"Commission from the Guild to check a potential new dungeon and gather information if said dungeon is proven to exist."
"Yes, that's the one." She leaned forward and lowered her voice. "I cannot say whether the dungeon is truly a dungeon or not, we found it had multiple floors, goblins, slimes, other typical things for a dungeon but there was also a lot of extremely dangerous animated armour which is not normal for a dungeon. I would advise against any inexperienced adventuring band entering that 'dungeon'. We found no core and no loot and no treasure, as best we could tell it was barren, very different from any dungeon I am familiar with." She paused and looked the clerk in the eye. "You can look up my record with the Guild if you wish, I know my stuff. I highly highly recommend sending a specialist Guild Investigator before sending any further bands into that dungeon. Especially considering the level of skill around here."
She gave a meaningful glance at the groups of adventurers crowded around the circular tables of the room. A few of them were surreptitiously leaning in their direction attempting to overhear.
The clerk looked at Ellaria trying to read her. Then she picked up the green crystal by the cord. It flashed blue. She pursed her lips.
"Very well. I will see this goes up the chain before any further jobs or information goes out.
"Thank you."
The clerk ducked below and scuffled around. A moment later she dropped four coin bags on top of the bar. Flora instantly snatched hers up and greedily peered inside.
"Wait, is this it?"
"It was just an exploration and information job Flora, most of the reward was the dungeon itself but since there was nothing in the dungeon this is all we get."
Flora stuck out her tongue. "All that work for just this makes me want to become a mugger, at least it seems like it pays better. Fuckin Guild pay."
"We aren't exactly in a big area for adventuring with a big guild budget so you will just have to deal with it." She turned back to the clerk. "I'd like to report something as an aside."
The clerk paused while putting the job book away. "Yes?"
"We were waylaid on the way here. Thieves targeting returning adventurers. One of them was an anti-mage. Very dangerous. We dealt with them but I can't help but feel there is more. The Guild needs to do something or adventurers are going to be robbed just trying to get here, especially if they are weakened or low on mana after a job."
"Adventurers are their own responsibility outside of Guild property and jobs. The Guild does not seek jurisdiction over any town or city it is located in."
Ellaria frowned at her. "But they are our people, fellow adventurers, we need to look out for our own."
The clerk's tone was distinctly uninterested. "Thieves are none of mine or the Guild's concern. That is the problem of private citizens and the responsibility of law enforcement. If you take issue then seek out the local town guard."
"But-"
"If that is all." The clerk moved away without giving her a chance to reply.
Ellaria gave the clerk's back a frustrated look.
"So they're not going to do anything at all?"
"Seems like it."
"Wow this town is bullshit."
"I'm not going to do nothing, even if the Guild doesn't care," said Ellaria. She put a hand into the dimensional bag at her side and pulled out her romance novel. Flipping to the back she ripped out a blank page and then snatched up the pen that the clerk had accidentally left out on the bar top. She swiftly wrote at the top the page.
She held up the page and inspected it.
'WARNING! THIEVES TARGETING ADVENTURERS IN TOWN ON RETURN FROM JOBS! WARNING!'
"I don't think they will get the point, it's not scary enough." said Flora using her telekinetic power to pull the paper from Ellaria's hands along with the pen.
She slammed it down on the bar and began gesturing at it, moving the pen above the paper. A crude skull with X's for eyes and dripping blood was quickly drawn below Ellaria's elegant handwriting.
"There, see, now people will take it seriously."
"Flora, nobody is going to take that seriously, it's like a child's crayon drawing."
"Hey fuck off, I tried okay!"
Vivi grabbed up the pen and leaned over the paper, her belly squishing up against the bar. She stuck her tongue out as she scribbled.
Ellaria was becoming annoyed as it was taking her a while. "Just give me the paper already, it's enough, I'm going to speak with the guard anyway."
Vivi's scribbled a moment longer then stared at the paper and nodded. She handed the paper back to Ellaria who glanced at it and rolled her eyes. She stepped over to the job board and pinned it to one side of it.
The band stared at their combined handiwork: A Skull wreathed in flames with a pair of surprisingly well drawn horse dicks crossed behind it like a skull and crossbones, blood dripping from the skull's mouth and X's for eyes. At the bottom was a life-like depiction of the anti-mage's grinning head with the addition of devil horns sticking from his forehead and a forked tongue, he held a big bag of coins up which was labelled 'Stolen Adventurers Loot'.
Vivi and Flora nodded in satisfaction. Flora gave Vivi a double thumbs up.
"Well, I guess it's noticeable at least. Come on, we need to book an inn," said Ellaria.
She led the band from the Adventurers Guild as a number of adventurers slowly drifted over to the job board and stared silently at the 'warning' the band had left behind.
Outside the Guild Flora suddenly grabbed Fey's arm.
"Hey, you should come with me."
"But we're going to book an inn?"
"Ella doesn't need all of us for that, and it's pretty obvious where she's going considering it's the only inn in town that caters to adventurers and provides for centaurs, we can catch up later."
Fey looked from the gnome over to Ellaria. The elf raised an eyebrow. "You can go if you wish, I'm going to the town guard to report the thieves afterwards anyway."
"I'm going to the inn," said Vivi, "My feet are killing me, you have no idea how much all this cum leadens your feet. I would do a hell of a lot for a lie down right now."
Flora beamed. "Awesome. Catch you in a bit!" She swiftly grabbed Fey's arm and towed the centaur down the street and around the corner.
"Y-you didn't tell me what you want me for Flora, what is this?"
The gnome floated beside her as the centaur trotted down the street.
"Weelll you know we didn't get paid diddly squat for all the work we put in right? I got nearly as much from the damned muggers."
"Yes? It's not like we can do much about it though right?"
A plotting look crossed the gnome's eyes. "Can we not?
Fey wasn't sure she liked that look.