Note: while writing this chapter I have decided that I will be using caleb's in game character name, Zander, when he is in game.
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While walking towards the herbalist Zander comes across a little girl bawling her eyes out. Loving kids, and being a softie at heart, he can't help but stop to see if he can help. Kneeling down next to her he asks, "what's wrong sweetie?"
"I've lost my pet rock!"
Help the little girl find her pet rock
The little girl Clarissa has lost her pet rock. Find it and return it to her.
Difficulty: E
Reward: increased friendliness with Clarissa. Clarissa will teach you tips on pets.
"aww. How could I not help you?" Zander says as he wipes away her tears. "What does he look like?"
You have accepted the quest.
Standing on her toes she reaches as high as she can, "He's about THIS tall, and he's a rock!"
"Ok, I'll find him."
After looking around town some more, Zander finds a rock about chest high on him. Actually with how big it is, its more the size of a boulder. 'This must be it.' He excitedly returns to Clarissa. "I've found him. Follow me." Clarissa smiles broadly and runs after Zander. Standing in front of the boulder Zander says, "There he is."
Looking confused Clarissa says, "Where? I don't see him. Is he behind that big rock?"
"He's not the big rock?"
Laughing Clarissa replies, "No silly. He's bigger then that. Plus he moves."
"Oh. I guess I'll continue looking." Scratching his head in puzzlement Zander wanders off. Finding another boulder Zander mutters to himself, "Moves huh? Well lets try pushing it." Putting his hands against the boulder he gives it a push. The boulder doesn't move. "Maybe a little more force is needed." Putting a shoulder against the boulder he heaves with his legs and back. Still nothing. "I guess its not this one either."
After trying 4 other boulders Zander comes across one that looks a little different. Its about as tall as him, but has many cracks. Thinking the cracks look he takes a closer look. Just as he decides that the cracks are lines,
*ding*
Skill: You have learned Search.
"Well lets try to move this one" putting his hand on the stone he pushes. Zander leaps back as the stone starts to grow exclaiming, "Galloping Gargoyles!" From his new vantage point he looks up. About half again as tall as him a stone dog growls down at him. Backing up slowing, making non threatening motions with his hands, Zander says, "Nice doggy. Good doggy."
The dog give a bark and leaps at him. Screaming Zander turns and runs. As he nears a house Zander looks over his shoulder to see the dog right on his tail. Just as the dog tries to bite Zander dodges around the house and into the new street. Not being able to stop quickly the dog skids past the entrance to the street. Scrambling on the street the dog turns around to give chase. Running frantically Zander takes turns at random to keep the dog from catching him. After awhile of this
*ding*
Skill: You have learned Run.
*Bong*
You have become fatigued:
Satiety will decrease faster
15% slower movement.
"Stupid windows, go away, I'm busy here." Zander says as he waves his hands to get rid of the windows. After a while longer he turns a corner and see Clarissa in the road playing. "Quick! Hide! There's a monster after me!"
Clarissa looks up just in time to see the dog come around the corner. "Dougie!!" She screams as she runs towards Zander.
"Dougie?" Zander says confused, and falls to the ground.
*Bong*
You have used up all your stamina and have become exhausted.
You are Hungry.
Unable to move until you have regained some stamina.
Clarissa runs past Zander and into a leg of the dog, latching onto him. "You've found him! You found my pet rock Dougie!"
*ding*
You have completed a quest.
You have leveled up!
After Zander rests a bit to regain his breath and stamina he approaches Clarissa. "You didn't tell me his was a giant rock dog!"
"I didn't? Oh..... Well let me teach you what Dougie likes and how to play with him."
Clarissa goes over different ways Dougie likes to be scratched and petted. She also gives him some tips on what to do when he's upset and angry, all the while playing with Dougie.
Skill: You have learned Handle Animal.
After so much adventure Zander decides to check out his new skills next time and logs out. Looking at the time he exclaims, "Crap! I was suppose to be to work a hour and a half ago!" Checking his phone he finds that work tried calling him 30 min ago and left a message, wondering where he was. "Great what do I tell them. I can't tell them I was playing games. I know I'll call in sick. Its the best I can do." Looking up the number he tries working on his best sniffle and cough.
"Thank you for calling Walmart, how may I direct your call?"
*sniffle* "Yes can I speak with" *cough* "management."
"Yes hold one moment."
After waiting a few minutes someone picks up, "This is Alice what can I do for you?"
"Yeah Alice" *sniffle* "This is Caleb." *Cough* "Sorry about not calling earlier. I'm not feeling" *cough* "well and fell asleep. I don't think" *sniffle* "I'll be able to come into work today." *cough*
"Oh you don't sound too good. We were kind of worried and wondering what happened. I'll let your supervisor know your not coming in. Stay home and get better."
"Thanks" *sniffle*
Caleb sighs in relief after hanging up. "Now to make sure this doesn't happen again." Caleb pulls out the massive manual that came with Royal Road to find out how to set an alarm in the game.
After figuring out how to set an alarm so he won't miss work again, Caleb sets up alarms for the 3 weeks of schedule he has. After doing so he fixes something to eat and decides to log back in. "I wonder what my new skills do. Show all skills"
Handle Animal (Lv. 1 0%): Animals will be more friendly with you. You can get animals to do things they might not want to do.
The area of aggression of animal monsters will be less.
Search (Lv. 1 0%): Enables you to notice things out of the ordinary easier when looking. Helps you to find what you are looking for.
Run (Lv. 2 25%): Increases your movement speed and to use up less stamina.
10% Faster movement
4% less stamina used
"I also have 5 points to use. Since I still hope to be a magic user I'll put 3 into int and 2 into wis. Stats window"
After distributing his new stats he finally realizes that someone's been tugging on his hand and talking to him. "Zander come play with us!" looking down he see Clarissa pulling on his hand surrounded by a group of kids.
*Sigh* "Alright what will we play?"
All the children surge forward shouting. "woah, woah, woah! One at a time. I can't understand you when you all shout at once."
As the group quiets down Clarissa says, "why don't we show him what we made." All the kids agree. The kids all line up and the first one pushes a doll into Zander's hands. Taking it he looks it over. Being made by a little girl the stitches aren't uniform, the eyes aren't straight, but it seems surprisingly stout.
"Wow, you did a good job. But you see right here? Try to make the stitches all look like each other. It will make your doll even prettier."
Smiling at him the girl nods and walks off. Looking at wooden swords, dolls, drawings on hide, sewn clothes, and rock tools, Zander gives them encouragement and then tries to give them a tip on how to improve if he can. During the middle of this he received
Appraise (Lv. 1 0%): Enables you to learn the value of items.
'This will be useful, I'll level it up as much as I can here.' Zander appraising all the objects the kids bring him. Finally he gets to the end of the line. Standing up and stretching he looks up and sees that half the day has gone by.
"Lets play again another time." Clarissa says as she skips away.
'I guess its finally time to make it to the herbalist," Zander thinks as he walks.
Running to try and increase the skill, Zander sees something fly at him out of the corner of his eye just before it plows into him knocking him down. 'What hit me?' Zander thinks as he lays dazed on the ground. Zander feels the weight removed and someone grumble, "What the heck. I was sure that would work. Why does it keep falling down?"
The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.
Coming to his senses Zander gets up and looks around. Across the road from him is a pile of logs, which could be a squarish shape before they all scattered. In the middle of the road between him and the logs is a young adult, with a full head of red hair, and beard. He pants, boots, and shirt are all made of leather. Approaching him Zander says, "What happened? What's going on?"
The man startles at his thoughts are interrupted, "Where did you come from? Not that it matters. At this rate I'm never going to be able to propose." *sigh*
"What do you mean propose? Why can't you propose? And what's this?" Zander points at the pile of logs.
Giving Zander a look like he's dumb the man says, "Its common sense that you don't propose until you have a house the two of you can live in." Pointing to the pile of logs, "That's my house, or what will be my house if I can ever get it right."
Approaching the logs Zander thinks back to his childhood. Growing up in a house that was in a constant state of remodel and also to a toy he liked to play with, Lincoln logs. "If you put notches in your logs a little from the end and have the notches cut 1/4 through from the top and bottom then your logs will lock into each other. Because they're locked into each other they won't roll and your house won't fall down."
"What do you mean?"
"Here let me show you," Zander says as he picks up an axe that's lying nearby. Picking a log he starts to chop at it making a notch at one end. Once he cuts it 1/4 of the way through, and the width of another log, he does the same thing to a second log. After making these notches he has the man help them place the logs perpendicular to each other, and matches up the notches so they rest on top of each other.
"See now they won't roll. If you do the same to the top of the 2nd log and the bottom of the 3rd then the 3rd log won't roll off the first log."
"I see. You're pretty handy. By the way I'm Cruben. I could really use your help to finish this right. I'll find some way to reward you."
Help build the house
Help Cruben finish his house so he can propose.
Difficulty: E
Reward: increased friendliness with Cruben. Cruben will teach you his craft.
"I would help but I don't have enough food to last until the house is finished."
"Tell you what. Since your going to be a big help I'll have you stay with me an my parents. It will give good food to eat and a place to stay at night while you help with the house."
"Sounds nice."
You have accepted the quest.
For the next week, in game time, Zander would measure, cut, and notch the logs while Cruben was at work. After Cruben was done with work he would come help fit all the logs into place. When it became dark that they couldn't see anymore, they would travel to Cruben's parent's house and eat and rest. During the night Zander would plan what logs to cut, and put where. He would also think about his character. What should he do to grow and become a magic user. In the morning Cruben's parents would feed them, and send them off with lunches. A major benefit because Zander wouldn't have to pause work to find wages to purchase food. During this time Zander gained stats in dex, str, and vit. He also gained the skill construction, this was a huge help for building the house because it increased how quickly he could do things when building. One night while he was thinking on how to because a magic user in this village he received the message,
Skill: You have learned Meditate.
"Wow. What does this do? Show skill meditate."
Meditate (Lv. 1 0%): allows the user to focus his flow of mana better.
2% passive increase to mp regen.
10% increase to mp regen when resting.
"This will be a handy skill once I learn some spells."
So the week continued until the walls were finished.
*ding*
You have completed a quest.
You have leveled up!
You have leveled up!
You have leveled up!
"Sweet, 3 levels. Now to put all the points in int and wis."
Cruben thanks Zander, "You've been a big help. Starting tomorrow I'll take you to work and teach you."
"Your welcome Cruben. Let me know if you need any more help."
"Now that you mention it I still need the roof. Would you mind finding the thatcher for me?"
Find the thatcher
Find the thatcher to build Cruben's roof.
Difficulty: E
Reward: increased friendliness with Cruben. Use of Cruben's tools to leatherwork.
Smiling Zander replies, "I'd love to."
You have accepted the quest.
Running around town, to increase his run skill, Zander hunted for the thatcher. After several hours of looking he find the old man he helped the first day sitting outside of a hut.
"Finally I found you. Cruben would like your help to finish his house. He needs a roof and asks if you could thatch it for him."
"hmm... You ask a lot of me. What will you give me in return?"
Sighing Zander thinks 'what a money grubbing old man.'
"I don't have very much right now. I'm sure Cruben would pay your normal wages."
"yes but you have asked me for the favor not Cruben. That means you must pay as well."
*sigh* "Ok what must I do to gain your favor?"
Grinning the man asks, "you will do anything?"
"yes yes. I just need help for Cruben."
"Ok I will agree." Still smiling the man adds, "You should be more careful to what you agree to. I could get you into trouble. Come here when you have finished and I will have you return the favor."
Zander shudders at this response. 'Well, at least I got him to help'. Zander walks the old man over to the new house and finds Cruben waiting there.
"I brought the thatcher just like you asked."
A look of horror crosses Cruben's face. Bowing low to the old man he says, "I'm sorry honorable elder. There seems to have been a mistake. Please forgive this young man."
Waving his hand away the Elder says, "Nevermind, he has already paid for bothering me. Besides I never get to do this anymore. It will be fun."
Taking Zander aside Cruben says, "I can't believe you bothered the town chief! I mean he is the best, but he's always so busy. He's also the best bargainer in town. I hope it was worth it."
"Oh." Zander replies with a sinking feeling.
*ding*
Quest complete
You have found an alternate path to finish the quest. Because of this you get the option of the having the Chief of the tribe help you find a class.
You have accepted a quest.
Slave
Do whatever the chieftain asks of you.
Difficulty: E
Reward: Guidance from the chief.
Failure: The tribe turns hostile towards you.
"Come on me boy, we have a lot of work ahead of us!" The chief beckons to Zander
"I guess I won't get to learn from you until the roof is finished."
Cruben laughs before saying, "I guess not. Don't worry, I'll still teach you when you find the time."
For the next two days Zander was sent on errands for the chief; getting thatch, string, water, food, holding an umbrella to provide shade, dancing for entertainment, whatever the chief decided at the moment to have him do. After an exhausting 2 days the roof was finally finished.
Looking at Zander the chief says, "he he. You've done all I've asked. Its been fun. The last task I have for you is to sit with me each evening for the next two weeks and talk with me. It gets lonely being the HONORED ELDER all the time."
Giving an exhausted bow Zander replies," as you wish."
About this time Cruben walks up smiling. He pats Zander on the shoulder and says, "well, it turned out better than I expected. Now I can finally propose. Rest tomorrow, and the day after I will start to teach you."
"You've got it."