ACT I • SCENA 3
BIG RATS AND BIGGER ROLES
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You, Varant, and Messen quickly prepare to embark on the low-tier quest they've picked up before the day runs out of sunlight.
[Guildmaster]image [https://i.imgur.com/iOtVQ2G.jpeg] Varant
image [https://i.imgur.com/xUCQ1Ot.jpeg] Messen
image [https://i.imgur.com/iD2AFcg.jpeg]
Soon, armed and armored with some rudimentary gear, you travel south on Gate Road alongside Messen and Varant. It's not long until you reach the city border, where you see a row of toppled stones that were probably once a wall. Maybe. The warehouse is only a little ways west along the stone rim that marks the border of the city proper, and it takes you only fifteen minutes before you reach the quest location.
You can see why they might have an aberrat problem. You suspect that the owners should be more worried about total structural collapse rather than a few aberrats, but that's not what you're being paid for.
[GUILDMASTER]: So if I remember the stories correctly, the typical advice for these things is to fight them somewhere they can't get the jump on you. I also remember that that's notoriously difficult to do.
VARANT: Good! I was just going to send us in there, but since you're thinking so hard about it, how would you approach this situation if your life or livelihood depended on it?
You blank out for a moment, but eventually stumble on what sounds like the start of an answer at least.
[GUILDMASTER]: Light is a good place to start. If luring them out isn't viable or is needlessly time-consuming, we could attempt to light up the interior of the warehouse to such an extent that they can't make use of the darkness. And, if I remember correctly, they don't see well in bright lighting.
VARANT: I'd say that's a fair way to go! But an easy fight isn't all we're after—remember, we need to guarantee that we got 'em all. And if they got in without an open door, they can get out without an open door.
[GUILDMASTER]: Should we start by checking the perimeter, closing up any gap we might find?
MESSEN: We'd be fortunate indeed if it is that easy. But it's the best place to start.
VARANT: If there is an obvious entrance, it's a safe bet that's all we're looking for. But it's not a bet you should make. Our job isn't just to knock out a few giant shrew-monsters, it's to make sure the problem is solved for good.
MESSEN: The Monstrums don't emphasize enough that aberrats are burrowing creatures. We will have to check for tunnel entrances in a considerable radius. Unfortunately… this is a city.
VARANT: Bah. I one time had to clean out an aberrat colony that was so entrenched I had to check every cellar in every house of the village to make sure I got all their exits. And there were five.
You shudder at the thought.
MESSEN: No need for such worries—I checked with the quest giver. They creatures have only been here two days, that they're aware of.
So, the three of you parade around the wall of the warehouse, knocking at loose planks and trying to decide which gaps are potential entrances. Eventually, on the south-facing side, you stumble upon a hole in the wall that has clearly been gnawed wide. Varant stays to monitor the hole, and you and Messen venture out into the knee-high brush south of the city, looking for more tunnels as well as loose materials to plug up the hole.
You succeed in the latter but not the former, thankfully. With some effort the hole in the wall is adequately filled with a boulder, some loose stones, and bright clay-like soil. You were sure you heard a nasty squeak coming from the other side during the process…
You continue your route around the warehouse, plugging up anything slightly suspicious, but in the end you conclude that there was likely just the one entrance.
[GUILDMASTER]: Do you think we could get a few lanterns from somewhere nearby?
VARANT: Heh heh heh, I like your plan, I do. But it's not what we're going to do today. Today, you're going to fight them on their home ground and you're going to win. As far as you're concerned, you succeed today if you walk in there with zero aberrat corpses, and walk out with at least two.
[GUILDMASTER]: …
VARANT: Hey, just be glad I didn't blindfold you!
MESSEN: You should be very glad he didn't blindfold you.
[GUILDMASTER]: …
Aberrats are a classic benchmark for a starting adventurer. Killing one by yourself might as well be a rite of passage in some places. This is precisely because they're notorious for being difficult to kill—not because they are sturdy, far from it—but because new adventurers find them impossible to hit. You're fairly concerned, but it helps that Varant claims you're already at C-rank, whereas even D-rankers should be able to handle these monsters. Well… one of them, at least.
[ This marks the beginning of a player combat phase—the first proper one. This narrative will include scenarios for most combat phases, but will make no assumptions about the player's class. ]
You take a minute to check your gear, and then march to the warehouse without letting your apprehension get the better of you. You go in the front door, relieved to see that it's not entirely dark inside. But there are definite patches of pitch-blackness mixed with the normal gloom of a poorly lit room. In a few lucky places shafts of evening sunlight streak down to the floor from the rickety ceiling. Frankly, you're not sure if you're more worried about aberrats coming from the dark or beams falling from above.
But it's the first that gets you, not fifteen seconds after Varant closes the doors behind you. With no warning, it lunges at you from nowhere, gouging your shoulder guard. And then it disappears. Almost by luck, you're looking in the right direction when it comes at you again, and with your fear spiking you leap out of the way like a cat scared by a spider.
You remember all the advice given by your father and Savron, but putting it into action is another thing entirely. It's just the one aberrat so far, so you're caught off guard but not pressured too hard. It's a meter long, two meters including its tail, and it tries to leap at you from the dark before scurrying away out of your reach. It seems to be trying to get you to follow it to the other side of the warehouse, but you hold your ground. And you're not wholly without experience, having accompanied your father on not just his hunts but also a few low-tier monster exterminations when the Crusades left the nearby villages without the help of adventurers. So first you focus on avoiding its attacks, and then you focus on learning its movements, and then you focus on finding opportunities to fight back.
It's almost a couple minutes before you do, but when your attack lands, the meter-long monster dies outright. You land another attack just to be sure, then warily turn your eyes to the darkness beyond. Nothing comes.
Varant and Messen have been crouched in front of the door, poised to launch themselves forward but trying to seem as small and unthreatening as possible, allowing the monster to focus on you.
VARANT: Good!
MESSEN: Very good.
[GUILDMASTER]: It took me minutes just for a small monster…
MESSEN: The way you learned to fight it was very methodical. This is what you will need to do with every new monster you encounter. And it's one of the hardest things for some adventurers to learn.
VARANT: Like I said, you've already learned how to learn. And let's not mention that you were able to down the bugger with a single hit. For my part, I'm excited to get you as much training and experience as possible—I'd like to see how far you can go! But keep an eye out now, there's… well. Find out for yourself.
Too late old man, you already spoiled it. Clearly that means there's more than one of them left.
You warily move forward into the dark, trying to figure out how you can avoid getting hit when you just can't see enough of the room. But you hear just the softest little scratch of claw on wood, and you launch yourself to the ground, skidding forward on one knee. You've moved so far out of the way that it has time to turn around and jump at you again before you spot it. Just a quick sidestep this time, well-timed, does the trick, and you're back on your feet again—
Only to feel another one latch onto your shoulder with a hateful screech. It hasn't hurt you through the armor yet, but its claws and fangs both are trying to find a weakness and it's only a matter of time before they do—or before they simply bite through the low-grade armor entirely. Perhaps worse, you won't be able to dodge effectively, and just moving around with the creature's weight on your back will drain your stamina. In a panic, you try to ram it into a nearby stack of crates, and immediately realize that was a very bad idea—the side of the crate you slammed sags inward and the entire stack shudders, threatening to spill their contents over the room. Which would be worse than the aberrat biting you, as you'd surely have to pay for it after. So, you try the next best thing—you spin your aberrat-infested shoulder to face the other one just as it jumps at you.
To your absolute delight, it works wonderfully, and they both fall to the floor with hideous, gurgling screams. Even better, they start chattering angrily at each other as they hit the ground. It only takes you a moment to recover from the impact and another to exploit their vulnerability, and one of them soon dies under your well-aimed attack. The other skitters over to the hole you filled, trying to dig its way out, but can't make any progress against the boulder. You bring your next attack down on its back, but It barely manages to dodge it, much to your frustration; you know you can't hit it if it's watching your movements. So you wait. But it doesn't come at you. And you wait, and it doesn't come at you, eyeing you and your trainer masters warily, looking for an opening or a way out.
At this point you have enough awareness to spare that you can see Messen and Varant in the back. The old master trainer is still snickering, and even the stoic Messen wears a minor smirk after witnessing the sight of the two aberrats colliding. You try not to let it distract you. You decide to bait the aberrat into another pounce, and you scamper behind another stack of crates next to the wall, out of its sight. There should be only the one direction it can get to you, so it has two choices: Messen and Varant, or you. You aim your attack at the ground by the corner of the crates. And, as you'd hoped, it speeds around the corner and lunges at you.
You almost weren't fast enough. Almost. But now, it's dead. After another attack, you can officially declare it very dead. Usually you feel at least some degree of remorse when killing a creature, but these monsters are notoriously vicious and hateful, and their looks don't do them any good either. Eyeing the lifeless face on the ground before you, blood running out from between its fangs and a portion of its scalp chunked off where your last attack landed, you decide that it resembles some kind of hideous boar more than a rat. It's even got the tusks.
Ignoring the two trainers for now, you cautiously examine the rest of the room. You slowly pick up confidence that it's empty of more pests, and start to move quicker. After the first pass, Messen and Varant walk up, but you continue on to a second pass—there's just not enough light here for you to be comfortable that you didn't miss anything. They nod and help you with your search.
[GUILDMASTER]: That was too close… real touch-and-go for a moment there…
VARANT: Eh? You were fine! Just some nicks in the ol' ironshirt!
[GUILDMASTER]: No, I mean the crates… How much would we have to pay if they toppled?
Messen nods understandingly.
VARANT: Well. This one's got their priorities straight, for sure.
You find nothing, and the Messen and Varant both say they're satisfied that you've completed the quest. Just to be on the safe side, you make another run around the outside, checking for fresh sign of animal passage. There isn't any, and Messen heads off with a cart full of monster corpses to turn in the quest while you and Varant head to the guild.
⋯
[GUILDMASTER]: Thanks again for taking me with you. I'm sorely lacking in real experience.
VARANT: You are, for sure, and don't forget it. But like I said… well done, Guildmaster. Well done today.
[GUILDMASTER]: Haha, thank you. How often do you think I'll be able to sneak out on real quests?
VARANT: Well, eventually you're going to have to bully Annessa into letting you go whether she likes it or not. That's what Savron was, a big bully.
His gravelly chuckle seems almost too loud now that the sun is almost set and the street is clearing.
[GUILDMASTER]: I feel like I'd just be putting more work onto her…
VARANT: Well, yes, but that's exactly what her position is for. You know most guilds don't have such a thing as a guild administrator?
[GUILDMASTER]: No…
VARANT: Savron created the position just so he could become the Guildmaster-errant of his dreams. She could handle things in his absence, and not just in his absence. He always said being a leader was different from being an administrator. But that the leader needs to at least know how to be an administrator, get the feel for it and know some of the details… and the same for just about every other position under him besides, for that matter. It's just that, when it comes down to performance and efficiency, being an administrator is an entirely different skillset than being the leader.
[GUILDMASTER]:
> —<1> I'm not sure I understand what he meant by 'leader'.
>
> VARANT: The person who guides the guild's direction. Makes sure it stays on track. Who brings everything and everyone together, makes 'em communicate, and who takes in all that information and uses it to direct the guild towards the future they want.
>
>
> The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.
>
>
> [GUILDMASTER]: …And someone worthy enough that you could really believe in the future they want…
>
> VARANT: …Yes.
>
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> —<2> …Did it work?
>
> VARANT: What do you mean?
>
> [GUILDMASTER]: The way he led the guild. The role he gave himself.
>
> VARANT: Well, I can't say it'd work for everyone or for everywhere. But… You know how much we miss him, yeah? It's true that we've been stuck in a hole without a real Guildmaster due to the governor's needing his signature for everything. But really, we just didn't have that direction anymore.
>
> [GUILDMASTER]: …
>
> VARANT: And it's not any fault of any of ours, I truly believe that. You already got a glimpse at how good Annessa is at what she does. But leading, it's not her strength, and it's not her role.
>
> [GUILDMASTER]: I see…
>
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> —<3> I don't think I'll ever be strong enough or knowledgeable enough to be that person…
>
> VARANT: Don't misunderstand me. You don't have to be. We don't think you have to be. Well… we just don't know what else to expect. But as long as you keep trying, we'll be alright. I know we came across as harsh when we met, and… I meant to. Still do.
>
> [GUILDMASTER]: …
>
> VARANT: …But you're making it hard. So believe me when I say you've made a good first impression, if you can overcome that skepticism. Just keep it up, Guildmaster. Keep trying.
>
> [GUILDMASTER]: Thank you…
>
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> —
You're just about at the guild gates, and it's almost fully dark. Distantly but distinctly, the tenth bell rings from the House in Highpeal Square. You didn't realize you were so far into spring, for it get dark this late. Then again, you're a fair ways south of what you're used to.
VARANT: Sorry if I gave you too much to chew on for one day. For training, or discussion. I don't mean to tell you how to do your job. Though I do mean to tell you how to become an adventurer, heh.
[GUILDMASTER]: No worries. I'm always eager to hear more about Savron, and not just how he was as a Guildmaster. I only met him once, you know? He stayed with us for a week, and he taught me so much…
Varant scans you from the corner of his eye as you enter the guild's front courtyard.
VARANT: I can see that. I don't want it to sound like I'm recommending anything when it comes to what you choose to do as our Guildmaster or what you choose to become, I just don't know enough about the job. But—after a day like today, I do have something to recommend you: Get some rest!
[GUILDMASTER]: Heh, thank you. Thank you very much, Varant.
VARANT: Right—now let's get your gear off and keep it in the storehouse, we'll probably just scrap that armor and use something better next time. And then, like I said, rest!
⋯
After storing your equipment, you head straight up to your room. Only to head back down to the pantry in the kitchen because Annessa is still busy and hasn't brought anything up.
After that realization, you grab two plates of supper—the same old bread, cheese, and wrinkly fruits you had the previous night.
The guild office is on the second floor, just up the stairs on the right of the entrance hall. You intended to surprise her, but you knock softly out of sheer habit.
ANNESSA: Come in.
You walk through the door to find her hard at work at one of the room's two large desks.
Annessa
Annessa [https://i.imgur.com/PyIhOwq.jpeg]
[GUILDMASTER]: I'm assuming you haven't eaten yet.
She blinks in surprise as you bring a plate over to her.
ANNESSA: …It's true. Hah… Usually I'd be the one telling Savron that.
You hold the plate in the air at desk height until she clears a spot for it on a corner of her working surface. You run an eye over her work so far, and you have to admit—her handwriting is as good as anything you've seen. The posters are quite attractive, for having such bland content.
[GUILDMASTER]: Thank you for doing all this. Your work looks great.
She smiles wearily. You can safely assume that working in this light for hours on end would tire her eyes all too quickly.
ANNESSA: To be honest, I'm not even sure how effective these will be. But we have to start somewhere, you know? And I don't know… I really don't know what else to do…
You suddenly feel all the weight of your responsibility.
[GUILDMASTER]: I'll be shouting our cause from tavern to tavern if I have to. I'm sorry I can't think of any better ideas…
ANNESSA: You know… for years now, I've been—we've all been—dreaming of and dreading a new Guildmaster. It could be someone who just led us wrong, or someone who hated us, or just someone we couldn't stand. Have you ever worked under someone like that…?
[GUILDMASTER]:
> —<1> I've never known it, but… my father and friends had plenty of stories.
>
> ANNESSA: I hope that one day, many more people will be able to say that…
>
> [GUILDMASTER]: I think of that as part of my job here. One of my goals.
>
> ANNESSA: That's good… Savron would be proud.
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> —<2> Once…
>
> ANNESSA: Once is enough to know exactly what I mean.
>
> You nod somberly.
>
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> —<3> It's my lot in life, feels like. I've never known better.
>
> ANNESSA: I know the feeling… but just keep on moving. There's someone better out there—haha. Though I guess now's your turn to try to be that someone better.
>
> [GUILDMASTER]: I will. I definitely will.
>
> ----------------------------------------
ANNESSA: I know you're not the most experienced, or the best leader. But I don't know if anyone other than Savron could save us now. But when it comes to it, if it couldn't be Savron here today… I'd pick you.
It eases your anxiety, knowing you have her support. But you can't manage to feel complimented—there's just so much that you can't do yet, and you're all too worried that you'll fail in a matter of days.
ANNESSA: I… I didn't mean it to sound so rude! I really meant that to be… helpful…
[GUILDMASTER]: Right… haha, I didn't even realize it sounded that way until after you said it. Don't worry, it really helps to hear that… Thank you.
ANNESSA: I just meant… You've been here a day, [Guildmaster]. And you haven't changed anything yet, and maybe you won't be able to. But we can all see you're trying, and that you want to. And that's all we ask of you, all any of us will ask of you. I'm sorry your first meeting with Messen and Varant was… less than welcoming…
[GUILDMASTER]:
> —<1> It's fine, it turned out alright. They've been very helpful, even. I know I can rely on them.
>
> Her shoulders relax as a thankful sigh leaves her lungs.
>
> ANNESSA: That's exactly what I wanted to hear… Thank you…
>
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> —<2> I honestly wasn't even bothered. In fact I've found that I quite enjoy their company.
>
> ANNESSA: That's good… [Guildmaster], that's so good to hear…
>
> Her whole body seems to relax a bit, and her eyes become more focused.
>
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> —<3> Technically it's part of their role to welcome a new Guildmaster, and under normal circumstances I might count it against them. But if I were in their place, I couldn't blame myself. And so I don't blame them.
>
> ANNESSA: I feel better knowing that… Thank you, Guildmaster.
>
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[GUILDMASTER]: So please don't worry about that, at least. I'm eager to meet the rest of the staff. In the meantime, is there anything I can do to help you with all this?
She looks around as if coming back to her senses, and spots the plate on the desk corner.
ANNESSA: The food is exactly what I need!
To demonstrate, she takes an inordinately large chunk out of one of the fruits, then goes right back to writing while she chews it. One hand holding a fruit and the other a quill pen, her face is lowered halfway to the parchment on the desk, her body and mind both entirely absorbed in the effort of neatly copying her template.
You get the feeling she's already forgotten about you, so you slink out of the office to enjoy your own plate in the comfort of your room.
It takes very little time after for you to reach that blissful state of proper sleep.
⋯
You sleep late the next morning, still tired from your journey here and your training yesterday. Eventually, you are awakened by a subdued knock on the door.
ANNESSA: Guildmaster. There's a letter for you.
[GUILDMASTER]:
> —<1> Can it wait…?
>
> ANNESSA: …Yes. But you probably won't want it to.
>
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> —<2> Alright, I'll be right there.
>
> ANNESSA: It's not too urgent. But you'll want to see it sooner rather than later.
>
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> —<3> Give me a little bit, if you could…
>
> ANNESSA: It's fine. It's not urgent… but you'll want to see it, first thing.
>
> ----------------------------------------
Eventually, fully dressed and mostly refreshed, you make your way downstairs to find Annessa, Varant, Messen, and a dignified female mage you haven't met before.
Dignified mage
image [https://i.imgur.com/vAEo47W.jpeg]
Annessa watches you descend, and the others quickly follow suit. It appears they've been waiting for you, though only Annessa knows why.
You acknowledge the mage with a nod, and she returns it with thrice the grace.
[GUILDMASTER]: Good to meet you.
ANNESSA: [Guildmaster], this is Ethi, our advanced magic trainer and master Elementalist.
Ethi assesses you with a stare that is somehow completely unintrusive. She says nothing, and eventually turns expectantly to Annessa.
Tami enters through the front door, lowering her hood and looking over the silent assembly. Without saying anything, she joins the circle of staff members, all of whom are now looking at Annessa.
Annessa is holding an official-looking letter, its seal already broken.
ANNESSA: The Guildmaster should read this first…
She hands it to you with surprising cautiousness, as if she is desperate to keep it from spontaneously disappearing.
It's addressed to 'The Administration of the Mayika Adventurer Guild'. It bears the royal seal of Karsis, and the parchment is appropriately fine. It's an acknowledgement of a deposit of funds in the name of the Mayika Adventurer Guild, by a "concerned citizen". Held in the safekeeping of the Karsian Royal Treasury, the funds can be withdrawn at any time, or used anywhere in Mayika by presenting the attached Affirmation of Custody in lieu of direct payment.
The amount: thirty thousand gold coins.