Kevin's Watch

"I like this plan. Let us be off, then!"

You head across the square to the merchants' guild headquarters. This time the large wooden doors are wide open, they lead into a large entrance hall with stone pillars in rows leading towards a desk with a clerk sitting behind it.

Two guards stand by the doors, watching for trouble, and another guards a door leading further into the building behind the clerk's desk.

Xavier nod's amiably to the guards as the party approaches, then steps into the entrance hall and looks around with interest.

The place is quite richly decorated, as you'd expect of a rich merchants' guild showing off its wealth. There are wall-hanging tapestries and vases and such. The pillars also appear to be marble.

The entrance hall takes up the whole width of the building, but only about half of the length. With several stories above, there is plenty of room in the building for whatever else goes on. The door behind the clerk's desk appears to be the only other exit from the room.

Brother Charn bids the guards good day, giving them the morning blessings of Pelor. He then follows Xavier into the guild hall.

Walking up to the clerk, the slender rogue greeted him politely.

"Good day sir," he said, "I wonder if you could assist us...we are here on behalf of the smith of Tethil, who seeks to know the reason for the cessation of his silver shipments. Perhaps you could advise us as to whom we need to speak to?"

"I'm afraid the silver mine is non-operational at the moment for reasons beyond our control. The mine is closed and I wouldn't recommend going anywhere near it if you value your own safety."

"I see...and could you tell us why it is inoperational at the moment? Perhaps, (and without boasting), we could assist you in getting it operational?"

"I don't have the authority to tell you anything myself, but you can have an interview with one of the guildmasters if you think you may be able to help. What kind of skills can you offer?"

"Our skills are many and varied, I can assure you. However, that is a discussion probably best held with the guildmaster, an appointment with whom we would be most eager to have."

The clerk motions to the guard and he opens the door behind the desk.

"Follow the guard, he'll take you to see master Roland. He'll fill you in on the details once he's heard about your "many and varied" skills, if he thinks they'll be appropriate to help us out."

The guard holds the door open and gestures for you to enter.

Leading the party through the doorway, Xavier paused for a moment to assess the guildmaster Roland. Then he bowed deeply.

"Greetings Guildmaster. As I informed your clerk, the smith of Tethil has asked us to enquire as to the reason for the end of his silver shipments.

Your clerk has said that some disaster has befallen the mine, and we were wondering if there was any way we could obtain some silver for the smith?"

After you follow the guard down the hallway and into a posh looking office, Xavier poses his question to master Roland.

The guildmaster looks the party up and down and seems to silently judge you all before responding.

"It's rather presumptuous of you to barge into my ofice and start talking like that. Maybe you'd like to introduce yourself first? Or allow me to introduce myself? Don't they teach manners where you come from?"

"My apologies guildmaster," the rogue continued. "Please forgive my unseemly haste, but time is of the essence, and if I appear rude, rest assured that it is because lives may rest on our timely return."

He looked around at the rest of the party..."I am Xavier. The large fighter over there is Vargon...don't mind him...he has the unenviable task of looking after the haughty-looking elfmaid, who goes by the name of Irian.

The strong silent type over there is Brother Charn, a cleric of Pelor, and the other elf is the monk Caamora."

"I am master Roland, I'm in charge of guild security in Weaselville. I'll explain the problem with the silver mine, it bodes well that you have a cleric of the sun with you, he might be able to help us.

What I tell you now you must repeat to nobody. Even if you decide not to help us, you must not let anybody know of what you have heard here in this room. It would not be good for morale if the miners heard of what is going on. More importantly, it would do our reputation no good if word got out. Do I have your promises that nobody will repeat anything they hear?"

"You have our word Guildmaster."

Casting a quick discreet glance at Xavier, Irian thought to herself, "monsters or magic, just you watch," huh? to herself.

"I will keep silent on the matter, guildmaster. And I will hold my escort to my same vow. That is all I may speak for however."

[I'll assume you all agree to the terms]

"It's agreed then. If you break your vow though, there will be consequences.

Here's what happened:

Production from the silver mine was gradually slowing down, so master samuel ordered it to be extended further underground. Unfortunately the miners dug down into something terrifying. They were all killed by monsters, and when our guards went down to sort things out, some of them were killed too. They managed to re-seal the tunnel into the depths, but there are still monsters down there.

The guards reported walking skeletons! Do you think you can clear it out for us?"

Charn says intently, "The walking dead be an abomination... and this battler of Pelor shall not rest 'till this evil be laid to rest."

Caamora considered the guildmasters words and asked, "Are there other 'monsters' besides skeletons?"