NOVEL NEXT 36. Adventurous Guild
They stood in a clearly makeshift lobby. If someone had decided to mash up the aesthetic of a dwarven tavern and a comic convention then they wouldn't be too far off the motif underneath the entirely far too suburban looking sign for "Turtle back local adventurers guild". Once one got into the building it was easy to see how unprepared but organized the group was.
Kate led Ashley by the hand inside. "While you were sleeping, Will let me show you what I did."
She led the girl in and introduced her to Levi. "He came in with a moonshot idea and Bagel let the man run with it."
"Glad you were able to help. I heard that Janet and Janet 2 helped you?"
The man straightened. "They have been instrumental. The guild now has four hundred full members, that is those that have full decks, and two hundred that are just waiting for notice."
The cat behind the counter yawned. "They want a lot. But they keep coming in with credits. It's fine."
He slumped over.
"He has been doing that all morning. He is too stubborn to leave, though Janet can do most of what he needs done. Between Janet and that enthusiast website we are in a great spot, especially if we can start getting cards from other areas."
Kate put her arms around Ashley from behind.
"This is why you got out of bed? I mean I guess it's a lot but ..."
"It was necessary. Levi has a mantle that turns this place into a guild. It was a super rare drop. With the card sales next door this place is going to be popping."
---
"We're going to need scouts and tactics," Levi said, rubbing Bagels head.
"Scouts are specialized humans?" Bagel said. "Or other animals? And what are tactics?"
"There's apparently a limit of six people per dungeon at once. We have tried that. So then we have to think about party composition. You can't have all DPS."
"DPS?" Bagel slumped. Humans were so weird.
"Your friend Ashley does DPS. With her swarm. She's also a good heavy or shield. The roles are a bit loosey goosey right now but we are getting to a good place."
Raul took that exact moment to walk in.
"But you should probably take some time with him."
Raul plodded in. Behind him and older woman and a man looked in at the guild, wide eyed. As well a little girl was holding Raul's hand based on her age, she was not his daughter.
"Bagel! I brought the family here. It's safer upstairs and we talked about renting the space if you want accommodate us. This is my father, Paolo and my mother, Liza."
The little girl ran up to Bagel and put him in her arms. He let it happen. "Oh hey is so cute! Can we bring him home?"
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"Khaleesi, we agreed that you understood that Bagel is Raul's boss," Liza said sternly. "We do not pick up people's bosses and cuddle them."
"Oh, stuff it," Khaleesi said. "This is my newest bestest friend ever."
"You might hold me a little looser," Bagel said, weakly. "I would appreciate that."
"He really does talk! Oh my God, we're going to play dress up and everything!" Khaleesi said.
"Help!" Bagel whispered weakly, pretending to try to escape.
"And what kind of name is Bagel anyway? I mean it's fine but maybe you need a name like Mister Doctor Evil..that would suit you a bit better I think."
---
That night the guild shop was absolutely standing room only as the humans spilled out onto the street. Bagel was already planning on adding a sixth level once he could get the materials so the guild could be spread over the bodega and the one story parking garage and adjacent Chinese food restaurant. Plans had been drawn up to use that negative space for training grounds for new deck bearers much to the happiness of the restauranteurs.
Now, the police officers and the members of the guild had been clearing dungeons not only in their neighborhood but the closest ones, with several people forming parties to go further afield. The board by the entrance showed dozens of dungeons, ranked by how much the guild needed them to be addressed. Janet had it updated live so that new people could easily see where help was needed the most.
"As you know, Bagel has been having a hell of a time adapting," Raul said. "Who would have thought that my new manager would be the cat who bought the deli. Not me."
Raul paused to accept a drink from his little sister. Bagel motioned for the man to continue. "I am proud to say that we are members of the guild now. This has honestly been the weirdest week of anyone's life."
"Hear hear!" Kate yelled from the back.
"But I've got Ashley here, who is apparently going to tell you about the merits of calling a friend?"
"Thank you. Since the dawn of the American revolution, people in this city have taken care of each other in so many ways. Today, I stand proudly beside my fellow New Yorkers. We might not be that many but together we can get the word out and we can fight this. With just one more small push we will have a whole city block safer and then?"
She pulled a line, dropping a curtain in front of a large image of the skyline. It was printed, not painted but it was apparently easy to copy such things with a drone. It wasn't a map, but it did have the whole borough.
"Then we can get the neighborhood."