FFD6 The Dicening, Group 1, Chapter 1, Mission 1

[Krylo]

GROUP 1
Mauve Mage: Dark Knight, Hume
Menarker: Dragoon, Android
IHMN: Blue Mage, Hume
Riin Whitewind: Black Mage, Tarut
phil_: Entertainer, Tarut
BardTheFifthLightWarrior: Red Mage, Hume
Teal Mage: White Mage, Hume

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The Adventurer's Guild, being little more than an extremely relaxed mercenary company, of course has briefing rooms and like areas created purely for interaction with potential clients, and it is one of these rooms that you sit now, across from a hume man, well dressed in the attire of an affluent nobleman or merchant who waits patiently for the last of your number to arrive.

You can't be certain which, for while normally the Guild informs you of the status, if not the name and station, of your clients, you were informed only that you had an offer from a client who would prefer to remain anonymous. You were, however, assured of his good standing with the guild, quieting most, if not all, worries of dark motives or insufficient funding.

As the last of you take a seat he clears his throat audibly, wasting no time before drawing your attention. Almost immediately he begins to speak pacing back and forth at the front of the room, "Firstly, allow me to introduce myself. I am Malik Niris, and I represent the Council of Four. The situation is as follows: One week ago the City of Maris went dark. We've had no communications, and no travelers have returned from the area in that time."

Stopping he turns to gauge your facial expressions before continuing, giving you no time to interject quite yet, "We have reason to believe a... clandestine organization may be involved."

"Regardless," He continues as he turns to pace once more, the movement helping keep his mind focused, "An entire township going dark could cause inordinate amounts of panic, and that's why we need you to go in and see what has happened—going through normal channels would be too insecure. The payment shall be three thousand five hundred gil upon satisfactory conclusion. That is five hundred per head. Is this acceptable?"

[phil_]

"A whole town disappeared?! Something incredible must have happened! Or maybe something terrible, but it's gotta be a scoop. Brother, you wouldn't even have to pay me to check that out!"

Bello didn't say any of this. Maybe it was the board room atmosphere, maybe it was Mr. Malik's suit, but, in a rare show of professionalism, Bello reeled back his enthusiasm and answered, in the best business man voice he could muster, "I believe we are all very interested in your offer, Mr. Niris. What costs are we expected to cover ourselves, and how are we getting there?" It would go without saying that trying to sound like a Hume professional was adorable if this weren't written word.

[IHateMakingNames]

An inordinate amount of panic was right. After hearing about an entire town disappearing, Kole looked more visible nervous than he normally does. He covered his face with his blue mage's mask, gripped his katana as though he were going to crush the hilt, and stood like he would attack some one at the slightest movement.

Any further discussions wouldn't hear from Kole. In his mind he was going through every terrible outcome he could think of about how the town disappeared and how they would deal with it. Many of these thoughts had monsters be the cause of it all, despite what the client said about secret cults. Kole felt better thinking that they might have to encounter a monster in this mission.

[Riin Whitewind]

"Wooow." Jhennek's hushed, drawn-out whisper was still clearly audible to everyone. Taking up their own corner of the briefing room stood a circus reject's menagerie - an Android, standing tall under the weight of a diminutive Tarut on one shoulder, and a crystal dragon hatchling on the other.

Leaning forward, the curly-haired Tarut stage-whispered excitedly to the Android. "Did you hear that, Ark? Did you?" She seemed oblivious to the precariousness of her seat, bouncing slightly in place. Her hat, losing its fight with gravity, slid down over her eyes.

The bangles on Jhen's wrists chimed softly as she pushed her hat back into place. "A whole town! And missing travelers!" Her attempts to keep her voice moderated were clearly failing. "We absolutely must discover what happened!"

[mauve]

A heavy hand clamped down on Kole's shoulder.

"Oh, we'd be delighted to investigate the matter," Elsa said with a malicious grin. "It'd be a pleasure. Look how excited this young and promising mage here is about the chance to face the grim unknown." She gave his shoulder a pat. "You're just chompin' at the bit to get started, aren't you?"

She leaned in closer to Kole, her grin widening.

"That IS how you feel about this, yes? Surely you aren't scared..."The grip on his shoulder tightened. "I'd hate to be stuck with a coward out there in the middle of nowhere, cut off from the rest of the world with no outside communication and no one to hear you scream. Personally I can't stand cowards. Can you?"

The smile never faltered.

Elsa was already enjoying herself.

[Bard The 5th LW]

A town with a missing populace? Shady villains involved? A representative from the Council of Four?

Right up the alley of this young adventurer!

Towards the middle, a silver haired figure clad in a red colored tunic stood. Most of his face was hidden under a white scarf, but his bright blue eyes were clear for all to see. He took the moment to unwrap the scarf and place it on the chair aside, allowing his somewhat effeminate face to be more clear before he spoke.

"Why this is quite the precarious situation it seems. I'm certain the lot of us can handle it," he spoke in a soft voice as he made a sweeping motion of the room, skipping over Elsa and Kole, "but some information will indeed be useful. Bello's questions are very important, but you also mentioned a 'clandestine organization'. I am aware that clandestine means secretive, but I'd still like information regarding this statement. Just what is this organization, and its possible involvement?"

[Menarker]

A tall android decked in heavy bone vest armor stood patiently with the eternal unflinching and moderately grim expression on his face as he paid the sharpest attention to Malik's words and pacing movements. On one shoulder was his infant companion, a wyvern with a jovial curiousity that sharply contrasted with its master. The other... a Tarut mage who seemed to likewise have the same personality, while she perched unsolicitated on his shoulder whispering in his ear with what seemed to be a sense of marvel.

"Did you hear that, Ark? Did you?"

He did not stir or return any sort of eye contact, but merely responded simply.

"Affirmative."

Ark's mental framework analyzed all the respective requests and considerations of Malik, taking apart the words, seeking out blanks in the data requiring filling in.

"Stated request as follows: "Go in and see what has happened.""
"Objective Clarification Required."
"Is Mission Objectives strictly Reconnaissance? If so, clarification on communication method and designated receivers of reconnaissance data required."
"If not, are there additional Mission Objectives such as remedying cause of blackout?"
"Additional Objective Clarification Required: Request directive upon encounter of members of declared suspected "clandestine organization". Capture? Kill? Observe from afar for reconnaissance or infiltration purpose?"

Ark had no outward expression on the preconception of the mystery of the town's circumstances or the risks and mysteries to be potentially encountered. There was only the measurement of the declared directives and objectives and promised payment with his measure of strength, resources and the number of willing allies. Only then would he either simply agree or decline once all declarations expectations of the client were provided. The tiny wyvern on his shoulder looked at Ark as it roughly chirped out of sheer emotion of this mechanical guardian talking although not understanding what was going on as well as observing all these unfamiliar faces in the room with rising interest.

[Krylo]

Mr. Niris slowly surveyed the room as the adventurers before shot off questions and spoke amongst each other and basically acted in the undisciplined manner that adventurers were apt to act in. He merely shook his head at the Dark Knight's harassment of the Blue Mage and straightened his coat before speaking, answering their questions in kind.

"Firstly, we only expect you to bring your skills, your bodies, and your own equipment. Transportation will be handled by the council. First you will board a council Airship which should transport you to the city of Altair. From there it is a one day trip by chocobo driven wagon to arrive. You will be furnished 200 gil for the rental of a chocobo driven wagon upon leaving."

Turning to pace once more, with his hands held behind his back, the man let out a slight sigh, "And as for the Organization, I'm afraid the council knows little of them. Currently they are known as 'Case File 576-B, Unknown'. We've been tracking a variety of weapons, grafts, and medical supplies. They've been purchased by various buyers and each funneled to a small number of locations--most without any known residents to receive them. Maris, however, was an exception in that there was a city there."

Stopping to let out a sigh, Mr. Niris's voice took on an air of slight annoyance, "As that we do not even know what has happened in Maris we do not know what involvement the organization may have in it, or even what you may be up against--thus the need to send in a recon team."

"If you run into any members of the organization whom you can identify, you may deal with them as you wish. Capture would be preferable, but the council understands the difficulty of such operations and will be happy merely having you getting the intelligence we need and getting out alive," he continued, his voice softening a bit as he moved to the center of the room to face the assembled group.

"Now, if there are no more questions, there is an airship docked at the east side of the city. I can accompany you there." His arm stretched out toward the exit of the room, hoping he could end these incessant questions.

[phil_]

Bello, fingers crossed in front of his face, answered, "Yes, your terms are more than acceptable. I believe we have a deal, sir."

Then Bello hopped out of his seat and headed for the door. "I think that went pretty well, if I do say so myself," he said to no one in particular.

[IHateMakingNames]

It took a lot for Kole to not swipe back at the Dark Knight out of reaction. But he had calmed down a bit since they weren't in the lost town yet, so he was back to his normal level of worry. However, the sadistic girl was not helping.

Why would she say those things? Aren't we on the same team? Those were some heavy implications she was saying. Could she be part of the secret cult? I better watch out for her. We could have a spy in the guild. I wonder if I should tell some one else? But what if they are also spies?

Kole continued his train of thought on his group betraying him as he headed towards the exit. But he made sure to watch his back.