An Awkward Audience

JP with Winteroak

Alcuin spent the morning exploring Ostiarium, the city felt different from anywhere he had been in all of Helias. Arcadia was like a new beginning. Soon it was a few minutes to mid-days bell, Alcuin traveled to the keep for his audience with this Duke Stoneshade. He arrived and waited for the meeting.

Sergeant Carver was waiting for the bounty hunter. She escorted the man up the Keep into the Duke's office.
"Say, my tenure with the city is coming up to an end in a few months. Gonna get me a nice plot of land." She started looking ahead. "When the time comes if you need a steady sword hand come find me. I know most scumbags in the city and could use the coin." She offered as she knocked at the Duke's door and allowed Alcuin in.

Duke Stoneshade was a man in his 30s with blonde shoulder-length hair, a beard, and piercing green eyes. He motioned to a chair in front of his desk so his guest could sit.

"Alcuin Cenric. Bounty Hunter. 2000gp potential in commissions." He said looking at his notes. "Am I reading that correctly?" He asked straight.

"That you are, pleasure to meet you, Duke." Alcuin extended his hand to the Duke. Ready for a welcoming handshake.

The Duke looked at the offered hand in disbelief. "Let's hope that your bounty hunting skills are better than your manners." He said asking you to sit down.
"I see you have all the paperwork required from the Marshals at Orb. All you need is my authorization to recognise your business in Arcadia, correct?" He asked

"I assume so."

"Are most of your bounties to be taken alive?"

"If possible yes - but some might not have that fortune."

The Duke nodded. "And what is your plan to hold the captives?" He asked referring to the fact that for half the year ships can't travel across the Sea of Storms.

"Does the city not have any place for no-gooders? Or would you rather they roam the streets freely?"

"Seems to me that if they are not in our dungeon, they are 'roaming the streets' already as you so eloquently put it." He told Alcuin and the bounty hunter knew he was assessing his character.

"Then they will be put in the dungeon, if you allow it that is Duke."

The Duke nodded. "We could use someone with your skills. To remove some of the less favourable characters from our streets, as you put it. We trust you will be the man for the job." He said and looked at a few notes in front of him. "I will assign you with the authority to undertake your duties. The City Guard will extend their assistance to you when required within the boundaries of the city." Duke Stoneshade started. "You can use the dungeon to jail your prisoners until such a time that they are ready for transportation to Orb." There came a pause as he seemed to calculate something. "In exchange, the city will require one-fifth of your commissions."

"I can work with that. But I beg you Duke don't double-cross me in any way. Plenty of your class tried that in the old world and do you want to know what it lead to?" There was an awkward silence. "It leads to more trouble!"

The Duke looked at Alcuin with an amused expression. "And what do you mean by 'more trouble, exactly?" He asked curiously.

"The others of my profession became less interested in the work. It's a dangerous job, a job for those who don't like to be pushed around."

The Duke looked at Alcuin and pondered his strange words. "The cost of you having my authorization to undertake your duties in Ostiarium and be deputised just rose. The city now requires one-fourth part of your commissions." And placed his quill down waiting for an answer.

"Very well..." Alcuin sighed.

Duke Stoneshade signed the papers and passed it on to Alcuin so he could make his mark. Alcuin did so, he gave a final look to the Duke and said his goodbyes. The bounty hunter hadn't made a good impression, he thought that the Duke had misunderstood him. 'Well, whatever' thought Alcuin, now was the time for work to begin.