Deacon left the arena from the same door Ralph and Amanda entered through. On the other side he found Typhus with the biggest shit eating grin on his face. In his hands was a fat bag of coins. He was almost cradling it like a mother. Deacon took one step toward Typhus but was quickly intercepted by Jacob. The grey furred Canidae shook Deacons hand vigorously.

“That was very impressive. Molok thought a 1 on 2 try out would be best against some Novices but after looking at your tablet, I made a judgement call. Step into my office. We have many things to discuss.” Jacob said.

“Does a lot of gambling happen here?” Deacon asked as he was led away.

“It’s all good-natured fun. Not like that cesspool the shadow runs. Underground fights only lead to grudges and people getting hurt.” Jacob said as he noticed Deacon put a finger in his mouth and then touch a support beam.

“Do you mean the Mountains Shadow? The Thieves guild?” Deacon asked.

“Yes. We’ll have to teach you some basic etiquette I see.” Jacob replied.

“Oh, yea sorry, quest. You know how it is.” Deacon said.

“Right this way, please have a seat.” Jacob said as they entered a well-appointed office with a desk, several chairs arrayed in front of the desk, two couches and a stand-up closet.

“This is a nice set up. What’s this I hear about guild points?” Deacon said.

“I’ll get to that. I’m ready to offer you a place in The Adventurers Guild. I just have a few questions. It’s obvious you can handle yourself in a fight against humanoids. What would you do against let’s say a rampaging bull?” Jacob asked.

“Am I alone?” Deacon replied.

“Good question. You have a party of 3 more people with you.” Jacob shot back.

“Well, if one was an archer, I’d have them slowly bleed the animal while I kept its attention.” Deacon said.

“Leaving two others standing around?” Jacob asked.

“No if there is a mage, obviously, we would have them harry the bull. Another fighter could also keep it busy.” Deacon

“So having no weapon of your own and that fighting style you have only really effective against humanoids, you would slowly take down the beast?” Jacob asked.

“Well, I have an ability that could slow the beast to prevent it from seriously injuring bystanders but I’m sure four people should be able to handle it.” Deacon said with a look of confusion on his face.

“And if you were alone?” Jacob prodded.

“I would probably try to freeze it in place and pummel it to death. Are these questions to gauge my strategic ability?” Deacon asked.

“As you know by now entering my guild gives me access to your slate. I can see your attributes and abilities but I’m a little disturbed by your unbalanced scores and some of the blacked-out sections under Boons and Banes. I needed to know how you think. I’ve never heard of Nether Monk. Which of the four schools did you study at?” Jacob asked changing the subject.

“Schools?” Deacon said with a blank look on his face.

“Did you have a severe head wound and they left you in that catacomb? No that wouldn’t make sense, why come all the way to the Griffin Kingdom for that.” Jacob mused.

“Where is this all going?” Deacon asked.

“A professional summary for our ledgers. If one of the headmasters of the four schools ask about you, I need to tell them something.” Jacob answered.

“I don’t know anything about those schools. You mind enlightening me?” Deacon asked.

“Wait you’re a Nether Monk and you don’t know about the four major monk training schools? You mean to tell me you’ve never heard of the Crimson Summit, Sand Tempest, Azure Archipelago, or the Emerald Canyon?” Jacob asked with astonishment on his doggy face.

“Nope, first I’m hearing of them. Well, Zageracks said something, but I’ve forgotten what it was.” Deacon replied.

“The dragon. Molok mentions a benign dragon condition. I thought he was kidding.” Jacob said looking a little more nervous.

“I don’t talk about it much because people get really weird about it.” Deacon said.

“Well, your memory issue is probably due to your low intelligence. Your speed and strength far exceed your ability to comprehend. You’ll find, if you invest more points into it, that you’ll remember things more clearly and can adapt to situations faster. Your trainers were right to have you focus on a muscle memory style. Lucky you.” Jacob said.

“Now tell me about being level nine?” Jacob said.

“Not sure what you mean. I haven’t leveled in awhile now. I figured I’d get one after all that stuff in Mulvaria.” Deacon said.

“That’s right you have a noble title there. Afraid that won’t mean much elsewhere but good for you. I don’t have one. You may be on the cusp of the next level. We try to train our adventures that the more significant deeds they do the greater the chance of leveling. This is mostly why regular people stop leveling. Their lives are just mundane with very little impact on the world around them. The exceptions are crafters and tradesman. They end leveling further due to their efforts. I see you have learned alchemy. That is one of many paths to specialization within the guild. We just so happened to have lost this branches alchemist. If you are willing to put in the time, you can generate passive guild points by supplying our shop with potions. At your level they won’t be as potent as what you could find in an alchemist shop but any healing potions you produce could help your fellow adventures in a crucial moment. That sounds like passive leveling to me.” Jacob said with a grin on his face.

“I would love to make potions and some other things. Do you have a place for me to work?” Deacon asked hoping a stable alchemy lab in the guts of the guild was on the table.

“We have a small lab the last alchemist worked out of, you know you could earn even more points if you were willing to teach other interested parties.” Jacob said feeling the worm on his hook wriggling.

“Ok let’s talk about that after I get in, I don’t see a guild mark yet.” Deacon said not knowing where Jacob was leading him.

“Of course, so the privileges of guild membership. You are allowed to rest at any of the guilds across this and many other kingdoms. You can find help if you are in need and supplies if you have no coin. You would be able to pay for them in guild points. You earn guild points by completing quests for the guild or any number of other ways that help the guild like providing potions or dungeon diving. Stuff like that. You can trade in any loot that you find out in the world for better prices than you’ll find any random shop. Sound good?” Jacob asked.

“And the downside?” Deacon said with a raised eyebrow.

“If the Kingdom calls on us, we are expected to reinforce the standing army. The kingdom hasn’t blown the horn in over a century. I wouldn’t worry about that.” Jacob said the first part quickly.

“I see. Well, my friends recommended I join, and I have no reason not to trust them. This seems like a good fit to me. What tier are you thinking of starting me at?” Deacon asked.

“Novice. Let’s say your time with the Cardinal Unit and achievements thus far for the Kingdom as a whole, will bump you right out of Trainee. I hesitate only because you will be lowest level person to ever join the Adventurers Guild. But Molok highly recommends this course of action, and he always has some convoluted plan.” Jacob said mostly looking at the ceiling and talking to himself.

“So how do I get that tattoo?” Deacon asked trying to bring Jacob back to the conversation.

“Oh, your guild mark?” Jacob replied ringing a small bell on his desk. A woman with what looked like moving tattoos up and down her arm came into the office.

“Yes Jacob?” she asked while a snake tattoo slithered up her left arm.

“Sophie, I need a Novice tier tattoo for our new member.” Jacob said.

“Hold out your right arm new blood.” Sophie said impassively. Deacon held out his arm and she took out needle with a small inkwell attached at the top. She started to work and abruptly stopped.

“What’s wrong?” Jacob asked.

“The ink is just running off his skin. I’ve never seen that before.” Sophie said.

“Do you have an enchanted needle?” Deacon asked.

“Of course, but why?” Sophie asked right back.

“Can’t break my skin without enchantment.” Deacon said very quietly to her through clenched teeth.

“Oh, how is that possible?” She said as she looked at him with astonishment.

“Not important right now. Can you get it?” Deacon said getting frustrated.

“Yep, got it in my bag. I suppose you’ll want the magic ink I use?” Sophie asked.

“Yes please.” Deacon said, embarrassment growing on his face.

“Is this one of the darkened sections on your tablet?” Jacob asked.

“I don’t want to talk about it.” Deacon said.

Sophie came back a few minutes later. She got to work asking Deacon not to squirm. This was painful for him. Since Deacon rarely felt little knives jabbing into his skin it required more concentration to not move. When she finished the mark was a many looped circle with a green star in the middle. If Deacon didn’t know better, he’d almost say the design was tribal. Sophie’s head popped up as if she had just come out of a trance.Looking at the mark she frowned. Sophie then moved around to the other side of Deacon.

“What’s wrong?” Deacon asked.

“That is not the approved design. It almost looks like the star shifts with the perspective of the person looking at it. Almost as if it was an eye.” Sophie said.

“Ok, but does it count now that its permanently on me?” Deacon asked.

“It most certainly does.” Jacob said standing up with an outstretched hand, “Welcome to the Adventurers Guild!”