System Break

It was quiet in the administration building, with only a couple of adventurers and the clerks behind their respective counters.

Gisael, Reyas and Nej took a seat while Ailen and Sakaala approached the counter. Barrin looked at Gisael, who nodded, and then he followed the twins.

"Uh hi," Ailen said. "We're a new guild. New to Dawnharbour."

The lady had a pair of spectacles balancing on her nose and a long pencil in her hand. She twirled the pencil and raised an eyebrow.

"Are you registered?" she asked.

"We are with the gatekeepers but not here."

She pursed her lips. "The gatekeepers keep registrations? Really?"

Ailen nodded. "Of sorts."

"You don't look like an adventurer."

"Is it a requirement to be a man?" Sakaala asked. "There are other races, but we are rare."

The clerk nodded. "No. It is just unusual. You'll need to pay dues and taxes. It's in the guild charter. Once you sign and pay an advance, I can certify you." She handed Ailen a roll of papers tied with a ribbon.

He unrolled them and he face scrunched up in consternation. The writing was tiny and indiscernible.

She smiled. "Let me go through the criteria.

She looked around the room. "How many in your guild? The limit is twenty-five."

"Oh, we have four."

She shook her head. "You'll need at least five to form your council."

"Okay then we'll add in the two women on the bench seat. That makes six," Sakaala said.

"Are they adventurers?" the clerk asked.

Sakaala nodded. "Yes."

The clerk peered at them and shrugged. "Next you have to pay a standard levy of 5 pounds a month. It includes hall rental but if you want to upgrade to a luxury hall its 15 pounds per month."

"Five pounds of what?" Sakaala asked.

The clerk giggled. "You are green aren't you." Then she looked at their skin. "Sorry. Five pounds of qi cores from the monsters."

"Standard is fine," Ailen said, "There's only six of us and a couple of helpers."

"But all the standard halls are taken and the new buildings on the isle aren't ready. So, you'll have to take a luxury one I am afraid."

"Can't we stay in an inn and just pay dues?"

She shook her head. "No, its part of the charter that all adventurers must stay in their own hall. There will be five standard halls freeing up next month. You can downgrade when one is free."

"Why are they freeing up?"

"Five guilds are moving on. One to The Reach and four to Salastria. You arrived just in time for the tournament because it's the winners who will get to move to better hunting grounds."

Ailen glanced at Sakaala who kept a straight face.

Barrin moved between Ailen and Sakaala and asked. "Is the tournament to the death?"

The clerk pointed at the wall where a noticeboard hung. "Tournament rules are there." There was a large sign stating Tournament with four pages pinned underneath.

Barrin nodded and walked over to the wall. He removed his goggles and began to read with a hand keeping the light from shining into his eyes.

Ailen and Sakaala sat and read through the four scrolls regarding guilds. Then paid the 15 pounds of cores at the payment desk. It was half a backpack. They were handed a map of the city and the clerk marked the location of their guild hall. 

She gave them a set of keys and said, "A welcome pack will arrive at your hall. You'll be assigned an ambassador soon."

When she saw their blank stares. "The ambassador's job is to guide and assist with city relations."

"Oh," Ailen said. "Ant to keep us out of trouble."

She nodded. "Most of the guilds did this a month ago."

"We're different."

She peered at his green skin. "I can see." She sighed. "But cores are cores. The duke will take anyone's qi."

"Who's good with maps?" Ailen asked.

Barrin looked around. "I can do it. Hand it here."

They walked through the streets again with most of the city folk stopping to stare. Their hall was closer to the main keep than the others. It was five stories high and looked like a square tower reaching for the sky. It was made of sandstone with glazed windows and it even had parapets.

Barrin used the key and pushed opened the heavy oak double doors. It was dusty inside and Sakaala made her way to open the windows.

"Open on the second and third floor. Not here," Reyas said. "Cities are full of thieves."

"They can climb you know," Ailen said.

Her lip curled. "Then they will die, but we will at least keep out the ones who can't"

The ground floor was a common area with a fireplace, rugs, and comfy chairs. There were two long tables and a kitchen counter behind. On the right-hand side, a sweeping staircase followed the walled and curled onto the first floor. It looked like a hotel with doors spaced apart evenly and a balcony looking down into the common room.

Both the second and third floors were open in the centre with rooms round the walls.

"Five stories?" Barrin said. "You could live on one, two at most."

Ailen shrugged. "It's meant for a guild of twenty-five. I guess the higher floors are more luxurious for the guild leaders.

"Ten rooms on the second floor," Sakaala said.

Ailen ran up the stairs and inspected all the floors. The third had ten rooms as well and the fourth had four rooms and a large meeting room. The top floor only had one room, a study, and a library.

And then there was the roof which had a view of most of the city. It had large cushions and a sail to keep the sun off. He ran back down and reported what he'd found.

"So, it should be," Barrin said. "It costs a fortune, 15 pounds of cores, each month. That's a masterwork tool and then some." He chuckled. "And we let you stay free."

Sakaala nodded. "Ailen do you want to go tell Trik that we're here. They can come and visit us."

Ailen nodded. "Good idea. Rub it in."

She turned to Barrin. "You should put up a notice in the admin building that you're here and interested in talking to guilds about commissions."

He grinned at her. "That you lass. That's great advice. I'll go see if there is something to write with upstairs."

"Try the study on the fifth floor," Ailen said and left.

Barrin looked at all the stairs, sighed and began the long climb. The first staircase was wide, and its sweeping railing was made for show. From the second floor up, they were nestled in the corner taking up as little room as possible.

Ailen and Barrin were gone and Sakaala gestured for Gisael and Reyas to get comfortable. They sat in a circle of chairs and while Reyas looked comfortable Gisael crouched on the seat.

"I'm worried about the tournament. If an adventurer dies, we can come back. There's a cost, but until we quit, we're almost immortal. I'm worried because I don't know what happens if you die. And the tournament is setup for adventurers like me, so the safety precautions are lax."

"If we fight, we will win," Gisael said.

Sakaala smiled. "But we have to plan for the worst. You can surrender if Ailen, Benzhi and I die. But still. What happens to you if you're killed in combat? Do the gatekeepers give you another body and send you back here?"

Reyas shook her head. "Until you spoke of this, I never thought it was possible. If we were killed, we're dead. That's it."

Gisael bared her teeth. "We fight and there is danger almost every day. Why is this different? I am not afraid."

Sakaala sighed. "It's different because it's a contest and unnecessary. We don't have to do it."

Gisael met Sakaala's gaze. "Benzhi can decide. He will not risk our lives if it is not worthy."

Sakaala shook her head. "We have to register before he is back. And he might not be back in time."

Gisael glared at her. "Go see him, dream-walk tonight."

Sakaala nodded. "I will try but the last time I was there he was unconscious." She weathered their ire. "But well, he is well."

Barrin walked down the stairs with his notices in hand.

"It is settled then," Reyas said. "If Benzhi says we fight, we fight."

Barrin said, "Fight who?"

"The tournament," Sakaala said. 

"I'll go put these up now," Barrin said.

"Wait," Sakaala interrupted him. "You have to join our guild. Otherwise they won't let you post them."

"Ailen suggested …" he said and sighed. "What does it entail?"

Gisael bared her teeth. "I do not like this." She gestured to Sakaala. "You put them up. You are in the guild."

Sakaala thought for a moment. "Okay." She held out her hand and Barrin handed the notices over.

When she left Barrin asked, "What does joining your guild entail?"

Gisael shrugged. "I am not sure, but I did not want you coerced. It is not our way."

Reyas laughed loudly. "Unless you trespass or threaten the forest then it is very much our way."

Gisael joined her and they laughed together.