The inside of the Inchor Guild building is much larger and more grandiose than the one in Klumix could ever hope to be. The lobby alone is incredibly spacious, the roof reaching two stories high. The deck on the second floor sat directly over counters where Guild employees were diligently tending to both Adventurers and quest-givers alike. On the second floor, just on the other side of the deck, many people could be seen minding their own business, whether it be stratagizing between party members, negotiating rewards with quest-givers, or simply enjoying each-others company.
"This place is just as I remember it," I say to myself.
"Oh? You've been before?"
"Sure I have, though it's been a couple of years. Haven't really had much of a need to visit any cities lately."
"My, you sure have gotten around, huh? First I hear you helped that man's family back in Blitherly, and now you've been here? Must have been a busy man back then," Seth said in a raspy voice, his face in a grin.
"Oh, you heard the guard?" I sheepishly ask, rubbing that back of my head. "I was just doing my job."
"Sure you were, just like the one you're finishing now. Come on then, that Guild employee just opened up."
Pulling me along, Seth led us to one of the Guild employee's who had just finished with what I assume to be one of the Adventurer's on account of the sword at his waist. The employee was a man, around as old as myself. He had flat brown hair along with a slight stubble that was becoming apparent on his face. As we approached and the man saw me, he had a strange look on his face, as did I.
Haven't I seen him before?
"Lionell..?"
"Gabriel?"
"It is you!" he loudly stated, breaking out into a grin. "Hey everyone, it's-"
I bring my finger up to my mouth as fast as I possibly can, shushing him before he has a chance to finish the statement. Some of his coworkers turn, confused, but they simply shrug before continuing their work.
"Don't want us to roll out the red carpet for you?" Gabriel jokingly asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
"No, I'm quite alright," I answer back at the same volume, a grin on my own face.
"Well pigs must have learned to fly! To think you would turn down the special treatment!" he jokes once more, poking my shoulder.
"Yeah yeah, another time maybe. I'm here to collect payment on a completed quests, here's the poster," I say, pulling the poster from my pack and holding it out for Gabriel.
"Okay, let me see."
Gabriel grabs the poster before examining it closely, checking the quest ID number in the bottom right corner.
"Give me just a moment please, need to find the file."
"Take your time."
At that, Gabriel leaves the counter and goes into a backroom, supposedly where the file that he needs is stored.
"Guess the guard isn't the only one who knows you," Seth joked, prodding my side with his elbow.
"Its like you said, I used to get around."
Seth laughed at that as Gabriel came out of the room, reading another, smaller piece of paper.
"It says here that confirmation of the completed quests is held by one 'Seth?'"
"That would be me," Seth answers, raising his hand slightly.
"Perfect. All we need from you is the Guild token that was given to you when you filed the quest. It will serve as proof of a job completed successfully."
"Of course, Seth said, reaching into one of his pockets. "Here it is."
What he pulled out was a small token, one with the Guild seal on both sides. Gabriel grabbed it from him before briefly examining both sides to ensure the seal was correct. After a quick moment, he put it away.
"Token confirmed, now I just need to see your Adventurer ID Lionell."
Doing as he said, I held it out for him so that he could quickly look it over and make sure all was correct.
"Perfect, ID confirmed. Here is the payment," Gabriel said, holding out a small sack with the sound of jingling koin inside.
I grabbed it with a smile before setting it in the puch on my left waist.
"Well, that concludes my business. I'll have your two companions bring in the clubs for you to do with what you want. After that, I'll be off to find a spot for my stall. Good luck to you Lionell," Seth said, holding out his hand.
Firmly, I took it in my own and gave it a good shake.
"Good luck to you as well."
With that, Seth stepped out while I remained.
"Was there something else Lionell?" Gabriel asked.
"Yes, three things. The first, we killed eight goblins while travelling," I say, grabbing the ears from the pouch at my right. "If I remember correctly, the Guild pays 25 koin per kill?"
"That would be correct. Let me see them?"
I hand them over to Gabriel, and he briefly looks at all of them.
"Eight left ears confirmed, that will be 200 additional koin," he says, counting it up from behind the counter before handing it to me. "You said there was more?"
"Yeah, there is," I say, my tone shifting to be more serious as I sloghtly lean in.
"While we were travelling, it wasn't as if we ran into a small group of Goblins on accident, or that they attacked us recklessly. They ambushed us."
Gabriel's eyes widen as he leans forward a bit himself.
"You're sure?"
"Positive. Uprooted a tree right in front of us to stop the wagon. Using tactics instead of brute force, that's completely out of character for small groups. There has to be a large group somewhere, probably a nest in the area. Gabriel, if they're using tactics, they must have at least one hundred in their group."
"Do you know where you were ambushed?"
"Yes, I can show you on a map. Grab one that shows the road coming in from the south."
Gabriel nodded, moving urgently to grab a map from somewhere under the counter.
"Here you are," he said, quickly laying it flat for me.
I follow the road we came from a small bit south before I recognize the spot we had been ambushed.
"Right here, this is where they striked."
"And you're sure?" Gabriel asked, gulping, his face swimming with a nervous sweat.
"Gabriel, I swear to you, this is where it happened."
"I see. I'll have to let my superiors know. Lionell, thank you for this information, truly. You said there was one more thing after that?"
"Yeah," I sigh, releasing some of the tension within me. "My party and I plan to help with protection for the city guards during the festival. It's been a minute since I've been in Inchor, can you remind me how to get there?"
"You're also here for that one?" Gabriel asks, his face growing paler.
"Yeah, why?"
Gabriel leans in close, really close, his voice being brought down to a mere whisper. I lean in close as well to hear.
"To be clear, you did not hear this from me. Understand?"
I nod.
"Okay. I don't know if you heard, but word is that the guards are expecting a fight. That's why they made a call for Adventurers. Not because they wanted security for the festival, but because they are certain something is going to happen."
I nod once more.
"I've heard about that. What of it?"
"Well, according to the higher-ups that I overheard, the trouble that they're expecting is... It's Goblins, Lionell."
I feel my heart beat in my chest as I understand what Gabriel's hinting at.
Goblins? They really expect Goblins to show up? On their own or in small groups like the one we encountered, they aren't much of a threat, but...
"If you came across Goblins using ambush tactics this close to the city, and it's Goblins that the city is expecting to attack, then..." Gabriel starts to say, but his voice trails off.
"It could be upwards of a hundred. Perhaps even two or three," I finish the thought.
This is ridiculous. The city expecting trouble during a festival isn't that much of a big deal on its own, in fact it happens all the time. But to think they were calling for help from Adventurers to help deal with something this big is unheard of.
"Does the city know, or are they..." my voice trails off.
I don't need to finish the sentence for Gabriel to glean the meaning.
"No, I don't think so. Even once they hear about this though, I don't expect they'll openly announce it. The city needs this festival along with the revenue it brings."
I nervously gulp.
"Lionell, if you really plan to stay for this quest... You better prepare, you and your party members."
"Yeah, I know."
He only nods.
"Okay, the Guard building is just down the street, off to the right. You can't miss it. I'm going to go and tell my superiors."
I nod, turning to leave.
"Hey Lionell?"
I stop for a brief moment, looking back.
"Stay safe out there."
"Yeah."