Posts from Divine Journey

I simply don't like it when:
1) The rules of good roleplaying etiquette are violated. And I'm talking about metagaming, not theft. The theft itself could have been used to create a decent storyline.
2) The laws of physics are misused in an attempt to appear clever.

As dawn broke, the group, who had been waiting outside the "White Ravens" guildhall, walked inside. Finding the person in charge of awarding bounties was not difficult – he was in a separate room, not far from the quest board. They unloaded the charred heads of the hydra onto a table and told the man about the attack they had suffered, some showing their burns, and others showing the marks of the hydra's attacks. After listening carefully, the man said that it would be better if they told the leader about it, and that he would bring him here. At that moment, the owner of the local inn entered the room and said that he wanted to claim the bounty for killing the hydra, and that he also had an important letter for the leader of the "Ravens." This man was well-known in the city, so he could not have been the one who attacked the group of travelers, which puzzled the bounty master. He placed the bag of eyes on the table next to the heads, took the letter, and told everyone, including the innkeeper, to stay there, and then headed to the leader. He climbed to the second floor, opened the door, and entered. A man in his sixties was sitting in a chair, very tall and strong for his age. It seemed that time had not weakened either his body or his spirit. Long, gray hair, the same color as his thick beard, hid most of his face. Confidence and a hint of sadness could be seen in his gray eyes. His wrinkled forehead was the only "intact" part of the man's face: his straight nose, as well as his sunken cheeks, were covered with battle scars. The absence of his right arm below the elbow was also striking. "Sir! An... unusual situation has occurred." "Does it require my intervention?" "Indeed! The thing is, some time ago, a group of people reported that during the execution of one of the quests on the quest board, namely the destruction of a hydra, someone set off an explosion, which caused serious injuries to the group. As proof, they brought the monster's heads, and some of them also have burns and bite marks. But then the owner of the 'Cozy Home' appears and presents a bag of hydra eyes, and also a letter addressed to you," the man handed the letter to the leader, who opened it and read: "To the head of the monster hunter guild, the 'White Ravens,' or whoever is acting in their place. This letter, delivered to you by the innkeeper, is a request for help and the last hope of honest warriors who have expressed a desire to help your great cause. The author of this message is Hostor, whose name was recorded in your friends' ledger yesterday after a conversation with the most honorable Lady Ariel. During the hunt for the hydra in the Black Forest, our group of honest hunters was attacked. When the creature was defeated, and the monster's eyes were taken as trophies, several bandits of a rather strange appearance attacked us. To avoid the death of my comrades, I was forced to use my mastery of fire magic, which caused a powerful explosion. Our group scattered. I managed to avoid meeting the bandits, thanks to which I arrived in the city earlier than my comrades. I returned to my room in the inn, where I healed my wounds with a magical potion. At the moment, I fear that the scoundrels want to claim the bounty instead of us, presenting other evidence from the monster we left behind. For this reason, I believe that my life and the lives of my friends are in danger. Knowing you as valiant and just knights, I ask for help in apprehending the scoundrels. With sincere hope, Hostor." "An interesting situation, no doubt," the leader of the Ravens murmured. "Should I check the ledger?" "The author of the letter knew what he was writing, without a doubt, and it is unlikely that his name will not be in it, but it does not hurt to check." A few minutes later, both men went down to the bounty room, and the leader introduced himself: "Greetings, gentlemen. I am the leader of this small organization; you can call me Tangeiser. I assume you know why you are here, and I must immediately clarify one point. The 'White Ravens' operate independently of the state, so investigating crimes is not within our competence. But, nevertheless, we are obliged to pay the established amount to the brave warriors who destroyed the monster. Therefore, I am ready to listen to you from this position." The bounty master also reported on the counter-accusations against them and the position of the other side.

-An honest man has nothing to fear,” Alco immediately joined the conversation, “that’s why we came here *in person*, and didn’t send an envoy with a letter. You can still see the wounds on me and my companions that the hydra inflicted. So why didn’t this “Hostor” and his men come here themselves to show their wounds? I’ll answer: because they have no wounds, except for those they might have received while trying to rob some other decent people. And although investigating crimes is not within your jurisdiction, I would like to ask for your help in stopping this dangerous criminal and his accomplices. After all, if they continue to try to kill people who are carrying out tasks for you, then very soon, no one will want to help you.

- Does anyone else have anything to add? - Tangheiser glanced at those gathered, and then turned back to Alco, - don't you think your last words were not entirely fair? After all, unfortunately, most of the "helpers" are primarily attracted by the glitter of coins.

Alko smirked slightly: -It's one thing to work knowing who you have to destroy. It's quite another when you might get stabbed in the back and then someone else gets the reward instead of you. No matter how greedy people are, prudence can still stop them.

- Well, for starters, infernal flames don't break people's bones! Moreover, these scoundrels stole my weapon, a rather well-made polearm. Is that how real "heroes" behave? Catching those rascals is in your best interest. What if they attack one of your squads? - Reynold interjected.

– Understand, the issue isn't even about the reward. We're not just treasure hunters; our goal is to help people. But can we allow such impunity? I understand that traditions in the Empire differ from ours... Nevertheless, in our tribe, for theft, a part of the tail is cut off so that everyone can see that this lizard is not honest. And for attempting to kill someone from our tribe... It's better you don't know.
I'm not imposing our traditions, but I want to show that evil cannot be left unpunished; otherwise, there will be chaos. This criminal must be found.

- Attempts to pressure me with threats of a grim future will lead you nowhere, - the man turned his gaze to Reynold, - the bones will heal. Your distress over the missing weapon is understandable, but that too shall pass. And if anyone even touches my friends, - the old warrior looked at Ariel and the other young "ravens", - they will witness my wrath. But this is also another reason not to involve them in such a matter, - he said to the next person, a snake-man, - if you wish to begin an investigation, you should turn to the guard. I can only offer advice, but no more.

-It's our job to warn you, - Alco shrugged - if one of your units is lost, I hope you'll remember that we warned you. As for the advice, I'd prefer a reward that we've more than earned.

- In that case, answer me one simple question: what do you desire more, revenge or reward?

- And if we join the "Ravens" ourselves, will you help us catch the bandits? - Reynolds asked, smiling after the thought occurred to him. - In any case, you have notices about catching bandits posted here; could you add our "friends" to them?

-If the question is posed in this way, I would prefer the reward. Not out of greed, but because we need money, at least to recover from the wounds we have sustained.

- Maybe it's just my old habits talking, but I think it's better to put those bastards in their place!

- And if we become members of the "Ravens" ourselves, will you help us catch the bandits? - Reynold asked, smiling after the thought occurred to him.

- You can try. But keep in mind that the "white ravens" are primarily an idea. Here, no one has any obligations to anyone. Even the fact that everyone living here follows my instructions is primarily an indicator of trust, not status.

-If you put it that way, I'd prefer a reward. Not out of greed, but we need money to, at least, heal from the wounds we sustained.

- Maybe it's just my old habits talking, but I think it's better to put those bastards in their place!

- What will the others say?

Don't worry, the rats will be the first to leave the "ship," Hossi. :3

Don't count your chickens before they hatch. :)

I just don't like it when:

Can you prove the existence of a metagame? Then don't complain. If you're being a sore loser, go see a doctor. I can justify any of my actions to the GM.