As they walk through the forest and back to the guild, the team begins to talk about how they need to level up and get better at their skills. "Ok, Team." Corvus said, "I have a game plan. I've been studying this guild and because of the last escort mission with The Duke, You're now both now about to be C rank. One more good mission and you could be promoted. This might qualify. I've noticed that promotions go off; how many quests you do, how well you do them as long as your success rate on them, Handling difficult or unexpected situations, Skill Proficiency, Leadership potential for the higher levels like A or S Ranks. Members who actively contribute to the guild's well-being, mentor lower-ranked members, ect, how long you've been a member and for some ranks, a formal evaluation with written, practical and simulated mission skills." Aria and Blake listen intently as Corvus continues and they start to return to the guild.
"Beginner level members are F or E Drank, Newly joined members, often undertaking very basic tasks and training. D Rank members often get promoted after completing a few introductory missions and demonstrating basic competency. C Rank promotions require successfully completing a set number of D-rank missions and showing improved skills. Then there's B Rank. This typically requires a significant number of successful C-rank missions, demonstrating proficiency in their chosen roles, and showing leadership potential. A Rank is often reserved for highly skilled and experienced adventurers who have consistently excelled on B-rank missions and demonstrated leadership qualities. S Rank members are the Elite. The second to highest rank, usually held by a select few who have achieved exceptional feats, possess extraordinary skills, and are often vital to the guild's operations and reputation. Promotion to S rank might involve legendary accomplishments or recognition from the guild leadership. All of this is accompanied by what I said prior about how you're promoted to each level. Some skills are just more required for the desired promotion level."
"Makes sense but we've been with the guild for several years now and completed low rank missions successfully and yet we're still only D Rank," Aria Pointed out. Corvus mischievously smiled. "I've got a plan for that. The bandits we encountered were C or B level bandits, if not higher. In addition, we went into Black Dragon territory which is meant for an S Rank members or higher. We completed the mission. Thus we've gained a bit of a positive reputation so far. This can fast track you for a promotion if you play your cards right. You have to prove that doing that quest wasn't just a fluke. That you can actually handle those types of quests. This quest was low level. We'll be allowed to choose any level, partly because I'm with you as an S Rank member. We need to train you up so you can handle the harder quests." Corvus stated.
"That's true that we can take on any level but how do we train up for a higher rank better than we have been?" Blake asked. "Right now, you're skinny and wimpy physically -" Corvus started, "HEY!" Aria and Blake yelled. "You didn't let me finish. So, if you start out at about ten basic D Rank missions until they seem easy that have some confrontation and then try out for C Rank missions, you'd need about twenty or more to train up your skills. We'll do each level until it comes naturally. Blake, you're a panther and Aria, you're a lioness so let's use those to our benefit! Aria, you rock with a sword but your skills in other areas other than your skills for tracking magical signatures, lack. Blake, you're exceptional at tracking but your magic is weak, your non hand to hand combat skills suck and you overall need to work on everything." Aria and Blake look disheartened. "BUT HEY! WE'VE GOT THIS! I know you can do this! First, what's our team name?"
"Team name?" Aria and Blake asked. "Yeah, what people call our party." They all start to ponder names. "The storm bringers," Blake said with bloodlust. "No." Aria and Corvus said, immediately shutting it down. "The Dragon scale crew? To honor your lineage, Corvus?" Aria suggested. "Or the Raven's Shadow since Corvus Sylvani is Latin for Raven of the woods?" Corvus asked. "The Dragon Scaled Shadow?" Blake suggested as a compromise. "What about The Dragon's Shadow?" Corvus said ominously. Aria and Blake loved it, "Yeah!" They said, "Then it's decided. Our party of three is now known as The Dragon's Shadow!" Corvus stated confidently.
"Next order of business-" Corvus started but then was interrupted when a guard to enter Emberfall asked for their papers. We said we were from the guild, showing our guild cards. They immediately let us in and we headed to the guild. Upon entering, we went straight to the desk and presented Sunny with our proof of completing the quest. She congratulated us and we gave her the small fee the guild takes for each mission completed. "We'd like to register as an official party please, do we have enough people?" Corvus said. "Ok, just fill out this paperwork. Although it's recommended that you have a party of five to seven members, your party can have as little as one to three members." She replied. Corvus finished the paperwork and Sunny marked it with the official guild stamp.
"Congratulations, you're officially the…" She checked the party name, "Dragon's Shadow… Party…?" "Yep!" Aria said, "Since our first mission was around Shadowfell, it felt fitting." "Ah, I see. Makes sense." Sunny replied. "Any good D Rank missions that might help Aria and Blake level up? We're trying to get stronger as a team since we're a new party." Corvus explained. "Makes sense, You're in luck. We just posted some new quests! Let me see…" Sunny looked through her records. "Ah ha! Here it is… There's nine new quests that came through. A local farm in Willow Creek, they reported boars attacking and threatening their livestock. They're requesting that you find and kill the boars responsible. The second quest is involving giant insects, The Old Mill in Stoney Ridge is being attacked again by large centipedes and various stinging insects. They need the milk to be safely cleared out."
Sunny continues to look for the specifically D Ranker missions. "Oh here's another, Sunny Meadow Trails is being made unsafe by a mountain lion. It needs to be driven off and killed if it is found to be too dangerous… That's it for aggressive wildlife but I have some monster encounters!" "Yes please, tell us more!" Blake said excitedly. "Let's see here… a small group of goblins are harassing travelers in Havenwood Valley on a nearby road as well as local farms. The mission is to deter or eliminate them. I don't know about giving you this next one…" Sunny said, finishing the sentence with great hesitation in her voice. Blake was more excited than ever that her face lit up, " TELL US MORE!" "Ok fine, A new handful of three undead have risen, skeletons, zombies and the like. They're stirring up trouble in The Old Graveyard. They're threatening the population and need to be put back to rest." Sunny answered. "What about the necromancer who raised them?" Corvus inquired. "That's a B or A Rank. You asked for D so that's a very different section altogether. We don't know much about him, just that he's raising the undead. This one's said to be pretty weak but there are reports of them getting more and more powerful." Sunny said in response.
"Now back to it." She said, eagerly changing the topic "There's been a minor issue at the mage's academy about inanimate objects becoming hostile? As with everything else, subdued and eliminated please. Next I have low threat humans. Petty thieves and bandits along these roads here" She showed on a map, "Harassing travelers and they've hired us to stop or kill them. Local disruptive and rowdy drunks, and lastly illegal poachers in Green Valley. Which would you like?" Corvus then gave a look that gave everyone chills, "We'll take them all." "I think I misheard… did you say you want all of them?" Sunny confirmed. Corvus replied, "Yes, as a matter of fact I did. I'm an S Rank and these all seem pretty easy. It'll be great training for these two and we can get them all done quickly." Surprised but a hearing to Corvus's sound logic, she stamped all nine of the papers and wished us luck.
"Hey Corvus? Was that really a good idea to take on so much at once?" Blake anxiously asked. "Of course! It'll be great training! Now, which should we do first? The drinks we can deal with now on our way out. We're supposed to talk them out of causing trouble. The Bandits and Thieves we've been hired for so we need to do that first I think and then work on the aggressive wildlife and undead. Sounds good?" Corvus asked. "I guess so, if you're sure…" Blake responded. Aria just looked confident and her face said "Let's do this!"