Lisandro needs a way into the convention. It’s starting up in a few days and he doesn’t want to get left out. There’s a tavern that gives discounts to delegates; he visits and offers to pay someone to bring him in as an ‘assistant’. The exact same amount as the stipend, since the archmages decided thats how much a delegate costs.
It’s not hard finding sortitions willing to take him up on the offer. The hard part is finding one who has the right attitude about it.
”I’ve seen you flying around the city, that spell last all day? Imagine the look on their faces if you have that going the whole time. Hovering off the ground, a wizard in fancy clothes and a headband, just an assistant taking notes and refilling my water.”
“Yes. You see my vision.”
“This is going to be great. We’ll need to practice the message spell thing so I don’t look surprised every time you send me something to say.”
“We can stop by the temple of Shelyn, I bet they know how to make it look smooth. Every proper opera has a cantrip wizard with message on standby, watch one with arcane sight up and you can see it in the air whenever an actor forgets his lines.”
“Never watched an opera or used an arcane sight spell myself, I’ll take your word on it.”
ah, right
“Hey if I’m going to be getting double stipend, you should put your wizard mark on my other hand. I’ll be the only one in there with two.”
“Of course, that’s the only way it makes sense.”
arcane mark
“-and so, the pact is sealed.”