The Spinning Top is a typical smaller inn from Daniel’s experience.  A smaller dining room filled with rustic wooden tables and chairs leads to the bar and kitchen, while the top floor holds the rooms that the inn rents out.   Like most inns in a dungeon town, it’s likely the rooms can be rented on both a short and long-term basis muses Daniel. However, most of what he focuses on is the smell from the kitchen as his stomach begins to growl.

Inside, the sole worker is another tall, striking woman with more curves than her sister.  The moment they cross the threshold of the inn, Charles dashes out from the shelter of his aunt’s arms and into his shocked Mum’s.

“Mary…” the aghast mother, bent on her knees and surveying the blood and attempting to parse the quick words from her child murmurs.

“We had an incident Elise,” Mary steps forward, explaining the accident in concise sentences.  She flicks her hand back to Daniel who has taken to leaning against the bar and staring into the kitchen, his mind blanking out for the moment, “… and so I thought we could feed Daniel and maybe house him for a bit?”

“Jar, one plate with extra bread,” Elise calls out before marching over to Daniel and giving him a tight hug. “Thank you, thank you so much.”

In a few minutes, the bustling Elise gets Daniel settled and eating before dragging the bloodied child upstairs for a wash.  Mary takes over the counter, watching Daniel eat with a pensive look on her face, glancing between him and his hammer.  It doesn’t take long before Daniel is done, leaning back against the chair after mopping the last of the stew.

That was very good. Looking around, he doesn’t spot Elise to thank.  He frowns slightly, impatient to get going but unwilling to leave without thanking her.  As he debates what to do, his thoughts are interrupted by Mary.

“Are you going to join the Guild?” She nods to his hammer and purses her lips as his acknowledgment. “And that’s your weapon?”

“Why? Is it a problem?” defensive, Daniel places his hand on the hilt of the hammer.  

“It is.  It’s too big and too unwieldy for a dungeon,” as he opens his mouth to reply, Mary raises her hand and forestalls him, continuing “I’m sure you used it while traveling here.  Probably killed a few monsters too.  There’s no arguing that it’s a fearsome weapon if you hit.

“But you have to hit.  You need space to swing it and time to recover after you’ve swung.  In a dungeon where you might face two or three different monsters at the same time, often faster and smaller than you, it won’t work.”

Daniel grunts, hunching slightly at each of her words.  He knows it, it’s not as if he doesn’t but… “It’s what I have.”

His words are not unexpected and as soon as they leave his mouth, Mary turns to the staircase, calling upwards.  “Elise, we’re going out.  I’ll bring him back later.  Jar, put his bags in room 3.”

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

She then stalks out of the inn, leaving a confused Daniel to follow in her wake, holding on to his sledgehammer.

“Ummm… what’s going on?” hurrying to catch up with her, he stumbles a little as his energy has yet to recover fully.

“We’re going to the guild to get you registered.  You do have the 20 silver correct?” she doesn’t acknowledge his hasty nod, continuing to speak even as she strides along. “Then we’ll get a proper weapon and the training you’ll need.”

“Training!I can’t afford that!” Daniel exclaims, catching up with her and trying to slow her down to speak.

“Who asked you to pay? ”  Arriving at the doors of the Adventurer’s Guild, she strides in and up to the nearest empty counter.  A free attendant rushes over, smiling slightly as he glances at the harried Daniel behind Mary before focusing on her entirely.

“What can I do for your Mary?”

“He needs to be registered Liev.” She gestures behind, indicating Daniel whose staring around confusedly. Liev smiles, pulling some papers aside and a small crystal ball.  

“Not a problem. Just put your hand here, don’t be shy,” smiling encouragingly, Liev coaches the information out from Daniel that he needs.  “Good, good. A level 7 Miner. Very good.  We’ll register you as an Adventurer then.”

At the end of his words, a low azure light glows on the crystal which brings a smile to Liev’s face. “And done.  That’ll be 20 silver.”

As Daniel pauses, staring at his newly freed hand, a barked command to come has him hurrying to catch up with the impatient Mary as she strides out of the Guild house.  While he rushes after her, he calls up his Status Screen to marvel at his new position.

STATUS SCREEN

Name: Daniel Lai

Class: Level 1 Adventurer (0%)

Sub-classes: Level 7 (Miner)  (14%)

Human (Male)

Statistics

Life:   164

Stamina: 164

Mana: 129

Critical Hit Chance: 4%

Attributes

Strength: 17

Agility: 12

Constitution: 23

Intelligence: 14

Willpower: 16

Luck: 13

Skills

Unarmed Combat: Level 2 (47/100)

Clubs : Level 3 (21/100)

Perception : Level 3 (21/100)

Mining : Level 7 (78/100)

Healing : Level 5 (84/100)

Herb Lore: Level 3 (31/100)

Cooking:  Level 2 (37/100)

Singing: Level 2 (14/100)

Skill Proficiencies

Mapping II

Spells

Minor Healing

Gifts

Martyr’s Touch - The caster may heal oneself or others by touch and concentration, sacrificing a portion of his life to do so.  Cost varies depending on the extent of the injuries healed.

It’s a surprise then for Daniel when Mary finally comes to a stop and thrusts a shield and mace at him.  He reaches out and grabs it automatically and then frowns, dismissing the Status Screen to pay proper attention to what he is given.  The mace is a simple construct though instead of metal, it’s top is padded with wood and wrapped cloth.  A training weapon, though of better quality than he’s ever wielded.  It’s then that he notices where he is, a sparring center where current and future adventurer’s train.  

“Mary…”

“Litzburn.” She waves to a towering ebony skinned man who strides up to them, smiling widely at Mary and nodding in acknowledgment,  “This is Daniel.  He’s joining today.”

LItzburn chuckles at Daniel’s hesitant protestations, dropping a surprisingly delicate looking hand on his shoulder and guiding Daniel to the training floor,  “Don’t bother kid.  She isn’t listening.  Now, follow along, you’ll want to know this.”