Gladios stands, looking down at them. [color=663399]"A soldier, two knights, a dragonkin, and an arrogant elf. Quite the group."[/color]

He looks at Nicholas for a few moments, as if contemplating something, then glances over the rest of the group before nodding.

He steps off the dais, motioning for them to follow. [color=663399]"I believe you lot will be able to handle this work quite nicely. Come with me."[/color]
[hr]

Gladios leads them through the keep, full of massive windows and soaring hallways. It is surprisingly silent inside, with few people bustling about. [color=663399]"As you can see, I've no need for a large amount of staff. The beauty of the Conglomerate is that, like my predecessor, I leave the governing of the villages to the villages themselves. Serves for a very peaceful keep, for the most part."[/color]

Gladios motions for two guards to step aside as they enter a large war room, with maps spread out over various tables. He leads them to one of the farther tables, walking to the far side as he motions for them to gather around the table.

[color=663399]"The job I have for you is that of dealing with a recent spat of organized crime I've been dealing with. My men have been able to provide very little in the way of any actual progress stopping it. They don't dare set foot in Mitrongi, but they've been extorting coin from villagers and travelling merchants. The job is simple,"[/color] he motions to a circled area on the map, about three days' ride north of Mitrongi, [color=663399]"Whoever they are, my intelligence agents have found one bit of useful information. They have a safehouse here, rather heavily guarded by hired mercenaries. You lot will drive them out of this area--by blade or diplomacy--and collect any useful information from the safehouse. We suspect that this is not their headquarters, only an arm of a much larger group. Make use of any information you find to eradicate this entire group. Your pay will be three thousand gold coins a person. A third up front, the rest upon completion. Now, do any of you have questions?"[/color]