The contract seems rather complicated on the surface, mostly due to the fact that it's valid in three different jurisdictions. The province of Ontario in Canada, the realm that Lady Marzaja rules over, as well as some unknown location which is presumably in Limbo judging by the contexts it appears in. Otherwise the contract seems relatively straightforward. The signer is joining the creatively named 'Niagara Falls Ghost Hunting Organization', created by Syzygy and led by Gord MacDonald. Syzygy provides the specialized equipment and information needed to hunt ghosts. In return the NFGHO, and thus everyone signed with them, provides a regular supply of souls to the demon. At least one soul for each haunted location that Syzygy finds, though the contract clarifies that the required soul does not have to be from this location. It can be from any source which the NFGHO has access to, such as from hunting ghosts on their own initiative. Additionally the contract can be broken at any time by Syzygy or the signer. If the signer breaks the contract, then they have to return or pay for any equipment which they used. If the demon breaks the contract and dissolves the organization, then he has to compensate everyone involved to the tune of a several thousand dollars.
The contract also goes on about payment rates, working hours, the regulations for selling additional souls, and other legalities that are important but not very interesting to the casual reader. Once the contracts are signed, the rest of the orientation session begins. Everyone tries not to snooze through the mandatory OHSA briefing, delivered by Gord in a tone of voice that suggests he wants to get it over with himself. Then the interesting part of the session can occur. Syzygy talks about the equipment he's providing to the Organization. Wands to fend off hostile spirits and potions to heal wounds or enhance the senses, as well as the proper operation of soul gems and how to handle the transport of ghosts. Gord touches briefly on the different types of spirits and what to expect from them. He also confesses that the variety and types of ghosts are quite large, stressing that the ability to think on one's feet is just as important as preparation. You can never know exactly what you're getting into after all...
April 19th, 2013
Unfortunately for the would-be ghost hunters, they aren't called into action until 7pm next Friday. The weather has warmed up noticeably since that fateful Saturday, though only the very optimistic or foolish are running around without a jacket. The place where everyone is told to gather turns out to be Gord's house, thankfully not too far from a bus line despite being in the heart of suburbia. The grass needs mowing and the garden weeding, but otherwise it looks no different from the buildings flanking it. In the driveway is parked a minibus large enough to fit everyone in, obviously the means of transportation which will convey everyone to the job.
Gord greets everyone as they arrive, telling them to take off their shoes and leading them through his house to the basement. The ground floor is about what you'd expect from a place like this. A little dusty and cramped, but warm and comfortable. The walls are covered in photos of Gord and his wife and kids, though only he seems to be present today. In contrast, the basement of the house is covered wall-to-wall in shelving and filing cabinets. The contents of the cabinets are unknown but the shelves are stacked with books and binders, most of which look old or self-published. Travelogues and histories compete with fairy tales and diaries for space, as well as many books which deal with the paranormal. A couple old computers sit uneasily in the corner of the room, clustered around a small mainframe which is obviously not of earthly manufacture. The rest of the basement is taken up by several tables, some of which already have folders and books open on them, and more than enough seating for everyone. The overall effect is that of a private yet well-stocked library, the perfect place to conduct research on some narrow or marginal topic.
It is surprisingly professional.
"We're going to wait a few more minutes for everyone else to arrive," Gord tells those people who showed up on time. "I'm surprised at how many of you showed up. After how Saturday went I thought that most of you would have dropped out before today," he confesses. "While we're waiting, is there anything I can get you? Syzygy gave me some funds for snacks, so I went out and bought a little bit of everything just in case. You're also welcome to check the shelves and read through some of the books if you want to. That's what they're there for." Needless to say, the designated leader of the group looks rather nervous. Part of this is undoubtedly due to the fact that he's much older than most of the people here.
Author
Topic: RotMG: Ghost Hunters (IC Thread) First Hunt (Read 32029 times)