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MERC XVIII: Affordable Misdeeds and Friendly Canines
MERCENARY ESPIONAGE AND RECONNAISSANCE CORPORATION
The Mercenary Espionage and Reconnaissance Corporation is the most prominent faction of mercenaries and adventurers in this world. Their skills are offered for hire to anyone who can pay. More than that, the Corporation exerts considerable control over the teeming masses of the freelance mercenaries, adventurers, hired weapons and troubleshooters of the chaotic land of the Nexus. They offer licenses that entitle one to discounts, legal protection and job offers... in exchange for a cut of the profits. To that effect, MERC has offices in Inside, Riverside and Skyside. MERC does not appreciate competition, so unlicensed mercenaries operating in these cities are subject to a negative marketing campaign. If one proves troublesome, harsher steps may be taken.
Hiring MERC:
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Hiring MERC is as simple as providing any information needed and negotiating appropriate payment. Contracts must gain the approval of a MERC member. If the member thinks the job is too risky, doesn't pay well enough or is otherwise troublesome, they may contact Dipsnig or one of his lieutenants for special approval.
There are two categories of official MERC contracts.
MERC Member Contracts, jobs to be carried out exclusively by MERC members, and
MERC Licensed Contracts, jobs to be posted publicly for any MERC license holders to complete.
The following for must be filled out. MERC Member Contracts are posted in an area exclusively viewable by MERC members, while MERC Licensed Contracts are posted in all MERC locations and are viewable by all license holders.
Quote:
Job Description: Brief description of the job to be performed.
Contract Type: MERC Member Contract or MERC Licensed Contract.
Hired by: Character or group name (Player name).
Target: Character or group name (Player name).
Payment: Approximate or specific where applicable.
Notes: Any additional information.
Note that MERC refuses to deal with
slavers, and will not accept contracts that involve returning slaves to their former owners, or sending them to be enslaved.
Current Contracts:
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MERC Member Contracts:
Available exclusively to MERC members.
Every MERC member and license holder will get a commission for protecting Trog's Tavern and Black Dragon's Den from attacks, attempted robberies, random encounters and other events.
Completed contracts can be found
here.
Licenses:
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Those unwilling or unable to join MERC full-time can apply for their licenses. Obtaining one is relatively simple, requiring only coming to their main base or one of the offices and filing in their name. A license comes with the following benefits:
- Discounts in Trog's Tavern, Black Dragon's Den, Erin's Emporium and Azik's Enchantments
- Protection from dishonest employers.
- Access to MERC Licensed Constracts.
- Free medical care by MERC's lieutenant and medical robot, CB.
In exchange for the license, its holder is obliged to pay MERC a cut of their profits.
However, the license may be revoked if the holder breaks MERC's restrictions on jobs or glaringly breaches the organization's professional standards. The first time it happens, the license can be returned for a fee. The second time the fee is higher and the third time, the license is revoked permanently.
Membership Information:
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In order to be hired as a full-time member of MERC, one needs to prove their worth either to their leader or one of his lieutenants. Usually, it involves being a mercenary of some skill and professional standards, but the organization is also open to those with other valuable skills, provided they can prove that they'd be useful to the group. Full-time MERC members enjoy the access to MERC-exclusive jobs, and a cut of the profits and influence their control over the mercenary business brings.
Membership Application:
Name |
Player |
Role |
Dipsnig Razortooth |
Morty |
Chief Executive |
Dena Xifhara |
Shadowcaller |
Senior Officer |
Kirk Locke |
Gulaghar |
Senior Officer |
Astrana |
Shadowcaller |
In-House Magic Specialist |
Cassandra |
Ashen Lilies |
|
Cassidy |
Devixer |
|
Electra |
Nova Eclipse |
|
Fade |
Zefir |
|
Jazirian |
Ashen Lilies |
|
Krayger |
LordDeathKeeper |
|
Rilla |
Halae |
Magic Engineer |
If you were on the list before and dropped for inactivity, you can be re-added at any time by request.
Locations:
This thread not only serves to contain the MERC base, but also all other MERC associated locations. These locations are separate from each other and events in one location will not affect the others. Because of this, please label posts appropriately for any scene's location.
MERC Base:
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The base consists of several buildings located in the cold regions of the Nexus. It tends to snow a lot. It resembles an arctic base somewhat, but is much more friendly and hospitable.
Layout:
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One central building, containing the common room, the kitchen, the infirmary, the armoury and the tunnel entrance. Four smaller buildings connected to the main one by roofed corridors: One for sleeping quarters, one for the laboratories, one for the training area and one for storage. Also, there are considerably large beast pens also connected with the main building.
Main Room:
In need of description.
Room Descriptions:
In need of description.
Infirmary:
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This room has come a long way from where it was. The circular room has been fitted with a number of high-tech hospital beds, and some healing tanks. The walls are lined with supplies, tools, medical apparatus, and many things that look very, very advanced. Everything short of surgery can be done in here. The tanks are on the far side of the circle from the door, five of them, currently empty. A sign is posted next to the tanks:
WARNING: HEALING TANKS ARE ONLY FOR EMERGENCIES. ONLY USE TANKS WITH DOCTOR RECOMMENDATION. ACTIVE TANKS MUST BE MONITORED BY A TRAINED PROFESSIONAL AT ALL TIMES.
Against the wall near the entrance are a number of stretchers. One spot in the right wall is a marked out section of blank wall. A note is attached:
“See about having a door put in here, for emergencies.” Oddly, on the other side of that wall is the armoury.
Almost missable in the calculated medical clutter are white curtains, which can be pulled upon tracks in the ceiling to give bedridden patients some peace. Sanitation stations (like modern hospital sinks, but even cleaner) are at the front and back of the room. Each station has spots for hand washing, instrument washing, general trash throw-out, and hazardous trash throw-out.
Yeah, the MERC infirmary is now prepared for anything short of surgery.
The surgery is done in the member’s quarters.
CB-484, not seeing the point in a large room for himself, has converted the bulk of his room into a fully-equipped futuristic emergency room and surgery centre. It has lots of adjustable lights, emergency supplies, pointy objects, things with large warning signs on them, and a sanitation station. One door off to the side is marked “CB-484 Only.” What was once the closet of the room has been deemed suitable to be CB’s living quarters, and he has no intention to expand.
Kitchen:
In need of description.
Labs:
In need of description.
There's an extensive cave and tunnel network is located under the base and the mountain behind it and some tunnels go forth to key Nexus locations. Both are accessed through the main building. There's a separate door for the complex and the tunnels.
Defences:
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- Secure walls and windows that can be locked if needed.
- Six Aperture Science laser-targeting chain-gun turrets placed on the exterior of the base.
- Two Asuran golems programmed to obey MERC members and defend both the personnel and the base.
- Clockwork penguins, armed with light machine guns. Crude and ineffective, but numerous.
- Dimensional lock placed on the entire base.
Offices:
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MERC has offices in Riverside, and Skyside, where mercenaries can come to receive licenses, inquire about job opportunities, make complaints about dishonest employers, and conduct other administrative business. Their offices in Inside were closed due to a conflict with the government. Their operations there are now underground, literally and figuratively.
OoC Rules:
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- No godmodding.
- No destroying the whole place. No, not even then. This applies to all locations.
- Keep the curtains to a reasonable amount.
- Label posts for appropriate location. It's especially important here, seeing as there are multiple buildings in this thread.
Spoiler: NO/MERC Thread Archive
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Re: MERC XVIII: Affordable Misdeeds and Friendly Canines
[Astrana's Office]
Sszinyon Xar'Cha, drow, vampire, werewolf, and overall grumpface, waited in Astrana's office in order to discuss plans for the defense of his castle and homelands from his family's forces.
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Re: MERC XVIII: Affordable Misdeeds and Friendly Canines
Quote:
Originally Posted by
NothingAbnormal
The vampir smiles, knowing that power was a bit more easily acquired by him then it was by another, and as such had no problem giving the other a sizable portion. Utilizing the power should be easy enough, but then the Vampir itself wouldn't know, as it had done this only a few times. From it to the other there appeared to be a thin stream of blood, although it was a simple manifestation of some of its power. The vampir slowly stopped the flow, slightly weaker out of the exchange, but if the other decided to keep its end of the deal then it'd be worth it.
Liadi freezes, her eyes flaring with alarm, a sickening thought crossing her mind, and begins to strengthen the shielding containing the Vampir. She hadn't fully caught on to what was happening, however she could feel the Vampir stirring, and such times were never... pleasant.
The silhouette of the King in Rags blurs, as he turns into a flurry of autumn leaves, tinged with blood. It swirls, sweeping up the Vampir and trying to turn it into a part of itself. Should it succeed, it'll scatter, slipping through the cracks in the dream and trying to escape with both of them through any way possible.
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Re: MERC XVIII: Affordable Misdeeds and Friendly Canines
The vampir smiles, diffusing into The King of Rags, who won't have too hard a time escaping, as he was never taken into account when Liadi had built her small defense, as she'd not expected to find another here...
"What are you doing?" Liadi's voice is high pitched, panicking as she tries to grasp at any way to contain this new surprise. Of course her containment measures had already failed, and with her weak grasp on how this dreamscape worked she'd be lucky to protect herself, let alone contain them. "What ally have you found now?" The last is more of a concerned mutter, and she begins erecting some quick defenses, not sure what's about to happen.
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Re: MERC XVIII: Affordable Misdeeds and Friendly Canines
[Liadi's Dream]
"This is a business arrangement, my dear mortal," the King in Rags says, as the leaves and wind try to escape the dream and rapidly get away to where the King in Rags' current physical body is, in Riverside.
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Re: MERC XVIII: Affordable Misdeeds and Friendly Canines
Riverside Office
Erasmus von Hattenheim II enters. The small, amber-scaled dragon flutters up to the receptionist (I assume there is a receptionist. If there isn't, please correct me, so I know who Erasmus is addressing). He says, "Erasmus von 'Attenheim the Second, a'choor service. I was told that I might be able tew get a job 'ere"
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Re: MERC XVIII: Affordable Misdeeds and Friendly Canines
Riverside Office
((I should note that in the current time-line, Riverside is under attack, but this can take place before that. Plots aren't the easiest things to keep track of. :smalltongue:))
The Riverside MERC office is located in a old manor on a small hilltop nestled in-between north- and westside, two regions of the city. It looks rather spooky from a distance, and even spookier up front due to its gothic architecture.
The door can be opened, but at the desk, there isn't actually a person. There is violet-colored triangular construct floating above the empty chair. In the middle of the triangle, there is a red circular diamond that flashes as Erasmus speaks.
Then a feminine voice replies. "Hello Erasmus, please excuse this setup by my secretary is out at the moment. But you've come to the right place, MERC is always hiring new members. Just tell me how you may be of use to us and I can arrange the rest."
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Re: MERC XVIII: Affordable Misdeeds and Friendly Canines
Riverside Office
"'Ello marm. I'm a wizard of some talent. I wield spells that boggle the mind, alter the body, and create creatures from thin air." Erasmus would offer a clawshake, but he's not sure whether the construct would understand the gesture, or have hands with which to reciprocate. "If choo need a demonstration of my power, I would be 'appy to oblige."
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Re: MERC XVIII: Affordable Misdeeds and Friendly Canines
Riverside Office
The construct does not have hands, so it can't really shake his hand. "Certainly, what about conjuring creatures from thin air then? That's impressive in my book." The voice inquires.
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Re: MERC XVIII: Affordable Misdeeds and Friendly Canines
Riverside Office
Erasmus draws his wand and waves it through the air, mumbles an incantation under his breath, and makes a complicated hand gesture. There is a puff of light from his wand, and nothing seems to happen. If the construct can see invisible creatures, it will see a blurry, humanoid shape appear where Erasmus gestures. Erasmus then replaces his wand and pulls a waterskin off of the leather harness he wears. He hands it to the seemingly empty air where he had gestured, and says " 'Old this please, guv" The waterskin is suspended in midair by an unseen force. Or by the blurry creature, if it can be seen. Erasmus then orders the creature to do several other tasks, such as running around the room and shuffling a deck of cards he pulls from his deck.
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Re: MERC XVIII: Affordable Misdeeds and Friendly Canines
Riverside Office
The construct can't see the creature per say, but it can sense that a invisible being is nearby and the general direction it is in.
It should be noted that there is another person in the room. A green skinned woman with whit braidede hair and tusks. Her green eyes follow the waterskin around in wonder as it moves around the room as she is slouched down in the sofa.
"That should be enough." The voice remarks. "What about the body altering spells? How does those work exactly?"
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Re: MERC XVIII: Affordable Misdeeds and Friendly Canines
"I can change my own appearance, and also the size of myself and others." Erasmus suddenly begins to grow larger, ballooning up to the size of an ogre. His gear grows with him. "Is this demonstration enuff for choo?"
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Re: MERC XVIII: Affordable Misdeeds and Friendly Canines
Riverside Office
"Yeah, that should be enough. Why don't you come up to my office and we'll write a contract? I have the only office on the top floor, you can't miss it. There is even a sign." The voice replies. "Just try not look me in the eyes, okay?" She muses.
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Re: MERC XVIII: Affordable Misdeeds and Friendly Canines
Riverside Office
Erasmus, still enlarged, goes up the stairs. He enters the office, for once finding himself large enough to easily open the door. He pulls a vial of ink and a quill pen from his harness, unsure of whether he'll need them.
Spoiler: ooc
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What is the nature of the attack? If Erasmus is accepted into MERC, he could show up to help defend against it.
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Re: MERC XVIII: Affordable Misdeeds and Friendly Canines
Riverside Office
He might understand the mysterious words a bit once he finds the office, marked "Denûrga Zifhara", and enters. Behind a metal desk with several swords stuck into it (as bookstands) sits a woman with snakes for hair. She is wearing sunglasses that covers her eyes, but he might figure that there is a very good reason for that depending how familiar he is with gorgons.
She gets up and offers her hand to shake. "Erasmus was it? Dena Zifhara, senior officer of MERC. Nice to have more combat oriented mages on board."
Spoiler: OOC Stuff
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There is no attack, but the petrifying gaze is kind of dangerous. :smalltongue:
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Re: MERC XVIII: Affordable Misdeeds and Friendly Canines
Riverside Office
Erasmus shakes Dena's hand. He is familiar with her kind, and careful to not look her in the eye. He sits down in front of the desk, ready to fill out some paperwork. "Pleased tew meet choo, marm. What do I need tew fill out?"
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I meant the fight going on in Riverside right now. The reason this is earlier than the main plot for the area.
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Re: MERC XVIII: Affordable Misdeeds and Friendly Canines
Riverside Office
Dena gestures at some papers laying on her desk. "I'm going to need you to write down some personal information on that form over there. Shouldn't take long, it's only the basics."
The form, if he looks at it, is asking for the following thins:
Name, contact information, skills, preferred jobs, any information that might potentially weigh on MERC's interests.
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Re: MERC XVIII: Affordable Misdeeds and Friendly Canines
Riverside Office
Erasmus takes his quill pen and neatly fills out the form.
Name: Erasmus Von Hattenheim II
Contact information: Via a Sending spell works best. Home phone number: (generic phone number)
Skills: Magic spells of Transmutation, Enchantment, and Conjuration, with a few Illusions as well. Inebriating breath weapon.
Preferred Jobs: Combat and stealth are both ok. Works better on a team.
Pertinent Info: nothing he can think of at the moment.
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Re: MERC XVIII: Affordable Misdeeds and Friendly Canines
Riverside Office
Once he's done, Dena takes the form and looks it over. "Looks fine with me." She then looks up at him, her eyes carefully hidden by the sunglasses. "You should probably try to get familiar with the other members if you are into teamwork." She strokes her chin. "I should mention that its up to you to get a mission. They won't be served to you on a plate, so keep eyes and ears open for potential clients, alright?"
Spoiler: OOC Stuff
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As for the fight in Riverside right, its huge as the entire city is being invaded by demons. Like a dozen players are involved in it, me included (I'm the one running the demons, and some of the defenders...) Either way, it would be a pretty complex to try to enter. That, and it is difficult enough for me to reply to all players partaking in it already.
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Re: MERC XVIII: Affordable Misdeeds and Friendly Canines
"Alright marm. Thanks!"
Erasmus leaves the office, shrinking back to normal size as he does so. He heads downstairs, and leaves, and heads out to find a pub and celebrate his new job.
Spoiler: ooc
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If it's too much trouble, Erasmus won't be in the battle. If there's an opening for him to enter, just shoot me a PM. He'll be somewhere in the area, probably a pub in Riverside, waking from a drunken stupor. if he joins in, and he would try to join up with any MERC forces in the area.
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Re: MERC XVIII: Affordable Misdeeds and Friendly Canines
Head Office
There is a long white snake coming slithering through the corridors of the living quarters of MERC. Its keeping itself to the side of the corridor, moving towards anything it can take for food by scent or vibration.
Unless someone encounters it, the snake will likely be drawn to whatever small animals that are in the base, and eat them.
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Re: MERC XVIII: Affordable Misdeeds and Friendly Canines
Head Office
Erasmus von Hattenheim II is in the base. The little potbellied dragon came here shortly after being recruited to look around, but he hasn't found anyone yet. He smells the snake, and decides to follow it, but he hasn't spotted it yet.
if the snake is Medium or larger, Erasmus is a small enough creature that it would be able to eat him.
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Re: MERC XVIII: Affordable Misdeeds and Friendly Canines
((This has to be at least a night after he joined.))
Main Office corridor
The snake sticks its tongue out and “smells” the air around it. Then it suddenly turns its head around and looks straight at Erasmus.
It starts to move slowly towards him, readying to strike.
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Re: MERC XVIII: Affordable Misdeeds and Friendly Canines
Main Office Corridor
Agreed on the timeframe. He went to a pub, then back home before coming here. It's a day or two later.
Erasmus sizes the snake up. "Choo're not one of my new co-workers, are choo?" He draws his wand, preparing to fight back if necessary.
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Re: MERC XVIII: Affordable Misdeeds and Friendly Canines
Main office corridor
The snake might remind him of one of the snakes that is making up Dena’s hair. It’s a bit larger though.
The snake does not show any signs of understanding his words or indeed, show any intelligence beyond animal instinct at all.
It appears to hesitate when he draws his wand however, stopping not too far away and raises its head from the floor, standing ready to strike.
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Re: MERC XVIII: Affordable Misdeeds and Friendly Canines
Main Office Corridor
Erasmus frowns at the snake. He's not sure what it is, or why it is there, and that makes him uneasy. He taps his wand to himself, and a white mist flows forth, shaping itself into a suit of plate armor around him. He watches the snake intently.
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Re: MERC XVIII: Affordable Misdeeds and Friendly Canines
Main Office Corridor
Seeing the strange mist, the snake appears even more hesitant. It lets out a low threatening hiss and then slithers away from him, suddenly losing interest. This prey was strange, and probably too difficult to hunt down.
It appears to be heading for the beast pens, if Erasmus knows what they are.
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Re: MERC XVIII: Affordable Misdeeds and Friendly Canines
Main office corridor
Erasmus does not know where the pens are, but he follows the snake. He doesn't know if it's up to any mischief or if it's supposed to be there.
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Re: MERC XVIII: Affordable Misdeeds and Friendly Canines
Main Office Corridor==> Beast Pens
The snake slithers into the pens and lets its tongue out again. It appears like it is looking for something.
The beasts in the pen, such as a whole herd of strange black sheep in one pen, some wolves in another and larger cages with more omnious shapes moving around in them.
However, none of that seem to interest the snake. Instead, it is moving towards a smaller cage containing what appears to be filled with ordinary brown rats.
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Re: MERC XVIII: Affordable Misdeeds and Friendly Canines
While the snake has its back turned, Erasmus casts Detect Magic. For the next 10 minutes, he will be able to sense magic around him and find out what school it belongs to. He specifically wants to find out if the snake or the rats are magical.
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Re: MERC XVIII: Affordable Misdeeds and Friendly Canines
Beast Pens
The rats appear to be non-magical, even if some of them, at closer inspection, seem to have some mutations. A few have them have four eyes, others two tails, some big warts, a number miscolored fur, and one even have three heads, like a rat-cerberus.
The snake is magical though, and right now it is devouring one of the rats whole as it slithers into the cage. The rats are panicking, but there is no escape from the cage.
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Re: MERC XVIII: Affordable Misdeeds and Friendly Canines
Beast Pens
"Oi! Get out of there!" Erasmus points his wand at the cage and casts a spell, trying to put the snake and rats to sleep. If it succeeds, he'll try to investigate the snake more closely.
The detect magic spell gives Erasmus some idea of the spell on the snake, whether it is a spell of transmutation, illusion, protection, necromancy, or another type of effect. He gains no nature into its exact nature, however.
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Re: MERC XVIII: Affordable Misdeeds and Friendly Canines
[Beast Pens]
The snake's presence is clearly agitating the considerable number of wolves in the pens. Some of them are quite young, which of course raises the hackles of their parents.
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Re: MERC XVIII: Affordable Misdeeds and Friendly Canines
Beast Pens
The snake and the rats are suddenly and abruptly put to sleep by the spell, the snakes eyes closing just as it was about to swallow its victim whole. The other rats ending up sleeping in strange positions as they were attempting to squeeze themselves out of the cage.
But if Erasmus investigates the snake closer, he will find that no spell has been cast on it. It appears to be a naturally magical creature that appears like, while large, a perfectly normal snake. The species might be difficult to determine though. It looks like a type of boa, but the white skin and the red eyes does not match any type of boa that exist in real life. In addition, it has fangs which boas shouldn't have as they swallow their prey alive.
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Re: MERC XVIII: Affordable Misdeeds and Friendly Canines
Erasmus picks up the sleeping snake, then looks around for an empty cage that might hold it.
He ignores the wolves for now.
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Re: MERC XVIII: Affordable Misdeeds and Friendly Canines
[Beast Pens]
There's plenty of empty pens and cages around, so putting the snake in one of them shouldn't be a problem.
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Re: MERC XVIII: Affordable Misdeeds and Friendly Canines
Erasmus tries to find one that will fit the snake, and is also portable.
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Re: MERC XVIII: Affordable Misdeeds and Friendly Canines
[Beast Pens]
Finding such a cage will be easy enough, but then the wolves turn their heads towards the exit, rather than the snake. Someone else is coming, though Erasmus might have trouble distinguishing any actual sounds of footsteps.
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Re: MERC XVIII: Affordable Misdeeds and Friendly Canines
Beast Pens
Erasmus is slightly drunk (he's always slightly drunk) and concentrating on putting the snake in the cage, so he doesn't hear the person coming.
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Re: MERC XVIII: Affordable Misdeeds and Friendly Canines
[Beast Pens]
The door opens and a rather short, brown-skinned goblin strides in, whose image is conveniently his player's avatar.
"What in the Devouring Dark is going on here?"
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Re: MERC XVIII: Affordable Misdeeds and Friendly Canines
Beast Pens
Erasmus looks up from the sleeping snake. "'Ello guv. This 'ere snake was loose and spookin' the animals." The goblin's aggressive manner and phrasing makes Erasmus a bit sheepish.
If the goblin is carrying any magical items, Erasmus' spell should detect them unless they are cloaked against such powers.
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Re: MERC XVIII: Affordable Misdeeds and Friendly Canines
[Beast Pens]
Dipsnig stops and surveys the area. The wolves appear to be calmed down by his presence and stop growling. The goblin is loaded with magic items great and small, most notable being the crossbow on his back and the crystal-studded bracer on his left wrist.
"A snake? We don't keep any snakes here. So how did it get here?" He walks over to the cage. "You would be our new hire, I presume. I'm Dipsnig Razortooh, Chief Executive here. Or just 'boss', if you'd rather."
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Re: MERC XVIII: Affordable Misdeeds and Friendly Canines
Beast Pens
"I don't know 'ow it got in 'ere, boss. I just found it wandering around the base. When it got into the rat cage, I put it to sleep."
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Re: MERC XVIII: Affordable Misdeeds and Friendly Canines
[Beast Pens]
The snake is still sleeping, not doing anything yet. Dipsnig might note that it looks a lot like the snakes that makes up Dena's hair. Its simply larger than them and, well, have a tail.
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Re: MERC XVIII: Affordable Misdeeds and Friendly Canines
[Beast Pens]
"Good job, then. But... why does it look like one of Dena's snakes?" Dipsnig asks, his long ears twitching.
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Re: MERC XVIII: Affordable Misdeeds and Friendly Canines
Beast Pens
"I don't know, boss," Erasmus replies.
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Re: MERC XVIII: Affordable Misdeeds and Friendly Canines
[Beast Pens]
Dipsnig raises his wrist-band to his mouth and tries to call Dena using it.
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Re: MERC XVIII: Affordable Misdeeds and Friendly Canines
[Beast Pens]
One signal, two signals...
"Yeah? What's up? Kinda preoccupied at the moment." SHe replies.
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Re: MERC XVIII: Affordable Misdeeds and Friendly Canines
[Beast Pens]
"Then I'll make it quick. A snake snuck into our beast pens and ate a rat. And it looks a lot like those on your head, except bigger and with a back half," Dipsnig explains briefly.
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Re: MERC XVIII: Affordable Misdeeds and Friendly Canines
[Beast Pens]
"****. Alright, I've been looking for it. I'll be righ over. Just make sure it doesn't go anywhere. I'll talk to you in a minute."
Then she hangs up.
As it turns out, Dena wasn't too far away as she will arrive at the beast pens in less than a minute. "Where is it? Blasted thing appeared in my room last night and then snuck out the door before I could blink."
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Re: MERC XVIII: Affordable Misdeeds and Friendly Canines
Beast Pens
Erasmus holds out the cage with the sleeping snake inside it. " 'Ere it is marm. Sound asleep. I 'ad to burn three spells to catch it."
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Re: MERC XVIII: Affordable Misdeeds and Friendly Canines
[Beast Pens]
"I was really kind of hoping it was a coincidence," Dipsnig remarks. "Do your snakes just occasionally detach themselves from your head?"
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Re: MERC XVIII: Affordable Misdeeds and Friendly Canines
[Beast Pens]
"No." Dena walks up to the cage where the sleeping snake is contained. "But it might have happened now." She gestures one of the smaller snakes, if not the smallest, that comes out of her scalp. "See this one? It was larger yesterday, and it looked different too..." She frowns, gesturing dismissively. "I don't want to hear about it though. Let's just focus on this thing, it might be dangerous."
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Re: MERC XVIII: Affordable Misdeeds and Friendly Canines
Beast Pens
"It tried to eat me, but backed off when I used magic. Whatever it is, it's a magical creature." Erasmus looks down at the snake.
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Re: MERC XVIII: Affordable Misdeeds and Friendly Canines
[Beast Pens]
Dipsnig pinches the bridge of his nose. Snakes escaping from his senior officer's head and crawling around are new, he must admit. So nice of life to provide him with new headaches regularly.
"Well, so far it's eaten a rat, which isn't out of the ordinary for snakes." Or for goblins. "But that might change pretty soon. We can have our beast handler speak with it and see what happens."
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Re: MERC XVIII: Affordable Misdeeds and Friendly Canines
[Beast Pens]
"Looks can be deceiving, yeah. Especially if that thing is magical." Dena agrees with a glance at the snake. "But who would our beast handler be at this point? Haven't seen anyone around in a while, though admittedly I am not up here much."
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Re: MERC XVIII: Affordable Misdeeds and Friendly Canines
[Beast Pens]
"Still Roxie, she's just been busy for a while now." Also an NPC and off-screen. "But if you want, we can do a more thorough magic scan first. Erasmus?"
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Re: MERC XVIII: Affordable Misdeeds and Friendly Canines
Beast Pens
"I can do it, but I'll need a pearl and an owl feather, and it'll take an 'our, or I could use up another spell to do it quickly, but I'd still need the components." Erasmus already is drawing his wand.
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Re: MERC XVIII: Affordable Misdeeds and Friendly Canines
[Beast Pens]
Dena narrows her eyes. "Just what would your spell detect, exactly? Since I tell you right now, don't think much good will come of that thing." She turns to look down at Dipsnig. "Best case, its either something we could tame, or sell the body parts of, worst case.... well, I can think of a lot of bad cases."
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Re: MERC XVIII: Affordable Misdeeds and Friendly Canines
Beast Pens
"I don't know if it will work. The ritual is intended to identify magical artifacts. It might not work on a living thing. Might be worth a try, though."