2 Joining The Ranks

After my decision I walked inside and I was greeted by an old looking pale man with a bushy white beard wearing a white Tunic with a Vermilion Chlamys.

"Welcome how may help you young man" the old fellow said.

Before any options appeared I heard a sound.Ding congratulations to user for interacting with an NPC you can either write in the chat box or speak through your mic to interact with it. We have integrated the Google assistant AI with a different voice over for each NPC we our the first game to do so and our goal is to create a living breathing world. Do you want to activate your microphone?

"Yes" I said.

Ding Congratulations to user for activating his microphone from now on both players and NPCS will hear your voice.

"Hello mister I would like to join the Magos general association" I said.

"Sure you only need to demonstrate the ability to use magic to join as an initiate." The old man responded

"Anything I"asked?

"Yes anything didn't make that clear.You know back in my day youngsters used to be more sharp not like the current generation tsk tsk every generation is worst than the last and this one is filled with men duller than a river rock"The old man said grumbling with his eyebrows furrowed and a look of annoyance.

I didn't respond to the old mans scolding and just conjured a simple earth elemental sphere without casting it.

"It looks like you have some ability.Well then welcome to the organization.First and foremost some etiquette rules you need to wear a white tunic and a light green Chlamys at all official settings. Outside of meetings or the battlefield how you dress doesn't matter but I would suggest that if you wear armor you wear the Chlamys over it.Here have your organization badge and your attire." The old man said while smiling

I was then given a small wooden box. Inside of it were a small copper badge with an eye engraved on it, a white tunic and a light green Chlamys.

"Now if you want to remain a member of the association and get your monthly wage.You need to either do research on magic and show results with in one year. At which point you will be given all your not yet payed wages plus some extra benefits. Or head to the battlefield were you could advance through the military ranks by accumulating battle achievements.Whatever you do keep the badge always on you as it records your contribution plus it proves your identity.Your wage is thirty silver for the Initiate rank and you can get free food and lodging at the military camp or our headquarters.Obviously the camp is for the military minded personnel and the Headquarters for the more scholarly type.To rise through the ranks of the association you need to prove that your magical ability has risen to the next rank.If you thing you have achieved that feat you can apply to be tested and then if you prove you have improved sufficiently you will be awarded with a rank increase."

As the old man was repeating a well practice spiel I got a torrent of notifications

Ding Congratulations to user for finishing the quest and receiving his rewards also awarding user a new title Magos Initiate.Ding new quest line Rising through the ranks activated .Either start a research project or head to the battlefield note (starting a research project as a new player and succeeding is going to be incredibly hard. We would suggest to start off with the battlefield quest.).

"I shall join the battlefield then." I said

"Good then I will need some minor details such as your name and your race" The old man said while taking out a piece of parchment

"My name is Sophocles Androktonos and as far as my race is concerned isn't that obvious?"I asked mildly annoyed.

"You could be a half breed"The old man said while spiting

"Well I am not. I am a pure blooded human"I responded

"Good we are done here.Please head towards the military camp take the Byzantine military gate and you should be able to see it from the outskirts of the city.They should be moving out in about a week." The old man said while quickly noting down the information .He then stored the piece of parchment in his cupboard .

"Out of curiosity elder what is your name"I asked feigning respect

"Well I guess as new member you should know who are your elders my name is Prokopis and I am a recruitment officer for the Magos Association. "The old man said while stroking his beard looking quite dignified.

After I exited the building first thing first I equipped my new tunic and Chlamys with the Chlamys having some minor effects.

Chlamys Stats

Colour light Green

+1 Charisma High Born

+10% Mana regeneration

After exiting the Association building the same old green arrow appeared leading me outside of the city.After I crossed the Theodosian walls through the Byzantine Military gate.I saw a military camp with tents coloured red with yellow stripes about five kilometers away .As I approached the camp I was stopped by a patrol squad made out of ten men.The identified themselves as the XXVII(twenty seventh) Decarhy of Koursorses made up out of mostly of Cavalry Archers.

"I am Decarch Constantine i would like to ask what business do you have to our military camp" Said the leader of the Decarhy a young robust tanned man with wavy brown hair and piercing brown eyes.

"Ah. I am a Magos initiate and I came to the camp to enlist." I responded.

"Do you have any proof ?"The Decarch asked unemotionally.

"I have my badge"I said showing the badge

"Ah another mage.Welcome to the army mate just head down to the mage tent the one with the big eyed banner.You will find it straight away" Constantine said a bit more warmly

After a while I reached the camp and more specifically the mage tent. As I went inside i was greeted by a smiling a averagely built middle aged white man with blue eyes and gray hair with some black strokes lining it .He was wearing a white tunic with a red Chlamys. Sitting comfortably on a linen crimson chair as he took out of the cupboard a fresh piece of parchment.

"Hello initiate and welcome to the army. I am Ioannis Filosofos and i am the leading officer of all Magos personnel. Can you please provide us with your information specifically your name and your race"

He said while making eye contract the whole time.

"Hello my name is Sophocles Androktonos and my race is Human"I said while nodding

"Good.Alright we have a couple units we could throw you in" He said while looking through a pile of parchments with a cheeky smile.

"Ah I found you a decent position. You shall join in as the Decarch of the CCXX(two hundredth twentieth) Toxotaoi Decarhy .Under Pentarch Demetrius of the XLIV (forty fourth) Allaghia. Who is under the Kentarch of the XXIII (twenty second) Kentarhia.Who is under the Topoteretes of the IIX (eighth) Numeri.Who is under the Domestikos of the IIX (eighth) Tagma.Who is under the Moirarch of the II(Second) Moira.Who is under the Merarch of the I (First) Meros.Who is finally under the Strategos of the Thema Thracion."He said while grabbing another fresh piece of parchment writing furiously and stamping it. Finishing the whole process at the exact moment he finished giving me my assignment.

"Here you are."He said giving me the piece of parchment and continuing on his explanation

"Go to your direct superiors tent which in the north eastern part of the camp.Ask around to find the place.After you arrive there just show him the order and you will then be given basic supplies and ten archers.Do you have any questions"He asked enquiringly

"No sir" I said while nodding.

"Then that's all. If you need any advise you are welcome to come by at any reasonable hour and as long as I don't have a meeting at the time "

He said smiling all the while.

I did a military salute and went out of the tent and at that moment the glorious ding sound filled my ears again.Ding Congratulations to User for Joining the military as a non commissioned officer granting the title Byzantine Decarch.Ding congratulations to user for activating the second part of the quest line rising through the ranks (You need to get promoted to Pentarch to complete this quest). The surprising thing is that when I went outside of the tent I didn't see a green arrow pointing me towards the place I needed to go next.It seemed like the training wheels are off from now on.

As I was about to continue on. I noticed the time on the corner of my screen it was already 4 o clock on the afternoon and I should go eat something.

*Chlamys is a type of cloak in this case it is the byzantine version which is longer.

*Toxotaoi Archers.

*Koursorses Light armed horse archers.

*Decarhy a squad made out of ten men Decarh is the leader.

*Allaghia is a unit of fifty men Pentarch is the leader.

*Kentarhia is a unit of a hundread men Kentharch is the leader.

*Numeri is an infantry regiment made out of 300 men Topoteretes is the leader.

*Tagma a unit made out of 2 Numeri and A Banda (A cavalry unit made out of 300 horsemen) Domestikos is the leader of the Tagma.

*Moira is a brigade Moirarch is the leader of the brigade.

*Meros is a division Merarch is the leader of a division

*Thema = Army Strategos = General

*Thracion is a fancy way to say Thrace the region Constantinople is inside