Spinning with Rage and Whirlwind essence empowering Lurl, the savage man unleashed a mighty swing of his blood-red greataxe at Shrubley, who simply did not understand the act of aggression.
The blow pinged off of Jerric’s raised kite shield. The Paladin grimaced behind his visor. “He’s a monster, sure, but we are bound by our lawful rules. Shrubley is accepted as an adventurer now.”
Undeterred and far too furious to see sense, Lurl readied another mighty blow. If it was not already established that Lurl was last in line when they were giving out brains, it should be stated that a Bronze Ranker attacking a Steel was tantamount to suicide.
In fact, in many nations, attacking another person of a much higher Rank than you was put down as “suicide” on the death certificate.
Jerric remained in the way, protecting Shrubley, even if he didn’t like it. Laws were there for a reason. You cannot pick and choose which ones you wish to uphold, and the Guild had made its will known.
Guildmates of all sorts piled onto the Barbarian. Surprisingly, quite a few adventurers and attendants intervened.
The strongest among them was still no match for Jerric. He could have taken out most of the adventurers in the room alone if he chose to press his attack on the Barbarian.
And yet, Lurl would not relent. The two men struggled, with additional attendants and adventurers restraining the Barbarian. Jerric did not want to kill the man, but while he could kill every adventurer here aside from his group, it was another thing entirely to restrain a berserking Barbarian.
Even if he was two ranks below Jerric.
Eventually, however, the Barbarian was restrained. Jerric, doing most of the work, dragged the senseless Barbarian out of the Guild.
No matter that Shrubley was a monster, acting against a fellow adventurer within the guildhall was strictly against the rules.
Shrubley looked around at the destruction and chaos. Boy, adventurers are a rough and rowdy lot! He turned back all bright and happy to the shocked and stunned expression of Sel.
The elf looked at the shrub, then at the devastation of the room. Chairs were shattered into flinders, though the mages were quickly repairing them with simple spells. She even caught the glint of Blue essences being used by non-mages to restore order and reapply hardening charms to the furniture and walls.
Sel smiled tentatively at Shrubley and cleared her throat. Now that the Guild hall was largely emptied, things should be a little easier. She never did like having an audience.
The rest of the process was painlessly simple. Sel asked Shrubley questions, and the shrub answered to the best of its abilities. As much as Sel thought she could get through the rest in relative peace, the spectacle of Lurl being dragged out into the streets wasn’t enough to sate the appetites of the terminally curious adventurers.
Judging by the crowds of people piling into the guildhall to watch the historic event, the only reason the hall had emptied was so people could run home and spread the news.
Whispers of, “monster adventurer,” echoed out into the packed space of the hall, but Shrubley was quick to correct them with a shout of, “Hero Adventurer!”
Like the Adventurers Guild invite card that Shrubley slipped into his inventory where the map and his precious items were stashed, the panes of glass were special. Silver lettering appeared on each one after Sel had touched Shrubley’s invitation to it. Then after each answer, the woman wrote on the pane with a silver [Stele].
Finally, Sel flipped the last pane around and held out the silver utensil to the shrub. “Sign on the dotted line at the bottom, confirming your willful entry into the Adventurers Guild and that everything you’ve said has been true.”
Shrubley reached a twiggy hand out and grasped the heavy silver tool. Writing, like speaking and reading, was something he knew, though Shrubley could not remember how.
Once Shrubley signed his name, Sel took the stylus and the pane back. She stacked them with an audible clink and placed them somewhere behind the counter.
“Now,” Sel said, “there is only the matter of your first contract. To be fully inducted into the Adventurers Guild, it is required that you successfully complete a single contract from the wanted board over there.” She pointed a slender finger toward a bulletin board filled with nailed-on sheets of parchment depicting various monsters and imagery.
It was only visible because the main area of the guildhall was a recessed seating area. If it hadn’t been, Shrubley would never have been able to see over the countless faces watching him.
My first day, and I am already so very popular! I will make many friends, I am sure.
“Everything from helping out local villagers to completing hunts where you take out dangerous monsters is on that board.” Sel paused for a moment. Looking at all the faces of the adventurers, both new and grizzled, gathered around, she suddenly felt protective of the strange little creature. “May I make a suggestion?”
Always eager to hear the advice of others, Shrubley nodded enthusiastically.
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Sel leaned in closer and cupped a hand to the side of her mouth, dropping her voice so only the shrub could hear. “On the board at the bottom left is a contract calling for aid in dealing with some troublesome undead skeletons that are bothering a nearby farm. Beneath that is an old contract that asks for a courier. Take that one and bring it here.”
Shrubley hopped down from his perch. If he had been paying attention, he might have been shocked at how many people were gathered around in tight knots, many standing shoulder-to-shoulder, watching the bizarre creature.
But, ever single-minded, Shrubley only noticed that the people parted to allow him access to the board without a word. He reached one spindly arm up over his bushy body and reached out to the dozens of contracts available, his little mind spinning with all his eventual adventurous exploits.
They fluttered on an errant breeze, just like leaves on a bush.
When he ambled back to the counter, Sel stared blankly at the contract he set down. According to the bylaws of the Guild, she could not directly refuse his choice unless he had a contract open already or was not of the required rank, Star-rating or Grade.
Neither of which applied to the diminutive shrub.
“Are you sure you want to take this one?” she asked, fearing his answer.
Shrubley nodded enthusiastically.
Sel nodded and looked down at the contract. At least the shrub had partly listened to her. He found the skeleton poster she spoke about, but instead of taking the one beneath that, he took the skeleton contract.
“Are you sure?” she asked. It was as far as she could press the issue with her superiors right behind her.
“Very. I will defeat the bone boys!” he cried with a clenched and raised fist of wood.
Suppressing a sigh, Sel placed the necessary sigils in the air and the contract shifted form. It folded over itself until it was just large enough to fit into Sel’s palm. The paper hardened and glistened with milky moonlight, doubling in weight a few times until it had a nice heft to it.
The enchantment faded, leaving behind the Guild’s iconic quest card. Black obsidian glass with a polished copper border, designating the rank of the quest. No stars decorated the top of the card. If it had, she could have refused him on the grounds that he lacked the proper Star-rating. The quest’s specifics were written in golden script on the card itself.
Technically speaking, she could have tried to stop him on the grounds that the quest was Copper Ranked instead of Mundane. However, of the nearly 60 quests on the board, only 2 were Mundane. If the Guild didn’t have a special rule about Mundane and Copper overlapping, nobody would ever become a full member.
If she had tried that, she would have had to explain to the upper management and given good reason. That would only draw more attention to the little guy. Not to mention, once an adventurer’s file has a mark on it like that, it makes the bureaucrats’ job that much easier to add further restrictions down the line.
Sel handed the card over to Shrubley. The little thing’s branches shook with reverence for this latest gift. “That quest card will keep track of your contract and as you complete it, the card will update. Come see me again when it changes from black of night to pure moonlight. You’ll get your reward and be inducted as a full member of the Adventurers Guild.”
“Thank you!” Shrubley cried. He put the card, much larger in his hands than Sel’s, into the hollow in his middle and hopped down from the step stool once more.
Sel watched him go, along with dozens of other adventurers. For a long while, nobody said anything.
It was Royl, of all people, who broke the silence. “That little shrub is going to friggin’ die.”
The crowd parted readily before Shrubley and he was so excited for his first quest that he didn’t hear Royl’s words or the rolling snickers at his back.
He had some boney boys to bring to justice.
Outside of the Adventurers Guild with the morning sunlight warming his leaves, Shrubley brought up the contract’s specifics. Something that he forgot to do in his excitement and haste to prove himself.
New Contract: Run off the Rattle Rousers
An undead menace has been terrorizing the Haalften farms to the west of Taamra, stealing milk from all the growing boys and girls. Stop them and save Taamra’s milk supply!
Objectives:
Stop the Rattle Rouser gang 0/1
Rewards:
50 [Copper Coins]
Induction as an official member of the Adventurer’s
Difficulty:
Copper Rank
50 copper pieces! Shrubley thought, who had absolutely zero understanding of economics. I’ll be rich!
He didn’t even pause to consider that his ongoing quest, Become an Adventurer, also awarded 50 [Copper Coins].
Not until it was completed and more Shardscript appeared before his eyes, filling him with overwhelming joy and pride.
Quest Complete: Become an Adventurer
You traveled far and wide, venturing alone into a village territory few monsterfolk would ever brave, taking the first steps of your dream to become the strongest S-Grade Adventurer.
Against all odds, you have been accepted as a Junior Adventurer.
Objectives complete:
Survive the journey across the Riven Weald 1/1
Enter Taamra’s Adventurers Guild 1/1
Join the Adventurers Guild 1/1
Rewards:
[Curiosity Essence Gem]
50 [Copper Coins]
Monster Accolades (Rare)
The quest rewards materialized from the thin air into his outstretched stick-like hands. Quests like these were one of the world’s many wonders.
Shrubley’s glowing yellow eyes lit up at the [Curiosity Essence Gem]. The Druid had explained that essences were remarkably rare and that they were the key to becoming a powerful Hero.
[Curiosity Essence Gem]
(Essence Gem)
(Copper Rank) (★☆ Uncommon)
A multi-faceted, spherical black jewel shimmering with the golden inner light of Curiosity essence.
Imprint: Upon use, grants greater Curiosity Essence Experience.
He added the 50 coins to his [Verdant Inventory], a racial ability that granted him a safe space to store items. Shrubley could hear them land on the soft velvety grass within his magical subspace.
[Verdant Inventory (Racial)]: A grassy subspace and personal pocket dimension for Inventory that is the birthright of a proper Soul Shrub like you. Overabundant with Life mana, no items spoil or reduce in quality while within your pocket dimension. Additionally, this subspace is capable of growing larger if cultivated.
He found it quite satisfying to collect new things.
Shrubley didn’t know what monster accolades were, and he was still so in awe of the Shardscript that he was afraid to ask it any questions. Perhaps later.
He didn’t want to be rude.
As eager as he was to smash some do-bad skeletons, he would need some equipment first.