Helix: Mercenary Guild.

[Rex]

Orgoth has enough coin to cover it, Sven would just need to pay him a visit.

[Spearmint]

Osen

There is no imperative to buy him out now. The 'season' tends to be counted as ending with the onset of winter, so technically late October but if the winter ice comes later, expeditions might still rusk going into the following month. Buying his Contract out later would have a reduced value. Waiting just risks Amos being seconded upon other expeditions and possibly injured during those.

As far as any ceremony, Osen is more business like, happy to just shake hands on a deal. The contract that binds Amos to the Mercenary Guild is a matter between them, other Mercenaries have differing contracts.

"We can pop the cork of a bottle in reception with just a few of us. Cut a cake and shake his hands, wishing him 'All the best'."

[OGRE MAGE]

Sven nods in agreement.

"That sounds perfect to me. We will be back around to do just that, well before you can lease him out to any other groups."

"I will see to the preparations myself, Until then, I bid you good day sir."

[OGRE MAGE]

Arriving at the only other guild house in town with a fat bag of gold, a basket of freshly baked treats for the members, and a few bottles of wine to celebrate with, Sven greets Osen with enthusiastic gusto. (10gp removed from sheet to cover the costs, hoping everyone here gets a little treat)

“I have returned to check on my friends, Master Osen. And to settle up with you on our agreement to buy out your contract with Amos.”

“But first…….I trust that my pious accomplice Sir Dewey has been by recently to heal the malady that Yardie was under? I wouldn’t want him to miss the celebration. Or worse, turn into a mushroom man while we were away.”

“I would like our usual cohorts to accompany us again on our next trip into the mist. Is that all agreeable to you, good sir?”

[Monsieur Rose]

Sir Dewey

The Knight just so happens to stop by and check on any diseased. He'll cure the disease at his fist opportunity.

[Spearmint]

Sir Dewey

The Knight just so happens to stop by and check on any diseased. He'll cure the disease at his fist opportunity.

actioned in BRAG thread.

You can arrive with the healed and restored Yardie, free from the remnants of Fungicide infection.

The mercenary and his comrade Bucko take a few days 'R&R' and are ready and able to be rehired from July 10th for next Expeditions. I have upgraded their NPC profile threads.

Amos is on a slightly different personal contract with Osen and an agreement has been brokered for him to 'buy-out' the remaining fourteen months of contractual obligations in order to become a retainer to Sven and take on some assigned responsibility in the Barrowmaze Co-operative to build a Shrine to Arcantryl.

Over a festive fayre and celebratory wines (and several of Sir Dewey's famed 'gnome pasties') the cleric can shake hands on the deal, uncuffed from any indenture to Osen. Despite a reputation as a shrewd and cunning businessman, Osen proves rather honourable in making pathways for his Guild members to prosper beyond being mere swords for hire.

-770gp Contract buyout fee.

Rounding it up to eight hundred gold and you can take the two mercenaries into a new hire contract for you next delve from July 10th. As 'veteran' hires not torchbearer status, (and each progressively closer to levelling up too), they come as 1/2 shares of xp and 1/2 shares trove.

[OGRE MAGE]

770gp deducted from Sven’s sheet.

30gp deducted from BRAG funds.

[Monsieur Rose]

Sir Dewey

The Paladin goes in search of labor to carry tools and bash walls.

"Good day, Osen. I come with an unusual request, I think. I need a few strong people to carry tools to the Barrow and once there to assist in knocking down bricked-up walls. There may be combat, but others would take the brunt of that duty. If you know of anyone with excavation expertise, or the like, that would be even better."

[Spearmint]

The Mercenerary Guild

Sir Dewey approaches the Guild.

Sir Dewey: mercenerary hire check vs 17 [4d6]=9

You have hired before, Solly I believe on your first ever trek. You are greeted and he shows you a number of swords-for-hire who practise at the tilts and dollies. Sundance you know, an able fighter/mage whose customized version of Magic Missile inflicts tongues of flames upon a victim's head. She is available too and has Barrow Mounds, (Blossom of Death) and Barrowmaze experience though her last delve ended unfortunately with being held for ransom. She is at least friends with Sigrid too and an extra female never goes amiss.

If you know of anyone with excavation expertise, or the like, that would be even better."

"We have the 'Miners' crew. Lemmy, Ozzie, Plantie & Meatloaf, recently back from excavating silver ore for the church and previously hired to dig a tunnel open in a mound with Moriartus. So they come highly recommended and as a group. They are not martial fighters per se, but get a pick in your head or sledged by a hammer you can be just as dead, but not as cleanly."

Osen suggests them as reliable torchbearer types who will labour under pressure.

I have basic stats for them somewhere. Treat at F1 types with 6hp and basic leathers. They will come for labour hire and a half-share of treasure.

Sundance: presuming you may hire her too, comes more expensive due to having more specialised class and ability, taking 1/2 share in xp too. She has a profile in the NPC thread.

If you want more 'expendable cannon-fodder, you can take from a roster of grim looking mercenaries whose main allegiance is money, but they will be F2 level fighters.

edit costs:

Miners: Three human and one gnome miners, each carry a pick or sledgehammer, backpack of basic expedition supplies.

Treated as basic level torch-bearers. Gain no XP but a 1/2 share of treasure.

Miners: F1, AC 8, hp 8. Named as Lemmy, Ozzie, Plantie and Meatloaf the gnome.

Osen will split the 'Duchy Tax' for them, so just a single 10gp and four 10gp hires fees and 2gp x minimum two days hire: Miners Crew cost = 66gp.

Sundance would be 43gp for two days.

[Monsieur Rose]

Sir Dewey

He looks over the suggestion of the miners. He knows the value of Sundance. "I think you have a talent for talent, Osen. These folk will do exactly what I need them to. Thanks."

"I think BRAG has an account with you, please put the charges on it."

[Spearmint]

"I think BRAG has an account with you, please put the charges on it."

Unfortunately not, though negotiations carry reputation and charisma bonuses (lowering prices and adding an extra torchbearer) Osen is a businessman and deals in hard cash.

He will take the value in uncut gems or extend the 'hire now, pay later' offer only if it includes his receipt of a Full Share of Trove recovered.

[OGRE MAGE]

109gp deducted from BRAG coffers.

[Monsieur Rose]

Sir Dewey

Well, OM beat me to it. It's always funny when I've got a post ready and hit submit, only to have the 'at least one post has been made' notice.

The Knight gathers the funds from the BRAG coffers and hands it over. "Of course. I understand. Pleasure doing business with you and your people. Seems like business is pretty good with all the recent expeditions. If Knights ever retire, this appears to be a valuable line of work."

[Cwreando]

Durgo June 29th

Durgo heads over to the Mercenary guild straight away to help get Cara and Squirrel contracts completed.

"Hail, any one here? Ah there you are. We've finished up. Fine additions and very skilled. Any news buzzing about lately? How's things going for ya? We'll likely be headed out again and I may drop by or someone else.

Well make sure to get them there loot or this can be considered post loot.

[Spearmint]

Mercenerary Guild

Osen greets Durgo, checking in the hired duo. "Sound of mind and body, a few scrapes and a few stories." he scribbles them into his ledgers.

The hire cost was for four days, you returned in two. Both Cara Crow & Squirrel along with other torchbearers or veterans can be hired on good terms. The Guildmaster notes that the Miners who accompanied you before have been seconded to a Barrowmaze team.

https://www.unseenservant.us/forum/view ... 90#p658490

Conversation comes around to the origin of your shield and the offer put in the dialogue above. You can consider that with current comrades as a next or future option.

[Cwreando]

Durgo Jun 29th

"Aye, my skills seem to be improving my friend. I'll talk over the adventure with my friends and let you know. I'm not sure how much time we have before we go out. It will depend on what we need to get done personally. Perhaps a credit towards my next expedition then? "

[GreyWolfVT]

Dalin before making his way to the feasant stops in to report back on Knatchbull and Cloverfield. "I am sorry to inform you that Knatchbull and Cloverfield, didn't make it. They fought valiantly in saving this fellows like Freod. I wish to pay you tribute to their families if they had any, if not as payment to the guild." the dwarf says with sorrow in his voice. Dalin pays the guild 120 GP "If that ain't a fair enough price I'll give ya more." he offers. deducted 120 GP from sheet.

[Spearmint]

The Mercenerary Guild

Osen receives the consolations of Dalin. The courtyard of mercenaries halt activity for a moment, doffing helms and sheathing swords as two tolls of the tower bell ring in solemn chimes as remembrance to fallen comrades.

"Dawg Dann, Redruth, Knatchbull, Cloverfield, Truro, Piggott, who knows about others still on contracts." the Guildmaster laments, his ranks thinning of veteran staff.

"Death of course comes to all, 'the black tax' that life acquires from us. I hope their deaths have meaning."

He scrubs ledgers, updating files, scribing letters of condolences to next of kin in Helix or Ironguard.

"Take the gold coins. Raise a memorial in the Church graveyard. Perhaps at the end of each season those who survive can go and give thanks, lay flowers, sing an anthem to remember all of our ranks who do not return."

Osen suggests that action which would earn you the xp to advance as it becomes a Tribute rather than just deducting cash as a gift to the dead's kin.

[Spearmint]

The Mercenerary Guild

Durgo Jun 29th

"Aye, my skills seem to be improving my friend. I'll talk over the adventure with my friends and let you know ... Perhaps a credit towards my next expedition then? "

There is no credit per se but you can pass a Charisma check to get more favourable terms or additional aid (such as when Squirrel was seconded along).

[GreyWolfVT]

Dalin bows his head in a moment of silence takes his coins and goes to the church. "I am no wordsmith so I don't really know what to say in dedication to them. Other than that they were true to the bitter end and managed to save one life in risking and losing their own. I am indebted to you and the guild sir as many of the dead travelled with me at one time or another. If you need any aid from me please be sure to send word through Perni at the Feasat or by whatever messenger you wish." are his parting words as he head out to the church.