D.E.M.O.N.S: Getting Summoned Weekly isn't so Bad

--- Kat ---

The next morning saw everyone, except Lily, waking up and continuing their run. Kat used the free time she had at breakfast to start telling Hunter and Kamiko about her life. Though Kamiko had already heard a good chunk of it. The conversation did have to stop once they started moving again, but it was easy to pick the thread of conversation back up once they took their first break.

Kat covered her childhood, what it was like growing up in the orphanage. Hunter had seemed offended that Gramps didn't have any adult help, but Kat had pointed out most of the kids deliberately came to her because she was only sort of an 'authority figure' instead of an adult like Gramps. Hunter still wasn't entirely pleased but didn't throw out any more complaints.

Their next stop found them resting at a stone bench someone had made along the path. It wasn't the only one, someone had set up a set of six benches, all carved from stone. They didn't seem to be recent, and the stone itself made them easy to maintain. Kamiko pulled out the watering dish for the horse and upended the endless flask over it.

Kat glanced over and added hers to the pile while Hunter used it to keep herself watered.

While this was happening Kat covered how she met Lily, and eventually ended up touching a bit on the fact she'd given a favour token to Lily so that she could become a Memphis and connect to each other. Kat wasn't prepared for Hunter's response. AT ALL. "That's so sweet.

I think that's a wonderful use of a favour token, and truly wish I was close enough to someone to be willing to use a favour token for them,"

Kat looked at Hunter like she'd grown a second head for a few seconds. "Huh… you know… I'd sort of expected a different response from you. All the people that I've talked to, even vaguely, about those tokens treat them like they're invaluable.

I get a talk about 'not wasting them' every single time it comes up, even Kamiko, no offence, still pointed out how rare and valuable they are… but you jumped straight to 'that's great' and… while a surprise, it means a lot you think that,"

Lily looked up from her notes and gave Hunter her own smile while Hunter bowed back in response, making use of her flexible spine. "I am glad to provide you with a unique perspective, though it is much easier for me to provide such in this instance.

My clan specialises in Hunter, and while such tokens are still rare on an individual level, those of my clan that are exceptional, and the clan itself, can acquire a rather steady supply of them.

"The clan even has some specific laws about the use of favour tokens for the clan. I will cover them in a moment. In terms of favour tokens, without going into the specifics which I should not divulge, I can say that I have spent some tokens, and yet, retain more tokens the those I have spent because of my skill and dedication to the hunt.

"In this case, while I do understand their value, and the more you gain the more restrictions on their use are added… I also understand that having a pile of tokens assigned to your name and never using them means that they are functioning only as paperweights. If they are not used, they are not truly worth anything, for they offer you nothing in a box.

There is not interest to be gained from holding excessive numbers of tokens, and truly any more than a handful can be considered excessive.

"In your case, offering a race change surgery to your paramour is far and away the best use of them I have heard of, even from within my clan. Not to suggest they are used poorly, but the clan mostly makes use of them for requesting restricted techniques or large amounts of rare materials needed to make things such as our higher end weaponry,"

"That seems like a good use of them," agreed Kat. "It's probably better to have people to make the weapons, and then ask for rare materials. I imagine you get 'more bang for you buck' from the favour tokens that way,"

"Indeed. Many craftsmen are willing to go above and beyond when you provide rare and interesting materials to them for use. Cultivating a good relationship with them has been an exceptional boon for the long term growth of the clan. Our weapons are considered some of the best in the entire Hub because of this.

Of course, we accept that due to our unique skillset we are also entitled to more favour tokens then is standard.

"Of course, many other large clans have ways of generating their own large amounts of wealth. They just do not usually generate tokens specifically, which does limit us in some ways, while it is freeing in others," stated Hunter.

"So… you mentioned there were rules around favour tokens? Do you mind mentioning them?" asked Kat.

"I have no issue with it. They likely will never matter to you, but perhaps you will find the topic interesting. The first, and most ironclad rule regarding them is that the clan cannot directly request you use a favour token for them. We have an internal notice board, and they can offer rewards if you officially turn a token over, but direct requests cannot be made.

"Further, you can only turn over one token to the clan every century. There are some exceptions, such as if you manage to acquire more than ten tokens within that period, but even then it only allows you to donate an additional token to the clan for every five after that first ten.

"It is likely, though I have never cared enough to check, that this is in part a compromised reached with D.E.M.O.N.S itself. Favour tokens are meant specifically for the recipient, and while trading them away is a valid use of them D.E.M.O.N.S does not wish for them to be stockpiled in a clan.

I know that asking about it through D.E.M.O.N.S gets a message back saying that any such deal would be classified above my level,"

"That sounds pretty fair," said Kat. "Though… why would you hand over a token to the clan? I mean, I'm just assuming that the clan wouldn't be able to offer anything that's actually worth the token, not when they're as good as they are…"

Hunter made a 'so-so' gesture. "In many ways you would be correct. Usually, they offer extended training in a niche skill in exchange for a favour token. They also offer excessive amounts of currency or overflow stock from the larder. It is… understood by most that these are bad deals. It is more about choosing to support the clan, and accepting favours for doing so then the listed price.

"There is also the section where I mentioned the better hunters in my clan can gather a regular supply of these tokens. It means that even if they are rare and powerful, for those of us who get them occasionally, they are not so hard to offer up.

The deal is not for those sub-par hunters that are lucky to acquire one or two favour tokens in their entire lives by getting lucky, it is for those of us that are ready and willing to take difficult jobs such as the one we are currently on,"

"That… does put some things into perspective," acquiesced Kat. Knowing that she'd offer a favour token to the orphanage as repayment for raising her well. It was her home… but really the token would've been for Gramps… who had already turned down such an offer. It was a shame, but Kat knew the old man wasn't immortal and didn't want to be.

"Is… is this really so dangerous?" asked Kamiko. This caused Hunter's eyes to snap towards Kamiko. Perhaps she hadn't been expecting Kamiko to speak at all, or perhaps she had gotten lost when speaking about her clan. Whatever the case, Hunter took a few seconds to stare at Kamiko before nodding ever so slightly.

"Yes. This mission is dangerous. Doable certainly. They would not send us here if they did not expect us to survive and succeed in the process but it is truly dangerous. A drake that has been left to gestate for as long as this one carries certain risks not present in other missions.

Most contracts we perform are easy by comparison, we are all but certain to succeed assuming we stick to just what is requested of us. It is why the hunt is worth a favour token each. This is important, and unlike many other missions… it MUST be done,"

Kamiko nodded shakily as she ran the brush along her horse's flank as the tried to clear away the worry she now felt. Her meeting had been quite different then Kat's and Hunter's. It was more about how they needed her on the mission to answer the summons… and that she wasn't really expected to do much more than that. Which was fine… though now she couldn't help but worry.

It seemed like she'd dragged Kat into quite the mess after all.