The proceedings after a new Freelancer’s trial, if they passed and were thus accepted into their guild of choice, were a simple affair: A good chunk of paperwork to finalize certain details and what not, a rundown of simple operations, and other simple info. Formalities really, but necessary ones.
Syr felt lucky that the one she was going through all of this with happened to be Meli.
“Alrighty then…” the goblin fiddled with a toothpick as she started setting papers on the table between her and Syr.
The two were currently seated in a quiet office away from the main floor, set on the eastern wing of the building. Had to make sure they could go over everything with some quiet and peace of mind after all.
“Formalities are somethin’ of an annoyance, but I’m sure ye’ know the deal,” Meli stated, Syr chuckling as she started looking over the papers, bouncing the provided pen atop her knuckle.
“Well let’s just say paperwork goes hand-in-hand with being a college graduate.”
“HAH! I imagine. Now, le’s go o’er some o’ the basics…” Meli cleared her throat as she flicked a sheet out. “As a Freelancer under th’ Guild Association, ya’ get a number ah’ benefits and special access to goods an’ services around the city. For one, basic access ta’ commodities such as a livin’ space and food within the Guild Hall itself… yada yada, things I’m sure you can intuit.”
“About the living spaces. Is it like the inn rooms in this building itself or…?”
“We got a connected building next door that serves as an apartment complex for the Freelancers who wanna live close to the Hall,” said the Keeper. “Rents a lot cheaper thanks ta’ being a Guild member, an’ being so close means ya’ ain’t wastin’ time goin’ from ‘ere to the ‘burbs and back. Or whatever other part o’ the city ya’ livin’ in. But it ain’t for everyone.”
“Got it…” Syr nodded while she read the appropriate paper that detailed things like various floor plans of the rooms available in said affiliated building, plus other recommendations for nearby living spaces for those who wanted other amenities. “For now, a place with the Hall is probably my best option.”
“Can arrange that later,” Meli hopped from the couch and went over to the desk, grabbing a metallic box and returning, dropping the containing to the table. “And this here is some standard stuff every newbie gets.”
Opening the box, Meli revealed a row of Decks, plucking one of the devices and closing the container. The goblin flipped the item around, handing it to Syr with an easy motion.
“Not very flashy this one, huh?” Syr turned the deck over in her hands, taking notes on the device. Soren’s had been far more personalized as she could tell, meaning this was a basic model without any added flair. Its rectangular body was a simple shade of light grey, the casing sturdy looking but not too bulky. And on the back of the case was the emblem for the Amber Dawn, a stylized sun emblem flanked by a dragon’s wings.
“Ah don’ worry, you’ll get to personalize it as ya’ please. I’m assumin’ ya’ ain’t too familiar with Decks though, considering ye’ Vaniran Alfs ain’t got much use for ‘em back in your tree cities. Want a rundown?”
“If you’d be so kind.”
“… almost wish they had Manas do this,” Meli’s griping earned an amused chuckle from Syr. The goblin cleared her throat again. “Decks have been in use for… eh about the last decade or so. A magitech innovation that’s replaced older telecommunications methods. Like a lot of stuff, they came about from reverse engineering Ascian tech some people dug out of old ruins, one of the few things we’ve been able to replicate to some degree of efficiency.”
“I did think they were a bit familiar looking,” Syr noted, a hand to her chin. “The College keeps some Ascian relics on display. I think the ones used for these were called Scrolls, if I recall. Hehe, funny that these devices are named for things like old parchments or stacks of cards.”
“Designers have senses of humor like that,” Meli sniggered. “Anyway, the things are mighty convenient. Ya’ probably saw how Soren used ‘is when ya’ arrived. A Deck can store all kinds of data, and any place fit for networking them has all kinds of services they can be used for. Updating a town map with the latest information, downloading job data in a Guild Hall to keep it on hand, or access to that fancy ass digital network and what not.”
“I think I also saw Soren use his to flash an ID at an officer.”
“That’s a feature models used in businesses like ours have worked in,” Meli then produced her own device, a quick tap flashing up an ID screen at the front. “Having proper identification is pretty necessary in an age like ours, plus if something goes wrong, well… least we’ll know who it belonged to if we can’t find ‘em.”
“… wonderful,” Syr’s dry concern got a snicker from the Keeper.
“Well, ya’ gotta be able t’find people if they go missin’, don’t ya? Freelancer model Decks have features like that too, like an SOS signal that’ll tap anything in its range so the owner can be found if they say… get too deep into a Frontier and need to be pulled out or somethin’. The usual dangers and all that.”
“Well… that makes sense,” Syr shut her eyes and folded her arms, giving a long hum. Freelancers do undertake dangerous work… it’s only reasonable they’d have some method to keep track of each other if thing’s went awry… still, doing it through means like this, it’s interesting. A lot different than what I’m used to from my studies in the College, she thought.
“Once we’re done here, I’ll help you get the Deck set up with everything you need. After that, any other apps and even the case is all up to you. Now, for the most important part of this discussion: Freelancer Ranks.”
Meli chuckled as Syr’s ears twitched, the Alf perking up immediately.
“It’s a thing they don’t go into during the vetting process, better explained afterwards,” the goblin shifted the papers around, grabbing another sheet. “Long version or short version?”
“Long version, please.”
“… of course,” Meli clicked her tongue. Clearly not the version she preferred. “Alright then. To start with it, being a Freelancer doesn’t mean you can just pick any job from the board and go running off to do Concepts know what in some corner of the continent. For that reason, Freelancers are assigned a Rank that dictates what kind of jobs they’re allowed to take, and their resulting compensation for it. Part of the reason the exams, written and combat, are done is so your initial rank can be determined.”
“People have mentioned things like that. Soren’s what you call a High Rank, right?”
“Yep. There be three levels of rankings that Freelancers are placed in,” Meli lifted three fingers in turn as she continued speaking. “The first level is th’ Low Rank. These are your new Freelancers, ones who jus’ came off o’ their tests or are jus’ getting their boots dirty. LRs, for short. They make up the bulk of the Freelancers you’re bound ta meet. Second is th’ High Rank, which is where th’ experienced veterans go. Though you get cases like Soren and Sellen who’ve only been at it for a few years and get there off their exceptional talents and the records that follow.”
“And how do the ranks work?”
“Each level, aside from th’ third one, is divided into ten levels going on the ordinal scale,” Meli set the paper she was holding down, showing Syr a chart of numbers on it. “Basically, a newbie who comes off o’ their tests passing with the bare minimum will start off here, at the lowest spot, Low Rank 10, or LR10. Bottom of the rung and what not, and the jobs they get are… well, not th’ most excitin’ or dangerous kind. But ones that need doing.”
“I see…” Syr hummed. “So, you follow the scale up from 10 to 1, and you gain the recognition by the Guild to be trusted with more dangerous jobs.”
“Yeap. Your Rank is gonna end up being a decent reflection of your overall experience, and when it comes ta’ things, there isn’t much of a difference between spots like LR1 and HR10. But, being put into High Rank is more than just say…. Heh, being talented at what ya’ do. Ya’ gotta make it clear y’ve earned the right to get to that level. Nobody starts as an HR.”
“Well, I wasn’t expecting my experiences from the College to go giving me any special treatment now.”
“Smart lass. Savin’ the formality, since you did such a good job impressin’ the High Rankers during your exam, you’re one o’ the lucky ones who gets to start out higher than th’ norm. Once you’re all registered, you’ll be able to take on jobs authorized up to Low Rank 2.”
“Not 1?” Meli snickered as Syr’s ears drooped in the slightest showing of disappointment.
“Hehehe, go’a prove yourself a bit more first, Syr. The folks here know wha’ ya’ can do, so now ya’ go’a prove yourself like all the rest ‘ave. So… le’s say I’m wishing ya’ luck to get there quickly and see wha’ you’ll do, ‘kay lassy?”
“Hehe, then I hope I can do it soon enough,” Syr mused. “And… what about the third kind of rank?”
“Hehehe,” Meli gave the Alf a toothy, mischievous grin. “Those, Miss Alf, are the Grand Ranks. The genuine heroes o’ the world. Freelancers like none other who’ve accomplished feats martial and scholarly that not a soul hasn’ heard of.”
“… like Nuada Pendragon,” hummed the Alf, a small smile coming to her face. And like my brother, thought she. “Well then, I suppose I have a ways to go, don’t I?”
“Oh, and I hope ta’ see how far ya’ go,” the goblin snickered yet again. “Welcome to the Amber Dawn. May your fortunes be plenty, and your luck brilliant.”
“I’ll be sure not to let anyone down.”
----------------------------------------
For many a Guild, be them Freelancer or some kind of trade Guild, it was a simple tradition to have some kind of welcome for new members. A natural matter of course really.
And the Amber Dawn, fitting to their rowdy nature, was the sort prone to making their welcoming ceremonies full on parties.
The main living space was packed full that evening, the tables packed both by Hall members and their regular visitors to leave the tables full and many more to line the walls and upper floor. At the back of the space, Sellen stood on the small stage that sat beneath the trophy wall, looking across the crowd, making sure to briefly stop for a moment on the ten newcomers, Syr in particular of course.
With a clearing of her throat, and a small gleam at her neck, she then spoke, her voice amplified to project out further across the room.
“Alright all you louts and loudmouths!” her declaration earned a wave of laughs from the other members. “The Dawn’s got ten new fools among our number out of this newest batch! You know the drill! Treat ‘em like you would your own bloody family, make sure their first jobs don’t go to utter piss, and teach ‘em well, cause even the most smart-mouthed git has things to be told! But of course, most of all… hehehe… show them a good time! Or else ol’ Master Sharzok’ll let us have it!”
Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.
Another round of laughs came from the crowd, Sellen snickering as she moved to the side. And with a chuckle that rumbled through the building, someone else rose from the crowd to take the stage.
A tall, broad and well-built Orcish man, his skin tanned to a deep shade of emerald, his exposed arms rippling with faded scars from battles long past. His strong, broad features were accented by his well-kept white hair and beard, giving a sense of age and ruggedness, while strong tusks rose from the whiskers of his beard as his onyx eyes scanned the crowd.
Taking in a breath, the orc then bellowed.
“Ooossuuu!” the sudden bellow made some cover their ears, while others echoed the yell as Sharzok laughed, and when he spoke the distinctive bite of an Orcish accent sharpened his words. “That’s the sound I wanna hear from you lot! For you newcomers, I’m the Master of Amber Dawn, Sharzok of the Steeltusk! It’ll be me who’s your boss from now on! Well… on paper. I ain’t much one for those blasted formalities! Ahahahaaa!”
“Say that next time you and the other Masters meet!” someone crowed from the crowd, Sharzok giving a smirk.
“Oi, I tell ‘em every bleedin’ time! Not that some of those stiff Invests listen!” Another round of laughs followed. “But I give my heartiest welcome to those of you who passed your tests! Be it those fresh-faced seekers of fame who were able to put your money where your mouth was, or you from lives before this bringing in experiences of your own to make this place livelier! So tonight, ‘fore you go off onto your first jobs, be it as new members of a team or on your lonesome, drink and make merry! To you newcomers, and to the Amber Dawn! May your fortunes be plenty, and your luck brilliant!”
“May your fortunes be plenty, and your luck brilliant!”
Sharzok led the toast, raising an all too large tankard of ale and downing most of it in that single gulp. When he was done, he turned his attention over. “Oi, Zenver! Get your small arse up here and set the mood with one of your better tunes!”
“Didn’t even need to ask me Boss!” The halfling practically leapt from his chair to take the stage as Sharzok moved to the floor, a quick wave of Zenver’s hands conjuring a guitar into form. “Now how’sa bout something to fit the balmy summer mood, eh? Let’s hit it!”
With a snap of Zenver’s fingers, wispy trails of light flew from his hands, taking form into several spectral copies of himself, each holding a different spectral instrument to go along with his own. Flute, bass, keyboard, drums, and a lute. And as soon as Zenver grabbed hold of his guitar, the drums specter got to opening the tune soon followed by the real bard and his copies, filling the Hall with the bright sound of an energy filled song certainly fit for the summertime.
“See, this is the kind of lively I can get behind!” Syr laughed as she clapped along with the music, Soren chuckling as he ran a finger along the top of his own tankard.
“Zenver’s a rabble rouser, but you’ll rarely find a bard better than him in the city. Just happens to take it as a policy to set the mood for anything he gets caught up in. Bar fights included.”
“Well, can’t deny he’s good at what he does. Style’s a bit familiar… I wonder if he learned some tricks in Vanira?”
“So you can sling spells and got an ear for music? Hahaha! Soren, where the hell do you find someone like this?” Soren sighed as Sellen came trotting over, the Machina about flopping into one of the other free chairs at his and Syr’s table. And she looked all too amused when Syr’s eyes lit up on spotting those head fins of hers. “What Miss Alf, never see an Ars Machina before?”
“Careful~,” Soren chuckled. “She’s an Ascian geek.”
“Huh?”
“No waaaayyyy!” Sellen almost fell out of her chair from how quickly Syr shot up to get a closer look. “I didn’t think I’d get the chance to meet one of you so soon! An actual Ars Machina in the flesh! Incredible… I’d read the research papers but to see one myself… it really is impossible to tell you apart from anyone else outside of the radiator fins…”
“Ahahaaa, flattered you find me so interesting, but uhm… mind not being so close?” Syr blinked as she finally realized she was far too close, almost touching noses with Sellen as she looked around her head. “I do happen to like my personal space.”
“Ah! Sorry!” Syr shot back into her chair almost like she’d been yanked into it. “I just got a bit caught up! I uh… well I have a rather invested interest in the mysteries about the Ascians, and the Ars Machina, well… count for that. I kinda… lose myself when it comes to these things.”
Syr shot Soren a glare as the swordsman was trying, and failing, to stifle his own laughter.
“Well, guess I can’t blame ya,” Sellen chuckled as her head array started shifting about, clearly showing at least some part of her was pleased by Syr’s curiosity. “I know you saw me on the stage, but let’s have a more proper introduction, yeah? Name’s Sellen Knightwalker, and as you can tell, I’m an Ars Machina. If you’re curious, I came from the Cradle found not too far from Aurora here in Laguna. Guess you could say I grew up in the capital before I ended up here.”
“Syr Fleyldis, from Vanira. College graduate and… not much else, hehe. Though I did spend a lot of time around the Recordkeepers.”
The two shook hands, Sellen giving a hum as she then leaned on the table.
“Y’sure? I know Sorcerer’s College graduates are tough cookies, know a few myself. But that display of yours was something else. Barely seen anyone who can easily use as many elements as you did. Got a pretty special talent there, don’t you?”
“Well, my instructors did always say I had a bit of a gift,” and now Syr was the one looking proud of herself. “And thanks to the College I know plenty on how to use it.”
“So you showed us. So hey, how’s about it? Wanna join up with my motley crew?”
“And get dragged to every which continent every other week?” Soren snickered. “Slave driver you may not be, but you also have a rep for running everyone ragged with how many jobs you do in a row.”
“Pff, we never go above five!”
“Ahaha, I’m flattered someone like you would want me on their team, but I want to actually get my feet on the ground properly first,” Syr raised her hands a bit, Sellen humming. “Besides, I’m not sure it would look good if the one who got ranked LR2 out of the gate also joined one of the Guild’s best teams.”
“Eh, understandable. Just know the offers there. At least wanted to ask around Soren, worried he’d get fussy if the rookie he brought in got dragged off by someone else without him knowing.”
“Oi,” Soren gave Sellen a lidded look, the Machina chuckling. “Don’t go giving some weird ideas about me now. I picked the solo route for my own reasons. Not one to get all uppity about someone choosing a team just ‘cause I brought them in.”
“Ahhh shame, I almost hoped you’d be a bit jealous,” Syr snickered, Soren rolling his eyes with a playful huff. “Buuut, if you don’t mind helping little ol’ me get used to the Freelancer life, I wouldn’t mind.”
“Haha! I’m sure you’ll be used to it inside of a month tops. But, for real, congrats on getting in. You did a helluva job impressing all the other High Rankers. You’re gonna have a lot of eyes on you.”
“Ah, wonderful…”
Soren and Sellen chuckled as Syr hung her head in faux worry. And then, attention turned when they heard Sharzok suddenly bellow from the stage again.
“Heyyy! Sellen! Soren! Get on up and get ready! You know the drill!”
“Oh, here we go…” Soren’s shoulders sagged as he turned to face the Guild Master, the orc with a wide, trouble-stirring grin on. “The other tradition when we welcome newbies.”
“I feel like I already know what this is going to be.”
As Syr gained a stilted look, Soren and Sellen merely shot her knowing smirks.
Just as soon as the two rose, the crowd began shifting around. Tables and chairs were dragged to the sides as the already dense crowd tightened up, forming into a rough ring, leaving a clear space in the center of the main floor for Soren and Sellen to stride out into.
[About time we get to this!]
[This time it’s those two huh? This’ll be a hell of a show!]
[The Sword Saint and the Spear Maiden, hell yeah!]
[Put on a good showing for the newcomers eh? Do us High Ranks proud!]
“… they’re going to fight,” Syr shook her head as an amused smile came about her expression.
“That’s just Amber Sky tradition,” Manas approached from within the tangle of excitement, watching as Soren and Sellen limbered up, the latter also pulling her loose hair into a tight tail. “The High Ranks get picked at random to put on a demonstration every time we throw a welcoming party, show the new blood what it takes to get where they are.”
“Won’t Soren be at a disadvantage though?” Syr said, looking between the two as they were handed blunted weapons. Soren a far simpler longsword than his Hyperion, and Sellen a just as simple spear. Both took the time to test the balance of the weapons. “A spear has far more reach than a sword, and someone skilled with it will be hard to close the gap with.”
“True enough, but you don’t get the title of a Saint without being aware of your own weaknesses either. So watch them. You only got a taste of what Soren can do fighting that Drake, and this won’t even be a full showing.”
“I’d imagine.”
“Alright, let’s remind ourselves of the rules here!” Sharzok took the stage again, quickly eyeing a clearly all too eager to play Zenver. “For you newbies or those needin’ a reminder! Another ol’ tradition of our Hall is having our proud High Rankers show you newcomers what’s what! We’re Mercenaries, meaning for us, how you do in a fight is just as important as what goes on in your head! Our jobs are dangerous, life threatenin’! But you wouldn’t be here if you didn’t know that! Hahahaha! So, time for our two rising stars to show you what we mean! Soren, Sellen! Keep it clean, yeah?”
“I’m not the one who needs to be asked to hold back,” Soren chuckled as he twirled his sword around, the motions of his wrists and fingers smooth and easy as he spun the weapon around himself before taking it back into a proper hold.
“Ah relax, not like I’m gonna blow out a wall or something,” Sellen snickered as she spun her spear around as well, taking it into a wider, two-handed stance as Soren shifted into his own. “On your mark Boss!”
“Zenver, sound ‘em off!” Commanded the Guild Master, the bard all too happy to comply as he counted down, setting the mood and pace with a smooth, jazzier tune than his previous piece.
Neither combatant chose to wait, both shooting forward at the same instant. The air rang as spear met blade, the crowd cheering as the exchange began, the air filling with the melodic sound of the clashing weapons, almost falling into a rhythm matching Zenver’s song as Soren and Sellen exchanged the motions of their weapons.
Sellen moved almost like a whirlwind, her spear spinning and dancing through the air as her stances followed through in sets of repositioning steps, smooth pirouettes to follow into a heavy thrust, or quickly grasping her tool at higher marks to maneuver its blade faster to match Soren’s own range when he got in too close.
Not a single one of her motions wasted a movement, each strike aimed with all the know-how of someone who’d grown used to her opponent, matching step-for-step almost like a dance. And even the blunt end of her spear saw use, being used as a sweeping tool to try and trip Soren up, his nimble footwork being the deciding factor there.
Soren’s display was no less a show of his skill with his weapon of choice. To those who knew of the Continuation Style he was learned in, they knew it was also defined by one word: Flow. Every movement of the feet, every swing, every dodge, every parry flowed from one to the other.
Each swing of the sword used its own momentum to move into the next, Soren’s motions moving naturally and smoothly from one stance to the next. Every time the blade was knocked aside by Sellen’s own parries, Soren would simply carry that motion into yet another slash of the blade or use the motions of his own dodges to carry through into counters.
And Syr could only be amazed that such a display of martial skill, that such a dance-like flurry was the two holding back for the sake of both the demonstration and the limitations of the weapons handed to them.
And it carried on that way for minutes on minutes, the crowd cheering just as much as they were transfixed on the display from the two.
Attempts to trip with the spear were met with the haft being stamped on.
Quick thrusts of the sword were dodged through and countered with a swift swing of the spear that slammed the haft into Soren’s side.
Sellen turning her spear into a whirl of slashes was matched by a similar motion from Soren, the air starting to whip around from the speed of the clashing flurries before the two moved into heavy finishing motions.
Sellen stabbed, Soren cut. The sound of a collision sounded, the two fighters sliding past one another as their motions followed through. And after a quiet pause, both stood straight, giving sighs as their weapons, covered in cracks and gouges despite their blunted blades, showed even more cracks before portions of the blades broken off.
“Well, I think that does it, Boss!” Soren called, raising his broken sword high. “Ain’t gonna be able to fight with broken weapons!”
“Looks like we’re done!” Sellen laughed as she eyed the busted spearhead.
And Sharzok let out a low rumble as the two Freelancers kept holding up the broken swords.
“They wouldn’t bloody break if ya’ two weren’t so damned used to those fancy magitech weapons of yours!” Bellowed the orc. Soren and Sellen only looked to the side as the Orc shook his head. “But, I ain’t one to argue a good showing! Maybe next time we oughta take this to the roof so you can actually let loose a bit!”
[That was them holding back?!]
[I’ve heard some High Rankers can be pretty nuts but…]
[And these two aren’t even the best in the Guild…]
[Talk about a gap to close…]
“And if you’re too chicken to try and close that gap, you won’t make it as a Freelancer!” Soren shouted, pointing his broken blade off to the chattering. “Push yourself to the limits of your ability, and when you hit that point, break past it and go further!
“Don’t have to tell me twice!” Syr called out, earning an amused look from Soren as he spun the broken blade. “Just you watch us, High Rankers! We’ll be catching up to you in no time!”
“Hehe… that’s the spirit I like to see!” Soren let out a laugh, then holding up a v-sign. “We’ll be seeing you there! So, let’s hear it again! May your fortunes be plenty, and your luck brilliant!”
“May your fortunes be plenty, and your luck brilliant!”