New Member

As we left the Heavenly Inversion Tower, the pale late-morning sunlight reflected off the cobblestones.

The wind sweeping across the plaza was dry, driving the tower’s damp air from the depths of our lungs.

We crossed the plaza and headed straight for the Adventurers’ Guild.

The hall, usually filled with shouts and laughter, was strangely quiet.

A few adventurers slumped in chairs along the walls, sipping their drinks with faces so blank it was hard to tell whether it was morning or noon.

More than half of the long row of stone counters stood empty.

I spotted a window with its lamp lit and walked over to it.

“I’d like to submit an application to add a member to our party.”

The clerk didn’t even look up.

He kept writing with his quill, replying in a dry voice...