Seven Signs, Mammon's Contract

Ready are you? Well then, let's get to it!

I'm sure you're full to the brim with questions, but allow me first to tell you a short story. My tale should answer your questions before they are asked, give you context to what you have already witnessed, and show you your path if you are to continue working with the Order of the Dawn.

That, I assume, is a given?

• "Yes. I promised Priest Cain I'd work with you."

x("finishedquest.htm")

(Only characters who are level 79 or higher and who have completed the Seven Signs and Dying Message quests may undertake this quest.)

Good, very good! One thing the Order can never have too much of is talented individuals such as yourself.

Now, this story. Let's start back at the very beginning, shall we? Emperor Shunaiman unifies Aden, and brings peace to a world that had for centuries been ravaged by war, greed, and chaos.

Even today his time is remembered as a time of prosperity and peace--a golden age.

• "I know that."

Good, very good! One thing the Order can never have too much of is talented individuals such as yourself.

Now, this story. Let's start back at the very beginning, shall we? Emperor Shunaiman unifies Aden, and brings peace to a world that had for centuries been ravaged by war, greed, and chaos.

Even today his time is remembered as a time of prosperity and peace--a golden age.

• "I know that."

As most do.

But many are not aware of a great battle that bubbles under the surface, between our order and the Order of Dusk. We fight for control over the Seven Seals, the seals Shunaiman himself created to fight Shilen and her armies.

These seals are now buried deep in Aden's catacombs and necropolises, areas which have turned into hellish battlefields.

• "I see."

Aye, but what you don't see is one of Aden's most closely guarded secrets. You see, Emperor Shunaiman's rise to supremacy was not a smooth transition, and in his darkest hours Aden's greatest Emperor turned to some unlikely sources....

• "Okay..."

Aye, but what you don't see is one of Aden's most closely guarded secrets. You see, Emperor Shunaiman's rise to supremacy was not a smooth transition, and in his darkest hours Aden's greatest Emperor turned to some unlikely sources....

• "Okay..."

Quite a story, isn't it?

Not many know of the secret agreement between Shunaiman and the Merchants of Mammon, and even fewer are aware of the part they played in guaranteeing his rule.

Speak to me again and I'll teach you more.

There is a problem though. Others have found out about the contract and have far less qualms as to how they obtain the thing.

We believe that monster you fought with Priest Cain is one of the agents searching for the document, though many questions still remain. Is it working alone? What does it intend on doing with the contract once it has it?

• "No doubt these questions will be answered in time."

No doubt, but time is not something we have to spare, my friend.

Now listen. Our agents have succeeded in gathering all but the last page of this contract. We believe this last page has the secret agreement penned in it, the one we seek to uncover.

We need help. We need someone to go and recover the last page.

• "Then you know where it is."

We do--the Priests of Dawn hold the page. One of our spies was able to find the document, but was discovered and killed before we could spirit him away.

I want you to go in his place, infiltrate the Priests of Dawn and steal the last page of that contract. We'll train you up first, or rather Agent Collin will.

You'll find him at Aden's South Entrance. Take him this note else he'll tell you little more than the time of day.

Hurry along to Agent Collin, won't you? He won't wait for you forever, you know.

Hurry! Oren's South Entrance!

Ribbit! Servant! You were ribbiting servant I sent to give letter to ribbiting frog lady, yes? Think you were... all look the same to me. Rib-rib-ribbit.

Did you give her it? Croak!

• "Yes I did... er... ribbit."

Well ribbiting done! Ribbit!

And what did she say? Tell me and I'll send you flies for a whole week! Two weeks! Croak!

• "She said she liked it... ribbit! But love cannot be proven by just a ribbiting letter...."

Greedy ribbiting frog lady! Rib-rib-ribbit!

Well then I'll send her dead worms! Dead ribbiting worms and rotting ribbiting flowers! Romantic, right? Croak!

• "Maybe a ribbiting jewel? She'd like that... ribbit!"

Ribbit! What happened to you, servant? Much smarter than when I ribbiting sent you! Eat a smart-fly or something? Rib-ribbit!

Very well, I'll send her the Blue Bead, my most treasured ribbiting possession. She can't say no to such a beauty!

Take this and ribbiting give it to her! See what she says, and come back to me with the good news! Rib-rib-ribbit!

A ribbiting human wakes me up! Ribbit!

Get out! Thought you were someone else! Someone I was waiting to hear from! Croak!

Hurry and take the ribbiting bead to her! Take too long and someone else might snap her up!

Go! Rib-ribbit!

A ribbiting human wakes me up! Ribbit!

Get out! Thought you were someone else! Someone I was waiting to hear from! Croak!

What time do you call this?! If you want to make a career out of this, you'll have to do better than showin' up late on your first bleedin' day, hear?!

Who was it that gave you the job anyway? Luca? Tano? It was Tano wasn't it? I'll clip his ear for this.

• "Uh, yes... Tano."

Typical. And would you look at that--you didn't bring any gloves! Bet that was Tano 'n all eh?

Well, you can't work without gloves, pal. You'll have hands like ribbons before lunchtime.

• "I'm sorry mister Kuta. I didn't know."

Yeah well, you do now. Just thank your lucky stars that I bought a new pair recently, and still have the old ones kicking about. Go on--take them, but if they don't fit properly don't you dare even think about complaining.

Now let's get goi... WHAT ARE THOSE THINGS ON YOUR FEET?! Don't tell me you didn't bring proper shoes either!

• "Oh... I must have left them at home...."

Forgotten them?! Well you scamper on home right now and fetch them then, you hear?

I'm docking your pay--half wages today! You've made me late too, so don't think I'll be waiting here for you when you finally manage to get your mangy form ready.

Hurry up!

Hey you! You haven't seen a young lad milling about have you? Supposed to have a new starter today, but lord knows where he's put himself....

Ah, never worry. Look, if you see him, or if he asks for Kuta, tell him I've started work at the Coliseum.

Fine, you go wander off. Just don't expect me to be waiting by the time you get back. Honest to god, you'll be lucky if you're job's still here, pal.

Hey you! You haven't seen a young lad milling about have you? Supposed to have a new starter today, but lord knows where he's put himself....

Ah, never worry. Look, if you see him, or if he asks for Kuta, tell him I've started work at the Coliseum.

Oh my! You... you scared me there, child. Can't see too well these days, not with these eyes! Oh no....

Now, what's your name again? Hmm?

• "Grandma, it's me!"

Oh my--of course it is!

Now sit down, won't you, and tell old Grandma what you've been up to. I thought all you kids were going fishing today? Couldn't you catch anything?

• "No Grandma! And I'm real hungry!"

Oh I see! Well then let me get you some of the candy I made. It's not going to fill you right up, but should keep you going until supper.

Hmm... I'll tell you what. How about I give you all the candy I made, and you hand it out to the others kids?

Now hurry back to your friends, hear? I want you all back before dark or I'll have to come looking for you again. And with my back....

Oh hello there!

You haven't seen my grandson have you? Short boy, looks like he needs a good meal... no?

Well, if you see him, tell him his grandma is looking for him, all right?

Hurry along now child, and remember to be home before dark!

Oh hello there!

You haven't seen my grandson have you? Short boy, looks like he needs a good meal... no?

Well, if you see him, tell him his grandma is looking for him, all right?

Excellent news. I am so very thankful to Priest Cain for getting you involved in the Order of the Dawn in the first place. Perhaps you will be the one who can finally tip the scales back in our favor.

Now here's a little something for you.

• "Oh, thank you!"

Not at all! It's the least we could do!

Now, how about you take a small break, and come to me when you're good and ready to continue, hmm?

There you are! I've heard plenty about you already; in fact I've not heard my husband mention someone quite so glowingly in quite some time.

I've also heard your training sessions with Collin are over?

• "They are."