Chapter 4 Beginner Town and Welcome Package

Ok, now that I have had a good night's sleep, my VR set is fully charged up and I ran down to the market this morning to get breakfast so I was extremely full and ready to go now. I am ready to jump back in the game and take a stroll around the town and see what sort of stuff is in my welcome package that I picked.

I put on my suit and then laid down. I grabbed and put on my VR gloves. Finally my headset was all that's left, I took a deep breath and slid it on my head. I pushed the power button and it turned on.

"Welcome back Shi! Charge is 100% you have 12 hours of game time on this charge. Please do remember to log out and eat occasionally. Logging you in now."

The text scrolled across the screen then everything went black. I saw a loading icon circle in the bottom right hand corner of the screen and waited for it to reached 100%.

I arrived at a location that apparently is where people who log off in town come back to. I walked over to a sign right next to the exit. It said, Welcome back, please visit the mayor to learn how to play. Don't forget to visit the shops and skill trainers to pick up your much needed skills. Your race can only have so many skills and can not be replaced or changed once accepted. You have 3 days from when you create your avatar to pick your skills, failure to do so means you will not get skills anymore. Welcome and good luck.

I walked over to the other sign and it says, The mayor can be found in the middle of town. You must go there before you can shop, obtain any skills or obtain any quests.

I look around at the room I am in and someone else just shows up in here. They look around in awe and meet eyes with me.

"Hello? Who are you? I am new here. What do we do here? I am a Dryad and my name is Nicki. Who are you? Opps I already asked that. Do you know where the mayor is? I don't recognize this room. I was here two days ago. I am 9 how old are you? Are you a male or female I cant tell with your race?"

I laugh quietly to myself. This little girl is so cute and scatterbrained.

"Hello Twiggzy, you shouldn't tell people your real name. I am Shi, female and I am 16 years old. This is the load in room for this village I think. I do not know where the mayor is but we can find him together. I need to see him too."

"Oh ok, will you be my friend? Why did you pick that scary and ewwy race? I don't like reptiles."

"I like dragons and love my wings and scales colors. Here I will send you a friend request. Give me a minute to find it."

I swipe my left hand up and then down fast and a menu appeared. I found the friend request and a keyboard popped up. Typing her name brought her up and I sent the friend request. I noticed that the menu had a timer that is counting down, a clock with my time and in game time and day. These were in addition to what you would expect like inventory- equipment, VR charge, etc. That timer had me curious It was at 2 days 50mins 6 seconds and counting down.

"Yay!!! You are my first friend. Shi is nice. So off to the mayor right?"

I nodded, "Lets go, by the way, do you have a timer in your menu screen? It should be counting down."

Twiggzy opened her menu while walking to the exit with me. "Yes I do it says 9hours 52mins 8seconds. Oh shoot we need to hurry. I don't have a lot of time before I run out of time for my skills and stuff."

I thought to myself oh good now I know what the timer is now. "So what did you get for your welcome package? I haven't opened mine yet."

Twiggzy looks at me puzzled. "What welcome package?"

"The one you get as soon as you complete the character creation and go through the portal to this town."

"I don't know what you are talking about. Did I miss something already?"

"Odd lets go to where we port in and get you that before we see the mayor. I don't think it's too far away from him but I am not fully sure. Ouch!!!"

Twiggzy doubled over with laughter. I had walked into a pole as soon as we were outside. The light was so bright I couldn't see anything so I couldn't see it. A red number 3 appeared above my head. I checked my health bar and saw I had taken 3 damage from running into that darn pole.

I looked around to the left was a huge stone castle wall with a path beside it. In front of me looked like a tradesman row. To the right is what looks like a market with lots of fresh fruit, veggies and meats. The smell of fish and cooked meats wafted towards us from that direction. It made me glad I ate before I put on the VR set.

"Hmmm which way to go. My guess is to the right as the left looks like its the outside of the city."

Still laughing a bit, "We do need to go right. So lets go this way. Follow me!" Twiggzy said.

"How do you know which way to go? I thought you haven't been here before."

"I haven't but the sign says Market/Mayor to the right."

She pointed up and put a huge smirk on her face.

I truly felt like an idiot now. Leave it to me to run into the pole with the signs to give us directions and not look up and see them.

"Shi follow me!!!" Twiggzy shouted excitedly.

I followed after her trailing a bit behind. I was so upset with myself that I missed them.

We walked into the market. It was amazing so many colorful things most I couldn't even name. Food, colorful clothes, trinkets galore... They were trying to sell their wares to all passersby. I heard things like come this way and get a magical fire stone and now have an easy way to start a fire, Its reusable and has no limit. Only 2 gold pieces you wont find cheaper anywhere. I flinched when I heard the price. That was expensive but I could understand the price as it would help an adventurer with making a campfire forever. I thought about it for a sec but realized it would be stupid for me to get one as I can breathe fire naturally. I am Dragonkin.

"Wow, you are so pretty Shi. You are like a black stone with small rainbows all over your body. I have never seen something so pretty before. Away from the sun you are solid black and boring scale/stone but in the light... *sighs*. I know that I hate reptiles but you are so beautiful."

"Thanks, look over there! I see the portal and over there are the welcome packages. Lets go get you yours. First look for your race, then gender for you, then pick the package that calls to you in the proper pile."

"Ok, I will go do that right now."

I stood out of the way and watched Twiggzy skip over to that area and disappear behind some crates. I was really confused why the character avatar didn't tell her about it like she did me. I turned around and looked for a sign for the mayor and I found in across the street and heading though the marketplace the other direction then we went. A few mins later Twiggzy came back looking really sad.

"What's wrong?"

"I cant open it until I talk to the mayor and finish his quest it keeps telling me. I want to open it now."

I smiled and let out a small chuckle. She was so cute pouting because she had to wait. I realized that she is going to have to learn patience in order to do what her race is known for. So we headed towards the mayor.

On the way, "You do know that the dryad race requires a lot of skill and patience to get really good. So you will have to learn that in order to make a name for yourself. Dryads who focus on their roles and tasks are usually some of the richest people in the game. We need them for potions and animals that you can care for. Your race also are the perfect guides."

"I see, hmmm, I didn't realize that when I picked this race. I just knew I loved animals."

"Well at least you are young and have plenty of time to learn your trade skills and patience so you will be amazing in no time I am sure."

"Hey look there is the mayor! YAY!!!"

Twiggzy ran over to the mayor and almost crashed into him as she barely stopped in time. She is so funny and cute. I can see her becoming like a little sister to me or like a daughter to me.

"Greetings traveler and welcome to the beginners town. Are you here to take on my quest?" said the Mayor.

"Greetings Mayor, I am Shi and I would love to know more about your fair city and what your quest entails."

"Hello Shi, my city has everything you need starting out for your character. You will have a couple days to look around, talk to fellow townspeople to learn more about the game and how to play. We have skilled trades people who can teach you much needed skills. Your deeds and actions will help the game grant you your role as well. Now my quest is a simple one. Go back to the portal and collect your welcome package. Then take it to the storage master to have it graded and receive his gift to you as well. He will have a package for you to bring back to me as well to show that you have completed my tasks I have given you. Reward is 2 gold coins and 500exp. Will you accept my quest?"

"Yes I do accept your quest. Thank you for putting your faith in me. I will not let you down."

I stepped back and looked around. Twiggzy was no where to be seen. I pulled up my friends list and sent her a message.

"Where did you go? I just got the quest and you were gone."

I headed to the welcome packages again. While on the way there I got a message back.

"Sorry I had to deliver a package for the mayor to a farm on the outskirts of the town."

I replied, "I got a different quest from him I have to have my welcome package examined by the storage master. Then bring him back a package."

"That's odd maybe its race specific for the quests," Replied Twiggzy. Well meet me in the inn when you get done and we can open our welcome packages together and see what we each got."

"Sounds like a plan. See you then."

I look around but I cant find the storage master so I ask a nearby NPC and he pointed the way.

"Thank you"

He grunted in response and went back to his work.

After about 13 mins I found the storage master. As I approached he looked at me and smiled.

"Welcome fellow traveler what can I do for you this fine day?"

"Hello, my name is Shi and I am here on a quest from the mayor. He told me that I need to get my package appraised by you first. Then I heard you have something for me as well as a package for the mayor that I am to take back to him."

"Alright let me see your package. I charge a small fee depending on the grade of the package. The better the quality the less I charge as you had a good eye when you picked it out. Is the amount of 10copper to 2 gold acceptable to you?"

I was shocked to hear him it could be up to 2 gold but I crossed my fingers and said "Yes that would be fine. Here you go kind sir."

He took my package and was shocked. He looked it over 4 times.

"Your charge is 10 copper you have the SSS quality package. I didn't even know you could get that high of a quality in the welcome packages. I checked it 4 times and made sure it was legit. This is perfect for you and your house. I hope you take care of the items and make sure to have them checked and repaired as often as possible as they can never be replaced ever. I recommend you seek out your house and the nomads to look at one of the items inside as its an ancient relic that I know nothing about but the nomads know everything."

"He is a silver for your appraisal."

"This is too much. Let me give you back your change."

I shook my head. "Keep the change as you gave me more then a simple appraisal. You gave me very valuable information and a direction to go. That means the world to me. So thank you."

"You are very kind and welcome. Now here is the mayor's package. Also here is your guidebook and some starter potions."

*You have received a guidebook, 10 HP, 5 MP and 5 Stamina potions as well as the Mayor's package*

I hope you have a great day storage master.

"Feel free to come back anytime kind Shi."

*Message received*

I open up the message and see a message from Twiggzy. "I have to go to the storage master now to get my package appraised now too. Where is he?"

"He is across the street from the blacksmith." I replied. "I am heading back to the mayor to return his package. See you at the inn."

Back to the mayor I go. 10mins later I get back to the mayor.

"I have returned great mayor with your package."

"Welcome back Shi."

A boy runs up to him and hands him a note.

"One moment please I need to read this."

"Take your time I have all day."

He smiled and read the note. He looked at me and then looked at the note again. His smile left his face and it looked like he started sweating. I wondered if he was a real person vs a NPC. His reactions are just like Wise Cloud and the storage master as well as every other NPC I have met so far. I was starting to wonder if I have done something wrong or what made everyone shocked or walking on eggshells when I interact with them.

He put on a forced smile and cleared his throat, "Well that was a message from the storage master. It seems you found a very rare package in the welcoming mix. Congrats to you. I see you are carrying my package as well. Thank you for that one. If I may ask could you stay here a moment after we conclude the quest?"

I nodded.

"Great thank you, the quest is now complete."

*You have received 2 gold and 500 exp*

"Now how can I be of service Mayor?"

He looked around and then said "Please come with me to my office. This way please."

Confused I followed him to his office. I started to wonder if he was going to give me a follow up quest just like Twiggzy got at the farm. If so he has me getting nervous.

"Ok I will get straight to the point here. You got a package that you need to be very careful with. There are a few things in there that are worth more then you can imagine. They are worth a lot but are completely worthless to pretty much everyone. I don't even know if you will be able to use them. I need to know what is your house?"

"I honestly do not know. The Dragonkin house representatives did not have one for my house present. I was told I would have to find them as I go."

"Ok what did your NPC helper look like when you made your character?"

"Wise Cloud? She looked like a bird like person who was sitting on a cloud."

"Did you just say Wise Cloud?"

"That was the name she gave me when I asked for her name."

"Very interesting... Thank you for your information. If I find out anything about your house I will send you an official mail since you were nice enough to follow me and you tipped the storage master quite well too for his information. Thank you for your time!"

He got up and saw me to the door smiling. I noticed that he was still sweating and there was some odd emotion in his eyes as I left.

I headed out and towards the Inn that I could see across the city center square to go meet up with Twiggzy.