Chapter 3

  “Lets update your ID mark first.” The receptionist suggested, “Then you can call it a night.”

  “Right! That’s pretty important.” Tanner replied holding out his hand.

  The receptionist pulled out a rectangular device that Tanner could instantly tell was magical.

  “Hold out your right index finger over the device please.”

  Tanner did as asked and felt a small tingling sensation over his finger.

  The receptionist did something Tanner couldn’t figure out with the device, it looked like she turned a dial or two, adjusted a slider, and pressed a button? He wasn’t sure.

  “All done, you are now updated and affiliated with the Two Worlds adventuring guild. Check your status page and you should see the change.”

  “That was quick, thanks.”

  “No problem, Tanner, The barracks are the first door on the right down that hallway, follow the stairs down, most of the basement consists of the barracks.”

  Tanner thanked the receptionist once more and headed that way. As he reached the bottom floor of the stairs he saw a large sign with beds in a grid and names on it, under the sign was written “Press your ID finger to the bottom-most ID mark reader, and then to a bed to claim that bed. Be sure to remove your claim once you are finished with the bed. The chest at the foot of the bed will respond only to your ID mark.

  Tanner did as instructed and picked a bed near the middle of the room away from everyone else as he hoped he could dampen the snoring that was sure to occur via distance. The bed he hovered over lit up with his name above it and Tanner nodded to himself, heading that way. The barracks was bare with little adorning the walls. Single beds lined in rows about 4 deep filled the large basement. Tanner walked over to his bed, he was the only person in the room at the moment, and pressed his finger to the ID mark reader on the chest at the foot of his new bed. The chest popped open and Tanner put his stuff into it, his rolled up tent, his bed roll, and his rucksack. The spear he kept on him, planning to sleep with it – just in case.

  Tanner settled into bed and got comfy, *A quick nap* he thought as he dozed off, it was still only mid afternoon, after all. A few hours later Tanner awoke, the room still empty of other people, and he rose up – stretching out his aching muscles. Generally not one to talk to himself Tanner thought *Maybe a quick work out before dinner, then I’ll take it easy the rest of the night.* He did just that, heading up to the training hall on the floor above him. As he entered the hall he looked around, Gris was still there working with a couple of obvious fighters. The two fighters were sword users and had standard brown leather armor on much like his own.

  In the corner of the room located at the archery range a mage was flinging bolts of lightning down range at an archery target, Tanner guessed the range was dual purpose at that point. The mage was wearing a blue robe that was a little tattered from rough wear and tear. Tanner could see small holes near the bottom of the robe that had been worn through, noticing this much detail from so far away Tanner realized his eye sight must have improved as well after activating the rune stone. Tanner made his way over to the weights, grabbed some free weights and started on some arm exercises. His legs had gotten plenty of exercise since leaving Barton, but his arms much less so.

  Tanner realized after a dozen reps that he wasn’t getting as much fatigue as he expected from the weight he was used to lifting so he put down the first set and grabbed a heavier set of weights. This still didn’t really help, Tanner had tripled his strength from the level up into C.I., realizing this Tanner upped the weights again, and then again. Thankfully this training hall was used to stronger, enhanced people and had much heavier weights to compensate.

  After grabbing approximately triple the weight he was used to moving around, and performing another couple dozen reps he started to feel the burn. Now that he had a decent set of weight being thrown around he went through all the exercises he had learned from the various sources back in Barton, making sure to hit as many muscle groups as he could. The regimen lasted longer than he expected before he started to get tired, he was able to go through his normal routine an extra two times though. Finally tiring Tanner replaced the weights and shuffled his way over to the tavern inside of the guild hall. He thought it was inside the guild hall, anyway. It turned out it was only attached to the guild hall. Walking through a hallway going the opposite direction of the training hall he found himself in a modestly decorated tavern. Purple lighting and mist covered the place and there was a large skull visible outside of the windows towards the front of the building.

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  Tanner walked up to the bar and sat down, the bar was well worn but also maintained well, he could see where people had rubbed the finish down as well as spots that repeated cleaning had worn the wood a bit thinner. Everything at the bar was very well built, however, as much traffic as it seemed to see the stools were still quite solid, not a bit of wobble to them at all.

  “Welcome to Apoc tavern kid, what can I do for ya?” a man in a clean long sleeved shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his biceps and well tailored pants approached Tanner and asked.

  Tanner was looking over the menu when the man asked and said “Local brew and some stew?”

  “You eighteen yet?” one of the man’s brows raised as he asked this.

  “And a few days, yea.” Tanner replied.

  The man hmmed and Tanner added “Just joined the guild.”

  The man’s face brightened and he nodded. “Welcome then, I’m Blythe.” the man said while waving his hand towards a barrel in the corner of the bar. Tanner looked at the barrel as the man waved and then looked back at the man, however, he did a double take when he realized a pint mug was moving by itself, Tanner watched transfixed as the mug filled itself from the barrel and flew itself over to Tanner.

  “That’s… incredible! What was that?!” Tanner asked excitedly.

  “Ah, just a bit of telekinesis. Comes in handy runnin this place.”

  “You’re an adventurer then?” Tanner asked.

  “Used to be, retired now, much easier to run a bar.” Blythe replied. “I’ll go get that stew for you.” the man stated as he disappeared into a swinging door along the wall. A few moments later returning with a large bowl of beautiful, steaming stew. Laden with large chunks of meat and various vegetables with a thick gravy covering it all.

  “You’re drooling, kid.” Blythe said while laughing as he set the bowl down and pulled out a wooden spoon, placing it next to the bowl.

  “It looks so good, I haven’t had a hearty meal in days, just traveling snacks.”

  “Well, enjoy it, there is plenty more if you need it.”

  Tanner nodded and dug into the stew, it was wonderful! Heavily spiced with local spices that Tanner couldn’t have identified even if he’d wanted to. Tanner finished the first bowl quickly, ordered seconds and a second helping of the local brew.

  “He brews that himself, you know, he’s quite proud of it.” A woman said, sliding onto a stool two down from Tanner.

  “Mph weally good” Tanner said, his mouth once more full.

  The woman laughed and said “Shouldn’t talk with your mouth full, you’ll choke.” She had a lengthy purple dress on that didn’t quite match the tavern’s lighting, a string of crystals around her neck that Tanner couldn’t identify and a few rings on her fingers – though not one on any of the important fingers.

  Tanner swallowed and apologized “Sorry, I’m Tanner, just joined the guild.”

  “Hello Tanner, I’m Lona, I’m a receptionist with the guild, however I’m off today.”

  “Oh, I’ll try not to ask you any adventuring questions then Lona.”

  Lona chuckled and said “I’d appreciate that.”

  Lona ordered some food and drink from Blythe as she and Tanner made small talk while eating before Tanner headed off calling it a night, easily falling asleep in the new barracks.

  The next morning Tanner woke up, washing up in the barracks facilities and headed up to find the board to help him find a group. He was itching for some action! When he got to the board he looked it over, it listed the group leaders name, what skills and or classes they were looking for, and the reason they were looking. It also listed whether it was a temporary spot or long term spot that was wanting to be filled. Tanner was wanting to get some experience under his belt with different group dynamics so he decided that temporary was the way to go at first.

  Gage Reviee was the party Tanner decided he wanted to meet up with. They were looking for a fighter for a low level dungeon run. Tanner went up to the receptionist and asked about the dungeon.

  “Its new and was assessed as being low level and easily cleared by adventurers of levels one through three.” The receptionist stated. This was not one of the receptionists Tanner had met yet. She wore the same uniform as the receptionist from the previous day but had a few bows in her hair.

  “Alright, thank you. Could you set up a meeting with Gage Reviee for me? I’d like to try joining them for the dungeon.” Tanner asked.

  “I think I saw Gage and Skyla head into the training hall earlier this morning, let me send them a message.” The receptionist replied, pulling out something that looked like a larger ID mark scanner and she arranged some letters that she pulled out to spell “Please head to guild hall reception desk”, she then pressed her ID mark to a glowing light on the device.

  “Message sent.” She said as she put the magical equipment away. About two minutes later two people came walking out of the hallway to the training hall, a man and woman in their mid twenties “approached the desk.

  “You called?” Said the man, he wore knee length chain mail and a metal cuirass over it. The cuirass was dented in multiple places showing that its seen some use, he wore green trousers and was wielding a sword and metal heater shield emblazoned with scratched black and green paint.

  “Yes, Tanner here would like to join your group for the dungeon raid you have planned.” the receptionist stated.

  “Ah, Tanner was it then? I’m Gage and this is Skyla.” Gage stated while motioning to Skyla as he said her name. Skyla was in a dark cotton robe, dark blue or maybe completely black, it was hard to tell. She had auburn hair down to her shoulders and was wielding a gnarled wooden staff.

  “Yep! Tanner Tattone, at your service!” Tanner all but barked out excitedly.

  “A freshie, huh?” Skyla stated, “What level?”

  “Just level one, but I’m sure with your help that’ll improve.” Tanner replied.

  “Smooth, what skill did you pick up?” Gage asked.

  “*Lunge* I’m hoping to either find or buy the Aerial Knight prereqs once I have some money.”

  “High aspirations, that. That works though, we’ll head out tomorrow morning. There is one more that will meet us here, a healer. I roll as a tank and Skyla here is our fire mage. The four of us will be able to handle this dungeon easily.” Gage stated without reservation.

  “Great!! I’ll take it light today then since I’m still a bit sore from the walk to Zrora.”

  “Completely fresh” Skyla giggled.