text: The cons far outweigh the pros. You've found your niche by plying most of your trade at the university district. You're staying out of the Talons way and more or less keeping a low profile from the militia. You see no good reason to change that.
  
  You guess you'll have to become more of a "salesman" of sorts if you steal anything that isn't actual money though. You suppose the drugs you pilfer from the medical school won't be too hard to get a good price for or find buyers. Maybe it's time to branch out your skill set anyway. You are working on your own so you really need to be a jack-of-all-trades and try not to rely on outside sources. Especially since you still believe that the Crimson Talons are destined for nothing good in the future.
  
  Thinking no more about it, you pack some of your tools in your bag and set off for the university.
  
  Later...
  
  After picking a few random pockets, you pass by one of the bulletin boards to see if there are any big parties being announced in the near future (or even tonight) since those are always usually profitable to attend.
  
  You take note of a couple listed and then you see a notice for a job.
  
  In need of two people to assist in gathering several eggs from a Creptian Blueshell. Location will most likely be in the shores north of Hessla.
  
  Trip will be paid for and a reasonable monetary reward will be provided upon completion of the task.
  
  Please see me in my office at the medical school for details if interested.
  
  Dr. Gossey
  
  While you've seen a few of these notices in the past since your last job with Dr. Gossey, you've actually been reluctant to try it again for several reasons, but you're feeling a little adventurous. Might be good to get out of the city for a while anyway, because if that Zalmora woman comes around again to convince you to join, you might just be silly enough to do it.
  
  You head over to the medical school and unlike last time you easily find Gossey's office without getting lost. (Though you sort of know this place fairly well by now considering all the medical paraphernalia you've stolen from this place)
  
  When you arrive, you find that she's conveniently in her office. When she sees you she greets you warmly.
  
  "Well, this is a surprise. I was wondering if we'd ever bump into each other again. I haven't seen you since the last time you got those qweepas for me. I guess classes are keeping you busy?" Gossey asks.
  "Yeah, I tend to study a lot, but anyway I'm here about the job posting." You say.
  "Oh good! I already got one person to help and since you did such a good job last time in acquiring the qweepas, I think I can safely hire you right away. Are you familiar with Creptain Blueshells?"
  "Mm, not especially no."
  "Well they're sort of like a cross between a snail and a crab, but about as big as a large dog. I mean they don't move very fast and they aren't usually overly aggressive in the scheme of things, but considering we need to take some eggs...well I can guarantee they aren't going to be happy."
  "I see. I don't suppose they sell these creatures as a delicacy in Hessla do they?"
  "Oh no. They're far too poisonous to most life forms for that. In fact beside their shells, that's probably their number one defense. Don't let them spit on you."
  "They spit?"
  "Oh yes, but as I said, you'll have extra help this time. A student from the magic college is coming on the trip, along with my assistant Kelium. Between the three of you, I don't anticipate you'll have any problems as long as you remain cautious."
  "Magic huh? Hmm, well that sounds like evening the odds a bit at least."
  "To be sure, but I know this still has its danger, so it will be fifty gold upon completion. I'd offer a little more, but the other student needs her payment too."
  
  Fifty gold pieces is a nice chunk to go towards your secret savings. And as far as the crab snails monsters go, the wizard can probably handle the heavy lifting what with the fireballs and lightning and such.
  
  "Sounds reasonable. So when do we get going?" you ask.
  "Well since we have you now, I suppose I can get the trip going in three days. I'll explain to my assistant what you look like and you can just meet up with him at the carriage station in the morning. You'll probably have to stay in Hessla for the night when you reach it, but from there you should travel north along the coast to seek out the Creptians, but don't worry on that front, my assistant will have a map and I think you'll find Kelium much more agreeable than the last time you worked one of these jobs." Gossey remarks.
  "Well that's good to hear. Did Elana graduate then?" you ask.
  "It's the strangest thing. She never returned. I don't really want to think about what might have happened to her, but that's all in the past, and I'm sure you did your best in trying to convince her that staying in Hessla alone ran a risk. Oh well, all in the past. But right now, all you have to do is make sure you get some of Creptian eggs. That's the most important thing." Gossey remarks.
  
  Having come to an agreement with Dr. Gossey and her explaining what Kelium looks like along with the magic student Yvette, you take your leave of the university and head back home.
  
  Your next few days mainly consist of you preparing yourself for the trip. You pack your short sword, and a couple extra knives along with your flintlock. You also go and steal yourself some anti-venom from the apothecary. (Along with a few other items) You figure it can't hurt.
  
  Finally on the day you're supposed to meet everyone, you go to the carriage station and seek out your companions for this trip.
  
  Doesn't take long when you see a tall pale man wearing a cap loading up a few bags on a carriage and near him is a shorter woman with light brown hair. You're guessing that's them. You also look at the driver and see that it isn't Yrid.
  
  "Hey, you're Yvette and Kelium right?" you ask, and both of them turn to address you and confirm this question, then you announce who you are.
  
  "That's great. More people to talk with on the trip." Kelium says easily hoisting another bag on top of the carriage with one arm.
  "Hi." Yvette says demurely.
  
  Not exactly what you expected. Kelium seems like less like a scholar and more like an athletic type. And you were expecting Yvette to be dressed in a robe or something similar. Maybe even holding a staff or something. At least neither are dressed screaming of "Hey I'm rich, come rob and enslave me!" though.
  
  All three of you pile into the carriage, which is already better than last time. You and Kelium sit on one side while Yvette sits on the other and you're soon on your way.
  
  Kelium talks for half of the trip and almost never shuts up. He goes on about his studies and how he's been helping Dr. Gossey and what he plans to do when he graduates. It probably would all be very fascinating if you actually cared. Still, at least he's pleasant enough and he's talking so much about himself he doesn't ask anything about you at all. You occasionally just give a general agreement with whatever he's saying.
  
  Yvette is quiet and is just mainly listening to Kelium. She doesn't talk at all. Maybe wizards are just like that. All that isolated studying.
  
  Eventually Kelium does shut up because he starts to get sleepy. He mentions that he was studying up on Blueshell Creptians all night just to be extra prepared. He then mentions for you two to wake him when you arrive in Hessla and soon he's fast asleep complete with snoring.
  
  You take this opportunity to sit over on the other side of the carriage.
  
  "Um. What are you doing?" Yvette asks a bit suspiciously.
  "I'm sitting over here, because that snoring giant over there is taking up most of the room, not to mention he's loud enough even without being seated right next to him. I'd like to reach Hessla and not be deaf in one ear." You explain.
  "Oh. Okay then." Yvette says and then gets over as far as she can when you sit down.
  "You...don't trust me do you?" you ask.
  "Um...no, I mean yes. I mean um..." Yvette stutters.
  "Hah. It's okay. I understand being cautious, but I'm really not going to do anything, I mean you're a wizard. I'm not risking getting a spell cast on me."
  "No! It's not that! It's just well...I'm not used to being cramped in a small space like this with a bunch of people. I like a lot of personal space."
  "Ah. Got it. Also understand. You want me to go back and sit over there?"
  "No. It's okay. You seem nice."
  "Thanks. Don't hear that one often. So I've never met a wizard before. Tell me everything."
  "There isn't much to tell and I'm not really a wizard. I'm still just an adept. I actually took this job as part of my own assignment of taking what I learned in the classroom and applying it to the field. I was sort of too nervous just to do it alone."
  "Well it is a scary world out there at times."
  
  You proceed to speak with Yvette for the rest of the trip who slowly starts to open up a bit. She goes on to tell you that the magic school isn't even all that big. She's only one of twenty-three students! Apparently the university is almost on the verge of closing it down since naturally magically talented individuals seem to be born less and less these days.
  
  However, magic is still a mighty force in this world and one of the Klyton Council members is a mage himself (Though not a particularly powerful one), so the school remains open.
  
  Just as you're starting to get Yvette to laugh at your dumb goblin jokes, you're arriving in Hessla and the driver stops.
  
  "I guess we should wake up Kelium." Yvette says.
  "Yeah, I suppose so." You reply a bit disappointed. You were starting to enjoy your personal time with Yvette.
  
  While Yvette wakes him up, you get out to speak to the driver and ask him to take you to an inn that's better than the Barnacle.
  
  "And DON'T even fucking think about taking us to the Cozy Krak Inn!" you exclaim.
  "Wasn't going to sir. I've never even heard of the place. I was going to suggest going to the Sea Dog."
  "Is it a slavers den?"
  "Um, no. It's run by an old ex-pirate and is more or less friendlier than most inns."
  "It better be." You say.
  
  You get back in and see that Kelium is awake and the carriage soon takes you to your destination.
  
  The Sea Dog is better than the Barnacle, but not by much. However, it at least isn't trying to appear like something it isn't. Kelium grabs all the supplies he packed, he doesn't even ask for help.
  
  The ex-pirate that the driver mentioned reminds you of Trobart from the Welcome Mat because as soon as you enter he's glaring at you with his one good eye and asking what the hell you want.
  
  While you would probably return the verbal abuse, Kelium takes it all in stride and simply pays for the rooms. Unfortunately only two are available. Naturally it's decided that Yvette will take one room and you'll have to share one with Kelium. Not looking forward to that mostly because the guy snores so loudly.
  
  However as it turns out Kelium isn't ready to go to sleep.
  
  "I partially slept on the way here, so I'm wide awake! We should hang out and go find a proper tavern! Or better yet let's go find a gambling house! Dr. Gossey gave me all this money for the trip; I bet I can fucking double it!" Kelium exclaims.
  "But don't you need to be alert for the trip north tomorrow?" you ask.
  "I'll be fine! Besides, we don't have to leave first thing in the morning. Come on, let's go have a little fun! This place has got to have less restrictions than Klyton!"
  "I dunno, I really think you should just stay put and try to get some rest. I mean I haven't slept so..."
  "Come on man! You're not one of those guys that studies all the time are you? I mean I figure you took a job like this because you're an adventurous type! I mean yeah you got a job and I got an assignment, but shit, I ain't never been to a different town before. I wanna explore the scenery a bit! Maybe we can get Yvette to join us too! I saw you checking her out! She's a bit too quiet and bookish looking for me, but hey whatever you like man."
  
  On one hand you don't really have anything against going out and spending someone else's money and maybe having some fun, but you also don't relish the idea of having to look after this fool because with his boisterousness you just know he's going to get himself into a whole mess of trouble and you already got monster crab snails to deal with tomorrow and EVERYONE needs to be prepared for that shit.
  
  > talk him into staying
  You can't believe that you're actually leaning towards being the "responsible" one here.
  
  "Look, I get that this is all very exciting for you seeing as you've lived a sheltered rich life and all..."
  "I am not rich or sheltered! My father has to bust his ass making my tuition payments!"
  "...yeah...in any case. I've been to this town before and its reputation is well earned. There are people here that make the dregs of Klyton look like priests of Joachim and if you run afoul of them, it isn't going to be good for you."
  "Pfft, I can handle trouble." Kelium says and flexes his muscles a bit and pulls a sword out of his bag.
  "Yeah, maybe you could handle one person, but the problem is these sort don't travel alone, they ALWAYS travel in packs and I can honestly say that YOU are not going to handle five or even three by yourself."
  "Well wouldn't you help me? I mean isn't that why you're here?"
  "Your job or assignment is to get some monster crab eggs. MY job is to help you in that task. My job is NOT however looking after your ass while you look for fun or trouble. Now I suggest you get some rest which is what I'm going to do because giant snail monsters that spit poison sound like they need full attention."
  
  You fully expect Kelium to argue some more with you, but he doesn't. You also expect him to just leave the room by himself, but he doesn't do that either thankfully. He just says he thought you were going to be fun and starts reading through some of his papers.
  
  Feeling a little pleased with yourself, you lay down on your bed and attempt to get to sleep before Kelium genuinely starts to get tired again, because if he starts snoring there is no way you're going to get any sleep.
  
  Much later, you groggily wake up and find that your speech was less effective than you thought.
  
  Kelium is not in your room. In fact, it doesn't even look like his bed has been slept in. You just shake your head and groan.
  
  "Stupid fucker probably got himself enslaved or his throat cut." you mutter, as you get yourself prepared to go look for this idiot.
  
  The first stop you make is Yvette's room.
  
  "Hey Yvette." You say knocking on the door.
  "Um...yes?" she answers, but not opening the door.
  "Is Kelium in there?"
  "No, why would he be? What are you implying?"
  "...what? Nothing! I'm just asking because he's gone, and it doesn't look like he's slept in his bed either. I'm guessing he took off to have fun in the middle of the night."
  "Oh dear. Um...well hold on, I have to get ready. I'll be out soon." Yvette says.
  
  You half wonder if Kelium is in there and he's climbing out of a window. If that is the case, it's going to be real obvious if he and Yvette slept together last night. You aren't sure why Yvette would bother hiding it though; it isn't like you really give a shit.
  
  As it turns out however, that isn't the case at all and you don't even have far to go to find Kelium.
  
  You find him just outside the Sea Dog, stripped nearly naked and lying unconscious by the street.
  
  "Well, at least that's one less thing to worry about." You say to yourself and begin the undesirable task of dragging his ass back inside. It's sometime at this point, Kelium begins to rouse from his unconsciousness.
  
  In between the name-calling and laughter by the locals, you manage to get him back to the room where Yvette joins you both.
  
  Kelium has a wicked hang over, but manages to explain what he remembers. He says that after you fell asleep he went out to explore the town and soon found himself in a card game at some place that he can't remember the name of. He claims he was winning and also says that someone must have drugged his drink and robbed him of everything.
  
  "I told you not to go out. You're just lucky that getting robbed blind was all that happened to you." You say.
  "Yeah, yeah, fuck. You sound like some old bitch. Shit. My head. Alright fine. Just let me get my spare clothes, and we can go get these fucking eggs." Kelium says.
  "Wait, we're going now? Are you in condition to do this? Maybe we should wait a day." Yvette asks.
  "I'll be fucking fine! Besides, I just lost all my money. We can't afford to stay here another night. We need to get these eggs today and then get the fuck outta this shitty town."
  
  You don't even ask HOW you're supposed to get back to Klyton if he's lost all his money. Though you've brought a little with you, so you suppose you'll be footing the carriage bill. Like Yvette, you aren't sure if Kelium is in the best condition to go do this, but you're certainly not going to be paying for more time at the inn either, so if he thinks he's good to go, then you are too. Besides, you're going to be happy when this is over with and you're questioning why you ever decided to do this again.
  
  "Adventurous...I should have that drunk Virgil check me for demonic possession." You mutter.
  
  After Kelium gets dressed and gathers his supplies (Which at least he's carrying), the three of you set off on your journey to get these eggs. Unfortunately, its not just a simple matter of sticking to the coast and finding them along the shore, Kelium says you'll probably have to go into a cave seeing as they like to lay their eggs some place dark, wet and safe.
  
  "Um, we have to enter a cave?" Yvette asks.
  "Yeah, what's the big deal?" Kelium asks.
  
  What Yvette doesn't answer right away, you step in.
  
  "I think Yvette is a bit uncomfortable with small spaces, especially dark ones crawling with monsters." You say.
  "Huh? Well that's just tough because she signed up for this task voluntarily. Nobody held a flintlock to her head. Besides, it's most likely a big open cave given how large blueshell creptians are." Kelium remarks.
  "Oh, well that changes everything."
  
  You travel a bit longer until you start climbing up a small hill. Kelium occasionally looks at the ground and tries to find signs of creptians. He seems to know what he's doing, despite his condition, though at this point you're more on the look out of other potential bad types like say bandits or something similar. Meanwhile Yvette looks like she's expecting trouble everywhere since she's looking around constantly.
  
  "Yvette, calm yourself. Out of the three of us, you've probably got the most power here to deal with anything." You say.
  "I dunno what you think I can do. I know. I'm not some high mage like in the old stories. As I told you, I'm just starting out and I haven't even been out of the city before."
  "Hm, so you can't just summon a ball of flame or shoot lighting?"
  "Um...well not what you're probably thinking. I mean maybe I could conjure a small palm sized ball of flame. Not sure if that would take down a Blueshell Creptian though, and it takes all my focus just to do it."
  "Better than nothing I suppose."
  
  Suddenly you hear Kelium yelling about something. You were so busy speaking with Yvette you didn't even notice Kelium disappeared...again.
  
  "HEY COME HELP ME! SHIT!" Kelium shouts.
  
  You and Yvette run over to the other side of the hill you were on and see Kelium with his sword in hand and scrambling for cover behind a rock. You also see what you can only guess is a blueshell creptian. It looks exactly how you pictured. A big snail, with big crab like claws and a blue shell.
  
  Nearby the creptian you see a large sloping hole in the ground, you can only imagine that's where it has made its home.
  
  "HEY! MOVE IN MAN! ATTACK!" You hear Kelium shout as a glob of blueshell spit hits the rock he's hiding behind.
  
  You pull out your flintlock and fire at the blueshell and find that the shot doesn't even penetrate its hard shell. In fact it doesn't even turn its attention to you, so far it's just slowly crawling over to Kelium's position.
  
  "Yvette, can you cast some sort of light spell or cause something to glow?" you ask.
  "Yeah, but how is that going to help?" Yvette says.
  "It'll help me search that cave for the eggs while it's distracted."
  "Wait, you're going in there alone? What happens if there's another one in there?"
  "Well, I'll be running out of there really quick I guess. You just try to distract that blueshell and when I get the eggs we can all get the hell out of here."
  "I dunno, I think maybe we should try to work together to kill the blueshell, then deal with the cave."
  "And I don't think we're going to be able to, or at least not with what we got. Look, I'm going to be as quick as I can. All you have to do is stay away from that thing and find some cover. It doesn't move that fast."
  "I dunno..."
  
  Obviously Yvette has some doubt about this plan and if she does there's a chance she could panic, but you really don't have confidence in her plan either especially since it means you'd have to get closer or at least aim for a place that isn't armor plated.
  
  > proceed with your plan
  It might seem slightly cowardly on your part, but you're not a damn massive warrior, you sneak about and steal shit. You're playing to your real strengths, which isn't going head to head with some big ass armored monster.
  
  "Yvette, look this is going to work. I'll go grab the eggs and you just try to help Kelium. And if shit starts getting too much for you, I want you to just run back to Hessla. There is no damn point in all of us dying."
  "But..."
  "But nothing, you just have to trust me on this. I'll be fine, I just need to see in that cave, so cast whatever spell you need to, to make that happen."
  
  Yvette is reluctant, but your words and the urgency of the situation causes her to comply. She says some sort of weird shit and moves her hands about and then suddenly a little ball of light appears in front of you.
  
  "That will follow you around and should last quite awhile, but you still need to hurry!" Yvette exclaims and then starts casting another spell.
  
  You don't waste any time running down towards the blueshell lair. The creature still doesn't notice you, but you certainly hear Kelium shouting at you about what you think you're doing.
  
  You enter the blueshell dwelling and your boots are immediately covered in some sort of slime that th