Zeran considers the choice and shrugs. There wasn't much information.... "In terms of magic, artifacts are at the peak, powerful and frequently confusing. And they are usually incredibly hard to destroy. We'll need to research where the ruins of Barad Mergo are, what the artifact is.... how it was made, stuff like that. That might help us figure out how to complete the quest."
"Oh, and yes, artifacts can be good or evil depending on how and why they were created. Some of them are even intelligent, almost like a living thing."
"Sounds interesting. When will we be going? I'll have some preparations to make. Have to select spells to ready...."
Britta raises her eyebrow to Zeran as he starts talking nonsense of artifacts. Clearly, the two of them have had different experiences.
"I'd think since most of us are ready, we'd be leaving soon."
She looks to Kagiero after a quick chuckle to Windchime. It was not quite what she meant, but a quick look to the Dragon Empire girl would communicate what Britta is thinking.
"That is not what I meant by a data port hah."
"You are just entitled to come along as I am. I don't know Josten. You have the book, can us two lovely ladies, a godling, and a Golarion...ite? join you? What happened to that fox? She was capable...or seemed so. Darn mist..."
Looking to the others at the table having breakfast, she gestures, "If you all wish to face certain doom dealing with a witch and an artifact, you are welcome to join too."
She then looks to Josten.
"Does it say there how much the job pays? Do we turn in the completed job to Mitchifer? We should probably figure out how this works. I've only done contractual jobs here in the inn so far. I've not used this book. It's the first time I've heard of it."
A frantic dwarf named Halli seeks a company of adventurers to escort the axe Ghoulgrinder safely to the village of Latun.
A priest named Arion seeks a company of adventurers to clear his name against charges of heresy.
A cryptic elf named Curma seeks a company of adventurers to hunt down and capture the remorseless killer known as Hermiro the Ghastly.
A shady wizard named Exiton seeks a company of adventurers to rescue the elven city of Llethy from the Demon of the Emerald Forest.
An angry paladin named Etemos seeks a company of adventurers to discover who is murdering his peers, and why.
A wary druid named Monesistr seeks a company of adventurers to recover and destroy an evil artifact from the Dark Caverns of Horror.
A guarded gnome named Genu seeks a company of adventurers to recover a valued family heirloom from the trolls of the Brimstone Hills.
A sage named Hosisil seeks a company of adventurers to escort a group of pilgrims safely to the dwarven city of Gundushur.
A witch named Euryris seeks a company of adventurers to recover and destroy an evil artifact from the ruins of Barad Mergo.
"Well, there are several escort quests, which could be fun", Josten reasons. "Helping the priest clear his name, destroying an evil artifact, and stopping a rampaging demon appeal to my heroic nature. Ummm. If I could choose, it would be stopping the Demon of the Emerald Forest. But all these jobs sound interesting."
"Okay, I know what a wizard is now in these terms. I don't know what an 'elven' city is. Alternatively, why not take the artifact that's bothering the witch and use it to kill the demon terrorizing the Emerald Forest?" she toyingly plays.
Josten smiles, then looks back at the Book. "Well, Euryris claims the artifact is evil. Sounds like if we used it on a demon, it might make it too powerful to be defeated. Not the best strategy, I think. But I'm just a simple adventurer, not an Officer of The Law." Josten coyly flirts back.
"I mean, I seem to have nothing better to do, as there's no identifiable way for me to get home as of yet. Getting the chance to see different realms is exciting! So I'd like to go." When Britta mentions the fox, she looks around... "I don't see Silvertail...she was talking to Eldlen and a Drow last time I saw her." She thinks for a sec...
"Alright, so what can we all do? What kind of skill sets are we dealing with? If we're to act as a group, we should see how we mesh, right?"
The attractive woman who Josten nodded to earlier will apparently be joining him on his adventure. The red-haired man gave a gently nod toward the eldritch scion.
"Hello, miss. I am Josten Cailean. I'm a classically trained bard. I feel I can provide front-line martial and arcane support. I'm also quite knowledgeable on my different subjects. I also can channel energy. And I often do well in social settings."
Josten blinked, then went back to the Book.
"Well met, Josten. I'm Kagiero, in case you missed it. For myself, I'm more of a melee oriented person. I blend fencing with magic, and I have a few other tricks up my sleeve."
Britta shakes her head in wonder and disbelief as people act like an artifact can be evil and strengthen what is probably a Devaronian.
In a bored voice, dulled by their fear of what in her mind is nothing, she answers the question:
"I am a recon soldier, but more than that. I can fight, disable foes pretty well, and can produce powerful effects with the powers I have within myself. I know just where to strike as well. If you were to ask me my favorite style, it would be to fight in smoke or fog as it debilitates others, but not me. I can sense them still. On top of that, a touch of poison to most of my blades is a nice addition."
Being shut down, she gains the cutest subtle pout and just focuses on her ale until they've decided. "I wonder if I should just go get the artifact my dang self." She won't be giving any more input. "What if it is worth something and someone else takes the job? What if it is a powerful ancient technology? What if it is a hunk of junk that this lady just can't reach because she sucks?" In her mind, it is easy money and now she's slightly grumpy.
Josten doesn't know Britta that well to tell she's not happy.
"Well met, Josten. I'm Kagiero, in case you missed it. For myself, I'm more of a melee oriented person. I blend fencing with magic, and I have a few other tricks up my sleeve."
Josten smiles, bearing his perfect teeth. "Excellent. I have yet to blend my arcane and martial efforts into an effective whole."
"I'd be interested in observing your form."Josten blinks. "Sorry. That's not how I wanted that said."
"An elven city is merely a city populated mostly or entirely by elves, such as my sisters and I. From your appearance, visible armor, weapons and mannerisms, I take it that you are from a more futuristic world or even a whole galaxy. I am unsure if you have elves there, but we are a humanoid race with deep ties to nature. Well, at least some of us, but I won't confuse you with the others." Thal explains to Britta, with a soft laugh.
"If there is an evil artifact, attempting to use it to kill a demon is very much a bad idea. Just trust me on this, as it's probably something a bit outside your realm of expertise." She continues, trying to soothe Britta's hurt feelings.
Britta immediately likes Thalyssra for recognizing her feelings and confusion.
"Thank you. I think we call your kind Sephi. There are many kind of Sephi, as you say. And yes, they have ties to nature. That all makes sense now. But regarding this 'evil' artifact, explain what they mean? How is an artifact evil? That's...that's just not making sense to me. Perhaps give me some examples?"
To Josten, she smirks at the prince of the Goddess of Love.
"Well, Windchime thought I was propositioning her earlier, so I suppose you are excused this time."
"Whichever job you choose, you can request more information from Mitchifer. He might not know any specifics, but he'll be able to provide you the basics, including how much it pays, and whether you or not you can keep any treasure or loot gained while completing the quest. He can also contact your 'employer' even if they aren't within the Inn at the moment." Elistra offers the group, as they attempt to decide which job to take on.
"If yer curious about what each of you can do, ya might wanna go a round or two in the Pit. Either whackin on one another or tryin to beat up an Arena champ as a group." Morriana suggests from her table, as she finishes up her coffee.
Silvertail steps into the space with a content sigh, tails fanning out as she relaxes. There was a reason she didn't *stay* in cities and the like for too long. For all the experience she'd gathered over her more than a century and a half of changed life, her vulpine instincts still said that being surrounded by big, loud creatures was bad and scary and she could only put up with it for so long without a break.
Oh, but she should remember to be polite. The fox looks over to Windchime. "Thank you, this will do nicely," she states, before lazily trotting off to lose herself in the greenery for a little while.
Zeran nods agreement with Josten's words. "Or the artifact might ally with the demon, making it exponentially more powerful!" He grins at Britta. "I may be from a technologically backward planet, but I do understand the principles of mathematics!"
He considers her as she mentions her fighting style. "That makes sense with the powers of.... Well, how you empower your equipment. But don't waste any poison on a demon. It would likely be useful on any allies the demon might have."
"I'd be curious about the supposed 'witch' as well. How much does she know about the artifact? Is it possible that she really wants the artifact destroyed as is stated? Or, does she intend to take the artifact once it is recovered? Any information that she might provide shouldn't be trusted, especially any information about how to destroy it!"
Josten smiles, bearing his perfect teeth. "Excellent. I have yet to blend my arcane and martial efforts into an effective whole."
"I'd be interested in observing your form."
Josten blinks. "Sorry. That's not how I wanted that said."
"Ha! I'm gonna assume you meant my real shape?" She concentrates for a few seconds and shifts into her true form.
Josten smiles to see the kitsune form. "Hey! Two foxy ladies! Astounding! And well met!"
Zeran glances at the sisters. "So lovely...." And rather intimidating, under other situations. "I didn't say anything about not trusting you witches. I believe my exact words were supposed 'witch'. I've been open about the fact that I'm a wizard, and that I don't trust very many wizards either. We don't know that the individual actually is a witch. It seems odd to me that a user of arcane magics would seek to hire a group of adventurers to acquire and destroy a powerful magic item such as an 'evil artifact'."
Thal, being the middle sister, is the more calm of the three Starwinds. Morriana has all the fiery traits typical of a redhead of Irish and Scottish descent, while Elistra has the near limitless excited energy and hyper nature of youth. As such, she is the one to respond to the 'wizard'. "Your statement seemed like you did not trust the witch, solely because she was a witch. To us, that sounds like you do not trust witches, period. You also just admitted to not trusting many wizards either, lending a bit more weight to you just not trusting all witches. Perhaps that was not your intent, but you should be more careful with your words." She pauses, letting that sink in. "We have each faced persecution, and been the victim of witch hunts solely for who we are. While we are indeed witches, none of us are evil nor have we ever done anything to be literally hunted."
"I'm a wee bit evil." Morri says with a laugh, which causes her sister to smile. "Okay, she's a little bit evil, but the point remains that we didn't deserve to be hunted."
"Magic items can easily be corrupted by powerful energy, and it's not very difficult for one of them to become 'evil'. They can also gain sentience, not too terribly unlike Windchime. There are even some artifacts that gain the ability to move on their own. If Euryris believes this item to be evil, chances are it probably is. Though, how evil it might be, and whether it's intelligent or not, you'll have to discover on your own. Again, I just suggest talking to Mitchifer for some more information." Eli explains to Britta, doing her best to explain it in a way that hopefully doesn't make her more confused.
Silvertail steps into the space with a content sigh, tails fanning out as she relaxes. There was a reason she didn't *stay* in cities and the like for too long. For all the experience she'd gathered over her more than a century and a half of changed life, her vulpine instincts still said that being surrounded by big, loud creatures was bad and scary and she could only put up with it for so long without a break.
Oh, but she should remember to be polite. The fox looks over to Windchime. "Thank you, this will do nicely," she states, before lazily trotting off to lose herself in the greenery for a little while.
Windchime curtsies, eyes as vivid a green as the grass beneath her ceramic feet.
After Silvertail has begun bouncing away, it looks around the Gardenland for a moment. Its eyes fade to a dark indigo night. Windchime's gaze travels slowly down to the mud at her feet.
A few minutes later, Windchime returns to the common room--just in time to hear Elistra's remark. Her blue eyes sparkle almost as brightly as her freshly cleaned and polished chassis. "Oh, but I could never become evil, Mistress Elistra. I am simply here to ensure everyone's customer experience is as pleasant as is possible!"
Hopefully, with Morriana calling out across the room, they aren't bothering anyone else. She doesn't really care, but from the looks of the slaver efreet, they may be making an enemy by being too loud. "Then again, this place is weird. I am sure it's expansive, but I can't hear a lot of discussions like I would in a cantina. This place needs a Jizz band though."
Hearing Zeran repeat the same thing didn't make sense to her. It is only until Elistra begins to explain it that she finally understands.
"Oohhh...so like how an AI can become corrupt, this...'wizard energy magic' can corrupt something? And you are saying that can often take on a negative effect in how it is represented. Evil. Got it." She gives a kind wink to Elistra. "Now it makes sense how the demon, also being evil will be empowered by it. Artifacts, where I come from, are usually rocks, or some relic from a time past, or some ancient technology. They are what I would consider neutral and definitely don't have any form of sentience; at least not that I've ever heard of. Sorry for the misunderstanding. That was frustrating!" She then looks to Zeran and asks, "I didn't catch anything by putting on that garment did I?"
Looking over to Kagiero as she transforms, she simply comments, "There are Amarans in my galaxy that look like you, but they don't change I don't think."
She looks up to Josten as he talks to Kagiero and then looks at the book briefly.
"Are you going to go ask Mitchifer? If it's a job for about a hundred coins, you can count me out."
"Oh, I am so happy that you all have found a Job you're excited for!" Windchime claps her hands silently. "That is the second step to becoming regulars! And. Oh, yes, Mistress, magical interference is very dangerous for objects like myself. In your case, it might manifest foreign desires that hinder the usefulness or safety of this artifact, or scramble the order of the artifact's original directives!"
Zeran almost chokes when Britta asks her question about his cloak. He chuckles a bit before catching his breath enough to answer. "No. None of my magics have any intelligence. Maybe when I gain more power and coin I might try crafting a sentient device... But that depends on what the future holds."
"By the way, what does an AI mean?"
"Thank you Windchime." She nods with a slight smile. Then, looking to Zeran, him almost choking kind of gives her a twisted pleasure, though it wasn't intentional. It seems strange though that he intends to make his cloak intelligent. Why would someone want an AI in a cloak? "It means artificial intelligence. Meaning it was crafted, develops, and learns, much like how you are explaining how this artifact can become evil after made."
Zeran absorbs the words, working them into his frame of thinking. "Artificial intelligence. So.... A crafted device, capable of learning? Making decisions independently from it's creators plans? Yes then. That would be like an artifact. And they aren't all evil. Many artifacts are imbued with the personality and values of the person, or persons that created them. A few somehow break from that and become fully self willed. I don't understand how that works, but...." He shrugs rather than continue his rambling.
She looks up to Josten as he talks to Kagiero and then looks at the book briefly.
"Are you going to go ask Mitchifer? If it's a job for about a hundred coins, you can count me out."
With no other input, Josten politely excuses himself to walk back over to the bar to discuss the possible job.
"Master Mitchifer? Yes. I believe we've decided to accept the job for Exiton and the city of Llethy. What more can you tell us it, and what is the offered pay?"
Still thinking about artifacts and intelligent, self-aware magical items Zeran realizes that he hadn't fully addressed the concerns of the Starwind sisters. He doesn't understand the discrimination that they mention, but did know that such things do happen. He glances around to see if all three are around.
"Ladys Starwind, Please accept my apology for my poorly chosen words. I don't judge a person for choosing to focus their life on arcane or divine magics, regardless of the source of that magic." He considers his words, and her words. "It's interesting, at least to me, that you mention being hunted. We had a similar discussion with Silvertail just a bit ago. I said then that I don't hunt. Foxes, or people.... Actually, I wasn't commenting about witches. I was commenting on the quest that we were discussing. And if it had said that a Paladin was seeking to hire a group of adventurers to find and destroy an evil artifact, I'd still have been suspicious of it. So I guess you could say that I just don't trust anyone that wants to mess with artifacts."
Seeking to create a tension-breaker, she grins and comments to Zeran, "I want to mess with artifacts. Does that mean you don't trust me??" She wants to leave him no ground to go to, but it is clear from her face that she is toying with him.
Zeran stares at Britta for a moment. The expression on his face indicates that perhaps he hadn't thought about her 'messing with artifacts', and maybe that concerned him.... ?? Then he winks. "But you think of artifacts as rocks, or some relic from a time past, or some ancient technology. Not dangerous, self-aware intelligent and powerful magical items." He grins and adds, "But unless you've been toying with me for all this time, I think I can trust you. Besides, you're not trying to hire a group of adventurers. You're willing to be part of that group of adventurers."
"Maybe I am that sneaky. Maybe..." there is a mirthful laugh that comes from her. "You had better get started with your preparations. Perhaps while you do so, you can explain what you are doing and what its effect is? Because I'm not seeing anything as you look at that." She nods to (what I'm assuming) his spellbook.
Kagiero giggles at a few of Britta's quips. "Sneaky indeed!" she laughs. "Oh, don't be so serious Zeran. I know magical artifacts can be dangerous, but if it's truly evil, then someone must handle it. Why not us?"
"And naturally, we will have to test the waters to make sure that nothing is going to kill anyone. We'll be safe about it, right-o?" she assures Zeran.
Zeran shrugs with a grin at Britta's words and pulls out a rather small book and starts flipping through it, deciding on what spells he might need for this trip. "This is my spellbook, but it's not likely to be a very interesting read. Wizards use a 'shorthand' that they develop for themselves. I've never known any that could easily decipher anyone else's...."
Hearing the giggle and words from Kagiero Zeran shrugs. "Good question. Why not us? You're probably right. Other than 'the Sisters', joking.... none of us claim to be evil, so locating the evil artifact might be a good quest. If the.... individual that is sponsoring the group of adventurers to recover and destroy the item follows through and doesn't try to take it, we still need to figure out how to destroy it. Having never actually dealt with any artifacts I only know what I've read. Every document I've read indicated they were very hard to destroy. Some even randomly teleport or plane shift away if you try."
"I do have some unusual talents when it comes to destroying magical items." Silvertail suddenly interjects.
The four-tailed fox is primly perched on a chair that... wasn't there just a moment ago, her tails curled over her to avoid being squished against the chair's back. "I would be curious to see if they'd have any effect on an artifact. I haven't precisely had the opportunity to try."
"FFUUU--!" she mouths with a quiet yelp as Silvertail is just suddenly there on a chair. Britta's hand instinctually is already on her blade, but upon hearing and seeing the fox, she relaxes. It is clear from her red cheeks and shock that the fox gave her a jump scare. How she handled it is impressive. Quickly, she recovers and states, "Well...we'll have you move out first then," she jokes with a smirk.
Relaxing once more, she looks to Zeran as he explains his shorthand.
"Code?" she thinks to herself.
As he reads, she will reach out an alluring finger and pull the book down so she can view this "shorthand" too, only to find herself at a loss. It's more like the schematics to some kind of interdimensional algorithm using the lost language of the Jedi. It doesn't even look like it would begin to make sense to her. However, as she watches it, through the force, Zeran will detect through his detect magic spell that she is connecting to the words themselves and her eyes dart to and fro, as if she is able to start understanding it. He would recognize an effect not unsimilar to the read magic spell, but there was more a connection to the writing itself than an understanding.
"Hmm...," is all she coughs up after seemingly reading his book to some degree.
When he explains the troubles ahead of them, she wonders how capable she will be to handle this herself.
"I'm sure each of us will bring our own experience to the table in helping us deal with this. If we can't, and don't die, then we'll just do something else."
Josten, awaiting Mitchifer's answer, looks over to the lamia and gives it a flirty wink.
Silvertail waves her tails behind her as she looks up at Britta with an almost... imperious lift of her muzzle. "I take it a decision has been reached on the topic of which job to take? I only caught the last bit of this conversation."
Although Britta can't hear hardly any of the detail of Mitchifer's words to Josten, she nods to the fox, for Britta can read lips from afar. "Yes. We are going to a place called Farun?" she explains wrongly, not quite able to pick up what Mitchifer said. "Forgotten Realms. A thousand gold pieces up front each. One-thousand more after. We keep anything we find. We are heading into some ruins it seems. You can ask him what the name of them is. I couldn't discern it. Brad Magio, or something like that..." She then explains further. "We are helping a witch destroy an evil artifact."
Zeran listens to the details of the offer. The coin would be helpful for future items that he wanted to craft, perhaps a couple of low level wands that would allow him to diversify his available spells....
"Faeurn? in the Forgotten Realms? Is anyone familiar with that world? We'll need a bit more direction unless we want to search an entire continent. I have a divination to assist me in learning details, but I have to be on the world before I can cast it. And I have to know enough to at least frame a valid question...."
"I was hoping one of you had been there before, or were from there. This is the only place outside my universe that I've been to."
Jostan walks back to the table and explains what Mitchifer said, in case anyone didn't hear.
"Well then, if we are all agreed and feel capable to venture into the land of Farun...Faeurn? Faerun? Whatever...Forgotten Realms, then make sure you have your things with you and let's go. First, I suggest we ask around to see if anyone has heard of this 'Euryis'. She has obviously come in here before."
Looking to the witches who verbally rebuked Zeran she asks, "You all took clear defense of witches earlier. Might you have met or know how we can find someone named Euryis from the Forgotten Realms? She has been in here before, as she gave Mitchifer her job and we are picking it up."
"Well, I just got here, so I have everything I need." She pats her bag and her sword, then she waits to see how we're all supposed to get to Fay-run.
"I have all I need in my storage, but more information would be good," Silvertail states, with a slight twitch of her tails. "I could mingle a bit, see if I can find someone who might know more. Where and when should we meet back up?"
She hops down from the chair after getting an answer, 'landing' on the air a few inches above the floor, and trots off to ask any likely-looking patrons about Euryris.
Zeran listens.... "Farun? Faerun? And why are the Realms Forgotten? Who forgot them that they got named the Forgotten Realms? Does the world have a name?"
He closes his book and packs it away. Taking hold of his staff he nods. "I'm ready. Oh wait. I wonder if I can get some of that jelly, to go?"