"THE LEGENDARY DRAGON SACK!"
It was the first thing Leon heard upon entering the meeting room.
He had arrived alongside Valeria and Tsukihi.
Celestine was still under house arrest, and moving Maria wasn't worth the effort, especially considering she would likely sleep through the entire meeting anyway.
As for the Rose Thorns, Roselyn and Rika had accompanied Leon as well. Tala had been told by Roselyn not to attend, in order to prevent her from attacking anyone. Cersei, meanwhile, wasn't attending for reasons Leon had never been told.
What the...?
Leon paused at the sight before him.
Two people sat opposite each other at a circular game board. Wooden carving of mythical animals made up the prices.
"That's not a sack. That's Bernoulli's Gambit"
The first of the two was a middle aged man in ornate blue and green robes. Slick back brown hair and a sharp cut bear. He radiated a militaristic authority that stood him out as one of the Guild Masters.
He moved a piece shaped like a hydra to the center of the board.
"SO BE IT! YOU'RE SPHINX IS MINE!"
The second of the two was what made Leon pause.
He was dressed as a jester, his costume a patchwork of red and yellow sewn together in intricate diamond patterns. He wore a pair of mismatched gloves and boots, along with an enormous ruff collar that closed the space where his neck should have been.
Floating just above the collar was a single die in place of a head. The number two side of the die had an expressive pair of cartoonish eyes occupying the face instead of two dots.
"Collateral damage. Anyway, I'll take the center."
The cartoon eyes narrowed at his opponent.
"What's the point if you don't take the gambit?"
"Odds favor declining it."
"...You're no fun. Alright I concede. The game is lost anyways."
Roselyn stepped forward.
"Guild Master Lamarck, Guild Master Furbetto. Welcome to Jeif'he! I am Roselyn, leader of Rose Thorns"
"Nice to meet y-"
"Weh! Look at the colorful bunch we have here! The Paladin and Ninja I know about, but a vampire and kitsune as well. Which means I take it you are Leon."
"Yeah that's me. Nice to meet you... Lamarck?"
"Leon, this is Frubetto. A Harlequin and Guild Master of Asuhei. Lamarck is the Guild Master of Metra'ku as well as a summoner."
Lamarck gave a node to the group as he put away the pieces.
"Guild Masters, you've heard of our Ninja; Rika. The Vampire is Valeria, she uses her people's blood arts. The Kistune is Tsukihi, an Elementist, Illusionist and Arcanist."
"And that just leaves the man of the hour!"
Frubetto grabbed the back top right corner of his dice head and spun it.
3.
Three cartoon eyes went down diagonal on the new face. One eye had a red pupil, the second blue and the third green."
"No Chi, Mana or Essence! They weren't kidding. Also hope you don't mind me checking. Roll this for me."
Frubetto pulled out a long cylindrical golden die. With pentagonal pyramids as ends, triangles and diamonds as sides, Leon instantly recognized the cylindrical die.
"That's enough Frubetto. We'll do a test once the meetings begin. In the meantime we should call for our retainers."
"Never any fun with you. Alright, alright, I'll be pragmatic. But I call dibs on fighting him."
Fighting me?! What did I do?
"You're more than welcome to but Yelena called dibs back when Nadu arranged the meeting."
Aren't these guys supposed to be Guild Masters!?
"Sorry to interrupt but why are we talking about fighting me. Are you guys serious just curious about where you can kill me?"
"Yeah. That's the only reason I came."
A new voice joined the conversion.
"You know he is a member of Jeif'he's Hunter Guild. You can't just attack him."
"Eh Nadu. Good to see Death hasn't found you yet."
"Welcome Guild Master Lamarck. Frubetto."
"Guild Master Nadu."
Nadu walked up to the table, still wearing his simple grey robes.
"Are the others here yet?"
"Right on time!"
Another voice joined the conversion. One Leon had heard before but who shook the room as she spoke.
The voice belonged to a giant muscular woman. An ogre barbarian with pale grey skin and white spiky hair that faded to green. A single horn protruded from her forehead. On her back, a two headed axe so large that it gave the giant the appearance of wings.
"I didn't miss any of the good stuff?"
"Not yet. Also I called dibs."
"No you didn't! I did way back!"
"Guild Master Yelena. Please join the others at the table."
"Nadu. Good to see you're still kicking. You look like you haven't aged a day."
"That's not true."
"I have a picture of him with my old pops. He looked just as old back then too."
"Yelena. Frubetto. Please leave the reminiscing for later. We are about to start an important meeting."
Lamarck looked towards Nadu.
"What's the situation with Jeyne?"
"She'll be here shortly..."
The Guild Master sat at their respective seats. Leon and the girls stood behind Nadu, while retainers for the other Guild Master slowly filtered in.
"Psh. Rika. Roselyn. Why is Frubetto head a die?"
"It's a legendary magic item. Loaded Head. It has a steep cost but it's well worth the price."
"You guys are tier 1 hunters. What cool magic items?"
"I have my sleeves, but they're only uncommon."
"I have my Aegis. Which is rare like Tsukihi's Globe House."
"What about Cersei and Tala?"
"Cersei has an uncommon; Hat of Recollection. Meanwhile Tala grows vines on herself for clothes."
"Wait! You guys are a tier 1 party and only have one rare item!"
"Items are not easy to come by."
"It's also like you have any yourself, Farm boy."
"I know bu-"
The meeting hall's door opened.
In came a pregnant woman, an Arcanist with a hat that looked exactly like Cersei's hat.
Huh... there is definitely something up here. That's probably why Cersei didn't come.
Nadu stood up and began to speak.
"Since everyone is here. Let the meeting begin!"