Adventurer Guilds are an oddity, while other professions have a single guild which provides support across the country. Adventurer guilds are separated into hundreds of smaller institutions who operate independently from each other. Perhaps the Founder thought that keeping a group of individualistic fighters under a single banner was too difficult. Or maybe he feared that such a group could overthrow the kingdom should they were united.

1.6

He stood before the looming building.

It was a grand structure, three floors high and built with stark, ashen coloured rocks, the door was made of a black metal that seemed to glisten in the darkness.

Music, shouts and hearty laughter could be heard, from the sound alone, it would seem that the building was only a simple tavern.

He stood there, hesitating as if considering his options. However, his thoughts were interrupted as he saw a hooded figure from his peripheral vision.

He turned to get a better look at this figure.

The figure was short, barely coming up to his waist. Their stature suggested that they were either a child or a gnome.

A voice squeaked nervously from the hood, “Um… Excuse me, are you from this guild?”

She pulled her hood back a bit, revealing light auburn hair which barely reached her shoulders. Her face was childlike, still rife with traces of baby fat, yet a few small pimples had found roost on both her cheeks. She wasn’t beautiful in any conventional sense, it’d be more accurate to call her plain, or cute if you’re nice.

The boy stared back at her as if considering something. After a minute of awkward silence between the two, he replied, “No, but I soon will be.”

The girl perked up at that, “So you’re here to join the guild as well?”

The boy didn’t take his time to answer, instead offering a curt nod as he turned back to the guild door.

Taking a deep breath, the boy pushed open the door.

Despite being forged of metal, the door slid easily and silently open. The voices inside all ceased, silence suddenly reigned. A dozen pairs of eyes turned to stare at the duo.

The inside was simple, tables littered the room without rhyme or order, a bar which doubled as a receptionist desk was on the other side of the floor. A flight of stairs led to the second floor.

Adventurers at various stages of drunkenness were sitting by. Evaluating the newcomers. Despite a good number of them having faces completely flushed red due to alcohol. None of them held their mugs with shaking hands, their postures showed none of the telltale signs of being drunk.

The boy ignored the stares, marching directly pass the group of adventurers, towards the receptionist desk/bar.

The girl hesitated for a moment, before hurrying to follow.

One of the adventurers suddenly stood up.

At that moment, the boy froze.

The girl tugged at his sleeve, “Hey are you okay?”

Irrelevant, her presence was a distraction, not even a priority. There was something far more dangerous here.

It was as if a beast was staring down upon him, no… not a beast, no beast could compare to this thing. Size, strength, speed, intelligence, all were meaningless in front of this presence. It was as if he was being stared down by the jungle. Vast, wild, unbeatable.

He couldn’t even turn his head to see this monster.

But he could feel it drawing closer towards him. “Well you tried kid,” a gruff voice said sympathetically. “I’ll applaud you for still standing though, most just collapse, heck this one guy -”

Crack.

The boy continued.

The monster paused, surprised. He chuckled, the sound was more like a deep growl by some huge creature than actual laughter.

Suddenly, the monster disappeared.

It was as if a huge weight was suddenly taken off his back. The boy almost stumbled at the sudden feeling of lightness.

A large hand grabbed his shoulder and steadied him.

“I haven’t seen that in a while,” The gruff voice continued. “Go apply, I’ll look forward to working with you.”

He gave the boy a light push towards the bar. He stumbled slightly before reorienting himself and continued on his path.

“Umm, mister?” He felt a light tug at his fur. It was the other applicant. “Is he going to be okay?” She pointed at the boy, who had just made it to the bar that doubled as a receptionist desk.

He chuckled slightly, the laughter sounded normal this time, if a bit rough. “Him? I just tested him a bit, he passed.”

The girl nervously glanced at the boy, then back to him, “Umm… Will I be tested?” she whispered.

He grinned at her, the girl winced and shrunk back.

“Hey, Vas! Stop scaring her!” An adventurer from the side yelled.

He snarled back a reply, “Aren’t you guys supposed to be drunk!”

“Of course, I am so drunk that my tongue is completely unrestrained. In fact, I think I will completely blackout in a few minutes.”

Vas cracked his knuckles. “Oh don’t worry, you won’t have to wait minutes.”

The adventurer laughed, “Just some advice Vas, your smiles could scare off an Aldar Watcher, you might as well double down and sharpen em instead of trying to round off the edges.”

He replied with a thrown chair. The adventurer dodged easily, raising his hands in surrender, before returning to his drink.

Vas growled at the man once more just to make sure he had truly stopped.

“Umm…”

He turned his attention back to the girl, “You already passed.” He gestured at the bar, “Go apply if you want,” and gave her a light push.

The girl looked at him, confusion on her face, she glanced back and forth between the bar and the furry beastman.

He gave her another push, a bit stronger this time. “Hurry up and go!” He commanded.

The girl didn't look back and rushed towards the bar.

Vas watched the departing figure. Briefly considering his options, before he began channelling.

Energy flooded his body, dozens of spirits lay just within his grasp, the Spirit of the Jungle who he had channelled previously. But he was not the Spirit he wanted right now. He searched around, before finding the Spirit he needed hoving just in the edges of his periphery.

The Spirit took the form of a living mountain, he was a Spirit of the long-lived, it was natural that he took the form of a mountain.

Vas grasped at the Spirit, and it returned the gesture. He felt as though he had lived through many millennia, knowledge and wisdom fluttered just beyond his grasp. He forced the power towards his head. Immediately knowledge filled his mind.

Floor, high quality blackened draak stone, capable of withstanding flames from mature dragons, black soot, regularly exposed to heat surpassing that.

Guild Hall, Dwarven design and craft, the entire building is capable of withstanding an assault from beings up to A tier.

Stonewood tables and chairs, tempered under blue flames, regularly used, minute traces of blood, scratches and dents show that they have been used as a weapon at some point.

“So what do you think Sir?”

Jane Artane, Human, age 22, C tier adventurer, warrior swordsmen. Sword is made of an alloy of al’zakar crystal, dwarven fire steel and young basilisk bone, capable of igniting on command. Formal language, ingrained manners training from youth. Light armour made using basilisk leather, the material was from the same basilisk as the sword. Questioning tone, is wondering why the girl seems unaffected.

“Not now,” another adventurer answered.

Calin Son of Alacrity, Runed One, age 43, B tier adventurer, Rune warrior. Traces of sweat, regular intense training. Alcohol breath, recently drank Dwarven Beer brewed on 28th Fire Month, barrel was damaged in transport, some flavour lost. Alcohol has no effect on him. Using a skill to simulate drunken look. No amour has no need for it. Realises I am using the Ancient. Saw the Spirit of the Jungle failing to faze the girl. Has the Gift of Alacrity and Presence.

Useless information, The Ancient was like an old man, rambling on about anything that could be spoken, the trick was to focus him before it overloaded their mind.

He focused on the duo filling out paperwork at the bar.

Clint, Human, age 18, novice swordsman, but no sword. Lost in a previous battle. Black hair, unknown nationality, originated from the east? Foreign, does not fully understand the language. Broken finger used pain to concentrate and tide through the bloodlust. Posture suggests hand to hand combat training.

???? Female, Human? Age? ???? Robe is made of cheap low-quality fabric, not originally hers. ???? Looted from a recently deceased corpse. ????

Vas felt the Ancient drawing up blanks with her, he couldn’t learn anything more. “Interesting…” He muttered as he unfocused and let the Ancient wander. However, the Ancient, instead of feeding him a steady stream of useless trivia and knowledge, focused on him.

Vas, Lupa Ursa Hybrid, ‘beastman’, age 62, A tier adventurer, Elder Shaman, World Bringer, warrior monk, Vice Guild Master of The First Blaze, former gladiator slave. Experienced adventurer, curious about the girl. Old arm injury from a previous battle, death element miasma, Lich. Part of the original 4 to start the guild. World Bringer is job and title. Your lifespan is nearing its end?

He started laughing, it was a small chuckle at first, before rising to a loud booming noise. Several adventurers turned their eyes back to him, including the duo at the desk.

He stopped to snarl at them, “What are you looking at!” before returning to his previous seat.

It was stupid, the years he had left were in the single digits and fate decided to drop these two on his head.

The Ancient decided to speak directly to him since who knows how many years, but not even he could provide him with answers.

This whole thing was foolish, but if he was right, then now last few years may become very interesting.