<div class="floatleft">(http://www.stephandtonyinvestigate.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/prince-of-persia.jpg)</div><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>Sera Howlette</strong> (http://www.myth-weavers.com/sheetview.php?sheetid=1077893)</span><br/><strong>AC:</strong>20<br/><strong>HP:</strong>Full<br/><strong>Status:</strong>Normal<br/><hr/><br/><div class="quoteheader"><div class="topslice_quote"><a href="https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=220407.msg10871944#msg10871944">Quote from: SmilingFox on 08-01-2015, 22:03:43</a></div></div><blockquote class="bbc_standard_quote">"The term Volunteer..." It was the Marquis who spoke up, her voice carrying with a slightly rough rasp to it. "Refers to you all being here of your free will. You have not been conscripted, or coerced. Whether you are here because you feel it is the right thing to do, to help other people, out of loyalty to your kingdom..." She pauses, turning her stony gaze towards Sera, "Or purely out of selfish desire for material wealth, is entirely irrelevant. You will be paid for your work here, but if you think this a simple way to acquire money, perhaps you should look elsewhere."<br/></blockquote><div class="quotefooter"><div class="botslice_quote"></div></div><br/>Sera, an incorrigible rake on most days, offered the Marquis a serene little grin.  He was of the personal belief that a man should identify the meanings of words before being bound by covenants, and he was glad to come to learn the manner in which his employers were utilizing that particular word which he found so repulsive.  Yes, he was here of his own free will.  That is an important aspect of contracting, after all.  A contract was not enforceable if it was made under duress, now could it?<br/><br/>"Thank you for the clarification," Sera said, still grinning.  He looked down at Penn and gave her a wink.<br/><br/>Sera wasn't very interested in material wealth.  He was more interested in knowledge.  But the acquisition of knowledge required money.  An expedition was extremely costly.  Licenses and charters were expensive.  Still, he had never quite heard of such a large bounty for the completion of services.  For his share of 100,000 pieces of gold, he could purchase and outfit a seaworthy vessel.  He could do a great deal of things, actually.  He could purchase a library and be at his leisure until his end, preferably in the bosom of a big-breasted woman, during or directly after coitus.<br/><br/>"That is a lot of gold," he mused, rubbing his chin.<br/><br/>Penn then snagged his attention with her very soft touch.  Sera glanced down at her, narrowed his eyes perceptively, and then smirked when he seemed to understand the sum meaning of Penn's actions.  Penn was weary of those who tread upon the earth underfoot, and now, something undesirable lurked in the air.  But what was it?  Sera did not think Penn squeamish when it came to violence.  Sera had always assumed that the whisper gnome preferred it.  Then what?  What was so off-putting?  Sera hardly knew.<br/><br/>Sera gently stroke the bottom of Penn's chin with a gloved hand, smiling down at her.<br/><br/>"...  We are staying," he said.<br/><br/>The sum of money was just too great to walk away from.  Looking up to the Marquis, he asked:<br/><br/>"Another clarification, if I may.  Will there be an advance payment?  Maybe a sign-on bonus?"