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Chapter 1052 - Fame and Fortune pt 2
🕑 Added 2022-10-02 04:13:48 +0000 UTCWhat is it that a delver seeks? Many don’t devote enough thought to this question, because there are several answers, not all of them financial. Of course, the main fiscal return of any delve is cores and valuable monster components, that goes without saying. By defeating monsters and harvesting these rare and desirable items, a delver is able to sell these back to their mercenary company or guild and earn their pay, through which they support themselves, this much is obvious.
What many fail to consider, is the other, less tangible objectives of delvers. Experience is a massive motivator and goal for all mercenaries who delve. Improving their Skills, gaining levels, upgrading their Class. Despite not being of direct financial benefit, are absolutely crucial for the success and prosperity of mercenaries in the future. With more power, they are safer, able to deliver more reliably, and crucially, able to operate in smaller crews, which means a larger share of the profits.
Lower levelled mercenaries will sign onto expeditions and volunteer for a lower cut if they can negotiate a higher share of the experience. This means they’ll do the bulk of the fighting, for a smaller reward, but in doing so, they are attempting to set themselves up for the future.
The other intangible, and possibly even more rewarding sought after benefit, is reputation. The most dangerous, and therefore the most profitable jobs, are only open to those who have proved they can deliver.
These are the contracts that delvers hunger for. Delivering on even one such job can allow them to retire in luxury. One big monster kill, even divided over a crew of fifty to a hundred, can deliver such rare and valuable rewards, that the mercenary is effectively set for life.
When a big contract comes up, there is never a shortage of brave hands willing to take the risk.
- Excerpt from “Society and the Dungeon” by Antuar
Rillik to a long, slow pull on his pipe as he beheld his crew. The three were young, but surprisingly seasoned for their age. Elly, Lacos and Drake had worked exceptionally hard over the past few years, enough to build a solid rep that got their foot in the door.
Being able to take on the big jobs. It was a first for them, a heady experience, being able to sit at the grown-up table. Rillik was an old hand, he’d been here many times before, which was exactly why he was so wary.
“This contract has a tricky odour,” the golgari rumbled.
Drake rolled his eyes, while Elly stood a lit straighter.
“Exactly!” she declared. “The whole thing stinks all the way to the surface. I said it, Rillik agrees, let’s abandon it and move on with our lives.”
“He didn’t say that,” Lacos noted patiently, “let the man finish his thought.”
Rillik nodded.
“It’s too good a job to pass up,” he said, “but we will need to be cautious.”
A piece of paper with the extended details sat on the table between them and he reached out to tap it with one thick, ore covered finger.
“There’s a lot here that wasn’t in the initial listing, which likely means information is still coming in. Last minute additions aren’t welcome to folks like us. Once we get out there, there’s not many crews that would turn around and go back after learning that the situation’s shifted. That’s a trap that too many mercs fall into.”
He took another slow pull before he puffed the smoke out again.
“Most crews are going to give up any intention of hunting the big one from the beginning, which is smart. Despite that, I still anticipate a group of thirty or forty will assemble to take a swipe at the prize. I want to make it clear to everyone here and now that we aren’t going to be part of it. No matter how good it looks, we aren’t going. Clear?”
“Are you sure about that?” Drake said. “If we confirm the monster is still asleep when we arrive….”
The young human tried to hide his frustration, but it leaked through in his voice. He wanted this job, he wanted the big kill. Rillik cut him off harshly.
“No,” he rumbled, glaring. “Anyone who tries to assault that beast is off my crew immediately. I don’t even care if you succeed. I’ll gladly give up a fortune to have an idiot off of my team. There’s not enough information to justify the risk, end of story.”
He stared down the other two, just to make sure they understood how serious he was, then eyeballed Drake until the man settled.
“Good. Now, my contacts in the Guild are saying that an expedition is going to ship out tomorrow, early. There’ll be almost five hundred mercs in the train, and we are going to be part of it.”
Drake balled his hands into fists as relief washed over his face. Elly looked grumpy, but nodded her acceptance. Lacos’ face barely changed.
“Our aim is to hang back and pick off what we can after assessing the situation. We have a big enough cash reserve that we can afford to return empty handed if I decide the job is too risky. It’ll mean taking on scut-work for a couple weeks to keep us in the black, but I’d rather be alive grinding trash than dead.”
He eyed the others one more time before he pounded the table once with his massive fist.
“Good. It’s decided. Get your things together and meet me back here in two hours. We will set out to the union building, sign up officially for the expedition and secure our place. It leaves in roughly five hours, so there isn’t much time. No dawdling. That means you, Elly.”
“Fine….”
Comments
Cylar
Love the occasional pov shift where we can see through the eyes of humans that know and don’t know the Colony.
Rahsheem Reid
Sad to say but I think all that he is doing is way too much.
Sam Beasley
We now know what "Double Chrysalis coming tomorrow" is worth.
Kale Burks
It has been 2 months
Rahsheem Reid
I think this is less of a attack and more of a probe too see what’s down there. 500ish delvers vs the best the colony has too offer is no contest. They will be found before they even think of a ant as the monsters they are fighting
M Afxarr
Great chapter. Love to see things developing from this angle. I predict that the fight will pretty much be over by the time Antony wakes up from his evolution. The fight on the Queens end probably not so much. But we all know the she lives on in the future from the Tolly chapters, so none of the Tire 8 demons will manage to get her. But there’s probably going to be some casualties before Antony manages to come even out the playing field. Thanx for all the hard work RinoZ.
xXChrisdogXx
It may have been short but I feel like we have had a lot of long ones too recently so it kinda balances out, maybe thats just me
Andrick
I’m super pumped to see how their new fortress handles the this attack
Storm
That felt really short, have to say it, I like everything that’s happening, so length of chapters is my only complaint
Josh Lake
When are we going to see Anthony this is kind of disappointing
Jimmy J.K.
Yeah idk, the chrysalis chapters have been feeling really short recently... kind of disappointing tbh
Rahsheem Reid
Anthony has been evolving for 20+ chapters and when he comes out it’s going too really anti-climatic if we get three chaps a week that are barley the length of on bod chap.
Rahsheem Reid
Really feels like chrys is getting shorter and shorter and we can’t even get the 5 chaps a week anymore 🫠🫠🫠
Rahsheem Reid
What did you even say??
Nobles ones
I just need them to walk up to the fortress. And collectively turn around.
Brandon14754
I'm not hopeful about drake but I could see Rillik and the others either surviving or being captured. Who knows maybe he knows Granin, Granin had said he'd been down to the 4th before.
Patrick
Hopefully they make it out alive.
Marter
You know for how crap this situation is going to go the plane is reasonably thought out to bad it is for not i hope they live at lest
Amelgar
The Colony is always hungry... for fresh meat :D
Briar
Pragmatic and competent my oh my! I Look forward to seeing how this develops.
