Chapter Thirty-Nine — Guild Me Up, Buttercup
I glared at Mister Menu.Congratulations! Through repeated actions your Cute skill has improved and is now eligible for rank up!Rank E is a free rank!“Meanie,” I said as I slid out of the bed and dismissed the prompt with a wave. Sure, I was going to accept the free rank, because duh, but it wasn’t a nice thing to see right after waking up. It wasn’t even like I had done anything all night.Did I snore?My eyes narrowed.Did I snore cutely?It couldn’t be. I slept just like any other girl.After rubbing my eyes and making sure that Orange was okay after a night spent cuddled up in my arms, I wiped my lips clean of any drool, then unknotted my blouse which had ridden up as I tossed and turned.Then I got up, picked my underthings off the floor, and got ready for the day.The free room that Juliette had promised turned out to be quite a bit nicer than the one I had over in Rockstack. It had a single bed tucked up against the far wall, with a dresser and a little desk for my stuff, as well as a window that opened up onto a small courtyard at the back of the inn. The Rock Inn and Roll Inn was shaped sort of like a C, with two large bar areas that were on opposite streets connected through an addition that looked newer than the rest of the building.Apparently it had once been two inns. The Rock Inn and the Roll Inn, but after years of competing for the same customers, Julien and Juliette had fallen in love and they combined their inns into one big establishment.Once I was all kitted out and ready to go, I picked up Orange (which meant I was now all kittened out, haha!), placed her in her place of pride on my shoulder, adjusted my awesome hat and stepped out of my room.Julien was up and about already, serving breakfast to the few people already in the room with a jovial smile. “Ah, Broccoli! How did you rest?”“Really well,” I said. “Your beds are super comfy. Is there a really rare innkeeper skill that makes your inn so cozy?”“Oh-hoh! Zat’s a trade secret,” he said with a tap to the side of his head. “Breakfast?”“I’d love some!” I said as I pulled up a stool at the counter and dropped my backpack to my side. “How much would it cost to rent the same room again tonight?”“One sil a night,” he said. “It comes wiz breakfast and a smile. For a little more you can get two smiles.”I laughed as he returned from the kitchen with a plate covered in eggs and sausage and some freshly baked bread. “Thanks. I think I’ll take you on that offer. Though I thought that one silver a night was for a place like Rockstack.”“Ah, it is more zan what you would pay in ze West end of Port Royal. And zat’s more zen a room near ze docks, zough a pretty young zing like you shouldn’t go anywhere near zere,” Julien explained.“Huh. Well, I don’t mind your price, especially not if the food is this good.” I stuck my fork in a sausage and took a big bite of it.“Ah, no wonder Juliette took a shine to you,” he said with a hand placed over his chest. “So, what adventure awaits you today?”“I need to find the Exploration Guild and then I’m going to see about joining them,” I said. “After that... I guess I’ll head over to the docks. I want to look at the airships.”“Ze guild is easy enough to find,” he said. “The docks... it would be best to avoid zose unless you have business zere. If it’s the ships you want to see, zen zere is a viewing platform just some streets down. A few cop and you’ll have a perfect view of any ship coming in, and wiz none of the unpleasantness of ze docks.” He slid a blue card with a lanyard across the counter. “Zat’s for you, when you want to come back.”“That sounds like a plan!” I said as I took the card and watched Julien move off to greet some other customers.The card was a pass allowing one access across the East gate. I guessed that they tried to limit the number of people passing by at any given time.Breakfast done, I rushed back to my room and deposited most of my stuff. I wouldn’t need hardtack and such for a journey across the city. At least, I hoped! My spear was also a bit much, though I had seen plenty of people armed with all sorts of things. I decided that my belt knife and my spade hanging over my back would have to do. That and Orange of course!I tucked a single gold in my bandoleer and two dozen silver and copper pieces, in case I caught sight of something neat to buy. Then I was off.The East side looked a bit different in the full light of early morning. There were more people moving about and snooping through the windows along the central avenue and plenty more carts being pulled by horses and donkeys and sometimes giant toads. There was even a trolley with a bell that jingled as it stopped every few hundred meters to pick people up and drop them off.Grinning, I moved over to the East gate. It was easy to forget that the city smelled a lot like poop when it was otherwise such a vibrant and colourful place. People were laughing and talking, some argued over the things written in the newspapers being hawked by young grenoil boys on street corners.It felt like a scene out of a movie set in Victorian England, but also completely wrong.Mages with big staves appeared in the middle of the street with pops, entire teams of adventurers with them, and the guards patrolling in twos wore full plate armour and carried long halberds.I moved over to one pair that had paused to let a trolley pass. “Excuse me,” I said.Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.They looked over to me, two pairs of froggy eyes hidden under thick metal helmets.An attentive grenoil City Guard, level ??.“Yes, ma’am?” One of them asked. I assumed he was the senior of the two because he had a colourful tassel over his shoulder. “Can we help you?”“Maybe. I’m looking for the Exploration Guild headquarters,” I said.“Then shouldn’t you explore for it?” the younger of the two asked. It earned him a smack against the chestplate.The older guard pointed northwards. “Just down Guild Row, ma’am. It’s the building with the large compass rose before it. You can’t miss it.”“Thank you!” I said with a wave as I ran off in the direction they pointed. I slowed down a little bit later, because if I was running then I would miss all the sights and I didn’t want that.Guild Row was an entire street that climbed up at a fairly steep angle. There were strange and colourful buildings on both sides, from the rather plain but homey Culinary Association building, to the Courier’s Union that had a strange tower sticking out the top with a bunch of panels on pulleys that were moving this way and that, to the Mages Guild building that had a collection of floating pillars before it.I found the Exploration Guild headquarters near the middle of Guild Row. It was a simple but stately building with a huge compass rose built into the front with a stylized bandoleer running across it and the name of the guild beneath it.“Cool,” I said as I moved towards the large double doors at the front. They opened just as I was reaching for them and I had to take a step back to avoid running into a pale skinned and paler-feathered harpy girl. She looked down at me, then scoffed.“Get out of my way, nobody,” she growled.“Hey,” I said as I did the exact opposite of getting out of her way and stood my ground with hands on hips. “I’m not a nobody.”The harpy girl snorted. “You look like an overstuffed pillow in that getup,” she said before shouldering her way past me and stomping down the street.“Rude,” I muttered before looking down at my gambeson. It was rather... pillow-coloured. And fluffy-looking. But if I looked fluffy that just meant that I also looked more huggable. And while I wouldn’t hug just anyone, it did mean that I looked more like friend material. I hoped.Shaking off the thoughts about my lame equipment, I stepped into the lobby of the Exploration Guild and paused to take it all in.It looked like a museum. There were shiny weapons behind glass displays and huge, old maps hanging off the walls next to tapestries and banners that looked positively ancient. Jars and urns sat atop pedestals with little plaques telling of their stories and in one back corner was an entire scale model of something with a bunch of rooms connected to each other in a big spiral, each one with a cut-through on the side to reveal the interior. It took a moment to realize that it was a model of a dungeon in three dimensions.I stopped gawking after a bit, made a note to come back and read every little plaque, and moved to the far end of the entrance hall where a waist-high desk hid a Grenoil woman. “Hello,” I said as I approached.She looked up from what looked like a newspaper and smiled at me. “Hello miss. How may the Exploration Guild help you today?”“I was curious about joining, actually,” I said.“Oh, I see. One moment, I’ll go verify if anyone can assist you with that,” she said.“No need.”We both turned and watched as a man rounded the corner at the end of the hall and strode toward me. He was a human, tall and dressed as I imagined a nobleman would, with a big fluffy ascot and a suit jacket that clung tightly to his chest.He smiled at me. “I couldn’t help but overhear, young miss. You hope to join our guild?”“I think I do,” I said. “I have a bunch of questions still. Oh, but I do have this!” I reached into one of the bigger pockets of my bandoleer and pulled out the letter Leonard had given me all of a few days ago.The man took it and stared at the seal. “Unbroken. From one of our more senior members. Leonard Chand’nuit?” he asked.“That’s him, yeah,” I said. “We met in the Darkwoods.”“Well well,” he said with a growing smile. “Would you mind following me to my office? I think you might be just what I need.” He looked over to the secretary. “Oh, and could I have a copy of the registration forms, please?”“Of course, Mister Rainnewt,” the secretary said before handing over a couple of sheets of parchment.I followed mister Rainnewt (and wasn’t that a neat name) over to a large and lavish office not too far from the entrance. He had maps on the walls and a few smaller displays with strange knick-knacks, but he gestured me to a chair before his desk before I could really start poking at things.“So, miss...”“I’m Broccoli, Broccoli Bunch!” I said.“Well, Miss Bunch, I’m Tarragon Rainnewt, one of the senior members of the Port Royal branch of the Exploration Guild,” he said while sitting down across from me. He crossed all his fingers together above the forms he had requested. “Do you mind if I read the letter? It’ll take but a moment.”“Go ahead,” I said.While he read, I resisted the urge to kick out my legs while I slowly sank deeper and deeper into the plush chair.“Well well,” he said as he set Leonard’s letter aside. His smile was dazzling. “You’re an interesting one, aren’t you? I think I might have an interesting offer in return, Miss Bunch, if you’re keen to listen to it.”
Chapter Forty — An Offer
Mister Rainnewt shifted some papers around on his desk. “I think it would behoove me to explain the situation. Most who come here and ask to become members of the Exploration Guild come from places like the Scumways. They have no experience out in the field, have no referrals, and are generally not equipped with a class suitable to work as members of our guild. From what I’ve read you are... unfamiliar with our way of doing things?”“Pretty much,” I said. “I like exploring, and I have some skills related to that, but Leonard and Emeric’s party were my first time meeting members of the guild.”Tarragon nodded. “I see. The Exploration Guild holds a strange place in the world. You’ll find that we, more than any other guild, have members of a certain... prestige. The adventurous and wild who occasionally have too much time on their hands and who want a river named after them or some such. These members make up a sizable portion of our guild. After these we have those who do genuinely love exploration and architecture and archeology, who want to discover ancient secrets and unearth hidden ruins. Then we have those who are merely in it for the gold and the lower risk. We lose far fewer members than most guilds whose activities are beyond the walls of a city.”He made a dismissive gesture in the air.“But enough of that. The point I’m trying to get to is that we don’t just let anyone join. When we get new members we usually give them a few rapid training sessions with some more veteran members before sending them off on a few simple, low-risk missions. Right now, I’m in a bit of trouble.”I took a moment to digest everything he said, then tilted my head to the side. “Trouble? How so?”“I have an odd number of applicants. With few exceptions, new applicants are sent out in pairs. Usually a noble and a talented new recruit. I happen to have a new noble member but no talented recruits to go with her.”“I... see,” I said. “Do you get that many noble members?”He nodded, an easy smile still in place. “A full third of our membership is made up of people with good blood. Which is why your appearance today is such a boon. Telling a new member that their first exploratory mission will be delayed would be a hassle.”I raised a hand, one finger up in a ‘one moment’ sort of gesture and Tarragon made a ‘go ahead’ gesture in response.The Exploration Guild, as he had explained it was... not what I was expecting. I thought they were scouts and explorers, sent out to find and discover all sorts of new things. Not an old boy’s club. The more he talked the more I recalled images of rich old gentlemen out in the Savannah with huge rifles next to the bodies of dead lions and elephants.Not that I had anything against pith helmets, they were pretty cool.I was still willing to try it out. “What can you tell me about my, um, partner?”There was a shrewd look in Mister Rainnewt’s eyes that faded almost as soon as I noticed it. “She’s a young noble lady from the Nesting Kingdom from the north. A scion of the Albatross family who wants to spice up her life a little. A Thunder Mage, if that helps any.”“That sounds nice,” I said. “Okay, I was already interested. But I have questions.”He nodded. “I’m here to answer them, of course.”“Alright. Are there any responsibilities associated with joining the guild? Are there any entry requirements I should be aware of? And do we get to wear cool hats? Oh, and what kind of pay do we get?”He blinked a few times then chuckled. “There’s a standard yearly membership fee, five lesser gold or a percentage off any gains until such a time as the fee is paid. Most missions pay one or two sil per day in the field. The missions available for more senior members double that; any discoveries made are handsomely rewarded. Most members who come in at your financial level still manage to make a tidy profit, though those who do the best are usually those who join a peer’s party. As for your headgear, that is up to you, I’m afraid.”I nodded along. The membership fee seemed steep, but they had to pay rent, and it sounded as if I had time to pay it off. Judging by how liberal the party I had met in the Darkwoods had been with their gold I would still be making my money back.“As for responsibilities. There are some, many even, but not for an entrant as you would be. You’re still in your first rank?” he asked.“My first rank?”He chuckled. “Between levels one and ten. Past the tenth level you enter your second rank, past your twentieth level, if you become one of the few to make it so far, you enter your third rank.”“Oh, yeah, I’m level six.”“Six? Well well, I’m certain you’ll have an opportunity to grow stronger with us.”I had the distinct impression that Mister Rainnewt wasn’t laying down all his cards here. Still... if he was going to give me what I wanted. “I’m looking forward to it!”He grinned and pulled the stack of sheets closer before drawing a small case out from his desk and opening it to reveal a very pretty pen. He started making notes and checking things off with a flourish. “Do you have any skills pertaining to exploration, Miss Bunch? Scouting, Cartography, Pathfinding?”“I have Archeology. It’s still rather weak, but I think it should help. Other than that most of my skills are based on support and, um, movement.” No one had to know that I had the Cute skill. No one. “Oh, and I have Insight at Rank C. Um, that is, Disciple.”Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.“Interesting,” he said as he made a few more notes. “I think you might actually fit in nicely. Beyond just coming in at an opportune moment. Once you’ve returned from your first expedition come and see me, I might be able to place you in a team that will better be able to use your skills.”“Alright?” I said.He turned the document over and slid towards me. “Do you know how to write your name?” he asked.I blinked. Did he think I was illiterate? Maybe that was normal with poorer people. I took the document, snapped it so that it held itself up, and then read the entire thing to the tune of a clock in the back of the room going ‘tic tock.’The contract part was fairly simple. It marked me as a temporary member for the Exploration Guild for a period of one month or until I had fulfilled certain requirements. It outlined the protections available to members, including some discounts available at certain other guilds and reductions on travel costs. I could even demand a return for some expenses like food and special equipment.It wasn’t a very big or complicated contract, nothing like the end user agreements back home.I tapped a line near the end. “This says that the guild will be taking a fifty percent cut on all profits I make for three years to recoup the cost of admission,” I said. “But the admission cost is probably way lower than what I would lose over that same period. Also, the temporary membership period is only for those that chose not to pay their first year’s membership fee up front.”“That’s correct,” he said. His smile hadn’t so much as twitched.“What counts as a first year? Is it from the date I join to the same date one year later? Or is it from now until the start of the next year?”“That latter,” he said.“In that case, shouldn’t the fee be reduced by the amount of time that has already passed this year?” I asked.His smile grew into a full-on grin. “I’ll see what I can do. Is there anything else on the contract that bothers you?”“Nope,” I said as I picked up his shiny pen and wrote ‘Broccoli Bunch’ in big happy letters. There was nothing that prevented me from just quitting whenever I wanted to or if I felt the guild wasn’t a good fit. And there was a grace period in which I could pay my admission fee. I would make my final choice after my first mission was done.“Then that’s done,” he said as he took the papers back, tapped them down to make sure they were neat, then set them to the side. “I do suspect that’s all for today. I’ll be giving you a badge. Most members of the Guild have a bandoleer, something of a tradition, but I see you’re already equipped. The pins and medals on a member’s clothes will usually give you an idea of their rank and accomplishments.” He tapped his lapel where a small compass rose was sitting with a few pins all around it.“Neat,” I said. It was like the girl scouts all over again, but with more dragons and less cookies.Mister Rainnewt stood up and reached over to the table for a handshake, which I eagerly returned. I just hoped that he didn’t notice the fizz of my cleaning spell after we had shook. “Welcome to the Exploration Guild, Miss Bunch. Now, I’m aware that your entrance is a little... abnormal. But it does provide some opportunities that I hope you will use to your benefit.”“I hope so too,” I said.“Very well. If you can present yourself at the lobby tomorrow two hours before noon, with any equipment you would need for a week-long voyage, I would be ever so grateful.”I froze. “Tomorrow?” I squeaked.“Opportunity waits for no one,” he said.“I... can do that, I guess. Um. A voyage to where?” I asked.This was way too soon, and with far too little warning.“The new members are travelling by airship-”“I’ll be there!”“I... see, that’s wonderful. Do pack for a rather swampy area.”“No problem!” I said. “Though I will have to leave now if I’m to have the time to get all the things I need.”“Of course. Here,” he said as he opened a drawer and pulled out a small compass rose pin. “The stores that offer discounts are all marked, I’m certain someone as shrewd as you will figure it out.”“Thanks,” I said as I took the pin and ran a thumb over it. It was just simple steel with some porcelain embossing over it, the design little more than a deep blue compass rose with a tiny brown bandoleer running across it.I pinned it right over my heart, then, because my hands were already close, I gave Orange’s sleeping head a rub.“Okay then.” I said. “I guess that means I’ll be off. Until tomorrow?”“Until tomorrow,” Mister Rainnewt agreed.I left the guildhouse with a skip to my step and a bunch of plans percolating in the back of my mind.The next day I was going to meet my partner, and we would go on a grand adventure together. Which meant that I would have plenty of opportunities to turn her into the very best friend ever.No more travelling with people for a few days only to be torn apart, or meeting cool new people only to have to move on.This time I was determined to make the best of my opportunity!Also, I’d get to ride an airship.People looked at me as I cheered and skipped down Guild Row.Congratulations! Through repeated actions your Cute skill has improved and is now eligible for rank up!Rank D is a free rank!...“No!”
