"They call me Black Angus. Don't ask why. You probably don't want to know. It's my job to keep the rest of you safe...and I guess provide the occasional meal for our friend Bob."

Angus pats his armored chest, and flexes his muscles.

The door opens and a person wearing a holocaust cloak enters the room with hood up. He pauses at the desk to give the robot a courteous nod, then turns to face Victor and the assembled group surrounding the table.

He raises one gloved hand and tosses back the hood. Studded leather armor is cinched up right around his neck. A scabbard can be seen hanging low beneath the cloak's hem, and seems to be the housing for a long sword. His hair is pure white, as is his skin. His eyes have pink pupils.

He nods to Victor, longer than the nod he gave the robot. "Apologies for being the last to arrive."

To the others he says, "My name is Atak. I hope I've not come at an inconvenient time."

Victor says "Not at all Atak, you were just in time for introductions."  Victor goes everyone else's names and intro blurb again.

Victor claps his hands together after he finishes and says "Great, now that we're all acquainted.  I've got a proposition in line with your usual activities, though a bit further afield.  I'm willing to pay the usual 10 gold retainer for your guaranteed discretion with the information I'm about to impart to you."

With which he pours out of pouch and deftly counts 10 gp for each of you.

He continues "The properties should they be located and any infestations exterminated or relocated, and in good condition could be valuable, and I'll pay as much as 1000 gold fee to be split between you for each recovered.  If you don't agree to discretion with this information, you may leave now with the 10 gold."

He waits a minute as he gazes at each of you to see if any leave.

In response, Atak takes a seat and makes himself comfortable. He seems to not be in the mood for leaving.

Bob reaches out a long arm and scoops up the offered gold coins.  "Bob no say what Victor say." he assures.

Veryn counts out his coins and, after shoving 9 into his coin purse, plays with the remaining coin between his fingers, looking to Victor to continue.

Victor Continues after a minute


"Good, I've come across this map that shows the relative location of seven underground domiciles that were made in ancient time, as near as I can figure by longitude and latitude cross referenced in this record in the old language somewhere near The Cones, an outlying village under Denethix rule to the north by northeast, it looks to be is ripe for development.  If these domiciles are still intact and relatively close to where they appear to be they would be very valuable once rehabilitated."

"There's a few things you'll need to overcome.  The first is that the general area is known to have some devil lurking about that's got the residents scared, and being one of the furthest villages is also prone to have a number of unfriendly creatures encroaching from the wilds, so it's not the safest place to be poking around outside of. Which brings me to why I've called so many of you here.  I've already sent first one then three valuation technicians to locate these domiciles separately.  I've received no word back from them and a messenger sent reported back that neither have been seen since the day after they arrived, which was weeks ago."

"The second obstacle to overcome is the exact location of these domiciles isn't known and being underground will be difficult to locate.  As you can see on the map, there's approximately 15 of them shown as the lighter blue rectangles, though from these documents they're actually unusually shaped hexagonal rooms of beehive-seven design.  All have 1 entrance, 7 rooms, 6 in a circle around a central 'living room' and may or may not have an additional vehicle bay which serves as a separate entrance and exit.  The dark blue boxes here are houses, but according to the document they're all of fairly flimsy construction and likely haven't survived, though some artifacts of their existence may remain which would help locate them. There's also the streets, but I'm sure they've mostly deteriorated and there's enough of those everywhere that I can't see them of being much help."

"There's also 3 larger landmarks which if two can be found, this map can be used to point to the location of the entrances.  The first is this vaguely bird shaped boulder, it's fairly rudimentary and one large stone so unlikely to have moved, and is your best bet to find first.   The second is this red rock arch, I'd bet it has at least fallen but red rock isn't natural to the area so could prove a useful point, unfortunately I can't find what kind of red rock which would help.  Lastly there's a stream with a waterfall over here, which may have shifted."

"If you find any of the domiciles themselves they're each numbered and referenced on the map with a B and 4 digits, of no apparent order. One combined with another landmark or two would allow us to triangulate and find the location of all the others."

"The last obstacle is that they are likely sealed and would be very difficult to breach, especially without ruining some of the value of the domicile.  However, I also came into some keys which are numbered the same as some of these domiciles."

Out of a vest pocket he fishes a blue card with some black streaks, brown stains, and a faded and flaked off yellow logo that looks like it might have vaguely resembled a blocky beehive on it, and waives it around for a moment to show it off.

"These keys may be of some value themselves, so I'll only relinquish them should you return with the verified location of one of the domiciles I have a key to."

"You are entitled to any non-appliance non-furnishing items you recover as usual, unless any sentient squatters evicted can provide identifying descriptions."

"I'll cover traveling expenses - room and board shouldn't be more than 100 gold total." 

With which he tosses another bag of coins on the table.

Bob turns his head towards the doctor, who seemed to be the smartest  "What means devil?  he asks.

The insect-man studies the map carefully as he tries to get his bearings.  The scribbles on paper never did make much sense to him.  "We find the places." he offers confidently.

"So we're not to explore or investigate any of these places once we find them?" Atak asks. "Unless we find them already unsealed and infested, I assume. In which case, un-infesting is the order, if I understand correctly."

He sits with a straight back and feet both on the floor.
This message was last edited by the player at 00:53, Mon 10 Feb 2020.

Seated with his legs crossed, leaned back on the couch, Veryn takes in everything the Dwarf says with some interest. When the Dwarf is finished speaking, he speaks up "And what if there are no valuables to be found? Will you be providing us with an ample reward should we return with a half dozen sealed and safe domiciles? Isn't our only value proposition to enter these places regardless of infestation status and loot whatever we can find there?"

"My discretion is assures, as always.."

He strokes his mustache in thought.

"What if the identifying marks on the domiciles...lets call them addresses for simplicity's sake...have already been defaced or lost to the elements?"

He looks down and points to the keys.

Black Angus holds the first offered pouch of ten gold in his left hand, turning it over as he listens. "You know I can keep my mouth shut for the duration, Victor. I'd need permission from you to make use of the information we find later, however. Once it's all said and done. For possible publications."

Victor says to Atak "If you can find a way in without breaking the door, walls or security devices, do so."

To Veryn he says slowly "I'm offering up to 1000 gold pieces for each domicile found in good condition, prorated depending on condition, if they're found with seals intact I'll provide the keys so you can verify their condition and perform exterminations if necessary.  If by some stroke of bad luck, they all happen to be blasted beyond repair, I'll pay your usual rates.  Even just confirming that these exist is valuable information, so I'll sweeten the deal, if you can locate them at all even without entry, I'll pay say 500 gold pieces."

(OOC usual rates being much lower, somewhere around 100 gp/month depending where and what your services are, Denethix is very expensive to live in anything better than squalor, so that's not as much as you might think.)

To Dr. Darion Mason he says "Dr. Mason, it's not unlikely that external addresses would be lost, but if enough landmarks are found to place the map correctly, with this document, will tell which are which. I see your point, but with the previous technicians being missing I'd like some of them to be verified at least before parting with the keys."

To Black Angus "My interest is solely as real-estate, though my clientele prefer privacy, the fewer who know where these are or that they even exist the better for prices and my reputation.  As long as you don't include any indications of the general or specific locations, or how they might be breached, I don't see a problem."

The Doctor nods in agreement.

"Very well. Who knows? If this mission is successful I may apply to be one of your tenants! It's so hard to find a secure space to conduct experiments these days!"

He chuckles as he looks down at the damaged gemstone on the handle of his cane.

Veryn nods approvingly at the response. "Aye, this seems acceptable to me. I'll gladly take this job."

"I don't like to work above ground, Victor. You know this." Atak admonishes, then sighs. " But, I'm sure you thought my talents will be useful. You have never been wrong about a deal before, so I'll agree to your offer. Provided it is not in the desert." He is not at all joking.

"How many days will we be riding before the area in question is reached?" Atak asks.

To Atak Victor replies "The domiciles are underground.  There's fields, hills and forest near by The Cones, no desert.  It's a day's ride from here, two if walking, you can stop at Mellus for the night on the way, or lunch if riding, beware  their drinks have quite a kick.  Travel on the east road to Mellus then north east to where the road Ts and left there going north west to the Cones."

Nodding at the description of the assignment, Atak looks around the room.

"We are decided, then. We leave as soon as all can be ready, or in the morning, as the group desires. Doctor, perhaps you should look after the traveling money until it is needed.

It seems we'll be walking, as I imagine Bob doesn't ride horses. What about it, Bob? Do you ride horses and do you sleep in Inns?" Atak asks the insect-person.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:07, Thu 13 Feb 2020.

Victor extends his hand to seal the deal with each of you, a friendly smile on his face beneath the beard. "You're welcome to this map and document. It's early enough and Mellus is close enough you should make it well before nightfall if you leave in the next hour or two.

Black Angus shakes to seal the deal, then hoists his pack. "Ready to go whenever the rest of you are. I carry pretty much all I own with me already."

"I have mule.  I not ride it." Bob offers. "I ready to go."




ooc: I have a pretty severe reaction penalty, so inns could be dicey, unless they are accustomed to 'unsavory' types. DM Justisaur will have to elaborate if Bob has had issues in the past.  Its typically why he starts his interactions with "I not eat you."

He nods to Atak.

"It's seems I've been volunteered as Purser, then. Now, even more importantly, who among us has the military experience to make snap decisions in the field?"

(OOC: Bob may have some trouble getting served, but there's usually one or more places that cater to the unusual, even Moktar and Insect-Men.  Being with a group of humans helps a lot as it's generally assumed they're responsible for you.  Even having a mule helps when alone, as it's unexpected and gives you a moment to say you won't eat people when they pause confused by the juxtaposition, however it's much worse in the south as that's where insect men come from and raid, fortunately you're headed the opposite direction. Also a few coins greasing palms helps considerably.)

Atak shrugs his shoulders beneath his holocaust cloak. "That certainly would not be me, Doctor, although I will observe that the best fighters I have known have not been soldiers, and the best leaders I have known have not been officers. But, it's a long walk. Plenty of time to arrange marching order and such as we move.

Much like Bob, I ready to go. Knowing how things work around here, I came to see Victor ready to travel." He stands with Black Angus.

Angus shrugs. "Never joined no militias. Too much bowing and scraping to the rich young pup in charge who couldn't fight his way out of a paper bag. And it's almost always a rich young pup in charge. But I can fight and keep a cool head in a scrape."