Road To Knighthood
1701 Words
Thursday, 8th September 1442
A few days ago, the engineers who were constructing the Adventurers Guild had come by to report that the building was finally completed.
It would able to fit and hold a laden weight of 30 men on the upper floor without any problems which were equivalent to about 5,400 pounds approximately.
It seemed they had 30 men once again stomping around and making sure the building on the upper floor stays up...!
After the engineers had gone away after I had inspected the building and ensuring the emblem of the Adventurers Guild was shown prominently outside at the arch of the rooftop, along with our flag of colours and also the Adventurers flag, I had the place closed up before officially launching it.
It was a Thursday, 8th of September when we finally decided to open the Adventurers Guild as the sewers had worked tirelessly to prepare the Adventurers clothing and also had Michelle and Gwen to properly briefed in the tasks at hand.
Eagle had already completed the 8 decrees where I had placed my signature and seal beside it. The decrees were then rolled up and had a red ribbon tied around it which allows only certain people to unfurl and read it.
As Heather was there to get ready to cut the big ribbon to commence the operations of the Adventurers Guild, Anastasia stood on standby as I would say a few words to the excited faces of the Adventurers and community that had gathered there today.
The twins were being held by the helpers as they were bounding about in their arms and clapping their hands even before their mummy had performed the cutting of the huge red ribbon before the main entrance.
The Adventurers Guild need no entrance since the huge doorway would be always open for the adventurers to find out any new tasks that would be handed over.
If not, they would inform Ben, the Minister for Trade and Manpower, of their deployment to work around the town instead of waiting for something to do.
Since this week was the beginning of Autumn, there would be about three months time for the community to be involved in more hunting games where their contribution would be paid as well as the cold storages would be well stocked up for winter.
Marcel who had just returned from his outstation around Flamborough had finally returned and he looked like he had added quite a tan to himself as he was always near the coastlines as he monitored the fishing vessels coming in and was counting the hauls every rime the vessels docked.
He had received our message of not getting in more crabs and he instead had brought in more other types shellfishes and had struck off crabs from the list. Besides, he felt bad since he had missed the boodle fight and decided to enact his own when he got back to Gracehaven. Hahaha.
When he had designed his own boodle fight that consisted of steamed rice on a banana leaf which was surrounded by at least 5 dishes of fish, meat and poultry, he called it a sumptuous platter instead since the meal before him was actually designed to be for a single person.
In fact, the meal was meant for 4 people...!
When Heather had cut the huge red ribbon before the Adventurers Guild, everyone clapped their hands as I announce the guild to be open.
"Remember, please take careful notes of what you need to do after you had taken your tasks. It's a two-star ranking so it's considered as medium difficulty."
"Once the tasks had been issued, there would be others that would be issued out in days to come. We would need Priest Earl to give some accounts on them before we release the tasks."
I explained to the adventurers that had gathered there to ensure that they would not be fighting over the tasks at hand. Besides, if they missed this one, there would be others to take note of.
The most important thing is to churn out these tasks regularly so at least the Guild would serve its main purpose to its members and never disappoint them.
The excited faces soon began to file in and sat at the benches inside the main hall of the Adventurers Guild as they had already made prior registration with Gwen and Michelle. For those who came late for their registration, slowly streamed in to give their particulars as well as their main jobs for record purposes.
I watched the whole process together with Heather and the twins as we walked inside and observed that there was plenty of openings for windows but had metal grilles to protect the Guild from unauthorised access except the main entrance.
Seated before us was expectant faces of Adventurers who would begin their virgin journey out to the towns with the decrees in their hands.
As for those who had registered earlier, Gwen had begun her ballots and pulled out the names of the leaders as 8 groups of 4 adventures began to file and approach the front desk.
"I have to this once and would not repeat myself. Here is a list of cities, towns and villages that you would give a miss. For those cities, towns, villages and even settlements, you may approach them and entice them to come over to our town for resettlement."
"Remember, the keyword would be plenty of work and also remunerations to be paid out monthly. A minimum rate of 6 to 10 silver coins would be paid out monthly according to professions available here."
"You may also add in accommodation and meals provided for the workers as well. As for towns they had Lord's residing in them, please approach them tactfully since you all represent our town as ambassadors."
"These Lord's would be piqued to find you all decked out in fine Adventurers uniform and as ambassadors, His Majesty words are also your words."
"Present the decree to them and offer them a chance to free those serfs to our town as we need to rally up the necessary manpower to build this town into a more prosperous and flourishing one."
"You only have one decree so please remember to take it back once the Lord's had read them and tell them our coordinates here so the Lords would be able to send the serfs here themselves and collect the 'bounty' personally."
"On top of that, for your information, we would be offering our grains and produce to them, so in a way, you are also helping the economy of this town. Once you had returned here, remember to state the names of the town you had visited so we would reward you accordingly."
"This task is a two stars ranking and its deemed as medium difficulty. With whatever you have right now, it's up to you to go ahead and survive on your own and furthermore you are not alone since you would be travelling in a petty of four."
"You will equip yourself with bow and arrows as well as a melee weapon. Please bear in mind that you are to retreat back here immediately if you encounter problems along the way. Do not engage unknown enemies on your own since there would be no one to save your skin afterwards."
"Do you understand what I am trying to relay to you all?"
Gwen was rather fierce and steadfast when she announces this to the Adventurers that had been balloted as well as others who were listening in. They knew that there would be left to their own devices and also exposed to the elements when they were out there in the open.
Survival was the key and sensibility also plays a part. No one wanted to come back injured and also these Adventurers also acted as scouts since our own Shadow scouts would only venture and station themselves not more than 2 miles away from the base.
As for these Adventurers, even if they complete this tsks in half a month and the people from the towns, villages and settlements had arrived before the adventurers return, Gwen and Michelle would take note of those folks from which town they hailed from.
This acted as proof that when the adventurers return, they would report first on which towns they had visited and compared to Gwen's and Michelle's report. It would be counter checked against the records and the adventurers would be paid accordingly.
Even if a single-family from any settlers had arrived in this town, it would be deemed as an achievement.
The only thing left would be for the Lords to decide if they would release their serfs to us or not and hopes to pull in the peasants would also be considered since they would be moving from one place to another to find employment. They were not bound to the Lords, unlike the serfs.
After Gwen had asserted herself to the 32 adventurers of the importance of the task at hand and queries raised by the adventurers had been answered, the latter then filed out after discussing which direction they would take next.
Armed with their hunting bow and a quiver at their sides along with a short sword dangling at their waists, these 32 adventurers, each a carried a small knapsack that carried several essentials such as boiling pot to make their drinks or meals, some small sacks of grains, condiments and other whatnot for their adventure out of town.
As they checked their essentials and bought some more from the grocery store, their families bade farewell and good luck to those who had taken the first steps in serving the Royal household and town.
Some cried while some were anxious since this would be the first time in some many months and years that their children would be leaving them in the name of Gracehaven's ambassadors.
Deep down in the parent's hearts, they felt proud because they would be carrying His Majesty words with them and to the parents, they felt that it was a step closer to knighthood.
Frankly speaking, that's really what I had in mind.
- Writer
