***Mavaos Continent***
***Arshan Province***
Skylar Soltain wanted to be an adventurer. More specifically, she wanted cure herself of her boredom. As she continued to watch her little brother and his friends train and grow alongside each other, she made a decision.
She was going to explore the world with some of her own friends and even make new ones. Both Mavaos and the Untamed continents were filled with work for adventurers and she could certainly learn a lot from new experiences.
Yet Skylar needed a group who she could rely on. So after leaving her brother and friends, she immediately flew to the Arshan province to find two of her former classmates. Skylar didn’t make many friends at the Academy, but she did usually spend her time with two commoners who excelled in class.
Lucas and Lianna were twin brother and sister who always stuck together, usually trailing just behind Skylar in and between classes. They both had dark-skin and red hair, with light orange eyes contrasting their darker coloring. There also both children of hunters, and easily preferable to diversify Skylar’s future party. Skylar wasn’t really one to use advantages like stealth or range, so adding the two to her party would certainly cover her glaring weaknesses.
Convincing them to join her quest in exploring the world wasn’t too difficult. The twins were also looking for something more in life, and the prospects of finding fortune through adventuring were much higher than most careers a commoner could pursue.
Entering the nearest city of Indrac, Skylar quickly produced thirty coppers for the gate entry fee for the group of three. Carrying so much loose money was tedious, especially considering her partner was away and she didn’t own any spatial jewelry.
Spatial jewelry to easily carry and move items was a highly sought commodity throughout the continent. Many have tried to replicate the methods of the ancient draconians in their production, but have always found themselves unable. Skylar remembered that the Imperial Family had spatial jewelry which they sometimes rewarded to nobility or loyal servants, but knew of very few people who had actually been bestowed with such an honor. Her mother and grandfather were such people, but they were rewarded for their actions during wars and the empire was currently in a time of peace.
Skylar had heard rumors of other ways in obtaining spatial jewelry, but with such a sought after prize, requirements for access were high. The most common way was to reach out to the adventurers or mercenaries who would be willing to part with their own treasures. This often left the men and women willing to sell their jewelry with enough money to live lavishly for the rest of their lives and put their family higher than most nobility financially. Yet Skylar didn’t have that kind of money, and her parents certainly weren’t going to pay such a price for a piece of jewelry. If she wanted spatially enchanted items, she would have to work for it.
New dungeons and old remnants of lost civilizations were often places remarked for holding remarkable treasures, including spacial items made by the draconians of old. Though in the empire, one couldn’t get access to these dungeons unless they became an adventurer or mercenary. The laws weren’t the same throughout the continent, but it was unusual for one to explore a dungeon or ruin and not be affiliated with either the Guild or the Union.
The Adventurer's Guild and Mercenary Union are quite similar, and often mixed up by those who didn’t know better. The largest difference between both are the types of jobs taken, and the amount of associates related to each division in each kingdom. This has left a rather long and unnerving cold war between the two factions, as they continue to fight for a monopoly of business in the regions they choose to set up in.
It isn't unheard of for actual skirmishes between the two factions to form, with both sides suffering casualties. The impact of the skirmishes are large in some kingdoms and smaller in others. For example, in the Hyperion Empire, all premeditated murder is considered illegal, but depending on the province and ruler of the region, the nobility often turns a blind eye to the darker activities of both factions.
Some rulers even favor one faction over the other, easily aiding the affairs of the side that they support. This support comes for a multitude of reasons, from just the faction getting in the good graces of the nobility for their actions, or to bribes of lesser nobles for their unmarred backup. Each region’s state of affairs in the everlasting cold war differs, and it is quite difficult to determine which side truly has the upper hand.
Though there are some regions where one of the two factions could easily be seen doing better off. The main reason being that the type of work they most actively do being quite in demand in the area.
Like their Union counterparts, the Adventurers Guild takes the requests of those who can pay, and select from the numerous jobs set by requestees for completion. The most prominent difference from their Union counterparts are the large majority of the jobs the Adventurer's Guild take are problems of the environment. New dungeons discovered to be cleared, expeditions into the Untamed Continent, the subjugation of powerful magical beasts, and other issues that stem from the product of magic and the environment.
A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.
The Mercenary Union would also take jobs of this category, but it is hardly their speciality. Another one of the largest differences between the Guild and the Union is that the Guild will never take requests involving conflict against official humanoid sovereign powers. Still, the Union has no qualms of supporting the highest bidder, and aiding certain powers defend or usurp territory and power. The Union thrives most in war, so is very commonly seen in the Odon Empire where each of the warring clans constantly fight for territorial supremacy.
In reality, there is a fine line where jobs would be taken by both factions and conflict would arise. Each faction suffer a minimal profit loss because of the involvement of the other, unless one side specifically looks to damage its counterpart. It is possible for both sides to coexist peacefully, yet leaders fuelled by lust for power, greed, and pride led to the cold war that now encompasses the entire continent.
Skylar Soltain had been taught enough about both factions. She wasn’t really interested in the conflict of others, but she knew she would become at least a bit involved the moment she choose a side. Becoming an adventurer seemed like the right call though, she was more interested in exploring the unseen, and pushing the boundaries of what humanity knew to be true.
She needed to rise through the ranks, and reach a status where finding a spacial ring would be reasonable and doable.
Walking down the cobblestone street alongside her two companions, Skylar eventually reached a point where she could see both a Union and Guild building, large and imposing, standing directly across from each other.
Each of the buildings seemed to be undergoing expansion construction, as if even the walls themselves were having a competition in determining who was bigger and better.
Skylar sighed and rubbed her temples, knowing she was signing herself up for trouble she didn’t really ask for.
“Whatever…” She turned to her two former classmates. “You two ready?”
They both nodded. Lucas and Lianna were rather quiet people, but that evened out with Skylar’s more boisterous attitude.
Turning to the right, the young women and man walked between the large wooden columns that supported the oversized metallic sign that stood over the double door entrance. Pushing the door open, the trio were greeted with a mass of noise with men and women eating and moving all over the large room. The lights that hung from the rafters were bright, and looking to her left, Skylar noticed all different types of people wearing various weapons and armors hovering around a wall filled with papers and requests. Looking to her right, Skylar observed a large board filled with names, one column showing top adventurers in the world, another top in the continent, and last top in the province. She was interested on how they acquired such information, and how up to date it was, but stored that curiosity in the back of her mind to be pursued at a future date.
The three pressed on, walking directly towards one of the booths with an older man working on the other side. As they approached, Skylar couldn’t help notice some of the rather unsightly leers in her direction, no doubt some of the more uncultured brutes picturing her without her clothes. She knew she was beautiful if her mother or aunt’s looks had anything to say about it, but was still not completely accustomed to males openly gaping at her appearance. Yet she pressed on, there had been nobles and commoners alike that had desired her attention at the Academy, but she never found herself interested in any man as of yet. Perhaps it was her own insanely high standards, but Skylar Soltain wasn’t going to settle for a relationship with a man who was weaker than her. She also wanted an attractive and intelligent man that could keep her moving forward, one who always supported her no matter what. That was just how she was, if that eliminated more than ninety-nine percent of possible suitors on the planet, than so be it.
Reaching the desk, the elderly man looked Skylar in the eyes, “What can the Guild do for you today?”
Skylar looked back at her two friends, “My friends and I are interested in joining the Adventurers Guild and forming our own party.”
The corner of the older man's lips lifted upwards. “A little young aren’t we? Not the youngest I’ve seen but you three can’t be past eighteen summers.”
Skylar decided to play along and made a slight frown of her own, “I was unaware there were age restrictions to join the Guild… Perhaps the Union could be a bit more accommodating to my request.”
The man’s pale complexion went a few shades whiter, “My superiors would have my head if I even let an infant join the Union. Let me prepare the proper paperwork.” He stood up and grabbed a few papers from behind him.
Handing two forms to each, the trio sat at the nearest open table and began filling them out. Filling it out with personal information such as first name, birth place, and fighting abilities. The forms weren’t very specific so the group left their answers pretty vague.
As they were filling out their papers. Lucas spoke up, “Incoming.”
Skylar twitched her head to the side to see one of the men who was previously looking at her body. The rather unhidden gaze made his intentions pretty clear. Behind him were other men, she assumed made his party.
Skylar wasn’t really in the mood for this.
As the leader got within talking distance he immediately open his mouth, “Whats a pretty yo-agh!”
He was instantly sent hurdling across the cafeteria like hall and slammed against the stone wall. His companions were scattered throughout the room, their injuries only slightly less than the supposed leader.
Some in the room were left gaping at what just happened while others just choose to ignore it and continued with their own business. The trio payed no mind to the observers and finished out their forms, both the twins had seen the heir of House Soltain use far more powerful spells than the mild wind gust she just performed. In the end, the only information Skylar gave to the guild was that she was born in the Soltain province and had an affinity for wind. No useful data was left in regards to her true identity or abilities.
Approaching the same receptionist behind the counter, the three handed him the papers. The man’s face remained unchanged as he took the forms, yet his eyes glanced to the unconscious man being pulled out of the wall.
“It will take a day for your cards to be made, and I’m afraid you will probably have to pay for the wall.”
Skylar grumbled something incomprehensible under her breath and pulled a golden coin out of her bag. Handing it to the receptionist, she said, “I’ll come back tomorrow for the change.”
He smiled and nodded. “You seem to already understand how things work.”