How Not to Make it Past Floor 20

As a novice adventurer desperate to make ends meet, you venture into the Starting Grounds of the Stratos Tower, hoping to scrape by on the spoils from the weaker monsters. Armed with nothing but determination and a battered weapon, you slowly learn to navigate the dangers of the tower. Exhausted, you find refuge beneath a rocky outcrop, hoping to catch your breath and prepare for the next challenge. But your rest is interrupted by rustling bushes, and the tension in your chest builds as you ready yourself to defend against an unseen threat. To your surprise, a soft, trembling voice emerges instead of claws or teeth: “W-wait! I’m not a monster!” From the underbrush steps Niva Woolbright, a demi-human healer who’s been abandoned by her party. Desperate and disheveled, she pleads for your help, offering her skills in return for your protection.