Under the blistering sun, 50 individuals stand before the Guild branch headquarters. The towering stone structure carries four flags upon each corner, bearing the symbol of the guild- a treefrog with its elongated tounge circling around it. The trainees speak to each other, either to pass the time or to gather information.
Conversation soon ceases as the iron gate slowly opens, its worn metal groaning under the weight being hefted upward. A knot forms in some of the hopeful would-be's as five men march out, with the leading figure sporting a large and well maintained handlebar moustache. "Alright, listen up you fruit panzees!" The instructor points towards the banners upon the guild, ignoring the recruits that had gotten spooked by his sudden shouting. "That right there is the jewel that will latch onto your heart so you better not forget it! Courage, Grit, and passion! those are what the guild seeks in our soon to be adventurers."
The adventures behind the instructor thump the ground with their spears in respondence to their captain's words. "Right here and now, will make see what your made of. And then we are gonna make you try, cry, and quite possibly bleed you till your dry. To those that don't want that, leave now and let no one judge you decision." The stern look on the instructors face ensured that he was not joking. The tension built for but a moment before three individuals left No one else took a step even when the minutes ticked by. A smile grew on the instructor as a gleam flashed in the corner of his eye. "Seems like I got some tougher rookies this year. No matter, by the end I'll have only a handful."
At those words, one of the adventurers steeped forward, holding a bag that, much to the rookies concern, was still moving. Unfazed, the instructor reached in to pull out something that gave many, including Gabe, get cold feet. The creature had the rough bumpy back legs of a toad, yet the elegant wings of a pelican. Its skin was a strange mixture of leathery hide and pillowy feathers, and its bulbous head displaying a beak reminiscent of a needle. "Whatever nature was smoking in this world, I sure hope it stops." Gabe couldn't help the thought of such similar creations appearing in his old world. A chill ran down his spine at such a thought.
"This here is one of the more mild monsters of the Treble tone forest, known to the guild as a Fibogel. Around its neck is a pouch filled with a poison so potent, it could kill 10 men within the hour." As if to confirm what the mustached adventure captain was saying, the creature's neck swelled, becoming semi transparent and revealing a purple liquid that bubbled.
"Krrronk." The rookies in the back silently stepped back as the unfortunate viewers in front, including one goblin and one tree creature, blanched at the horrid sound that entered their ears(or equivalent to.) "Your first test is simple - to let the creature bite you by the collarbone or neck area. So, who's up first?" None stepped forward for a bit, still reeling from the info given to them. Gabe however, had realized the trick. To the surprise and growing respect of the the recruits, he stepped forward, tilting his head as he said "I volunteer to go first." The instructor merely complied, bringing the creature closer. And with a slight prod to the back of its head, The toad pelican mixture held a portion of bark between its beak. It soon let go as bark was not as delectable to flies. The rookies gasp as they see the purplish blue mark on the brown bark.
"Well done. Now head on over to the right where Jeremy will treat your wound." A man with masquerade mask depicting a crescent moon waved. despite it being hot, he wore a silk robe that resembled the night sky, with gold blotches likely to represent the stars. "Good marrow young man." Jeremy's reedy voice let Gabe know that he was past his prime age. As the other recruits, now emboldened, face the trial, the old man continued. "Seems the wisdom of stars has beseeched you, as thine eyes pierce through the lies of a tester." Gabe blinked as he tried to process what the man was saying. "Thank you?"
The hour had passed and out of the 47, there now stood 32 rookies, some still with shaky hands as their eyes constantly drift towards the Fibogel's 'kiss'. The drill instructor looked them in the eyes as he said. "I'm impressed already. normally, not even half of the squeaky shrimps we get manage to get here. But don't get to happy with yourselves. Pride makes arrogance, and arrogance leads to a terrible end." Silence enshrouds the area for a bit before the drill instructor continued. "By tomorrow, your second test will be held. Get some rest. Your gonna need it." The instructor's grin sent chills down those of weaker fortitude. Before he had retreated into the base branch however, he turned around. "By the way, some of you might want to read up more. Poison is when you get sick from biting a creature. Venom is the other way around." That day, many jokes were made about the 'tomato rookies' as the adventurers drank in the headquarters' tavern.