D&D Way to Sword Coast

Chapter 27: Return

By no means were Adventurers the same as mercenaries. Mercenaries fought and killed for money regardless of the cause or justification. Adventurers provided a service the same way a carpenter or blacksmith would.

The Guildhall was established in Neverwinter to put citizens in contact with those who possessed the appropriate skills to accomplish a specific job. A guild also ensured the tasks adhered to the city bylaws and ordinances. These jobs ranged from simple transport/delivery to public services. This ensured the cities resources were never overtaxed by private issues. It also provided an outlet for the eager young adventurers that flocked to the coast.

At midafternoon the guildhall wasn't especially crowded. The lunch rush had already left and those that remained were either between quests or had already wrapped one up. Sharing drinks with their guildmates the humans and near-humans regaled each other with their latest exploits.

The woman at the front desk did her best to ignore the stories. After a while, they all sounded the same to her. Instead, she focused on managing the job listings for the next morning. There was no shortage of work along the Sword Coast. It was up to the guild clerks to organize them according to skill requirements and experience levels. As much as it galled the greener members the Guild was strict on which quests were available to whom. Adventurers were a guilds source of income. It did them little good to throw inexperienced copper plates at max level threats.

Of course, that didn't stop them from trying. The census was full of names of the foolhardy who attempted to bite off more than they could chew. "Start from the bottom and work your way up," she would tell them. Usually, her words were met with glares and reluctant sighs. It was with a heavy heart the clerk could tell which ones she would be adding to the census, along with their blood-stained plates.

The door to the hall opened and she felt the warm afternoon sun on her shoulders. Turning she had to shield her eyes to make out the large silhouette crossing the threshold. Stories stopped mid-sentence amidst gasps and the sounds of tomorrow's postings fluttering to the floor.

The figure was tall and broad clad in the remnants of his armor. Here and there crimson scales peaked through layers of fresh bandages. He carried no weapons, but a large bundle was slung across his back wrapped in red-stained burlap. Alone he strolled up to the bulletin board. For a moment he scanned it with his one good eye before ripping down a sheet.

"This job is no longer necessary," he said placing the paper on the counter.

The clerk blinked several times before looking over the document. Posted by the magistrate it was an ongoing request to clear out local ruins of any monsters. A bounty was paid depending on the size and number of beasts exterminated. It was similar to the job of clearing the city sewers, but with several more hazards.

Clearing her throat, the clerk said, "Ahem...Proof of a kill must be provided in order to receive the bount-" before she could finish explaining the Adventurer unslung his burden and dropped in on the desk with a heavy meaty thud. A clawed finger loosened the tie and the burlap fell away.

"By Torm's knob!" someone shouted, but the blasphemy was lost amongst a series of curses and exclamations. The Clerk recoiled, gasping in surprise as a giant reptilian eye rolled in a sunken socket to peer up at her. Its milky white pupil unnerved her nearly as much as its killer's placid expression. She gasped again when she noticed the dented and scarred surface of copper plate dangling from one of his head tendrils.

"How much for a young green dragon," Alidorim Olkith asked.

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Lesmythe was still sitting patiently atop the wagon when her Master exited the Guildhall. Yulia barely flinched when he set the bag of coin in the back of the wagon. Curled up amongst the sacks of herbs, the Tiefling had been snoring softly for the last few hours.