Scene 2 - The Averndale Adventurers' Guild

[Day 2]

It is not the sun’s rise over the horizon that starts the day; for many hours the sky will merely glow blue, leaving the city in dim light. By the time the adventurers are awakened, many workers move in the streets. As laborers of many varieties set out in teams for their long shifts, bosses mount up on horses, and lord over them much like a rancher over cattle.

You each are awakened by whatever means you planned, and have time to get ready.

Traversing the city was simple enough. The Mayor’s Manor sits above the city, carved into the cliffside that was cut out to form Fort Avern. In order to get there, citizens must pass through the inner wall of Averndale, through the fort, and out a second gate that controls access to the hillside. Approaching the fortress gate you are waved forward and your destination, and person, checked. As long as no one has an obvious weapon or is asking strange the Soldiers guarding the gate, which are different from the City Watch, will allow you through.

Ushered through the fort the party sees a series of water-powered lifts that are used to ascend and descend the cliff. A man there is waiting for you and tells you he will guide you the rest of the way, and after an elevator ride and a stroll down and beautiful and luxuriously manicured roadway and garden-side, the party will reach the Mayor’s Manor as the first rays of the sun reach over the eastern mountain range. The lovely gardens and singing birds contrast starkly with the dower-looking, overworked servants.


Before long you are in the office of the Mayor of the City of Averndale. He is introduced by his attendant as, "Lord Cicero Mond the Fourth, Mayor of Averndale." The Mayor sits nearly completely still behind an expensive desk, taking you in with his light blue eyes. He breathes in, and waves the butler over. "Nesmond, use the guest perfume." The man steps deftly over to a tray of flowers and sprinkles a fragrant oil of them before placing them between you and the Mayor.

"Interesting collection you are… very well. As most of you are new to Averndale, I will say this plainly. We are not a vacation spot… we are an essential industrial epicenter and I will not tolerate anything interfering with its smooth operation. As such, you adventurers are here to work… Welcome to the newest chapter of the kingdom’s illustrious Adventurer’s Guild. Take pride, in being among the first to join our Guild. You will be the foundation of a more prosperous future."

He pauses for you to take it all in.

The response of silence was exactly what the Mayor hoped to hear. To him, it was acceptance and affirmation in one beautiful lack of sound. The smallest edge of his smile came out, and the Lord leaned back to give them all a second look. "Excellent. If we all understand then I will not insult your intelligence with further platitudes. There are many things that need doing in Averndale, but something has come up that requires specialists."

The Mayor explains the mission. " The Mining Guild reports they have a missing miner and strange sounds in the coal mine inside the walls. This mine has been secured for hundreds of years, so now we need to reassure the citizens that everything is fine... sort this out and I'll have something more substantial for you."

The Mayor motions the Bulter Nesmond to bring the contracts and sets them out in from of the adventurers. "Sign these and everything will be official." The contracts are for the Averndale Adventurers' Guild, and details 'salvage rights' of 40% to the city, and give you permission to keep your weapons and armor in town.

He IS using this as means to control you, but that is not unexpected. You are agreeing to play by his rule rather than be freelancing fools-for-hire or murder-hobos.

The document does not seem to enforce anything strange upon the party, separate from the King's Law, it outlines the authority being granted and its limits. The document is pretty standard for the Kingdom, as is the 40% cut to the City. Without it recovered treasures brought in by adventurers might as well be stolen goods, in the sight of merchants and lords. This will allow you to sell items in town, and carry your weapons without harassment by the City Watch. The military has authority over the fort, and your permits are limited by their authority.

"Salvage" is all coin and loot, anything you find out in the region since it all technically belongs to the Lord.

"Your side professions do not interest me at this time." That's a No.

Nesmond doesn't seem to have opinions, he stands as still as he can, waiting for his master's command. He would have no authority to dispense funds.

Pointing to the line where Sadur may leave his mark, Nesmond offers the quill and shows how the Half-orc may just leave an X for his signature. The Mayor raises an eyebrow at the remark from the largest of the supposed adventurers. He measures his response, his volume not rising loud as he might with a less intimidating sort.
"... Then, you fix it."

To Jasper's question, he nods. "Carry my seal with you. By the end of the day the Watch Captains and the Fort Commander will be made aware of you're positions." You each will be given a wooden hand-size plack with the Seal of the Mayor showing a position of limited authority.

[Receive: Mayor's Seal (weightless and pocketsized)]

Indeed, Xarakas had it right. Seems the Mayor has given you everything he thinks you need. You know where to go and solve the issue of the mine, presumably so they can reopen it and get back to work. The Watch-House where you can pick up your gear, is on the way. Now that everyone has signed and has received a Seal.

"Very good. Now, excuse me I am very busy as tomorrow is Market Day."

Ready here!

Good to go

Ps I genuinely laughed at "Its only a flesh wound"

Full sunlight has finally reached the valley as you emerge from the manor house. The birds sing, the insects swoop and buzz about and while descending from the cliffside your get the first good look at the old city. Averndale has seen better days, but in its decline, the remaining residents hold fast to life and strive for success. Hope and greed may clash at times, but here in this remote region, there is plenty of room for growth and change, and people who have the drive to rebuild its glory.

At the Watchmens’ House, your weapons returned. The only thing that was not returned was the articles of purple from Xarakas. The daytime Watch Captain hands them over and offers her genuine thanks for coming to Averndale. Pointing you off in the right direction, the party heads to the mining entrances, on the Northeast side of town. [Location: Coal Mines of Averndale; Time: Morning]

The Mine Foreman is waiting there for you. A pale man with dark hair and eyes, the Foreman guides you to the entrance and down into the mine, handing you each a candle-lantern to use for light if desired.

"The first thing to know is Contain Your Flame. We do our best to keep sites clean but coaldust gets everywhere, and the last thing any of us need is a fire down there…. Okay so here is the entrance to Shaft number 7." He stops at a junction in the mine and points passed two soldiers standing guard to make sure no one else went down that shaft until the matter of their missing miner was investigated. "... We searched for our man yesterday morning and only found his lunch-box. We have not seen any sign of a collapse. Man’s name is Darol… is there anything else I can tell you to help?"