ACT I • SCENA 7
FROM ZERO TO ONE
----------------------------------------
The next morning, you walk into the front courtyard to find Annessa and Varant standing on either side of Tami, who's hugging a young but seasoned-looking soldier wearing nondescript gear.
Seasoned young soldier
Seasoned young soldier [https://i.imgur.com/evHu5iy.jpeg]
Annessa
Annessa [https://i.imgur.com/PyIhOwq.jpeg]
Tami
Tami [https://i.imgur.com/EwNtL41.jpeg] Varant
Varant [https://i.imgur.com/xUCQ1Ot.jpeg]
Annessa turns to you when she hears you close the guildhouse door behind you.
ANNESSA: [Guildmaster]…
Her expression is something you've never seen before… excited, happy, and very, very confused.
You walk up to stand beside Annessa. Tami steps back as you approach, taking a place between you and Varant.
ANNESSA: Guildmaster, this is Kani, a Knight currently in the service of the Karsian Royal Watch.
KANI: Hello, new Guildmaster! I was trained here actually, and I'd like to come back!
Her voice is strong, confident, and playful. For some reason, she salutes you.
VARANT: Didn't we refer you to that guild up in Geld, kid?
Varant's arms are crossed and he looks at her with exaggerated suspicion.
KANI: I decided… at the last moment, I just—I didn't want to leave Karsis after all… I mean, I was born here…
VARANT: And you didn't tell us?
KANI: I—I was busy!
TAMI: Classic… But I'm still angry! I could've come visit you!
Kani doesn't look particularly guilty, but she does purse her lips as she reconsiders her life choices.
ANNESSA: But I'm confused, Kani… We've barely just put up the recruitment notices…
KANI: Well, I was invited… There was a letter, and… I thought—I mean, wasn't that you?
You and the other staff all look at each other. You don't need any communication other than eye contact to know that it was none of you.
[GUILDMASTER]: Zoel—?
Annessa shakes her head slowly before you can even finish your question. Then she turns back to Kani.
ANNESSA: A letter? It wasn't signed…?
KANI: Well… well, look at it.
She pulls a small letter from the bag at her feet and hands it to Annessa. It takes just a moment for Annessa to read it, and she shakes her head in confusion. Then she pulls out another letter and passes them both to you without saying any more.
Kani's invitation is brief, the parchment is plain, and the handwriting is without any distinguishing features. It is unsigned.
> Kani,
>
> The Mayika adventurer guild finally has a new Guildmaster. A new phase of recruitment has just begun, and you're welcome back at any time. There aren't any others yet, but given the circumstances I'm sure it will take just a week to get a party together.
The other letter is on a finer parchment and with neat handwriting. It is also unsigned.
> To the Mayika Adventurer Guild,
>
> Kani is a skilled knight whose experience includes bandits, troglins, and even a couple mid-tier monsters. I'm sure she would make B-rank in little time. Her abilities are very well-rounded and she has the aptitude for several adept-tier classes. I recommend her particularly because she will do an excellent job bringing her party together, which will be especially crucial in these early stages.
>
> Please invest in her!
ANNESSA: I received it this morning… minutes before Kani arrived…
Now with a bewildered face yourself, you pass the letters to Tami. She takes a minute to read them twice. She passes them to Varant, who does the same.
TAMI: Well, at least they're right, so there's that.
When Varant finishes, he raises his eyes to Kani.
VARANT: …You've killed mid-tier monsters?
KANI: Yes sir! A mirenask and a maddened high varodon—though with a whole platoon of soldiers, sir!
Varant frowns deeper with each 'sir'.
VARANT: You pull that soldier shit on me any more and I'll dunk you face-first in the governor's bathwater.
Kani only grins at his threat, and salutes him.
KANI: But sir… how are you going to enforce that, sir?
She knows all too well his policy on not 'crossing swords' with other people. But now, the evil grin that creeps onto Varant's face far outmatches anything Kani will ever be able to give in her life. He raises two fingers.
VARANT: Two malrithes.
Kani's eyes go wide, as if she thinks it's totally within his power to capture two notoriously terrifying mid-tier monsters and set them upon her.
KANI: Eeeeep!
She darts away from him and takes cover behind the newly arrived Messen, of all people. Varant eyes Messen warily as they face each other. Your master knight trainer now stands like a proud bastion of hope and might, with Kani peeking out from behind one elbow.
Messen
the Protector of Innocents
image [https://i.imgur.com/SmrXfMW.jpeg]
MESSEN: I accept your challenge.
Messen gives an elegant bow, one foot in front of the other and both arms outstretched. You notice his impeccable poise, his adroit footing, knees bent with grace and fingers splayed in eminent elegance, his chest bent just deep enough to be supremely gracious but not groveling… it's the perfect Imperial bow, one that any of the nobles in your home city would be impressed by—even envious of.
VARANT: …You eager to lose your other eye, noble sir?
MESSEN: If I must.
Kani again grows fierce at Varant's words, and launches herself in front of Messen as if trying to shield him. She virtually bares her teeth at Varant in her protective fury.
KANI: I won't let you!!
Varant is supremely amused by the both of them and is having a difficult time holding his threatening glower.
VARANT: So. Two malrithes, then? How about tomorrow night?
Eyes widened in desperation, Kani looks around for a way out—and spots you.
KANI: Guildmaster! Help me out here!!
[GUILDMASTER]:
> —<1> Alright—but on the condition that you leave the sirs and salutes behind. Especially for me.
>
> KANI: But that would defeat the point!!
>
> [GUILDMASTER]: Think about it. This is your cleanest way out.
>
> KANI: Unghhhhhh… fiiine…
>
> TAMI: Don't worry Kani, you can still do it for me!
>
> KANI: But… But I could never do that, Miss Tami!
>
> Tami looks flabbergasted, but Kani doesn't notice.
>
> ----------------------------------------
> —<2> *hold up three fingers* Three malrithes.
>
> Varant laughs outright. Even Messen has a small, twisted smile.
>
> MESSEN: Heh.
>
> KANI: NO FAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAIR!!!
>
> ----------------------------------------
> —<3> Do you promise that you'll salute me, and only me?
>
> Kani looks at you suspiciously.
>
> KANI: But it would just be work if you actually want it!
>
> [GUILDMASTER]: Well, it's a shame then. Malrithes it is.
>
> KANI: N—NOOOOOO!
>
> ----------------------------------------
ANNESSA: Ahem. There will be no monsters on guild grounds. Without my permission.
KANI: So that means…!
ANNESSA: There will be no saluting, either.
KANI: Annessa noooooooooooooooooooo…!
TAMI: But… well, maybe I shouldn't say this, but isn't that technically the Guildmaster's decision now?
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
[GUILDMASTER]:
> —<1> Nah, it's fine. I'm too new to trust myself more than I do her just yet.
> —<2> Technically probably, but with her seniority combined with her authority as our administrator—especially where things related to guild grounds are concerned—means that I'd leave it to her most of the time.
> —<3> Absolutely! And I say: No monsters on guild grounds without Annessa's permission!!
Kani is utterly defeated, and she shows it.
VARANT: But let's look at you now. Brought your old armor, eh?
KANI: Yeah, but I'll need a new weapon…
VARANT: And, platoon or no, you've fought mid-tier monsters. Proud of you, kid.
Kani's face brightens so much you'd swear her dark tan skin was actually a lantern in disguise.
VARANT: As for the weapon—we don't have too much… but for what you need, I have just the thing.
At the mention of a new weapon, Kani's eyes somehow light up even more.
VARANT: Don't get too excited now, it's just my old friend's leftover second-hand emergency backup! It is nice though, for all that…
Seeing her expression only intensify, he can't help but give in.
VARANT: Heh heh heh, fine. Let's go get you sorted. Sorry Guildmaster, I'll be swiping this one before you can even give her a proper orientation.
[GUILDMASTER]: What orientation? Oh, you mean the part where she shows me around the adventurer's dorm? Well, that can wait 'til later.
VARANT: Fair point!
Varant leads the way to the storage building with Kani eagerly following behind. Messen steps in alongside her and they start to chat quietly. Tami glances at you quickly and then runs to catch up, falling in on Kani's other side. You and Annessa watch them happily catch up with each other, enjoying the sight more than you should, until they disappear into the doorway.
You turn to each other but before you can speak, there is a loud knocking at the front gate. You give each other a look, and make your way over. The knocking comes again and before you can reach the gate, a courier opens it with noted impatience. He spies the two of you, drops a letter in your hands, and slides back out with a hurried "Good day!"
You open the letter without delay and sense Annessa's head appear over your shoulder. Something about the fine parchment and neat handwriting is familiar…
> To the Mayika Adventurer Guild,
>
> Marlond is an exceptional hunter and survivalist. As his normal hunting grounds have been claimed by the Tavarian Royal House, he has arrived in this city without many options. I'm not the best judge of rangers, but I have very high hopes for him. He will have to try hard to adapt to fighting as a team and surviving as a party, but with his quick mind, his talent for shooting, and his incredible perceptiveness he will surely make for a top tier adventurer in time.
>
> Please give him a place to call his home!
You look over your shoulder to meet Annessa's thoroughly bewildered gaze. And then there is another knock at the gate, gentler, almost timid this time. You both take a breath and step over to the gate. In unison, each of you takes a door and swings it open.
A keen-eyed hunter stares soberly into your eyes, then slowly shifts his gaze into Annessa's. He hands a letter to the space in between you.
Keen-eyed hunter
Keen-eyed hunter [https://i.imgur.com/O2Jt9wB.jpeg]
You take the letter. You open it, looking up again at the keen-eyed hunter before examining the plain parchment. Annessa's chin brushes your shoulder, and you read:
> Marlond,
>
> If you desire food and shelter and steady work that is not only within your field of expertise but will also challenge your abilities, seek out the adventurer guild here in the city of Mayika. They are recruiting once more, and you would be among their first. You must learn to trust your teammates and fight together as a party, but I believe you can once again find a place you would call home.
You and Annessa sigh in grateful disbelief, and move to stand before your new adventurer. With slight but sincere bows, you both welcome him to your guild.
⋯
The guild staff dining hall takes up the back right corner of the guildhouse's ground floor, with an exterior door directly across from the kitchen. Your lunch today wouldn't be called sumptuous by any objective standard, but to you and your staff and apparently your adventurers as well, it's a delightful improvement over your recent fare. Seated around the large table are you, Varant, Tami, Kani, Marlond, and Evylie—your third adventurer.
Evylie
Evylie [https://i.imgur.com/YZZQpZH.jpeg]
Like the two arrivals before her, Evylie's appearance was preceded by a courier with an unsigned letter:
> To the Mayika Adventurer Guild,
>
> Evylie is a strong and imposing Guardian-class fighter with a rare amount of experience for her age. She'd hate me for saying this, but she has an almost supernatural talent for taking damage, both physical and arcane. But her impulsive nature and distrust of authority has kept her from forming loyalties with her previous lordly and mercenary employers. In your guild, however, I believe she will blossom!
>
> Please give her the trust she needs to be able to believe in you!
Conversation is light and slightly awkward; for your part, you're not at all worried whether they'll get along in the end, though you're still disappointed in your own social abilities. Surely Savron would have had them laughing together by now.
Thankfully, Kani is already fulfilling her promised role in bringing the team together.
KANI: Evylie! You said you were a mercenary?
EVYLIE: Yes, I was…
KANI: Details please! Where did you grow up? Who did you fight for?
EVYLIE: Valengrove, in southern Geld…
KANI: Explains the mercenary life! Oh. Sorry if that was offensive.
EVYLIE: It hit too close to home, for sure, but that's exactly why… It's why my life turned out this way.
KANI: I'm sorry. Should I avoid the topic?
EVYLIE: No, no. My home and my family are fine. Unfortunately, the city's lord is as well.
KANI: Ha! Heh heh… I mean, I've never had to work under a noble like that myself, but I appreciate your humor.
Evylie seems to have run out of things to say, and Kani seems to sense that. She turns to Marlond, who already ran out of things to say the moment he stepped through the door.
KANI: Marlond! Guildmaster said you were a hunter, but not like… a village hunter. But I'm not even sure what that means. Like… who are you? What was your lifestyle like?
MARLOND: I hunted, for food.
KANI: That was… revelatory! But did you live in a forest? Did you have a tent? Please tell me you had a treehouse!
MARLOND: A tent. The forest is now owned by King Kathok of Tavar. As are all the others. So I came here.
KANI: Ah. I'm sorry. Did you have family?
MARLOND: No. I've been alone for a long time.
KANI: Maybe it's just me, but that sounds really rough, Marlond. But I really hope you like it here—I came back for a reason, you know. And not just because I liked the adventuring life. I was a pretty good Knight, and I was treated well for it, so it's certainly not the pay either. I guess it's just that the people here… ooh, I can't wait 'til you meet Tami! She's our Ranger master. But even besides her, all the others here, this old monster included, have been really great. Even the new Guildmaster seems pretty cool!
[GUILDMASTER]:
> —<1> Don't you dare put me on a tier with this 'old monster.'
>
> VARANT: You couldn't be a monster if you tried.
>
> [GUILDMASTER]: Even with you doing the training?
>
> VARANT: …
>
> KANI: Nice one, Guildmaster!
> —<2> 'Cool'? You mean to say that I'm not hot in the slightest?
>
> Kani glares at you.
>
> KANI: But if I said you were hot, you'd just complain that I didn't think you were cool in the slightest.
>
> VARANT: Heh, I hope you've gotten as quick on your feet as you are quick on the uptake.
>
> KANI: Just you watch, mister Two Malrithes! I'll be A-Rank before you can even grow the other half of your face back!!
>
> VARANT: So… two thousand years then.
>
> KANI: Yeah… just about…
> [ only available if the player chose at least one ice magic ability ]
> —<3> 'Cool' isn't even the start of it. The last time I tried using my ice magic, King Eshram had to come down and specifically forbid me from doing anything that might turn his kingdom into a second Laria.
>
> VARANT: Bah. Best you can do is keep your wine cool in the summer.
>
> [GUILDMASTER]: But that's even better!
>
> KANI: Now I'm impressed!
MARLOND: Thank you for the encouragement. I do intend to try my best.
VARANT: That's all we need from you. But it'll be a lot, believe me. Skilled as you probably are as a hunter, adventuring is a whole different beast. And the worst part? You'll have to talk.
[GUILDMASTER]: We don't mean to dissuade you, but it's very true that working as a party is very different from living solo as you have been. But we're telling you this up front because… well, because we hope that in the end, you'll actually like it just the way it is.
He just nods, and you have no idea if your message was received the way it was intended. Maybe you and Varant shouldn't have been so forward… Nah, that's just the way things are going to be by the looks of things, he'll have to get used to it quickly anyways.
You're not quite finished with your lunch by the time Annessa steps into the room, quietly but urgently. It only takes her a moment to appear next to you. She hands you three letters, and your eyes go wide. In a half second, you break the seal of the first to find that familiar parchment and nondescript handwriting.
> To the Mayika Adventurer Guild,
>
> Maya is an overly-talented fire mage associated with the Sun Lodge. She has a bright spirit and mind both, but her combination of curiosity and impatience can lead her into dangerous situations. Thus, her recent suspension from the Sun Lodge (probably soon to be expulsion). Please make sure Ethi oversees her training as much as possible! (Sorry Ethi! I know you can do it!) Her blazing talent and fiery enthusiasm will make her both a driving force and a guiding light for the guild—and for her friends.
>
> Please give her a place to let her skills mature in safety!
From the Sun Lodge?! From a quick gauge of their abilities, your party will be able to take on low-tier quests as soon as it can find its last two members—which could easily be filled with staff if needed. You had expected needing a month to train people from scratch just to be able to safely handle even the easiest monster exterminations…
But your eyes widen further when you read the next letter.
> To the Guildmaster of the Mayika Adventurer Guild,
>
> The House of the Nine Virtues has received your request and it has been approved by the High Table. The House has decided entrust you with the abilities of Faithspeaker Tarrian. The Faithspeaker was recently beatified in the Arkavian hall and approved to become a Priest in this very hall. He is a talented young man and a valued resident of the House, and he will now be in your care.
> You can expect his arrival by the ninth bell on the day this letter reaches you. Please have accommodations prepared for him, as he will surely be wearied by the journey to Mayika.
>
> In Purity and Faith,
>
> Bishop Asthon, Seat of Karsis
[GUILDMASTER]: I'm not accustomed to getting letters from Bishops…
…Is all you can think to say.
ANNESSA: I heard earlier today that Bishop Asthon was forced to remain in his position, even though preparations had already been made for his retirement. Now I understand why; Tarrian was the Priest sent to fill the position of whatever Priest was to fill his. Do you know what this means? That the High Table themselves took on our request?
You don't, at least not fully, and you shake your head in bewilderment.
ANNESSA: Whoever our mysterious benefactor is, they have enough power to sway the House in its entirety. Power at least on par with an Archbishop.
You shake your head again. Why us? Why go so far for a derelict guild in the Heartlands?
You open the next letter, which is exactly what you think it is.
> To the Mayika Adventurer Guild,
>
> Tarrian is a remarkable priest with not only a true desire for doing good, or even just the skill set for doing the doing, but also the intelligence and wisdom to follow through and create long-lasting results. On the other hand, he is still (and always probably will be) idealistic and impatient—traits that I hope you will be able to turn into strengths in their own way.
>
> Please give him a place to exercise his beliefs! Without being taken advantage of by Archbishops or nobles!!!
It's only now that you realize… something might be going on.