I walk out of the inn to light a fire and set up my [Worn Tent]--nothing more than a few scraps of leather bound together by threads of wool. Living in a [Worn Tent] is far from glamorous, but it’s practical. I can travel as much as I want with no worries. Dracovania is my home. For the past six months, I had taken up the role of a lone traveler, wandering from town to town in search of work, training, and gear.

As soon I as got the [Treasure of the Cursed Ravencrest] quest from reading A Captain’s Treasure, I took off for Gothic Coast--a chilly and damp region in the northwest of Dracovania. I was really rather fortunate to get my hands on A Captain’s Treasure from a Mud Snail. They usually only drop [Snail Meat] and maybe a few copper.

The quest [Treasure of the Cursed Ravencrest] is rated Master. Quests are rated the same as skills, Novice, Apprentice, Journeyman, Expert, Master, Grandmaster, and Legend. I’ve never done a Master quest before. Actually, I’ve only ever completed one Expert quest in my life, and it was a long ordeal that culminated in me getting lost in a dungeon for three whole days while searching for a Goblin Priest to kill. I received 10,000 EXP in a skill of my choice for killing the level 267 Goblin Priest, so it was worth it in the end, of course. I chose to put my EXP points into [Wind Magic], as that's my go-to skill.

Here’s the thing about the [Treasure of the Cursed Ravencrest] quest. First of all, to even obtain the quest, you have to have read A Captain’s Treasure, which is a Rare item. Second, most players are too weak to even think about trying a Master quest. And lastly, really elite players probably aren’t going to waste their time on the [Treasure of the Cursed Ravencrest] quest. It’s a longer than average Master quest, requiring four whole steps. The elites likely have their quest logs full, and may even be shooting for Grandmaster or Legendary quests.

But for me, [Treasure of the Cursed Ravencrest] is the only Master quest I’ve ever gotten. Even if it’s long, the reward of one million gold coins is too tempting to pass by.

As I settle into my [Basic Sleeping Bag], all I think about is the treasure. I use my [Leather Pants of the Eagle] as a pillow. I’ve become used to the stiffness of a leather on my cheek as I sleep. It would be awfully nice to sleep on a real feather pillow every now and then, but real pillows are quite expensive. My pant-pillow smells like worn leather, but my nose is familiar with the scent.

What it would it feel like to have one million gold? What is it like to be rich? To have a piece of land to call my own. To have money, and gear, and power?

Or, to at least have enough cash to buy a proper pillow.

I bet it feels great, I think as I slowly drift to sleep.

When I wake up, my toes are cold and the geese are honking. Gothic Coast is packed with geese. Giant flocks of them. I can’t remember the last morning I didn’t wake up their honking. I groan, rolling off the hard ground. Slowly, I rub my toes until I can feel them again.

I ask my Overwatch, “Overwatch: Base Stats!”

Name

Blake FrostDeth

Strength

223

Intelligence

412

Dexterity

202

Endurance

341

Perception

145

Total Level

265

I start every day with my stats. That’s my goal. Get my stats as high as possible so I can get this damn treasure.

Immediately, I pack up the tent and throw it into my inventory. My inventory has 12 slots. Normal players will always have just 12 slots, but it's possible to expand your inventory if you have enough money to pay for an [Extra Slot], or are lucky enough to find an [Extra Slot] in a chest or from a monster.

That’s another reason I don’t have a pillow. I could perhaps afford one, but with only twelve slots to store all my possessions, a pillow isn’t high on my priority list.

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I start every morning with a run. [Endurance] is an important stat, and I’m always biting off more than I can chew, so I constantly have to run away from monsters. Additionally, I have an unusually wild combat style that drains Stamina at a higher rate than average.

The amount of Stamina drained is directly proportional to the weight of a weapon. For example, it takes significantly more Stamina to swing an axe than it would to swing a rapier. Although my [Iron Scimitar] isn't a particularly heavy when compared to a club, I like to be able to spam attacks. Hence, my rigid running schedule.

Admittedly, I also love to run. I’m on the gravel trail headed towards Mumbo Jungle. With the slight wind gliding past my cheek, I take pleasure in the heaviness of my breaths and endorphins flooding my veins. A runner’s high in Dracovania is always a pleasure.

Even the light Gothic Coast rain isn’t going to ruin my jog. It actually feels good as my body starts to heat up. Occasionally, I have a spare moment to marvel at Gargoyles soaring through the air, thick frames silhouetted by the gray coast sky. Oftentimes, they’ll fly right through a crowd of geese, sending the birds scattering and honking in terror. Gargoyles have a powerful flying style, using muscular wings to propel their heavy bodies. I have never had the opportunity to fight one, but they are fearsome opponents, with extremely high defense. Geese, on the other hand, are level one critters. You get no experience for killing a goose. Occasionally, it’s possible to get some meat off a goose or level your [Hunting] skill if you catch one in a snare.

Towards the end of my run, I hear a metallic jingle coming out of the wood, the unmistakable sound of a Lottery Chest. I decide that it’s worth investigating.

After scraping myself on a bramble and slipping over a fallen log, I discover that it is, in fact, a royal purple Lottery Chest. Lottery Chests randomly spawn across Dracovania. When you open them up, they will give you a chance at spinning a wheel for a prize.

Most of the time, the prizes suck. In fact, more wealthy travelers often walk right past Lottery Chests, as the odds of winning a good prize are so low that it may not even be worth the time to spin the wheel. However, I take what I can get.

I open the top of the chest, and a giant wheel pops out of the spring-loaded contraption. The wheel is able to magically float in the air. I’m sprayed with a burst of confetti, which I find rather annoying.

You found a Lottery Chest! Give the wheel a spin, and you may win!

Just looking at the wheel, it’s clear that you most often win junk. Large cuts of the pie are red, meaning your prize is some useless vendor trash. Then, there are some decent sized cuts of white, which will award you with a Common prize. A very small percentage of the wheel is green, which means you could receive a Rare prize, such as an enchanted weapon. I’ve spun hundreds of these things, and I’ve never won a green prize.

And yet even more elusive was the barely visible single strip of gold. I’ve never heard of any player who landed on the gold strip. To be honest, I’m not even sure it’s possible.

I give the wheel a hardy spin, and sure enough, it lands on the red section.

You won, Rusted Iron Screws!

The chest disappears and a pile of [Rusted Iron Screws] magically appears. I pick up the vendor trash, knowing that I could probably get three or four pieces of copper for the metal. I can’t afford to be ungrateful.

Towards the end of my run, My Overwatch says, You have reached level 342 Endurance!

Sweet! I have been working towards that level for weeks now. It’s nice to finally get the payoff.

I head back to the inn. For energy food, I eat a low-level herb, [Goat’s Tongue]. The thick leaf is bitter and dry in my mouth, but it gives me some Stamina and refills my hunger meter, so I keep chewing. My [Herblore] is pretty bad--32--but I’m constantly picking up any herbs I can get so I don’t have to spend money on food. Everybody has a hunger meter--mine’s at 52% right after that [Goat’s Tongue]. When it drops below 10%, your [Strength] and [Endurance] Stats reduce by 50%.

As Vork pointed out, I need some scimitar practice, so I decide to dedicate today to sword training, though I’m still unsure if I’ll grow a level. I glance at my experience bar for [Swords], which is over 97% full, and I think that perhaps with an entire day of training, I might grow my [Swords] to level 246.

Instead of heading toward the more menacing Dread Forest, I go to Fair Plains. I’m trading the muted oaks and swampy terrain of Dread Forest for the green grass and calm willow trees of the Plains. Occasionally, the sun will peek out from the clouds, sending beams of light splaying down on the Blue Slimes and Rock Moles of the Fair Plains. Today, however, the sun is only barely visible through a thick haze of clouds.

Both Blue Slimes and Rock Moles are fairly weak monsters. Although levels vary per creature, Blue Slimes are usually around level 34, and Rock Moles are maybe level 70 at best. The Forest Crab is the toughest monster here, but it is still rarely over level 118. Of course, training on lower level monsters yields significantly fewer experience points, but it's also much safer. After my struggles with the Sludge Dragon, I'd rather play it safe for a bit.

As I walk toward the training ground, I can see several other treasure hunters also training on the weak monsters. One warrior is decked out with heavy steel gear and a giant [Mithril Sword]. By the etchings on the blade, I identify the sword as the [Mithril Sword of the Boar]. I also catch a rogue sneaking around and backstabbing a Forest Crab with a sharp [Steel Knife]. The knife could be platinum rather than steel; it’s difficult to tell, especially for somebody like me, who has never been able to afford either metal. There is one thing all the other treasure hunters have in common; their superior gear outranks mine at every level.

What I lack in gear, I make up for in hard training

The first monster I encounter is a Blue Slime--a blue blob of goo with needle-like teeth. I slash the goop with my scimitar, sending goo spraying across the forest ground. The slime’s health bar drops down about 30%, and he charges at me with bared fangs. I slip away from the blow and kick the slime with a swift roundhouse. The slime flies backward, stunned from the blow. He starts rolling towards me. I stab him with my scimitar, the blade sinking deep in his goop. He squeals and disintegrates into a pile of ashes and a useless [Torn Leather Boots].

I can probably sell the boots for six or seven copper. I only have two empty slots in my inventory, but I pick them up anyway. I’m hoping for better drops today, but this is at least a start.

The next creature that crosses my path is a Rock Mole. He burrows under me and chucks some rocks at me, but I’m able to easily defeat him with a few well-placed strokes of my sword.

The monsters are so much easier here than at Dread Forest that I'm almost bored. Yawn. But overall, it’s probably still worth it to train on weaker monsters, as I’m still unable to defeat a stupid Sludge Dragon.