Dystopian Tales Online

"Ah... I-it's really huge."

No wonder, even the Guild Master of the Artisan's Guild can't help but to praise.

In the center of the game's scarcest place, land filled only with dunes of sands, moving and shifting with gusts of winds always brewing a storm, a dry desert of golden dusts named after the Egyptian Pharaoh, Thutmose III - stand a grandiose manor owned by none other than Clover.

A 90,000 square ft manor, it exceeded the land area of other large guilds by double, housing hundreds of 4-person sized room, a couple of bath houses, recreational rooms, large and small scale mess halls, training areas, and the grand throne room. Named after the star Cassiopeia, the Cassaianne Guild holds the record of most number of members and the wealthiest guild of the game world.

Despite the harsh conditions of the desert, the guild survived the sand storms and sinking due to Clover's careful planning. As one of the oldest guilds, the guild started as a small inn with only a single mess hall and a couple of rooms. It was build above an oasis where the soil is fertile. Clover devised an aqueduct underground to maximize the consumption of water and to avoid emptying the water bank.

After years of construction and developing, the guild grew huge. Upgrades can be done after a certain condition is met, including the allowed number of quests to places that they can access. It was once said that Clover won the place after a gamble and decided it as a resting place, but then the idea of building a guild made it better.

"It really never fails to impress me," another person commented.

A group of players started arriving one by one from the circular portal found at the side of the gate of the guild. Portals are used for travelling convenience for places that are out of reach. Though, in order for a player to pass the portal, he or she has a pass to enter. Portals are all over the game with teleportation fee of three gold coins.

However, this portal at the front of the guild is obviously a bought portal. Due to the location of the guild, and the harsh environment outside the area, it would be very impossible for any low-level players to pass without sinking down or bitten by desert monsters. This portal is free of charge to help the players below the average line to save money.

Yakisoba from the Artisan's guild, known as player Allen-38 in the game, and his guild mates arrived on the destination from their guild's portal. Seeing the scenery before him made him gasp for air, obviously overwhelmed by the huge place. His place, Artisan's guild, a village guild where the main building is connected to the market place and three surrounding villages is already considered big.

This one is in a whole new level!

"I can still remember the very first version of this guild. So small and vulnerable," Allen-38 commented. He is probably from the First String of players.

Some of his members nodded while the others peaked a question when they heard it. Well, some of his members are from the Cassaianne before that transferred after getting the required level of entrance in their guild. The Cassaianne guild on that time must be already on its grandiose form.

"It was just a small inn," Allen-38 started. "With a small mess hall that can only fit a dozen of players. I remember staying in one of the cabins. The bed is rough and made up straws and there is barely any space for your things to place..."

The group arrived to the entrance. The door opened, welcoming the guests by a group of people who are in charge of accepting visitors. Most of them are NPCs while a few are the guild's recognized members. Allen-38 can feel difference not only from the outside but also in the inner view.

He can no longer see that shabby inn before.

Instead, a marble-polished reception desk first come in view with a wall as background, covering the whole view in half as if hiding the full picture of what is behind. Two NPCs are standing at desk with some people looking for direction. NPCs are system made, they are set with fixed dialogues and commands. On one side, a player is found chatting with the other one who is leaning on the desk. Allen-38 recognized the player and approached to greet it.

"And here I thought how NPCs started to speak," Allen-38 spoke out his mind to call the attention of the said player.

An Elven player turned his head due to the loud voice, his pointy ears becoming visible as his long hair moved along the side, his face showing an emotion of concern. His pointy-tipped eyes moved around to look for the source and found a Humanoid wearing a golden crown and holding an equipped weapon of [ABSOLUTE STAFF]. The elf's eyes shifted from worry to a shiny one, grateful of seeing such a character inside the guild.

"How could I not recognize that voice," the elf exclaimed. "And I thought nobody will come."

"Nobody? Did we arrive too early?" Allen asked.

"Not quite, the hall is ready. You can now actually go in," elf said with a smile.

Coming from the Elven race, username Xav-11, is a known player and one of the top members of the Cassianne guild. Holding a position as the right hand of the Guild Master Clover, he is the one who manages the guild, checking on new members, giving out quests, and also the accounting of the guild's treasury. Everyone in the guild respected this character like how they respected the Guild Leader.

Though, actually, the appearance of the Guild Master is quite a mystery. It was always Xav-11 who manages everything everyone thought that he could be the Guild Master Clover. But the player clearly stated from the start that Clover is a character that can't easily go out without reasons. The character of Clover remained as a mystery; however, his influence to the players worldwide is big.

For this night, it would be Xav-11 who will accept the other Guild Leaders as a substitute for Clover. Well, they really never care at all. Xav-11 is kind and hospitable; everyone would open up with him in any chance, making him a warm and comfortable person. Even if just watching him, the aura around him tells how pure his soul is.

It is as if he is an angel in disguise.

Xav-11 guided these people towards a door-less hall. For non-members and supposed to be intruders, once they enter the reception, they will only see a hall with only walls. It is common knowledge for Guild Leaders that some players might steal something from their property, or probably sneak in as a spy. Security measures is a no joke.

"I'll be guiding you to the main hall. From there, you can choose if you want to go upstairs," Xav-11 said.

The elf looked like flipping the space in front of him. A translucent slate that is only visible to him appeared, showing the complete list of rooms and halls of the guild. He scrolled around for the allowed public places and found the venue. Choosing the room, a password appeared asking for the code. Xav-11 quickly typed in the combination, authenticated by the system, and accepted his entrance.

A large wooden door with the Cassaianne Guild Logo in between materialized in one of the walls. From by the looks of it, they can tell the elegance of the art and carvings on the wood. Xav-11 pushed the door open, creating an entrance towards a mess hall already filled with the guild members celebrating.

Allen-38 can't help but to be mesmerized by how large the place is.

Xav-11 opened a door towards the guild's main mess hall. The mess hall is large itself, with two more floors above as closed rooms. On the ground floor, round tables created from a century old tree trunks were made with five wooden stools each, with additional picnic table for six people at the sides of the hall. In the middle of each round tables would be an elemental plant for relinquishing free MP and HP helping players to regenerate their HP and MP loss.

A stage is also present on one side where the tables are facing. This stage has the complete lighting equipment with a backstage present for performers to get ready. A sound system is also attached on one side that is connected to the lines of the guild. It can be used for announcements whenever special events happens.

On the other side of the mess hall, where the air is a bit solemn, is a bar handled by one of the high-ranking officials of the guild. Ari-05, a Humanoid with an artisan main archetype, is the one who handles the over all food production and consumption of the players. He is also the one who posts and approves the quests Xav-11 gave him, distributing it to the players. He can only be found on the bar serving drinks to players or cleaning the glassware.

Xav-11 looked around and headed towards the bar. He found the 12 turning stools at the front empty, looking as if he's expecting some people sitting there. Ari-05 noticed the incoming players and greeted them with a smile. As usual, he's cleaning some wine glasses again.

"Hello," Ari-05 bowed slightly to the Artisan's Guild Leader.

"Now I understand why you want to stay," Allen-38 commented.

A long time ago, before Ari-05 became an official member of the guild, he is one of those active players who are often found on the records of dungeon clearing and quests. Despite being a Humanoid Artisan, he created a name that is not common for a merchant archetype. Being an artisan is equal to a support character. But he showed otherwise.

Allen-38 once scouted him to join his guild whenever he reached the required level of the guild but the player refused. An earlier proposal was sent to him already and accepted it with no doubt. If only Allen-38 messages him a bit earlier maybe he is on his guild now.

After listing as one of the officers of Cassaianne guild, Ari-05 never appeared on the scoreboards again. Some thought that must be because he has gone weak and let the guild support him. But nobody really knows the reason. Still, Ari-05 still have that aura around him saying that he is no normal player. Well if he's weak, Clover won't choose him, right?

Xav-11 is still looking around.

"If you're looking for them, they has still not arrived," Ari-05 said as if knowing who he was searching.

"Hmmm? Who?" Allen-38 asked.

"Sora."

"Oh, the sky team huh?"

They all nodded to Allen-38. Sora, or the Sky Team, is one of the four main parties of Cassaianne. Xav-11 looked at his clock and checked the time of the outside world. He heaved a sigh.

"I heard that they will do dungeon first before going here," Ari-05 said. "It looks like they are trying to collect some material Clover asked them to do."

"Is that so?" Xav-11 suddenly gloomed. Ari-05 assured him that they will be coming anytime later.

Allen-38 looked at his group who are still listening to them. He raised his arm to call their attention.

"You can go now. Do whatever you want. Just don't go somewhere restricted," he instructed.

The group dispersed quickly, going towards the different directions. Some of the players headed to the mess hall where they found some of their old friends while some went upstairs to use the private rooms where arcades and movies are present. Allen-38 remained on the bar. He liked the solemnity of the place and the vibe it gave him.

"You should go back at the reception. Some of the Guild Leaders might be there waiting for you," Ari-05 said.

"But-"

"Clover expected you to do this work. We know that you only have the access of all the rooms of the guild. You're also only the one who can open the door for non-members of the guild," the artisan reminded him. "Though, I can do that work for you if you do my work for me."

Xav-11 can't say anything but cutely pouted. Allen-38 hid his chuckle while Ari-05 gave him a determined look. The elf's pointy ears droop down, whining while opening his access.

"Okay... I'll just finish my work and-"

Xav-11 vanished out from their sight. He probably teleported to the reception desk while whining. Allen-38 let out a heartfelt chuckle and faced the bar. Ari-05 handed him a drink.

"It looks like I can't really have you come to my guild, no?" Allen-38 asked again.

He took the drink and swirled the contents inside. Ari-05 laughed.

"If only I asked you first maybe you're in my guild now," he heaved a sigh.

"Hmmm? What do you mean?"

"If only I invited you to join my guild a bit earlier than Clover did, maybe..."

"You got everything wrong," Ari-05 chuckled.

"What do you mean?"

There's a pause between them.

"Clover did not invite me to join the guild," Ari-05 retorted.

"Huh? What do you mean?" Allen-38 was confused.

"It's more like... 'How about we build a guild?', I asked."