Sorin had finally made it to the free city Velx, the home of the adventure guild and hub of trade. This part of Ul’tarow had been created to facilitate trade under leadership of no nation. In this place regardless of nation all are treated equally, WIth that in mind, Sorin really hates how long it took to get here . If it took them a day longer it would have been a week longer than this trip. This was mainly due to the unwanted passenger. Speaking on said passenger-
“Oh look, isn't this just the cutest thing,” Melissa said, holding a plush toy of a slime.
Sorin sighed, his mother had been like that all trip so to drown it out her musings he listened to the sounds of the city
“Who is the mysterious rider known as the knight? All the information on the current champion of chariot riding.”
“ Is Lady Herin a time traveler? Read all about the daughter of the Herin household's sudden personality shift.”
“Scared a dungeon will destroy your home? Get dungeon insurance to help cover the cost of moving away and to hire people to get your stuff back. Terms and conditions apply. Not valid in the region around the Desteria dungeon and Ijula devourer dungeon”
At last it appeared in sight the main headquarters of the adventures guild. This is it the journey had finally reached its end. Looking around for his mother he spotted her rushing towards the guild hall. Sorin hoped she wouldn’t cause too much trouble for uncle archibald.
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Archibald Eiklef had been the guild master for almost 65 years and had honed his instincts for the same amount of time. And his guild master instincts tell him that today is going to be annoying. It was shortly after that, that his secretary came up to him:
“Sir, your nephew is here and he is joined by a strange woman.”
Archibald had figured that Sorin would be here soon after all, it had been about 28 days since his last report. He was glad that nothing had happened to him on his journey. But the woman that joined him, it couldn’t be her, could it? So he asked a question-
"A strange woman you say? Did she happen to be a light elf?”
“Yes, that is correct. Why?”
“Oh no.” he said.
It has at this point Melissa burst through the door. Jumping straight at him she said ”Archie” and hugged him while tackling him to the ground shortly after then Sorin came in, both exhausted and exasperated.
“Mother please get off uncle. God, you're acting like a little child.” he said, tired of all of this shit that she put him through.
“He doesn’t mind, do you, Archie?”
“I don't mind Lissa, but I do need to fulfill my duties as a guild master,” Archibald said, attempting to get up.
Melissa got off him. “You still call me by my nickname. I told you to call me by” she squealed.
“There is no need to humor her.” Sorin said irritated tone
Archbald got up from the floor. He had a reason why he had humored her, something Sorin had yet to realize he did. But shaking that thought out of his head, He asked Sorin for his report on the dungeons in his area . And Sorin told him about the dungeon in Rothgur’s tyranny and about the details about the dungeon he could find out in the short time of observation and with that the only response archibald could give is:
“Well we need more information about this dungeon.“
And then he walked to his desk and started writing some things down. Once he finished he gave the letter to Sorin and said, “take this letter to the reconnaissance team down in the bar. They should be in the far corner of the bar opposite the entrance. Now go me and your mother need to discuss some things.”
And then Sorin left. After he left Archibald asked Melissa a question:
“So what is your take on this oh great witch of light?”
She closed her eyes and in a moment, she broke the facade she had been maintaining as she responded
“It’s definitely an irregular dungeon,” was how she responded, her voice had a powerful aura to it, “It more than likely has a guiding hand behind it, though as of now, it is impossible to know ”
This is why Archibald had humored her. Her true personality and power, the one who took down the mad king of the orcs almost 150 years ago is her. Most adventures know her by the title she was given as the greatest light sorceress on the 5 continents; the great witch of light. But Sorin seems blind to this; or rather he refuses to believe this as the truth. Any Archibald ask another question:
“So is that reason you left with Sorin?”
“Yep, to keep him safe when goes to that dungeon and to destroy it if it proves to be too hostile.”
“Anyway, you should probably go down and meet the team going to the dungeon with you two.”
“Very well,” and her face returned to her previous laid back look, “Well, I'm going to give those nice people a visit.” she said with none of the aura she had just a few moments ago. After that she went downstairs to join up with her son Sorin.
After Melissa departed, Archibald's premonition about today being a terrible day seemed to disappear. Though the info about the dungeon reminds of an old story his grandmother used to tell about the dungeon with a soul of a human. There is no way the gods would let a tragedy like that happen again, right? And so he waited for their return to ease his anxiety.
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eanwhile at the same time as Archibald and Melissa conversation
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Sorin made his way to the bar as he was told to. He spotted them exactly where he was told they would be. He saw a large orcish woman, a human male who was built like a twig, a androgynous looking oni, and there appeared to be one missing their healer, a female dwarf. As Sorin approached he could start to hear their conversation.
“... and so I took him back to my room and he railed me. For as timid as he was out there, he was such a beast in bed.” The orcish girl said in a boisterous tone
“ Wow, dre, that crazy can’t believe he did that to you and didn’t invite me.” the man responded.” still with the girl last week as well what does that make this month?
“20, now.”
The oni looks at the orc with a look and says: “too many.”
“I don't want to hear that from someone with no experience.”
“Leave the poor girl alone. She just hasn’t found the right person for her.” the man retorts
“ And I don’t Want hear that from you. Mr. Ihaventhadapartnerfor3monthes.”
“It's not my fault the men here don't meet my standards. Anyways where's lu? Don’t tell me she ran off with food again?”
It was at that moment that a short girl ran into Sorin. She was carrying several plates of food. And unfortunately they didn’t survive the fall. Both Sorin and this girl ended up on the floor with . It was at that time that Sorin got a good look at the girl. She was a female dwarf, likely the member they mentioned earlier, lu. And she was apologizing profusely.
“”I’m so sorry. I got caught with the food so I rushed back here and i wasn’t watching i was going so i ran into you." It was at this moment that she saw the letter addressed to her group. “Wait, you have business with our group?”
Her companions had seen the commotion and had since arrived.
“Ah, Lu, there you are, we were just beginning to worry about. Hmm.. who is this gentleman?” the man asked.
“He seems to have some business with us.”
“Is that so? Well what kind of business do you have with us?”
The oni girl makes a comment “Guild scout” and points to sash on his arm.
“Oh so this about a new dungeon. Okay let’s start with some introductions. But before that, let’s get you a seat.”
Then shortly after that they got a seat and some more food, though this time Lu didn’t go alone so it went a lot faster after they were all settled, Sorin started with the introductions.
“My Name is Sorin Eiklef. I am an intermediate level guild scout and a rogue.”
The next to introduce themselves was the orcish girl followed by the man.
“My name is Audrey Stone I am a berserker and a advanced level adventure”
“Salutations, my name is Henry Telson III. I am a magus., an advanced level adventurer and available.” He said while winking at Sorin, who just ignored him.
Lu was up next “Umm… My name is Lucina Ironheart. I’m a healer and an intermediate adventurer and sorry about what happened earlier.”
Sorin responded “it's okay”
The last one to introduce themselves was the oni girl. Her introduction was rather short.
“Yuki. Assassin. Expert.”
“Well if this is everyone why don't…” Henry started.
“As much as I wish this is everyone there is one more; she is my mother and a sorceress.” Sorin quickly cut him off.
It was at this time murmurs began in the bar. A light elf approached the table and Sorin groaned.
“Are you doing introductions? Well, let me introduce myself. My name is Melissa Eiklef, also known as the witch of light. I am a Sacred light sorceress and a grandmaster adventurer. I am also Sorin’s mom.”
Everyone in the group was shocked except for Sorin. He was more surprised that he had forgotten that his mother was a high rank.Anyways after that shock, Sorin explained to the group about the dungeon and they prepared to set off.
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A beginner’s guide to the adventure guild: Ranks of the guild
So you just joined the adventures guild and have been given the rank of beginner while your instructor has the rank of advanced. You are wondering what those ranks mean and how you can climb higher. Well let this short guide explain to you about the nine guild ranks.
Beginner: This is you. A provisional rank in the guild, the beginner rank is for new members who join. During this time you are greatly restricted in the types of quests you can take without a guild instructor with you. But don’t fret, the provisional period only lasts a month and then it is on to the next rank.
Novice: you are finally a true member of the adventure guild so you have a lot less restrictions on you. Though you still have some because the guild does not want you throwing your life away. Though a lot of the restriction can be passed by partying up. Get some experience under your belt and you'll keep climbing the ranks.
Apprentice: you have gained experience and you've become an apprentice ranked adventure. Now you take quests against rank 3 threats alone now. Now is also a quick refresher of threat levels for a more detailed guide on the guild’s threat level system, check out this companion guide: “Threat levels and you: a guide to the adventures guild system of classifying threats.” Rank 0 threats are more nuisances than threats. Rank 1 threats are dangerous to vulnerable members of society like the extremely elderly and young children without classes. Rank 2 threats can kill an adventure if they are caught unaware. Rank three threats can easily kill a low level adventurer without much issue. Rank 4 threats can take down a small group. Rank 5 a large group. 6, a village. 7 a city or town, 8 a country or kingdom. Rank 9 could easily cause lasting damage to the continent. Lastly rank 10 threats are calamitous threats that must be eliminated with extreme prejudice.
Journeyman: An adventurer who has a significant amount of experience under their belt. They are able to take quests to fight level 4 threats alone or level 5 as a leader of a group. This is also the highest rank one can reach by only doing low level quests alone.
Intermediate: The first step into the higher echelons of the guild, intermediate have several privileges over those who have those who have not reached this rank beside the ability to take quest of higher threat levels.Firstly you receive a discount at guild related facilities. You also get your taxes waived while on a quest. Lastly you get much priority in heading to recently discovered dungeons. Though you will have met certain requirements that you must keep up to keep this ranking. Failing to comply with these requirements will cause you to be immediately expelled from the guild and become black listed from all guild facilities.
Advanced: The minimum required rank to be a guild instructor the advanced rank proves that you have the skill to fight up to rank 6 foes alone or even while defending those weaker than you. This grants you more privileges than what you had at Intermediate though they mainly pertain to assisting with the training of new recruits.
Expert: Nearing mastery the expert ranked adventure is a force to be reckoned with being able to take on even level 7 threats alone. In a squad with at least one other expert level adventurer. You can fight a level 9 threat with at least 2 other party members, one which is also expert. You also get exclusive deals at guild run facilities as well as everything mentioned in the previous ranks.
Master: The second highest rank in the guild and the highest one can reach ./without extraneous circumstances. This rank allows one to fight up to rank 8 threats solo. This rank requires authorization from either the current or acting guildmaster to assign it to you because all of your actions are done under the authority of the guild. This means the guild will back you no matter what. You also still have the benefits from the lower guild ranks.
Grandmaster: The highest adventure rank one can reach in the guild. Grandmaster adventurers are shining exemplars of what adventurers are. In addition to receiving all the same benefits as a master ranked adventure, in times of emergency their order may be prioritized over those of adventure guild staff or even some officials of various kingdoms. The only downside is that you have to do something truly great to become one. It is estimated that there are only 35 grandmaster adventures across the 5 continents .