Location: Int. of Laila’s Tavern – Downstairs(Bethany, Aedland)

PLAYER SPEAKS TO LAILA BEHIND THE COUNTER

LAILA

Ah, there you are.

ARTHUR

You called for me?

LAILA

Yes, I did.

LAILA

Step outside with me, for a moment.

Laila turns to the bartender

LAILA

Keep an eye on the place for me! I’ll only be a minute.

BARTENDER

Yes, ma’am.

LAILA

Let’s go, it’s right outside.

Laila walks out from behind the counter and Arthur follows her outside of the tavern’s entrance.

Location: Ext. of Laila’s Tavern – (Bethany, Aedland)

Laila and Arthur emerge from the door. There is a white owl in front of them.

LAILA

There it is.

ARTHUR

It’s an owl.

LAILA

Not just any owl.

LAILA

We don’t get many messenger ravens in these parts. 

LAILA

But, occasionally some important folks visit the place and they arrive here.

LAILA

Though, I must say, I’ve never seen a messenger owl before.

ARTHUR

A messenger owl?

LAILA

That’s right. Look.

Laila steps in front of the owl.

LAILA

It’s got a pouch on it, meant for holding scrolls.

LAILA

I heard it’s cooing from inside. Nearly thought I’d gone mad.

LAILA

Night hasn’t fallen yet and there are no owls in these parts.

LAILA

When I checked, it had this scroll inside the pouch.

LAILA

It’s addressed to Arthur of Leviathan. That’s your guild’s name, isn’t it?

ARTHUR

Addressed to me? Have you read it?

LAILA

I read enough to know that it seemed important. And, that there’s no signature.

LAILA

So, we don’t know who it’s from.

LAILA

Here, have a look.

Laila walks in front of Arthur.

A scroll GUI pops open, showing the contents of the letter.

Once the player scrolls to the bottom and presses back:

ARTHUR

This letter has to be a joke…

LAILA

What does it say?

ARTHUR

It outlines a quest that is tantamount to suicide.

ARTHUR

It also speaks of buried treasure prepared as payment.

LAILA

Does this person know you?

ARTHUR

I haven’t the faintest idea who wrote this…

ARTHUR

But, I do know that it is madness to do as it says.

LAILA

Well, whoever it is, they must know of you.

LAILA

Would they ask you to do something you could not do?

ARTHUR

To even attempt something like this would be foolish.

LAILA

Why not check it out, at least?

LAILA

You and your guild have been toiling in this town for weeks, trying to earn money.

LAILA

This might be worth giving some thought.

ARTHUR

… *hmmm* (ARTHUR MUSES ON THIS)

LAILA

Well, I leave it to your judgement.

LAILA

Naturally, I won’t speak a word of this.

LAILA

Best of luck!

Laila returns inside of the tavern. Arthur watches her leave and turns forward again.

Laila walks down the stairs.

LAILA

It looks like you’ll be paying off your bar tabs, then?

ARTHUR

Thanks for your help.

PENELOPE

We appreciate you closing early, so as to avoid… unwanted attention.

ARTHUR

Without you, we’d have no place to store this much money…

LAILA

Think nothing of it.

LAILA

Pay your tabs, and we’ll be even.

LAILA

Zenovia’s in particular has grown rather large…

Arthur faces Zenovia.

ARTHUR

Has it now?

ZENOVIA

What? I was going to tell you.

ZENOVIA

With all this lovely coin, it isn’t an issue now, is it?

ARTHUR

This gold isn’t ours. At least, not yet.

LAILA

Well, I’ll leave you to discuss your business.

LAILA

Be sure that bird doesn’t leave it’s droppings in here!

OWL

*coo*

Laila walks back upstairs. Arthur watches her go.

LAILA

Ah, there you are!

LAILA

Zenovia and Jacques left quite early today.

LAILA

I’d thought you would have left by now.

ARTHUR

We’ll be setting out soon.

LAILA

I wish you good fortune.

– END OF DIALOGUE –

IF PLAYER SPEAKS TO HER AGAIN

LAILA

I’ll be here babysitting these two drunkards.

LAILA

To come in so early in the morn… I ought to start denying them service…

LAILA

It’d be for their own good…

– END OF DIALOGUE –