As predicted, The Guild Master asked why we were back so early and Corvus explained that she used battle tactics to get the bandits away from the crevice so they could fight without disturbing the dragons at which they were close enough that she could teleport them the rest of the way. The Guild Master was surprised but accepted this information. He confirmed with The Duke that we confirmed the delivery and he agreed. In total, the journey only took us about 24 hours but we were completely exhausted. Then Corvus looks to both The Guild Master and The Duke.
"Our agreed upon payment?" She asked. "After all that's happened, I think we've definitely earned it. We want our promised land and the promised ancient artifacts our Duke here has been telling us about." The Duke suddenly looked anxious and gulped. The precious artifacts I referred to were priceless relics that were important property of his kingdom and he didn't realize that these were the powerful artifacts he agreed to. "I'll get those artifacts as soon as possible." He stated, his voice quivering but trying to stay strong. "Here's an extra million gold each, for the trouble" He added. Clearly trying to keep this quiet but we never agreed to anything so we just took the money. "Thank you, Sir." Corvus said. Not long after, it leaked anonymously what happened in the crevice and that The Duke betrayed us.
Downstairs on the board, parchment scrolls displaying various tasks were unfurled, each promising different rewards and challenges for different ranks. Quests are ranked by risk, starting with the highest at SS, S, and A for majorly high-risk endeavors. High-risk quests are B-Rank, medium-risk are C and D-Rank, and low-risk quests fall into the E, F, and G Ranks, with G being the lowest.
One depicted a lost farm animal, a simple task with a modest reward, a simple E or lower ranked quest. Another bore a royal seal, detailing the theft of a valuable artifact and a substantial bounty, an A rank mission of grave importance. A third spoke of a village terrorized by a mysterious creature, offering meager coin but desperate pleas, the quest fell under D rank or lower. Finally, a scroll with cryptic symbols hinted at a forgotten treasure in a perilous location, promising immense riches for those brave enough, due to the level of potential danger this was decided to be an A or B Ranked quest. Alongside other miscellaneous quests of various ranks.
A group of seasoned adventurers huddled together, their eyes scanning the diverse offerings. A burly warrior grinned at the thought of a straightforward monster hunt. A nimble rogue's gaze lingered on the royal seal, envisioning potential opportunities. A wise healer considered the plight of the frightened villagers. And a keen-eyed archer felt the pull of the unknown riches in the dangerous pass.
After a brief discussion, they decided to divide their efforts. Some would handle the simpler tasks, ensuring immediate aid and smaller rewards. Others would delve into the more complex mysteries, seeking greater impact and higher stakes. The allure of the forgotten treasure remained a tempting prospect for the future. With their plans set, the adventurers gathered their gear, a renewed sense of purpose filling the air. The tavern faded behind them as they stepped out, each heading towards their chosen task, ready to face whatever adventures awaited. The quests were accepted, and their journeys had begun.
With quite a bit of frustration, as they just took four of the better quests off the board, Aria, Blake and Corvus scanned the board for other opportunities. "What about this one? Children have been going missing all around a small village near Echo Lake called Clearwood. Apparently children hear the sound of a mysterious flute and then disappear. There's only been one who wasn't taken, oh but it's an A Rank or higher," Aria said. "Ok, what about this one, The Case of the Missing Apiary, it's an E level quest. It's in Oak Haven. Old Man Elmsworth, a kindly beekeeper with a worried frown and a perpetually sticky beard. He can be found near his empty beehives on the edge of the village." Blake said. "Ok, so what's the problem?" Corvus asked, confused by the random information.
"Old Man Elmsworth's prized honeybees have gone missing! All three of his hives are eerily silent and empty. This is a disaster for him, as he relies on the honey for his livelihood and it's also a vital ingredient in the village's famous elderflower mead. He's noticed some unusual tracks leading away from the hives – small, four-toed prints that don't belong to any animal he recognizes. He fears some mischievous creature has scared them off or, worse, stolen them! We'd get A small sum of silver AND we'd each get a jar of Elmsworth's finest honey once the bees are back and producing." Blair replied. "Any leads?" Aria asked. "Just two. A Honey Badger, It might have been attracted to the honey and accidentally disrupted the hives, causing the bees to swarm off in confusion. It might be guarding a small stash of honeycomb it managed to pilfer, OR a local competitor trying to sabotage his business!" Blair said. "Sounds like a telenovela," Corvus mumbled.
"So we find the bees and bring them back, get paid and that's it? Sounds easy enough. Y'all in?" Corvus stated confidently. After everyone agreed, Aria pulled the quest off the board and we took it to Sunny to let her know we'd be fulfilling the quest so no one else needed to try and take it, per standard guild procedure. Sunny stamped the paper with a special stamp that showed the guild's logo and with that, the quest was ours.