I... I don't know what came over me... It appears that my writer's block may have been broken. Like a Dam with a leak that finally broke free. IT WASN'T MEANT TO BE THIS LONG!!!
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The rattle of the Wagon was drowned out by the chatter amongst its passengers, each had been picked up over the course of the trip along the long, long, long road to the small isolated town known as Etria. As I look up from my books and scrolls I take account for the small group of adventures that like myself had been drawn to this area due to the proclamation made by the governing party of this community. A Labyrinth had been discovered not far from the towns borders, an underground Forest to be exact, a place which was more alive than any stone dungeon or mountainous peak. A place where there remained so much unknown, and undiscovered. Many, like my fellow passengers, seem to have been drawn by the fame and fortune that could be found in the pursuit of the Labyrinth’s depths, but I, I am a simple Scholar. I come to discover the truth on what this Labyrinth held and reveal it to the world for not Fame or Fortune, but for the Knowledge that it brings. But yes no doubt Fame and Fortune will come my way when I do, but that’s not my driving force. The Wagon hit a pothole which jostled everyone around in their seats amongst the hay and crates of produce, the owner of the Wagon had been on his way to Market in Etria, and like many times before he would stop and pick up these foolish adventures. Soon the Gravel road gave way to loose stones, which in turn gave way to Pavement and the noise of the bustling town. Despite its size it was filled with all manner of folk, made vastly more wealthy and better off due to the amount of Adventurers coming in and out no doubt. A good percent of the folk were armed and armoured in equipment and other assorted gear, a clear making that they were experienced in the Labyrinth’s depths. The wagon pulled short out front of a large sort of building, its sign that of a black cat and the script below was that of the words GUILDHOUSE. No doubt here I could find a Group of adventurers of whom I could tag along with into the Depths to make my records...
Unsurprisingly the other passengers also disembarked here, a few giving a chuckle as they swore me, a man with his arms filled with books and scrolls with nay a weapon on him attempt to pull the door open while trying to juggle and stuff the items away. Five out of the thirteen who were picked up helped me momentarily before they moved on, first with the door, then with the lobby and finally in finding the right man in whom to talk to. Shifting my pack on my shoulders to a more comfortable position I knocked on the door...
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“Come in!” Called a Gruff voice from behind it, I reached forward and turned the knob and entered the room, its size astounded me as I entered the office of this man. There were fine tables, chairs and even elegant cabinets around the room, a large map was spread out over one of the tables and a Black Cat slept on top of one of the cabinet in which contained an assortment of weapons.
"OH? Haven’t seen you before,” Muttered the man as he pushed himself up from his desk, looking me over with his one good eye, the other hidden behind an eyepatch, no doubt useless now from some combat of times past,
“I take it your here to check out the Secrets of the Yggdrasil Labyrinth?”I looked back at the man, unsure though of where to actually look when facing him, at his good eye I said to myself as I force my stare away from the patch.
“Yggdrasil???” I was confused, I never knew that they had named the Labyrinth, I clicked my tongue angrily, so much for the chance to name it myself. The Guildmaster chuckled at my aggravated action...
“Aye, The Labyrinth swallowed all, Innocents were stranded, Sinners drowned in its Depths, the Dammed vanished there. The Great power was lost to man, and Mother Nature turned her back to the New World. Only the Cursed King on his Throne in the abyss knows the Truth... The Yggdrasil Labyrinth...” He muttered these words as if they were part of a song, but I did not recognise it for any of the most recent ballads.
“It’s part of the Prophesy here, though personally I do not know who this Cursed King is, we are a Democratic Government, no matriarchs here last I checked...”He had moved before me, the table with the Large Map laid out over its top was the only thing between us, I quickly looked down at what looked like many twisted Roots of a great tree, on a longer look I noticed that in fact these roots were paths and hand drawn maps pieced together like a Jigsaw though much of the lower parts were missing I could now see why they called it the Yggdrasil Labyrinth. A forest who’s roots hold up the world...
“Well then,” grunted the Guildmaster as he cleared his throat , pulling my sight back to the trial of keeping my eyes on his singular.
“ A welcome is in order my Friend. But sad to say that not many of the Guilds here are accepting new adventures, already I had to turn down a few hopefuls just before you...”“Oh, no sir, I am no Adventurer,” I stammered as he looked at me in a confused way, clearly thinking, that if I was no Adventurer, what was I doing standing in his office. I had to quickly verify my existence here for him clearly,
“I am a Scholar sir, I am here to find a Guild that I can work with and join on their journeys down into the, ‘Yggdrasil’ Labyrinth, I hope to assist in gathering the truth from it...”He couldn’t help but laugh at my stammering explanation.
“Hahha, Well then you would be the first, those Shortsighted losers care too much about trifles such as Money and Power to do any REAL Investigation, it’s too bad there is none that would take you,” He paused in his sentence before coming around the Map Table before me,
“THOUGH... If you have the Guts perhaps you could create a new Charter for the Newcomers and yourself, then perhaps we could get some work done on this investigation...” He spoke fast and moved quickly back to his desk and began to pull sheets of paper free from their confines of the bottom of the pile.
“There are loads of guys like I just said who are now sitting on their Thumbs who would join ANY guild that would take them, if you created one for Investigation as its Main Goal, anyone would join just for the chance to get at that Labyrinth...”Hurrying back to me he shoved a few papers and a quill into my hands, before spinning me around and pushing me through a side door into a waiting room, many startled faces looked up at our eruption from the Guildmasters Office...
“Right you lot...” Barked the Guildmaster to the Group of adventures,
“I know I said that there is no Guilds that would take ya before, but now. We have him. This fellow here is starting a Guild with the Goal of Investigating the Mysteries of the Dungeon, come forward if ya want to be signed on now, give him your name and your class and all that jazz then you lot can get your chance at the Fortunes...” And with that the Guildmaster turned and returned to his office with a loud bang of his door, leaving myself startled and unable to speak for moments as I stood there with the eyes of the group of Adventurers before me...
“Heh... Well then... Looks like this Guild needs a Name...” I chuckled nervously as I moved to the desk and placed the Papers down, their eyes following me the whole time...
“Well??? Who wants to sign on then???”~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~
Author
Topic: Lets Play :: Etrian Odyssey, NDS. (Read 6065 times)