Guild the Lily

[greatcleavage]

[A very pleased-looking Roy Greenhilt steps out of the @Home doors in Mac Anu. He quite deliberately tucks his membership card into his inventory, then sets out for the Town Square.]

[If you know him, he won't hesitant to approach -- and if you don't, you're welcome to approach him anyway.]

[Once he gets to the Town Square, though, that's when things take an odd turn. From his inventory, he produces a fake beard, an eyepatch, an oversized helmet that casts his face into shadow, a billowing cloak that completely covers his body, and a bag that actually has "CAUTION: CONTENTS EXTREMELY MYSTERIOUS" written on the side. Quickly donning the clothing and accessories, he slings the bag over his shoulder, then produces a cane to lean on heavily.]

[Roy learned long ago that the key to attracting fellow adventurers is to look as much like an important NPC questgiver as possible.]

[And it is time to recruit for his guild.]

Comments

[mercuryangel]

[Well, who was this? She certainly hasn't seen anyone around like that before.]

[She hasn't gotten within speaking range of you yet, though.]

Fail ALL the HTML!

[greatcleavage]

[Roy has been keeping a lookout for promising candidates, this too being part of the role of Mysterious Questgiver. When he spots Mia, he lifts one hand to wave, pushing back the helmet visor with the other.]

Mia! Hey!

[mercuryangel]

[Wait, who...]

Roy?! What are you doing with all this?

[greatcleavage]

Oh, this is just for recruitment purposes. I just started a guild!

Are you interested? I'd really like to have you in it if I can at all persuade you.

[mercuryangel]

[The word "guild" brings to mind her encounter with a certain girl.]

You found a way into a guild without teleporting?

[tank_sniper]

[...Is that a new NPC? Shinon's just going to hang back for now, watching to see what will happen if other players approach him.]

[greatcleavage]

[Well, Roy rolled a 3 on his Spot check, so he hasn't noticed her yet. Instead, he busies himself looking as Mysterious As Possible.]

...I can't believe I wish Elan was here, but I feel like I'm doing something wrong he would know about.

[tank_sniper]

[...Now the NPC is talking to himself. From what she could tell, most of the NPCs in this game weren't especially prone to chatter outside of giving out quests. Which meant either this was a really special one, or...

Her curiosity getting the better of her, she steps forwards.]

...Hello?

[greatcleavage]

Oh, hi!

[Roy flips up the visor on his helmet. And then his eyepatch.]

Maybe I need my other eye to ominously glow... Anyway, how are you getting by?

[tank_sniper]

[She blinks in surprise, recognizing him now that he is less disguised.]

...I'm well. [For being trapped in a game.] What are you doing?

[ladyofruinmode]

[... New person in town? Well, Raine's going to take the bait and approach, completely unaware that it's Roy.]

Ah... hello...?

[greatcleavage]

[It's working! ...sort of. Not quite how it's supposed to. Roy flips the helmet visor up.]

Raine! It's been a while, how are you getting by?

[ladyofruinmode]

Roy? Why on earth are you wearing...? [Never mind, that's trivial, he asked her a question.]

I've been doing well enough, I suppose. As well as a Harvest Cleric can. [Which means not exploring all that much whoops.] And yourself?

[greatcleavage]

Better than ever. [No, that question needs an answer...] I'm wearing this because a friend of mine taught me that it works wonders for finding people to join up with you.

Of course, I was in a tavern at the time, and I was looking to fill an adventuring party rather than a guild, but I figured the same principles would apply. Not that I understood the principles in the first place.

[ladyofruinmode]

Ah, I see. [But then context clues--] You started up a guild?

[inhearts]

[ Minako will just be staring. ]

[greatcleavage]

[Rolling a Spot check, aaaand... 19! Roy yanks the helmet off, cramming it back into his inventory as he jumps to his feet.]

Minako!

[He flips up the eyepatch as he approaches her.]

I just started a guild. I want you to join. Please.

1/2

[inhearts]

[ Blinks.

...this is probably the most caught off-guard look Roy'll ever see on Minako's face for a long time to come. ]

[inhearts]

[ But right. Calming down. Steadying herself. ]

Oh! Congratulations, you made one! [ She beams at him. ] I did say I was looking forward to it. How do I sign up?

[greatcleavage]

[He assumes she's gobsmacked because of the offer. The disguise can't possibly have anything to do with it.]

Same way you do almost everything around here.

[Which means he's pulling out his Relic.]

[inhearts]

[ He can keep on believing that.

Minako takes out her own, waiting. ]

That makes sense.

[minetodecide]

[He was just hanging around the town square, chilling by the fountain when he noticed Roy put on the strange clothing, or whatever you call him. Ryusei just could not understand what just happened. Have a Ryusei judging you.]

[greatcleavage]

[Roy speaks ominously out from under the helmet.]

I am seeking brave adventurers...

[minetodecide]

[His face is probably stuck or something, cause he hasn't moved.]...Whoever you are, that fake beard is not going to fool me....Why are you even wearing that?

[greatcleavage]

[Well, the disguise's purpose has succeeded, so Roy casually tosses off the helmet.]

It attracts attention. It's a trick a friend of mine taught me a long time ago. People are more likely to seek a quest or plot hook from a mysterious stranger than from some random warrior.