Waking To Dragons And Elves 12 Claws Or Talons 1

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Language improved: Necin

Resulting grade: Unskilled [5]

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The notifications mean nothing to me yet, but I do know it has become a lot easier now to understand the intent behind what people are saying. Before it was like talking to a brick wall, now it is talking to a brick wall with a face glued on.

This boost happened in the middle of me listening into conversation around the hall while trying to act less suspicious in my well made clothes. I make a mental note about getting some 'worse looking' clothes so I stand out less.

Besides learning a bit about the order of party ranks, which will help me once the groups arrive for my interview later, I also saw a fight go on and it helped me get an idea for what some of the party ranks represent.

The lowest as I had expected is Copper, these guys almost always take the boring 'carry objects through town' quests. I make a mental note they are generally good at labour while not always being trustworthy.

Apparently bronze is next, which made me wonder about the lack of a tin rank, bronze ranks usually collect herbs from nearby, well trodden paths. So I group them together with those crazy herbalists back home who would buy their own mortar and pestle to process the random leaves they found into a powder.

Iron and Steel ranks seem to be the guys who learn to fight monsters, although what other monsters there are I'm unsure of yet. It seems many parties stop at Iron rank as many are part of a Tier 1 guild limiting their rank unless they move to a better ranked guild. From what they talk about, Iron rank seem to be people who could fight against trainee martial artists and Steel might be able to beat some of the better martial artists I've seen on TV. Adding in their special skills I saw one person demonstrate to his friends, their fighting power seems better than the people in our country who fight for sports.

Steel and Silver ranks are found at Tier 2 guilds like this one I'm in, apparently the name of the guild is Roaring Brigade.

The ranks above that are limited to guilds graded Tier 3 and higher up to Tier 5, but besides hearing the ranks of Gold, Platinum and Diamond, I have no way of knowing their strength.

Loreena walks over in the afternoon to inform me that the parties have been gathered and are waiting my approval, so I wake up Elyn and hand her a snack as we head to one of the training yards.

We are greeted by parties comprising mostly of men, with a few women who seem dressed up as archers and one who looks like a different version of a medic with a few bags full of thing like bandages and what look like better made poultices than I was ever given.

"Group up!" Loreena shouts in their direction, causing the few who were asleep to wake up quite quickly. I mentally make a note of which groups they go to and remove a few points on alertness.

Suddenly a group runs in to the courtyard to mine and Loreenas amazement as they line up at the end in their own group.

"Sorry we were late, we only just managed to rank up and they said there was an important long term travelling job for a merchant taking place in a few minutes, I hope it is fine if we also join as we were also recommended to partic.i.p.ate by the counter."

I reply with a nod as I inspect the group of 5 who entered last, 3 girls and 2 guys. One of the girls even carrying a shield larger than Elyn. The two other girls, one with a bow and the other with some medical supplies look like the typical support roles of a party. The girl with the bow having short brown hair, as seemingly custom for all the people using bows who are standing in front of me. While the medic girl dressed in what seems to be a thin 'combat robe' which stops around her knees as if to still give movement while providing protection seems to be muttering as she catches her breath.

"Now since everything seems to be in order, I would like each party to introduce themselves to this Sir while stating their party name and rank. Later we will have some demonstrations if required by sir to test your capabilities, as long as you try hard the guild will refund the time you spent here if you are not hired."

"Actually I don't think that is needed for a few of the parties." Pointing at a few of them, including the one who arrived late, "I don't think any of these parties are suited to my needs, if I need to explain why I'd be happy to."