The Mage Guild

Kardo walked down the stairs of the inn and headed towards the front desk, where the innkeeper was stationed. He approached the desk and cleared his throat to get the attention of the innkeeper, a stout middle-aged man with a thick beard.

"Good morning," Kardo greeted him. "I'm afraid there was an incident in my room last night."

The innkeeper looked up at Kardo with a raised eyebrow. "What kind of incident?" he asked.

"A thief broke into my room," Kardo explained. "She was rummaging through my belongings when I woke up. We had a confrontation that unfortunately led to her death."

The innkeeper's expression changed from confusion to concern. "I'm sorry to hear that," he said sympathetically. "Do you need any assistance? Should I call the authorities?"

"No, that won't be necessary," Kardo replied. "I just wanted to report the incident and make sure you were aware of what happened."

The innkeeper nodded understandingly. "I appreciate you letting me know," he said. "We take the safety of our guests very seriously here. We will clean the room for you and take care of the body."

"I'm glad to hear that," Kardo said. "Is there a mage's guild in this town? I need to seek their assistance for a matter."

"Yes, there is," the innkeeper answered. "It's a few streets down from here; just look for a sign with a symbol of a staff and a flame."

"Thank you," Kardo said, giving the innkeeper a nod of appreciation before heading towards the door.

Kardo stepped out of the inn, taking in a deep breath of the crisp morning air. The sun had just risen, casting a golden glow over the sleepy town. He stretched his arms and legs, feeling the tension from the previous night's events dissipate.

He couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. He had a feeling that the incident with the thief was only the beginning of something much bigger and more dangerous. But for now, he needed to focus on finding the mage's guild and getting the assistance he needed.

He knew he needed to find the mage's guild to get some answers about the vision he had in his dream. He looked around, trying to get his bearings. He spotted a young girl walking down the street, carrying a basket of fresh bread.

"Excuse me, miss," he called out to her.

The girl turned around and looked at him, her eyes wide with surprise. "Yes, sir?" she replied.

"I'm looking for the mage's guild. Do you know where I can find it?" Kardo asked, his voice friendly.

The girl nodded. "Yes, sir. You can find it at the edge of town, near the old abandoned mill. It's a big building with a tower. You can't miss it," she said with a smile.

"Thank you, miss. You've been very helpful," Kardo said, returning her smile.

He walked towards the edge of town, following the girl's directions. After a few minutes of walking, he saw the mage's guild in the distance. It was indeed a grand building, with a tower that reached towards the sky. As he got closer, he saw the emblem of the guild etched into the stone above the entrance.

Kardo took a deep breath and entered the guild, his heart racing with anticipation.

As Kardo stepped into the mage guild, he couldn't help but feel a bit out of place. The room was filled with people of different races, all wearing robes of varying colors and designs. He made his way to the front desk and cleared his throat.

"Excuse me, I'm looking for some assistance. I believe I'm being targeted by some dangerous individuals, and I need help."

The mage looked up, taking in Kardo's appearance with a raised eyebrow. "And what makes you think we can help you?"

"I have reason to believe that these individuals are magical in nature," Kardo replied. "I was attacked by a drow in my own room last night, and I need to know what kind of magic I'm dealing with."

The mage nodded thoughtfully, rising from his chair. "Very well. Follow me, and we'll see what we can do to help you."

Kardo followed the mage to a back room, where a circle of runes had been inscribed on the stone floor. The mage gestured for Kardo to step inside the circle, then began to chant in a language Kardo didn't recognize.

As the mage's voice grew louder, Kardo could feel a tingling sensation in the air around him. He looked down to see the runes on the floor glowing with a soft blue light, and he felt a sudden surge of power.

The mage finished his incantation, and the light faded, leaving Kardo feeling slightly disoriented. "What was that?" he asked, feeling a little overwhelmed.

"That was a detection spell," the mage explained. "It should allow us to identify any magical energies that may be present in your surroundings."

Kardo nodded, feeling a little more confident now. "Thank you. Can you tell me what kind of magic was used on the dark elf who attacked me?"

The mage consulted a few books, then looked up with a frown. "I'm sorry, I can't identify the specific type of magic used. It seems to be a very ancient and powerful form, not commonly used in this realm."

Kardo's heart sank a little at the news, but he remained determined. "I was wondering if I could speak to someone about a dream I had last night."

The mage looked up from the books, studying Kardo for a moment before nodding. "Of course, we offer dream interpretation services. What did you dream about?"

Kardo hesitated for a moment, unsure of how much to share. "I dreamt about a group of driders worshipping their queen. Then the queen spoke to a mage and asked about a threat to her. The mage summoned an image of me."

The mage's eyebrows raised in surprise. "That's quite a specific dream. And you say it's related to something that happened last night?"

Kardo nodded. "Yes, I woke up to find a dark elf thief in my room. I ended up having to defend myself."

The mage's expression grew serious. "It sounds like there may be more to this than just a simple break-in. I'll have to consult with some of our experts on the matter. Please wait here."

Kardo nodded and took a seat in one of the nearby chairs. As he waited, he couldn't help but feel a bit uneasy. What was the connection between his dream and the thief in his room? And who was this queen of driders that seemed to be involved?

Eventually, the mage returned with an older woman in tow. "This is Mira," he said, gesturing to the woman. "She's one of our most experienced dream interpreters. She'll be able to help you make sense of your dream and hopefully shed some light on what happened last night."

Kardo thanked the mage and turned to face Mira. She was an elderly human woman with kind eyes and a warm smile. "Tell me about your dream, child," she said, motioning for Kardo to start.

Kardo took a deep breath and recounted his dream in detail, watching as Mira's expression grew increasingly serious. When he finished, she sat back in her chair and stroked her chin thoughtfully.

"This dream is not a coincidence," she said finally. "There are forces at work that are beyond your understanding. I believe that you were meant to have that dream and that it's related to the drow who entered your room last night."

Kardo leaned forward, intrigued. "What do you mean?"

Mira sighed. "There are many factions in this realm, some more dangerous than others. It's possible that this queen of driders is one of those factions and that you've somehow caught her attention."

Kardo's brow furrowed in confusion. "But why me? I'm just a rogue trying to make my way in the world."

Mira smiled gently. "Sometimes fate has a way of choosing us, whether we want it to or not.

"But who sent the dream to me?" Kardo asked, confused.

"Who knows? Maybe an ally. Or maybe someone who is also an enemy of the drieder queen," Mira replied.

"Can you tell me more about the driders and their queen?" Kardo asked.

The mage frowned, deep in thought. "The driders are not to be trifled with. They are a powerful race of creatures, part spider and part elf, with a fierce loyalty to their queen."

Kardo nodded, absorbing the information. "What can you tell me about the queen?" he asked.

The mage sighed. "She is a formidable adversary," he said. "Her name is Lolth, and she is known as the Queen of Spiders. She commands the loyalty of all driders and some drow, and she is not to be underestimated."

Kardo listened intently, his mind racing with possibilities. He had no idea why the queen of the driders would see him as a threat, but he knew he needed to find out more. "Is there anything else you can tell me about the driders or the queen?" he asked.

The mage thought for a moment, then nodded. "There is one thing you should know," he said. "The driders are known to be masters of stealth and assassination. If you are their target, you must be very careful."

Kardo nodded, feeling a chill run down his spine. He knew he was in danger, but he also knew he couldn't panic now. He had to find out why the queen of the driders saw him as a threat and what he could do to avoid her.

Kardo thanked Mira and walked back to the mage who had assisted him earlier. He approached the mage with a concerned look on his face

"Is there any way you can help me avoid the driders?" he asked.

The mage stroked his beard thoughtfully. "Well, there are a few spells that could be of use, but they are quite complex and require a lot of preparation. And even then, they might not be foolproof."

Kardo's expression fell. "Is there anything else you can suggest? I can't just keep running forever."

The mage thought for a moment before speaking again. "Perhaps there is one thing that might work. There is a powerful wizard who lives in a tower on the outskirts of the city. He has a reputation for being able to handle difficult situations, and he might be willing to help you."

Kardo's interest was piqued. "Do you think he would be willing to help me?"

"It's hard to say," the mage replied. "He can be rather unpredictable. But if you're willing to take the risk, I could give you directions to his tower."

Kardo nodded. "I'll take my chances. Can you tell me how to get there?"

The mage pulled out a piece of parchment and a quill and began to sketch out a map. "Here, this should be enough to get you there. Just be careful, Kardo. The wizard can be dangerous if he feels threatened."

Kardo looked around the mage guild, scanning the shelves and display cases for any magical items that might be of use to him. "Do you sell any magical items that might be useful in a fight against my enemies?"

"We do have some enchanted weapons and protective items that could be of use to you," he said slowly. "But you should know that such items can be quite costly and may not always guarantee your safety."

Kardo nodded, understanding the risks. "I'm willing to pay whatever it takes," he replied firmly. "I need to be prepared for whatever comes my way."

The mage nodded and gestured for Kardo to follow him to a nearby shelf. "We have a few enchanted weapons that might be of interest to you," he said, indicating a row of gleaming swords and daggers. "We also have a selection of protective amulets and rings that can shield you from magical attacks."

Kardo browsed through the various magical items on display in the mage guild. His eyes darted from one object to another, trying to find something that would aid him in his quest against the driders. As he scanned the shelves, his gaze fell upon a sturdy-looking belt with a gleaming silver buckle.

"What's that belt?" he asked the mage attending to him.

The mage smiled. "Ah, that's the Belt of Strength. It enhances your physical abilities, making you stronger and more resilient. It's one of our bestsellers, and for good reason. Many adventurers find it incredibly useful in battle."

Kardo's eyes lit up at the prospect of becoming stronger. He had always relied on his speed and agility in combat, but having more strength would definitely be an advantage. He tried on the belt and felt its power coursing through him.

"This is perfect," he said, grinning.

But then his eyes fell on a pair of gloves lying on the shelf nearby. They were made of supple leather and adorned with intricate gold embroidery.

"And what are those gloves?" he asked, pointing to them.

The mage's smile widened. "Ah, those are the Gloves of Dexterity. They're perfect for someone like you who relies on agility and quick reflexes. They increase your dexterity, making you faster and more nimble."

Kardo tried on the gloves and felt the difference immediately. His fingers felt more nimble, and he felt like he could move faster.

"I'll take them both," he said.

The mage nodded and rang up his purchase.

"These will do nicely," he said, handing over a pouch of gold coins in exchange for the items. "Thank you for your help."

The mage nodded, watching as Kardo stowed the items carefully in his pack. "Be careful out there," he warned. "The driders are dangerous creatures, and their queen is not to be underestimated."

Kardo nodded, a determined look in his eyes. "I won't let them catch me off guard again," he vowed before turning and leaving the mage guild, determined to find the wizard and get the help he needed to avoid the driders.