EASY SIDE QUEST
Iris woke up before dawn, determined to be fully prepared for the day ahead. She quickly got dressed in a comfortable tunic and trousers, paired with her trusty calf-high leather boots. She didn't want to wear any armor just yet since Sera was still asleep and she didn't want to wake her up. Iris wanted to take a moment to herself before the busy day began.
Still, she strapped her sword to her waist and looked around to make sure she wasn’t forgetting anything.
“You’re going out?” a groggy voice asked from across the room.
“Yes, just getting tea. It’s still early, you have plenty of time to sleep,” Iris whispered to the tired elf. “I’ll have a pot ready for you when you get up.”
Sera didn’t reply before the sound of her breathing was the only thing filling the void.
With a shrug, Iris grabbed her satchel and quietly made her way out of the room and downstairs.
As she descended the stairs, she could smell the aroma of fresh tea and baked goods wafting through the air, causing her stomach to growl in anticipation. The innkeeper was the only one in the room, and she quickly offered to get some tea for her. Thanking the woman, Iris headed over to a small table by the window, unstrapped her sword, and leaned it against the wall. As she sat down, she reached into her satchel and pulled out a book to read while she waited for her tea. Helda, the innkeeper from Cosdale, had thought she would be interested in trashy medieval romance novels with very little depth.
The woman had known Iris well.
The telv innkeeper soon arrived with a pot of tea and a small variety of pastries. Iris continued her book as she sipped the tea, closing her eyes and savoring the taste. It was much better than the root tea she’d been taking daily.
That thought brought a smile to her face. I may not need that anymore with Kaira. No chance of pregnancy there!
She chuckled at an errant image that popped into her head.
Unless there’s a surprise waiting for me.
The thought made her nearly snort her tea out of her nose.
Iris's attention was drawn back to her book as the faint hues of the dawn began to color the sky. She savored the last sips of her tea and nibbled on the pastries, enjoying the quiet stillness of the morning. The peaceful atmosphere was only interrupted by the occasional chirping of birds outside.
As the first patrons began to appear, the quiet ambiance that Iris had been enjoying was soon replaced by the clinking of dishes and murmurs of conversation. She let out a sigh as she poured herself another cup of tea, beckoning the innkeeper for another pot as she walked by. A fresh pot arrived just in time for Sera, who entered the common room looking more refreshed than earlier, to pour herself a cup of tea and greet Iris.
“Good morning,” Sera said, settling into a chair across from Iris.
“Good morning,” Iris replied, setting aside her book. “Did you sleep well?”
“I did, thank you. And you?” Sera asked, taking a sip of her tea.
“I slept fine,” Iris said with a small smile. “I'm just a little nervous about tomorrow.”
“The ball,” Sera said, nodding in understanding. “Don't worry, we'll be fine. We’ll just bide our time until we meet with Lady Arden.”
“Yeah, you’re right. I’ll try to be careful, luckily I’ll have Kaira there,” Iris said.
As she scanned the room, Iris noticed Tanith's absence and asked Sera about it. Sera explained that he had gone to meet with a representative from the Merchant's Guild and bring them to the inn.
Iris returned to her romance novel, savoring the plot twists and turns, as she and Sera calmly sipped their tea. Their peaceful moment was interrupted when Kaira strode into the room, dressed in her armor and exuding confidence. Iris’s heart skipped a beat as she took in the sight of the Guardswoman.
The woman smiled and waved as she caught sight of Iris, hurrying over to the two women.
“Good morning!” Kaira greeted them cheerfully, walking over to their table.
Iris smiled, lifting her hand to wave at her–Kaira. She winced. I don’t know what we are yet…
They’d only had one sort-of-date, so labels were still pending.
Sera raised her cup in greeting.
Iris scooted over to make room for Kaira to sit next to her. “Hey, you. You’re happy this morning,” she said with a smile.
“Thank you! I have a long day today, but I have one of my lieutenants covering for me tomorrow afternoon so that I can prepare for the ball,” Kaira explained, her excitement palpable.
“Did you manage to get with Marlena?” Iris asked.
“I did, and she's going to prepare everything I need! I can't wait for you to see it,” Kaira said with a mysterious smile.
Hiiiighly suspect.
Iris narrowed her eyes at Kaira's cryptic response, but before she could ask any more questions, Tanith entered the room with an elegantly dressed woman who looked like she belonged in high society.
She heard Sera gasp across from her and quickly move her teacup away.
Tanith made his way to the table where the group sat, and the high elf woman followed behind him. He introduced her as Guildmistress Valentina, the head of the Merchant's Guild.
“Good morning, I trust I am not intruding?” the Guildmistress asked.
Sera quickly stood up and brushed off her dress. “No, ma’am. I did not expect you to attend yourself, Guildmistress. I would have made time for us to come to you.”
The woman gave her a soft smile. “I am not beneath venturing out into the city in search of a good deal, Miss Timrel. Now, shall we?” she said, pulling out a seat next to Sera–who had quickly moved down one.
This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.
As the Guildmistress settled into her seat, Tanith pulled out a chair for himself and sat down beside Kaira, the two giving each other a nod as he did. Iris observed the exchange between Sera and the older woman, noting the air of formality between the two. Sera seemed to be holding her breath, looking nervous and fidgety.
Iris decided to break the tension by speaking up. “Good morning, Guildmistress Valentina. It’s an honor to meet you,” she said, offering a small smile.
The woman turned toward Iris and returned a smile. “And you as well, Miss Iris. I have heard so much about you,” she said before pulling out a small notebook from… somewhere. “Now, for the purpose of this meeting, I assume that Miss Iris Stuart is the one in charge?” she said while looking around those at the table.
Iris nodded her head. “I’m the one who wants to start the guild, yes. I am also an adventurer.
Guildmistress Valentina nodded, jotting down some notes in her notebook. “Excellent. Now, Miss Stuart, may I ask what your vision for this guild is?”
Iris straightened in her seat, taking a deep breath before speaking. “I envision a guild where adventurers can come together and support one another, share resources and information, and take on missions and quests that are both challenging and rewarding. Quests that can help the various communities and people of the region more quickly and efficiently than other agencies.”
The Guildmistress nodded, her quill scratching away in her notebook.
“Very well said, Miss Stuart. It seems like you have put much thought into this. Now, let me explain what is required to start a guild. I am adapting this based on the goals you have stated, as it is slightly different for each type of guild. Yours is most similar to the Guards Guild or Blades Guild,” Valentina said, putting her notebook aside and leaning forward.
“First, you need to have at least five members. These members must all be adventurers who have completed something in your… adventuring, which a quest or something you mentioned would suffice. They must also all be in good standing with the law and have no criminal record,” she said, ticking off each requirement on her fingers.
Iris listened intently, committing each requirement to memory. She saw Sera writing notes next to the Guildmistress.
“What happens next can come in any order, however, you need all of them for the guild to be started. I will leave it up to you, how you proceed,” she explained.
“You will need a sponsorship city. I am assuming you wish to start the guild here?”
“We do,” Iris confirmed.
“Very well. Then you will need to obtain approval from the city leadership. While hosting the headquarters of a guild is a great boon to any city, ensuring they sponsor a guild that fits the values and goals of a city is important. The Shipwright’s Guild would be a poor choice for Brightburn, for example. I will not presume to know what it would take to garner the city’s support for this. At the very least, you will need to be a citizen of this nation, which as a terran, I presume you are not,” she said with a small wave of her hand.
The woman was correct. I need to figure that out.
“Next, you need to submit an application to the Guild Council, along with a registration fee. The Guild Registry is responsible for keeping records of all registered guilds and their staff,” Valentina continued.
Iris nodded, mentally noting the registration fee.
“Once your application is accepted, you will need to select a guildmaster–presumably yourself amongst the five founding members of the profession. Then you will need to have at least six support personnel, in addition to a contracted esquire. The guildmaster is responsible for leading the guild and making decisions on behalf of the members,” Valentina said.
Iris took a deep breath, feeling a sense of responsibility settle on her shoulders. She had always been a natural leader, but leading a guild was a different level of responsibility.
“And finally, you will need to establish a guild hall. For your guild,” she said, glancing down at her notebook. “This is a place where members can gather, and you will accept your quests or what have you. It can be anything from a small office to a large estate, depending on your resources. Nevertheless, you are required to show you have at least one thousand gold to initially invest into your guild,” Valentina concluded.
Iris sucked in a breath, glad that Sera was noting down all of the information. Starting a guild was going to be a lot of work.
And expensive.
“Thank you for explaining the process, Guildmistress. It sounds like a lot of work, but I am excited to get started,” Iris said, forcing determination into her voice.
Valentina smiled, impressed by Iris’s enthusiasm. “I am glad to hear it, Miss Stuart. The Merchant’s Guild supports the establishment of new guilds, and we will do what we can to assist you. I look forward to your proposal to the Guild Council and how your guild stands to profit. Remember, you will require the majority to approve the creation of the guild. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact my office,” she said, rising from her chair.
Iris stood up as well, feeling a surge of gratitude towards the Guildmistress. “Thank you, Guildmistress Valentina. I will definitely keep that in mind,” she said, shaking the woman’s hand.
As Valentina and Tanith made their way out of the common room, Sera turned to Iris with a look of excitement. “This could really be happening. I must speak to my company. I’m sure they will give their support!” she exclaimed.
Kaira shook her head. “I can’t believe it… I never thought I’d witness a new guild being created. I would love to do what I can to help you.
Iris grinned, feeling a sense of pride in her chest. “And we’re going to make it happen,” she said, determined.
When Tanith returned after escorting the Guildmistress to her carriage, the group started brainstorming what positions they would need to fill. Six people didn’t sound like a lot, but they only potentially had two, if Sera and Tanith signed on. Which if Iris had to guess, was almost a sure deal. The tantalizing prospect of establishing the first new guild in an age was overwhelming the merchant woman. The guard himself seemed interested and Iris could easily see the man filling the role of an evaluator or someone who assessed new adventurers and assigned a rank.
As Iris and the others continued discussing the Guild's future, the young barmaid returned to their table with a fresh pot of tea. “Would you like more tea?" she asked politely, pouring more tea into their cups as they each nodded.
As she was about to leave, she hesitated and spoke up, “I couldn't help but overhear your conversation about your new guild. I was wondering if you've ever considered adding a bar into the headquarters? It could be a great place for these… adventurers to unwind and socialize after a long day of work.”
Iris's eyes shot open in excitement. Holy shit, yes!
She couldn't believe she hadn't thought of it herself. “That's a brilliant suggestion,” she said, nodding enthusiastically. “We could create a space where adventurers can come together and share their experiences, while also enjoying a good drink. Maybe find new members for their parties and even have the quest board nearby! What’s your name?”
The young woman blushed at the attention. “Lyra, miss,” she said.
Iris smiled. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Lyra. Thank you!”
Lyra nodded quickly before giving a small smile and returning to her duties.
The others at the table agreed that it was a good idea, and they began discussing the logistics of implementing a bar into the Guild's headquarters. Iris was grateful for the young barmaid's input, as it had sparked a new idea that could enhance the Guild's offerings and further strengthen its community.
As they continued, Kaira eagerly contributed ideas and expressed her willingness to assist with the crucial task of finding the required five adventurers, ensuring that they were free of any legal troubles. Iris was grateful for the offer and eagerly accepted.
Soon enough, as the Guard Captain had to depart, she gave Iris a reassuring squeeze on the shoulder before bidding farewell.
“See you tomorrow morning?” Kaira asked in a hushed tone.
Iris beamed. “Absolutely. Have a good day at work!” She gave Kaira's hand a gentle squeeze before the woman pulled away.
After watching her cute butt walk out of the room, she turned back to Sera.
The other woman gave Iris a knowing smile, and Iris responded by playfully scrunching her face and sticking out her tongue.
Sera chuckled. “Alright, let's get to work. We won't rest until we have a solid plan for tomorrow,” the elf declared.
Iris straightened. She was ready.