"Honestly Will, you're too much of a liability", Tess explained as her party departed without him. The ranger kept his expression stoic.
"I warned you about the bandits well before the Whistle set us up for the ambush, so evidence points to the contrary", Will flatly stated. He unlsung his traveling bag and set it near his leather and brass boots. This was not the first conversation like this the ranger had at the guild. "Or would you prefer that we were captured and sold into slavery", Will continued. The bard raised her hand to stop the arguement.
"You burnt down a section of forest. To flush out the ambush", anger rising in the nymph blooded songstress's voice. "it was only 10 bandits", she argued.
"That you saw", countered the ranger,"and it was a box canyon full of manzanita. It was overdue for a burn and you know it."
Verdant eyes blinked at his words,"how many were there", she asked with a bit of a seeth. Will remained stoic as he shielded her for another truth. It was bad enough her friend had planned to turn traitor and for a pitiful sum.
"More than 10"
"Go to hell Will"
"If I do, I'll be sure to look for Whistle, he got off light"
The bard, fencer, and sorceror left. They were down a rogue and a ranger, but had planned only simple quests till they back on their feet. Like most of the parties, many of these adventures were untested and only partially trained. Taking on a group of band brigands allied with a slave trading guild had not gone the way they planned. The weren't ready to leave the fairy tale, and do the real work.
-----
Again Will found himself looking for a party, but first he'd get a drink and bite. The Freeman Adventurer's Association had a few clever features, by design and attesting to the War Matron's keen mind for logistics. As well as experience as a commander.
The guild hall main floor doubled as a tavern and quartermaster. Primarilly the Asscociates could get meals of modest fair at price, weak ale and wine, and some seasonal items. The guild offset costs by taking the donations of local shops and farms of their less than market quality produce. The same markets and farms became exempt from a portion of their crown taxes by supplying the guild with vittles basic supply. In turn a number of the basic quests run by the guild were public works projects that in turn paid hungry or not full time adventures with meal vouchers. Unofficially the Freeman Association was run as a reserve unit of the Crown Gaurd. Joylene used this arrangement to avoid retirement and continue to serve the Kingdom until she was able to pursue grander service.
The Associations Quartermaster set up was a fairly novel set up as well. Several of the apprentices of major guilds and colleges could sell their wares to the Association to give them their first real work orders and experience with meeting quality and time constraints. This gave adventures access to basic equipment at reasonable costs and allowed the Association to agt as a staging point for conscription and militia services in a emergency. On top of that if Joylene could get this model of Adventuring Guild to take off it would allow for franchise and a secondary path of advancement for common citizens to pursue careers outside of guilds, study, and state service.
Finally the Quartermaster had subshops that were run by Vendors who paid a premium or by Adventurers who offered discounts to their fellows and a cut the the Association. Right now it was mostly magic trinkets, potions, and stalls akin to pawn brokers, but eventually this could be a market all unto itself. The Freeman Adventurer's Association was building into a sub economy and that was by design. Joylene just had to keep up their reputation and their profit margin. As it stood The War Matron had solved a lot of logistical issues an organization of this type ran into.
It was funny how he thought about this as he returned to the hall after these long quests that seemed all too much like patrols and missions. If the Captain could attract more serious talent or foster her garden a bit, she was had makings of an impressive force. Then again she wasn't called the War Matron for nothing.
Will made small talk with the potion monger. He brought her some of sage and yarrow as she requested. She was always quite cheerful, if not seeming a bit on the shy side. Still he liked polite expert, she had a tendency to tell him of useful medicinal plants where he traveled. He tried to bring her samples as he could. Good advice had been worth the pleasantries more than once. That golden haired half elf was one of the consistantly friendly faces and he she was more or less one of in guild shops he made a point to utilize.
The other shop frequented by the ranger happened to be the apprentice smiths. They were a good source of javelin and arrow heads, and the occassional small arm that the brunette man needed. Normally he picked up three standard needle leaf blade javelins and tested two to three of the smiths experiments to give them feedback. So far they seemed to be onto something with the spiral javelins he was helping them refine. Designed to be used with an alatyl or augmented by air spells; these new prototypes flew far and spun like a top. The ranger liked how deep the drilled into targets. Once perfected they'd likely become a staple as well. Apparently they were trying to reduce the size of the javelines to be used as crossbow bolts. He'd try them in a few months.
Finally Will, would head the the bar to sit and complete his ritual. Pulling two silver from his pouch and set them for his favorite cook to see. A plate of grilled and glazed meats, some of the seasonal vegetables, and water would be what he'd treat himself with. He didn't drink alone especially when reflecting on issues.
-----
Hunting the brigands on the southern roads ended up uncovering a trafficking a smuggling ring. Not exactly something a guild comprised of rookie adventurers was equiped to handle. Hell one of the rookies tried to sell out his companions and get in on the action.
Whistle, the gnome opportunist, had been scouting the major bandit encampment. He hadn't realised that Will had caste Predatory Adaptation to enhance his hearing and gather intel on the knaves. Whistle enamoured by the high profits from smuggling and slaving offered up a pretty bard, curvy fencer, a sorceror and ranger that'd make good stock for gladiator pits, the ranger would also make good labor stock. Whistle only wanted 10% and in on the operation as a show of good faith.
The ranger dealt with that situation. Most of the bandits the bandits didn't make it it to custody. There would be no way for 4 adventurers, only two being combat capable to pull security and safetly deliver thirty or so hostiles looking to escape. Will was fine with the handful he delivered to the Regional Constable's Office. Hopefully that little prick Whistle was doing hard labor and getting a taste of what he tried to sell his so called friends into. The ringleader Nic Sveltsen was a marked man. Will got a lot of info out of him, and if the brass of his orginization didn't have him dealt with, the ranger would see him in 5 years.
----
The plate slid in front of the ranger along with a water skin and a mug of amber ale. The ranger immediately looked up to brotest, and met the gaze of the tavern keep holding a mug and pulling up a stool.
"Yer not alone kid", Gerald Flint's surprising low tenor voice informed Will already versed in this arguement. Well over six feet tall, bald by way a of shaving and covered in tattoos, the man did not look the part of a retired wizard. Unless one had served with battle mage before. the only wizardly thing about the aged muscular man was his magnificient beard that reached his navel, and the way his tattoos glowed as he worked with mana.
"Fair enough fireworks", acknowledge the younger veteran to the older and raised a glass. The Ale wasn't strong, but it was the principle of drinking alone often lead to brooding alone, and that was dangerous with certain skillsets.
"Mind your manners wildflower", reminded the senior clacking their wooden tankards,"you have to serve with me to give me that kind of grief, and I'm getting a bit tired of telling you that." There was false malice in the older man's voice. They'd had similar conversations over the last 6 or so months. The both to a fair draugh and the younger man offered a part of his meal. Old respects were still valued even if not needed.
"So what happened to Whistle? I reckon that's why Tess and the others don't want you with you on this one", opened the older man for the younger's rational.
Normally Will would shrug off the question and let the curious sort know it was a difference in experience and tactics. Try to save face for these rookies who often thought of adventuring as some fairy tale and everyone gets rich. Gerald was a beast from the same sort of world William was. Gerald he could talk to. Gerald at least understood Will made hard calls so they didn't have to.
"The little bastard decided that he could live happier and easier by selling us out to the Collared Rose."
"The slavers", asked the warmage pouring the rest of his drink into the younger man's. Will's blue eye's met Geralds brown and he gave a single serious nod.
"He hadn't realised I heard his whole pitch", noted the ranger as he took another drink. "And no, I'm sure it wasn't a ruse. The purple haired whelp went fair off script. We were scouting. He strolled in explained where Tess, Florin, and Erika were and pointed out where I should have been. He offered us up for 1 on 10 and to be a new talent broker. That's not a ploy. That's treachery."
Many of the wizard's questions had be answered as he took a sautéd mushroom from the offered plate. He nodded to encourage the younger man to go on. He'd likely have not taken the chance either. Whistle had bitched a lot about not getting any of the high paying quests and bragged about know who the best fences were in three cities.
"I had to work fast. Set the camp on fire and dropped every non slave I came across. Whistle and the "Gardener" were dragged three days to a regional constable. I think they still breath. Tess...doesn't believe me...and so I'm here."
"What about Joylene Kid", Gerald asked, though certain of that proceeding. There came the srug from the young man's cloaked shoulders.
"Par for the match",
Will said moving to the poultry and thinking. In a fair faxcimily of Captain Gloria Joylene's voice, the ranger responded.
"William, while you have dealt with a threat. In this case a traitor and branch of an established criminal organization. Once again I must weight the good you do with such brash action against the damage you cause and the strife that the other associates bear from your methods. Hence, I can only pay you a sixth of the original reward due to having to cover the loss of the smuggled goods destroyed in that fire.", Will mimicked the regal and exasperated sigh of the captian,"honestly William, restraint and tact would serve you well on these quests you're ideal for. And yes I understand your actions, ranger, but I can't let them go unchecked...", Will cleared his throat, then partook of the water skin. "More or less like that, so I won't have enoug for a downpayment on your guest cottage", he explained and continued the meal. He still had his room and rent for another few weeks.
"Kid I hope I'm here to see her catch you doing that", the wizard suppressed laugh and put a hand in the younger one's Breath Circle. He reassuredly squeezed the young man's shoulder. "Don't worry I won't sell it out from under you. Just try and make it happen in the next year."
"Don't worry, I'll tell the battle axe that this old codger at the bar taught me a spell to boss my coworkers around", Will replied in Gerald's voice with a wry Grin. Animal mimcry was a skill for hunting. Rangers took it to another level. The color faded from the War Mages face.
"That's not funny kid"
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