The twins shared three reasons for their invitation to the Free Lancers Compound.
"First, you want to join, and it's cheaper with a member sponsoring you," Kaspia began.
Her brother seamlessly spoke next. "Second, you're going to the new dungeon in this hirselland, and the guild's going to be one of the best places to find out more before you arrive."
Kaspia resumed. "And, third, we owe you. It is part of what it means to be a Free Lancer that we pay our debts." She looked directly at Cerise as she said that.
Cerise considered her grave expression, and asked, "Do you feel there is a debt between us?"
"Absolutely," Kaspia said without hesitation. "I was awarded the [Survivor] achievement for narrowly dodging Noq-el's grasp, and that is solely because of you."
Cerise nodded, slowly, thoughtfully. Prompted by the fragments of her traveling soul, Cerise said, "I am no god to tell you what your life is worth. There isn't much that my family and I are in need of at this point, so if what we can accept from you still leaves you feeling indebted, I hope you can alleviate that indebtedness by paying it forward. We," and here Cerise gestured to her parents and Mykhal, "are only here because of the generosity of those who were once strangers to us."
You have earned the achievement [Blessed by Noq-el]!
[Blessed by Noq-el]: you have pleased the God of Death. Perk: you gain Death Resistance. Noq-el sees purpose for you among the living. This resistance will wax and wane at Noq-el's whim.
Cerise's eyes rounded, her face paled, and her jaw dropped. A few incoherent sounds dribbled from her lips.
"What is it?" "What's wrong?" "What happened?"
Mykhal caught her by the shoulders and she sagged against him. "Breathe!" He ordered her. She nodded and tried to focus on the act of expanding her lungs, filling them with air, holding like that for just a moment, then pushing the air out, and starting all over again.
After several moments, Cerise's ability to form words returned to her. "Achievement. Blessed! By Noq-el!" When she spoke the god's name, her voice resonated with the chill of the grave.
Hidden Perk Discovered: speak the name of the god that blesses you and their authority follows.
Cerise needed a few more moments after that.
----------------------------------------
The twins accompanied Cerise and her family to the Temple of the Gods, where they were met by a priest of Noq-el on the steps leading up to the temple proper.
"Hello!" The priest, known as a Mort, sang out. "A [Survivor] and a new [Blessed] together?" He clapped his hands just under his chin. "Oh lucky day!" Then he became all seriousness. "Miss [Blessed], there is no need to panic. My patron is a very no-nonsense sort. Death is not a game, nor a game player. If he wanted you as a dedicate, he would have told you so, or sent you a mentor. Whatever you did to earn the blessing is something he wants to prosper in the world."
The Mort-el held up a hand before they had a chance to respond. His gaze grew distant and he cocked his head to the side as if listening. Then he laughed, a rich and wickedly delighted sound. Soon, the grin brightening the priest's face became a relaxed remnant of his mirth. "And when I said he doesn't play games, that applies to we mere mortals. He does have a friendly rivalry with Lunaria, and your blessing, Miss [Healer], is a benign way to poke at her as much as to encourage others to emulate your," and here the priest held his cupped hands up to show that he was quoting, "'humble generosity and grateful spirit'. In furtherance of that,"
The priest stepped up, made some intricate finger gestures, and tapped Cerise's mother on the forehead. "[Benediction]," he intoned, and mana cascaded through the priest and settled around her mother. He repeated this with her father, Mykhal, Kaspia, and Casper.
Once done, he stepped back, waved, sang out, "Have a nice day!" and then turned and went into the temple.
They all looked to each other in confusion, and cautiously, unsure at first, turned and headed to the Free Lancers Compound. None of them spoke before reaching the compound.
----------------------------------------
Kaspia took them to a plain wooden door to the right of the red client door by a few bow lengths. She pointed to the down-pointed sword engraved in the door. "This is the mark for the irregulars, the sub guilds and smaller teams banded together under the aegis of the Free Lancers Guild. We're the folks who would be Independents if not for the Lancers. The Company men use the door with crossed swords. The Consortium usually is to the left of the client door, and they use bags for their door marker."
Behind the door, a large foyer led to two distinctly different rooms. To the left was a small room with window counters much like the Finance Claimants counter in Va'Treborant. The filigree was made of steel and more swirly in design, and there were four windows with an obvious door in the far corner. A board with tokens stood in the middle of the walkway from the foyer to the counters.
To the right, there was a tavern room, with a mix of table sizes and a barkeep at the back wall. Barrels lined the wall behind the tavern's bar. There were smaller groups scattered around the tables.
Kaspia picked up a token and led the way to a table in the tavern. "These are queue markers. There's rune magic involved. When it's our time for the queue, our mark will light up. We can go outside; as long as we stay on the compound the mark will be good. If you don't get up to the counter fast enough, the clerks will signal for the next queue mark. That happens and you'll need to line up with the marker showing that it's been lit up. When you're called to the counter, then you put your queue marker back on the board, wherever there's a free peg."
A group got up and headed toward the counters, giving their table an interested look. One of the group stopped, saying, "I'm going to catch up with the twins." His friends waved him off.
He approached the table, calling out, "Hey, Kas-Cas, how are the Hammers?"
"Luffy! Good to see you!" Casper said, standing to grip forearms with the man. "The Hammers are prospering. We had a bad scare with Pia a few days back, but she's a [Survivor] now thanks to young Miss Cerise here." Then Casper made introductions, calling "Luffy" Mister Lufer of the Brush Rangers, a [Scouts] team.
"So you're here to join the Free Lancers? The Hammers recruited you?" Luffy asked.
Mykhal shook his head. "We're going to the new dungeon town, to delve there and settle Cerise's parents. If things are good for us there, we'll stay, or if not, we'll find a place to prosper."
"Wait," Casper said. "I thought you and Cerise are sibs?"
"We're best friends, and we were neighbors before our village was wiped out," Cerise said. "In fact, Mama and Papa stood for Mykhal when his dad was to have been working the mine for our village. Our classing days were back to back, and we overnighted at the holy place. That's the only reason we weren't caught up in the attack that killed our neighbors. That was the second time the cyr of those lands broke covenant with Mykhal, and he wasn't well thought of, so we exercised a Freeman's right to seek prosperity elsewhere."
Cerise's mother smiled and smoothly stepped in. "We decided on the new dungeon as much because I like fish and hope to find new foods to cook as the stories of how the newer dungeons have all sorts of opportunities for those willing to work."
"Well, that's true enough," Luffy agreed. "If you're mainly interested in dungeon delving, buy the book of Druerjan's dungeon laws. It's hard for the nobles to cheat a man who knows what he's owed, and you can turn over older books for any newer editions for a discount. The downside to the purchase is that you mayn't claim ignorance for a mitigation if you break the law, but again, Velton's nobles rarely mitigate for ignorance where Free Lancers are involved. Honestly, not many nobles do."
The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.
Cerise's father asked, "How much are the books?"
"I think for dungeon laws and edicts, it's a leaf, but asked the clerk," Luffy said.
Another group rose and Luffy's group returned. They joined the table and introductions were made all around.
None of the present Brush Rangers had been to Sea Crest Dungeon Village, but they had been to new dungeons, and they share that experience, ordering a round of small beer while they talked.
"Oh, the dungeon's called Sea Crest because that's what's on its coins. I don't think anyone's earned more than grands from it yet. Last I heard, it's only opened up six floors, and silver isn't usually seen before the tenth floor." The man who said that fished a small copper from his pocket. He showed them the dungeon crest that looked like waves crashing against cliffs.
"So, you two alone are going to delve?" an older member of the Brush Rangers asked.
"Nah," Mykhal said. "We'll look for someone with some delving experience to complete our triad."
"Aren't you a bit young for that?" another [Scout] asked.
A man from another table called out, "Hey, I'd delve her dungeon!"
Casper called back, "Did you miss the part where she's thirteen and he fourteen?"
"What are you even talking about triads for? That's way too young!" the lewd man called back.
"What? We can join the Free Lancers, but we have to be soloists?" Mykhal asked, his frustration souring his expression.
Suddenly, Kaspia began to laugh, huge bellyaching laughs. Everyone turned to look at her.
"What?" Her brother asked.
"Nor-Northerners!" She gasped out, doubling back over as she caught sight of the frowning faces around her.
Cerise got a weird feeling. "Hey, Mister Luffy, what do Southerners mean when they talk about triads? We've only heard of them as Free Lancers teams, not big enough for a guild."
Mykhal blinked and tipped his head to the side like a confused puppy.
"It is not a type of Free Lancers team, and at least around these parts if it isn't true, calling a group of Free Lancers a triad could be taken for fighting words. Small teams are parties, and official like parties have a dedicated [Scout] and [Healer], though often enough the [Healer] can be a [Combat Alchemist] or just someone with at least Practiced-5 in a First Aid skill. Add a [Warrior] type to that and you have a classic party. Most delvers prefer a four or five man party, adding in another [Warrior] and then maybe a [Mage] or another [Warrior] or [Scout]."
"Oh," Cerise said. "Well, we're going to look for someone to help us form a 'classic party', and we'll be looking for cautious and experienced party members, though we'll have to see who all is available."
"Why wouldn't you want a [Mage] over a second [Warrior]?" Mykhal asked.
"[Mages] bleed mana into the air, and monsters are always mana-hungry. You need the extra shield to keep the [Mage] alive when he starts casting." That was one of Luffy's guild mates.
Cerise and Mykhal had more questions, but their queue marker lit up.
"That's our turn!" Casper said, and the impromptu conversation broke up.
The woman at the counter listened as Casper and Kaspea explained their purpose.
"So, let me get this straight. You," pointing at Cerise, "are an unaffiliated [Healer], undedicated and unbound to any [Healer] Halls or even any liege. She," pointing to Kaspea and making the woman grimace, "is alive and a [Survivor] because of your actions. What compensation have you received from her or her team?"
"Well, she is guarding the caravan we're traveling with, and she brought us here to gain more information of our destination and help us with enrolling as Free Lancers ourselves. There's not much more we need, so I've asked her to be willing to render aid to those in need of Fortuna's smile. It was by such kindness that we came to be in a position to help her out," Cerise said.
"Is the caravan paying you to tend to the guards?" The clerk asked.
"No," Cerise's mother said. "They reimburse us for materials used, and cover our road levies for us to travel with them. The caravan master said the contract with the Steady Hammers left them responsible for their own [Healers] and healing costs."
"All right. Wait here. I need to get an officer to approve under age applicants and address the compensation you're due." The clerk took off even as she was speaking.
A few moments later, she returned with a short man, quite broad, and bald as an egg, but with thick eyebrows and a prodigious mustache. Cerise felt a strong wash of an Identify type skill roll over her.
"You want to be Free Lancers?" the man asked.
Cerise returned his Identify with her Appraise.
Name: Colin Iron Fist
Race: Dwarfed Giant
Strata: Freeman, Free Lancer
Class: [Laborer] Rare, Initiate; [Warrior] Uncommon, Initiate
Health: High, Full
Stamina: Excellent, High
Mana: Moderate, High
"Yes," Mykhal said, and Cerise smiled and agreed, too.
"And you're asking for sponsorship as compensation--."
"No," Casper and Kaspia said together.
Kaspia continued. "We brought them here as a token gesture, a symbol of the life debt that I owe Miss Cerise. We're sponsoring them because they will be assets to the Free Lancers Guild. I have statements here from our team members regarding our experience with both Miss Cerise and Mister Mykhal. Sponsorship is not compensation."
"Good. Let me see those." As Colin took the packet of papers from the twins, he glanced to Cerise and Mykhal. "I don't suppose you have any Letters of Recommendation, do you?"
Cerise and Mykhal produced theirs. In addition to the recommendation from Sir Fenrick, Miss Sanyel and Guard Sergeant Gohren had written letters for all of Cerise's family. Elar had provided one detailing his training of Mykhal, and Tamrin had handed over a letter of his own for Cerise and for her mother.
"These are my first experience with Letters of Recommendation, so my apologies if this is something obvious to you, but I was told that we are to require these back once you have verified the imprimatur." Cerise said this as she handed over her packet.
The officer set aside letters from the Study Hammers and put on a carefully neutral expression as he opened Mykhal stack first. The neutrality gave way to interest, and mild respect as he went through the stack.
He smiled on reading Tamrin's recommendation, but he nodded with obvious respect on reading the letter Sir Fenrick wrote. Each time he reached the imprimatur on a letter, Cerise felt his mana move. She paid careful attention, and on the sixth, the Voice of the World whispered to her.
Skill mutation identified for [Appraise]. Verify Mana Signatures. Refer to profile for more information.
[Mana Sensing] advances to Practiced-7.
That had been growing quite quickly as Cerise began to watch people using their skills, after trying to feel how Mykhal cast his Lights.
"Well, with these alone you're welcome to the Free Lancers Guild. Mister Mykhal, by the laws of the Kingdom of Druerjan, you are an emancipated youth and so bound by your word. Miss Cerise, you will have to be emancipated, either by writ from your parents or by reaching the Age of Responsibility, before you may join."
Cerise's mother sighed. "Where do we obtain this writ to sign?"
"Can you read?" Colin asked.
"Not too well, but yes," Cerise's mother said. "Cerise and Mykhal are both much better."
"Good enough. I can have one of our scribes draft a writ for your review. It is fairly simple. You affirm that you release responsibility for Miss Cerise's actions to Miss Cerise and renounce any legal authority you might exert over Cerise as her parent. When you affix your imprimatur to that writ, Miss Cerise's Identify profile will reflect that she is an emancipated youth."
That made Cerise curious. Her Appraise hadn't shown more than strata when it came to a person's place in society. Maybe she needed to spend some time contemplating that skill soon.
"Well, then, we just need to sort out this matter of compensation," Colin said.
"Did you see her [Blessing]?" Kaspia asked.
Colin's eyebrows rose. "I did."
"When Miss Cerise explained that she wants for very little, and refused to put a value to my life, she said that what I cannot repay to her should be paid in service to, how was that phrased? 'Those in need of Fortuna's smile'. She received the blessing then. We went to the temple before coming here, and were met on the steps by one of his Morts. Essentially, the Lord of Bones liked her attitude, and I don't have the hubris to second-guess a god, let alone him and so soon after our brief meeting."
Colin's gaze flicked between the filigree and Kaspia. "Well, then, it would seem all that's left is the paperwork. Let's be about it," he said.
An hour later, Cerise and Mykhal had pendants identifying them as newly enrolled Free Lancers. They were registered as a duo under the team name Delving Lights, Copper ranked, and given sponsor gifts of the Free Lancer Guild Rules of Conduct, the Dungeon Laws of Druerjan, A Report on the Sea Crest Dungeon, updated Midsummer of that year, and a Free Lancers Guild depository account for their team. The schedule of fees for their account was included with their new books.
The duo was now eligible to take on commissions from the Free Lancers Guild. After they advanced to Bronze rank, they could take on client requests, though those would still be restricted by Free Lancers Guild rank.
Copper to start. Bronze rank for the minimally competent. Silver rank was for reliable parties. Gold ranked teams were effective, and Platinum ranked teams were dangerous. Beyond that were the Master teams.
The majority of Gold team members had to be in the Adept class range, and the Platinum teams were top performers. Master teams usually had one or two members in the Master class range, but a few teams have made the cut with only Experts.
Cerise could feel Mykhal dreaming of becoming the leader of a Master team. She knew they could do it, too.
Cerise
Race: Human
Age: 13, Youth
Total Level: 12
Class(es): [Arcane Healer Novice]
Social Strata: Commoner, Freeman
Pools:
Health: Moderate
Stamina: Good
Mana: Good
Attributes:
Focus: High
[Arcane Healer Novice] (12)
Arcane Healing: P-5
Heal Wounds: P-7
Heal Toxins: B-9
Heal Diseases: P-6
Triage: P-9
Stabilize: P-6
Diagnose: P-5
Pain Block: P-6
Slumber: B-6
Paralyze: B-3
General Skills
Slots: 2, Used: 1
Acting: P-9 (I-9)
Animal Handling: P-3
Appraise: P-2
Blades: P-1
Clear Mind: B-4
Cleanse, Greater *†: P-2
Cooking: P-9 (I-3)
Cyphers: P-1
Dispel *: B-0
Drawing: P-4
General Anatomy *: P-2
General Craft *: P-8
Herbalism *: P-3
Hunting: B-6
Lend Potency *: B-0
Logic: P-9 (I-3)
Mana Proprioception *: P-4
Mana Sensing *: P-7
Natural Weapon Combat: P-4
Oration: P-8
Potion Brewing *: P-9
Quick Stepping: B-8
Research: P-9 (A-4)
Scribing: P-9 (A-8)
Staves: B-3
Stealth: P-0
Surgery *: P-3
Teaching: B-3
Skill Unlocks
Mana Sight
Mana Scent
Mana Hearing
Tame Monster
Dull Pain *
Lend Vitality *
Sense Life *
Heavy Blow (Staves)
Quick Thrust (Staves)
Sweeping Blow (Staves)
Counter Strike (Staves)
Achievements:
[Blessed by Noq-el] Perk: Death Resistance ♦
Hidden Perk: Divine aura permeates the god's name when you speak it.