Patron for a long adventure:
"A while back, on the rumor that a particular Baron was going to be traveling on this ship incognito, I ordered some very expensive wine the Baron is known to like. Later events allowed to Baron to travel in his accustomed way, so he never took the trip with us. However, the Baron's butler has recently become aware that I ordered this wine. She tells me due to political instability on the world of origin, it's no longer available at any price. The butler has agreed to purchase the wine from me to restock his lord's winecellar. The only problem is that the wine never arrived to me in the first place. I've been meaning to track it down all this time, but my work has prevented me. I think it could at a wine locker on any of four highports (these may be on a variety of "colorful" worlds and so on). I can sell the information I have to you for for 5000Cr. There's a total of three cases, with four bottles each. The butler has offered what I think is a low-ball offer of 3000Cr per case. I think she could probably be persuaded to pay that per bottle, given the wine is in high demand when it was being produced and is not available at all now. You'll have to do the investigation yourself and the wine may not exist, but if it does, I can write you a letter of introduction to the butler so she'll talk to you. I warn you, she does know her wines so don't try and sell her anything but the real thing."
"Some time back, a high-ranked (noble/executive/something similar) traveled on our ship. Unfortunately, the lady left a piece of luggage aboard the ship when she left, an oversight both she and we did not notice for quite some time. She has recently been in contact with the captain who has entrusted the task to me. Due to circumstances, we cannot deviate from our routes to deliver the luggage to her. I'm approach you as a broker fellow I know tells me you recently purchased several tons of (some speculative cargo). I know that the particular item is in high demand and sells at a good price (some system several jumps away). On the off chance you are heading in direction of (system), I'd like to ask you to deliver her ladyship's luggage. It must obviously remain untampered with and if it is delivered to her, she will be quite grateful."
Patron for a short adventure:
"Certain passengers aboard the vessel enjoy certain...recreational substances. These are of course legal in-jump as the captain considers them legal. While it can be bought legally in other ports of call, the substance in particular is a preparation of a local herb that is powd...well I suppose that's too much detail. Suffice it to say, the local version of the substance apparently has an excellent reputation with connoisseurs. So good, in fact it is reserved for the use of the local nobility and it is forbidden for anyone else to own or use it on penalty of death. Nevertheless there are ... factors ... who can sell you to substance in the city outside of the starport proper in the native city. I'm willing to pay a premium if you can secure me this substance in the next 24 hours, whereupon my ship will be jumping out of the system."
"I'm approaching you as I'm told you are a group familiar of flexible means and skilled at improvisation. A group of high-rank Vargr will be traveling aboard my ship when we leave in two weeks. Being (Steward-4 and not some Steward-3) I require education in Vargr etiquette, specifically the proper way to serve the beverage Vnn'goestz as required of any steward of distinction among local Vargr. Being a Vargr city and anarchic, I require both an escort as well as a "pack" to gain the proper respect from the Vargr factions in this violent city (and he's not lying). In addition, the group has various rivals about the city, rivals quite willing to do anything to trouble them. Several crewmembers were injured and one killed once they learned we would be carrying the passengers. The captain has restricted the crew to the area around the ship, but has given me special permission. I'm willing to pay a (pretty good amount) for you to locate a teacher of Vargr of excellent repute familiar with the local customs and to take me to learn from this worthy. Obviously, the duration of the job will be at most two weeks, but may be less."
