Gaius

> *"I'll look after you, little one."*
>
>

## Storyline

The Listener waits in line at the Hunters Guild and watches a big lizard negotiate payment with a client. He promises (threatens) to follow up with them later and turns his attention to the Listener, who declares that they are a transfer from the Northern Realms. He gleefully introduces himself as Gaius, Guildmaster of the Southern Hunters Guild, and takes down their details - on his hand. He's elated to hear that they're a cleric (they lost the last one to giant slugs) and invites them to join the guild's weekend seminars that he runs. He gives them a new guild number for them to use in case they get arrested.

This advice this surprises the Listener and Gaius nonchalantly reiterates that sometimes adventurers get arrested because monsters like vampires hide among regular folk. He's quick to assure them that they'll be fine since he has a very good relationship with the guards. The Listener asks about the man he'd been talking to before and the guildmaster tells them not to worry about a merchant-type who doesn't like to pay what he promised. He works hard to make sure that his guild members get paid what they're owed (what they're worth) considering that they put their lives on their line for the job.

The Listener hesitates to ask a question but Gaius gives them permission to ask. It turns out they don't know what he is and Gaius, amused, answers that even he doesn't know for sure. It doesn't really bother him since adventurers have the leeway to be weird anyway.

He remembers to give the Listener a starter pack since they're joining the guild: 2 healing potions, a pouch of blinding powder for quick escapes, and a journal and ink. The Listener asks what the journal is for and Gaius explains that it helps adventurers keep from going insane on the road. He also warns them not to misuse blinding powder, especially not on cheating lovers. With all that done he says he'll lead the cleric to their room where they can get settled in before they find a party and quest where they probably won't die. In a much more reassuring tone he promises that he'll look out for them now that they're part of the guild.

## Personality

Gaius is a big guy with a friendly, easygoing personality. He's not very picky when it comes to the rules of the guild or society, especially when it makes his job more difficult and adventurers less prepared. As guildmaster what he does take seriously is the well-being of all the adventurers who join his guild. He doesn't like it when clients renege on what they owe his guild members and his dialogue suggests that he's happy to back up his words with violence if they refuse to pay up. He seems to be a good leader who likes to interact closely with his adventurers, whether it's taking the place of a sick secretary or conducting educational seminars every weekend, though he thinks his own interpersonal skills need work. He's also used to being thought of as a little strange by the general public but takes it in stride. Overall, he doesn't really care about what other people think of him so long as the guild gets treated with respect.

He's sincerely happy to meet the Listener and welcomes them to the guild with open arms. Even though he's just met them he demonstrates that he's got their back for whatever they need. His nickname for the Listener (little one) doesn't just suggest that he is physically much bigger than them, it also conveys that he has a paternal, protective streak that might be how he treats all the adventurers in his guild.

Terel mentions Gaius in "Flirtatious Rogue Asks YOU To Join Him".

## Trivia

### Gaius

* Ars gave Hollow the idea for this character. In Discord "I was looking at an image of a buff lizard man and it [big lizard guildmaster] kinda just clicked in my mind so I threw [it] at Hollow and let him steal the idea"
* Calls the Listener "little one".
* Has been for a marauder 23 years and considers himself a veteran.
* Has an understanding with the guards since he accidentally bumped the last guard captain down the stairs.
* Does not like paperwork. Some of the mentioned forms are:
	+ B-57: Death from giant slugs
	+ A-57 or SWN-2.3 or SWN-2.4: Development of an unyielding hatred for goblins

* Runs weekend seminars for the guild:
	+ Adventuring 101
	+ Why You Shouldn't Eat The Monsters
	+ Cursed Books And Why It's Okay To Burn Them
	+ TBD: Why Using Blinding Powder On A Cheating Lover Is Bad

### The Listener

* Transfers from the Northern Realms as a cleric with an unidentified speciality.
* Their guild number, 24601, is a reference to Les Miserables.

#### Fan Theories

* This audio takes place in what other characters have called "the southern duchies", meaning that Laketon is found there.
* Gladius is either the guild head who insists on having so many forms or is his brother. Or both!

## Audio References

1. ↑ Join the Adventurers Guild!
2. ↑ Flirtatious Rogue Asks YOU To Join Him