The shopkeeper apologizes: he doesn't have any Fountain Pence in stock. He would, however, if you had any Fountain Pence to trade in for
Stream Rubies. For the latest and coolest currency around, 50 Pence is practically a steal! Because he's practically stealing from you.
It doesn't look like you have enough Stream Rubies to buy anything else. The Shopkeeper says you should visit
The Market if you want cheaper, more specific goods. You don't have to have Stream Rubies, either: some of the shops there are willing to barter.
You stash the Bloodband and empty bottle in Storage for the moment. Your inventory space is easily freed up.
You stop Riltia before going up the ladder, though.
Riltia follows you out of storage, still yelling.
Check on sidequests, take up 'ruby focus'
You check the sidequests. However, it seems "Ruby Focus" is not on there. You head up to the Council again to check with Cleri herself. She briefly comes out and explains the nature of her request.
I support seeing if SLOG wants the tasty mushroom, getting details on Ruby quest (we need a healer), and reading the damn merc info sign.
Slog takes the Mushroom and beams.
Slog the Slime has joined your party!You also read the sign on the wall. It displays a pretty extensive list of instructions:
Mercenaries are highly volatile. They are just as likely to explode in a shower of blood as they are to run off with your loot and spend the rest of their lives in a beach house. This is a guide to taking care of your mercenaries and preventing the worst.
1. When possible, use your mercenaries as brainless meatshields. Your life is much more important than its life, so don't think twice about throwing it in front of speeding bullet.
2. Remember to discipline your mercenary. Mercenaries are contractually unable to fight you. If your mercenary does something bad, whack it with a stick, take away a shiny coin and say "NO."
3. Don't try to improve them. Mercenaries cannot "stat up," "gain slots," "get EXP" or anything like that. They're stuck the way they are, so don't even try to improve them. Seriously.
4. DO NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES SHOW COMPASSION. Mercenaries can smell gullibility. The moment you stop hitting them with a stick, they will run off laughing with 50 Stream Rubies. Mercenaries will try to trick you into caring about them by "talking to you," but you should ignore or punish them for this treachery.
5. Don't let them solve puzzles. The rate of puzzle failure skyrockets by 500% when left up to a mercenary. They are battle monkeys and, being soulless husks, don't think well on their own.
6. Don't throw loot at them. Equipping your mercenaries isn't a bad idea, but don't give them particularly valuable loot. You don't want it mysteriously disappearing. In case your mercenary grabs loot you don't want it to have, just discipline it (step 2).
7. It's fine to replace them. The stock of available mercenaries changes regularly. If one dies in a pit of smoldering spikes, just buy a new one!
You head back down. Time to decide what to do next.
Now that's what I call an update.