Chapter 529: The Hall of Banners

The introduction of Adventurer Team Registration created an unexpected problem for the Royal Capital Headquarters.

Nobody knew what an official Adventurer Team was supposed to look like.

The registration procedures were straightforward enough. A Platinum Adventurer could establish a team, become its registered leader, and begin accumulating collective accomplishments toward the seven Team Ranks.

Garran Holt’s department had already prepared the necessary ledgers, while the reception clerks had received instructions concerning the new service.

However, Sage had begun considering something beyond paperwork.

An Adventurer Team needed an identity.

Mercenary companies throughout the Kingdom already possessed recognizable insignias, distinctive equipment, and occasionally elaborate banners. Noble families displayed their heraldry upon shields, carriages, and clothing, allowing their retainers to be identified from a considerable distance.

There was no reason Adventurer Teams couldn’t develop similar traditions.

In fact, Sage believed they should.

He sat inside his office examining several drawings spread across his desk. Each depicted a different crest, accompanied by suggestions for colors, patterns, and clothing.

Boren stood nearby, regarding the collection with mild suspicion.

"Guildmaster, why do you have drawings of wolves, swords, and what appears to be a particularly angry chicken?" Boren asked, lifting one of the parchments.

Sage glanced at the drawing. "That’s supposed to be a griffin."

Boren examined it again before placing the parchment down. "Then the artist owes griffins an apology."

Sage laughed, although he privately agreed that the drawing required improvement.

---

"The idea is simple," Sage explained, gathering the sketches. "If Adventurer Teams are going to become permanent organizations, they should have recognizable identities. A team should be able to enter a town and have people recognize its banner before anyone announces its name."

Boren considered the proposal. "Like the insignias used by knightly orders and established mercenary companies?"

"Similar, but with traditions belonging specifically to Adventurer Teams," Sage replied. "Each registered team could choose its own colors, symbols, and preferred appearance. The Guild would then provide a place where those designs could be properly recorded and produced."

Boren examined another sketch. "And you intend to offer this as an official Guild service?"

"Exactly," Sage answered. "We already possess skilled craftsmen, and the Smithing Complex works with several leatherworkers and equipment suppliers. Establishing a dedicated facility wouldn’t require building an entirely new workshop."

The more Sage considered the idea, the more possibilities emerged.

A team’s crest could appear upon its banner, clothing, shields, equipment, and official documents. Its members could wear distinctive cloaks that identified their affiliation, while its colors would become associated with its accomplishments.

Eventually, a famous team might become recognizable throughout the Kingdom without anyone needing to introduce its members.

Sage smiled.

That was the sort of reputation worth building.

---

Later that morning, Sage gathered Bramdir Coppervein, Tobias Merrow, and Garran Holt for a meeting.

Bramdir arrived from the Smithing Complex with soot still visible upon his sleeves, while Tobias carried a collection of supply estimates. Garran brought the recently prepared Team Registration procedures.

Sage explained his proposal before placing several crest designs upon the table.

"I want to establish a Hall of Banners," he announced. "A dedicated facility where registered Adventurer Teams can create and preserve their official identities."

Bramdir examined the sketches with interest. "You want us making banners, Guildmaster?"

"Banners, crests, distinctive cloaks, and other suitable insignias," Sage clarified. "Not everything needs to be produced by the Smithing Complex itself. We’ll work with experienced tailors, embroiderers, leatherworkers, and metal craftsmen."

Tobias nodded thoughtfully. "We already have suppliers capable of providing quality cloth and dyes. Some of the merchants working with the Guild could arrange larger quantities if demand increases."

Garran studied the drawings. "We’ll need to ensure every design corresponds to a properly registered team. Otherwise, anyone could claim to represent an organization they don’t belong to."

"Precisely," Sage replied. "The Hall will work alongside Mission Administration. Every approved design must be recorded under the team’s registered name."

---

They spent the next hour discussing the practical arrangements.

The Hall of Banners would occupy a spacious chamber within the Headquarters complex, with adjoining rooms for consultations, design work, and storage. The Guild would employ skilled craftsmen capable of translating a Team Leader’s ideas into proper heraldic designs.

Registered teams would choose their preferred colors, symbols, and visual themes, provided their designs did not deliberately imitate another registered team or misuse established royal and noble insignias.

The Hall would preserve an official copy of every approved crest.

Bramdir suggested producing metal badges bearing the same designs, while Tobias proposed maintaining a reliable supply of suitable cloth for team cloaks.

Garran raised another concern.

"What happens when a team changes its leader or recruits additional members?" he asked. "We should avoid confusion concerning who possesses the right to use its insignia."

Sage considered the question before answering. "The crest belongs to the registered team, not merely to whichever member happens to be wearing it. Changes in leadership and membership must be recorded, and the team remains responsible for controlling its official insignia."

Garran nodded, making a note.

The arrangements were becoming more substantial than Sage had initially anticipated.

Still, he considered the effort worthwhile.

---

Construction and preparation began shortly afterward.

Rather than commissioning an entirely new building, Tobias arranged for an existing chamber near the Grand Guild Hall to be converted into the Hall of Banners.

Carpenters installed display stands and polished wooden counters, while craftsmen prepared tables large enough for spreading cloth and drawing elaborate designs.

Tall frames were positioned along the walls, ready to display the banners of officially registered teams.

Additional cabinets were prepared to preserve design records and samples of approved materials.

Bramdir recruited several craftsmen familiar with decorative metalwork, while Tobias arranged agreements with experienced tailors and embroiderers.

Within days, the chamber had begun taking shape.

Sage visited during the preparations and found two craftsmen arguing over the placement of a large display frame.

One insisted that it belonged near the entrance, while the other argued that it would obstruct visitors.

Sage examined the frame before suggesting a position along the opposite wall.

The craftsmen immediately resumed their work.

Boren, who had accompanied him, looked around the chamber.

"It’s certainly becoming impressive," Boren remarked. "Although I suspect you’ll eventually want an even larger hall."

Sage smiled. "That depends upon how many teams we register."

Boren gave him a knowing look. "Which means we’ll eventually need a larger hall."

---

The Hall of Banners officially opened the following week.

Its entrance featured a polished wooden sign bearing the facility’s name, while several sample banners hung inside to demonstrate the possibilities available to registered teams.

One displayed a silver wolf against dark blue cloth. Another featured crossed swords upon a crimson field, while a third depicted a golden stag surrounded by green embroidery.

The designs were examples rather than insignias belonging to existing teams.

Along the walls stood mannequins wearing cloaks of different colors and patterns.

Some possessed simple embroidered crests upon the shoulder. Others featured larger symbols across the back, with decorative borders running along their edges.

Sage examined the finished work with satisfaction.

The cloaks were particularly important.

Unlike banners, which might remain at a headquarters or be carried during formal occasions, cloaks could accompany Adventurers wherever they traveled.

A team entering a distant settlement could immediately distinguish itself through its clothing.

And once its reputation became established, those cloaks might inspire admiration, excitement, or caution among the people who recognized them.

---

Naturally, Leon Drakar was among the first visitors.

As the Guild’s only Platinum Adventurer, he was currently the sole individual qualified to establish an officially recognized Adventurer Team.

He entered the Hall accompanied by Lucan and Mina, who had apparently decided that the occasion was too interesting to miss.

Leon examined the sample banners before turning toward Sage.

"Guildmaster Sage, you’ve certainly given this new service considerable attention," Leon remarked, studying a cloak decorated with silver embroidery.

Sage nodded. "A team should possess something that distinguishes it from every other organization. Its members ought to take pride in the identity they establish together."

Lucan examined the displayed designs with genuine interest. "I can see the appeal. A recognizable crest would also help merchants and employers identify reputable teams."

"Exactly," Sage replied. "A well-established reputation becomes valuable when people can recognize it immediately."

Mina had already wandered toward the cloaks.

She lifted the edge of a dark blue garment and examined its silver embroidery.

"Uncle Sage, can I have one of these?" Mina asked, looking toward him hopefully.

Sage shook his head with an amused smile. "Those are samples for registered Adventurer Teams, Mina."

Mina frowned. "Then I’ll make my own team."

Lucan laughed softly. "You’ll need to reach Platinum Rank first."

Mina turned toward him with a mischievous grin. "Then I’ll reach it before you."

Leon’s laughter echoed throughout the hall.

---

Their attention soon returned to the sample designs.

Leon appeared particularly interested in the idea of creating a recognizable team identity, although he had not yet submitted a formal registration.

Lucan, meanwhile, was examining the official design procedures displayed near the consultation counter.

"So the crest must be approved and recorded before the team can use it officially?" Lucan asked, pointing toward the written instructions.

Sage nodded. "Correct. We don’t want several teams claiming the same insignia. The records will also help prevent fraudulent use of a recognized team’s identity."

Leon folded his arms thoughtfully. "And members would wear cloaks bearing that crest?"

"If they choose to," Sage explained. "The appearance belongs to the team. Some may prefer matching cloaks, while others might use badges, embroidered clothing, or shields. The Hall provides the means to establish a consistent identity."

Lucan nodded approvingly.

"That could become quite influential."

Sage smiled. "That’s the intention."

---

Word of the Hall of Banners spread rapidly throughout Headquarters.

Adventurers visited to examine the displays, even though most were not yet qualified to establish their own teams.

Some discussed the symbols they would choose. Others argued about suitable colors, while several experienced Warriors began considering how their existing companions might eventually form officially recognized organizations.

The craftsmen found themselves answering numerous questions concerning materials, embroidery, and possible designs.

Bramdir soon reported that several Adventurers had already requested estimates for decorative equipment bearing hypothetical team crests.

Sage instructed him to accept ordinary commissions where appropriate, but to reserve official team insignias for properly registered organizations.

He wanted the distinction to remain clear.

A decorative symbol was one thing.

An officially recognized Adventurer Team crest was another.

As the days passed, the Hall became one of the most frequently visited chambers near the Grand Guild Hall.

---

One evening, Sage returned to inspect the facility after most visitors had departed.

Several sample banners hung quietly along the walls, their embroidered symbols illuminated by the warm light of nearby lamps.

Boren accompanied him, carrying the latest report concerning visitor interest.

"Quite a few Adventurers have been discussing future team registrations," Boren observed. "It seems the Hall has attracted more attention than we expected."

Sage examined the empty display frames prepared for official team banners.

"They’re imagining what they might become," he replied. "That’s worth encouraging."

Boren looked toward the rows of cloaks.

"And you believe these symbols will eventually become famous?"

Sage nodded. "If the teams wearing them accomplish enough, certainly. One day, people might recognize a banner approaching their town and know immediately which Adventurers have arrived."

He imagined teams traveling across distant kingdoms, their cloaks bearing the marks of achievements earned through countless expeditions.

Some would become renowned for defeating powerful monsters. Others might earn recognition through exploration, rescue missions, or protecting settlements from danger.

Their banners would carry the stories of those accomplishments wherever they traveled.

For now, the Hall of Banners possessed only sample designs and empty spaces awaiting their first official occupants.

But Sage could already envision a future in which those walls displayed the crests of Adventurer Teams celebrated throughout the world.

And it would all begin with the first team willing to raise its banner.