Dawn broke, casting the first glimmers of light on the trio and their captive. The smoldering embers of the fire provided scant warmth as the chill of morning settled around them.

Suddenly, a grunt broke the silence, followed by rustling noises as the bandit leader regained consciousness.

Justin awoke to the commotion to see him struggling against his bindings, thrashing about wildly while uttering a litany of curses. He moaned as his injured arm strained against the ropes.

Eldrin calmly approached him, blocking out the morning sun as he cast a shadow over the bandit leader’s helpless form. “Listen closely. Escape is a fantasy you can’t afford. In a few minutes, we’re going to march down that road. You’ll walk or face a fate much graver than Silverton’s courtrooms.” He motioned to the sky, where Shadowflight circled ominously. “Try anything, and my falcon up there will make sure you never get far. Plus, these ropes can get a lot tighter.”

“Piss off, you fuck,” the bandit said with a growl.

“Delightful,” Eldrin said.

He forced a canteen to the bandit’s lips. The man hacked and coughed, but eventually had no choice but to drink whatever was offered.

“Why waste water on the likes of him?” Lila asked.

“Not just water,” Eldrin said. “I mixed in some mendleaf paste. Should make things go easier with him.”

They cooked a quick breakfast of smoked deer jerky, a handful of berries Lila had foraged, and flatbread heated on the rocks around the fire. Soon, they got on their way. Eldrin roughly undid the rope that held the bandit to the tree, giving him a little push for good measure. He stumbled and tripped in the dirt, and Eldrin roughly pulled on his leash to stand him up.

“Can’t you at least take my blindfold off, you spineless lump of rotting toad guts?” the bandit retorted.

Eldrin smirked. “If you play nice, sure. But you have to earn it.”

The bandit looked as if he was about to curse again but thought better of it.

“You learn quickly.”

With the warning delivered, their journey south to Silverton resumed. By noon, they passed the top of the Umber Hills to find themselves back in Whispering Pines. Now, in full daylight, Justin could see the hills spreading into the distance, the first trace of red autumn gracing the leaves. On the horizon rose a line of low mountains, between two of which was a smoky spot. No one was about in the small village square; Justin figured they were probably out on their terraces on the sides of the hills, reaping the harvest.

“Silverton,” the Ranger said, gazing into the distance. “One more night in the wilderness will see us there tomorrow morning.”

Eldrin removed the bandit’s blindfold, and Justin did his best to avoid the man’s gaze, though he could feel his beady, hateful eyes leering at him. He wondered what class the man had. Or maybe he didn’t have a class at all.

The rest of the day passed uneventfully. The bandit sunk into sulky silence, and by evening, they set up camp in a meadow off the road. They met a few travelers on their way, a lot of them with their eyes popping at their prize. None asked questions.

Eldrin led them off-road, toward a meadow where they could take shelter. Shadowflight went off to hunt and keep watch over their camp. Eldrin forced the blindfold on again and tied the bandit to a tree; he complied because of a previous dosing of mendleaf water.

They were so fatigued that after dinner, they all went immediately to sleep, even the bandit.

Morning dawned again, cloudy and colder than the day before. They broke camp quickly. As they approached Silverton, the landscape changed gradually. They saw more people on the roads, first farmers heading to their fields, then traders with their mules and carts. They passed a couple of hamlets, small clusters of houses built from timber, surrounded by fences of stacked stone.

The path eventually led them to the city’s imposing stone walls. The gates stood open, guarded by men in uniform, a black tunic over chain mail, with a silver heron clutching a silver crown in its talons—a fitting emblem for the city. Each soldier bore a pike and wore a conical helmet. Justin could see the city was built strategically within the pass, with its stone buildings and towering walls making it a fortress against any threats.

As they neared, Eldrin turned to Justin and Lila. “Silverton is key to the Aranthian Plain beyond, and currently, we’re in the Aranthian Hinterlands. It’s a stronghold, a beacon of security for miles.”

Justin wondered why he was telling him this, but maybe the Ranger was suspecting he wasn’t from around here at all. Not just Aranthia, but this entire world. Eyrth, Alistair had called it. Eventually, he was going to be found out.

As they passed through the gates, Justin marveled. The city bustled with activity, with the distinct sound of hammers and anvils resonating amidst the background hum of wagons and chatter. Stone and wooden structures, predominantly two and three stories high, spread out like a sprawling mosaic. Thin streams of smoke arose from the many smithies and workshops, speaking of a city that thrived on industry. Up the mountainside to the west, grand mansions stood overlooking the town, symbols of the elite and their affluence.

But what caught Justin’s eye the most were the roofs. The beautiful bluish-purple tiles looked as though they were borrowed from a European town, reflecting the hues of the sky, adding an air of charm to the industrious city. The buildings’ sides were probably once painted white, but years of smoke and soot had stained most gray.

Eldrin navigated the streets confidently, leading them to the Mercenary Guild Hall toward the center of town, directly across from the cathedral on the main town square. The Guild Hall was an imposing stone structure with tall, narrow windows and a great oak door that was probably always kept open during business hours, welcoming its members and clients. Above the entrance, a large emblem of a crossed sword and arrow shone in the morning light. It was clearly a larger affair than the one in Mistwatch.

As Justin entered behind Eldrin, Lila, and their catch, it was to the sight of a cavernous hall bustling with activity. The clinking of coins, murmurs of negotiations, and the shuffling of armored feet echoed through the chamber. Eldrin led their captive through the throng of mercenaries, bounty hunters, and guild officials. Justin could see the sidelong glances and raised eyebrows at their haul.

At the far end of the hall, seated behind a massive oak desk, was the Mercenary Master. He was a human with a stout frame, weathered face, and sharp eyes that seemed to miss nothing. Eldrin approached with a confident stride, producing the bounty bill he had picked up back in Whispering Pines.

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“Master Branton,” Eldrin addressed the stout man with a curt nod, “we’ve brought the bandit leader, as specified in your bill.”

Master Branton looked the captive over, his keen eyes taking in every detail. “Aye, he matches the description.”

Without further ado, he motioned for a pair of armored men to take the bandit away. While the man was restrained, Eldrin unbound him, carefully coiling his ropes and placing them in his pack. The material used looked both light and strong.

As the guards dragged the bandit off with a yelp, Master Branton reached into a drawer and retrieved a small pouch, which jingled merrily. “Your reward,” he said, handing it to Eldrin. “Thank you for your part in securing the Silver Road.”

As Eldrin counted the coins and doled them out, Justin felt a rush, an almost physical sensation, as a blue notification bar surface in his vision.

Bounty “Highway Justice” Complete!

The party has successfully located the bandit hideout near Raven’s Rock. With keen strategy and valiant effort, the group apprehended the leader and killed the rest of his bandit gang, ensuring the safety of the hamlet of Whispering Pines and the Silver Road.

The Gods have determined that all party members pulled their weight according to their abilities, and thus all members shall gain the full benefit of the bounty’s experience.

Experience Gained: 250 XP

Bonus Experienced Gained: 250 XP

Total Experienced Gained: 500 XP

Spoils:

Money Received: 80 silver marks, to be distributed among party members by Party Leader Eldrin Thornwood.

Additional Loot: One ruby-encrusted dagger and one gold chain, to be appraised and sold or kept, as decided by Party Leader Eldrin Thornwood. Of note: twenty-four silvers and seventy coppers have already been justly distributed by Party Leader, Eldrin Thornwood, to the members’ satisfaction.

Party Contributions:

Eldrin Thornwood (Level 10 Ranger): Demonstrated exemplary leadership, tracking, and combat skills. His falcon, Shadowflight, played a crucial role in surveillance.

Justin Talemaker (Level 1 Socialite): Fought bravely alongside his companions, landing a pivotal Poison Barb.

Lila Fairwind (Level 1 Bard): Showed great courage and tenacity in combat, felling one foe with her throwing knife, proving to be a formidable force on the battlefield.

You have the heartfelt gratitude of the residents of Whispering Pines and the many traders who use the Silver Road. The mayor also thanks you for your deeds. The road to Silverton is safer, and the hamlet of Whispering Pines can once again rest easy, all thanks to the courage and determination of this daring party.

Your new XP count: 554/200. Level up available!

“Congratulations, all,” Eldrin said. “Let’s head outside.”

Emerging from the guild, the trio found themselves back on Silverton’s bustling streets. Curious, Justin took a moment to check his interface, his eyes widening slightly at the XP bar reading 554/200. A check inside his coin pouch also revealed he had just over thirty-one silvers. That number would go even higher once he completed his courier quest and paid Lila her part, and when he got his share of the sold loot from Eldrin.

Justin couldn’t suppress a grin. Such was his experience gained that he was almost certain he’d get not one, but two-level ups on his next sleep.

“Just one good sleep away from leveling up,” he said.

“Same here!” Lila gushed. “This was so worth it.”

“Is there a way I can research the skills I’ll unlock?” Justin asked.

“You could try the local library,” Lila answered. “They probably have a skill book for your class. But just be warned, progression isn’t the same for everyone.”

“What do you mean?”

Eldrin cut in. “Certain skills have a way of showing up for most everyone in a class. But there’s also an element of randomness to it, or even skills that are completely unique to a person. Traditionally, you’ll be presented with two skill choices for every prime number level you attain. A class will always grant new skills at Levels 0 and 1, and as far as anyone can tell, they give the same skills to everyone. You’ll also gain a new skill every five levels.”

“Interesting,” Justin said. “What influences which skills are presented?”

Eldrin shrugged. “There is a logic to it. Normally, lower-level skills are presented earlier, but this isn’t always the case. Scholars have developed various formulae to denote how likely or unlikely a skill will be presented, but I wouldn’t trust it as reliable. You can expect to have at least two skills to choose from every time. Some are more common than others. Rarely, you can have more presented, even what's called "rare skills." Your actions can determine just what skills show up.”

“That makes it dynamic,” Justin said.

“Yes,” Eldrin said. “Take our bandit friend, for example. He had the Thief class; that much I could see. Well, if he made a lot of decisions to rob and murder people, he might have been presented with skills that helped him do that better and been rewarded with experience.”

“Horrible to think about,” Lila said.

“However, if he’d just burgled houses, then no doubt he would get skills related to stealth and lockpicking, for example.”

Justin wondered how that system would work with him. “There’s no point in researching ahead of time, then.”

“You may, if you wish,” Eldrin said. “Just don’t expect things to work out as you expect! As often is said in Eyrth, The gods roll the dice, and mortals guess the numbers.” He adjusted his pack. “About time I headed to the market to offload our loot. That’ll give you two a chance to drop off that parcel. Why don’t we reconvene at the Moonlit Alehouse later? Cozy place, just around the corner. They also have fine rooms available that won’t break the bank.”

“Sure, let me just check my map.” Justin pulled it out, only to find it was completely blank. “What the hell? I thought this was a world map!”

Eldrin laughed. “It takes a lot of rare and magical objects, plus a top-level Enchanter, to create a Complete Dynamic World Map like you’re talking about. I’m guessing the one you bought wasn’t too expensive?”

“It was to me,” Justin said. “A couple of silvers, if I remember right.”

“A Local Map, then. The dynamic range usually doesn’t extend beyond ten miles, but that’s all most folks need. Beyond that ten miles, things get less detailed.”

Justin was learning more and more. “How much would a Dynamic World Map set me back?”

Lila whistled. “A lot. Even a blank map with dynamic capabilities is at least a gold crown. If you want one completely filled out, well, that’s almost priceless.”

“All that for just a blank map?”

“Well, it doesn’t stay blank,” Lila said. “You go to a local Map Enchanter, and most can add anything of note in their local area if they’re worth their salt.”

“Start saving,” Eldrin said, “but in the meantime, if you need a map, a good Local Map will only put you back a couple of silvers in most places. In bigger cities it might run you three or four. But it’s not worth it if you’re not staying long.” He pointed his feet away. “The tavern is just in the square over there. I’ll head that way once I’ve found the right buyer for these items.”

Lila eyed him suspiciously. “And what’s stopping you from taking the loot and disappearing?”

Eldrin merely chuckled and slipped a finely crafted signet ring from his finger. “This should be enough collateral,” he said, offering it to Lila. “It’s enchanted, and worth more than our haul.”

Justin looked at the ring. While it didn’t seem valuable, but it was well-worn, and given its uses, Eldrin would be loath to part with it.

“Go ahead, keep it,” Lila said. “I trust you.”

“Lila and I better take care of that delivery before it’s dark,” Justin said.

“Farewell,” Eldrin said. “We’ll celebrate tonight!”

Eldrin has left the party. You are now the Party Leader.

"Shall we?" Justin asked.

At Lila's nod of assent, they moved through the bustling streets. Justin ducked into a tavern to ask about Baron Valdrik of a pretty barmaid. He noticed her brief surprise at the question, and Justin got the sense the Baron was a well-known figure here, and perhaps not in a good way. It made his stomach churn a bit, but five silver marks were five silver marks, and a delivery was a delivery.

Once Justin was confident he had the right directions, he and Lila headed onto the slopes of the western mountain bordering Silverton.