“Hello, uh, what makes you think I’m a Commander?” James asked.
“I was sent here by Guildmaster Anne to get you started. I can’t explain more until you sign this.” The swordsman drew a square of parchment from his satchel and handed it to James. The parchment was heavy stock, thick as leather, with neat printed lines.
James took it automatically. “What is it?”
“It’s a guild contract,” the swordsman said. “It will make you an associate, earn you a guild badge, and provide you with legal standing to act under our banner. Starting today. Right here.”
The archer still hadn’t lowered her bow.
Bob:
Bob:
Primary Agreement
Party A (Anne Lorian, Hallowford Guildmaster) agrees to:
- Provide guild access, missions, and training at Bronze rank.
- Maintain secrecy regarding Commander identity for 1 month; no active advertisement for 2 more.
- Pay 50 gold for acquisition of off-world clothing and gear.
- Provide replacement clothing suitable for local standards, plus basic Bronze-rank adventuring kit.
- Option to sell back off-world clothing after 3 months for 500 gold. Failure to repurchase results in permanent transfer to Anne Lorian.
- Provide 7 nights of Silver-tier Guild lodging (healing/rest bonuses included).
Party B (James Cooper, Commander Candidate) agrees to:
- Not harm Guild members or assets without due cause.
- Accept mission priority aligned with Guild interests.
- Accept forfeiture terms on off-world clothing if unable to repurchase.
Penalty for Breach:
- System-enforced forfeiture of assets, escalating to physical penalty at Guild discretion.
Bob:
Addenda – Party A to provide:
- Brief instructions on local politics
- Basic currency, bargaining, and etiquette info
- A functional map of the surrounding area
Addenda – Party B to provide:
- Sweet food – Unique ×1
Bob:Rock. Which I’m guessing is our friend here.
James looked up and addressed Rock. “This is quite generous. Tell me what happens if I want to leave the guild later if it doesn’t work out?”
Rock tilted his head. “Why would you want to? But yes, as long as you pay off any debts first. Leaving on bad terms would be ill advised.”
His ears perked up on the word ‘’. Would he be bound into endless debt?
James knew he didn’t know enough to risk walking away. So he signed.
Besides, this Anne had him in her crosshairs, and he doubted she’d let him go easily.
The parchment blazed blue, runes spiralling upward in a vortex before vanishing. His clothes and belongings vanished too, reappearing folded in a neat pile before Rock, socks and underwear included. His phone, keys, wallet, and watch shimmered faintly. Marked, no doubt, by the system.
James yelped, instinctively covering himself, only for fresh fabric to wrap around him in the same breath: a clean tunic, soft but practical trousers, and sturdy boots. A backpack thumped to the ground at his feet.
Magic was awesome and scary. Was this how Ariel felt when dealing with the Sea Witch?
Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.
System Notification – Contract Established
Guild Affiliation: Penalties Registered
Additional Knowledge Access Unlocked
Rock tucked James’s old clothes into a reinforced satchel. “Now that’s done...” He gestured at the bandit. “Your choice. Card him, if you have one. I can supply one if you don’t. Take his weapon instead. Or kill him. The Guild will back you either way.”
Rock’s lips twitched slightly. “His name is Garron, if that makes a difference.”
Bob:
“Why is it my choice? You are the ones who defeated him.”
“You are the wronged party here. As a guild member, you get to decide.”
James let it go. This was all clearly a setup. He decided to play along.
“What happens to Garron if I take his sword?”
“We’d card him instead.”
Rock didn’t elaborate, but the fear in Garron’s eyes grew.
It may be a setup, but either Garron was a good actor, or he was genuinely scared.
James was being tested. He wanted to call their bluff, if it was one, but wasn’t ready to have that on his conscience if he was wrong.
James glanced at the man uncertainly, then nodded.
Bob:You should know that once he’s carded, he’s yours until you free him… and he’ll remember everything.
James sighed inwardly in relief. He could card him, complete the quest, find somewhere safe to release him, ask a few questions, and then let him go.
“I’ll need a card.”
Rock produced a blank, milky card. “Hold it to him.”
James stepped forward, took the card and then placed it on the bandit’s chest. He flinched but didn’t run. There was a discordant momentary look of excitement in the bandit’s eyes.
The card pulsed, heat blooming in James’s palm before light cocooned the man. A moment later, he was gone. The card now bore his likeness, his name, his abilities.
Card Obtained – Garron, Highway Footpad
Quest Completed – Find Your First Card
Deck Unlocked
Bob:
Rock bent to pick up Garron’s sword.
“Hang on. Garron will need that when I… summon him.”
Rock shook his head. “You chose carding, not his weapon. This is guild property now.”
“Okay. As a Guild member, I need that sword.”
Rock laughed gruffly.
Rock straightened, meeting James eyes. “Message from Anne: when you reach level five, head down this road to the village and straight to the guild hall. Anne wants to meet you. The quest board, quartermaster, kennels, Silver Rooms, training yard, and specialists will all be available there. Stay alive, Commander.”
“Rock,” James called out after him as they were walking off. “How am I supposed to get to level five?”
Rock pointed to the forest, smirked, then walked off.
James crouched by the backpack and opened it.
- Waterskin – Full (1)
- Rations – Jerky ×10
- Bedroll – Compact (1)
- Flint & Steel (1 set)
- Rope – Hemp, 15 metres (1 coil)
- Small Cooking Pot – Tin (1)
- Eating Utensils – Wooden Spoon & Knife (1 set)
- Basic First Aid Kit – Cloth bandages, salve (1)
- Change of Clothes – Tunic, trousers, socks, undergarments (1 set)
- Pouch – Empty (1)
James grinned. “Decent starter kit.”
He fished out his rock, eyed the bag, and tried slipping the bag into his inventory with everything still inside. It worked!
“Well. That’s a cheat if I’ve ever seen one.”
Curious, he tried putting the rock into the backpack while it was in his inventory. No luck. Then why did the coins work?
Bob:
James dug deeper for the Addenda items: map, politics guide, etiquette notes. But found nothing.
Bob:
James closed his inventory and opened his deck interface. Only one card gleamed there.
Garron, Highway Footpad
- Category:
- Rarity:
- Type:
- Slots Required:
- Abilities:
- Traits:
- Condition:
- Size:
- Weight:
- Level Requirement:
- Uses Remaining:
- Rarity:
Bob:
James thought.
Bob:
James set off toward the treeline.
Bob:
The dirt road narrowed to a tunnel of green, the air thick with the scent of damp earth and resin. Somewhere deeper in, something chittered.
New Location Discovered – Greywood Forest.
Map Unlocked.
James took a moment to bask in the wonder of having a system interface.
He breathed deeply, once, twice, then stepped into the forest.