DAY 440

"Wait, we get to live here? For free? There's a catch, right?"

Mother Hammerdown raises an eyebrow at the dwarf and pair of elves sitting across from her at her desk. "Catch? Lass, you are one of us now, aye? Paladin of Plenty, that's what your paperwork says?" She pulls out the letter to double-check, but Tolla quickly explains.

"I mean, yeah! I officially joined the Church of Bounty, got approval for the class training, and all of that. But I went for the, uh, independent track, you know? Independent operator, I guess you guys can call on me in an emergency but mostly I keep doing my own thing? I mean...other than a couple of pieces of equipment it's not like I'm getting a steady paycheck from the Church or anything."

"My, you were real eager to sign up if you didn't even read up on all the job benefits!" Elance shoots a smirk at Sable and Lily, sitting off to the side of the office, before explaining. "Aye, we don't pay you while you're on your Challenger path, but we do provide benefits like free housing when you're in the area of a church, and it's available. Although speaking of, technically it ain't yet. Housing's about finished but we'll need another week or two to furnish it, I hear. If you're planning on staying around that long?"

Renriel, one of the two elves, answers that question. "Oh, certainly! I'd say a month or two at the minimum. We've always had...pleasant stays here in the past, after all." He grins, and Sable can't help smirking along with him.

"So pleasant that you tend to become the talk of the town when you're around, alright. I know we've run into each other at the inn before, but I've almost been disappointed that we haven't had the chance to 'get acquainted' yet. Maybe now that we're sorta-coworkers we can do something about that..."

Lily smacks her companion on the shoulder. "Sable! They're members of the Church now, treat them with a bit of respect, hrmm?"

Nallond, the blonde-haired of the two elves, comes to Sable's defense. "Oh, no offense taken! I mean, I understand it's a touchy subject here to refer to that sort of thing as a 'perk of the job', but we certainly wouldn't be disinclined to follow up on any invitations..."

The Bountiful Mother rolls her eyes. "Dear Kahlia, the horny level of this chapel's likely to reach critical levels soon at this rate. Let's keep this meeting moving so I ain't gotta keep all you dogs in one room, eh?" She glances again at the letter in her hand. "So, if I have this right, you've all completed your Master training? Paladin Spearheft, you're a level thirty-one Paladin of Plenty, Mr. Renriel Longwood, you're an Arcane Justiciar, and Mr. Nallond Bushdiver, you're a Silent Striker, both of you tall fellas being level thirty. I don't believe those latter two classes are Church-oriented?"

The raven-haired elf shakes his head. "We've only joined the church as typical members, Mother. Only Tolla here has joined the Church of Bounty as a full-fledged combatant."

Tolla waves a hand at him. "Don't forget the Paragon part! Y'gotta mention the Paragon thing!"

The elves both sigh but Elance leans forward, her brow furrowed. "Eh? There's a mention here of you two being 'Kahlia's favored' or some such, but that could mean damn near anything or nothing. Thought it was something about you two spreadin' your seed around or some such. What's this about Paragons?"

The younger dwarf continues her explanation. "I didn't wanna bring it up the last time we had a chat, but...we heard it from the dungeon herself! Kahlia specifically expressed an interest in these two hunks right here, that's the whole reason I signed up for this gig! I want to help make sure they meet their potential, you know?"

That statement causes blank stares from all of the church's primary members, and Priestess Lily is the first to speak up. "That's - you're sure? The goddess herself told the dungeon that?"

Renriel nods. "So we've been informed, and we have no reason to doubt it. Although...we did want to possibly ask if we could ask exactly what that means. As in...if there's formal steps we ought to be following for that path? Beyond the, ah, the obvious."

Elance sighs. "So this is about how many runts you've been having, ain't it." She lifts her eyes to the ceiling and sighs again. "Kahlia, bless you and love you, but you drive me to drink some days."

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The newcomers aren't entirely sure how to react to that, and so they're still silent when Elance returns her attention to them. "Now, I'm glad you asked, because while you could fuck yer way to Paragonhood, I'd greatly appreciate it if you didn't."

Tolla's head tilts. "Eh? What's the issue? I mean, if it's what your - our - goddess wants..."

"Kahlia's desires are generally in alignment with what's best for all of us, but if she had her way, every lass would spend her entire adult life swollen with child, and that's got consequences that tend to cause issues for Palain, our God of the Harvest, not to mention us mortals down here. While the two work together, it is said to be the greatest measure of friction between the two. The tug-of-war between production and consumption, you could say...although I'm gettin' off track, I ain't actually worried about the two of you single-handedly starting a famine or some crap like that."

Renriel gives a soft smile. "That might be a little much even for us, yes. So what did you have in mind?"

"The Church of Bounty is as equally concerned about raising children as spawnin' em, and protecting them when needed. And it just so happens that there's a pack of younglings around here that I think could use the guidance of an experienced team of Challengers. You keep em alive, and I'll put in a good word for you with the boss lady upstairs. Such things do count for credit, so they say...and you can spread your wild oats all you like on your evenings off."

The Dungeon Fuckers look a little confused, but Sable's expression is one of sheer disbelief. "What? Wait. No! Elly, you have to be joking! You're gonna put them in the hands of these three? I mean, no offense to the Dungeon Fuckers, but...they're the Dungeon Fuckers! They're not babysitters!"

The dwarf glares back at her friend. "Good thing I'm not asking for that, then! Look, you've seen those kids - bound and determined to be great Challengers, an' all that. They're old enough for Association licenses, so as far as they're concerned the kids are their own responsibility. And I can't have you taking charge of em cause you've got other work, and I sure as hell ain't lettin' you do dungeon runs with just them for backup!"

Sable snorts. "Well that's not a problem, cause Worthy won't even let them in!"

"For now! Doorman's said his policy is eighteen or over, adjusted upward for us longer-lived folk. One of em hit eighteen a few months ago, and the rest will be hitting age of majority this year."

Tolla finally gets a word in and interrupts the two. "Okay, sorry, but just who in the hells are we talking about here?"

The red-skinned paladin scoffs. "Pack of orphans, they mostly live around here although to be honest I'm not sure where they originally come from. They keep trying to get into the dungeon but Worthy has a no-killing-kids policy, so Doorman's managed to keep them out so far. They've been doing minor Association work around town though - patrolling the woods, killed a Dire Squirrel or two, I think."

Elance nods along with the explanation. "Which means at some point this year they're probably finally gonna get into the dungeon, and if that's all they got for experience I'd wager they'll be the first party since the earliest days to wipe out on the first floor. So." She opens her palms to the group. "I'm askin' you to train em, give em some experience an' tips and all that, cause they ain't got the coin to hire tutors. Try and make sure they're still breathing a year from now. Sound good, yeh?"

The group shares a round of looks, and their silent conversation seems to lead to an agreement. Renriel still doesn't sound entirely certain, though. "I think that would be fine with us - there is only so much time we can spend in the dungeon after all, and if you're giving us free housing it's the least we can do in return. I have to admit I agree with Paladin Bluehair though - I'm surprised you would give this assignment to a party of our reputation."

The Mother rolls her eyes. "Any of you lot ever fucked kids before?"

Tolla leads the party in their immediate and vehement denials. "No! Fuckin' course not! We're not that sort of perverts!"

"Then I don't see an issue with it. Besides, for whatever reason these kids have latched on to Worthy Dungeon as their dungeon of choice, which means they're gonna get exposed to some shit sooner or later. If they live to it. Now, it might take us a few days to track em down, and like I said we can't board you here just yet, but maybe come back in a week and we'll see about getting you all acquainted properly, aye?"

"Great! We'll see you then."

The Mother waves them off, and the trio make their way out of the office. They don't get much further than the main door of the chapel however before Sable catches up to them. "Hey, Paladin Spearheft! Or, is it alright if I call you Tolla?"

The dwarf smiles as she motions for the other two to continue. "Of course! You're my senior paladin, after all."

Sable laughs at that. "In years served, yeah, but you've actually got me beat in combat rank. I'm only an Expert Paladin of Bounty myself, though I'm closing in on Master tier. I don't spend my time doing dungeon runs though, and with all the Challengers around Grassbrook there's hardly been a need for monster slaying."

Tolla thinks that over. "Huh, I guess that does complicate things a bit. I really did just join up though, so I don't mind following your lead. You've been a paladin for decades, right?"

The taller woman nods. "Whole adult life, yup. But how about we play it as equals, then? I was actually hoping we could spend some time, you know, paladin-to-paladin. Trade some tips and experiences and that sort of thing."

"You bet! There's a training yard being set up here, right?"

"There is, yeah." Sable's lips slowly form into a smirk. "But I was also hoping maybe we could trade some...other tips and tricks sometime, you know?"

Never one to miss an innuendo, Tolla grins back. "Now those I would be delighted to share, Sable."

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