[Center][@Crusader Lord][/center]

Lucy was perfectly patient, nodding and listening as Lillianna went on to redescribe this man from the Mazy Hillocks, virtually the same way but in more words.  The poor woman was clearly desperate for any information she could get, and Lucy was annoyed she couldn't be of more use to her, but such a description was tough to pinpoint.  The additional particulars about his hair and armour were of no help - in fact, it made things worse, because the armour sounded commonplace, which indicated a probably-weak adventurer, and there were [i]loads[/i] of [i]them[/i] about.  But the gifted sister who was trained by the local church at least gave the guildmaster an out.

"Perhaps you could check in with the [i]Church of Iris[/i] on the whereabouts of other churches in villages nearby?" it didn't sound very promising.  There were a lot of dieties when you included the smaller gods and goddesses beyond The Quinity - with a lot of churches and temples to worship them.  But if the village this man was from was in the immediate region, then the Church of Iris would be aware of it's church.  "If you locate the sister, I'm sure she could help you."

[center][@Zool][@Calle][@Saiyan][@Teyao][@Crusader Lord][@Zapdos][@Eviledd1984][/center]

She waited for the party to make a decision, cracking a smile at Joji who was talking about Platinum and Diamond contracts.  [i]Easy tiger,[/i] she thought.  [i]Well, they've got front-liners typical of a good party.  That much is clear.[/i]

"Gold it is," she said to James, then had a look at the second screen, swishing her finger around to navigate the system.  "There's only one gold contract available, at the moment.  The war has complicated many guild matters.  Due to losing too many adventurers, we've postponed any contracts in the far east.  But..." she continued as she read.  "...if time is of the essence, then you'll be happy to know that your contract will is close by, and won't take more than a week, if you aim to complete it with haste.  Of course, dependant on your success."

What the party might describe in their own world as 'a holgraphic screen' appeared behind her.  Two pictures were displayed.  One was a wide-shot of a stone temple on a hill.  The other was a generic image of a [i]Greater Wraith[/i].  She turned to them and placed her hands wide on the counter.

[b]"The nearby Temple of Hades has, not for the first time, been taken over by a particularly nasty Wraith.  Many of the spirits who make their home there, aswell as slew of it's living worshippers, have been corrupted and are probably preparing for world domination - or whatever evil cults do."[/b]  The way she said this made clear how cold she was to the concept of death.  Decades of service to the guild had made death, destruction, bloodshed and conflict so familiar to her that she could maintain her cheerful tone and disposition even when explaining what was undoubtedly a tragedy unleashed on innocent people.  [b]"Your job will be to fight your way in, find the big bad bossy spirit - no doubt, in the main ritual chamber - and send it to hell.  That should return everything to normal.  Whether it does or doesn't; not your problem.  The contract is for the 'head of the snake.'  

[Center]Kill the Greater Wraith that's taken control of the Temple of Hades."[/center][/b]

She double-checked that they did indeed accept the contract, then she assigned it to their party on the system.  Then went on.

[b]"Due to the current moon-cycle, the temple is sealed right now.  But it will be opening up when the moon becomes full - which is four nights away.  The temple itself is less than a day's travel away.  Do you have a map?"[/b]  When Adam gave her the party's map, she checked her screen, then marked their map with the location, just west of Valhiem.  [b]"If you set off at lunchtime, you will arrive with plenty of time for nightfall.  Leave in four days, complete your task smoothly, you'll be back in Valhiem before you know it."[/b]

[Center][@Teyao][/center]

"Might I suggest The Mended Drum.  They've usually got a band playing, the beds are clean and the brandy is top-notch.  Here..."  she retrieved a half-dozen maps of Valhiem, annotated with many places adventurers might like to know about, then put them on the counter in front of her.  "They should get you around the city to where you need to go.  [i]The Church of Iris[/i] and [i]The Temple of the Quinity[/i] is on there too.  I think the people there might have quite a bit to say to you, James," she added, giving him a knowing look.

[Center][@Saiyan][/center]

"Lucy! That Aurok bounty?"

Lucy walked over and leaned on the mezzanine rail.  When she saw the scene at the bar, she immediately knew what was going on. "Yeah, the gobby swordsman ain't lying," she shouted back, her tone much less service and much more familiar as she spoke to her long-time friend.  "Aurok is gone for good."

She chuckled as she went back to the counter.  She had a feeling that Second Chance might cause a few ripples, but she hadn't expected it start so soon.  After meeting Zell Brooks though, the guildmaster should've known better.