Walking into Xenophon Inc. was like walking into a completely different world for Micky. If the TRC had been an organized bureaucracy then the Xenophon compound was a military clock. Everywhere he looked it seemed as though people were moving with determined purpose. To one side of the of the compound he could see a range with targets pinned to hay archery butts, while the other side was a ring marked out with wooden rods that Micky assumed was some kind of sparring circle.

Tanya strode down the path towards the main doors, then knocked quickly, “Tanya del Aran to see Teofil” she said into the slot in the door which had opened at her knock.

“Access approved” said a monotone voice before the door swung open to reveal a 7 foot statue carved with spiraling ruby filigree covering most of its torso and blocky limbs.

“Uh Tanya, what is that and should I be concerned?” Asked Micky, making no move to walk into the foyer.

“It’s a combat golem, top of the line from the looks of it” answered Tanya before stepping past it unhurriedly. “Unless you plan on robbing the place or attacking someone they are perfectly harmless. If you are intending to cause trouble it will smoosh you into so much Micky paste, which would look pretty bad on my record I guess. Be on your best behavior just to be on the safe side okay?”

“Hah, very funny” said Micky following her into the building. “Wait, you were kidding right? Tanya? Tanya?”called Micky to Tanya’s back as she strode forward. Micky hurriedly picked up his own pace to catch her.

Micky followed Tanya up the central staircase, noting that instead of the marble and steel he had seen in the TRC this building seemed more utilitarian. A heavy reliance on concrete and patterned linoleum. Tanya paused before a heavy wooden door, obviously waiting for Micky to catch up.

“Okay, the person I’m taking you to meet is Teofil Budka, he manages the Baer’s Landing branch of Xenophon Inc. He’s the guy to see if you want to join a defensive focused Delving team” she said as Micky caught up with her.

“Ok cool, anything I should understand before we go in?” Asked Micky, looking around nervously.

“Nah, Teofil is cool. He’s shown more than a few of our arrivals the ropes before” answered Tanya.

Tanya knocked twice, then waited a moment. After hearing a muffled response from within she cracked the door open and entered, gesturing for Micky to do the same. As he entered the room he was momentarily stunned by the decor. The desk was low slung and concave and the seat behind it was more of a perch than a traditional chair. Sat in sat chair was a writhing ball of tan and copper banded snakes, one of which gave Tanya an incongruously cheery wave.

“Ah Tanya, ssssso good to ssssee you again. Pleasssse take a sssseat” said the undulating ball as one.

“Good to see you as well Teo” replied Tanya “I’ve brought you a new recruit” she continued while waving at Micky.

“Ah that isss mossst excellent newsss, why don’t you tell me a little bit about yourssself, and then I’ll explain what we do here at Xenophon Inc.” Teo asked while the majority of his heads turned towards Micky.

“Yeah ok, sure” stammered Micky, still a little unsure of how to conduct himself in this setting. “I’m Micky, Micky Taylor, I’m working on unlocking the Bard class. I’d like to learn more about delving’.

“Would you be ssso kind asss to ssshare your ‘Stats’ with me? It’sss sssomething we do with all potential hiresss” asked Teofil slowly. Micky looked towards Tanya who nodded in response.

“I can do that. Uh, but how do it do that? Micky asked still looking at Tanya for much needed guidance.

“Hold out your left hand to Teo, then think ‘Menu’. After that accept the prompt” said Tanya casually. Micky tentatively raised his arm, bringing it closer to the mass of snakes. Before he had a chance to rethink his options one of the snakes smoothly extended from the center and twined itself around Micky’s left wrist clasping him with a raspy, dry warmth.

“Ok, now open your menu” encouraged Tanya.

Would you like to share your Skills and Stat’s with Teofil Budoka?

Micky quickly selected yes and the now slightly familiar blue boxes appeared before his eyes.

Name

Michael ‘ Micky’ Taylor

Level

-

Class

Unassigned

Hp

36 of 36

Sp

48 of 48

XP

0

Stats

Might

6

Grace

8

Will

12

Wisdom

9

Sway

13

Balance

8

“Interesssting, you have a reasonable balance of ssstatss for a new arrival Micky” said Teofil thoughtfully.

“If your ssskillss are complementary then I can definitely see a place for you here at Xenophon Inc. in the future.”

Skill

Rank

Cooking (mundane)

Novice (22)

Driving

Apprentice (37)

Evasion

Novice (14)

Performance (metal)

Novice (14)

Performance (shanty)

Apprentice (42)

Persuasion

Novice (18)

Research (mundane)

Novice (12)

Tackling

Novice (6)

There was a longer pause as Teofil considered Micky’s ‘Skills’

“Rather a glaring lack of combat ssskills, with a strong focus on performance. Definitely a sssupport classss build” he said, several of the snakes winding over one another leaving Micky with the impression of someone thinking with their hands.

“If I may be ssso bold, where did the ssskill in tackling come from? It ssseemss rather out of place” asked Teofil.

“Uh, I played rugby all through high school and university. I’m a little insulted to see it only ranked at Novice six to be honesty” laughed Micky ruefully.

“I sssee” Teofil replied “I believe there is a lot we can work with here, provided you are willing to do sssome additional training.”

“What kind of training did you have in mind?” Micky asked quickly.

“Physssical training at firssst, we need to raise your ‘Might’ and ‘Grace’ to at least a minimum of ten before we begin basssic weaponsss ssskillss. We would alsso need to bring in a trained bard to teach you sssome basic buff and rebuff ssskillss” answered Teofil, on of the snakes reaching under the low desk and retrieving a brown folder.

“That doesn’t sound too bad” said Micky, “but honestly I’m still not entirely sure what you guys do here?” He asked.

“Allow me to explain” said Teofil “Xenophon Inc. ssspecializess in rapid resssponse actionss to hossstile convergencesss. Thisss meansss in sssimple termss when something comes through a convergence that cannot coexisst with the people of Outremer we put it or them down asss quickly and sssafely ass posssible.”

Micky looked towards Tanya before asking “so how does this work with the TRC? I thought you guys were all about helping new arrivals?”

“Not everything that comes through the convergences is sentient Micky, some of the things that come through from other ‘verses want nothing more than to kill at eat everything they come across. Only four years ago a small village less than three days North of here was wiped off the map by a horde of Ваўкі that came through an unknown convergence. Companies like Xenophon are a crucial part of how the senate manages such events” explained Tanya.

“Okay, so this is a bit like a private military contractor company from home. I think I understand. How do you guys make any money out of this?” Micky asked Teofil.

“We are on a retainer paid by the sssenate and in addition to thisss we are able to harvesst any of the creaturesss we put down. Thisss givesss usss accesss to a range of valuable materialsss which cannot otherwissse be found in Outremer” answered Teofil.

“If you were to choossse to work with usss you would be placed with one of our trainee teamss until the sssnenior member clearsss you for independent field work” as Teofil finished speaking one of the snakes from the lower half of the ball passed him a single sheet of paper that looked like a simple contract.

Looking at the piece of paper Teofil slid across the table Micky felt like he was on the cusp of a major decision.

“This is all a bit sudden, can I have some time to consider my options?” Asked Micky quietly.

“Yessss, of courssse. Thisss isss a provisssional offer to join us for a month. It iss contingent on you unlocking the Bard classss and completing the a basic training courssse” replied Teofil. “Ssshould you wissh to take usss up on the offer ssssimpply return to the compound and asssk for me at the gate. One of my assisstantsss will help you.”

At this point Tanya spoke “thank you very much for your time Teofil, I know you’re very busy. We won’t take up any more of your time.” With this she offered he hand and three snakes twined together to shake it.

“Nonsssensse, I always have time for the TRC” said Teofil graciously. Micky repeated the gesture, again feeling Teofil’s scales sliding over his hand.

As Tanya stood and walked out of the room Micky had another chance to look around the room, seeing Teofil return to the pile of reports, utilizing multiple bodies to write on and file different documents. Hurrying to catch Tanya he followed her from the compound.

Back out on the streets of Baer’s Landing Tanya turned to him and asked, “so what do you think of Xenophon Inc.?”

“It all seems very organized, and they’re obviously very well established. Did it feel like they were giving me a bit of a hard sell though?” Asked Micky.

“I wondered if you would notice that” said Tanya, “good Bards, and support classes are hard to come by. If you were a healer he would have been crawling over himself to offer you that contract.”

“Are Bards really that rare? Honestly I just picked the recommendation that seemed the most fun” said Micky.

“It’s not like you’re the only one in Outremer, but yeah they’re fairly rare. I know a couple of bards who play in taverns and venues around town, but I haven’t personally met any Bards that wanted to try delving” explained Tanya. “Speaking of taverns, I feel like it’s time for another performance. Are you ready for lunch?

Micky nodded in agreement.

“Brilliant, next stop is the Royal Mile tavern then, I feel a lunchtime cocktail coming on” said Tanya with a grin.