<div align="center">†††</div><br/><div class="floatleft">(https://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/4/49/Yrisall.jpeg)</div><br/>The city of Yrisall: a bastion of arms and magic trade within the nation of Astraad, and home to the Merc Co. adventuring guild. Buildings of various sizes fill the remarkably large city, nearly every one artful in its own way. Like all cities in Astraad, it is surrounded by a looming wall manned by a well-provisioned city guard. Given the size of the city, the wall is not always noticeable, but the feeling of safety remains.<br/><br/>One of the most notable aspects of the city is the Merc Co. building on the North side, which looms high above the city--outshining even the mayor's luxury estate in grandiosity. Another notable aspect is the canal that runs through the city's center, effectively splitting it in half. This canal leads out to a river on the West end of the city, which connects to the glittering Vrist Sea for travel and trade along the coast and beyond. The sluice gates only open to vessels with a merchant's pass, diplomatic identification, or some other form of official permit in hand. Indeed, the canal is the lifeblood of the city, bringing in heavy trade that leans toward magic items and arms due to Merc Co.'s influence.<br/><br/>Only those of you reasonably familiar with the city know of the affectionately named "Worker's Rim"--the city's small, unassuming and little mentioned neighborhoods pushed up against its inner wall and well away from entrances. It is where porters, laborers, and other manner of lower class citizens are allowed to live.<br/><br/><br/><hr/><br/><div class="floatright">(http://img05.deviantart.net/6529/i/2014/037/3/e/guildhall__fatecraft__by_tyleredlinart-d75bs1y.jpg)<br/></div><br/>Each of you arrived at the Merc Co. headquarters individually, and for your own reasons. On your way, it may be that you got turned around a few (dozen) times; it may be you took your time admiring large buildings, sailing boats, and the airship you think you saw off in the distance; it may be you waltzed straight to the grand doors of the Merc Co. headquarters. However you came to arrive, a Merc Co. employee greets you with a practiced and perfected smile. He is a rather handsome blond human (https://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/thumb/f/fa/Prettyboy_noble.jpg/681px-Prettyboy_noble.jpg) wearing fine clothes, and he recites his welcome speech with enough gravitas to make it feel like natural conversation. After personally congratulating you for earning the right to compete for membership, he gives you a name tag that reads “Unaffiliated” and suggests you find some like-minded individuals in a hurry, as it would be conducive to your survival.<br/><br/>Inside the building awaits a luxurious hall lined with mounted blades, suits of pristine armor, and insignia galore. The seats you could assume are normally here have been cleared out; perhaps to make room for the crowd of would-be adventurers who arrived this day. Looking around, you see that it was a prudent choice. There is a mess of adventurers lounging around, some looking tougher and more grizzled than others.<br/><br/>The occasional head turns to Calanthe, but more heads turn toward the more exotic of you--which you may have gotten accustomed to by now Zhendaya gets some looks of open awe, not unlike those you'd see on the faces of children at the zoo; Jenny gets some looks of recognition from what may have been past customers (oh, some of them look angry--definitely past customers), and the rest seem intrigued by her devilish aspects; and last but not least, Jen'mawg gets looks of complete befuddlement as people try to suss out what the hell she even is. A few of her glances; however, hold a rare look of recognition.<br/><br/>Most of the mercs here seem to be in parties of their own already, and a few of them really stick out:<br/><br/>The first group is made up of an elf, a tabaxi, a minotuar, and a human, all wearing garb traditionally associated with the northern country of Illeria--a country with whom Astraad is at war; the next group is hard to make out at first, because it is made up of a dwarf, a goblin, a gnome, and a halfling all cheerfully milling about  and sharing a flask of something; the last group is a band of beautiful drow women swapping between friendly conversation and intermittent harmonizing—each one carrying a black umbrella and an instrument on her person.<br/><br/>Before you can get a chance to scope out more of the competition, a familiar and magically enhanced voice booms throughout the hall, cutting clear above the cacophonous chatter. The blond human who gave you your name tag steps out in front of the crowd, standing between the fireplace and the noticeably blank contract board as he addresses you all.<br/><br/><em><strong>"Dearest ladies and gentlemen: Lucilla 'The Radiant Moon' will be arriving with the contracts shortly. Those of you who are still 'Unaffiliated' should take this opportunity to form a party, and as for those of you who are having second thoughts: find the nearest exit and, please, promptly tuck your tails between your legs before leaving."</strong></em><br/><br/>A few cocky chuckles dance among the crowd, and the blond man smiles knowingly as he steps out of the center of attention to stand--hands folded--beside a wide-set door to the side. A mere second or two of silence follows before manifold voices fill the air with excitement and cheer all over again.<br/><br/><div align="center">So, Unaffiliated, what will you do?<br/><br/>⸸⸸⸸</div><br/><hr/><br/><div align="center">OOC (https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=315165.0) - World (https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=315152.0)<br/><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Post Format Guidelines</div><div class="spoiler_body">Anything's fine as long as it contains the following: A character picture; tagging; AC and Status; and remaining HP, Spell Slots, and expendable Features. </div></div></div>