Xena practically skipped through the town’s main square, giddy with excitement. She had done it! Now she just needed to ensure her victory. She followed the sound of clanging metal and headed for Brian’s blacksmith.
She reflected on what the quest prompt had said after gaining the majority of the council’s vote. The prompt stated that there was still a chance for this Corey guy to subvert her efforts or out-do her to swing votes on the council. The race was apparently still technically on until tonight’s appointment ceremony.
“Like I’m going to let some rando’ gamer out do me,” she said.
She entered the blacksmith and looked around the silent smokey room until she spotted Brian. He was feeding coal into the weird fireplace that must be what he used to heat up the metal.
“Hello,” she said. “I’m Xena.”
Brian turned to look at her and stroked his beard. “Ahh, you are the one who I heard about. You’ve gained the current majority vote to become mayor. What can I do for you?”
Xena stood in the large doorway and leaned on the doorframe, trying to look casual. “Oh, I was just wondering what it would take to secure your vote for becoming mayor. Is there anything I could do to convince you to cast your vote for me instead? I heard you already gave it to someone named Corey.”
“I would feel terrible going back on my word to Corey,” Brian said. “Even though you already have the majority vote, I like the lad and he did help me out quite a bit.”
Xena started to think it had been a mistake to come here, but her thoughts were interrupted when Brian spoke again.
“However,” he said, “I suppose I do have something I need. I’m going to need some help here at the smithy. You see, I’ve been filling in at the crafting workshop, which is attached to the back of the smithy.”
He gestured with his bearded chin toward the back, which indeed did open up into another room with workbenches and other weird stuff. “So,” Brian continued, “It’s too much for me, and I’m falling behind in my smithing work. I’ll either need someone to run the crafting workshop, which would be preferred, or an apprentice I can have help out here at the smithy.”
“I’m not much of a crafter, and I don’t think I would make a very good apprentice,” she said.
Brian let out a belly laugh, leaning on his anvil with one arm as though she’d made a really funny joke. “No, that’s not what I meant,” he said, regaining his composure and standing up straight. “I meant that I was hoping you could find me one. I’m back ordered as it is, so I will only fall farther behind in my smithing orders if I try to find someone. If you can find them for me, you will have my vote.”
[Quest Update: Mayor Indeed. You have already gained the majority vote, but you can work to ensure your victory by reinforcing current vote pledges or poaching votes already promised to another candidate. Current Votes: 5/7. Brian the Blacksmith has need of an Apprentice or someone to run the Crafting Workshop. Find him the perfect candidate and you will sway his vote. This is a timed quest and will end at 6:00 PM game time.]
[Help Brian find a Crafter and/or Apprentice Blacksmith?]
[Yes] or [No]
Xena reached out and tapped yes. She wasn’t sure if she should be offended at his laughter or not, but figured that doing so wouldn’t help her get the vote, so she let it go. “Any ideas where I should look for an apprentice?” she asked.
“Not really,” Brian said. “But, you should probably look for someone with a decent strength and agility stat if they want to be an apprentice, or someone with a high intelligence stat and some crafting experience to run the crafting workshop. It’s much harder for us normal folks to train our stats than you adventurers chosen by the makers. You should try to think of areas that the stronger, or more agile people would be. On the other hand, you should also keep an eye out for someone you think would be a good fit as you go about your other business.”
That didn’t help much, but his earlier comment had made her wonder if he was against a female apprentice, so she asked. “Why did you laugh earlier when I said I wouldn’t be any good?”
“Because you’re going to become the mayor. I mean, if it falls through somehow, I’d be happy to have an adventurer as an apprentice, but let’s face it,” He gave her a flat look. “You obviously have higher aspirations than working in a smithy.”
She felt relieved at his answer, but prodded. “Would you accept a female apprentice?”
Brian shrugged. “Doesn’t matter to me, as long as they can do the work. They will need a minimum strength and agility stat of five to start in the smithy. Though, higher would be better.”
“And for the Crafting Station?” Xena asked.
“They could get away with a strength and agility of three, but would need an intelligence level of five or higher.” He rubbed his chin and added, “They should also want to do the work. I don’t want to have to fight to get my apprentice or colleague to do their job.”
She thanked him for the information and started her search. She still didn’t know who this Corey guy was, but there was no way she was going to give him the chance to poach her votes and fall behind. Even if he managed to, if she stole his in return, she would still win.
She checked with the guards first, knowing that they would need to have decent strength to wield the heavy steel armor and swords they used. Unfortunately, it was a bust. None of them even considered it, shooting her down instantly.
It had almost been a complete waste, but at the last minute, almost as an afterthought, Guard Captain Gary said, “You might try the inn, there are often people that come to town looking for a calling that end up there. You could also potentially hire a sell-sword with the needed stats to fill in, but you would have to pay them.”
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That had given her a quest prompt, so she knew it had to be right.
[Quest Update: Mayor Indeed. You have already gained the majority vote, but you can work to ensure your victory by reinforcing current vote pledges or poaching votes already promised to another candidate. Current Votes: 5/7. Brian the Blacksmith has need of an Apprentice or someone to run the Crafting Workshop. Guard Captain Gary has told you that you might have better luck in the inn, as that is where a likely candidate would be. This is a timed quest and will end at 6:00 PM Game time.]
She hurried down the street toward the inn, which was near the town square, opposite the town hall. I’ve got to see if I can do something about this medieval vibe, she thought. Looking around at the various shops and the inn as she approached it, she grimaced. Yep, she thought. I’m gonna see if I can at least get a few of these shops painted once I’m mayor.
Xena knew that some players loved the medieval setting, but to her it was just depressing. And I hope I can change the name, she thought. When she’d first read the name on her map she’d thought it said Butt-ville, but thankfully it was Butteville, but it was still a terrible name that was bound to get made fun of. She sighed, walking up the steps and entering the inn. She was getting ahead of herself, she still needed to make sure she would win.
Entering the common room, she ignored the shouts to shut the door. Like she would just leave it open. Closing the door, she looked to the sounds of laughter and loud conversations at the tables near to the strange pit thing off to the back side of the room. There were other people, farmers from the looks of them, throughout the rest of the common room, but the strong ones all seemed to be near the pit.
“Hello,” she said, walking up to one of the tables. It had what looked to be adventurers sitting at the table, with various armor and weapon types, but their nameplates showed their Guild as Sell-Swords of Drisconia.
“What can we do for you,” one of the warrior types said. His nameplate showed his name was Brek.
“I’m looking for someone who wants some steady work,” she said. “We need an apprentice for the blacksmith, and someone with some crafting skill to run the crafting workshop.”
“How much you paying?” he asked, which caused the rest of the group at the table to drop their conversations and look at her questioningly.
“I don’t have much money,” she said. “But, the position would have benefits and earn you some money I’m sure.”
“No thanks” Brek said, and the rest of the sell-swords turned back to their prior conversations. Brek was still facing her though, and added, “You could probably get one of us to fill in for a while, but it would cost one gold per day. Come back if you’re interested.” With that, he turned back to his drink.
One gold per day was outrageous, so she turned and stomped away, furious with the Brek NPC. When I’m mayor… she thought, but then decided not to go down that line of thinking. She wasn’t mayor yet, and she wasn’t going to let some NPC distract her from her goal.
Looking around, she saw that she’d stormed away from the sell-swords, only to be facing the bar.
The Barkeeper, Bart, as his nameplate read, looked like a big guy, so she went and asked him. “Any chance you want to switch careers? I’m looking for an apprentice for Brian the Blacksmith or someone to run the crafting workshop.”
Bart laughed and slapped the counter. “Oh, no, my wife, Anna would kill me if I did. Plus, I’m quite happy here.”
“But you’re just a bartender,” she said in confusion. “Wouldn’t a more important job give you a better sense of accomplishment or status in the town?”
“Ahh,” Bart said with a chuckle. “That’s where you’re wrong. I’m not just the Barkeep. I’m also the Class Delegate for the town. When you get to level ten, we’ll talk about getting you a proper class and where you need to go to get it.”
That was interesting, so Xena filed that away for later. There hadn’t been much information released about classes yet, other than that they did exist and players had to earn them somehow. It looked like she’d found a lead on that subject. However, it still didn’t help her with what she needed at the moment.
Not wanting to give up, she asked him, “Do you know anyone who would want the job?”
“Well…” he said slowly, “I suppose you should talk to some of those patrons out there at the various tables. I’m sure one of them would be interested, as they are new to town and looking for their place.”
“The sell-swords want too much money,” she said.
“Not them, the other folks,” he said, motioning with his head toward the people at the tables farther away from the strange sand pit.
None of them looked particularly strong, and seemed to be wearing normal every day peasant clothes, so she’d dismissed them earlier. It looks like I was wrong to write them off so quickly, she thought.
The normal looking folk, it turned out were NPC’s that had left the city to find some peace and quiet in a small town, or who had struck out on their own. After talking to three different tables of patrons, she had no luck. With at least ten other tables to go, she decided to cut to the chase.
Pulling out a chair, she climbed up on top of it and shouted, “May I have your attention!”
Everyone stopped their chatter and looked to her, so she gave herself a satisfied nod and continued, “I am looking for someone to help the town prosper. I would prefer someone with crafting experience and the necessary stats to run the crafting workshop. I would also like a strong and agile apprentice for the blacksmith. Anyone interested?”
As she looked over the crowd, most of them were shaking their heads or shrugging their shoulders before returning to their previous conversations. There were two though, that were still looking her way. One tall lanky man, who’s nameplate simply read Logan, was already walking toward her, followed soon after by the other, a stalky strong looking girl named Brittany.
Xena stepped down from her chair to meet them. “Hello,” Xena said, looking first to Logan, then to Brittany.
Logan was the first to respond. “Greetings,” he said, rubbing his hand through his hair. “I’m not sure I’m qualified to run a crafting workshop, but I’d be interested in being an apprentice to the blacksmith.”
He didn’t look all that strong, but Xena asked anyway. “What are your strength and agility stats right now?”
“They’re both at five,” Logan said. “I know it will be a lot of work to improve, but I’m willing to work hard.”
“Good enough,” Xena said. “And how about you?” she asked, turning to look at Brittany.
“Well,” Brittany said. “I was hoping to try out for the crafting workshop, it’s actually been my dream to run one, and I worked in one at the Capital for a few years already, but they kept looking me over for promotion. My crafting skill is already at 50/75 in the adept rank, so I thought I’d try to look elsewhere.”
“Sounds perfect,” Xena said, shaking both their hands. “Now, follow me and I’ll introduce you to Brian,” she said. Then she led them out the busy inn and toward the blacksmith.
Brian was all too happy to welcome her and the new recruits into the smithy. After a small interrogation from the blacksmith toward each of the candidates, and a firm handshake, it all seemed settled.
However, after Brian thanked Xena for finding them and promising her his vote for becoming mayor, he turned to Brittany and asked, “As the town’s new crafting workshop supervisor, you are eligible to join the town council. Would you like to join?”
“Sure!” Brittany said. “That sounds like fun.” Brittny then looked to Xena, “I’ll be giving you my vote for mayor as well,” she said with a wink.
[Quest Update: Mayor Indeed. You have exceeded Brian’s hopes and fulfilled both of his needed vacancies. Thanks to your efforts, the town now has a fully functional Crafting Workshop. The Town blacksmith has leveled up to level 2 thanks to your efforts. Brian has given you his vote. Brittany has accepted a position on the town council and given you her vote. Current Votes: 7/8. This is a timed quest and will end at 6:00 PM Game Time.]
“Interesting,” Xena said. “How many more spots are yet to be filled on the council?”
Brian rubbed his neck and replied, “Not that many, just a few.”
Looks like I’ve got more work to do to make sure I win this, Xena thought.