Adventurers

The Adventurer’s guild on Eryn sat in the outermost reaches of what survived of the 7th district following the Sauridius attack. The Emerald Guard had tasked a lot of their membership up to assist with evacuating refugees into the forests during the attack. As a result, they forced some adventurers into combat against the hatchlings and thier quickly mustered assault force.

The fatalities in the conflict meant their numbers were thin, and not expecting to see their numbers swell for sometime. As a result, they’d been tempting the Federation troops berthed in the city with the promise of coin and freedom for working some of their job postings. Their adventurer board had become clogged with jobs that needed doing and not enough bodies capable of doing them.

The main guild hall sported simple if efficient construction. Employing mostly wood and some stone accents that weren’t too artistic. The Guild’s approach was more akin to function over form, which stood in stark contrast, considering the city of Eryn was infamous for its preference of form over function. The main floor housed an administrative area that served as both intake and registration for jobs and adventurers. Just behind that stood the jobs boards. Erected by level of difficulty, they went tier 1 up to tier 5, ascending by floor with each tier increase. This lent the Adventurer hall a grandiose scale, making it one of the larger establishments in this wing of the district.

The hike to the front doors of the hall took the squad a short time to make. After the fallout of the attack on the temple, Morwen had moved to the sixth district close to Yasiin’s block. Now that most of the non elves were as affluent as the rest, the class disparities between the races had all but evaporated overnight, causing quite a stir among the metropolitan nobility. Morwen preferred staying closer to the dwarves and humans. She found them ironically more grounded, mostly, since they comprised most of Eryn’s working classes.

Upon entrance to the Adventurer’s guild hall, Akamori rubbed his head with a pained groan. A pair of sunglasses shielded his eyes as he paused inside to let his eyesight adjust. Sirsir slapped him on the back with a smirk as the big man strode past him. “Let’s go, Drunkamori.”

“Ugh, I’m never going to outlive that, am I?”

“Nope!” Amara, Yasiin, and Sala chimed as they filtered in around him. Akamori sighed heavily and strode in to link back up with them. Seated at the desk in front of them was a man wearing more formal attire. His hair was casually parted, and he lightly smelled of garlic. A name badge identified him as Greg.

“Ah! Hello adventurer! Welcome to the Adventurer’s Guildhall. Are you here to join the guild?”

“Are we able to do that if we’re Federation troops?”

“Most certainly! They actually expedited the sign-up process thanks to a few rules of the Ar-sorry. Former ArchPriest wrote into the Federation’s charter that recognized the Adventurer’s Guild as affiliate members.”

“So we’re technically members already?” Amara asked.

“More or less, yes! There’s just some supplemental paperwork to sort and then you’ll be official. It’s important to note that your membership in the guild does not obviate you from your responsibilities as Federation soldiers. As full-fledged members of the guild, you draw on jobs related to your respective magic tier.”

“Our what?” Amara asked.

“Your tier. How many infusions of magic you’ve had?”

“oh! Ok.”

“If you’ll all just kindly fill these out.” Greg said, handing out white dragon scales. “These are soul scales. They take an imprint of your soul so we can craft your badge.”

“We get badges?” Akamori asked, leaning against the counter for support.

“Quite so. Your badge allows the guild to track who you are and what assignments you’ve been given. Where your geospatial location is, and even what spells and abilities you’ve gained access to.”

Akamori polished his badge and showed it off with a grin. “We get badges.”

“So, what do we have access to?” Morwen asked at the front of the group.

Greg produced a monocle that had runes inscribed along the rim. They glowed softly with fire and mind magic. The red and ping energy mixing as Greg read their soul auras. Until it cracked when he reached Akamori. He took the device off with a perplexed look.

“Hmm. Odd. That’s never happened before.”

Akamori shifted uncomfortably. “So what’s that mean?”

“Not sure,” Greg said. “Usually means there’s greater magic preventing someone from scrying the soul. In your case, someone wants you to have your privacy.”

“What can I say? I’m a man of many mysteries.” Akamori said, trying to recover some of his natural composure.

“Except for how many magibeers it takes to get dragged into a bar fight. It’s twelve. The answer is twelve.”

Akamori groaned and hung his head as the others shared a chuckle. “That was one time.”

“And a memory worth a lifetime.” Sirsir chuckled. “Anyway, to answer your question, the Eltee here has had 5 infusions, he’s a lieutenant in the Federation and one of the best damn soldiers you’ll ever meet.”

“Ah! A man esteem I see.” Greg complimented.

“Six actually. I’ve had six. The void reaper abilities I got with a second void magic infusion.”

The others all shared a nervous look, but Sirsir stepped forward and clapped Akamori on the back enthusiastically. “Don’t matter none to me. Long as he puts those scaley bastards in the ground.” He said after clearing his throat.

“Yes well, having a few mages with so many infusions merits you access to all of our jobs boards.” Greg said with a natural cheerfulness.

The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

“So we’ve got full run of the roost?”

“If by roost you mean available job listings? Then yes, I suppose you do!”

“Smashing. What needs doing?”

“Well. I noted that there’s a job to tackle an Icon sighting.”

“An Icon?”

“Icons are manifestations of raw will and magic. They lack souls, however, and thus wind up corrupting those with souls into becoming their worshiping thralls to provide them sustenance.”

“Sounds like a real toxic relationship. Any special way to kill it?”

“Not particularly. Withstanding its corruptive ability is the worst part.”

“Who created the Icon?”

“The Seraphin. With the escalation of the war, their tribe has grown increasingly agitated of late. The Federation could keep them appeased until recently. I’m afraid the Sauridius attack on the city caused the tribe to panic. So they fled to summon their Icon, Seraphina.”

“Seraphina?” Amara asked.

“The False Lady of Light. She looks angelic, has 12 wings, coated in white feathers, gold accents and robes. But don’t let her holy appearance deceive you. She’ll burn any non-believers down to ash.”

“I was thinking this was going to be a nice outing for us to relax and unwind guys. When did this turn into another save the world routine?” Amara asked.

“It needs doing. Do we really want some false god strolling in at our six when we’re trying to deal with Sauridius binders?” Akamori asked.

“No, I suppose that’s a valid point.” Amara acknowledged.

“So Greg. Which way do we need to go?”

“The Seraphin tribe is located high in the trees a couple of kilometers out. Oh uh, are you planning to go without spell armor?”

Akamori sighed. He really missed his armor. “Yeah. Part of why we’re here is to build up a purse.”

“Greg smiled politely. “I see. Well, good luck!”

Wearing his old blue gi with gold trim, Akamori strode along the forest floor accompanied by the squad, who walked in a casual wedge formation with him. They’d passed mostly in silence, making their way along the needle and cone covered ground at a moderate pace. Sala was in the lead and paused, throwing up the hand signal for the squad to halt. His nostrils worked as he sniffed at the wind, eyes narrowed, then his gaze panned upwards and they could see a large wooden city built into the top of the canopy. So they had to go up.

It had been a bit since they’d all moved as a proper squad. Akamori was glad to have Yasiin and Sala back. Going to the abyss without them didn’t feel quite right. But he knew their staying behind also helped delay the Sauridius long enough for them to get back and save the day. So the scaled balanced out in the end. Everyone’s spell armor’s thrusters ignited with a magic as they flew up save Akamori who resorted to using his void magic to open short distance teleportation portals to hop from branch to branch upwards. A portal opened on the lowest branch beneath the Seraphin city, and he emerged, steaming gently with a sheen of frost melting away just as the others landed around him.

“You ok?” Yasiin asked him softly.

“Yeah. Just a little chilly. Could really jump for time in the hot springs when this is sorted.”

As they strode forward, a fiery missive appeared in front of him.

System Info: Clear the Seraphin city

Objectives: Fight through the Seraphin and defeat their Icon, the False Lady of Light Seraphina.

Accept? Yes/No

Akamori mentally accepted the task, noting an Adventurer Guild Stamp embossed on the missive before it faded from view. Turning his focus ahead of them, they see a path that wound towards the massive tree trunk that twisted up and around it. That at least confirmed that there was a purpose and design at play. They were dealing with a sentient peoples here, which made their next task all that much harder. He drew his blade from his void pouch and bucked the belt around his waist. Lacking the armor to mount it to left him feeling naked.

Lacking the enhanced interface he enjoyed with his former armor, now he only had a very basic semi translucent paper doll, AP gauge and compass. No tax map or waypoints. He would need to lean on his perception skill more heavily. He turned back to see the whole squad had readied their gear. Morwen was the only other one not wearing armor. Salsa at least had his armor bottoms on.

Once everyone was ready, they set out. Akamori slipped a pain pill into his mouth and chased it with some water. His hangover still doing its part to make him miserable. They didn’t advance very far before they caught sight of their first locals. They were roughly humanoid sized. Six wings on their backs, just as Greg said. They almost looked right at home on Eryn. Except there was something off about them.

“Anyone else feeling that?”

“Seeing it. Their aether. It’s heavily corrupted.” Amara told him.

To his senses, there was a strong oily smear in the Seraphin’s aura. Their souls, bodies, and minds were all bathed in the corrupting energy so that now they lived only to serve the false god they’d sought to raise. Some mumbled about protecting the Lady. Others about basking in her light.

“Kinda giving off creepy cult vibes here.” Akamori said. He’d contemplated a non-violent approach at first. That thought last as far as it took the lead Seraphin to lunge at him with inhuman speed.

Akamori parried and opened a portal to dive into. An exit opened up behind their ranks as Sala plowed through, letting out a war cry. The Seraphin turned to focus on the primal as Yasiin and Sirsir opened fire. Amara advanced, squaring up with a target that she quickly dismantled.

The fight only lasted moments, but it was enough to know they would not get through to the converted. Anyone touched by Seraphina was irredeemable. Akamori sighed reluctantly. This wasn’t quite how he wanted things to go. Still, he hoped for the best as they pressed onwards.

That hope was dashed the instant a second group approached. They were aetherically broken. Capable of existing only within the proximity of Seraphina. It was a painful dilemma to face. For the Seraphin to live, their false god had to die. But without her, the Seraphin would wither away and die to too.

“Take the kid gloves off. It’s time we put this situation to bed.”

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