The big city is in an uproar today. There is a special dungeon in town that only opens once a week, and it's opening today. It will be open from noon today until noon tomorrow before it locks and resets for the week, but you can only enter it one time. If you leave and try to return it will kick you out.
It also requires a minimum of ten in a party to enter, any less and the entry portal is like walking into a wall. A maximum of 25 is permitted, but going with the maximum numbers only spreads the drops out over more people. At least according to the warriors at the next table during breakfast.
They've come here with their guild from a few villages away just to give it a try. The items that drop in here are supposed to have a much higher than usual chance of dropping at Legendary and Epic quality, as well as an increased chance to get ability books.
Now, that sounds particularly good to the three of them, given their success at getting Epic items on a regular day, so the decision is made to go check out the town square near the entrance where those without a big enough group gather.
The atmosphere in the square feels like a festival. Hawkers shouting the roles they need, 'Healer, Healer' sounding a bit like pigeons looking for a generous soul to feed them.
Food carts, plus equipment, weapon, and potion vendors have been set up all around the perimeter, and the group all waves when they see Lickity selling her wares. Misha has been put in charge of finding them a group, as her role is the most in-demand.
With so many groups eyeing her hungrily as they walk through the square, it makes Cain and Mythryll feel a bit like they're her bodyguards.
They wave as they find Lickity hawking her wares and grab some peanut brittle for the walk. No sense being hungry at a festival, right?
Finally, one group does catch her eye, a Guild in matching color cloaks looking for a Healer plus 2. All of them are nearly level 60, which should make life much easier. They've got a very well geared warrior tank Misha thinks looks easy to heal and sensible, so she brings everyone over to say hello. They've made a simple sign [Healer Requested].
"Morning Miss." Their group leader smiles.
"Hi, I'm Misha, level 43 cleric, with [Greater Cure Poison] and [Remove Curse]. With me are a nature-type Support mage and a versatile Summoner class." She greets him back, getting right to the point.
"That sounds acceptable, let's move somewhere quieter." He answers, moving to a sitting area away from the main gathering of adventurers.
"We've got the three you see here, plus another Tank, a Healer, and two Mages." The other tank who happens to be our Guild Master, is almost to level 60. They went to help him grind at the undead dungeon this morning and should be back within an hour once he levels up.
"You've got a Healer, but you're looking for a Healer?" Misha asks confused.
"Yeah, don't trust anyone who says one Healer is fine. Unless you've got Paladins or a Vampire Tank that's geared, you need a second Healer just for the tanks or you risk losing damage members to keep them alive." their warrior tank says.
"That's also why control members matter. A bunch of the monsters in their cast area spells, so the more you can stop that, the easier it is on the healers." The party leader adds.
"What can you do for a summons? Something like the Warlocks Imps, or different?" he asks turning to Cain.
A warlock can Summon two small imps that cast demon fire. If they focus on building them up they can do quite a lot of damage on their own, or so the group has heard, having never seen one in person.
"I can call on seven total at a time. Two Greater summons that can be Tanks, damage or minor control roles and 5 small summons that are damage dealers." Cain responds with a bit of pride.
"Tank type summons? Can you call them here, so we can see what you mean? It's a nonattack ability permitted area, you won't get in trouble."
Cain switches the form of his [Summon Greater Golem] back to the tank and calls them out. The huge, shield-bearing Golems are attracting attention and impressed whistles from the groups currently looking for members and passersby. He removes them after the group has had a moment to examine them.
"If they're as tough as they look, that is quite the skill. Replaceable tanks would make any Healer happy in a tight spot." Their mage nods impressed.
The group leader was right, the rest of the guild is back within the hour, but there are only three of them and they don't look happy.
"What happened boss? Where did Healbot go?" That poor guy named his character Healbot, not knowing it would be his name for life. All three take a moment to give a prayer of sympathy for the poorly named cleric.
"Farkin loser rage quit the guild, because of a stupid drop item. It's not even that valuable, but we agreed that legendary drops would go to the guild's base fund." the Guild Master tells him, clearly upset.
The two Mages behind him don't look mad at the Healer, they look mad at the Guild Master.
"You sold off a legendary necklace recipe that adds 20 percent healing in exchange for a cute outfit for your girlfriend." One points out.
"I said I'll pay it back into the guild fund, and I will. What's the big deal? You know what, forget this. I'm not in the mood. Let's go home."
He stomps away and everyone stares at him. He didn't even get to find out they'd filled the group, except for the Healer he chased off.
"Well, that was exciting. I should have brought popcorn." Mythryll says softly and the leader of the recruitment party laughs.
"We'll likely be looking for a nonguild group by this time next week the way things are going. That girl is bad news, bleeding him dry and he won't see sense." he sighs.
"Add me as a friend and we can catch each other next week," Cain tells him. "Without the guild leader preferably."
They all laugh and start to disperse. "Oh, if you wanted that recipe, your friend Lickity will have it. She's the best strictly fashion vendor in town, so that will be where he sold it."
That's when Cain realized the group had deliberately set themselves so they could see the scantily clad Lickity's cart all day. True Gentlemen of Culture.