Omen: 11, 12

  “Remember,” Adam said, addressing his party.” If Sir Harvey is threatened, we ot draw our bdes to assist him. If he goes around telling people how terrible we are for assisting him, it will hurt our reputation.”

  Adam, still annoyed by the Noble, was stubbornly ging to his guns.

  “Adam,” Jurot said, pg a hand on the Half Elf’s shoulder. “We still o help him.”

  “Even if you are our leader, we ot abandon our duty to escort the High Alchemist,” Kitool said.

  “It is our way,” Jaygak said, pg a hand on his shoulder. “We Iyrmen have to work this way, otherwise they will lose faith in us.” Jaygak threw a go Sir Dorian. “Though it seems some people have fotten our ways.”

  Adam grumbled quietly, ahat the Iyrmen were so principled.

  ‘Damn it! Why did you guys have to be so cool?’

  “If it’s like that, then I’ll make sure to protect you guys whilst you’re defending him,” Adam decred.

  “Okay,” Jurot said, nodding his head. It would have been awkward if Adam had tried to force them out of their esc.

  “So you’ll escort him even if he doesn’t pay?” Adam asked.

  “Yes.”

  “Damn,” Adam said, patting Jurot on his back. “You guys are so manly! Iyrmanly!”

  The group tinued, making their way back towards the main road, with White’s Grace following behind them.

  It had taken a few days before they walked along the hills of Jaghi. A small freeted them, a walled area the size of a small vilge. The walls tinued along for miles along the hilly area.

  The Soldiers were heavily armed in their mail, with spears and shortswords, though their spear tips were carved out of some dull gold gem. Each soldier was roughly of the same height and build, and seemed near identical from the outside, save for one who wore a cloak ht yellow rather than the dusky tan the rest wore.

  “What is your business in Jaghi?” the brightly yellowed cloaked Soldier asked, his eyes sing the party.

  “We are here on business from Red Oak,” Sir Harvey said as Sir Merrick handed over the identification.

  One Soldier firmed the identification as another heir head towards the Iyrmen.

  “There’s quite a number of you,” the Soldier said. “Keeping safe on the road?”

  “It is a dangerous time we live in,” Sir Harvey said. “Even as Nobles, we have to be careful. In fact, it wasn’t long ago we were threatened by some despicable creatures.“

  “There was a White Dragon which had harassed us,” Vice Master Paul said, his voice clear and firm.

  “Yes, there was a White Dragon too,” Sir Harvey said, smiling slightly.

  “Which I slew,” Adam said, crossing his arms proudly. “Well, I had the st hit.”

  “Dangerous business,” the Soldiers said, their gaze firmly on the Copper Rank in puthral pte mail. “Especially for a Copper Rank.”

  “Well, I had the duty to protect the High Alchemist and I take that very seriously,” Adam said. “’t have a White Dragon threatening the charge I swore to protect, even if it eventually got me into trouble.”

  “White Dragons are quite ferocious, but you seem healthy enough,” the Soldier said.

  “You should have heard how much it cried,” Adam said, chug. “Though I’ve gotteo be around sore losers.”

  The Knights threw him a gre, but Adam ig. After all, he wasn’t going to allow Sir Harvey quip freely to the Soldiers without at least getting in a shot back.

  “That will be two gold a head,” the Soldier said.

  “Two gold a head?” Adam said.

  “Is there an issue?”

  “No, no,” Adam said, reag into the Party Fund and then his own funds.

  Gems: (6) Obsidian -> (5) Obsidian

  “You keep the ge,” Adam said.

  “You have paid for us?” Aizaban asked.

  “Yeah, you and the Vice Master, since you’re on my dime, penny,” Adam corrected, feeling a siess fill him when his Britishness slipped away for a moment.

  Vice Master Paul motioned his head to the Soldier, who followed the man away, listening ily.

  Ohe Vice Master returhe Soldiers allowed the group inside. Adam hat White’s Grace was not charged on the way inside.

  They were led io some quarters where they could eat and sleep in peace, though White’s Grad Paul were taken elsewhere.

  “Vice Master Paul is no longer here to save you,” Sir Harvey warned, “so be careful, boy.”

  “I’m not the one who was saved by his presence, but I’m sure you view it differently,” Adam said, stripping out his armour casually. “My bets are still on the Iyrmen.”

  Adam kept his die close by, as well as his Lightsear, just in case.

  Omen: 3, 6

  Huge, imposing walls bhe eown, hiding it from sight. The walls were easily as tall as those in the Iyr. There were several rge watchtowers around semi circled wall, each which caused pain to any neck which ed up to look at them.

  Adam whistled. “Damn,” he whispered. “The walls of the other towns don’t pare. This pce might be as safe as the Iyr.”

  “No pce is as safe as the Iyr,” Jurot said, firmly.

  “It’s all about the feeling,” Adam said. “I’ll feel safe in these walls. Though, you do have a point, sihere are only a handful of Iyrmen inside Jaghi.”

  As they approached the gates, the Guards, who also wore mail, though their helmets were open faced, where they held tattoos across their faces. They also wielded rge shields, pentagonal, though the bottom was extended and tapered slightly.

  There was anate fee, though this time it was a silver per head, which Adam dealt with by dipping into the Party Funds.

  ‘These guys are double dipping,’ he thought.

  “I thought it per for a Copper Rank?” Adam asked.

  “Jaghi does not ask for money on their patrols, ihey charge a gate fee at the fort, which pays for lodgings and food, and then a silver per head ory, which the Adventurer’s Guild accepts.”

  “I see,” Adam said. “Do they charge a gold fold Rank Adventurers?”

  “No,” Paul said, “but Gold Rank Adventurers are still expected to hand old . By the time you reach Gold Rank, you should be able to afford it.”

  “I guess,” Adam said as they ehe town.

  It was the smallest town that they had been in so far, though Adam noted just hoeople went to and fro from the side of the mountains, and how many windows had bee within them.

  The people who moved about wore long cloaks, and sidering how high up they were, it retty obvious why. Even though it was summer, this town was shaded by the mountainous walls, which protected them until the sun was high, where they were probably boiled for an hour, before it passed by.

  The Adventurer’s Guild was set part way into the mountain, though looked like every other Adventurer’s Guild Adam had seen, save for the ck of uerials towards the front.

  Upon seeing the Vice Master, the Guild Worker at the front fshed a smile, a young man in his mid twenties.

  Paul made a motion with his hand, and the Guild Worker’s smile quickly faded, before nodding his head and pressing something behind the ter.

  Paul led Adam and the others to an area around back where they could sit fortably. It was a fairly rge room which allowed ten people to rex in peace, with a handful of snacks set aside for them to enjoy.

  “How long until Sir Harvey gets here?” Adam asked.

  Sir Harvey had goo speak with the Nobility, which had caused Adam to worry slightly.

  ‘ces are, Jaghi is going to be wary of me.’

  “An hour or two,” Paul said, estimating.

  “ I go bathe?” Adam asked. “We’ve been on the road for so long…”

  Paul rolled his eyes, allowing Adam to bathe before he returned, wearing his spare clothing and the b he had washed during his bath, having dried it with his Tricks.

  A peared with some tea and snacks, taking a seat opposite the party and Iyrmen. She was roughly forty years old, lean, and wore the guild attire of a fairly simple tunid pants, which were near blood red. She carried at her side a studded club, the studs made of the dull gold gem.

  “Aren’t you going to introduce us?” she asked, smiling at Paul.

  “Vice Master Sarah, of the Jaghi Branch,” Paul said.

  “So many Vice Masters, and I’ve yet to meet a Master,” Adam said. “Though, who does more work than the Vice Masters?”

  “Don’t try to butter me up,” Sarah said, still smiling. “I’ll remairal.”

  “What a shame,” Adam said, leaning back as he waited for the High Alchemist to arrive. “I’m just naturally charismatic.”

  “Is that why the High Alchemist seems to hate yuys?” Sarah asked.

  “No,” Adam said, smiling wider, “it’s because he’s a Noble and I’m just a dirty little Adventurer.”

  Sir Harvey eventually arrived, with Sir Merrid Sir Dorian beside him.

  “Now that tempers are temperate,” Paul said, “we will discuss the matter in order to e to an amicable solution. Vice Master Sarah will firm the resolution o’s bee.”

  “I’ll do more than that,” she said. “I have heard the situation and want to make sure everything is above board. The High Alchemist ordered an escort through the Adventurer’s Guild, and during sht along more Knights, which is perfectly acceptable, but then tried to cut Fate’s Golden from their reward after havihe High Alchemist for weeks?”

  “I would have hoped for a ral observer,” Sir Harvey said.

  “We’ll get to Adam’s w breaking in a moment,” she said. “Is it true?”

  “True enough, though missing text,” Sir Harvey said.

  “I’m sure, but I have heard of it through the Vice Master of your Adventurer’s Guild Branch.” She stared at him for a moment to see if he’d speak up, but since he remained silent, she tinued. “Adam, is it true you were happy to take the bme on yourself and were eager to leave the esc to the rest of your party.”

  “Yes,” Adam said.

  She brought out a small journal and wrote something within it, taking a mio write dowhoughts.

  “Is it true you spoke ill of Nobles?”

  “In some sense, I’m sure,” Adam replied, simply. “They shouldn’t have taken shots at me if they couldn’t accept it iurn.”

  Sarah stared at him. “I had been informed of the situation by the Vice Master, so I hope you will keep your ao either a yes or no.”

  “Yes ma’am, sorry,” Adam said, shrinking.

  “Upon Vice Master Paul’s assistance, we will leave the matter simply as this. The sum of five hundred gold will be paid to Fate’s Golden for their assistahus far. The reason for the dissolution of the party will be due to the High Alchemist’s insisten hiring local individuals of North Aldnd for their knowledge.”

  “Will it t as a mark against Fate’s Golden?” Adam asked.

  “We will sider the quest plete,” Sarah said.

  “Well, damn, that sounds good to me,” Adam said. “If Sir Harvey is fih is, then we leave it at that.”

  “I would accept, as long as I get an apology for his untoward behaviour towards myself and Sir Dorian,” Sir Harvey said.

  Paul closed his eyes, filling with stress.

  “Sure,” Adam said. “I’d be more than happy to apologise to him.”

  Paul sighed in relief.

  “Ohe pair of them lick my boot,” Adam said, crossing one leg over the other, motioning towards his boot.

  Paul reached up to rub his forehead.

  “Well?” Adam said, staring at the two Nobles whose faces were red.

  “You!” Sir Harvey pointed angrily as Sir Dorian reached for his sword.

  Sarah pced her m star against the Knight’s knee, raising her brow, daring him to draw his sword.

  “This is ridiculous,” Sir Harvey said. “Even the Guild o obey the ws.”

  “We follow the ws of the nd, but you must follow our rules too,” she said.

  “I, and the rest of Fate’s Golden, will refuse to work with any Nobles, especially those from Red Oak,” Adam said, gring at Paul.

  “That is a difficult request to make,” Paul said.

  “I don’t care how difficult it is,” Adam said. “You made me waste all this time in order to help someone, and after doing a fantastic job, I mean I sent a White Dragon to good ol’ Lord Sozain, and all I had were pints.”

  “Even so, there are great opportunities for you that e exclusively from Nobles.”

  Adam looked behind himself, but theurned his gaze to Paul. “Oh, excuse me, did it looked like I gave a shit? I don’t care. I will give no Noble from Red Oak access to any of my special abilities,” he said, keeping his eyes focused on the Vice Master’s.

  Paul stared at Adam, whose eyes were twitg slightly. “Uood.”

  “Let’s be clear, I was ready to bury the situation up to this point, but it was Sir Harvey here who decided against it.”

  “You dare to spin this against me?” Sir Harvey snarled.

  “Asking for an apology after starting random bullshit? You still o tell me where you get your Moonlight Leaf, or whatever it is you smoke, because it seems like a lot of fun to be able to think backwards.”

  “You-“

  Vice Master Sarah smmed her m star oable between them, destroying the table, and everything id atop it.

  “I think we’re done here,” she said.

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  He really shouldn't have pushed it.

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