Chapter 110: Chapter 108: The Third Party

The world was once a great unknown. In times before the wildlands were mapped, before the oceans were crossed, before the mountains were climbed, and before the deep caves were plundered, those who would leave the comforts and safety of the towns and villages to cross, explore, and delve into these places were given the title of ‘adventurers’.

Over time, as these things all gradually began to happen and as the world seemed to shrink in on us because we knew everything that was around us, the designation seems to have lost a little of its original meaning. However, we continue to bestow this same title on those who would plunder into the darkest parts of the world. While we associate adventures with dungeon diving individuals, it’s important to understand that this isn’t a requirement. An adventurer can just as well be someone who fights wild monsters in the savannas and on plateaus as it describes someone who regularly enters into a dungeon to earn their living.

While it is true that the title has lost some of its original romance, there are still plenty of associations left.

While in reality, adventuring is gritty, dirty work with poor pay and an even worse long-term mortality rate, the stories of its romantic nature continue to be told, influencing even the most astute children of the richest noble families to break off and try their own at it, much to the annoyance of their counterparts from the low-born community, who take great offense to those whom they would dub pretenders, as if this were a game being played.

The poor become adventurers to escape crushing poverty.

The rich become adventurers to escape their luxurious images.

To be found out within the adventuring community as being a faker, someone with incredible resources who then chooses to stay within the echelons of low tier adventuring society to experience a lifestyle that isn’t theirs, is as good as a death sentence.

The rich stay with the rich. The poor stay with the poor.

This rule is enforced by both tiers of society.