"Well, that wasn't nearly as enjoyable as I thought it would be." Nemo commented after a few seconds of pondering. "I'm not talking about why I'm here, that's an easy one. I'm here because I was asked to do a job. What I'm talking about is... what do I want in the grand scheme of things? My aspirations, desires? Overlooking that would be a waste, when you find out what drives a person, you can use it for many purposes. On one end of the spectrum, you could give them what they want, possibly creating a useful ally. On the other end, you could use it against them, shooting out their engine from under them. Without it they will cease to function." Nemo explained with a more hushed tone now that most of the group had assembled.
After everyone had made it to the living room, Nemo raised from his seat and walked to an open point of the room by his holographic display. "Ladies and gentleman, thank you for coming. You've been called here to hear about our next mission." Nemo started, pressing down on the dial of his watch. "A mission to find the Paragon of Fantasia." As he spoke the word Fantasia suddenly generated out of thin air in a dramatic movie trailer fashion. Accompanied by a comical holographic party popper effect.
"Towards the end of the sixteenth century there was once a formidable pirate named Samwell Crofty-"Gallows". Known for hanging just about every living thing he could find from his bowsprit. One day while looting a captured ship, Samwell found a very peculiar crystal trinket teeming with mana on board. As a mage himself, he became obsessed with it. Many people thought he had gone insane, but what Samwell had pilfered before that ship sunk was what would later be known as the Paragon of Fantasia. His interest eventually paid off, as legend has it Samwell found a way to utilize the Paragon's power to dominate the seas." While Nemo explained his story clearly hand drawn comic style strips began to display from the projector of everything he said.
"Samwell's reign was long, but even with the Paragon supposedly at his disposal, it wasn't infinite. Nothing could save him from a night-raid done by nearly twenty English military vessels. Vastly outnumbered and unprepared, Samwell, his ship, and his crew sunk out in the Atlantic sea, and along with him, the Paragon of Fantasia. Before being hanged, the few survivors of his crew said that as he drowned, Samwell used the Paragon's power to curse the area. Condemning all who entered it to be destroyed. It was his way of ensuring his prized trinket stayed with him forever."
"But with most curses, there is always a way around it. In Samwell's case it was in the form of a key which while in someone's possession would allow them to enter the cursed field. The key is a golden locket given to Samwell's favorite maiden, Tabitha Jones Barga." Nemo paused for a moment.
The display switched from drawn pictures to real life photos now. "While following a lead, last night I raided a operations base for a underground kingpin and broker Ulysses Fahl. Ulysses' establishment was recently visited by two high ranking Arcanocracy members. Father Rutger Stockton, and Father John Galvadon." Up popped a picture of the men in question. The man on the left was Rutger, he had medium length white hair, was well into his sixties, wore a wide brim black hat, a black leather duster style coat, various silver church jewelry, and formal clothes underneath. The second man was "Johhny" Galvadon, Rutger's much younger protege. He had long golden blonde hair, high rank white church robes that cut off shorter than normal above his knees, and most strikingly he lugged around a large and heavy looking all gold morningstar style mace. The mace had floral engravings and multiple jewel inlays in the handle.
"I learned the two had contacted Ulysses to enlist the help of one of his associates, Captain Paul Seidon." The display now showed a picture of a middle aged gruff man with combed back grey hair and beard. He wore a ship captain's cap, a long naval pea coat, and a black wool turtleneck underneath. "To the common man Paul and his crew are reliable cargo freighters, but he is actual a powerful sea mage who smuggles magic artifacts and rare materials among cargo for Ulysses. Rutger and John want to use his ship and knowledge to sail through the very rough cursed waters to obtain the paragon within. And judging by what I heard they must already have Mrs Barga's locket, as they leave later today at 4 PM sharp."
"You might be wondering, 'Nemo what is the plan?' Well, that's simple. We hide in one of Captain Seidon's cargo boxes before he loads it onto his ship in the Boston harbor, piggyback our way to the Paragon, and then defeat Rutger, John, Paul, and his crew to take it for ourselves." During Nemo's explanation humorous cartoon caricatures of the group and their foes acted out the scene from the hologram.
Afterwards the display dissipated, ending his presentation. "Any questions? ...Oh yeah, I call dibs on Galvadon's mace." Nemo finished.
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