Chapter 24: The Grand Quest?

The next morning the party gather in the guild house’s dining room to make themselves something to eat as breakfast, once everyone has taken a seat at the table Ilev brings up the grand quest that Lord Connor Leon Seolfor the Fourth gave to them yesterday.

“About that grand quest, I think it would be worthwhile going around town to gather some information about the Dark King and anything else that the people might know about the void zones and if there are any others nearby like the one in the valley. As right now we know what we have to do but have no direction on where the Dark King may be or where any other void zones that could point us in the right direction are.”
“I do recall seeing an information brokers shopfront while I was walking through town yesterday maybe they’ll know something.”
“And I’m sure there’ll be people at the adventurer’s guild who will know something that might end up helping us.”
“Well, then Aromi do you remember where this broker’s shop is? And you’re probably right Arano.”
“Vaguely, but once I get back to the town square, I should remember the route I took yesterday once we all split up.”
“Right then, I suggest that we split up with half of us going to the adventurer’s guild and the other half going with Aromi to the information broker to see what we can buy from that network.”
“Ok then. Who’s going with who then?”
“I’d say that Aromi, Lexa, Arano and I will go to the information broker, and everyone else goes to the Adventurer’s guild.”
“Huh? Why does Aromi get to suggest something then I have to go with you, even though I said we should check out the adventurer’s guild?”
“Because we need Aromi to guide us there. I’ll do the speaking and you and Lexa are there to intimidate the poor broker, so they don’t rip us off.”
“Ok then, I guess it’s alright. Let’s get going then.”

Everyone finishes up their food and puts their dirty dishes into the kitchen to be done when they return from their information gathering attempts in town, with everyone geared up they head out into the town walking down the hill towards the central square where they’ll split into the predetermined groups and head to their respective destinations. Reaching the square Aromi’s group followed him through the narrow streets that make up the radial design that sprouts from the central square of the town, as they walk down the narrow streets other adventurers’ stand to the side to let them past apparently being given the grand quest to complete garnered the party with a large amount of respect or caution from other adventurers’. After turning down what seemed like countless similar streets Aromi stopped at a door to what could only be described as a shack hastily constructed between the other buildings, opening the door the quartet shuffled inside despite the squeeze. Ilev finding his way to the front of the group making sure Lexa and Arano were positioned behind him in the most intimidating way before engaging with the person on the other side of the counter.

“What information have you got going?”

The person behind the counter turns around to be greeted with the sight of Ilev leaning his elbow on the countertop with Lexa and Arano ominously perched behind him. After a while of sputtering the nervous broker found their voice.

“M-m-most any-anything, f-for y-you at least. C-c-could you m-maybe ha-have yo-your guard d-do-dogs s-stand down. I-I do not w-work w-well with confrontation.”
“Lexa, Arano. Try look less menacing for the worried broker here. If you scare them too much they might not be able to speak.”

Lexa and Arano share a glance, shrugging their shoulders at each other in confusion about what Ilev wanted them to do but they attempted to make themselves come across friendlier than they were. Not to much success as it would turn out as the broker became even more scared of the quartet inside their shop.

“W-well I-I guess t-that i-is just what t-they a-are like. Heh heh.”
“I am sorry about my friends, I didn’t expect you to be just a kid, so I had them come with me to intimidate you into not giving us a bad deal. They can’t help looking intimidating, but they are actually really kind.”
“Yeah sorry kid, I might look scary but that’s just because we’ve had some hard battles to get here. And I guess I just started scowling by default.”
“I guess the floating doesn’t help, but after an accident my ankles aren’t healed all the way so I can’t stand like you can.”
“Lexa we’re having a discussion about that when we get home. But yeah, they don’t mean it we’ve just had a hard time of it recently. So, what info do you have on the Dark King or the void zones?”
“W-well it will cost you, but I-I have heard rumour of the D-Dark Kings ca-castle and a I know of a f-few void zone locations.”
“Money is no problem, mark everything on a map for us. And if you have anything that you can’t mark on a map then tell us.”
“O-ok. G-give me a s-second.”

The broker turns back around and grabs a couple of maps from the cubbies in the wall and starts scribbling notes on to each copy in red pen, a few moments later they turn back around handing the maps over to Ilev, who passes them back to Aromi via Lexa. Ilev places some of the money given to them by the lord on the counter as payment.

“That should be a sufficient amount, and you have nothing else to say on either matter?”
“N-no, I-I only k-know wh-what I heard in t-the rumours and those lo-locations I-I have b-been given as a p-part of the b-broker network. A-anything I-I might have to-told you e-extra i-is written o-on the m-maps.”

With that the quartet shuffle back out of the brokers shack and back towards the town square to meet up with the other three members of their party before heading back to the house to compare information and form a plan of action on what to do next.