Axel looked through the Local Job Board's postings and searched for something that he thought he could do. Unlike James, Jim as he'd chosen to go by in the game, or Pear, who, like him, hadn't chosen a different name, he didn't have any idea where to start to find a Job that he could do and get paid for without sending himself for respawn. As he browsed through, he watched as Jim finished talking with Inkfingers, the odd Gnome that had helped them all, before he left the Guildhall for whatever errand he was doing.
The more he looked at the Job Board, the more Axel wished he had talked with Mark, Markus as his avatar was named, and convinced him to take him with him for a few jobs so that they could find their feet together. Unfortunately, Markus was talking with a pretty Human girl that carried a spear off to the side and something told Axel it was business not pleasure they were discussing. Even if Axel wanted to convince Markus to take him on for a bit in game, he couldn't do anything about that until after Markus was done talking with the girl.
Finally, not seeing a Job he wanted to take at the moment, Axel moseyed over to the Bounty Board and looked through the ones for the area around Hero's Crypt. They wouldn't pay as well as the Jobs would since they were recurring Jobs, but they would pay enough for Axel to figure out what he wanted to do and how he wanted to do it.
Bounty Board
Hunting Wolves: Wolves are a common terror across Tauron. Slay five and return proof of your kills to the Guild. Proof includes, but not limited to; teeth, claws, hides, ears, or tails. Reward: 1 Iron coin and 6 Copper coins
Gathering Goblin Eyes: Alchemists are always seeking common ingredients. Gather ten Goblin Eyes and return proof of your success to the Guild. Reward: 8 Copper coins
Gathering Walking Widows: Alchemists are always seeking common ingredients. Gather ten Walking Widows and return proof of your success to the Guild. Reward: 8 Copper coins
Seeking Bandits: Bandits are a terror across Tauron. Find signs of them and return proof of their location to the Guild. Reward: 3 Iron coins
Hunting Bandits: Bandits are a terror across Tauron. Slay one or more and return proof of your success to the Guild. Proof includes, but not limited to; heads, uniforms, looted valuables. Reward: Variable based upon bandit's bounty and estimated danger. Note: Killing common folk and calling them Bandits is frowned upon and will result in imprisonment and removal from the Guild.
Seeking Monsters: Monsters of all stripes are dangerous terrors across Tauron. Find signs of their territory and den and return proof of their location to the Guild. Reward: 5 Iron coins for unknown monster dens
The board's Jobs continued in that regard and Axel decided to accept most of the simpler ones like the ones for gathering herbs of all kinds. Simple Jobs chosen, Axel moved to Inkfingers' desk and waited for the Gnome to finish with the Elf in front of him. As he waited, he tried not to scratch at the fur that had sprouted in various places across his body now that he was a Wolf Beastkin.
"How can I help you, my newest and most favorite pup?" Inkfingers asked with a smile as Axel approached his desk now that he wasn't busy.
"I was hoping that you could show me what some of the herbs the Bounty Board wants looked like," Axel said. "That and tell me a little more about tamed animals."
"Well, we have this encyclopedia," the Gnome told him, tapping the topmost book on the pile he sat on. "But we'll look into that in a moment, your other question is easier to answer. Tamed animals, and I'm assuming you don't mean creatures such as cows and pigs, are denoted as separate from wild beasts by way of this collar and a tag."
"What is it?" Axel asked as he examined the simple leather strip that Inkfingers was holding up.
"A collar is a strip of cloth or leather that is typically found around the neck of an animal, or a person if they're into that sort of thing," Inkfingers answered with a bigger smile that Axel could only see as dirty. "But you weren't asking me about that were you?"
"Um, no I wasn't," Axel said, feeling as nervous as Pear did when he spoke to a girl. "I was asking about the tag."
"The tag simply bears the animal's name and the name of their owner," Inkfingers said as he flipped the wooden token between his fingers. "If the animal is unruly or used in combat and it causes issues within the city, then the Guards know who to bill and notify after they've put the creature down. If you're planning to tame animals, I recommend that you move carefully and impress upon them that they are not to be apart from you unless they are on their best behavior. Do you understand, Axel?"
"If I have tamed animals then I need to keep them close to me or someone that can control them," Axel said with a nod. "Makes sense. How much for the collar and tag?"
"This collar I'm willing to give you for free, provided you deliver something for me," Inkfingers said, placing the leather strip on the counter. "The tag comes free as long as you ask for one, so I'll give you two of them. As you advance within the Guild, the tag will show your rank with us and allow the Guard to know how dangerous your beast is likely to be if it becomes dangerous and requires their attention."
"What am I delivering?" Axel asked as he accepted the tags and collar.
"Just a letter," The Gnome's blue face split into an easy smile. "Shouldn't take you long at all. And please remember that I'd like you to wait for a reply."
"Take the letter to someone and wait for a reply," Axel said. "Sounds easy. Probably means it won't be."
"Probably," Inkfingers agreed as he pulled the letter from his desk. "You're looking for a Halfling by the name of Sam Strapboot. Blonde hair, green eyes, terrible scar across his forehead. You can't miss him. He'll be tending his shop on the west side of the city. Strapboot's Bootstraps."
"Blonde Halfling with green eyes and a scar," Axel repeated. "Tending his shop, Strapboot's Bootstraps."
"I do love when they're big and smart," Inkfingers said with another dirty smile. "Now on to your herbology primer!"
Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.
Axel looked at the sign with the words Strapboot's Bootstraps embossed on the bottom half of the sign with a stylized raised carving of a laced boot colorfully filling the upper half of the sign.
"Took forever to find the damned place," he griped under his breath as he pushed the door open and entered the shop as a bell chimed out.
"Be with you in a moment!" a scratchy voice called out. "Just need to finish this last bit. Feel free to browse around until then!"
"Sam Strapboot?" Axel called questioningly.
"That's me," the voice called back. "Like I said, I'll be there in a moment."
Deciding not to rush the Halfling, Axel began to look through the shop's wares and immediately noticed that this shop would be totally useless for him. Probably.
Strapboot's Bootstraps was a cobbler shop that seemed to specialize in good quality leather boots and dress shoes with all the paraphernalia that went into the care of leather footwear from polishes to brushes to extra laces. The sharp smell of worked leather clashed with the more bitter smell of the polishes on sale to give the entire shop an almost unpleasant smell.
"Thanks for waiting," the little Halfling said to Axel as he walked from out of the backroom. "How can I help you?"
"I was asked to deliver a letter for Inkfingers and wait for the answer," Axel said, extending the envelope toward the scarred Halfling.
"Oh good," Strapboot said as he accepted the letter. "I'm glad I don't have to tell you that I can't give you better footwear than your sandals there. Most Beastkin don't trim their claws, gives them another weapon, and it's easier for them and everyone if you all wear sandals or nothing on your feet so that we don't have to work around what's there or risk having our hard work destroyed."
"I was a little curious about how that would work," Axel admitted. "Seemed like an issue for later and now it at least answers one question."
"You speak like a Last Star," Sam said as adjusted a pair of reading glasses on his face and began to peer at the letter. "One of those sent by those beyond the Divines to our world to keep things from stagnating or tipping too far in one direction. Your sort are usually different races before you come here and then you're all like overgrown toddlers for the first several months as you learn your places in this world."
"I didn't realize that you had a name for us," Axel said.
"Oh we do," Sam told him. "It comes from the story of the first Heroes. The ones who started what would become Hero's Crypt. Do you know the story?"
"I don't," Axel admitted. "Can you tell me?"
"Later," Sam said. "Come by for supper and I'll tell you all about it then. In the meantime, I believe you need to take something back to Inkfingers, dirty old Gnome he is."
"He's certainly something," Axel said with a smile. "I don't know whether to run away when he smiles at me or turn it around on him."
"It doesn't matter which you choose," Strapboot told him with a sniff as he moved toward the backroom, "he'll just redouble his efforts with you. Especially Beastkin. They're his favorites to tease."
"I kind of guessed that," Axel said. "He doesn't tease my friends the same way he teases me."
"Give it time. Soon enough he'll be turning all of you red and cackling away at your embarrassment," Sam said as he came back with a small package. "Now make sure you put this package in Inkfingers' hands, no one else's. If someone else tries to give this to the intended person, they'll likely kill them for it, but Inkfingers will be fine. He might be a dirty pervert of a Gnome, but he's still one of the favorites of the Guild and that affords him certain privileges so long as he doesn't push things too far."
"I'll do my best to remember to come back for dinner," Axel promised the Halfling cobbler as he took the box and began to leave the shop.
"It's a standing offer," Strapboot called after him as he opened the door. "Whenever you can make it. And don't hesitate to bring your friends. I'd love to meet them."
Axel pushed the door of the Barfing Minotaur open and stepped into the dining room. He'd finished delivering Strapboot's package to Inkfingers and wasn't sure what else to do.
"I recognize you," a woman's voice said, causing Axel to look toward the fire in the corner with the spitted cow still slowly turning away. "Earn enough to pay your debt already?"
"Nah," Axel said to the Elvish woman who he now knew as Willow. "Just don't know what to do with myself right now."
"Did you join the Hunter's Guild like I suggested?" Willow asked as she continued sweeping the floor. "They've got all kinds of things you can pick from."
"I did join," Axel told her, barely noticing how his tail seemed to wag through the air as he walked. "Couldn't find a Job that I wanted to try my hand at right away and now I don't know if I should look into setting out on my own and doing what I feel like or if I should stay in town a bit and ask around."
"Well if you're looking for something profitable to do, then I've got something I could use a wannabe mercenary for," Willow said. "The pay’s not too great, but it should be right up your alley and I think you'll like the bonus I can offer."
"What's up?" Axel asked as he took a seat at a bench not far from the Elf and watched as she swept the floor.
"Eyes up, little puppy," she said without turning around to face him. "I need all your attention on my words."
"I can pay attention to multiple things," Axel assured her with a grin, "but fine, I'll keep my eyes on the back of your head."
"Better," Willow said, throwing him a smile. "I need you to find someone for me. I know where they are and I can give you directions, but after that you're on your own."
"Who is it and where are they?" Axel asked all playfulness gone from his voice as he sat up straighter on the bench.
"It's my father, Wulf Stouthammer," Willow said. "He's a Dwarf with red hair, a bit of gray in his beard, and he has a tattoo of a willow tree on the back of his right hand. He's gone to the Trout's Head Mine south of the city. Follow the road until you see the third farmhouse on the east and go west. You'll find the mine entrance beside the Trout's Head River. Shouldn't be too deep in the mine, so you should be able to find him pretty easily, watch out for Rockwolves and Ore Eaters and you should be okay. Questions?"
"If your dad's a Dwarf does that make you half-Dwarf, half-Elf?" Axel asked immediately.
"Father adopted me when I was barely five winters old," Willow said. "Been a Stouthammer ever since; though a full-blooded Wood Elf all my life. Anything else?"
"What's a Rockwolf? And an Ore Eater?" Axel asked.
"Rockwolves are wolves mutated by concentrations of Earth magics," she said. "They have stones and rocks sprouting from their skin and hidden in their fur, which makes them difficult to kill with a blade, and they're likely to be able to manipulate the earth with natural spells. Be careful with them. Ore Eaters are more difficult to describe and weirder. They're monsters that spend all their time eating raw ore, though they do still try to eat worked metal whenever they have a chance. Ore Eaters have hides that slowly harden into rock and then metal based on the amount of ore they've eaten. The type of ore matters too, but close to the surface of the mine you shouldn't run into more than juveniles, maybe a full grown Ironback."
"I think that's it," Axel said. "I'll do it."
You've accepted a Quest!
Find Wulf Stouthammer: Willow Stouthammer has asked you to find her father in the Trout's Head Mine. Find Wulf Stouthammer and aid him in returning to his daughter and their tavern.
Rewards: 1 Iron coin and free drinks at the Barfing Minotaur for one night.
"Thank you, Axel," Willow said with another smile. "I hope to see you soon."
"I'm definitely cashing in those free drinks," Axel said with a smile as he stood and began to make his way to the door. "Got to make Pear regret forcing me to spend my coin on him at the start."