Chapter 7: The Rookie

The arena was packed dirt with wooden walls two meters tall separating the entertainment from the audience. The soon to be combatants sat on short wooden stools at opposite ends of the arena. Both where dressed only in white loincloths and neither was looking at the other. They had been waiting for some time now and had taken the time earlier to examine their opponent now all there was to do was wait.

The stands around the arena finally filled today was the final day of an Initiate in the Guild before He would be officially recognised as a member of the Guild. Over the past three months of the process the initiate had to prove his competencies in many fields from blade work to hunting, from first aid to camping and finally now the initiate must only show the He is skilled enough before his peers for them to trust him in the field.

He must duel his sponsor the Guild member who put his guild membership on the line to show his faith that the Initiate ha what it took to join the illustrious guild.

“Guild members present at this village, thank you for coming here on this beautiful afternoon.” Started the Hallmaster, he was an older looking Wood Elf a feat few can accomplish Wood elves being effectively immortal he would have had to have lived for possibly thousands of years to get to his current aged appearance.

“Our newest initiate has proven himself to competent in a multitude of areas and will no doubt be a great addition to the Guild but that all means nothing if you cannot trust him to strand at your side in battle.” The Hallmaster stood on a slightly raised podium so all in the audience could see and hear him clearly.

“The rules are simple show us you are worthy and of course no killing, not even the Spellweavers can heal that!” the spectators chuckled darkly. “Fighters rise and move to the centre of the arena!”

The fighters stood up moved to the centre where two daggers lay. “Who sponsors the Initiate?” Called the Hallmaster into the arena.

One of the figures stepped up to face the Hallmaster standing two meters tall with broad shoulders and narrow waist his closely cropped dark black hair and stubble stark contrast to his pale skin the kind knights get when spend too much time within their armour. He stood ramrod straight and announced to his peers “Allen Hardgrove the Crimson Hound I sponsor this here initiate!”

A smattering of murmurs started in the crowds many had heard of him and that his duel acting title and callsign was more than lived up too. When a new member joined the Guild their sponsor gave them a unique title and callsign that would be the name they were known by within the guild as it may be dangerous to loved ones if real names where used. The titlenames could be changed but only after committing great acts of renown.

“And have you chosen a Titlename for the initiate?” Asked the Hallmaster shutting down talking in the stands.

“I have,” Hardgrove paused and grinned wickedly at the initiate,” His Titlename shall be ‘Rookie’.”

A dead silence fell over the crowd before all at once a great laughter erupted and soon many of the Adventurers where wheezing and struggling to breath after the stands calmed down the Hallmaster now sporting a poorly concealed smile tried to get on with the event.

“What is the reason for his Titlename?” A guild members given Titlename can near any reason it was the individual Hallmaster choice whether the name was to be allowed or not.

The initiate visibly sighed as if in resignation as Hardgrove flashed a wolfish smile “because when I raised the subject he said and I quote: I don’t care what you call me as long as it’s not Rookie; and believe me I checked the registry no Guild member has been given the Titlename Rookie in the past.” another small bout of laughter came from the stands eliciting a low chuckle from the wizened Hallmaster.

“Very well Rookie it is, do you accept your Titlename Initiate Roland Noble?”