Marc chuckled.<br/><strong>"No bonuses or penalties to the reaction rolls",</strong>he announced.<strong>"Paco, you're 33 GP behind".<br/>"Our Lord was sold for less than that in silver",</strong>the man in question answers, touching his chest where a crucifix might well be hanging.<strong>"Let's hope this bunch would be more faithful to us!"</strong><br/><strong>"But have you got that much, or were you counting on not getting that high?",</strong>Marc inquired.<br/>In answer, Paco showed him his character sheet. Marc smiled and nodded approvingly.<br/>"So, you had that much. Good...Now".<br/>He gets into his narrator voice.<br/>"As you offer the drinks, you're treated, in turn, to a round of applause. Ugly whispers 'I'm paying' to the bartender, who jumps back from the sight of his face, and shows him three fingers, and then ten. This is as good a way as any to communicate the price over the roar of applause that follows the announcement. 'Sit down, lass', a small man in reinforced leather tells you. 'As it is, I, Gargantua the 20th, know some guys who might use the money. We used to be in the military together, and decided to remain at the job, so undisputably, we have a vast experience with spear and shield! As to the reasons why such skilled and courageous fighters would behere, well, it's all the vagaries of the Fickle Lady, she of Luck! We been travelling with an esteemed trader, but - oh! What a disgrace happened in this hole of a keep! Our employer, doubtlessly a most honest man, had been accused - wrongfully, I say! - of the deeds of a con-man, and is awaiting trial. Since he would no doubt need all his money for bribe...paying the unjust fines, we wouldn't hold him to pay us our salaries, as he should by the contract! Thus, all six of us are looking for an employer.'"<br/>Josh frowns at the story. Paco grins, then starts laughing.<br/>Marc continues without a word, but the dice continue their clattering from behind his screen.<br/><strong>"Three other men smile. Another of the men, this one wearing leather armour and an unstrung bow, looks you over and says in a foreign accent: 'Chica, you better keep your ass away from that man's grabby paws. He might well ask you for a little extra to sweaten the deal...no such issues with us: we pay for our company, we demand nothing extra, unless there's treasure to be uncovered, or if we need to enter cursed ruins. And while we're only three, you'll find no better archers, inside or outside an archery tournament! In fact, you'd be well-advised to take any of these three' - he gestures towards the other men at the table - "who command another five or six men each. But stay away from Guarg!'<br/>'Why, you...', the previous speaker reddens. The man who spoke looks at him and gives him a nasty smile",</strong>Marc concludes.<br/><strong>"I whisper in her ear that we can pay the usual prices for one of these groups, but not two or more",</strong>Paco announces.