Marty’s Mercy

There was somber silence as the remaining initiates exited the Oath Room back into the hallway. They may be asking themselves if all this is worth it. Sometimes I ask myself that same question, but that doesn’t matter anymore. They are part of the guild now just as I am part of the guild. We all have our duties to perform and in time they will come to understand that, this job is difficult but oh so rewarding. Plus, if we didn’t do it no one else would, and it’s fucking fun!

May the death they just witnessed open their hearts to compassion and trust in their fellows. Life is too short to waste on hating another.

The Arena

So that happened. I may have met the god of my people, told I’m worthy of something and that's it. Now what do I do? Well, that's kind of been explained to me, us, already go to the arena and wait for instructions.

When we finally exited the long dark hallway the sight that awaited at the end was breathtaking. The fifty of us that had survived the oath arrived in a humble arena, shaped like a square and taking up the majority of the space it loomed in front of us. Standing atop of it five figures stood. I recognized only one, the large bear-kin, Glint, that had met me and Torgin at the gates earlier in the day. Standing to his left were four others that I hadn’t seen, first in line next to him was a woman with sharp features and pointed ears who stood almost as tall as Glint, short dirt brown hair shaved all the way off on the right side, bright pink eyes and wearing a tight fitting suit and having bandages on her hands and bare feet. Besides her an insanely small man dressed in a green suit and hat with gold buckles. He had fiery red hair and a full beard, a crooked nose and a mischievous glint in his eyes as he smoked a pipe.

Next was another man, at least I think it was a man, hard to tell with all the layers of cloth wrapped around their body, they stood about medium height and their face was covered with a worn wooden mask carved with strange glowing runes. The last one up on the arena with them was an average looking woman. Nothing out of the ordinary about her, she had blonde hair and blue eyes and was dressed in a white robe with the god Gyro’s foaming flask symbol on it.

“Welcome to the arena proper young initiates. As some of you may know I am Captain Glint. All of you who stand before me and my fellows are those who survived the oath, for this I congratulate you. Now on to business, each of us before you a is a different representative of the paths needed for success within a dungeon. Tanks who protect their allies, damage dealers who destroy the enemy, healers who keep the team alive, and supporters who alter the flow of a battle to their team's benefit. I possess the Bastion legendary class and as such I will be the trainer for those of you who wish to pursue the path of a tank.” Captain Glint stated in a firm but jovial voice. He then looked over his shoulder to the woman who looked like she wasn’t paying attention and grunted. It startled her and she glared back at Glint before noticing all of us initiates looking up.

“Ah right, right, right I guess it’s my turn now huh!” The woman spoke in an airy tone. “My name is Vasil Adrenal Opehaven. I'm of the elf race, and I will be the instructor for the future close range fighters amongst you all. My class is the Devastator, yea it's a legendary one too. So, well that's all from me you can go now.” She said with a smile on her face.

The small man in green stepped forward next. “So, I guess it’s my turn to tell all you wee lads and lassies what it is I do. First off, I am a leprechaun and by the grace of Queen Faun and Lady Feltza I’m here to teach you the ways of a supporter in a dungeon. The class I got is the legendary Mindbender. Now I’m done and look forward to helping yah grow, and I will or my name ain’t Cairbre MacKenna and it is.”

The robe wearer stepped up next. “This one you may call Opium. I am in charge of ranged damage dealers. This one is excited to see where you'll end up in the future. As for this one's class it is the Swarm Host legendary. Words of advice don’t die.”

How does don’t die count as words of encouragement? What so we just witness death then were told don’t die, are they serious right now. How does anyone just accept this kind of advice and roll with it? Mammals are insane.

I was still rolling over the thoughts in my mind when the final member yelled out. “Opium, don’t scare the newbies like that. They have been through a traumatic experience. The same as each of us standing before them, the least we can do is show we understand.” Her voice is kind and motherly at least what I think a mother would sound like to her child. It felt warm and comforting to hear her words. “We may have been part of a group that lost far more than them but that does not change what they saw. Just like them we were not warned what would happen to the ones the gods did not accept. Initiates hear me and know you are not alone in this every member of the guild has seen others die during the oath. We understand what you are going through. I know it may not seem like a lot but you were chosen and survived for a reason. I can see the doubt on some of your faces, but trust me it will all work out for the better.”

As she finished, I relaxed a little more and took notice that the other initiates around me seemed to be at ease as well. Whatever it was she did while speaking helped us all.

“Now then, since you all have had a chance to calm yourselves, I would like to properly introduce myself. My name is Alice Bell and I will be the instructor for the future healers. My class is the legendary Fleshshaper, and to answer the question that is on all of your minds right now all instructors here have a legendary class. Who knows one day some of you may acquire one as well.” Now that she said her piece she stepped back in line and gestured to Glint.

“Well now that we have all introduced ourselves to you, the reason you were sent to us is about to begin. Ten of you will fight each other and display a sample of your skills and abilities to us and to all of your fellow initiates here on the arena. When I call out your name step forward, if your name is not called go sit in the stands.”