Chapter 6.1

The proceedings after a new Freelancer’s trial, if they passed and were thus accepted into their guild of choice, were a simple affair: A good chunk of paperwork to finalize certain details and what not, a rundown of simple operations, and other simple info. Formalities really, but necessary ones.

Syr felt rather luck than that the one she was going through all of this with happened to be Meli.

“Alrighty then…” the goblin fiddled with a toothpick as she started setting papers on the table between her and Syr.

The two were currently seated in a quiet office away from the main floor, set on the eastern wing of the building. Had to make sure they could go over everything with some quiet and peace of mind after all.

“Formalities are somethin’ of an annoyance, but I’m sure ye’ know the deal,” Meli stated, Syr chuckling as she started looking over the papers, bouncing the provided pen atop her knuckle.

“Well let’s just say paperwork goes hand-in-hand with being a college graduate.”

“HAH! I imagine. Now, le’s go o’er some o’ the basics…” Meli cleared her throat as she flicked a sheet out. “As a Freelancer under th’ Guild Association, ya’ get a number ah’ benefits and special access to goods an’ services around the city. For one, basic access ta’ commodities such as a livin’ space and food within the Guild Hall itself… yada yada, things I’m sure you can intuit.”

“About the living spaces. Is it like the inn rooms in this building itself or…?”

“We got a connected building next door that serves as an apartment complex for the Freelancers who wanna live close to the Hall,” said the Keeper. “Rents a lot cheaper thanks ta’ being a Guild member, an’ being so close means ya’ ain’t wastin’ time goin’ from ‘ere to the ‘burbs and back. Or whatever other part o’ the city ya’ livin’ in. But it ain’t for everyone.”

“Got it…” Syr nodded while she read the appropriate paper that detailed things like various floor plans of the rooms available in said affiliated building, plus other recommendations for nearby living spaces for those who wanted other amenities. “For now, a place with the Hall is probably my best option.”

“Can arrange that later,” Meli hopped from the couch and went over to the desk, grabbing a metallic box and returning, dropping the containing to the table. “And this here is some standard stuff every newbie gets.”

Opening the box, Meli revealed a row of Decks, plucking one of the devices and closing the container. The goblin flipped the item around, handing it to Syr with an easy motion.

“Not very flashy this one, huh?” Syr turned the deck over in her hands, taking notes on the device. Soren’s had been far more personalized as she could tell, meaning this was a basic model without any added flair. Its rectangular body was a simple shade of light grey, the casing sturdy looking but not too bulky. And on the back of the case was the emblem for the Amber Dawn, a stylized sun emblem flanked by a dragon’s wings.

“Ah don’ worry, you’ll get to personalize it as ya’ please. I’m assumin’ ya’ ain’t too familiar with Decks though, considering ye’ Vaniran Alfs ain’t got much use for ‘em back in your tree cities. Want a rundown?”

“If you’d be so kind.”

“… almost wish that had Manas do this,” Meli’s griping earned an amused chuckle from Syr. The goblin cleared her throat again. “Decks have been in use for… eh about the last decade or so. A magitech innovation that’s replaced older telecommunications methods. Like a lot of stuff, they came about from reverse engineering Ascian tech some people dug out of old ruins, one of the few things we’ve been able to replicate to some degree of efficiency.”

“I did think they were a bit familiar looking,” Syr noted, a hand to her chin. “The College keeps some Ascian relics on display. I think the ones used for these were called Scrolls, if I recall. Hehe, funny that these devices are named for things like old parchments or stacks of cards.”

“Designers have senses of humor like that,” Meli sniggered. “Anyway, the things are mighty convenient. Ya’ probably saw how Soren used ‘is when ya’ arrived. A Deck can store all kinds of data, and any place fit for networking them has all kinds of services they can be used for. Updating a town map with the latest information, downloading job data in a Guild Hall to keep it on hand, or access to that fancy ass digital network and what not.”

“I think I also saw Soren use his to flash an ID at an officer.”

“That’s a feature models used in businesses like ours have worked in,” Meli then produced her own device, a quick tap flashing up an ID screen at the front. “Having proper identification is pretty necessary in an age like ours, plus if something goes wrong, well… least we’ll know who it belonged to if we can’t find ‘em.”

“… wonderful,” Syr’s dry concern got a snicker from the Keeper.

“Well, ya’ gotta be able t’find people if they go missin’, don’t ya? Freelancer model Decks have features like that too, like an SOS signal that’ll tap anything in its range so the owner can be found if they say… get too deep into a Frontier and need to be pulled out or somethin’. The usual dangers and all that.”

“Well… that makes sense,” Syr shut her eyes and folded her arms, giving a long hum. Freelancers do undertake dangerous work… it’s only reasonable they’d have some method to keep track of each other if thing’s went awry… still, doing it through means like this, it’s interesting. A lot different than what I’m used to from my studies in the College, she thought.

“Once we’re done here, I’ll help you get the Deck set up with everything you need. After that, any other apps and even the case is all up to you. Now, for the most important part of this discussion: Freelancer Ranks.”

Meli chuckled as Syr’s ears twitched, the Alf perking up immediately.

“It’s a thing they don’t go into during the vetting process, better explained afterwards,” the goblin shifted the papers around, grabbing another sheet. “Long version or short version?”

“Long version, please.”

“… of course,” Meli clicked her tongue. Clearly not the version she preferred. “Alright then. To start with it, being a Freelancer doesn’t mean you can just pick any job from the board and go running off to do Concepts know what in some corner of the continent. For that reason, Freelancers are assigned a Rank that dictates what kind of jobs they’re allowed to take, and their resulting compensation for it. Part of the reason the exams, written and combat, are done is so your initial rank can be determined.”

“People have mentioned things like that. Soren’s what you call a High Rank, right?”

“Yep. There be three levels of rankings that Freelancers are placed in,” Meli lifted three fingers in turn as she continued speaking. “The first level is th’ Low Rank. These are your new Freelancers, ones who jus’ came off o’ their tests or are jus’ getting their boots dirty. LRs, for short. They make up the bulk of the Freelancers you’re bound ta meet. Second is th’ High Rank, which is where th’ experienced veterans go. Though you get cases like Soren and Sellen who’ve only been at it for a few years and get there off their exceptional talents and the records that follow.”

“And how do the ranks work?”

“Each level, aside from th’ third one, is divided into ten levels going on the ordinal scale,” Meli set the paper she was holding down, showing Syr a chart of numbers on it. “Basically, a newbie who comes off o’ their tests passing with the bare minimum will start off here, at the lowest spot, Low Rank 10, or LR10. Bottom of the rung and what not, and the jobs they get are… well, not th’ most excitin’ or dangerous kind. But ones that need doing.”

“I see…” Syr hummed. “So, you follow the scale up from 10 to 1, and you gain the recognition by the Guild to be trusted with more dangerous jobs.”

“Yeap. Your Rank is gonna end up being a decent reflection of your overall experience, and when it comes ta’ things, there isn’t much of a difference between spots like LR1 and HR10. But, being put into High Rank is more than just say…. Heh, being talented at what ya’ do. Ya’ gotta make it clear y’ve earned the right to get to that level. Nobody starts as an HR.”

“Well, I wasn’t expecting my experiences from the College to go giving me any special treatment now.”

“Smart lass. Savin’ the formality, since you did such a good job impressin’ the High Rankers during your exam, you’re one o’ the lucky ones who gets to start out higher than th’ norm. Once you’re all registered, you’ll be able to take on jobs authorized up to Low Rank 2.”

“Not 1?” Meli snickered as Syr’s ears drooped in the slightest showing of disappointment.

“Hehehe, go’a prove yourself a bit more first, Syr. The folks here know wha’ ya’ can do, so now ya’ go’a prove yourself like all the rest ‘ave. So… le’s say I’m wishing ya’ luck to get there quickly and see wha’ you’ll do, ‘kay lassy?”

“Hehe, then I hope I can do it soon enough,” Syr mused. “And… what about the third kind of rank?”

“Hehehe,” Meli gave the Alf a toothy, mischievous grin. “Those, Miss Alf, are the Grand Ranks. The genuine heroes o’ the world. Freelancers like none other who’ve accomplished feats martial and scholarly that not a soul hasn’ heard of.”

“… like Nuada Pendragon,” hummed the Alf, a small smile coming to her face. And like my brother, thought she. “Well then, I suppose I have a ways to go, don’t I?”

“Oh, and I hope ta’ see how far ya’ go,” the goblin snickered yet again. “Welcome to the Amber Dawn. May your fortunes be plenty, and your luck brilliant.”

“I’ll be sure not to let anyone down.”