7 Preparation
"Whatcha need son?" came the baritone question from a giant of a man.
The guy was quite literally ducking his head under lamps and the hanging herbs. His movements were fluid though, moving ingredients from chop board to chop board. And his knife skills were nothing to scoff at. Definitely someone whose been well trained in the kitchen.
"Was told I could restock before heading back to Haven Oaks and now I ain't got much but I did pick up some things from a few Jackalopes. Was hoping I might be able to trade some of them off"
"I could use the meat, the hides you'll want to take into town and I ain't got no use for the horns. Toss them up on the table here, let's take a look. Been a while since we've had some Jackalope Stew"
I saved two of the C+ quality ones and brought the other ten out from my inventory. Each was looked at, flipped over and inspected.
"All rather normal, I'll give you 20 coppers each"
I don't really know if that's a good price or not but the guy doesn't seem like the type to rip you off. Not to mention I doubt someone whose apart of such a small town wants that kind of reputation. Wonder how the currency here even works, help money.
*~~*
[Help Money]
(There are four types of coins in Te'luna. Copper, Silver, Gold and Platinum)
~100 Copper = 1 Silver
~100 Silver = 1 Gold
~100 Gold = 1 Platinum
*~~*
Easy to remember, I like it.
"Works for me, names Regi. Just arrived at Haven Oaks earlier today" I said holding out my hand
"Brian the resident Chef and Quartermaster around here" he replied as his hand completely engulfed mine as he shook it.
"So you're the man to also see about other supplies too then"
"That I would be, said you just arrived earlier today in Te'luna?"
"Yeah, picked Haven Oaks and met with Hershel who guided me to the Quest Board and here I am"
"Not too bad of an adventure for a greenie, took most people a few days to a week to wrap their heads around everything"
I always wondered about that why did I seemingly arrive so much later than everyone else? I remember the information about Haven Oaks when I was looking at it said it was 15 days of age.
"What's with everyone showing up at different times by the way? I noticed it said Haven Oaks was 15 days of age when I picked it"
"Far as we can tell the first people selected was about four months ago. The only reason that is even known is due to the Waystone which is connected to the Capitol. Most of the current guards are from there"
"Anyways the process seems to be like that of someone reaching into a giant bowl and pulling us out one at a time. The ones doing the pulling are called the 'Helpers' which are just regular people who connect to System. Kind of like how jury duty was set up back on Earth"
So regular people are selected to become one of these Helpers and the Helpers are the ones pulling people out of Purgatory. Makes you wonder who was helping the very first people before there was anyone to even become a Helper.
"I know my Helper was a bit peeved with me, I was apparently unconscious for a bit of time when I was selected"
"I'm not one to put my nose in others business but I wouldn't go around telling people that"
"What that I was unconscious?"
"Every single person who arrived unconscious was given a starter package and no one knows why. Some came with land deeds, royalty titles or the rumored spells and artifacts. Once a pattern was established a few people in the Capitol were even killed over them. Miss Marie was one who got lucky and met Jensen who helped her out of the city to establish Haven Oaks."
"But I wasn't given any kind of starter package, I busted my nose which woke me up. Then chewed out for sleeping and my entire creation rushed. But there wasn't any starter package, I would have remembered that"
"Well, either way just something to keep under your hat if you catch my drift. You could always ask Marie, she might know more as she went through it"
I'll definitely have to bring it up with her, I mean I don't really want to own any land or run around as royalty. It's not like I can use spells either but it might be something I could sell or trade off to someone else though.
"Thanks for the tip, anyways I got 200 coppers. What all do you have?"
He presses on a few screens and a list appeared before me.
*~~*
[Quartermaster's Shop]
~Armors
~Crafting
~Food
~Misc
~Weapons
*~~*
Each category doesn't have much but I picked up a Portable Alchemy Kit that came with a dozen vials for 100 Copper. That was the most expensive buy. I really wanted to get some armors but they were all way beyond my price range to begin with. Another 50 copper was spent on a camping kit which contained a few pieces of flint, some small crudely made pots, pans and utensils and a backpack that increased my carry weight by 55.
"Much appreciated Brian, should make my life a bit easier with that camping kit"
"Not a problem, all new guards pick that up too. I know you were looking at some of the armors but if you take those hides you picked up to the tailor Sean in town he can maybe make you a few pieces. Nothing fancy mind you, but it'll be something at least"
"Will do, oh before I go. You wouldn't happen to know what a bonus is for Quests would you? That Jackalope Quest I took has a bonus to it but there wasn't any information to it"
"Bonuses are like mini quests that can appear during your main Quest. It's not always clear what needs to be done but if you can figure it out the rewards are always really nice"
I took my leave from the tent and looked up at the sun that was starting to set. Guess I won't have time to make the trip back. Traveling at night in an unfamiliar land is a good way to put yourself in some kind of fucked up situation.
I notice a few rows of smaller tents in the opposite corner and asked one of the guards passing by if that's the resting area, which it was. Might as well set up camp for the night and start bright and early tomorrow.
Doesn't take long to set up my tent and I gather up a few things to get a small fire going. I roll a medium-sized log over to use as a chair and a small stump as a mini table. It's time to play with my new toy. Pulling the Alchemy Set out it's not much to look at but the idea of potions has me giddy.
I poke and prod at it for a bit until I get the menu to appear.
*~~*
[Alchemy Set]
~Make Potion
~Test Ingredient
*~~*
I don't really know how to make any potions yet but I do have those horns from the Jackalopes, those were ingredients. Selecting the test option it brings me to another screen where I can select the ingredient I want. I do so and hit confirm, my arms automatically start moving of their own will.
Which to be honest is a bit weird, it's like you're a puppet. The horn is ground up into a powder with a mortar and pestle and then mixed in with some water to the device.
*~~*
[Alchemic Effect Detected!]
*Fortify Dexterity
*~~*
[Alchemy Level Increased!]
*~~*
Neat, not like I can do anything with it since I still don't know how to make any potions but still a cool process. I place everything back into my inventory and make myself a quick meal before hitting the sack. My first day in this new world wasn't so bad if you ignore the bloodthirsty rabbits and bandits.
*~~*
Name: Reginald
Race: Wyldling
Level: 2
Class: Adventurer
Title: The First
Wealth: 0.0.0.50
Health: 127
Stamina: 102
Mana: N/A
Exp TNL: 580
Points Available: 0
Strength: 26
Dexterity: 41
Constitution: 27
Magic: N/A
Wisdom: 36
Fame: 375
Traits:
[Perception]
[Pinpoint]
[Ecologist]
[Racial: Mask of the Wyld]
[Empty]
[Empty]
*~~*
Main Skills:
[Cartography] Novice 1/10
[Dodge] Novice 4/10
[Knives] Novice 6/10
[Light Armor] Novice 1/10
[Lockpicking] Novice 1/10
[Observe] Novice 4/10
[Sneak/Hide] Novice 2/10
[Tracking] Novice 1/10
[Throwing] Novice 3/10
[Unarmed Combat] Novice 3/10
*~~*
Crafting Skills:
[Alchemy] Novice 6/10
[Cooking] Novice 3/10
[Herbalism] Novice 1/10
[Hunting] Novice 6/10
[Empty] N/A 0/10
*~~*
[Inventory: Carry Weight 72/230]
*~~*
Rations x2
Small Tent
Canteen
Jackalope Meat x2
Jackalope Hides x11
Jackalope Horns x12
Portable Alchemy Set
Camping Kit
*~~*
