Alongside the short master was a large group of individuals. They all were clad head-toe in what looked like some sort of raid gear.

For comparison, Gray who had been in a more knightly attire was easily outclassed by the armor and weapon quality equipped by this group.

This explained the heavy sound of their approach.

-Volun Sarek: "You! Escort the pair to the dungeon's opening." The man pointed at one of his subordinates and gestured for them to be the manifestation of these words. "MAKE HASTE. Time is not plentiful at this moment. Ensure they are not harmed under your protection, otherwise, my wrath will be retaliation enough!"

The single individual sought not to question the Guild Master's words.

-Leek: "Wait. What is happening?" He and Gray were rounded up, and put into a more space-efficient pair.

They were rushed away, at Leek's coercion, and ushered through the dark tunnels of the dungeon.

Any encounter with a hostile mob was avoided, the guard was of such a higher level that no monster dared to show their teeth to them. Running to cower at the twin demons new partner.

-ALTgray: "... What is the point of this??" His shoulders hung a tad lower than usual, and any pitch in his voice flattened from before.

-Avery: "Huh. Have You Not Been In Town Recently? I've Heard Whispers That Jour, The Cave Boss, Has Awoken And May Become An Imminent Threat To Faerilm." The guard started to get a tad more enthusiastic about the subject. "Every Offensive Guild Head Has Decided To Work Together, Form A Powerful Raid Group, And Attempt To Eliminate Jour, In The Case It's Required!"

- Leek: "So that's what you guys were doing down there."

- Avery: "No, We Are The Scout Group. The Main Raid Team, Which Is Stationed Elsewhere, Will Go In After us. We're Trying To Figure Out The Situation And Make Sure Any Necessary Precautions Are Taken On The Actual Dive."

After little more conversation about the specifics, sunlight from the outside could be seen by the party of three.

They arrived at the destination set for them by Volun, the dungeons mouth.

Avery, their temporary escort, bid a quick farewell and departed again to catch up to the Scout Group waiting for them.

Now, on the outside, people had been gathered.

They were all geared up, patiently waiting for some catalyst to call them to action.

Noticing the individuals exit the cave, those at the front snapped to attention; anticipating the reemergence of a messenger from the Scout Group that had gone ahead of them.

"Who is that."

"Is that the Tamer Guild Leader?"

"... Are we going now!?"

"I don't think thats people; monster?"

Any air that stood still was quickly taken up with these, and other whispers.

Leek and Gray's eyes adjusted to the change in brightness the moment they exited. That's when they saw the many people, who sat in anticipation, collectively groan at their sight.

Nothing interesting, even in the slightest. They wanted intrigue, action... or at the very least, something that could point at these coming soon.

These two people walking into the light did nothing to push either of those agendas. So no one wasted a beat getting back to their personal conversations.

Blending into the background the twin demons went to reenter Faerilm's walls.

Squeezing through the many people, trying not to cause a commotion.

"Oh, I think the gods have taken a liking to me!" With these words a hand clamped to his left shoulder.

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Leek, confronted with his experience in the Guild Hall, froze for a moment. He was lost in thought before the person holding him shoved him, forcing his face to align with their's.

Dwarfing him in stature was a toothy grin; touching either rigid ear on the side of this woman's face.

Her hands, now free from Leek's shoulder, were encased in a teal set of armor.

-Karyel: "See. I thought you would have fled town about now. Or, at the least tried to switch characters on me!" She did not spare that ugly ass smile for more than the moments between her words.

Leek heard these words, and rather than digest them immediately he went to looking around at any person accompanying Karyel.

His eyes darted quickly, looking for that face, the one he saw not too long ago.

Zhyen.

The man who had initially attempted to reason with him during their encounter in the hall, though his biased leaned toward letting Karyel get her way.

It was him who he sought to verify in this situation.

-Karyel: Her grip had gotten tighter, taking note of Leek's clear disconnect from her presence. "Hey! Who in the fuck are you looking for??" Her grin turned into a malportioned snarl, just as a rabid dogs. "So you aren't taking me seriously?? Don't worry, I'll send your ass back to character creation!"

Her intent was to teach a valuable lesson: Never step to those above you.

And acting on her promise, Karyel threw her fist into the little lamb's solar plexus.

-Karyel: "How sweet! You didn't even resist for me... I couldn't have had a better present." A faux tear fell from her eyes, leaving a trail on her cheek. "Now if you were looking for my associates to step in, you're shit out of luck."

Everyone who had been in his way initially parted to make space for the encounter. All watching with silent consideration for the beat down that was going to happen.

Karyel, especially when partnered with her companions, was a widely known bully.

She would make newbies, and inexperienced players time a living nightmare for as long as she could. To a point that many would even consider it a right of passage for any accomplished adventurer.

This was possible due to the 'Ranked Guided Journeyman' status her character had.

It came with a sense of superiority as there were not too many allowed at a time to hold it.

NPC's, or even the Master rank players in a guild were permitted to have a set amount of Guided Journeymen, that acted just as an apprentice under them. This directed not only interactions with other guild members, but it also altered how an NPC interaction would go.

Cities were guarded by high ranked NPC's.

Karyel, for example, could employ them to do her bidding under the sway of her exceptional title; common players would have no more than a shoehorned dialogue option, thus being unable to combat her intentions by talking a situation out.

To anyone remotely experienced with social tendencies, this was fertile soil to breed a fair bit of corruption among the unprincipled higher ranks.

When you spend time going from place-to-place, having to trek previous grounds of other adventurers, its very likely for you to have frequent run-ins with particular groups; the more active the greater chance of an encounter.

So the sphere of influence would spread from more than the same-guild members.

Trade routes could be altered enough to bleed a town dry of their crafting materials, reducing the experience a given blacksmith could earn, and their total output.

Forcing them to relocate to a larger settlement, and having to split a greater amount of their gains with others grinding in the same spot. Effectively stunting their short-term growth.

Similar situation with a players aiming for nobility within a certain region.

Appearances, and renown could not be overstated enough. One letter, strongly worded against your person could be indicative of an unfair candidate, thus losing any practical shot at a title.

"Court Of The Incompetent,' or " The Band Of The Brutes" are common appellations thrown around at her and anyone facilitating/condoning her actions.

These reasons, not in isolation, gave precedent for no one to step in and aid the helpless bird, caught in her deadfall.

-Leek: "So... why can't you just fuck-off?" The punch he endured did (6)HP worth of damage, stretching just short of his expectation. But regardless, the wind had been knocked clean out of his jaw.

-Karyel: "Heh? You still have a mouth on you!?" Her frustration rose a bit more. "Okay. Take a taste of this then!"

In the moment she finished uttering her words her body had been enshrouded in a colourful aura.

This casing had a tangible feeling.

Karyel's feet became sturdy, and her muscles seemed to have gained density.

Maybe her height had changed in either direction also?

-Leek: It was unclear as the differences were too subtle to Leek's eyes. "What i-"

*ccCrAaaGhhT*

An aura covered kick connected with his fifth, sixth, and seventh ribs. Whipping itself around, and practically hitting him in the back at the same time.

There was no armor covering her leg, yet this attack felt stiffer than the hit with her clad hands.

His knees almost gave, his left hand clenched at his ribcage. The pain matched something he'd expected of the hit to his solar plexus.

(9)HP of damage.

-Leek: To control himself Leek took a deep breath, the pain was sharp as he did so. "Huu-Agghhhh"

-Karyel: "Huh? Seems like I might have hurt you... could you ever for-GIVE ME!" Another kick came at him, looking to hit the already weakened right-side of his ribcage.

He still prepared to counter the hit in the rosy chance he had the skill to do so; it was more probable for him to go flying than to do too much.

At minimum he tensed in apprehension.

Then, coming from his right side, a sudden thrust of wind materialized. Causing a reactionary chill to run down his spine.

"No more. Stop your assault."