Zyn leaves the Deliver Guild and walks into a nearby tavern. He wasn't meaning to drink the night away, that was a good way to get mugged and robbed. He was here for a quiet place to think.
Most taverns were open for quite awhile after dark, as that was when the work was over and the stressed patrons began to flood in.
He followed a patron in, and noticed a specific pattern on his hood as the stranger unveiled it, he recognized the pattern, as he applied for the guild with it, and sat in a so far empty table nearby the stranger, ordered a water from a tavern maid, and unveiled his hood, revealing his bald dark skin and face
Garuda entered the halls of Valicus, an air of purpose radiating from her. She paused momentarily in the narthex to drop ten gold pieces into the collection pot for the church. Then, she stood tall and proud, waiting for an acolyte to come speak with her. She knew better than to storm directly to Presfiel's private quarters and make her demands. Garuda hadn't been waiting ten minutes before a robed acolyte bustled towards her. Garuda smiled, pleased, as she knew this particular acolyte had the guildmaster's ear.
"Good evening. I wish to speak wi-" Garuda was cut off by a wave of a hand from the acolyte, who then reached down and grabbed Garuda's hand.
"Dear Sister under Valicus, we welcome you into the Worshippers of Holy Valicus!"
Garuda's eyes widened a bit, her jaw hanging open slightly, but she fervently regained a semblance of composure. "I- What?"
"Presfiel has accepted your application to join our guild. We were going to send you a letter, but you beat us to it!"
Garuda blinked, momentarily dumbfounded. "Well, that... that's wonderful!" Garuda clasped the acolyte's hand, still over her own, and shook it. "Thank you so much. Please extend my gratitude to Presfiel herself. And, please, I'd like to start work immediately."
Tacitus was oblivious to the Soulshifter, and checked the sun's position. "Well, i suppose i have some time before the Delivery Guild closes. I dont have any money on me, so can you cover my drink? I usually drink water, so it shouldn't be much." Tacitus leaned on the wall with his hands behind his head. He was starting to feel a bit nervous about his applications.
Well, the Mage Guild and Mercenary Guild tend to accept most who apply, but the Watchmen are far more strict. Tacitus wanted to get into the Watchmen above the others. While the Mercenary life was suitable, Tacitus didn't think it was ideal for him. A hired sword didn't suit him. The Mage Guild was good, but they didn't pay well, and they mostly studied all day long. It was too boring for Tacitus, he enjoyed practice more than study.
The Watchmen would put his skills into work far more often and pay him a decent amount. Although, he might have to stop tutoring. But that would be the case for most every guild. He decided to put the Guilds out of his mind for now and listen to what the other man had to say about covering his drink.
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"Fine I'll pay, looks like I'll have to settle for drinking you over the table instead of drinking you under it." Jaune chuckled at his own joke as he lead the way to the nearby tavern. The soft glow of the torches casting a warm glow on the outside of the tavern. Opening the door he was struck with the familiar scent of alcohol as he felt a large grin settle on his face. He was no stranger to the tavern scene as it was an easy place to pick up a few gold from unsuspecting drunks. Depending on how the night went he might have to rely on this trick again to pay for his drink.
Taking a seat at the tavern counter Jaune calls out to the man behind the bar "Bartender, I'll have your biggest, strongest, cheapest drink. And a water for my companion here." Jaune could swear he heard the man mutter the word cheapskate as he reached under the counter and produced two glasses which he roughly placed on the table. He then produced two jugs from one of the shelves above the counter and poured their contents into the glasses. One of the cups was filled with water while the other was filled with some unidentifiable liquid which quite honestly smelled a little better than a pile of manure.
"7 gold" The man seemingly barked as Jaune reached into his pouch and dropped the gold onto the counter in a messy pile. The man swept the gold from the counter and placed it in a pouch at his side before leaving to attend to another patron. "Well here's to beating up drunks and saving a guys life." Jaune said as he lifted his glass before taking a sip of his drink before immediately coughing while holding his throat with his free hand. "Oh man that, that is awful." Looking at the offending drink Jaune took another sip before repeating his previous gesture. "Yeah not better the second time round." He said as he placed the glass back on the counter.
"Hey barkeep, you wouldn't so happen to have a quill and some paper back there would you?" The man looked towards Jaune before grumbling something under his breath as he placed a quill, an inkwell and a paper in front of him. Placing his last coin on the counter he took the quill and begun to fill out his application as honestly as you could expect a person of his profession to. After finishing the application the bartender took the paper and stuffed it under the counter. It was obvious that the man was used to this as Jaune was able to spot the edges of what looked like similar applications under the counter. "So do you have any idea on which guild you will be applying for? Judging by the sword I'd say either a mercenary or a watchman for you."
1 Year ago the military was on the losing side of the war. All seemed bleak until one soldier brought a penguin in to training. They had trained that penguin in the use of explosives and sent him out into the field. They had thought that they had won but the agent went rouge. Now he only lives on as a legend, the legend of ShotgunPenguin.
"Thanks for paying." Tacitus said. He followed the man to the bar, where he ordered himself a drink and a water. Tacitus turned around with his water to observe the bar. It was always interesting to see how people interacted. At the far table was a pair of men arguing heavily about something over their meal, and the group of three next to them seemed annoyed about their argument. Either they've been arguing awhile, or just very loudly.
On the opposite side was a man in a hood by himself, which was odd. If you were alone, you usually sat at the bar. Near that table was a bald, dark-faced man, probably a Drow. Once again, Tacitus was curious. Why would people sit alone at a table? Perhaps they were waiting for something or someone? Tacitus put that thought from his mind for now.
Tacitus then noticed that the man he came here with asked him a question. "Yeah, i applied to the Watchmen and the Mercenaries, but also the Mage Guild." He turned around and set down his cup, it being mostly drained. "Say, what's your name? I'm Tacitus. And I saw how strong you were back there, I'm curious to know what Guild you'd apply to." Tacitus finished his water and returned the cup.
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"Yeah to be perfectly honest I'm usually not that strong. Pretty sure it was that cloaked dude that gave me that boost." Jaune said while rubbing the back of his head. "Normally I'd just try to crack em over the head with Ol' blackjack here," Patting the cudgel at his side he continued "but since they were just drunks I was worried that I'd swing to hard and kill them. So I just decided to rush him and hope for the best." It wasn't like he was against killing if he needed to, but killing any of those drunks would have landed him in hot water with the guard. Now that was something that he would need to avoid if he wanted to acquire a few coins before he headed back to his shack.
"As for my name, it's Jaune Nikos, but my friends call me Jaune." He said as he turned in his seat so his back was against the counter. "As for my guild, well there's only one real answer to that. Thieving is pretty much all I've ever been good at. Well that and charming the ladies." Winking at a passing woman Jaune turned to face Tacitius before continuing. "So the thieves guild would be the most obvious choice for me. If all else fails I can try to get into the mercenaries guild but personally they're a bit too combative for my tastes." Jaune paused for a moment before asking "By the way what was the deal with you telling me to stay out of those drunks stuff? They deserved to be kicked while they were down after what they did."
Inventory
Blackjack
Empty pouch
Necklace with trinket
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1 Year ago the military was on the losing side of the war. All seemed bleak until one soldier brought a penguin in to training. They had trained that penguin in the use of explosives and sent him out into the field. They had thought that they had won but the agent went rouge. Now he only lives on as a legend, the legend of ShotgunPenguin.
With a spring in her step, Garuda left the hall of the Worshippers. She made her way to a semi-popular tavern, her spritely gait halted practically at the door due to a group of hulking men lurking by the door. They seemed as though they were just on their way home, but kept stopping to talk to people before they left. Garuda gave them a small smile, slipping past and making her way towards the bar. She ordered a small appetizer from the bartender, who passed her order on to the kitchen staff, as she grabbed a stool next to a pair of men.
"They deserved to be kicked while they were down after what they did." One of the men was saying as she sat down. She adjusted herself in her seat before turning to them, propping her staff on the bar beside her and keeping a hand on it.
"Apologies for eavesdropping, but I've been deprived of town happenings as of late. What did these men do?" She gave the pair of men a smile, hoping to prove that she had no intentions other than pleasant conversation.
Tacitus listened as Juane introduced himself, and explain how he also got a boost from the telekinetic person. He then said that he only applied to the Thieves' Guild, which made Tacitus cringe a little. Tacitus didn't approve of stealing. The only people who resort to thievery are those not willing to do honest work. Juane then asked why Tacitus didn't want Juane lifting off of the drunks, as if it were no big deal.
Before Tacitus could answer, a good looking Elf entered the conversation. She asked what the men, presumably the drunks, did. She then smiled. Tacitus nodded in response. "We were in a small fight out back. Three drunks were beating a Lizardfolk senseless, so we beat up the drunks enough to stop them. Someone else then healed the Lizardfolk before we came here.
"Though i protested when Juane wanted to take their things- I'm Tacitus, by the way- because they didn't deserve to be stolen from. People become different when they're drunk- they lack judgment, and they're willing to do things they wouldn't normally. They needed to be stopped, yes, but robbed blindly? No." Tacitus' face was a little red from the rant. He took a breath. "I'm sorry, what's your name?"
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Garuda listened intently to the man's reply, nodding in understanding. When he asked for her name, her mind took a little longer to process what he had said. She sat up with a start. "Oh! I am Garuda, of the House of Nayalara." She stretched out a hand in greeting. "And let me just say, I think you and I would get along splendidly. I'm pleased to hear that you two stepped forward to help someone out. Unfortunately, the world doesn't have enough people who are willing to do the same." She grinned lightly, her soft green eyes shining. "And I do agree with you, dear sir, almost wholeheartedly. There's no sense in hurting someone else simply for being drunk. It sounds like you two gave them the punishment they deserved. In my mind, any more would have put you in the wrong." A light laugh escaped her. Then, her eyes widened slightly, and she put a few fingers over her mouth in surprise. "Oh, but where are my manners? You were so kind to include me in your conversation. What are your names?"
Waiting for Tacitus to answer his question Jaune suddenly found himself looking when a rather good looking elf took a seat at the bar counter. If Jaune had the time maybe he'd try his luck with her later, but for now he had company. Answering the elf's question Tacitus explained what had happened just a few minutes prior. About the drunks outside, the lizardman and the cloaked man that healed him.
Jaune couldn't help but sigh as Tacitus explained why he was against him stealing the drunks stuff. A lot of people looked down on thieves just because they had to steal to make a living but he thought differently. People become thieves out of necessity, not greed like many would think. When your clothes were ragged, your wounds festering and your stomach empty you do what you have to to survive. Those who have money always like to believe that they were generous and charitable, but those same people who boast about their charity would look upon the forsaken like they were lesser than dirt. No one had cared about the young boy when he was cold and hungry on the streets so he was forced to find a way to survive on his own.
"Just because you are drunk is no defense. Even if they were drunk they knew what they were doing, the man wasn't even fighting back yet they just continued to beat on him. People like that need to be taught a lesson and a simple beating isn't going to be enough, no they need to be taken down a peg." Jaune scowled as he heard the elf, who introduced herself as Garuda, say that she agreed that stealing from them would have gone to far. "Whatever, everyone has their own moral compass they follow, guess mine is a bit too skewed for you two." He paused for a moment before adding "Name's Jaune by the way."
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1 Year ago the military was on the losing side of the war. All seemed bleak until one soldier brought a penguin in to training. They had trained that penguin in the use of explosives and sent him out into the field. They had thought that they had won but the agent went rouge. Now he only lives on as a legend, the legend of ShotgunPenguin.
Tacitus smiled and nodded as Garuda agreed with him, that stealing from the drunks was not the right thing to do. Juane, however, thought differently. He claimed being drunk was no excuse- though Tacitus agreed partially, he thought that people who were drunk shouldn't be held fully accountable. People who were drunk acted differently than they normally would. Though, someone still needed to be punished for what was done.
Juane went on saying that the drunks needed more than a beating as punishment. He then made a remark about his own moral compass being skewed, before giving his name to Garuda. "My name's Tacitus, by the way." Tacitus added in. "I suppose we should all just do what we think is right, and if we end up on opposite sides, so be it." Tacitus said blandly. He clearly was not going to sway Juane in morality, so he decided to try and end the conversation in a mutual way.
"So, what about you?" Tacitus asked Garuda. "How did such a beautiful elf come to a dirty and run-down tavern such as this one?" Tacitus noticed the barkeeper glaring at him, but decided to ignore him.
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The Meaning of Life, the Universe, and Everything.
Join Date:
12/20/2010
Posts:
103
Minecraft:
IAmKnight
Member Details
6:00 pm
As the sun sets and people flee to either their houses, guilds or taverns, something eerie begins to happen within the Order of Lord Phesephus. Hardly anyone noticed it first, but acolytes started feeling a strange presence, although only those attune to magic could feel it. Then, as the clock hit six, a slight rumble could be felt beneath the guild, increasing in strength. Soon enough, the whole college began to rumble, causing mayhem across Althalos. This was of course known as an earthquake, but as they have not happened on Planet Althalos in over a millennia, most passed it off as an act by the gods. Whatever this was, it was big, however it subdued before it was strong enough to knock any buildings down. Finally, things started to settle, and the population were left to wonder what just happened.
Status Effects:
Zyn:
You begin to feel a little hungry.
Tacitus:
You begin to feel a little hungry.
You feel a loss in energy as your earlier increased strength fades away.
Alothus:
You begin to feel a little thirsty, as well as hungry.
Jaune:
You begin to feel a little hungry.
The aftertaste of a poorly made drink lingers in your mouth.
You feel a loss in energy as your earlier increased strength fades away.
Zyn was sitting there, sipping his drink, when he felt a slight rumble and he felt a strange presence, so he looked around with intravision, only to see nothing. He wasn't completely sure what was happening, but it was probably safer inside a barrier. In a flash, he was under the table, his water still with him, and pulled all the tables as far as they could go in.
After whatever it was was over, he cautiously got out from under the table, sat back down normally, and tried to order a rabbit leg, setting down six gold, a whole gold extra. The bartender looked at him a bit incredulously for not reacting to whatever that was, but gave him the leg anyways, which Zyn began to eat
Inventory: Glass of Water. 72 gold. A bunch of knives and armor and stuff
Gaurda gave Jaune a nod and a smile of recognition, then paused for a moment as Tacitus commented on her appearance. She felt a mix of emotions in her stomach: gratitude for the compliment, slight anger at the unwanted comment, confusion as to why he felt the need to comment. She decided that none of that really mattered, as the comment was harmless, and simply let the comment fall by the wayside. "Actually, this is one of my favorite places to come grab a bite to eat. Admittedly, it's a bit out of my way home." That was true. As a member of the House of Nayalara, Garuda's home was in one of the more affluent neighborhoods of the College. "But there's no better place in the College to get a meat pie. I swear, they slip something in there, because I can't stop ordering them." She flashed the bartender a charming grin as he brought over one of the said meat pies, placing it in front of her. "Thank you!" She said, but he had already turned to serve the next customer. She turned back to Tacitus and Jaune.
Tacitus listened as Garuda said that this was her favorite place to eat, and that she was practically addicted to the meat-pies here. She then began eating one that she ordered. Tacitus was about to continue the conversation, but a low rumbling interrupted his thoughts. "An earthquake?" He said. Tacitus immedietly got under the bar counter and gestured the others to join him.
After it was over, nothing was changed. It was a slight rumble, that was all. Tacitus sighed in relief and got out from under the bar. He then noticed his hunger. "Well, it was nice meeting you, Garuda. I hope we run into each other in the future. But now, i have to get going. Goodbye!" Tacitus waved at her as he exited, and made his way to the delivery guild, where he picked up his returned applications. To his surprise and delight, all three had been accepted. He smiled and started back towards his house.
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"Geeze haven't heard that line a thousand times before" Jaune thought as he rolled his eyes at Tacitus's obvious attempt at flirting with the elf. Gaurda didn't seem to notice however as she responded to his question, quoting the meet pies as the reason why she was here. Jaune wouldn't know anything about the pies though as he had never bothered to order anything from this tavern in particular. The way he lived you need to buy food that would last since you never knew when you would scrape enough gold together to eat again so his diet included bread and water. Before Jaune could speak up a sudden rumbling shook the bar as tacitustook cover under the bar counter.
Before he could join him under the counter the rumbling stopped as Tacitus got out from under the bar. He then excused himself from the bar and said his goodbyes to Gaurda before exiting the bar. "What, no goodbye Jaune? I may be a thief but that was just rude." Jaune shook his head as he got up from his seat and made his way to the door. "Well it was nice meeting you Gaurda, and barkeep are those going to be delivered by tonight." He asked referring to the stack of applications that was under the counter. The keeper gave a quick nod before returning his attention to his customer. It would probably be some time before his letter was reviewed for acceptance so Jaune decided to just return home and wait till the morning. Then he would check to see if he was accepted, probably steal some bread to fill his stomach and just laze around the rest of the day.
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1 Year ago the military was on the losing side of the war. All seemed bleak until one soldier brought a penguin in to training. They had trained that penguin in the use of explosives and sent him out into the field. They had thought that they had won but the agent went rouge. Now he only lives on as a legend, the legend of ShotgunPenguin.
The Meaning of Life, the Universe, and Everything.
Join Date:
12/20/2010
Posts:
103
Minecraft:
IAmKnight
Member Details
March 18th,
6:34 am
And so the night continues on, and the everyday nightlife continues until dawn, leaving several with a similar thought; what was that earthquake, and why did one happen after so many years of non-existent natural disasters? Perhaps something had angered the gods... Yet the ones who did not seem phased were those of the council, the True Masons, and the Order. Maybe the answers needed could be found from there.
A bird whistled outside. Wyth’ram’s head ached, and he groaned as the pest sang its merry tune. The effects of a hangover varied little between humans and Lizardfolk.
“You were a long time out,” a voice said, its tone hoarse with age and wry with humour. Past the drumming in his ears, Wyth’ram heard water in a barrel.
“Those alley-men gave you a good beatin’ this time ‘round,” the same aged voice remarked. Wyth’ram’s eyes still ached too much for him to bare them open long, and what he did see revealed no identity of his captor, or perhaps, caretaker. Based on the stranger’s speech, and his decision not to leave a Lizardfolk lying bloodied and bruised on the ground, Wyth’ram gathered that he probably dealt with a fellow reptilian.
Accursed sun! Wyth’ram thought, more as an expletive than because he was annoyed by the sun. His mind, functioning so cleanly in spite of the headache which he sustained, was over-running the normal limits of his brain, and he was struggling to keep up. He had not been this clear headed for years, and he wondered now why he had never felt like this after a beating before. How bad was I hit up? He wondered, considering the possibility that he had been unconscious for days and not mere hours. Wyth’ram tried to push himself up, off of the wooden planks he felt beneath him, but his spinal protrusions ached, his tail sent twangs of pain up his vertebrae, and his arms gave out beneath him.
“Oh, sit you down. There’s nothin’ to rush off to now.” The kerfuffle caused by his efforts and their failure had attracted the attention of the older individual who had spoken before. Now they approached, their footsteps reverberating through the floorboards like the beats of a bird’s wings. Ka-thump-thump-thump.Ka-thump-thump-thump.
“Out for a long time, I said. I don’t know who you’ve been gettin’ mixed up with, but I reckon that they’re some warrior to have taken down one of our own,” the old reptilian suggested. He had come into Wyth’ram’s feeble view now, and he was an old Lizardfolk, just as the young one had suspected. He brought a wet rag to Wyth’ram’s bare torso, and Wyth’ram realized that he was naked. However, since he was only in the presence of Lizardfolk, this did not concern him. Lizardfolk, in their natural state and in their small college communities, did not care for garments and nudity - they simply were Lizardfolk, and what they wore affected not how they were perceived. Amongst Lizardfolk, actions were truly more valuable than appearances, unless those appearances consisted of scars from battles past.
“Three, act-” Wyth’ram hissed, struggling to speak, “-ually.”
The older reptilian looked as though he had known the truth already, but was disappointed nonetheless. Wyth’ram felt just a tinge of shame. It had been long since he had felt shame; after all, it had been long since he had cared for the thoughts of others, as it had been long since he had been near Lizardfolk. Looking at the elder again, Wyth’ram thought: that is how I look.
“I gave you a concoction to clear your head from the beating and the booze. I think I know you, too. Your father was the cobbler; your mother the magic-teacher, no?”
Wyth’ram looked at the old creature, his head hurting as if nothing had been done to relieve the pain. He wanted to ask why the old Lizardfolk said ‘was’ rather than ‘is’, but he knew it was better not to ask, both because it would hurt his body to speak, and because it would hurt his mind to hear. He remained silent, and instead he nodded.
“Yes, I know you now. You went off to the guild and never showed up again. Should’ve known it was too soon to push our luck that far. The guilds have never yet been ready for Lizardfolk, ‘specially not the young ones, the ones who don’t understand,” the elder was elaborating, and Wyth’ram was listening. The old reptilian was interesting, just all of his ilk had become, and Wyth’ram lacked a better option than to hear what he was saying.
“Probably a human who beat you the first time. Nah, maybe an elf. It’s always one of those two; usually, though, it’s the elf’s fault. The elf thinks it’s a good idea, the human thinks it’s an idea he’s willing to have. That’s how it goes about, usually.” The rag moved back and forth, cleaning blood and grime from Wyth’ram’s body.
“So you go off thinking that you’re useless, hated, and weak. We all do. Those fools take it all from us, don’t they? All that matters.” The elder had grown more animated as he had spoken. Wyth’ram listened, idle. “They never give us a chance. It’s the humans who are the worst, I suppose, though all three groups are somehow blind to the true nature of their relations, so all three somehow see themselves as superior to the others in some regard.” Wyth’ram was entranced now, ignoring the pain in his head so he could understand what the old reptilian was explaining.
“The humans have the power, of course. Those fools haven’t the faintest clue that they have it, but they do - the majority always wins the power, I suppose. There may be a dwarf as the figurehead at the top, but it is the high council which acts with most power these days; the high council, and the guild-heads, for the guild-heads are the ones whose actions are most effective on the populace. Have you ever noticed how they are all humans? All but a few of the minor ones, the least powerful ones. In any position which matters, which truly matters, a human currently sits. The elves and the dwarves, they live with this silent discrimination, none the wiser as to their own inferiority and suppression. So, like the Hydra of old, if one head is cut off, another identical one comes to fill its place. Don’t think we haven’t tried - remember that old, arrogant fool of a guild-head who was killed so violently decades back? You might not be old enough to remember - no, I doubt that you were - but that was some of us Lizardfolk, striking back. Now, though, we’ve come to see that’s not the way to go. They hate us already, and to earn more of their hate will do nothing but push us further down. We can’t win by making them more powerful - we have to take away their power.”
“You might ask how we would take such power. Not through violence, no. It is not their physical prowess, the superiority of their arms, skill, and numbers, which we must fear. Their hatred, which fuels their oppression - that is what we must vanquish. But, you would not understand.”
Wyth’ram wanted to protest - he would understand! - but he knew what his elder referenced. Wasting away his life, acting as the epitome of the opposition’s expectations, ignoring his roots - all these contributed to the power of the majority. By acting so stupidly for so many years, Wyth’ram, like many of his kin, had fanned the flames of hatred, and had ensured the survival of a vicious, circular pattern. Lizardfolk were not easily inclined to great displays of emotion - they did not use it for generic manipulative purposes as their human counterparts so often did - but now, Wyth’ram felt a tear of shame upon his scaly cheek. He shed that single tear with such great acceptance, and such great realization.
He had truly been a fool.
Everything the old Lizardfolk said rang true. It shook Wyth’ram’s brain, and it left it empty and barren, like a jar, once full of fermenting grapes, but now, so empty, so gone. Those grapes had left and become the wine which had fueled his heartless descent into disgrace for so many years, and he was left with nothing but the jar. He would fill it again, but he would fill it now with ripe fruits and hardy nuts; he would find seeds, and he would plant these seeds within his jar, and from them he would grow more fruit, and more nuts, and then he would know that he had been freed. He would apologize through his actions, and he would be a better creature because of it.
Yes, Wyth’ram promise, I'll be an ambassador of my people once more.
Tacitus arrived back at his home and shared the news of his acceptance with Artem. Artem had just sent his applications out himself, and was waiting to hear back. Tacitus then went into the house and got a decent amount of bread, meat and cheese to serve as a meal. Artem joined him soon after Tacitus had started. "The one i was tutoring today wants to study with you as soon as possible. He's coming back tomorrow for another lesson with me, what should i tell him?"
"I dont know. I need to decide on my guild and tell them i've joined tomorrow. In addition, i need to see when i need to show up and for how long each day. Tell him i'll tutor him, but dont expect an exact date for awhile." Tacitus finished his meal and put away the dishes he used. "Ready to spar tonight, old man?"
"Hah! Oh, i'm going to shut your mouth tonight for sure." The two went outside and drew their swords. "Three..." Artem said.
"Two..." Tacitus replied.
"One!"
~
The next morning, Tacitus got up and started stretching. Artem gave him a good fight last night, and he was sore. But Artem would be sure to have pains of his own. Tacitus smiled, recalling last night's events and got dressed to head out. He was going to the Watchmen guild, his most favored guild of the three he was accepted into. He went out, slightly sore into the morning light.
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Garuda was already kneeling in the chapel of the guildhall of the Worshippers of Holy Valicus when the sun rose that morning. Always the early riser, she had made her way to her new place of worship and began her rites. She hoped to speak to Presfiel about the earthquake the previous evening, but was unsure if she'd be able to speak directly to the guildmaster.
Zyn leaves the Deliver Guild and walks into a nearby tavern. He wasn't meaning to drink the night away, that was a good way to get mugged and robbed. He was here for a quiet place to think.
Most taverns were open for quite awhile after dark, as that was when the work was over and the stressed patrons began to flood in.
He followed a patron in, and noticed a specific pattern on his hood as the stranger unveiled it, he recognized the pattern, as he applied for the guild with it, and sat in a so far empty table nearby the stranger, ordered a water from a tavern maid, and unveiled his hood, revealing his bald dark skin and face
Inventory: same stuff as last time. 76 gold
Garuda entered the halls of Valicus, an air of purpose radiating from her. She paused momentarily in the narthex to drop ten gold pieces into the collection pot for the church. Then, she stood tall and proud, waiting for an acolyte to come speak with her. She knew better than to storm directly to Presfiel's private quarters and make her demands. Garuda hadn't been waiting ten minutes before a robed acolyte bustled towards her. Garuda smiled, pleased, as she knew this particular acolyte had the guildmaster's ear.
"Good evening. I wish to speak wi-" Garuda was cut off by a wave of a hand from the acolyte, who then reached down and grabbed Garuda's hand.
"Dear Sister under Valicus, we welcome you into the Worshippers of Holy Valicus!"
Garuda's eyes widened a bit, her jaw hanging open slightly, but she fervently regained a semblance of composure. "I- What?"
"Presfiel has accepted your application to join our guild. We were going to send you a letter, but you beat us to it!"
Garuda blinked, momentarily dumbfounded. "Well, that... that's wonderful!" Garuda clasped the acolyte's hand, still over her own, and shook it. "Thank you so much. Please extend my gratitude to Presfiel herself. And, please, I'd like to start work immediately."
Inventory
Leather knapsack
Birch wood staff
Containers for poultices and potions
Collection of dried herbs
Amulet of House of Nayalara
260 gold (-10 gold for donation)
Tacitus was oblivious to the Soulshifter, and checked the sun's position. "Well, i suppose i have some time before the Delivery Guild closes. I dont have any money on me, so can you cover my drink? I usually drink water, so it shouldn't be much." Tacitus leaned on the wall with his hands behind his head. He was starting to feel a bit nervous about his applications.
Well, the Mage Guild and Mercenary Guild tend to accept most who apply, but the Watchmen are far more strict. Tacitus wanted to get into the Watchmen above the others. While the Mercenary life was suitable, Tacitus didn't think it was ideal for him. A hired sword didn't suit him. The Mage Guild was good, but they didn't pay well, and they mostly studied all day long. It was too boring for Tacitus, he enjoyed practice more than study.
The Watchmen would put his skills into work far more often and pay him a decent amount. Although, he might have to stop tutoring. But that would be the case for most every guild. He decided to put the Guilds out of his mind for now and listen to what the other man had to say about covering his drink.
"Fine I'll pay, looks like I'll have to settle for drinking you over the table instead of drinking you under it." Jaune chuckled at his own joke as he lead the way to the nearby tavern. The soft glow of the torches casting a warm glow on the outside of the tavern. Opening the door he was struck with the familiar scent of alcohol as he felt a large grin settle on his face. He was no stranger to the tavern scene as it was an easy place to pick up a few gold from unsuspecting drunks. Depending on how the night went he might have to rely on this trick again to pay for his drink.
Taking a seat at the tavern counter Jaune calls out to the man behind the bar "Bartender, I'll have your biggest, strongest, cheapest drink. And a water for my companion here." Jaune could swear he heard the man mutter the word cheapskate as he reached under the counter and produced two glasses which he roughly placed on the table. He then produced two jugs from one of the shelves above the counter and poured their contents into the glasses. One of the cups was filled with water while the other was filled with some unidentifiable liquid which quite honestly smelled a little better than a pile of manure.
"7 gold" The man seemingly barked as Jaune reached into his pouch and dropped the gold onto the counter in a messy pile. The man swept the gold from the counter and placed it in a pouch at his side before leaving to attend to another patron. "Well here's to beating up drunks and saving a guys life." Jaune said as he lifted his glass before taking a sip of his drink before immediately coughing while holding his throat with his free hand. "Oh man that, that is awful." Looking at the offending drink Jaune took another sip before repeating his previous gesture. "Yeah not better the second time round." He said as he placed the glass back on the counter.
"Hey barkeep, you wouldn't so happen to have a quill and some paper back there would you?" The man looked towards Jaune before grumbling something under his breath as he placed a quill, an inkwell and a paper in front of him. Placing his last coin on the counter he took the quill and begun to fill out his application as honestly as you could expect a person of his profession to. After finishing the application the bartender took the paper and stuffed it under the counter. It was obvious that the man was used to this as Jaune was able to spot the edges of what looked like similar applications under the counter. "So do you have any idea on which guild you will be applying for? Judging by the sword I'd say either a mercenary or a watchman for you."
Inventory
Metal Cudgel
Pouch (0 gold)
Necklace with charm
"Thanks for paying." Tacitus said. He followed the man to the bar, where he ordered himself a drink and a water. Tacitus turned around with his water to observe the bar. It was always interesting to see how people interacted. At the far table was a pair of men arguing heavily about something over their meal, and the group of three next to them seemed annoyed about their argument. Either they've been arguing awhile, or just very loudly.
On the opposite side was a man in a hood by himself, which was odd. If you were alone, you usually sat at the bar. Near that table was a bald, dark-faced man, probably a Drow. Once again, Tacitus was curious. Why would people sit alone at a table? Perhaps they were waiting for something or someone? Tacitus put that thought from his mind for now.
Tacitus then noticed that the man he came here with asked him a question. "Yeah, i applied to the Watchmen and the Mercenaries, but also the Mage Guild." He turned around and set down his cup, it being mostly drained. "Say, what's your name? I'm Tacitus. And I saw how strong you were back there, I'm curious to know what Guild you'd apply to." Tacitus finished his water and returned the cup.
"Yeah to be perfectly honest I'm usually not that strong. Pretty sure it was that cloaked dude that gave me that boost." Jaune said while rubbing the back of his head. "Normally I'd just try to crack em over the head with Ol' blackjack here," Patting the cudgel at his side he continued "but since they were just drunks I was worried that I'd swing to hard and kill them. So I just decided to rush him and hope for the best." It wasn't like he was against killing if he needed to, but killing any of those drunks would have landed him in hot water with the guard. Now that was something that he would need to avoid if he wanted to acquire a few coins before he headed back to his shack.
"As for my name, it's Jaune Nikos, but my friends call me Jaune." He said as he turned in his seat so his back was against the counter. "As for my guild, well there's only one real answer to that. Thieving is pretty much all I've ever been good at. Well that and charming the ladies." Winking at a passing woman Jaune turned to face Tacitius before continuing. "So the thieves guild would be the most obvious choice for me. If all else fails I can try to get into the mercenaries guild but personally they're a bit too combative for my tastes." Jaune paused for a moment before asking "By the way what was the deal with you telling me to stay out of those drunks stuff? They deserved to be kicked while they were down after what they did."
Inventory
Blackjack
Empty pouch
Necklace with trinket
With a spring in her step, Garuda left the hall of the Worshippers. She made her way to a semi-popular tavern, her spritely gait halted practically at the door due to a group of hulking men lurking by the door. They seemed as though they were just on their way home, but kept stopping to talk to people before they left. Garuda gave them a small smile, slipping past and making her way towards the bar. She ordered a small appetizer from the bartender, who passed her order on to the kitchen staff, as she grabbed a stool next to a pair of men.
"They deserved to be kicked while they were down after what they did." One of the men was saying as she sat down. She adjusted herself in her seat before turning to them, propping her staff on the bar beside her and keeping a hand on it.
"Apologies for eavesdropping, but I've been deprived of town happenings as of late. What did these men do?" She gave the pair of men a smile, hoping to prove that she had no intentions other than pleasant conversation.
Inventory
Leather knapsack
Birch wood staff
Containers for poultices and potions
Collection of dried herbs
Amulet of House of Nayalara
245 gold (-15 gold for her meal)
Tacitus listened as Juane introduced himself, and explain how he also got a boost from the telekinetic person. He then said that he only applied to the Thieves' Guild, which made Tacitus cringe a little. Tacitus didn't approve of stealing. The only people who resort to thievery are those not willing to do honest work. Juane then asked why Tacitus didn't want Juane lifting off of the drunks, as if it were no big deal.
Before Tacitus could answer, a good looking Elf entered the conversation. She asked what the men, presumably the drunks, did. She then smiled. Tacitus nodded in response. "We were in a small fight out back. Three drunks were beating a Lizardfolk senseless, so we beat up the drunks enough to stop them. Someone else then healed the Lizardfolk before we came here.
"Though i protested when Juane wanted to take their things- I'm Tacitus, by the way- because they didn't deserve to be stolen from. People become different when they're drunk- they lack judgment, and they're willing to do things they wouldn't normally. They needed to be stopped, yes, but robbed blindly? No." Tacitus' face was a little red from the rant. He took a breath. "I'm sorry, what's your name?"
Garuda listened intently to the man's reply, nodding in understanding. When he asked for her name, her mind took a little longer to process what he had said. She sat up with a start. "Oh! I am Garuda, of the House of Nayalara." She stretched out a hand in greeting. "And let me just say, I think you and I would get along splendidly. I'm pleased to hear that you two stepped forward to help someone out. Unfortunately, the world doesn't have enough people who are willing to do the same." She grinned lightly, her soft green eyes shining. "And I do agree with you, dear sir, almost wholeheartedly. There's no sense in hurting someone else simply for being drunk. It sounds like you two gave them the punishment they deserved. In my mind, any more would have put you in the wrong." A light laugh escaped her. Then, her eyes widened slightly, and she put a few fingers over her mouth in surprise. "Oh, but where are my manners? You were so kind to include me in your conversation. What are your names?"
Waiting for Tacitus to answer his question Jaune suddenly found himself looking when a rather good looking elf took a seat at the bar counter. If Jaune had the time maybe he'd try his luck with her later, but for now he had company. Answering the elf's question Tacitus explained what had happened just a few minutes prior. About the drunks outside, the lizardman and the cloaked man that healed him.
Jaune couldn't help but sigh as Tacitus explained why he was against him stealing the drunks stuff. A lot of people looked down on thieves just because they had to steal to make a living but he thought differently. People become thieves out of necessity, not greed like many would think. When your clothes were ragged, your wounds festering and your stomach empty you do what you have to to survive. Those who have money always like to believe that they were generous and charitable, but those same people who boast about their charity would look upon the forsaken like they were lesser than dirt. No one had cared about the young boy when he was cold and hungry on the streets so he was forced to find a way to survive on his own.
"Just because you are drunk is no defense. Even if they were drunk they knew what they were doing, the man wasn't even fighting back yet they just continued to beat on him. People like that need to be taught a lesson and a simple beating isn't going to be enough, no they need to be taken down a peg." Jaune scowled as he heard the elf, who introduced herself as Garuda, say that she agreed that stealing from them would have gone to far. "Whatever, everyone has their own moral compass they follow, guess mine is a bit too skewed for you two." He paused for a moment before adding "Name's Jaune by the way."
Tacitus smiled and nodded as Garuda agreed with him, that stealing from the drunks was not the right thing to do. Juane, however, thought differently. He claimed being drunk was no excuse- though Tacitus agreed partially, he thought that people who were drunk shouldn't be held fully accountable. People who were drunk acted differently than they normally would. Though, someone still needed to be punished for what was done.
Juane went on saying that the drunks needed more than a beating as punishment. He then made a remark about his own moral compass being skewed, before giving his name to Garuda. "My name's Tacitus, by the way." Tacitus added in. "I suppose we should all just do what we think is right, and if we end up on opposite sides, so be it." Tacitus said blandly. He clearly was not going to sway Juane in morality, so he decided to try and end the conversation in a mutual way.
"So, what about you?" Tacitus asked Garuda. "How did such a beautiful elf come to a dirty and run-down tavern such as this one?" Tacitus noticed the barkeeper glaring at him, but decided to ignore him.
6:00 pm
As the sun sets and people flee to either their houses, guilds or taverns, something eerie begins to happen within the Order of Lord Phesephus. Hardly anyone noticed it first, but acolytes started feeling a strange presence, although only those attune to magic could feel it. Then, as the clock hit six, a slight rumble could be felt beneath the guild, increasing in strength. Soon enough, the whole college began to rumble, causing mayhem across Althalos. This was of course known as an earthquake, but as they have not happened on Planet Althalos in over a millennia, most passed it off as an act by the gods. Whatever this was, it was big, however it subdued before it was strong enough to knock any buildings down. Finally, things started to settle, and the population were left to wonder what just happened.
Status Effects:
Zyn:
You begin to feel a little hungry.
Tacitus:
You begin to feel a little hungry.
You feel a loss in energy as your earlier increased strength fades away.
Alothus:
You begin to feel a little thirsty, as well as hungry.
Jaune:
You begin to feel a little hungry.
The aftertaste of a poorly made drink lingers in your mouth.
You feel a loss in energy as your earlier increased strength fades away.
Zyn was sitting there, sipping his drink, when he felt a slight rumble and he felt a strange presence, so he looked around with intravision, only to see nothing. He wasn't completely sure what was happening, but it was probably safer inside a barrier. In a flash, he was under the table, his water still with him, and pulled all the tables as far as they could go in.
After whatever it was was over, he cautiously got out from under the table, sat back down normally, and tried to order a rabbit leg, setting down six gold, a whole gold extra. The bartender looked at him a bit incredulously for not reacting to whatever that was, but gave him the leg anyways, which Zyn began to eat
Inventory: Glass of Water. 72 gold. A bunch of knives and armor and stuff
Gaurda gave Jaune a nod and a smile of recognition, then paused for a moment as Tacitus commented on her appearance. She felt a mix of emotions in her stomach: gratitude for the compliment, slight anger at the unwanted comment, confusion as to why he felt the need to comment. She decided that none of that really mattered, as the comment was harmless, and simply let the comment fall by the wayside. "Actually, this is one of my favorite places to come grab a bite to eat. Admittedly, it's a bit out of my way home." That was true. As a member of the House of Nayalara, Garuda's home was in one of the more affluent neighborhoods of the College. "But there's no better place in the College to get a meat pie. I swear, they slip something in there, because I can't stop ordering them." She flashed the bartender a charming grin as he brought over one of the said meat pies, placing it in front of her. "Thank you!" She said, but he had already turned to serve the next customer. She turned back to Tacitus and Jaune.
Tacitus listened as Garuda said that this was her favorite place to eat, and that she was practically addicted to the meat-pies here. She then began eating one that she ordered. Tacitus was about to continue the conversation, but a low rumbling interrupted his thoughts. "An earthquake?" He said. Tacitus immedietly got under the bar counter and gestured the others to join him.
After it was over, nothing was changed. It was a slight rumble, that was all. Tacitus sighed in relief and got out from under the bar. He then noticed his hunger. "Well, it was nice meeting you, Garuda. I hope we run into each other in the future. But now, i have to get going. Goodbye!" Tacitus waved at her as he exited, and made his way to the delivery guild, where he picked up his returned applications. To his surprise and delight, all three had been accepted. He smiled and started back towards his house.
"Geeze haven't heard that line a thousand times before" Jaune thought as he rolled his eyes at Tacitus's obvious attempt at flirting with the elf. Gaurda didn't seem to notice however as she responded to his question, quoting the meet pies as the reason why she was here. Jaune wouldn't know anything about the pies though as he had never bothered to order anything from this tavern in particular. The way he lived you need to buy food that would last since you never knew when you would scrape enough gold together to eat again so his diet included bread and water. Before Jaune could speak up a sudden rumbling shook the bar as tacitustook cover under the bar counter.
Before he could join him under the counter the rumbling stopped as Tacitus got out from under the bar. He then excused himself from the bar and said his goodbyes to Gaurda before exiting the bar. "What, no goodbye Jaune? I may be a thief but that was just rude." Jaune shook his head as he got up from his seat and made his way to the door. "Well it was nice meeting you Gaurda, and barkeep are those going to be delivered by tonight." He asked referring to the stack of applications that was under the counter. The keeper gave a quick nod before returning his attention to his customer. It would probably be some time before his letter was reviewed for acceptance so Jaune decided to just return home and wait till the morning. Then he would check to see if he was accepted, probably steal some bread to fill his stomach and just laze around the rest of the day.
March 18th,
6:34 am
And so the night continues on, and the everyday nightlife continues until dawn, leaving several with a similar thought; what was that earthquake, and why did one happen after so many years of non-existent natural disasters? Perhaps something had angered the gods... Yet the ones who did not seem phased were those of the council, the True Masons, and the Order. Maybe the answers needed could be found from there.
Swords and shields, swords and shields.
Here us now with swords and shields.
A bird whistled outside. Wyth’ram’s head ached, and he groaned as the pest sang its merry tune. The effects of a hangover varied little between humans and Lizardfolk.
“You were a long time out,” a voice said, its tone hoarse with age and wry with humour. Past the drumming in his ears, Wyth’ram heard water in a barrel.
“Those alley-men gave you a good beatin’ this time ‘round,” the same aged voice remarked. Wyth’ram’s eyes still ached too much for him to bare them open long, and what he did see revealed no identity of his captor, or perhaps, caretaker. Based on the stranger’s speech, and his decision not to leave a Lizardfolk lying bloodied and bruised on the ground, Wyth’ram gathered that he probably dealt with a fellow reptilian.
Accursed sun! Wyth’ram thought, more as an expletive than because he was annoyed by the sun. His mind, functioning so cleanly in spite of the headache which he sustained, was over-running the normal limits of his brain, and he was struggling to keep up. He had not been this clear headed for years, and he wondered now why he had never felt like this after a beating before. How bad was I hit up? He wondered, considering the possibility that he had been unconscious for days and not mere hours. Wyth’ram tried to push himself up, off of the wooden planks he felt beneath him, but his spinal protrusions ached, his tail sent twangs of pain up his vertebrae, and his arms gave out beneath him.
“Oh, sit you down. There’s nothin’ to rush off to now.” The kerfuffle caused by his efforts and their failure had attracted the attention of the older individual who had spoken before. Now they approached, their footsteps reverberating through the floorboards like the beats of a bird’s wings. Ka-thump-thump-thump. Ka-thump-thump-thump.
“Out for a long time, I said. I don’t know who you’ve been gettin’ mixed up with, but I reckon that they’re some warrior to have taken down one of our own,” the old reptilian suggested. He had come into Wyth’ram’s feeble view now, and he was an old Lizardfolk, just as the young one had suspected. He brought a wet rag to Wyth’ram’s bare torso, and Wyth’ram realized that he was naked. However, since he was only in the presence of Lizardfolk, this did not concern him. Lizardfolk, in their natural state and in their small college communities, did not care for garments and nudity - they simply were Lizardfolk, and what they wore affected not how they were perceived. Amongst Lizardfolk, actions were truly more valuable than appearances, unless those appearances consisted of scars from battles past.
“Three, act-” Wyth’ram hissed, struggling to speak, “-ually.”
The older reptilian looked as though he had known the truth already, but was disappointed nonetheless. Wyth’ram felt just a tinge of shame. It had been long since he had felt shame; after all, it had been long since he had cared for the thoughts of others, as it had been long since he had been near Lizardfolk. Looking at the elder again, Wyth’ram thought: that is how I look.
“I gave you a concoction to clear your head from the beating and the booze. I think I know you, too. Your father was the cobbler; your mother the magic-teacher, no?”
Wyth’ram looked at the old creature, his head hurting as if nothing had been done to relieve the pain. He wanted to ask why the old Lizardfolk said ‘was’ rather than ‘is’, but he knew it was better not to ask, both because it would hurt his body to speak, and because it would hurt his mind to hear. He remained silent, and instead he nodded.
“Yes, I know you now. You went off to the guild and never showed up again. Should’ve known it was too soon to push our luck that far. The guilds have never yet been ready for Lizardfolk, ‘specially not the young ones, the ones who don’t understand,” the elder was elaborating, and Wyth’ram was listening. The old reptilian was interesting, just all of his ilk had become, and Wyth’ram lacked a better option than to hear what he was saying.
“Probably a human who beat you the first time. Nah, maybe an elf. It’s always one of those two; usually, though, it’s the elf’s fault. The elf thinks it’s a good idea, the human thinks it’s an idea he’s willing to have. That’s how it goes about, usually.” The rag moved back and forth, cleaning blood and grime from Wyth’ram’s body.
“So you go off thinking that you’re useless, hated, and weak. We all do. Those fools take it all from us, don’t they? All that matters.” The elder had grown more animated as he had spoken. Wyth’ram listened, idle. “They never give us a chance. It’s the humans who are the worst, I suppose, though all three groups are somehow blind to the true nature of their relations, so all three somehow see themselves as superior to the others in some regard.” Wyth’ram was entranced now, ignoring the pain in his head so he could understand what the old reptilian was explaining.
“The humans have the power, of course. Those fools haven’t the faintest clue that they have it, but they do - the majority always wins the power, I suppose. There may be a dwarf as the figurehead at the top, but it is the high council which acts with most power these days; the high council, and the guild-heads, for the guild-heads are the ones whose actions are most effective on the populace. Have you ever noticed how they are all humans? All but a few of the minor ones, the least powerful ones. In any position which matters, which truly matters, a human currently sits. The elves and the dwarves, they live with this silent discrimination, none the wiser as to their own inferiority and suppression. So, like the Hydra of old, if one head is cut off, another identical one comes to fill its place. Don’t think we haven’t tried - remember that old, arrogant fool of a guild-head who was killed so violently decades back? You might not be old enough to remember - no, I doubt that you were - but that was some of us Lizardfolk, striking back. Now, though, we’ve come to see that’s not the way to go. They hate us already, and to earn more of their hate will do nothing but push us further down. We can’t win by making them more powerful - we have to take away their power.”
“You might ask how we would take such power. Not through violence, no. It is not their physical prowess, the superiority of their arms, skill, and numbers, which we must fear. Their hatred, which fuels their oppression - that is what we must vanquish. But, you would not understand.”
Wyth’ram wanted to protest - he would understand! - but he knew what his elder referenced. Wasting away his life, acting as the epitome of the opposition’s expectations, ignoring his roots - all these contributed to the power of the majority. By acting so stupidly for so many years, Wyth’ram, like many of his kin, had fanned the flames of hatred, and had ensured the survival of a vicious, circular pattern. Lizardfolk were not easily inclined to great displays of emotion - they did not use it for generic manipulative purposes as their human counterparts so often did - but now, Wyth’ram felt a tear of shame upon his scaly cheek. He shed that single tear with such great acceptance, and such great realization.
He had truly been a fool.
Everything the old Lizardfolk said rang true. It shook Wyth’ram’s brain, and it left it empty and barren, like a jar, once full of fermenting grapes, but now, so empty, so gone. Those grapes had left and become the wine which had fueled his heartless descent into disgrace for so many years, and he was left with nothing but the jar. He would fill it again, but he would fill it now with ripe fruits and hardy nuts; he would find seeds, and he would plant these seeds within his jar, and from them he would grow more fruit, and more nuts, and then he would know that he had been freed. He would apologize through his actions, and he would be a better creature because of it.
Yes, Wyth’ram promise, I'll be an ambassador of my people once more.
Tacitus arrived back at his home and shared the news of his acceptance with Artem. Artem had just sent his applications out himself, and was waiting to hear back. Tacitus then went into the house and got a decent amount of bread, meat and cheese to serve as a meal. Artem joined him soon after Tacitus had started. "The one i was tutoring today wants to study with you as soon as possible. He's coming back tomorrow for another lesson with me, what should i tell him?"
"I dont know. I need to decide on my guild and tell them i've joined tomorrow. In addition, i need to see when i need to show up and for how long each day. Tell him i'll tutor him, but dont expect an exact date for awhile." Tacitus finished his meal and put away the dishes he used. "Ready to spar tonight, old man?"
"Hah! Oh, i'm going to shut your mouth tonight for sure." The two went outside and drew their swords. "Three..." Artem said.
"Two..." Tacitus replied.
"One!"
~
The next morning, Tacitus got up and started stretching. Artem gave him a good fight last night, and he was sore. But Artem would be sure to have pains of his own. Tacitus smiled, recalling last night's events and got dressed to head out. He was going to the Watchmen guild, his most favored guild of the three he was accepted into. He went out, slightly sore into the morning light.
Garuda was already kneeling in the chapel of the guildhall of the Worshippers of Holy Valicus when the sun rose that morning. Always the early riser, she had made her way to her new place of worship and began her rites. She hoped to speak to Presfiel about the earthquake the previous evening, but was unsure if she'd be able to speak directly to the guildmaster.