PvP Dungeon Hunter

The True Test of Leadership

Everyone in the room was completely quiet except for the shuffling sound coming from the person before them. It was a loud, exciting, rumbling noise that caused their mouths to drool as it clunked onto the table.

This room was a symbol of prestige for the guild. It was adorned with fine robes and served as the meeting room for the recruits as well as the reception room. On the left side was a listing of lower ranked missions that would become available to them once they passed through this ordeal. The portraits that looked down at them were of the greatest in the guild both dead and alive. It could almost be seen as both an inspiration to aspire to and a curse of what you failed to be.

It was already well known that not everyone would be able to level past one. Something he had seen time and time again in his first application. The judge, jury, and executioner of those who wished to be an adventurer sat in the middle, adorned on a red pillow, a crystal ball. It determined ones level and helped with the adjustments of what one was best suited to be. Still, it was a hard pill for many to swallow, especially since it talked while active and enjoyed mocking those that touched it. Brun’s eyes gazed at it for a moment, even though he got past the first stage everyone had a level cap. The highest in this world was supposedly thirty-five. He wondered if he would be able to surpass that or was that the game’s limit?

There were many seats before those that would be undertaking this trial but no one dare sat on them, for they were not of any rank to do such a thing.

This was Brun’s first mission for the Adventurer’s Guild. He had worked so hard to get to this point but he wanted far more. Now, here he was in front of the help desk being paid part payment he assumed before he and the client even set off on the road from Ceventia to Glinahir. At least that is what he believed would happen, he of course, like everyone else, was not sure. Hardly any information was given about the location and the client’s name. The details of the trip were left off almost like they didn’t trust us to keep everything quiet.

When they had first started the training courses there were so many of them here. The room to fill out the application form three months ago was filled to the brim, that many waited outside. That was until the test started and people were eliminated. Now only twenty remained of what was probably well over a hundred. Brun couldn’t understand a single word of it and the receptionist had to fill out his form for him to the laughter of everyone else.

His stomach growled as he waited, it wasn’t loud enough for anyone to notice, but it made him look around uneasily all the same. Finally, he would be able to buy his own first meal instead of living off the land and actually be able to get somewhere to live instead of living on the street. This armour that he wore had cost him most of the money he had been given and he had no more money left. Further, he had even racked up debt with the wrong people just to get this far. He had no friends, but the guild had paired him with a group of other novice looking adventurers that were also surrounding him eagerly looking at the gold as it was being counted and divided out. No doubt they too had gone through similar hardship to get to this point, at least some of them.

“Brun Wisespark,” a voice from the reception desk called.

He stepped forward as the others in the room made way for him and as he was now directly in front of her, he stood before the desk.

“You have been selected to lead this group of adventurers because you have in the test conducted so far, shown the best level of understanding composition and competency and leadership skills expected from the guild.” She presented him with what looked like a token for him to wear around his neck. This will identify you to the client as the leader.

The coins clattered as she swooped it into a brown leather bag. “Also, as the leader, you will decide the allocation of these funds when to use them and when not to. These are eleven silver coins and four silver pennies. The guild sees this as a test for beginners and knowing how and when to manage these funds are fundamental in being an adventurer.”

Her words were met with slight complaints in the form of grunts and hisses. It was done in a way that one would not take it as such. When a quiet room comes to life at the mere mention of the leader and not in the more accepting way, Brun knew what to take it as. Of course, they wouldn’t be happy that a man of such lower class would be leading them. They weren’t high born exactly, but any middle-class merchant family wouldn’t like to be ordered by a man that was an outsider and they had to know that he was staying in the equivalent of the slums.

He was not expecting this at all. He was not expecting to be the leader of anything and here and now his gut felt a bit wrenched. All he wanted to do was his job, get paid, and maybe move up a little to comfortability. Not lead a bunch of people he knew would stress him from beginning to end.

“Do you understand?”

“Huh? Sorry, I blanked out for a moment.”

“I was informing you that the client should be arriving within half an hour.”

“Ok.”

“The mission details are as such.” She handed him a paper.

Great, Brun thought as he realized he couldn’t understand a single word on it.

 “The safety and priority of the client is the most important thing even if you, yourself have to die in the process. It would shame the Adventurers’ Guild if this small task could not be completed. The roads are safe and well maintained from bandits. Wolves are usually the problem but would be no problem for you or the squad that you have behind you as this is everyone’s first mission.”

“Then why are we needed?”

“It is for evaluation, as such we have given you multiple people to break down into teams of your choosing to test out combination squad flexibility and tactics. You, Brun, will select the squad leader for each of these squads and put the teams together, fortuna,” she said with a smile.

Brun thought about her words as he got up and his armour responded in turn. There had to be some trick at work here, nothing in this guild had been easy. They had to be looking for certain things to test them and fail them on. He wouldn’t be surprised if they wouldn’t be watching the entire thing from the city when they were gone. Had the test already began? He turned and faced the group, they all carried the brown marking on their left shoulder, which indicated that they were at beginners rank. He saw in their face reluctance under normal circumstances, he knew that none of them would listen to him but right now all of that changed.

He thought in his mind about how he should pair them Tank, DPS, Mage, Archer.  Another combination he thought about was Barbarian, Knight, or maybe Warrior, Rogue, Mage, or Archer. Then he realized no one seemed to fit the role of Rogue. He began mix matching the group on the formulas he came up with in his mind.

“Okay everyone, let’s get into a group where we support each other well and have good synergy. The party should consist of four defense, offence, healing, or long range.”

No one paid him much mind, as they fumbled around each other it seemed people were going to the others that they felt comfortable with. He watched that the ideas of combinations and what he mentioned wasn’t panning out. Some groups had way too many people and others too little. Some had too many mages or knights and others none at all. They were all a bunch of privileged idiots, and probably would be dead already if this was the real thing.

Brun placed his hand on his head. “It’s not right at all, everything wants reshuffling. You can’t have two mages in a group or an all mage group there is no balance.”

“This is stupid.”

“What do you expect? Our incompetent leader can’t even organize a group.”

“You’re the one that is incompetent.”

“Are we doing this right?”

“I am not going to any other group, I don’t know those people.”

“I can’t believe they put someone from the Backland to order us around, what a joke.”

He could hear their grumbles and complaints, but none of them dare question to have him exchanged with the receptionist there. It was one of the reasons he did this in front of her because he knew it was the only time they would comply with what he was saying. Arguments ensued over the groups as the smaller groups and those that weren’t balanced, argued with people who were in other groups that passed the limit.

Brun smiled as an idea came to his head instead of forcing them into groups. All he had to do was randomize it, let them draw names, and have each group be filled at random. He turned back to the reception and asked her for paper which she complied with. He then asked for all of the names and ranks of all who were present. The bickering was still going on in the background and when he was finished, he sounded his voice over it all.

Everyone will be selected at random to go into groups also the leaders will be selected from within the group or if none can’t be picked they too will be selected at random.

It took a while, but when Brun was done everyone was now in a group and things were beginning to look more organized. Everyone had a squad including Brun himself. He decided not to pick the leaders of the individual group at random and instead hand-picked these ones based on what he recalled from them in the last two months.  The leader could make or break the cohesion of the squad if they came under pressure, needed guidance, or based on their personality as well.

Each group was slightly different from each other but held lots of complimentary features and would be able to work and survive independently of the main group. Brun was proud of himself and what he had done.

“Excellent,” he heard the receptionist behind him, then a low clap. “You put them together as though you were doing this for a while now Brun, the guild is looking forward to seeing how you develop that talent of yours. Everyone passes the first trial.”

“What?” rang out across the room.

It was as he had thought this was also a test. They had been so stupid to let their guard down and not believe they would test them here too, since that had been mostly what they were getting from day one with anything that might first appear trivial. Every now and then there was a lapse in the testing to make them become more relaxed and give false confidence.

“Now then this is for you, Brun.”

Brun returned to the receptionist's desk and took an envelope from the receptionist.

“This is the list of instructions and areas that the client specified for the mission. You may review them later as---.”

The door behind them opened with a thud. “So this is the famous Ceventia Adventurers Guild.”

Brun turned to see a short man. The man was clearly not from Ceventia, but it was not the bald head that gave it away. He, like Brun, was the only one that didn’t seem so pale like snow. The man’s skin was fair resembling his own.

Was that linen?

It was clear to see that he was from the merchant class. He wore a vest over a linen shirt. Blue was his trademark colour along with that crocodile smile.

He took his time walking through the groups of adventurers inspecting them. “This is my first time using the service I hope that you would be very accommodating to me.”

The receptionist spoke, “We have made all the necessary accommodations as desired, and because this is their first time you get more than enough to accompany you around.”

“All rookies here?” he asked.

“Yes.” The receptionist replied.

“Shouldn’t there be a few with experience and the like? I do have my reservations still but that’s how the guard works, no?”

“There is no need, tasks are divided based on experience and difficulty. Since you’re contracting with the city as well, your pocket donation to them also dictates who you can get.”

“Hmmm and if they happened to fail?”

“You will be fully compensated and paid for any damages sustained.”

A smile came to his face. “That’s what I like.”

“This is Brun, he will be the one in charge of this operation.”

The man standing next to him sharp green eyes fell on him. “I see nice to meet you, Brun.”

“Nice to meet you too…” Brun paused for a moment before he remembered the name, “Mr. Piey”

“I prefer it if you called me, Tiom not a big fan of the family but need the name for work.”

“Ok, Mr. Tiom.”

“Give us one moment Mr. Tiom,” the receptionist interjected, “and then you can all be on your merry way.”

“Right, I will take a seat over there.”

Mr. Tiom took a seat in the chairs that were reserved for the adventurers. He received many stares from the groups, but he seemed to be unaware of how sacred they held the rules. The receptionist, however, paid it no mind as she whispered under breath to Brun.

“This is all of the money for the trip,” she pushed the bag over to Brun as he took it. It disappeared into his inventory. “I know it’s your first time Brun and here is my word of advice, don’t feel overwhelmed by the task. You’re not alone. They are many others with you, break up the task. I will be praying for your success. Good luck,” she said and smiled.

“Thank you.”

Brun turned around and headed towards Tiom before looking at the others.

“We are ready to move out,” Brun said.

Tiom nodded. “Great lad.”

He left the room, followed by the other adventurers leaving Brun and the receptionist. They were the last in the room. He turned his head to the crystal ball one last time.

They say it was the only way to tell someone’s level. He wondered what they would do If they knew his secret. He was not from this world.