Covered in mud and sludge. Ludo trekked back to Balessia, tired and wounded, he couldn’t give up now that his inventory was loaded with loot. Somehow, through shifting roots and dangerous terrors. The large wooden walls of Balessia beamed like the shiniest of temples to him. Walking through the dirt ridden streets and rat filled houses, he reached the adventurer’s guild.
He entered the tavern, which somehow looked like no commotion had occurred days before, pristine and orderly. No chair was overturned, table flipped or glass shattered. The atmosphere seemed more tense than usual, not that this would be enough to shatter his spirits. Claus was busy serving drinks and cleaning mugs when Ludo sat in a stool besides him.
“Long time no see Ludo.” He said, not taking his eyes away from a mug which scrubbed with fury.
“I only left for two days.”
“An in two days a lot has changed.” Claus said, lowering his voice. “The day you took the kobold quest a huge fight broke out and some dumb wolf-kin thought he could beat Bohdan in a fight.”
“Did Bohdan kick his ass?” Ludo closed the distance between him and Claus.
“Not only that, his entire party and him got their adventurers cards revoked.” Claus looked at a group of adventurers at the back of the room, Ludo could only guess they may be friends of the wolf-kin party, but he was surprised at that Bohdan had given such a harsh punishment.
“What happens when you get your card revoked?”
“Not much, just barred from becoming an adventurer in this city, you’ll have to sign up elsewhere.”
“That sounds like a lot.”
“Maybe to you, but adventurers are nomadic, you’re an exception.” Claus put the mug away. “Anyways, about the kobold quest you took, I want it back so that professionals can—“
Ludo placed the chieftain’s crown on the bar, earning a gasp from Claus. Other adventurers took notice of his trophy, erupting in hasten whispers. Claus had taken out a magnifying lens to study the kobold crown, muttering something before putting it away.
“You managed to kill a chieftain on your own!?”
Ludo nodded. Claus’ eyes were still doubtful, he stepped back and called for Bohdan who emerged from a nearby room soon after, a bandage covering his left eye. Claus informed Bohdan of the situation and he was quick to analyze the crown.
“Its genuine.” He said.
“But Bohdan, you can’t be that sure—“
“Can’t I? I’ve got a couple dozen of them stored up somewhere.” Bohdan pointed at the door as he rolled up his left sleeve and pointed at a horrifying scar going all the way up to his shoulder. “And this? One of those chieftains got a good hit on me, still aches from time to time, all out of healing potions and what not, my party had to carry me with the open wound for hours until the kobolds stopped their pursuit.”
“So how much?” Claus asked Bohdan.
“Give the boy the rewards, the crown alone is also worth around a silver coin and buy up everything else he might offer.”
Claus sighed and turned to Ludo, who had opted to seat, at Ben’s orders, quietly and observe how professionals handled their trade. Ludo pulled out of his bag various baubles and other miscellaneous items the kobolds had left behind, earning him a respectable sum of around an extra two silver coins.
Various adventurers swarmed him, trying to persuade him to join their parties, whatever that meant. Some congratulated him, others promised better fortunes if he joined them and a minority of them jeered in jealousy. Ludo was not in the mood to hear any of them, barging out of the tavern and into the rest of Balessia, acquiring a new spirit of consumerism.
His first order of business was visiting Galti’s shop for new armor and maybe a weapon or two. Once there he was greeted by the usual shining plates and metals. Galti welcomed him with open arms, interested on hearing of Ludo’s adventures and if the armor had proved its merit.
“About that. I’d like some plate or maille to replace this.” Ludo took out the worn gambeson, its scars from the battle with the kobolds clearly visible. Galti looked at it for a good while.
“Now, now. Unless you somehow managed to produce tens of silvery coins outta thin air there is no way you can afford either. Maille costs around fifty silveries, plate goes up to around a hundred more and it can go up to ten golden coins if you want the cuirass custom made.”
“I see” Ludo sighed.
“Don’t worry Ludo.” Ben added. “I’m certain Galti would want to help a friend of Emmer!”
Like that’s ever going to—
“You know what, I’ll reinforce that gambeson with some maille. Only on the necessary places though. That is if you have five silvery coins to spare.”
“Deal!” Ludo said, not giving it any sort of extra thoughts and giving Galti his gambeson,
“Come back in four days for it, you won’t regret it.” Galti said.
With that, Ludo left Galti’s shop, happy until he checked his money bag, which was now lighter than before. With barely any money to spent on anything, what was he going to do for the next four days?
“Don’t feel so bad.” Ben said. “All in time, boy. You’ll be wealthy one day if you keep at it.”
“And when will that day come?” Ludo asked, passing by a caravan claiming to sell heroic potions for hundreds of silver coins.
“Depends on how hard you work for it.”
Ludo groaned at Ben’s flimsy attempt at comforting him. The two argued for minutes, Ludo’s mind turning into a battlefield of ethics and ethoses, when he came across a peculiar sight. In one of the many stalls that sold all what an adventurer considered valuable, he found a singular bow, not anything particularly great about it, but it did attract him.
“Hello, boy.” The merchant said, taking notice of Ludo.
“How much for this?” Ludo pointed at the bow.
“This bow?” The merchant pondered for a little. “About two silver coins.”
“He’s scamming you!” Ben added as Ludo reached for his money bag.
How do you know that?
“Because the bow looks rather crude don’t you think?”
Now that Ludo looked at it better, it indeed looked rushed and clumsy.
“How about those arrows?” Ludo said, pointing at a quiver filled with arrows behind the merchant.
“Around thirty bronze coins each.” The merchant frowned.
The negotiations were over quickly and Ludo had his bag filled with arrows but no bow to speak off. But now he had something to do in his four free days while Galti fixed his armor. Returning to the guild’s tavern, he spoke with Claus yet again.
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“A bow? At your skill, a bow is better crafted than bought, what were you thinking?”
“Told you.” Ben said in the back of his mind.
Shut up, Ben.
“You do know how to craft, right?”
Ludo said nothing staring at Claus with blank smile. He had heard of crafting from other adventurers in the tavern but hadn’t cared to pay attention to any of it. Even Claus looked shocked by the fact.
“It’s not a problem, you just need the materials to make it.” Claus added quickly, somewhat lifting Ludo’s mood, he disappeared into a back door behind him, coming back a few minutes later with a bag bursting at the seams with items.
“For a basic bow, you’ll need a string and wood.” Claus scavenged through the bag, taking out the aforementioned materials and handing them to Ludo. “Try to stick them together.”
Ludo followed Claus’ instructions, putting the materials together and taking them apart until, after various splinters, broken materials and downed spirits. His first bow had been made, he stared at it, looking at it with childishly eyes. Claus congratulated him on his first proper craft.
“Just so you know, arrows, can also be crafted, although heads are only available at smiths.”
“Thanks a lot Claus, I’ll remember this!” Ludo exclaimed, leaving the tavern and Balessia for the rest of the day, aiming to improve his usage of the bow. He decided to use an unsuspecting tree as target practice a distance away from the walls.
For hours on end, he shot at the bow, some landed on the grass a few steps ahead of him, others flew pass the tree and the minority, about two or three, hit the innocent verdure, its trunk sending out chunks of bark at every direction, it wouldn’t be until the sun began setting when Ludo decided he had enough practice for the day. He returned to the Nice Mice and hurried to his room, where he checked his stats as he lay on the hard and unkept bed.
LUDO (18)
HUMAN - MALE
LEVEL 5
STRENGTH: 5 (+3)
STAMINA: 3 (+3)
MANA: 0
SPEED: 4 (+7)
DEFENSE: 4
INTELLIGENCE: 7
POINTS AVAILABLE: 0
SKILLS: SKILLS: ONE-HANDED LEVEL 3 (ACTIVE), RIDING LEVEL 1, STEALTH LEVEL 1, ARCHERY LEVEL 1, CRAFTING LEVEL 1.
TITLES: ADVENTURER (RANK G)
Hours later, Ludo would leave from the Nice Mice with the usual sore back. His bow in hand, and the archery and crafting skill now active, now all he had in mind was to get some decent breakfast and continue training with his bow, maybe do a quest or two.
“I think I’m in love.” Ludo sighed.
“Come again!?” Ben said in the back of his mind.
“All this!” Ludo gestured at the road, beaming with life and bustling with activity, carts and wagons filled to the brim with items and foods. “Its beautiful.”
“Glad you like it.” Ben said, Ludo noted the lack of interest in Ben’s voice.
“Is there anything wrong?” Ludo asked, the voice didn’t answer for a long minute.
“There is, behind you, they’re following you. Don’t stare at them too much.”
Ludo glanced back, pretending to adjust his bag and Ben confirmed the targets. A group of four, inconspicuous from the rest of the town’s denizens, Ludo identified them as adventurers based on their clothing and the flaunting of their weapons and equipment. He activated his magical eyes, inspecting them all in a manner of seconds. None seemed threatening, except for one.
AMAURY DORIA (AGE 28)
LION-KIN (MALE)
LEVEL 8
STRENGTH: 3
STAMINA: 3
MANA: 0
SPEED: 9
DEFENSE: 5
INTELLIGENCE: 3
POINTS AVAILABLE: 0
SKILLS: BAREHANDED LEVEL 3, ONE-HANDED LEVEL 2, THROWING LEVEL 4, MEDICINE LEVEL 1, ATHLETICS LEVEL 6, STEALTH LEVEL 5
TITLES: ADVENTURER (RANK E), THIEF, BANDIT
Ludo sank his head into his chest, his head spinning and his mind raced. What he was going to do know? Ludo tried to blend into the crowd, losing sight of the stalkers and just as he thought he was safe, he felt the sharp tip of a blade under his ribcage, Amaury pushed Ludo away from the crowd, into an abandoned alley where the other three adventurers waited for him. Amaury pushed Ludo to the wall, breaking his lip.
“Who did you party up with?”Amaury asked, pinning Ludo in the wall. He didn’t reply to Amaury’s comment, choosing to grit his teeth. Amaury punched Ludo in the gut, causing the other adventurer’s in Amaury’s party to howl in laughter at his predicament.
“I won’t say it again, kid.” Amaury pressed the dagger’s tip onto Ludo’s stomach.
“I did it on my own!” Ludo exclaimed. Amaury and his party began laughing, leaving a puzzled Ludo.
“Thats impossible, your rank is too low.” Amaury said. “But I’ll spare you if you give us our money.”
Ludo clutched his money bag, not wanting to let it go without a fight but not wanting to die now that he had familiarized himself with the world. At this moment, he thought of a brilliant idea.
“I’ll give you the money then.” Ludo said, pulling the bag out of his clothes. Amaury took his dagger away from Ludo’s body, allowing him to hit him right in the face with the money bag. Amaury stumbled backwards, falling into one of his comrades and making him fall with him. The other two drew their daggers and tried to catch Ludo, fortunately for him, he was faster than both and ran as quickly as his legs allowed him back to a crowded area.
“I think I—“
He felt an intense pain on the back of his head, falling on the stone cold road. The people around him began to scream and through his blurred vision, someone was standing above him, it was Amaury aiming his dagger at Ludo’s neck.
“Just give us the money kid, we don’t want to—“ Amaury was suddenly lifted from the ground, he screamed and stabbed the air with his dagger, aiming at whatever was restraining him. The crowd erupted into further uproar and like a stampede ran at every direction leaving behind only one person. An old woman with a stick on her raised right arm. Auria.
“Are you alright, Ludo!?” She said, ignoring the struggling Amaury suspended above her. Ludo nodded as Amaury cursed at Auria.
“Let me go, you witch!” He yelled.
“Would your neck survive the fall?” With a flick of the stick, Auria put Amaury upside down and for a brief moment it looked as if she stopped her magic, causing all sorts of embarrassing shrieks and squirms to leave his mouth. Fortunately for him, the guards soon arrived, demanding a cease in hostilities. Auria let the bandit down, making him fall on his bottom, yelling further improprieties at her and Ludo as him and his group fled the scene.
Ludo was about to leave when he felt a sharp pinch on his ear. He turned around to see Auria’s furious look. Reprimanding him for his carelessness after Ludo told her what had lead to him having a dagger on his neck.
“You are going to get yourself killed!” she exclaimed, grabbing Ludo by the arm. “I’ll take you to… where are you staying at?”
“The Nice Mice.”
Auria’s face deformed with a mix of disgust and surprise, she looked down the street towards the direction of the Nice Mice and spat at that direction. Surprising Ludo that an old woman would make such crude act.
“I have a spare room I don’t use, pack your things and meet me at my shop.” She left soon after, leaving Ludo alone in the middle of the street.
Ludo returned to the nice Mice and packed everything he owed, a few pair of clothing, the extra sword Emmer had given himon his first quest and nothing more. He looked back at the room, the moss on the wall had grown a bit on his time there and a leak had now manifested itself in a corner of the room, it wasn’t even raining. There were no happy memories to be had there. The tavern looked as desolate as it always had been, save for one odd man drinking quietly in the corner. Ludo didn’t care, as he left the Nice Mice he knew a new chapter was about to begin.
The sun was already setting as Auria’s shop appeared on Ludo’s view who had become a nervous wreck. What would she demand from him? How much would he have to pay her? Was he even going to be an adventurer anymore? These questions turned Ludo’s mind into a tumultuous sea of doubt and fear.
“I know you’re feeling guilty about this, but think about it, you’re not going to sleep on a rock anymore!” Ben said.
“It’s easy for you to say, you don’t have a body! You don’t even exist… right?”
“Of course… hey isn’t that the store?”
Ludo stared at the entrance, wondering if he really should live here. He pushed the door open and was welcomed by the usual odd smell and shifting colors of the potions resting on the shelves, the dark oak floors and a dim light, all as he remembered it. Auria emerged a few seconds later from one of the aisles, her hair was tied in a bun, she wore an ruby red dress and was carrying all sorts of vials in her hands. She pushed Ludo to the back of the shop, dropping all her the potions, she disappeared for a few minutes, coming back with wine, glasses and bread, all carried by wind magic. Ludo sat down, hypnotized at how the wine served itself. Auria cleared her throat, as he took a drink. The atmosphere tensed.
“I’m sorry about all of this, I’ll pay—“
“Oh shush it, you will be living here for free.” Auria snapped. Ludo was bewildered at her statement. “But you will have to fetch ingredients for my potions when I ask.”
“Sure!” Ludo couldn’t be more happy with the deal Auria had given him.
“That aside, none of us want a repeat of what happened earlier… right?”
Ludo aggressively nodded.
“Good, you need to join a party first thing in the morning.”
“What’s a party?”
“You don’t know?” Auria facepalmed. “When I get my hands on Emmer I will…”
She shook her head and gulped down her entire glass of wine in one go, serving herself another and clearing her throat for a second time.
“It’s not your problem, dear. You forgot your memories.” She frowned. “A party is a formal union between adventurers, in theory a symbol of trust between them.”
“Like a friendship?”
“Something like that.” Auria leaned closer to Ludo, she stared at him like the stern mother he never had, or remembered. “But I need you to understand something. As long as you are alone, you will always be the target of evil people. And believe me when I tell you that adventuring is filled with those people. So be careful.”