Chapter 37: A Guild of Adventurers

Drake left the library, his mind buzzing with the information he had gathered. The Voidwatch, with their expertise in interdimensional matters, seemed like his best bet for understanding the chaotic rift and the Voidlands. But the journey north would be long and dangerous, and he needed resources and information.

He decided to visit the Adventurers' Guild. He had seen its sign in Oakhaven, a stylized sword crossed with a compass, but hadn't paid it much attention before. Now, it seemed like the perfect place to find leads, earn some coin, and perhaps even find companions for his journey north.

The Adventurers' Guildhall was a large, bustling building, even more lively than the Merchant's Guild. The main hall was filled with adventurers of all shapes and sizes: heavily armored warriors, nimble rogues, robed mages, and even a few bards strumming their lutes. The air was thick with the smell of sweat, leather, and ale.

Drake approached the front desk, where a stern-looking woman with short, grey hair sat behind a large ledger.

"Name and business?" she asked, her voice sharp and efficient.

"Drake," he replied. "I'm interested in joining the Guild."

The woman raised an eyebrow, sizing him up. "Experience?"

"Let's just say I've had a few… interesting encounters recently," Drake replied with a grin. "Goblins, magical creatures, even a brief trip to another dimension."

The woman's eyes widened slightly. "Another dimension?" she repeated. "That's… unusual."

She gestured to a nearby table. "Fill out this form," she said, handing him a piece of parchment and a quill. "And then we'll see if you're suitable for membership."

Drake filled out the form, providing a (slightly embellished) account of his recent adventures. He then handed the form back to the woman.

She scanned the form quickly, her eyes widening again at some of the details. "Voidlands, you say?" she muttered. "Very well. Wait here."

She disappeared through a door behind the desk, returning a few minutes later with a tall, muscular man with a neatly trimmed beard. He wore a suit of polished armor and carried a large warhammer at his side.

"You're Drake?" the man asked, his voice booming.

"That's the name they gave me," Drake replied.

"I am Gareth, the Guildmaster," the man said, extending a hand. "I've read your application. Your… experiences are certainly… unique."

Drake shook Gareth's hand, noting the man's firm grip. "Unique is one word for it," he said. "Chaotic is another."

Gareth chuckled. "I appreciate a bit of chaos," he said. "The Guild could use some fresh blood. Especially someone with your… talents."

He gestured to a large notice board that was covered in various quests and requests. "These are our current postings," he said. "Take a look. See if anything catches your eye."

Drake approached the notice board, scanning the various postings. There were quests for hunting monsters, retrieving lost artifacts, escorting caravans, and even delivering messages.

One posting caught his eye:

* **Urgent: Investigate Strange Magical Activity in the Shadowfen. Reward: 1000 Gold Coins.**

"The Shadowfen," Drake muttered. "That sounds… interesting."

"It's a dangerous place," Gareth said, approaching Drake. "A swamp filled with strange creatures and powerful magic. But the reward is substantial."

"1000 gold coins?" Drake repeated. "That's certainly tempting. What kind of 'strange magical activity' are we talking about?"

"Reports of unusual energy fluctuations, strange lights, and… disappearances," Gareth replied. "Local villagers have been going missing, and they suspect something sinister is at work."

Drake grinned. "Disappearances, strange lights, sinister activity… sounds like my kind of party," he said. "I'll take it."

Gareth nodded. "Excellent," he said. "Then you are officially a member of the Adventurers' Guild. Good luck, Drake. And try not to cause too much trouble."

"Where's the fun in that?" Drake retorted with a wink.