“You look too young. Have you had your ceremony yet?”
“I have,” Jein said.
“Good, good,” He said.
He reached under the desk, and pulled out a pig-iron badge: in the roughly-hewn shape of a square with G10 etched into its surface, and inlaid with a white chalk to make it visible. Next, he pulled out a long needle and a blank piece of flawless lamb-skin
“If you’re lying, now would be a good time to come clean, because this will reveal your Slate, but only if you’ve gone through the Ceremony. If you haven’t, you will be expelled and will no longer be able to seek employment with us, do you understand?”
“I’m not lying!” Jein crossed his arms and harrumphed.
“Alright...do you have the enrollment fee, or would you like to create a credit line with us?”
“Credit?”
“Often times, those down on their luck will come in here to enroll because its a job open to all castes, and all destinies; so we sometimes waive the initial fee for later repayment.”
“I’ll do that, then.”
The birdkin made a note on a piece of paper that lay beside the items that he had set out.
“Hold out your arm.”
Jein did so. The birdkin grabbed the boy by the wrist and deftly picked up the needle and jabbed it into the boy’s veins. Jein hissed as a coldness spread up his arm. He tried to yank it away, but the birdkin held it fast. He pulled out the needle, and Jein cradled his wrist. The birdkin pulled The Boy’s arm: and pressed his feathers closed over the wound. over the white-lambskin parchment.
“Last chance.” The birdkin said.
“I am not lying!”
The Birdkin released his grip on the boy, and the blood from The Boy’s wound stained the pure white lamb-ski
When this pink mist faded, his Slate, as he saw it after his Ceremony, wrote itself out on the contract page, along with a full contract of Employment with the Guild in ruby ink. As it was writing itself out, the birdkin chuckled.
“Well I’ll be, I guess you weren’t lying.”
That chuckle soon turned to stunned silence when his Primary Stats were laid out on the page.
Beneath, and around this the Guild’s Contract began to form. While it was being written out, the birdkin left it alone. He murmured several times, “This can’t be…”
This contract is a binding document between one Jein Unnamed, and the Adventurer’s Guild of the United Front of the Seven Principalities. Jein Unnamed, from hereon referred to as, ‘signatory,’ will agree to the following upon joining the Adventurer’s Guild:
I
One quest must be done a month during the ranks of G10 through to the ranks of D5. Failure to do so will result in fines befitting your ranks, demotion, and possible dismissal from the guild.
II
The Guild will have Right of First Refusal on any Item drop that the signatory gains from his jobs and (s)he seeks to sell.
III
In situations of Emergency, the Signatory might be levied for the defense of nearby towns or cities. Or in times of dire national emergency, into the nation they find themselves in’s military. This can only be done for the following reason:
A): If said region is forming an expeditionary force to send into their Frontiers to face the forces of the Demon King and the Void.
Or
B): If said region discovers an Anomalous Zone and seeks to quell the pouring of Monsters from it, and claim it as their own.
Failure to respond to these calls will result in disciplinary actions including, but no limited to:
A fine of up to 10 gold.
Imprisonment for up to 1 year.
The Guild will NEVER take part in any struggles against different Polities. If an individual Adventurer agrees, however, they may join up in such affairs.
IV
Every time the Signatory enters a new providence, they must register with that regions Guild Hall. Failure to do so will result in the following:
- On their first offense, 50 copper.
- On their second offense, 1 silver.
- On all offenses thereafter: 1 gold.
V
If the Signatory comes across an Anomalous Structure or Zone AND they manage to clear the Miasma-bearer within, AND if they seek to sell the rights to said Structure or Zone, the Guild has a right to first refusal.
VI
If the Signatory comes across an Anomalous Structure or Zone and they do not clear the Miasma-bearer within, they MUST report it to the Guild as soon as possible. If it is found that they delayed in any meaningful way to inform the guild, then they will be subject to fines, or up to one (1) year of imprisonment.
VII
The Guild shall provide the Signatory with the following Benefits and Protections, provided the Signatory remains in good standing:
A): Provision of Sanctuary: While within the walls of a registered Guild Hall, the Signatory is entitled to one (1) meal of basic subsistence per day and access to communal sleeping quarters, provided they have completed at least one Guild-sanctioned task within the last thirty (30) days. B): Divine Claim: The Signatory is granted the religious and legal authority to claim "Drops" and artifacts from slain Monsters and Denizens of the Void. The Guild recognizes these as the personal property of the Signatory, subject to local taxation or Guild processing fees. C): Legal Advocacy: The Guild will provide legal counsel and "Sanctuary Status" for any Signatory accused of crimes by local Polities, provided said crimes were committed during the authorized quelling of an Anomalous Zone or the performance of Guild-sanctioned duties. D): Access to the Archives: Signatories of "Novice" rank or higher are granted access to the Guild’s Alchemical and Bestiary Archives for the purpose of fulfilling their current "Goals" and advancing their Knowledge of the Miasma. E): Preferential Healing: Signatories injured in service to the Guild or while quelling the Miasma are entitled to a twenty-five percent (25%) discount on restoration services at any sanctioned Holy Site. F): Equipment Grants: Upon reaching a new Tier of Rank, the Signatory may apply for a one-time Equipment Grant or low-interest loan for the procurement of specialized gear, such as travel cloaks, enchanted footwear, or alchemical reagents necessary for Frontier survival.
VIII
The Guild agrees to act as a neutral repository for the Signatory’s funds. Any gold, silver, or copper deposited at a registered Guild Hall may be withdrawn at any other registered Guild Hall across all Providences, minus a five percent (5%) administrative transfer fee.
IX
Should the Signatory fall in battle against the Void or within an Anomalous Zone, the Guild shall make a reasonable effort to recover the Signatory’s remains for a proper burial within the Cathedral of the Father, provided the recovery does not risk the lives of an entire Expeditionary Force.
X
The Signatory will be rewarded monetarily for every monster, demon, or Criminal Apostate they kill, and every Anomalous Structure they clear based off of difficulty. The same will apply to Great Feats, which will be recorded via your Guild Badge.
Signatory’s Signature
---------------------------
Guild Witness to the Signature
---------------------------
The bird-kin was still staring at the Slate’s reveal for a moment as Jein read through his contract, and cleared his throat.
“Ah, excuse me.” He muttered out, “Let’s…” His black eyes shot to the Slate once more. “Let’s uh...let’s continue with the registration.”
The bird kin picked up the pin with his wing like hands, and gave it over to The Boy.
“Sign here.” He motioned to the line on the bottom of the page.
Jein picked up the pen and sloppily wrote his name underneath it.
“Good enough…”
The bird-kin took up the pen and signed where he was required to sign.
“Now…”
He took up the needle and pricked his own finger, and pressed it against the parchment next to his signature. Next, he handed it over to Jein.
“Do the same.”
Jein swallowed and nodded. He pressed the point of the needle through his thumb. He hissed as a droplet of blood rolled out of the prick. He pressed it against the lamb-skin. His back began to burn as his blood soaked into the white cloth. It was as if the Eye of the Father was upon him again, searing the mark upon his back further. When it was finished, the Window of the World opened in front of him again.
Join the Adventurer’s Guild Complete, +50 XP towards Main Destiny
After he had read it and absorbed its meaning, it closed and another opened up.
Lower Destiny Added: G10-Rank Adventurer (0/100)
The Birdkin reached across the table, and rolled the contract up, he then grabbed hold of his still bleeding thumb and pressed it against the iron badge. A red light emitted from it for a moment, and after it was finished the birdkin slid the badge across the desk.
“Welcome to the Adventurer’s Guild!”