Inquire About The Adventurers Program

Wintermoor is a very VERY old institution, and as such have accrued a dragons hoard of arcane artifacts, antique baubles that are older then most kingdoms, grimoires both cursed and blessed, weapons that have been forged by the very gods, all are stored here in the hall of antiquity, a secluded but well maintained stretch of academy grounds.

The hall is built like a cross, there’s the door you had walked in from, a stretch of hall straight ahead and two side areas of equal size halfway inside, pillars hold up the mind bogglingly high ceiling and at the intersection you spot a large circular desk with magic items and parchment spread across its rounded surface and sitting at that desk is a woman.

At a distance you figured her a human or maybe a half-elf in her mid 40s but as you draw closer you make out the finer details, patches along her forearms and neck that bare scales not skin, her reptilian eyes examine a strange box, and as you reach 10 feet from the desk you spot it, instead of sitting in a chair, the creature sits upon a long coiled tail that seems to have taken the place of her legs. This is a lamia.

You approach nervously now, you had heard that such creatures were far from civilized, stories abound of cults of the creatures that worship gorgons as though they were gods, wiping out villages just like yours that rest on the fringes of settled lands. However this woman is clearly different from the stories, she wears academy robes, she examines the strange device with a care that is more befitting a maiden then monster, and so you introduce yourself.

“Um… g.. good day ma’m… are you… Curator Sexleel…?” You ask, half fearing the veneer of civility and intelligence might suddenly shatter, and the woman lunge at you like a viper.

“I am…. What do you ssssssssseeek….?” The woman asks, not taking her eyes from the device as though she were reading impossibly small text written across the ashen surface.

“I… I heard about the Adventurers Program…? I… I was wondering h.. how much it would pay to take part in one of these expeditions..?” You say, your nerves settling themself as your fears are steadily assuaged.

“That dependsssss on the artifact… ssssome are more costly then othersssss…” she says, despite the speech impediment like hissing that pervades the woman’s speech, her words are measured and steady befitting of a mage of high standing.

“W.. well then is there any active searches…?” You ask, hoping to learn of what kind of payment you can expect before narrowing down your wishes.

“There are many… I possessssss many leadssss….” She says finally placing the box on the table, for the first time laying eyes upon you sizing you up with a cold, calculating gaze.

“As you can ssssee… there is much sssssspace to fill…” she says, gesturing a hand to the halls on her right and left.

To the right of this intersection, are what appears to be a collection of scrolls, grimoires and manuscripts held, while much of the space is filled out, it’s still clear to see that it isn’t yet full.

To the left however are what appears to be a collection of various equipment, the kind an adventurer might happen across in their many romps across the realms, there are shields, swords, suits of armor, staves and more but like the right, there’s still clear gapes in the displays, just waiting to be filled.

Beyond the desk and the snake woman who sits behind it is another section, this one grander then the other two where the others display conventional items, scrolls and swords and tomes and baubles, this one is different, by far the least populated area with only three items displayed at present.

You see a large grandfather clock, of excellent make, ornate and polished to a perfect sheen, it looks more at home in a palace then the glass confines it finds itself in. Not far from it is a statue of a person, who or what they are isn’t clear, wether it’s the product of poor craftsmanship or intentional design, you can’t tell.

Lastly and most strangely appears to be an orb of some kind of energy, surrounded by a corona of iridescent light that stings the eyes when stared at for longer then a few moments.

“Many expeditionsssss are open currently, but I’d recommend partaking in the sssssimplest of them..” The curator slithers to one corner of her circular desk, collecting a few sheets of parchment before returning, placing each of them on the desk facing you.

Each contains information on a specific artifact, legends that mention them, rumors regarding them, and what they supposedly are for.

As you scan across the myriad papers, one does catch your eye, causing you to stop your skimming and eye the parchment more throughly.