor sat back in his seat.

"Greyhawk is a wealthy city aye! However, in this time of crisis I must be prudent with her funds as you may well imagine. i will nay be niggardly either. the danger you face is real and may be fatal. I do not have any that I can trust as well as you Deverick. So I am relying on your judgement on whom you chose to take. I shall nay gainsay you on your choices. What I am prepared to offer you is five hundred orbs a piece. There may be a sizable treasure along with the shield as well in case you need to make further selling points. Of course the city will provide provisions, horses, and so forth."

For the first time Derider cleared her throat.

"May I tell them of the other reward?" she said with ahint of a smile upon her lips.

The mayor then nodded.

"Very well! I spoke to the mayor upon this before you all arrived. Grayhawk needs a group not unlike your group Deverick. One that can work under the Watch without actually being a part of it if that makes since. I named it a special patrol. One to lead special investigations and such. One who would not take orders but from me, the mayor and the Captain-General himself. The pay would be good and you would serve the city well I know it. I have have you named the city's Champion Devervick. As such you would keep the shield as long as you served the city."

Deverick's eyeballs almost popped out of his head. They wanted HIM, to be champion of Greyhawk? The Warrior looked at the Uppers to see if they might be in their cups. No, they seemed sober enough.

" We can talk bout that Champion matter latter. If I be alive and with th shield, then mayhap I then be worthy.  By the by, while me mates will want pay, this be fer me city. I nay want coin, but If I do a good job, mayhap a favor."

The mayor looked to Ren and Derider, and both shrugged at the same time. He then turned back to the big warrior before him.

"So... you wish no pay? All you wish is a favor? From whom? Me? The city itself? Mayhaps Derider? Forgive me Deverick, you are a most unique individual and it would be my first reaction to blindly say yes to your request. But I must remind myself, I am the mayor of Greyhawk with all of it's citizens best interest in my hands. Also, I can not answer for another, so I can not just say yes to your favor. Therefore, I must know what this favor is... what it entails?"

 Deverick almost gulped, when he heard the Lord Mayor’s Response. He started having doubts about what he had in mind. Dev was far from being a coward, but  these where the most Uppers as you could get. But this might be the best time to attempt it what he had in mind.

“Sir, yer words show wisdom o'  course. I Need ta speak with th other fella,nay ye. Ye be wearing yer Lord Mayor badge..I need ta speak..ye know.. the other fella.”

 Deverick almost stumbled over his words, as he was so out of his element here.
This message was last edited by the player at 23:17, Sat 19 Nov 2016.

Both Ren and Derider gave Deverick quizzical looks but the lord mayor pursed his lips and gave the warrior a curt nod.

"Very well Deverick, you may speak freely. I would here what you have to say. Go on lad, we can all keep what is said here to ourselves."

Ren gathered his goblet and nearly drained it in two gulps!

Deverick looked hard at the Lord Mayor,but then decided in for a penny,in for a Noble.

" Alright, here goes. I have this friend,well, more o' an aquiantance, but they be trusted by someone I trust. They av a good heart, and be good at what they do. They be in th city doing something that they should not do. I want em with me and me mates on this quest ta th Swamp.”

 Deverick reached for a glass of wine, and took a drink, not even knowing who it belong too. He then continued.

“ They be a thief, and they be practicing their craft, but they nay be part o’ the guild. They told me this, and I told em they need ta join the guild, I told em Greyhawk be a Guild city, and th guilds make things run smooth here. They claimed they don’t want ta join the Guild cause the one that be over the old city, be a right proper mean bastard. I think she be afraid of that one.”

" Sir the favor be ta allow this thief  into th guild, but place them under someone else. I know this be an odd request, but like I said, she has done me a good turn, and someone near and dear to me, trusts her. I know what happens to those that don’t join the guild and  practice their craft as freelancers. Fine her if ye must, but don’t hurt her. I av seen what the Guild bully boys can,  in my time. That is the favor I be asking of ye. And she won’t thank me for this.”

Nerof's darkened a bit as Deverick continued his Tale and somewhere in the middle of it he reached for his own goblet for a long pull. Dev thought he heard Ren say some such under his breath like "oh my!" or "By gads!" However, the lord Mayor waited for Deverick to finish before he swallowed hard and cleared his throat.

"This is a grave offense Deverick." Nerof said in a quiet voice which made it seem all the more dangerous for it.

"I amd not the Master of my guild but... but I will speak with Org Nenshen myself. If he... we can convince her to join, I will see that she is fined only... shall we say five hundred orbs. I will see to it that she is placed under the master of the Garden Quarter and no one else. I will personally guarantee her safety. However, from thereafter she must pay her dues and ten percent of any goods gained by her trade. I'm afraid that is all I can promise." 

  "Ye are being more then fair, Sir. I appreciate what ye are doing,and I am sure I can convince her ta do th right thing in this. I be thanking ye for showing mercy to her. Thank ye,indeed."

 He felt a weight had been lifted off of his soul,for he knew Tess would have ended up face down in a gutter,sooner or later.

Dev thanked the Lord Mayor, made his farewells, and went to seek out his companions, and a certain Thief.

 He felt what he had done for the thief, was the right thing, both for his own self-worth, as he was a loyal guild man, and for her own good. He would offer to pay the 500 Orbs himself, if he must. But she was going to join the Thieves Guild or get tossed onto the first barge out of the city. Bound hand and foot, if needs be, and Dev was just the large, bald lad, that could do it.

 His other item on the day’s agenda was to speak with his comrades about the Shield of Grayhawk expedition, Dev was certain they would be eager to go, as it offered rewards and glory, enough for them all.

 But after rubbing elbows with uppers of the city, what the big man needed more then anything, was a large tankard of ale. It had been a rather heady last couple of days.
This message was last edited by the player at 08:05, Fri 10 Jan 2020.