"So I hear."

"Adventurers also, but at least we know it."

"Do I have dreadful taste?"

"In company, at least, if nothing else."

"Don't begrduge me the royalty, they pay me."

"Not them, the gods. Dreadful company to be seeking."

"You're not wrong."

"Abadar gets, like, half a point. A quarter of a point."

"We could give them percentile scores, that's a little more charitable."

"Does this not just boil down to 'the good ones are okay and the neutral ones are okay and the evil ones are bad.'"

"Nah, Sarenrae destroyed a city and advertises herself as Good."

"I always figured there had to be more to that story but maybe there's just not."

"Layers and layers of excuses, but, like, also it was a whole city."

"I'm not really sure what the gods' alignments mean anyway - like, do they pick 'em -"

"Beats me. I think when I'm about ready I'll go to some temples, read some scriptures, talk and see if anybody talks back."

Nod. "Do you have a level in mind or will you wait as long as you can or what?"

"I'll see when I level out. Lotta people level out."

Nod. "Well. Lemme know your departure date, I guess, not that I have that many loose ends to tie up here."

"Where're you staying?"

He gives an address downtown.

She writes it down.

The next morning she swings by to see if they're hiring her party.

"We can do four thousand," Luay tells her. "I don't have the authority to negotiate that, either, it's from the prince."

"Wow. If I go without backup and get killed in my sleep will my insuring church be after you guys for the diamonds?"

"Nope, that's up to you. I'd hire someone cheaper than a eighth level wizard to watch my back, personally."

"Yeah, the eighth level wizard can stay home. I'll take it but I won't take five like it, if you know what I mean."