Chapter 85: Sunken Reef problems

A Charlatan, A Necromancer and A Paladin walk into a mead on the outskirts of Pike. Tenrou, the Charlatan is the leader of this ragtag three-man Sunken Reef team. The Charlatan is a mix of a bard and rogue. His advanced class is good at command and control amongst other things. Tenrou has pulled his classmates into Odyssey with him and by extension. They are following his lead which has also lead them into Sunken Reef. A new guild making the rounds on the forums for its unorthodox members and unique requirements for its members.  The main division that exists is only between Lifestyle players and Adventure Players other than that as far as Tenrou can tell this guild is ripe for the picking. 

The Necromancer Gregor, with his long black hair, think dark skin and tan leather brown eyes sips on a steaming hot mug of an unpalatable clear white broth served at the One-eyed Imp. The Pub caters to most classes serving all kinds of meals that other establishments find distasteful. Gregor found this place because every necromancer player in Pike is complaining about not being able to enjoy the food. The transformation on a necromancer robbed him of most of his senses now only magical attuned food like Lingering Death Broth and Corroding Juice have any effect on his senses. Gregor is also conflicted about joining Sunken Reef. While some players find him detestable for being a necromancer his advanced class is not the only one. There are Liches, Plaguers, and, Abominations all these advanced classes deform and transform the body along the undead route. A route he already knows is distinctly different from Unlife.

Tenrou fixing up his Charlatan garb shovels shirts and thinly plated leather into place. Tenrou with his hand down his pants says, “Guys I’m serious we can make it big.” 

Kaya says, “Right just like in Opon.” Kaya is probably the most normal-looking person here being a paladin she not only keeps all her human features. She even has the most pristine-looking armour as a member of the Supreme church she has to maintain a strict standard. Her rank in the church is only an initiate. The church expects her to contribute through offering a tithe in the form of experience and recruiting new members.

Tenrou plumps into his chair and says, “That wasn’t my fault. Gregor help me out here mate.” Tenrou shakes his head waving down a bar wench who starts to make her way towards the odd trio. Cries and whistles as the salacious gazes of the other patrons in the One-Eyed Imp. Gregor pulls himself away from his lifeless white broth and says. 

“Just get on with it. We are in a new game Kaya, new lives stop bringing up the past like a causal.” Gregor is a larper as such he is fully invested in his new identity. He even spent most of level one to six time helping an elderly woman who has now adopted him as her son. Even his choice of going into the necromancer class. Plays into his role as the grieving younger brother left alone in a cruel world with only his mother. According to the elderly woman who is his in-game mother. His sister and father disappeared under very mysterious circumstances. The only clue he has to go on is the Necromonicon which belonged to his father. 

Kaya says, “I’m not a dirty causal take that back you!” She pouts folding her arms at the insult. Gregor bemoans the fact that she is wearing this paladin heavy armour other he might have been able to see it all. It’s probably the only thing he misses about the old game. The legacy or so-called traditional outfits for women. Kaya is after all the most beautiful woman he knows. If Tenrou didn’t tell him she was coming he would have probably continued his investigation into why the authorities are not investigating the disappearance of his family. 

Tenrou says, “It does not matter. Are you guys in or what?” He has of course cooked up another one of his hair-brained schemes to try to get rich quick. One of the easiest methods is to join a guild that is new and without any backing. As long as he stays loyal he can probably take advantage of the leaders and earn a pretty buck along the way. As the guild expands he can climb the ladder by being an early adopter. 

Gregor says, “Sure!” Without an in-game reason, he won’t use Tenrou’s past as a judgement factor if anything. Gregor will try to incorporate what is happening into his own story. At least the Sunken Reef leaders have that going for them. They are not content to follow the simple quests. When he joined the guild the beginner’s guide forgoes all the new tutorial missions in favour of a more traditional approach. This lore intensive method appeals to him a lot. Though the rank 0 dungeons were unusually tough he is more than happy to play along. His learning is quite steep, unlike the other team members he is still building his Avatar. His class has three distinct paths to take in order to grow in power. He has forgone the path of power and the path of life for the path of vengeance. Once he collects the organs that he needs he will be able to meld them together into an Avatar of Vengence which has a number of unique advantages. 

Kays still a little butt hurt says, “How exactly our team is not meant to work together.” Kaya as a member of the Supreme should rightfully detain both of her friends one is a known Charlatan which means a thief and con artist at the very least and the other deals with magic that should only be used by the Supreme being herself. 

Gregor nods while he is neutral for now. At some point, a mission or something may force him on the good or bad path. 

Tenrou says, “So what we can win just on our skills alone.” Tenrou has always been an ideas guy. If he had done his research on his friends advance classes he would know that without an internal psionic user like the advanced class Disruptor. Their natural energies will clash and cause them to fight in a reduced manner. Each of their classes acts to negate the strength of the other. Alongside the three-man limit set for newcomers by SKY Ocean Hunter. If they stick together they will have an exponentially more difficult time. In a guild that is already under threat from a multitude of seen and unseen enemies. 

Kaya says, “It’s not that easy, I have duties I need to attend to.” Being an initiate is both a burden and a responsibility that she is more than willing to fulfil. Unlike the Adventure Association which is obsessed with personal strength or The Merchant Guild which is are zealots of wealth and profiteering. The Supreme Church is an institute dedicated to the people. Most shrines and chapels are places the NPC and players can learn and get help for free. 

Tenrou says, “look ok just this let’s try for an hour and then you guys can decide.”  Both of his teammates look blankly at one another. Gregor gulps down his broth feeling refreshed for the first time in a while. His features looking a little more lively he begrudgingly nods. A wave of dark grey energy transforms. 

Kaya also nods repulsed by the Necromonicon the waves of energy coming off that book unsettle her. Tenrou to the bar wench, “we will be back in an hour please save our places.” He hands her most of his copper coins. His Charlatan skill [Swift Hands] allows him to pickpocket a lot of unsuspecting people. 

An hour later after

The haggard-looking Tenrou slips back into the One-Eyed Imp. Filled with defeat he walks head slumped towards his old table. Sitting down the lovely looking bar wench brings him a bright red bottle of wine. He drinks straight from the bottle. The idea he had has already been crushed. From the moment they stepped out of the One-eyed imp disaster waited around every corner. First, as the leader, he couldn’t even afford to buy his team some potions and basic necessities. Being members of the guild they are being forced to pay exorbitant prices for goods. And when he messaged Sweatshirt his team handler in the guild. Tenrou was told he should learn to live with it.

Unable to have the necessary provision he insisted they push on. Outside the North Gate, they were ambushed by a violent team of ten players. Each of those players was violent hard-hitting. They were swarmed too quickly to mount a defence. Further frustration is the guild position of the players attaching the guild. The new players are meant to use them as a learning experience and push for level fifteen and make their way to Red Iron Island. Tenrou doesn’t understand why the leaders’ arent handling these players. Many new players have already left the guild at being constantly ganked by random players. 

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep