Meeting at the Forge [Private Thread]

[Pyre]

Pyre walked into the open air workshop early that morning with a look towards the dark cold forge. A small smile crossed his lips as he thought of the work that this forge would see accomplished. Dawning a heavy apron that hung from the wall he walked over and started to pile wood into the bottom of the forge before attempting to light it up. It had been nearly a week since he aquired the use of this forge from it's original owner, a lander name Christopher. Already the other Landers knew his name as a place to bring broken farm equipment and the such for repairs; Pyre smiled as he looked at a stack of work that already awaited him for the coming day.

Things sure have changed since I first came here, to think when I first started playing this game I didn't think I would be trapped here. His thoughts turned dark as he grabbed the bellows from the wall and crouched down infront of the forge and started to pump air slow and steady under the flames. The orange flames turne to blue as they grew higher and hotter. Leaving the fire to turn the fresh wood into coals Pyre stood up and looked around his empty shop.

Opening up his friends list from the menu he scrolled through it and found Valanthe name and typed up a quick message saying that he needed someone to talk to and told her where he could be found. After hitting send Pyre grabbed a broom from the wall and started to sweep the dirt and metal shavings from the floor and out into the street where the wind could carry them away. Why am I sad to miss the world I left behind? A world I couldn't even walk around in without help were carrying something bigger than a book was a full on task?

With a glance skyward Pyre's frown deepend, toay looked as if it was going to rain just like it had on his first day in this new world. I won't miss it...no more...today is a day for the old to be forgotten.

(General - 359 Words)

[bunji]

The streets of London, ruins is more like it these things were not in anyway flattering like the real London it was more like a war zone yet many had settled here, from shop owned by the Landers to those run by players with the skills for it. Which made him wonder if he should invest the time, and money into making some gold off of tailoring skill, yet the idea was soon waved off as he shook his head "Nah...I don't have the patience, nor the know how to pull that off" he said to himself with a soft chuckle as he walked along making his way to a newly opened forge. He had heard recently from a few adventurers he was questing with, about this new blacksmith in town the guy had a unique name, Pyre, Bunji figured he was one hell of a smith if those veteran guys where jabbering about him so much, he finally spotted the forge belonging to the well know Pyre.

With his katana at his hip he would step into the territory that was the inside of the forge he was instantly welcomed by the sight of a brand new looking place, the details of his surroundings, the smell, it was leading to a forge. He had been to many forges in the past, but never one as simple or clean as this one the Fox Tailed samurai would find himself standing in the open air forge, rather enjoying the fresh air that swept in from time to time. Noticing a man in the forge he would raise a hand to wave at him, perhaps he was a customer too? "Excuse me, do you know where the blacksmith is? Pyre I believe is his name" he said hoping the man would have some significant information on the whereabouts of the smith.

WC: 309

[Pyre]

Pyre put on a friendly smile as the voice of a stranger broke him away from his depressing thoughts, when he turned to look at the young man who spoke he was surprised to see a fox tail in samurai armor standing before him.

“Do you know where the blacksmith is? Pyre I believe his name is?” The man obviously had not taken a glance as his public information on the interface, not that doing so wasn't polite just a little unnerving when a stranger called you by name. Pyre studied the young man up and down. He wasn't nearly as short as some of the adventurers that came through the shop, however, compared to Pyre he was very short only coming up to his shoulders.

Brushing his hands on the front of his rough pants Pyre held his hand out in greeting, “Well I must be doing something right if my name is known to people I have yet to meet. I am Pyre and I welcome you to my forge.” He waved his hand around him to show the small building with only the back open so the forge wouldn't cause it to become sufficatingly hot.

Clearing off the counter, Pyre sat down and looked at the Samurai once again. The wild red-hair was striking, but the most unusual feature was the fox ears that stuck out through the hair and the tail that swished behind the young man. It always struck him as odd when he thought about them all really being human, but appearing as fairytale creatures in this world. Though his animal side only came out when he got worked up, most people didn't know what his race was till they looked at his information on the interface.

“So what name is it that you answer to in this world and what brings you here?” Pyre kept his tone light and casual. He didn't look as if he needed any equipment; even if he did Pyre would have to turn him down for now he had quite the work load right now with two or three orders already starting to back up.

Perhaps I should look into finding help making some of these orders...

(General - 369 Words)

[bunji]

Looking up at the giant man Bunji had to admit he was extremely surprised at the sight, this guy was huge compared to him with a nervous smile the red head would chuckle nervously nodding at the man as well as giving him a bow of the head with respect. "Nice to meet you!" he said refraining from throwing a nickname at the imposing man, crossing his arms over his leather torso piece he would smile at the man once more before saying, "Names Bunji by the way!" he said to the man with a nod of the head watching him as he cleared the nearby table, maybe Bunji could get a peek at this guys handy work? Either way he remained quiet for a moment not sure how to go about this, walking over he took a seat on one of the stools he saw empty figuring the man would not mind. His tail remained a steady sway behind him as he sat there with his tip toes resting on the ground the stool being a bit too tall for him. "Seems to be like you are a blacksmith growing in popularity...at least from what I heard" he said to the man sitting there rather casually staring him over, waiting quietly for him to say something.

"...long story short though chief, I need to ask you something...you see I'm not just looking for a blacksmith to make me weapons. I am looking for someone with potential, willing to aid me in future endeavors. Someone I can rely on..." he would pause allowing his words to sink in, he knew he was not making a simple request here he was being rather forward too, so he had to accept that the man may deny him. Either way Bunji would continue on, "...I am crossing the land looking for people with skills, to aid my future guild. I am looking for those I can help in return too, so if theres anything I can do for you at the moment. Maybe we can come to some sort of agreement? I mean you know, scratch my back I scratch yours" he said to the man with a chuckle hoping his point was getting across here.

[Pyre]

Pyre listened to this man with an unbiased and clear mind. Sure it wasn't the usual customer that came in through his door offering not to buy but, rather he offered an opportunity that might lead to even more fruitful endevors if all worked out in the end. When the young foxtail, Bunji, had finished speaking Pyre stared up at his ceiling while he idly scratched his chin.

A guild would be both trouble and benifitial to a blacksmith, it could mean more work for everyone will need weapons and amor, as well as, needing repairs to what they already own. It could mean so much work, though that I would be overwhelmed with orders. A brief chuckle caught in his throat at the idea of being so overwhelmed by orders that he would actually have to turn people down. On the other hand, it could get my name out there faster if people realized my swords and armor are some that helped a famous guild take down a mighty enemy. I could become a pantheon in my own way here at the forge or a malevolent villian if I supply armies for war.

Pyre looked at his red haired guest one again as a new question danced on the tip of his tongue, he knew what he wanted to ask just not how to word it quite so well as to be understood. If I join this guild what will I be to them? Pyre frowned that was what he wanted to ask in a sense but, still it wasn't quite right.

“Bunji, if I may call you such, if I was to agree to join your guild, which I am neither giving you a yes or a no; what would I be to your guild? Just the blacksmith? Or would it be possible to be something more?” Pyre frowned, the sentence hadn't come out the way he had wanted it to; apparently today was going to be one of those days when his mind just made it impossible to talk clearly.

“What I mean is if I join will I still be able to quest...because as of right now I am no higher level that when I first awoke in this strange, dangerously wonderful wonderful world. Most of the weapon's that I make now I can barely wield for their level is greater than my own.” Pyre stood up and gestured to the anvil where a blade rested across it. “This for instance is a sword for another customer that is about level 15 and I cannot even wield my own creations and hear them sing as they slice through the air. I need someone that is willing to go on quests with an adventurer such as me and help me become stronger. Is that what you intend for your guild to be? One to help each other and push them farther than the person ever thought possible--” Pyre stopped...he had just found the question he wanted to ask in his ranting.

Pyre looked Bunji straight in the eyes “I want you to really think about this next question because it will determine if you will have my services now or ever. What kind of person are you to lead a guild?” He crossed his arms awaiting an answer.

(General - 552 Words)

[bunji]

This was an interesting turn of events, this man was no fool he was an intellectual someone who thought quickly on his feet, and someone who was able to think ahead, the man worded his questions well enough to allow Bunji to be thrown into a tail spin. The young man would sit there shutting his eyes as he remained entirely quiet all the while his fox ears open to the words which were escaping the mans parted lips. When the man was done speaking a soft smile would tug at the corner of his lips as he opened his eyes, the burning red orbs focused on the man locking his stare with the blacksmiths. "If you joined the guild, you would not be some slave...you would hold a position of importance, and honor. You would be head blacksmith, but also have the opportunity to be a great warrior. There is no reason you wouldn't be able to...I would gladly quest with you to see your skills, to see your growth as a warrior. There is no need to concern yourself, in the guild you would be as equal as any other warrior" he said to the man with a smile. It was then that Bunji quietly listened to the man's follow up question, letting the words bounce around in his mind a bit as he contemplated an answer.

"....who am I to lead?" he questioned, standing from the stool he had chosen to sit on the fox tail stood at his full height despite how it lacked in comparison to the titanic man, "...I am a warrior, who aims to bring together those who are lost, those who are alone, and have no one to support them. I aim to be not just the beacon ahead of my guild, but the pillar that holds them all up. My aim will be to bring us together, united as one into one mighty force. I am looking not just for anyone who can hold a sword or craft an armor, but for those with the room for growth, and the desire to adventure..." he would pause as he walked towards Pyre a hand reaching out to the smith. "Who am I to lead? I am a warrior, looking to bring together those who share my ideals so that we may bloom like a great lotus, and all will admire our power." standing there Bunji held his hand out towards the man, unsure if he would take it or not.

WC: 420

[Pyre]

Pyre nodded at the young fox tail's answers, but he never once broke eye contract. This was a man who had come to him to help build a guild, if he could not trust this man's character then why would he think he could trust the others who would attempt to band together? “It's all very interesting that you wish to be a warrior, yet you wish to also be the pillar that holds the foundations of a guild up. You realize that one pillar will never support a great foundation that is something every craftsman knows.”

Pyre turned to face his forge, “You know the old saying that no man is an island? Well let me give you a bit of a visual, Say that this guild grows and grows: One or two members you could easily hold together friends are easy to stay in touch with, even when they fight you can be the mediator and help them overcome the problem they have with each other. Now what if you suddenly have two hundred or three hundred that all take different sides of an issue? Would you be willing to throw yourself to the flames to save your ideals that you created with the guild?

“That's not even considering the influence a guild of that size would have with in the city, what would start out as a petty fight between two small armies would escalate until it became a massive civil war.” Pyre's eyes had started to turn yellow as he faced the flames in his forge, his emotions were beginning to get agitated and that brought out the wolf side of being a Wolf Hair.

Closing his eyes Pyre took a deep breath, “What you want is a noble cause for any guild to have but, Bunji, however do you know how to spot those who are lost on their path and those who simply don't wish to be found? Or those that wander in search of only the next fight or chance to plunder and raze a village of Landers? I have heard the talk of some of those trapped hear how they see the Landers as nothing but fodder to smash under their boots. They are wrong...They are people with names and lives even if it's really just programing.”

The Wolf Hair turned back to face Bunji once more, but the strong eyes he once held were now sad and much older than that of his years. “A few questions to ask yourself before you decide if this is truly what you want: Will you be able to fight your own guild to uphold the beliefs you care about? Are you willing to accept that any action you make as leader of a powerful guild will have consequences; both foreseen and unforeseen? A good friend of mine back in the real world used to quote a book of his in saying 'we are all nothing but a ripple in the pond of life.' Would you deny your guild's crimes as a member acting individually or would you accept that what your guild does is not only their responsibility but yours and every member's as well?”

(General - 532 Words)

[bunji]

Well then it seemed this man did not just run his mouth to sound smart, he actually had intellectual backing to every word he spoke; Bunji would not be able to help himself, and agree that the man made some good points. The fox tail would retrieve his hand which was never taken, instead he remained still listening to Pyre speak, "In the end, I cannot control everything..." he said to the man in a serious tone, turning to the flames of the blacksmiths forge Bunji would smile. "Life is a lot like fire, chaotic, and unpredictable. For me to stand here, and fill my ego telling you that I can read every face I come across, that I can make the right choice every time, that's all bullshit. What I can tell you though, is that I will do my best I understand that as guild leader I will carry a great weight on my shoulders, responsibilities I don't have now will pile on me then..." pausing once more the male took his red eyes from the dancing flames of the nearby forge to focus them upon the imposing individual that was Pyre.

"My guild, is an ember..." he said his right hand coming up with fingers parted, nothing in his palm of course "...I will nurture it, so that it may grow into a great flame. One day that flame may rage, and spread into chaos..if that day comes, I will do my best to blow it out. You make a lot of good points Pyre, and you strike me as the kind of man that always looks at life from different angles. Knowing this, it makes me want to recruit you even more, I cannot say I fully trust you but I am interested in getting to know you better. You could be a great asset to me, an adviser to my every decision as guild leader" he would say to the man somewhat flattering him, but at the same time being honest. The fox tail would lower his hand allowing it to hang at his side in a relaxed manner, "That is all I can say, and all I can offer. My absolute best to keep the flame from spreading, and my absolute best to blow it out when it begins to spread" he added finally finishing his dialogue as he stood there staring at the man, his red orbs locking with the blacksmiths gaze once more.

WC: 412

[Pyre]

Pyre smiled, he had heard what he wanted to hear from the would be guild leader, he was not the best nor did he claim the title. The fox-tail understood that even with a controlled flame it could come back to bite the hand that had first kindled it and shielded it in the wind. To Pyre that was an important quality in a leader especially when in a world such as this one when joining a guild could mean anything from enlisting in a tyrannical army or being with friends who simply want nothing more than to grow stronger.

There are some who will join a guild to try and use us for their own ends. Those who think that we will eventually find the secret to discovering a way back to the real world but, surely there are more like me who would prefer to live and work in this world. Pyre chuckled a bit...as he just realized that he had thought of this idea as a guild of two as 'us' and not 'a guild'. In his mind it was already decided, but he had to know first that this man could handle the burden of leadership that so many could never understand from leading guilds in other games. If you got bored of your guild in any other game you could just leave no questions asked, but if you left here there would be ripples what if a leader just left here what would happen?

Reaching out Pyre took Bunji's hand in a firm grip, “I never once asked you to trust me, that would be foolish of you. I won't follow a fool because if a fool leads his followers must be fools as well.” Pyre smiled, “You have yourself a blacksmith and shield brother. I am not much of an advisor but, I was often told I was born an old soul. For me life forced me to grow and stop seeing the world through the rose colored glasses of childhood early.”

Letting his hand drop Pyre leaned back against the counter with a now smug expression, “So...since you recruited me I take it that you have a bigger plan in mind? Or was I just lucky enough to be the first blacksmith you found that wasn't a Lander? If I remember right you need at least five to form a guild, and if I may make a suggestion I would make those first five people you trust to make intellegent and rational decisions when left on their own.

“When you first form the guild you will be the leader absolute, however once this guild grows your veterans will become your eyes and ears and maybe even your sword and shield when you aren't there. You want people that can act on their own with just the barest of instructions to get jobs done.” Pyre chuckled as he remembered his own father describing a company of soldiers working the same way. A commander wouldn't leave anyone in command who required step by step instrutctions on when and where he could go to the bathroom.

(General - 520 Words)

[bunji]

He would smile as he took the man's hand the tow giving each other a firm shake the fox tail would nod towards the man listening to his words as he lowered his hand from the shake stepping a few steps back. He would listen to the man, crossing his arm over his chest he would think for a moment; "I have two...besides you, I have not asked them but they are strong, and they are able thinkers. The first is my sister, Tessia is her name shes an assassin wields a great big onyx axe" he explained his mind quickly shuffling through his sisters qualities. "Reliable, strong willed, and quick thinker my sister has proven to be a great assassin, she would make a great veteran. As for the other, shes also an assassin her name is Hanelli, shes an elf girl. Shes a bit clumsy, but her creative thinking has saved my skin more than I care to remember" he would explain the young mans mind shuffling through the concrete memories he had of each, and every adventure he had been with each girl. "If they accept, that makes four of us..." pausing he would think back to other points Pyre had brought up, the male would take his seat back at the stool arms crossed back over his chest.

"As for why I chose you, let's just say I have a gut feeling about you, and as we've talked here today you've shown to be a level headed man. Someone who will earn his title of veteran in our guild. So that's the reason why I decided to bring you in, well make the offer" he said with a soft chuckle, Bunji could not help but feel a sense of elevated morale as he stood there having accomplished in recruiting Pyre into the ranks of his soon to be guild. The fox tail wanted to jump with joy, but doing so would probably make Pyre look at him with a raised brow so he instead remained in a controlled neutral state. "Have you any comrades you would suggest? I would be glad to meet them, feel them out" he commented freely.

WC: 365

[Pyre]

Pyre thought of a few people right off the the top of his head but quickly he demissed them. They would want the power that a commander in a guild could give them, and if they want it they will only abuse it down the road. “I have a few friends I might try to bring on board though I won't lie to you I don't know how many of them logged on the night the update that brought us here went live. So far I have only met one of them in the game and she is probably one of the few I would trust with any amount of power simply based on the fact that I don't think she will abuse anything given to her, either that or she will forget she holds any power at all and just be happy to work and help others.”

Pyre rubbed his chin idly once again, Valanthe would make a good leader, sure she has a bit of a mean streak if you cross her, but she never once treated anyone that we met questing like they were a worthless peon or nothing but a pawn in a bigger plan. “I will see if I can't find where my friend wanders in this world. What about you and your friends where is it I will find you? Or you know what it will probably be easier to just add you as a friend so I can just use telepathy to contact you and then we can meet wherever.”

Bringing up the interface with one fluid motion he quickly found Bunji's name and sent him a friend request. “If you ever need anything you know where my forge is and just so you know I do custom orders for weapons and armors, as well as, repairing what you already have or modifying them. Since you and I are going to be guildmates and partners I will give you quite a discount so you have to pay for only supplies.

“Now not to sound rude but, I have a few orders that have to be finished before it gets too late in the day. Even if most of them are Lander's who need their tools fixed I did make them a promise that they would be done before lunch.” Pyre frowned as he realized what he was doing, avoiding the idea of adventuring and growing stronger, “Or if you need someone for a quest my shield is always ready to defend any who I call friend.”

With a smile Pyre went to his forge and started back to work after Bunji had left, Looks like today was a good day to embrace the new and forget the old.

(General - 455 Words)

[bunji]

Bunji would remain quiet after Pyre spoke he would nod in silence standing from the stall which he sat on, turning away as he prepared to walk off he would stop listening to the smiths words looking over the interface message that would begin to blink in front of him. "Sounds like a plan, we will just stay in touch..." he said opening his interface to accept the friend request, the two would appear on each others friends list after that; Bunji would turn over his shoulder towards Pyre giving him one last look, "Sounds good to me, guess I'll see ya later down the road once I have my guild fully set up" he would say turning away to head towards the door. The red head would step out leaving the man to do his thing, he took note of everything he had said so he knew some people to work with? That would help the guld out tremendously if the man did know of someone to join the guild. Bunji would turn into the crowd of people walking off towards the main street that would lead him to the open center district of the grand city that was more like walking through a row of ruins.