Path To Radiance; First Ascent

"What's wrong, Jut?" Tamos asks in his normal, uninterested tone.

"I forgot that I sent Tella to save us a table. I'm not worried about her getting the EXP since she is in the party, but I feel kinda bad for registering without her. I mean, she was very useful in the dungeon."

"Would you like me to go get her?" Tamos asks.

"No need." Tella's voice sounds to my left as she strides in the front door. As soon as she's next to me, she punches me in the arm. "My Lord, why didn't you tell me we were turning in the quest first? I could have had the table held for our return and still been here." Her look is one of reproach. I can't blame her either.

"My bad, Tella, I'm sorry." I run my hand through my hair. "I... well...I forgot that I had sent you off by the time we had decided to stop here first."

At this, Aeona rejoins the circle while Brick approaches the counter. "It won't matter anyway. I am guessing no one has a Life Improvement or Life Support skill?" We all shake our heads in response to her question. "We can't enter until we have one of each."

I huff and look at the ceiling. If it's not one thing it's another. "Wanna have everyone register, then head over to the market?" I look to everyone. It's nodding all around.

The registration only takes a few minutes. All one has to do is place their hand on the colored pad in front of the attendant.

The Player's profile is brought up and the attendant asks a few simple questions like: "What role are you planning on fulfilling?", "Are you part of a Guild?", "Do you agree to the five percent tax on all loot?" and a few others that I think are irrelevant.

After we're finish, we make our way to the door. The attendant calls out to me. "Leader Zoak?"

I turn on the spot. "Yes, ma'am?" I jog back to her station. Her use of my title is a little surprising as I didn't tell her about it while registering. She just looks at me with a small smile and points to a door opposite the entrance. I hadn't even noticed it. The golden door resembles the door Clayton entered to allow us access and takes up the entire wall.

The solid gold block has ornate engravings. A keyhole is visible smack dab in the middle at about chest height on me. The engravings around the keyhole are significantly more intricate than the rest. It should have been obvious as soon as I walked in. Especially since the key in my bag is about two hand-spans long, two inches thick and looks like it fits the hole perfectly.

After a quick "duh" moment, I slide the key out of my bag and stick it into the hole. It fits as perfectly as expected and turns smoothly as if the mechanism had been oiled recently. The door copies the main entrance when it opens. The gold block slides up into the ceiling and disappears, taking the key with it. A stone stairway is revealed. There is also a barrier between us and the first step. I reach out as if to approach the swirling, translucent wall.

The male attendant suddenly clears his throat and speaks. "Leader Zoak. I wouldn't walk into that if I were you. If you do not have full access, you will feel a lot of... pain." I instantly pull my hand back as if bitten.

"Uh, thanks Mister." I turn to him and make a face to indicate I am looking for a name.

He chuckles then bows extravagantly. "I am Johann. My lovely assistant is Alexa." I hadn't looked at this guy beforehand. I take in his appearance as he rises from his bow. He is about a head shorter than me and is wearing a fur cap. He has long sleeves that are dark blue with a red sleeveless vest over top. His full beard reaches his Adam's apple and his mustache is tied into a straight handlebar style. "My purpose is to collect the taxable percentage of your loot upon leaving the Tower. If you die while in the Tower, you will return to the Graveyard of Resurrection which is to the left on your way up the stairs. I also have a variety of wares, if you so desire to take a look." He finishes by waving his hand at the glass shelves behind him. All kinds of goodies are arranged behind him with price tags before each. This Johann seems pretty genuine to me.