"First up, it's bad business to appear [i]too[/i] fickle," said Par. "Lack of loyalty, honesty, and probity means less customers, or at least, less customers who aren't after your blood. More to the point, are you really so sure that the Order will accept traitors and defectors? They'd probably torture and execute me the moment I attempt to betray you to them. No, when I commit, I commit."

"As for the job, tell me, what are the specifics? I already listed you my skills; will they fit?" [i]I hope it doesn't involve combat; my bodyguards are reasonably armed, but the Order packs more heat than I expected. But if it does, well, I [b]am[/b] reasonably agile.[/i]

Moral considerations: Napoleon V was clearly less altruistic than she put on; that wasn't necessarily bad, but she was capable of harsh measures and had a more than reasonable amount of power-hunger. But that's why Par had one more chance to quit; if the initial job involved murdering babies, he was prepared to just refuse, then talk his way out...

------

Meanwhile, in Par's Warehouse...

"Message from the Barge!" Midna said to Eric and Alfredo. "They say the people at Vicksburg have recieved reports of a massive Raider Army approaching! If those reports prove to be true...we and Par will be cut off." 

[@Ordure], [@Tuxedo Fox], [@Lord Coake], [@Ulstermann], [@Vulkan]