Chapter 1: The New World
Day 1
Waves smacked against the hull of the ship as Blake sat in the corner of the mess hall. He had found a vacant table away from all of the passengers which were comprised of a mixture of men, elves and dwarves.
Most of the one hundred or so hunters were primarily men and women who were coming to the new world for glory, honor and adventure. Blake looked over at the hunters to see most of them were rather large men who looked a little lacking in intelligence. He could make out the occasional woman in the crowd and from their looks he knew he would never mess with any of them. Blake was your average size guy nothing really special, his brown hair and blue eyes made him blend in to almost any crowd. However working at the docks most of his life had built his muscles to be strong and gave him the endurance to be able to work all day.
He scanned the crowd once more to see The elves who were mainly part of the research commission. They had come to study and learn all that they could about the new world. They all had the classic features that elves do, the slim builds with faces to match and the long pointed ears. Their fascination with all things nature sometimes bordered on obsession.
The dwarves, well Blake assumed they had come for gold and opportunity for wealth considering how they were engineers and the new world was a possible treasure trove of materials and goods. Anyone could tell it was a dwarf the moment you set eyes on them. They were shorter people but amazingly stout and sturdy.
Everyone here had at least a reason to be there. Blake on there hand didn't really have a choice anymore, he had come out of necessity.
Back at the shipyards in the "old" world he used to be part of the team on receiving. The company had to make cutbacks due to more ships being sent out to the New world than ships coming in to port and so Blake was let go. After a couple weeks of looking, without much success, for a new job lacking skills for anything else he gave up.
One day, after being kicked out of his shack of a home he heard a man offering a job with a room provided. The next thing Blake knew he was on this ship headed to the new world as a hunter.
The New world was discovered only a couple of years ago and of course Blake had heard rumors and stories about it and all it's supposed glory. Apparently the monsters their had grown to enormous size and the natives lived in fear constantly so when discovered by the guild they couldn't pass up the opportunity to make a deal. Help with the hunting in order to receive information about the land and it's mysteries.
"Is this seat taken?" A woman said had drawing his attention back to the present. He immediately noticed the variable zoom goggles on her head, she must be a handler or part of the research division. However she was wearing a leather jacket that didn't fit either the handlers or dedicated researchers.
"Uh, oh no it's not taken" he foolishly fumbled over his words. Of course he then noticed her shoulder length blonde hair, green eyes and slender cheekbones. All of these things added up to a very nervous Blake now sweating from anxiety, he had never been good at talking to women much less one actually talking to him.
"So are you excited to get to the new world?" She asked him.
"Uh yeah it should be interesting" how come he could never come up with anything witty, Blake sat there scolding himself.
"My name is Aria by the way I guess I should have started with that, I'm going to be a part of the engineering team at the base," beaming as if she was heading off for a vacation.
"Oh yeah my name is Blake and I'll be joining the ranks as a hunter."
"Have you done much hunting before?" She nodded towards his clothes.
Blake had been given a used set of leather gear by one of his dock worker mates that used to hunt when he was a younger man. He hadn't thought much of it but was now self conscious about how tattered and old they seemed to be.
"Oh just a bit, nothing too extravagant" he lied through his teeth.
"Oh well that's good I mean I would have been so nervous at the thought of you never hunting before and going out to the New world where, who knows what's out there with all the undiscovered monsters and dangers, but you should be fine of course!"
Now Blake was sweating for more than one reason. His recruiter made the New World sound like a cake walk where every once in awhile he would have to go out and hunt something. He figured that he could take it easy and just come back with easy stuff and then sleep away the rest of his days in a nice cozy room.
"Land Ho!" Somebody yelled from above. Everyone quickly ran up on deck to get a look at the New world for the first time. Blake slowly made his way up to the deck now dreading landfall.
The deck was now bustling with commotion as people tried to get a glance at the new world.
The New world looked immense and absolutely stunning. From what could be seen there were trees that reached so high into the sky it seemed they were trying to escape from the ground, waterfalls that produced enough mist to cover the surrounding portion of jungle. Off in the distance there seemed to be a desert that lead to snow-covered mountains.
Aria had appeared beside him as he leaned over the side of the boat.
"There it is Blake, isn't it fantastic?"
"Yeah, fantastic" she seemed to not notice the sarcasm in his voice.
Blake shambled down the planks onto the docks of the Astera port being lead along with the rest of the hunter herd. He hung out at the back to avoid any unwanted attention. The cove that the base was set in seemed to stretch up into different levels. At the end of the docks the marketplace could be seen, there seemed to be a wide variety of shops and salesman. He could see a man standing on what seemed to be a large pile of boxes and supplies and a woman who set a board across what seemed to be an enormous clay pot. Another vendor had a massive skull of a large fanged beast displayed holding his wares of monster parts and material.
On the opposite side of the market from the docks was a greenhouse. At the center Blake thought he saw a tree growing as if becoming one of the pillars supporting the center of the building. It had vines growing all over its canopy and plants and herbs filled the interior so much it looked as if there was almost no room to walk.
Over on the west side of the market was a waterfall that crashed into a giant wheel. The wheel seemed to be a means of turning a complex gear system that ran throughout the facility. No doubt the dwarves and engineers were in charge over there.
To the left of the wheel was a domed building made from iron that must have been some type of workshop because Blake could see fires bellowing inside and smoke poured out of the chimney set atop the building. It sat in a section of the cove that had been blasted out of the cliff face. That just made sense because no way was any wooden support system gonna hold that thing up.
Blake then started looking into the upper levels and saw a canteen and bar a couple different alcoves seemed to be gardens or resting areas. A lot of the upper cove had been remodeled into living quarters that upon closer inspection were ships large enough to hold quite a few hunters at a time.
Blake caught sight of something odd, a man appeared to be gliding through the air. Looking more closely he realized the man was standing on a small platform with a pole attached to it going up to attach to a chain. The chain ran from the market level all the way to the upper floors as some sort of lift contraption. Again something else the dwarves has made to be a lot more efficient than taking the stairs all the way up.
"Welcome to Celesta," a large muscular man with a leather vest and short cropped hairdo was trying to draw everyone's attention. "You all have your Field team assignments. Alphas follow Zeke, Betas follow Andrea, Gammas are with Jade, Deltas with Jared, and the Zetas are with me."
Blake remembered that when he boarded the ship they gave him a team assignment he was pretty sure it was the Zeta team and apparently their leader was Jack. Aria appeared next to Blake again almost startling him.
"Are you part of the Zeta squad as well then?" Her smile melted something in Blake each time he saw it.
"Yeah I guess he is our field team leader. Are you assigned to a field team?" Surprisingly he was able to stumble through asking a question this time.
He really had to get over his nerves with her.
"Well yes and no, I am but I mainly report to the engineering head. This is more just for room and board really."
The group has slimmed down now that they were splitting into field teams there was only a handful of people left.
"All right you plebes" Their guide stopped at the platform next to the chain lift system.
"My name is Jacks, and I am your field team leader." The leader continued. "This is field Zeta. You will be working together off and on throughout your time here. To go on a hunt you will have to have it approved by me. Remember that you will have to complete bounties to earn your rent. This can also be subsidized by individual earnings if you want. You will also assist in assignments for the guild. Squad leaders will be in charge of these. They are in charge of you and will report your progress to me. The squad leaders are to my left. They are Aaron, Jason, Tess, and Cate." To his left he noticed 4 hunters who had already geared up as if they were headed out for a hunt.
"Alright you plebes, follow me." The field team leader instructed.
A thinner dark haired young man moved into Blake's view for a brief moment bumping in to the well armored man in front of him. "Oh sorry about that." He then settled on the left side of the group to get a better view.
"Alright head up there and check for your room assignments." Waving the group on and gesturing towards the larger building on the first shelf as Jacks headed back out towards the market.
The group made for the chain lift forming a line. Blake extended his hand toward the lift for Aria to go first. She probably assumed he was being a gentleman but in reality he just didn't want to mess up somehow and have her be in front of him.
Blake entered cabin eleven which was at the end of the third floor shelf inside the bunk ship. There was another hunter in the room and someone else's bags set up on the opposite side who had already put their bags on the bed as if to lay claim.
"Oh welcome roomie! My name is Vix it's nice to meet you!" The shorter red headed hunter approached hand outstretched. His spiky hair seemed to match his eccentric attitude. Blake took notice of the scars along his hands and chin, as well as the chinks in his chain mail armor. This man has definitely been on some hunting trips.
"Blake, nice to meet you," as he reciprocated with a handshake.
Just then the dark haired, thinner man entered the room, he must be one of the other tenants. He walked towards the left two bunks rummaging through his bags that he left on his bunk.
"Hey you must be our other bunkie," Vix again being really friendly greeted the new man. "Looks like we will be rooming together!"
"Oh yeah, pleasure, I just need to grab something really quick." Brevity was definitely a skill of this man.
He grabbed something quickly "Ah found it!" then gave them both a small smirk on his way back out the door, "Good meeting you mates, let's get a drink sometime." He must have forgotten something he needed for the market or canteen blake thought.
"So you ready to get out there and slay some stuff already! Cause I am! I can't take this waiting around, protocol BS let's just do it already am I right?" Vix broke the silence created by the strangers appearance and subsequent vanishing.
"Yeah it will be interesting for sure," Blake couldn't even muster up half of the enthusiasm this guy was showing.
"That much excitement will only get you killed out there cretin." Another man entered the room fully decked out in shining plated armor. A taller man with black hair and proud dark eyes looked at the two of them. His combed shoulder length black hair came forward in a widows peak giving him a hawk like appearance.
"Just looking at the both of you I can tell you peasants won't last the first week." He obviously came from money, his plated armor was freshly polished and in pristine condition.
"Oh yeah? We will see about that!" Vix tried in response.
"Yes I'm sure, that intelligent comeback just proves my point even further imbecile. As painfully long as it has been with you two I will be gone by tonight, like I'd stay in some bunkhouse like some street rabble. I'll be getting my private suite here shortly. Now if only I could find my blasted coin purse, has anyone else been here in the room?"
Blake and Vix both looked at each other knowingly. Yes someone had just come and pilfered through his bag, so naturally they looked back at the noble and said "Nope!"
Exasperated he picked up his bags and exited the room leaving Blake and Vix on their own.
"That's Reginald Jortunson," Vix explained seething. "His family is some high and mighty noble bunch who have been in the monster parts trade for some time. So all that money gets them the best gear and weapons and makes them think they are better. Stuck up prick will learn that it's more about skills than the gear that makes the hunter."
Blake could tell that this talk from Vix was more than just an annoyance with the aristocrats, there was genuine hatred for nobles themselves. Vix's stare could have melted through the hull of the ship.
"Well don't let it bug you too much," trying to break the awkwardness he was feeling, "we should better head back down to the rest of the debriefing."
"Yeah you are right let's get going," Vix's smile had returned as he set to head out the door.
This whole day has just been so overwhelming Blake thought as he tossed his small bag into the item box. It wasn't much but it was all he had. He followed Vix out of the cabin to head for the debriefing.
Blake and Vix were some of the last ones to come out of the bunk ship and join the group surrounding the field team leader. Blake saw Aria among some of the other handlers and researchers in the front looking like she was watching fireworks.
"Alright now that you are all here we are going over some of the need to knows of Celesta," the field team leader began, "behind me is the trade yard where you can get items that are helpful for hunts as well as medicinal herbs and even crafting components. The domed building over on the first floor by the waterfall is the workshop where you can order armor and weapons after collecting the monster parts for it. You also have the waterfall bridge and the stairs which will lead to private rooms after you have enough money to pay the rent,"
That must be what Reginald meant when he said he would be gone by tonight. Of course the noble would be able to pay for that and Blake would be stuck in the bunk ship with the over-eccentric Vix. Stinking recruiter twisting the truth to get him here.
"On the third floor," the field team leader continued, "we have the canteen. Make sure you visit the canteen before every hunt to ensure an extra boost from the meals provided by our chefs. And on the fourth and final shelf we have the gathering hub where you can meet up with other hunts to head out on optional quests or investigation and expositions. Again before you head out on your own hunts to check if you are on assignments or chore duties."
Blake really wasn't looking forward to the assignments. Aaron, Jason, Tess and Cate seemed like daunting squad leaders who would be disappointed in his skills right from the get go.
"Finally," the tone of the field team leader changed to a somber tone, "when you are out in the field make sure to bring your SOS flare, we have lost too many hunters in the past due to monsters they couldn't handle alone."
Yup, Blake was heading home he didn't have the talent or courage to stay around a place like this.
"Alright that's all I have for you, so folks get a good nights rest because tomorrow the fun begins."
That ended the debriefing and the crowd started to disperse. Just as Blake started to turn to go when he was tapped on the shoulder. To his surprise it was Aria.
"So tomorrow it begins, are you excited?"
Not wanting to seem like a scared rabbit Blake replied "Yeah I am looking forward to it!"
"So we may be in different departments but I hope we can still work together. If you need anything worked on or have any ideas come and see me okay?"
"Okay," wow, Blake thought, I really need to work on my responses.
Aria left then and as she walked away she turned back and waved with a smile that might actually get Blake to stay here in Astera.
As he arrived back at his bunk Vix was settling in but it seemed that what Reginald had said was true, because he didn't show back up that night. Vix tried to start some casual conversation but Blake said he was tired and wanted to get some rest for tomorrow. So he lied in bed and thought about what he had gotten himself into. Was he really prepared for something like this? I mean he wasn't the bravest or strongest and he really had no experience hunting. He decided, one more day. One more day to see if this was even all worth it.