The morning sunlight crept through the dusty windows of the inn’s common room, where Justin and Lila had seated themselves at a secluded table, their breakfast of fried eggs and toast on plates in front of them.

Eldrin wasted no time as soon as he came down the stairs, completely outfitted with his pack, bow, and longsword. He sidled up next to Lila on the bench.

“Eldrin Thornwood,” he said with a winning smile. “I trust you’ve heard about my noble plan?”

Lila speared her toast with her fork, her eyes thoughtful. “I’ve heard about it,” she began, glancing at Justin, “but I still have reservations.”

“Well, I hope to put those to rest. I have much to say about the subject, and by the end, I think we can come to an agreement.”

“We’ll see about that,” Lila said doubtfully.

Justin took a sip from his mug. “I’m all in. But if Lila wants us to keep moving, well, I won’t lose sleep over it.”

Eldrin said nothing about this, instead watching Lila for her reaction.

Her gaze was still uncertain. “I’m just a Level 1 Bard, Eldrin. I don’t have the skills or the equipment to take on a group of dangerous men. This is too much.”

Eldrin nodded, taking a moment to consider his words. “It’s not just about the levels or the potential rewards, Lila. These highwaymen are causing chaos and pain to the county. The Mayor’s too caught up with the coming festival, and the Sheriff? Well, I have my doubts about his intentions. We might be the only chance this hamlet has. Not to mention the dozen men and women that have disappeared over the past couple of months.”

“You’re appealing to the wrong thing,” Lila said. “I’m very practical, and other’s troubles don’t trouble me. What’s the reward for risking my neck?”

Eldrin smiled. “Thought you might ask that. Thanks to Justin’s intel, the good innkeeper had enough information to make an official report to the Silverton Mercenary’s Guild. It is now an official bounty, tacked onto every quest board in the county, and maybe even outside of it. All the families of the victims have come together, and the reward for justice served is generous. And by fate or the gods’ will, we are probably the closest party in a position to seal the deal. Yes, there’s a risk with you both being at such a low level. But nothing ventured, nothing gained. Trust me, now that this is out there, these bandits won’t last too much longer.”

“As if I need further convincing,” Justin said. “How much is the bounty?”

Eldrin smiled. “Eighty silvers.”

Lila’s eyes widened. “Eighty? That’s...”

“...A lot,” Justin finished for her.

Eighty marks was nearly sixteen times the amount the courier job was going to pay. True, the reward would be split among the three of them, but even so, it would go a long way to securing Justin's position in this new world.

“Here’s what I’m thinking,” Eldrin said. “Given my expertise, and the fact I’ll be pulling most of the weight, it’s only fair, upon completion, that I get fifty. Each of you can have fifteen.”

“That’s not fair at all!” Lila said. “We’re risking just as much as you! Maybe more since we’re only Level 1.”

“Well, it has to be worth my time as well,” Eldrin said. “Simply, this is a job I could do on my own. It wouldn’t be as easy, but there it is. This job will take a solid two or three days to boot.”

Each of them looked at Justin, wanting his opinion. He wondered whether he might have benefited from taking the Tantalizing Aroma skill in this situation. It might give him the Charisma boost necessary to get a better deal. The very thought of this made Justin realize that even now, the choices he’d made had consequences. He didn’t regret selecting Poison Barb, but it was something to keep in mind for the future.

He had to rely on his own wits.

“Whatever’s fair or not, what’s important is that everyone feels valued,” Justin said. “I understand your position, Eldrin. As you said, you will do most of the work. I’m a Socialite, so there’s little I can do but lob insults at our enemies. However, it’s premature to say we won’t be doing as much work as you. No one knows how this will turn out, and it’s quite possible it’s far more dangerous than any of us realize. Lila is right. Since we are at lower levels, the risk to us is much greater. By that metric, perhaps we should get more.”

Eldrin stroked his chin. “Yes, you have something of a point there, Socialite. But the fact remains, I’m the one who came up with the idea, and I will do most of the work. Can either of you bring yourself to kill, even when you’re in the right?”

Both Justin and Lila were silent at this.

Eldrin continued. “Fifty silvers is fair compensation for my role.”

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“But it’s also important to keep everyone happy,” Justin pressed. “And my instinct tells me you need our help, because I doubt you’re purely doing us a favor. Maybe you can take half the bounty, while Lila and I split the rest.”

Eldrin took a moment to think it over before guffawing. “Well, you have something of a point, too. It’s not something I’d normally do, but as you said, it’s important that everyone be happy with the arrangement. And time is pressing down on us. I’ll concede. I’ll take forty, with the remaining forty being yours and Lila’s to split.”

From Lilia’s expression, she didn’t seem happy about this, but Justin agreed readily. “Deal.”

“I’m glad that’s worked out. However, I’m concerned about the potential for conflict about the loot if we don’t hash out an agreement ahead of time. Assuming we succeed in our venture, whatever the robbers possess becomes ours. Absent any identifying information or core-bounding, it will be impossible to track down the original owners.”

Justin assumed “core-bounding” meant items that were explicitly attached by the System, or gods, to an original owner, making them unusable for other characters, unless perhaps that owner was deceased.

“That’s a fair point,” Justin conceded. “Assuming we can’t agree, you’ll get half the value of whatever loot we find, while Lila and I split the remaining half.”

“That’s a compromise,” Lila said. “The fairest option is to split three ways, levels be damned.”

“And while we argue about it,” Eldrin said, “another party will nab the prize.”

“A fair point,” Justin said.

Lila seemed to consider for a moment, weighing her options.

“If we can come to an agreement,” Eldrin said, “Justin will need a proper weapon. Perhaps you don’t gain experience from fights, like Lila and me, but it’s essential you have something to defend yourself with. I still have my old dagger; it’s been with me through many battles. Still in great shape, and a proper weapon for a Socialite, at least until you can get a proper cane. You can have it.”

Justin was touched. “Thank you, Eldrin.”

He frowned in thought for a moment. A cane? Was his class supposed to be like a pimp or something, complete with a feather jacket and scarf? He put the thought aside for now.

“Now wait a minute,” Lila said. “I still haven’t agreed to anything!”

“An equal distribution of half the bounty,” Justin said. “That gives each of us twenty silvers. Just imagine what can be done with that money, Lila.”

Her green eyes became glazed as she imagined the possibilities, before she seemed to think better of herself. “No use for money if you’re dead.”

“With Eldrin, we’re in capable hands.”

“It’s the question of the big reward, or the sure thing,” Lila said. “I’m a Bard. I’m supposed to be singing and spinning tales by the fire, not fighting!”

Justin realized her hesitancy was less about fairness and more about confronting her fears.

Eldrin nodded. “That’s quite normal. It’s not fear that counts, but what we do with it.”

Lila looked from Eldrin and back to Justin. Justin gave what he hoped was a reassuring smile.

“We can do this,” he said.

“I’m not sure. I feel out of my depth. But . . . it seems Justin is sure about this, and the money would be nice. It would solve a lot of my problems.” Finally, she smiled. “All right, you’ve got me. Eldrin gets half, Justin and I split the rest. When do we start?”

A blue notification ticked in Justin’s vision.

Gained 4 XP (Current: 34/200)

Justin blinked at the message. He supposed that was another negotiation handled with care.

“We leave now,” Eldrin said, answering Lila’s question. “When I join your party, you’ll get the benefit of one of my passive skills, Pathfinder’s Pace. Then we head for Raven’s Rock.”

“What does Pathfinder’s Pace do?” Justin asked.

“Rangers have a natural affinity for traveling faster in the wilds, knowing just where to step for maximum speed. I think you’ll find we’ll be going just as fast through the wilds as on the roads, and sometimes even faster. You’ll also be able to walk farther without rest.”

“That’s amazing,” Lila said.

“Level 5 skills tend to not only benefit the owner of the skill, but anyone who is in the party. It’s the gods’ way of getting us to work together, I suppose.”

“Like a Paladin’s Divine Aura,” Justin said, proud that he actually knew something for once.

“Exactly like that, except Paladin is an advanced class, only available at Level 20 by combining a Warrior Core with a Cleric Core.”

Justin almost wanted to ask what an advanced class was, but the conversation was already moving on.

“All right,” Lila said. “Let’s join up. Although Justin is currently the party leader.”

Justin realized it was on him to invite Eldrin to join, and not only that, but to take over the party. He did so simply with a thought.

Eldrin has joined the party and assumed role of Party Leader. Eldrin has shared a Bounty.

Bounty received: Highway Justice

Objective: Locate and apprehend the bandits terrorizing the county. Restore peace and ensure the safety of the hamlet of Whispering Pines and the Silver Road.

Details:

* Recent reports show a group of highwaymen causing chaos in the county. They were last seen heading toward Raven’s Rock.

* A generous bounty has been posted by the Silverton Mercenary’s Guild, and families of victims have pooled their resources. The reward stands at eighty silvers for the capture or dispatch of the bandits.

Rewards:

* 250 Experience (500 if you capture the bandit leader, to be brought to the Mercenary’s Guild in Silverton for inspection).

* Any additional loot or items found with the bandits, as dictated by the Party Leader.

* The gratitude of the hamlet.

Party Members:

* Eldrin Thornwood (Level 10 Ranger)

* Justin Talemaker (Level 1 Socialite)

* Lila Fairwind (Level 1 Bard)

“All right,” Eldrin said, with a devious smile. “Let’s go after those bandits.”

Justin grinned, relieved that Lila was on board. She gave a nervous smile.

As they walked out of the inn and into the cool morning air, Justin couldn’t help but feel a bit excited. Yesterday, things had seemed all too real. Even if he knew this world was real now, it felt like a game at this moment. It felt as if that money was as good as his.

And not only that, but the experience. Completing the bounty would easily put him at Level 2, while the harder option of apprehending the leader and bringing him to the Mercenary’s Guild would impart 500 XP, which might even be enough to put him at Level 3.

They started north up the road, backtracking the way they came.

And that was when something shot out of the sky and straight for Justin.