H130, Day 248, 3 AP (Hadrian)

[exile]

Had the planes themselves in some mystical whimsy ever trodden through the streets of Sigil and laid their stamp upon the face of the cage, it would not be difficult to imagine where the irreconcilable sisters of Limbo and Mechanus might have called kip for that eventful night. Indeed, had the Hive ward and Clerk ward not been firmly bound to the great Torus, each was as liable as any gate town on the wide open plains below to have long since slid into alignment. And yet by some incredible dint of fate or serendipity, the two existed peaceably side by side, each fulfilling a vital role in the city at the center of existence.

Hadrian traipsed down the carefully manicured laneways of the administrative heart of Sigil, his leather shod boots falling lightly upon meticulously cut cobblestones spaced so artfully together that a deva’s hair could scarce be thread between. Turning off of Crystal Dew Lane onto Guvners’ Mile, Hadrian all but collided with a restless Harmonium patrol. Both parties drew to a halt abruptly, and an uneasy silence ensued while faction affiliations were weighed and measured. The leading hardhead cleared his throat forcibly and then did so again with much more bravado. He was a tall man and thickly muscled, especially so considering his apparently human heritage. Hadrian also judged him to be the sort of basher who would find a game of chess with an ox to be challenging.

‘A prime candidate to one day reach the Harmonium factolhood’ the Bleaker mused.

To judge by his scrutinizing glare, the hardhead patrol leader was not a fan of Hadrian either. He appeared to be consulting a long list of potential infractions in the back of his mind and was irritated that none of them applied to the impudent aasimar standing in his path.

“Move along, berk,” the man exclaimed in deep, grumbling tones. “Or I’ll have to charge you with conspiracy to loiter, ‘n haul you off to the courthouse.”

Hadrian took a moment to consider this, glancing about theatrically for the support of his alleged co-conspirators. Discretion held his tongue however. There was no need to provoke the bullheaded guardsmen over something so trivial; especially while they outnumbered him and carried painful looking polearms.

“Forgive me,” Hadrian spread his hands in a conciliatory fashion. “I am merely passing through.”

This seemed to satisfy the members of the patrol, who exchanged a number of curt nods and self-satisfied grunts.

“Alright then, but don’t let me catch you doing it again.”

Stepping nimbly around the hardheads, Hadrian assured them he would not trouble them again with crimes of negligence, passion or for that matter indifference and struck out for a familiar sign. The bronze plaque read as such:

Tensar’s
Employment Service

To rid oneself of avarice, to shun temptation,
and to resist corruption
is to attain the most enviable of all titles:
An Honest Man.

Pushing back the doors, the Bleaker stepped inside.

[Stix]

The banded wooden door swings open on well-oiled hinges, ringing a small brass bell overhead. A septuagenarian Guvner sits stooped behind a desk, his attention arrested from whatever menial task had him rifling through the nearest file cabinet.

"Good day, basher; I am Utadas Tensar. How may I be of service?" The old man's voice is as clear as his eyes, and though his body looks to be failing him in age, his wit seems perfectly sharp.

[exile]

“Good day to you as well, master Tensar. My name is Hadrian.” The aasimar’s tone was uncharacteristically light and airy this afternoon as he presented the man with his hand. It was clear that he was in good spirits.

“I am planning a little jaunt to Ysgard in a little over a week’s time, and I will require some minders. Your offices have a reputation for providing only the most professional of assistants, and I felt it prudent to pay a visit myself. Could such a thing be arranged? I realize that I have not been able to afford you considerable notice.”

[Stix]

"Not a problem at all. I routinely have applicants looking for mercenary work. If it's alright with you, I'll move directly into the assessment."

(Assuming no other business.)

The venerable man dons a pair of reading glasses, putting quill to ink as he looks over a prepared form. "The where is Ysgard, you've covered that. Are there any special qualities you are looking for in applicants? Restrictions along racial or faction lines?"

[exile]

Hadrian paused for a moment to consider the question, but in his eyes at least it hardly mattered. He might not agree with the other factions, but he could certainly abide them. And as for a basher’s race? Well that was just a product of circumstance, wasn’t it? A cutter was still a cutter, no matter where his blood came from. Or gears, ichor or negative energy as the case may be, he conceded.

“So long as they don’t mind working for a Bleaker, I don’t mind working with them.”

[Stix]

"Very good," Tensar says, businesslike. "And what are the duties to be expected of your hired company?"

[exile]

Hadrian had been questioning much the same himself. His own instructions had been rather lacking in detail. His master had made it clear that the manner in which he would accomplish the task set before him was his own prerogative, but the obstacles that lay in his path remained vague and indistinct. Harkening back to his days in the smoke filled lodges of the einherjar, Hadrian tried to envision the trials to come.

“I will need an escort principally for protection of my person; I’m sure you need no reminding that Ysgard is a riotous place. It is also little tamed, so perhaps a cutter with a talent for navigating through the wilds would be an asset. And perhaps a basher with a light touch and a fair amount of discretion.”

After all, a little stealth often carried one farther than a lot of force.

What else could he expect, he wondered?

(Not sure if there’s a potential intuition check I can make based on Hadrian’s background, I suspect he’d have a better understanding of what lies ahead than I.)

[Stix]

"I see," Tensar comments, taking quick notes in shorthand, showing a hint of a smile. "And where might you be taking these stealthy wilderness-savvy minders? I must ensure my clients that all business I advertise is legitimate and legal, you understand."

[exile]

“Master Tenar, you do have a way of making it sound altogether juvenile,” Hadrian replied with a laugh. “The last time I checked, all laws on Ysgard were written by the man holding the largest axe, but I assure you I am only planning for contingencies. If I am not otherwise obstructed in my endeavors, this will be a simple task requiring no more of my companions than a merchant requires of his caravan guards. If you must know exactly where, I’m afraid I must disappoint you. For you see, I am not entirely clear on the matter myself yet. It will depend in large part on where the portal deposits us on the other side.”

[Stix]

"Mm-hmm. Well, I'll need a few more details so there's something to advertise. If you please: how long will the excursion be out of town, what is the offered wage, and how much provisioning is to be furnished by the employer?"

[exile]

“I anticipate the journey there and back will not take much longer than a week, and certainly no more than two. With regard to wages, perhaps I should be asking you what is appropriate? I’m certain you’ve outfitted similar expeditions in the past. How far does jink go these days, and what are other employers asking for good help?”

[Stix]

"Comparable work would pay twenty to twenty-five gold pieces, by my reckoning, provided the portal being used is two-way and readily accessible. If there's a chance of being stranded, it could be as much as double that."

[exile]

“Well who am I to argue with the market? We’ll call it twenty-five, then, being stranded is no concern on this expedition. There is one other thing, Master Tensar, and I can not stress this strongly enough. I need this expedition to be ready to set out at a moment’s notice in one week’s time, even if the actual departure does not take place for several days. Accommodations can be provided at the Gatehouse if necessary. What further information can I provide you with to expedite this process?”

[Stix]

"I'll need answers to the following questions," Tensar says, resting the form on his desk and tallying them off on his ink-stained fingers. "Will the employer provide any equipment or furnishings, such as armaments, lodging, provisions, or mounts? Are there additional contracts or conditions to be negotiated, such as an oath of secrecy? And, lastly, are there other qualities not heretofore mentioned that should earn an applicant preferential consideration?"

[exile]

Hadrian smoothed down his cassock with an absent gesture and proceeded to clasp his hands together in his lap. Truly this was an expedition into the unknown that he was embarking upon, amazing though that might seem considering he had been raised there. The discussion with Master Tensar had begun to worry him, for all the gaps in his knowledge it exposed. It had been a fair number of years since he left, and he still wasn’t clear where the portal would deposit them.

Some of the questions at least he could answer…

“I will cover whatever expenses arise in terms of lodgings and provisions. Similarly, if mounts are warranted I will see to the costs. I would however prefer that the minders provide their own armaments; I have concerns over a warrior who takes no pride in their familiarity with a weapon. The oath is a wise proposition as well, and I would like it added to the contract.”

It probably wasn’t necessary; burning Yule logs were obscure enough that it was unlikely anyone would make sense of it even if it became common knowledge about the Cage. However Hadrian could not see his superiors as disapproving of such a clause, and since they were footing the bill he was prepared to ask for it.

Sensing that the list of questions was drawing to a close, Hadrian sat back to think about his situation. What else might he be hitting himself for in a fortnight that could have so easily been solved in this meeting?

(OOC: I asked a question about character knowledge and intuition a few posts back that never really got a response. I’m just going to toss in a raw INT roll here to speed things up. Disregard it if its meaningless, but I’m just curious to know if Hadrian might expect something that I as a player wouldn’t based on his history.)

Int:
[dice=20+4][rand=61421501937058862640688027821145853820996601188901461234333823]

[Stix]

(Sorry I didn't get back to you before -- nothing comes to mind that you haven't already thought of.)

Utadas finishes penning notes on his form. "'Discrete minders needed for brief foray into Ysgard. Travel expenses and provisions paid, must provide own weapons. Wilderness survival skills a plus.' I think that will do nicely.

"For a two gold piece fee, you'll have the top of the slate for a week. You should have no trouble finding your crew."

[exile]

Hadrian happily fishes out the requested coin and lays it down on the desk before him. “Thank you, Master Tensar. You have been most helpful.”

Rising to his feet once more, Hadrian offers his arm in parting. “I shall return before the week is up to see what interest my notice has generated. Farewell to you, sir.”

[Stix]

"It's my business," he says proudly with a smile. "Good day; I will see you again soon."