A Simple Job

by Arkadius Farcleaver-Hogg

My Ever-Absent Lady,

It has now been several weeks since I travelled out to Kantas, and haven’t heard from You directly once. All I want is some kind of direction, or a message just to ensure I am still following on Your path as you desire.

Yesterday, I discovered a note on a board promising payment and free drinks for a “simple security job”. On reflection, I have two pointers for myself. Number one: It said concert. Why would I volunteer freely to attend such a performance? I mean, I actually did enjoy the performance put on by my friend Sheryl and new friend Faye, but that isn’t the point, really. Number two: I should remember that there is no such thing as… A. Simple. Job.

We arrived at the tavern, and made our way inside. We were… not inconspicuous, so was spotted by who I assumed at the time was the owner pretty quickly. We were ushered downstairs, and briefed as to what our task for the night was: Keep her and her very-important visitor safe at all costs, and do not speak word of the arrangement to anyone else.

(I… am terribly bad at following and or remembering instructions at times. This will eventually become evident.)

Following this exchange, we made our way upstairs back to the main room. I took up position at the bar, having confirmed that this was a suitable vantage point to keep an eye on the room. For once, I felt confident and competent. This feeling would indeed falter over the course of the night, I assure you. My friends Faye and Sheryl took up position on the stage, and unleashed what I can only describe as a brilliant performance, ably assisted by my clapping to welcome them on the stage. After a while, I noticed our employer and her esteemed guest making their way downstairs, so I took the initiative to head over to the top of the stairs to prevent unauthorised snooping and access. Thankfully, Theo and Stedd also took up position with me, and made it look a lot less… obvious and awkward. We attempted to blend in, and I believe we did a good job of doing so.

Fortunate we took up this position too, as a goblin woman made an appearance and asked what was going on. I received a mental message from Faye to ask who she was (always appreciate support from friends), and the goblin definitely did not appreciate this, and became confrontational. She managed to squeeze her way past my leg (I really need to work on my leg strength… and my everything-else strength), and would have very narrowly made her way down the stairs if it wasn’t for the quick thinking of my associates Stedd and Theo. Their quick thinking averted a potential disaster.

But sadly, another was already unfolding, in the form of events from downstairs. Shortly after our employer came back upstairs and took the goblin woman away from us, we heard screams from downstairs. Naturally, I bolted downstairs towards the danger (my speciality, as previously noted), and prepared for what was to come.

As always, long story short, a battle ensued as an old woman with a glaive was preparing (and already had) attacked the guest, and we took action. We were very competent, right up to the end where… we discovered exactly what we were up against was a formidable opponent, an oni. It managed to take quite a few of us out unconscious, and I believe Stedd took up the charge to finally dispatch it in a most glorious manner. Sadly, I was out for the count, so can’t really tell that story accurately.

Afterwards, we took the time to ensure the safety and security of the guest. I used my last remaining power granted by You to make the guest invisible, and Sheryl guided her to a safe space. We decanted our knowledge to our employer, who closed the tavern early and made preparations for a safehouse for the guest, who is now… I assume, safe.

As always, in Your eternal service,

Arkadius Hogg

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The Incident: Part 1 of 4
25th of Tarsakh, 1483

The Incident: Part 2 of 4
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The Incident: Part 3 of 4
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The Incident: Part 4 of 4... for now
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The End of Life in Waterdeep
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Return to Kundar
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In the Shadow of Kundar
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Golden Hour
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A Simple Job
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Reminiscing
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The Old Temple
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Case of the Still Missing Person
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The Naming of the Weasel
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Revisiting The Incident
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Help Us Hope
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The Reappearance of Alocasia Zebrina
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Hunting for Trouble
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Doing the Right Thing
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Here and Back Again
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The Sharp End
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Triumph of the Vanguard
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Pre-Birthday Shenanigans
30thnif Tarsakh, 1497

A Simple Job

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