Pilgrims of Rao - Alpha 4 Quests

Quest Start = Well, Well, Well

      A big man waves you down as you try to leave the city.
      "Hey there!  Going out in the field, are we?  I have a job offer for you, if your'e interested," he puffs, his complexion ruddy.  He has a half dozen rolled up maps stuffed under his arm.
      "Sure," you say.
      "Excellent."  He claps his hands together and smiles.  "We're running out of water."
      "You seem awfully calm about dying of thirst."
      "Oh, it's nothing that dire," he laughs.  "This town doesn't have a well of its own.  We stake out naturally occurring springs that pop up in the field and pump them in using the old mobile aqueduct machine.  Our surveyors found three promising locations on their last run.  If you can check them out for us and get us a new water supply, I'll pay you.  I've got some funds set aside and this strange ring we found in the last spring."
      "Ooh, a ring, you say?  Sounds easy enough.  I'm in," you beam, dreaming of easy money.
      "Splendid!"  He thrusts the maps into your chest, nearly bowling you over into the gate.  "Check all the locations and report back when you're done!"  He yells over his shoulder as he gallops off at an improbably quick pace for someone with sausages for legs.

Proceed to Quest End once all three locations in the Fields of Tranquility have been investigated.

Quest End: Well, Well, Well

      The big man is chatting it up with the guards at the gate as you approach.  He is sweaty and gesturing to his doughy biceps.
      "Hey, you're back!  Did you search all three locations?"  He rubs his hands together, leaning in far too close for comfort.
      "Oh yes.  Yes I did," you say, then slam the maps back into his chest.  "Next time you should tell your employees about the monsters before they leave."
      "I didn't?  Must have slipped my mind," he laughs.
      "My fist will slip your mind."
      "That doesn't make sense."
      "...," you respond with a wordless growl and gnashing of teeth.
      "I know what will cheer you up.  Here is the payment I promised: 30g and one strange ring.  My people call this ring The Hot Potato.  You see, it's perfectly safe to hold, but the second you put it on."  He fumbles the ring over his finger.  "Yow!  It burns like nothing else."  He yanks the ring off to reveal the red, sizzling skin beneath.
      "And why, exactly, would I want this thing?"  You turn it over in your hand, careful not to let it slip over your fingers.
      "You know that feeling, that little pep in your step you get from showering in the morning and going for a jog?  You get that little jolt of energy the entire time you are wearing this ring!"
      "That's probably adrenaline from the pain..."

Reward
60g
Ring - The Hot Potato

---

Quest Start = The Chosen One

      A young woman idly sweeps her porch.  She sighs loudly as you pass.
      "Oh, woe, what have we here?"  You grumble.
      "My beloved Chosen One has been gone on his quest for days now.  He was supposed to be back yesterday with our fortune.  But I'm still stuck here, sweeping," she smacks the broom on the side of the porch.  "This," she smacks it again harder.  "Stupid house!"  The broom cracks in half on the third swing.
      "Emily!"  A woman yells from inside the house.  "Did you break another broom?!"
      "No, mom, I broke the city wall!  Yes, I broke another stupid broom!"
      "I think I should go," you start to back away from the dispute.
      "Young lady, when your father gets home..."
      "He'll what?  Yell at me again?"  The young woman swings the halves the broom dangerously close to your head.  She turns to you.  "Please, find my Chosen One and I will give you part of our fortune.  He went to the Derelict Fort.  You will know him by the token he carries.  Find him and GET ME AWAY FROM THIS STUPID HOUSE!"  She screams back at the doorway.
      "Okay, I'll do that.  Over there," you say, taking a few steps away before breaking into a sprint as pots and pans begin to fly out of the window behind you.

Proceed to Quest End when you clear the room containing the Chosen One.

Quest End = The Chosen One

      You pull the young man onto his feet.  He won't stop smiling and shaking your hand.
      "Thank you.  When I saw the monsters on this floor I thought I was dead.  I mean before I thought to myself, I can do this, but I saw these things and..."  You stop him with a hand on his shoulder.
      "Calm down," you say.  He gulps and nods, trying not to hyperventilate.  "Why were you down here?"
      "Uh, I thought I could get rich quick by dredging the depths of the dungeon, as it were.  That...  didn't work out well."
      "You're lucky to be alive.  The young lady back in town will be happy to hear you're safe, as well."
      "Oh, gods no.  Not her," he backs up, waving his hands and shaking his head.  "Tell me you didn't come down here because of her.  She is the whole reason I thought I could do this.  She gave me this ring, a token she called a  Memento, and told me it could call down the holy powers of starlight upon my enemies.  But it's just a glass ring!"
      "So you took the ring thinking you'd make quick work of the monsters with its power?  You should have tested it first," you say.
      "I didn't think I needed to.  She told me I was..." He blushed furiously, scratching the back of his head with one hand.  "She told me I was her Chosen One.  I could do anything.  I didn't know she was crazy, I just thought that I could be that for her, you know?"
      "Young love makes us all into idiots," you shake your head.
      "Uh, I guess I can't argue with that," he coughs nervously then perks up.  "I have a way to properly thank you.  I did actually find some treasure down here.  It's yours.  But not all of it!"  He quickly adds.  "I'd like to take some of it and use it to get as far away from this city and her as possible."
      "I can sympathize, kid.  Good luck.  Try not to get killed by falling for another girl in the next town," you pat him on the back and send him on his way.  He runs out of the room hollering for joy.  His beloved probably won't be happy.

Reward
40g
Mana Potion (x2)
Ring - Memento

---

Quest Start = Deputized

      Two guards duck out of the sheriff's quarters bowing and apologizing.
      "Just get out!"  A woman roars from within the room.  The guards take off with their hands on their helmets.  The sheriff sits at her desk, thumbs pressed up against her temple.  "Useless.  All of them are useless."  She spies you and stands.  "You there, state your business."
      "I'm looking for work," you say.
      "So you came to talk to the sheriff?"  She sighs.  "You know what, I can actually use some help.  You can't be any worse than my staff."  She walks over to a group of bounty posters pinned to the wall and jabs her finger into a portrait riddled with the holes of throwing knives.  "I want you to find him."
      "Where do I look?"
      "If I knew that, I'd get him myself," the sheriff growls.  She leans on her desk to regain her composure.  "He is somewhere out in the fields around this town.  Find him, take him down, and bring him back to me.  Dismissed."
(Receive Item: Deputy's Lasso.  Use this item in a tile adjacent to Moriarty while he is downed to capture him)

Proceed to Quest End upon returning to town with a captured Moriarty.

Quest End = Deputized

      The whole garrison flanks you as you enter the barracks.  The sheriff stands at the end of the procession with a grin bright enough to rival the sun.  Moriarty slumps to the floor in a heap at her feet.
      "You did fine work today, deputy," the sheriff says.  "Moriarty has been skimming goods off adventurer's in this area for years.  Not to mention tax evasion, vandalism of government property, jail breaking, and possession of unregistered magical items."  Moriarty flinches with each additional charge.
      "Speaking of those magical items, I could use them," you suggest.  It's hard not to feel tense under the gaze of all those eyes of the law.
      "Sure.  You've earned it," the sheriff says.  More than one guard coughs and looks at her in disbelief.  Her expression hardens.  "But only one.  The rest go into evidence."
      "Thank you," you laugh nervously.
      "No, our city thanks you.  Feel free to purchase militia grade equipment from the shops in town.  Tell them Sheriff Radington approves of the sale."  She hauls Moriarty up by the lasso tied around his hands.  He shrinks in the face of her grin.  "Collect your reward on the way out.  This villain's had it coming for a long time."
      You poke around in the confiscated wares to select your item.  As you leave clutching a pile of gold in your hand, you have to wonder what will become of all the other wonderful things greasy old Moriarty had to sell.  You're sure it was worth it.

Reward
100g
One item from The Greasy Old Man's shop
Access to "Militia" items in shops