Lance entered the Bird and Baby and let his eyes wander over the establishment. Rich wood stained with ale and wine, crackling fire, worn leather, pipe smoke, and heads nodding in private conversation: Lance knew he was going to want to spend some serious time here. A more careful scan showed tables of all sizes and shapes with patrons to match. Eventually, he began looking for players with no god listed on their tag, and his eye settled on a lanky elvish mage named Sparky sitting in an overstuffed leather chair in the back of the room.

Before approaching Lance continued his scan of the common room. His eye passed over what looked like an entrance to a kitchen area and then over to the bar. It was a classic bar with a friendly looking bartender wiping down his work area with a rag. Lance walked over and ordered a beer. He got something darker than he was used to drinking but he was sure it would be tasty.

Lance made his way across the space and took the seat next to the mage.

Sparky looked up from the ale he was nursing and smiled at Lance. "Hey bud, how's it going?"

Lance smiled back, "All good so far, how about you? Hope you don't mind I helped myself to a seat near you."

"Naw, that's fine,” Sparky said, “As far as how things are going, compared to my life before, this is absolutely amazing! I can hardly believe it."

Lance nodded. "I noticed that you did not choose a god when you created your character, was there a reason why?"

"Sure," Sparky replied, "I already have one. A few days ago I fell in love with... I was saved by..." Sparky looked confused.

Lance nodded knowingly and said, "The devs are censoring the names of gods, all of them. But, if I may be so bold, are you trying to say the name of a man who died on a cross over 2000 years ago?"

"That I am. Are you a follower of him too?", Sparky asked.

"I am. I have a couple of years of seminary training, but I am not a pastor yet." Lance was paying careful attention to how Sparky responded to his words, new believers sometimes did not see the need for a church.

"You know," Sparky replied, "I was saved through the Gospel Center Rescue Mission in Stockton and my counselor Ray taught me a lot about that Man. About the same time, I ran into some trouble on the streets, and Ray thought that coming in here may be a good way to get me out of a rough situation. He told me that God would not abandon me but would take care of me. Meeting you feels like a God thing and I am actually really charged up about it."

Lance sighed inwardly in relief. "We probably ought to hang out a bit and do stuff together, you know, get to know each other."

Sparky smiled, "That sounds great. I have been looking at the game menus while sitting here. It looks like we can form a party and even turn on the quest interface and find something to do."

"That is awesome, I actually have a leadership skill orb. I have been wondering what it does, this may help out with that."

Lance opened up the HUD, formed a party, and invited Sparky who immediately accepted.

After this Lance went into the quest menu and selected the filter [show level appropriate quest markers].

"Ooh, this is nice," Sparky said, "I am seeing one that is right here in the Bird and Baby."

**********

Walking up to the bartender Lance took the lead. "Bartender, do you have any problems we can help you with?"

The barkeep looked up, "Sure, we are having an infestation of rats in our basement. If you think you can kill a few rats you can both have a free dinner, ale, a room for the night and some other stuff too."

"It's a deal," Lance said. Can you show us how to get to the basement?

A quest notification popped up in Lance’s HUD.

Lance almost paused as he saw the description, this was certainly more than just killing a few rats in the basement.

The large bartender led them through the door into a tidy kitchen and opened a heavy door revealing a set of stairs that led under the inn.

"Be back I a bit," Sparky said to the barkeep who grunted in reply.

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Lance nodded as he led the way down the stairs. As they descended, the light quickly faded and they found themselves in near pitch darkness.

"Ouch!" Sparky yelled as a rat the size of a large dog came out of the darkness under the stairs and bit him.

Lance immediately spun around and equipped his daggers. He struck out at the rat and saw a <2> and <3> float up above its head.

Sparky turned as well and suddenly the basement was lit in a stark blue-white light as a bolt of electricity left Sparky's hand and struck the rat directly on the nose.

Lance saw the notification that the rat had died, but for the brief moment while the room was lit he thought he saw at least four or five large rats scattered around just one side of the basement. When the light faded Sparky found himself completely blind in the dark basement.

"Run away!" The elf yelled as he and Lance bounded up the stairs back into the kitchen.

"Okay, not so quick and easy as we thought," Lance said.

Sparky gingerly probed the bite wound and grimaced. "Agreed"

"We need a plan and I think it needs to start with a good light source down there."

Sparky nodded vigorously. "I have some sort of night vision, but even that felt somewhat limited in that basement."

"Also we are going to need a way to keep from getting rushed by those rats, there are too many... That looks like a long battle and I don't have so much in the way of health,” Lance thought for a moment, “Okay, let's solve what we can. Let's see if we can buy some torches or something."

**********

As they walked down the street they looked at the signs over each business. A shirt and pants for the tailor, a bubbling cauldron for the alchemist, a helmet and sword for the blacksmith, a ring and necklace for the jeweler, and a rope and backpack for general goods. They headed for the general goods store.

As they entered the establishment, they noted a huge wall behind the counter displaying all kinds of adventuring equipment, from rope and spikes to backpacks and travel rations. As Lance and Sparky stepped up to the counter an attractive, middle-aged woman sporting light brown hair shot through with grey streaks greeted them. Lance noticed she was a player and that her name was Gwen.

"Hello there Gwen," Lance said, "We need some supplies."

"Which quest are you on?" Gwen asked.

Sparky jumped in, "The rats in the basement over at the Bird and Baby."

"Let me guess," The woman behind the counter said, "You went down there, couldn't see a thing, and got bit and ran back up."

"Exactly," Lance moaned.

"Don't feel bad, happens to most. Where is the rest of the party?"

"Just us," Sparky said.

"There is no way a thief and a mage are going to duo that quest. It's bigger and harder than you think. That one is absolutely underrated by the system. I can get you kitted out for it, but you are going to need either a healer or a tank, preferably both," Gwen said.

"Okay, let's get the kit first, we can find others to help us out later," Lance responded.

Gwen smiled, "Be right back." She exited the room through a small doorway in the back and returned a minute later holding a box. On the side of the box was scrawled, "B&B Rats v.3"

Lance smiled, "Wow, when you say kit you mean it!"

"What is version three about that box," Sparky added with his own wry smile.

"We offer discounts for information about quests and are constantly updating the contents of our packs."

"Makes sense," Lance says. "We want help, and you want to sell stuff. The more you can help the more you can sell."

"Exactly," Gwen said. "Glad you understand." She tipped the box over and the contents spilled onto the counter. Gwen picked up four stones. “Here is the solution to your light problem.” She seemed to squeeze one of the stones and it lit up surprisingly bright. She tossed it out into the shop and it stayed lit as it hit the floor and rolled to a stop.

Sparky walked over and picked up the stone. "Wow, this is way better than a torch!" He squeezed the stone and it went dark again.

"How long do they last?" Lance asked.

"Four hours at full brightness and then they begin to fade over the next two hours. Bring them back and we can have them charged up again for a lot cheaper than buying them new. Kind of recyclable I guess." Gwen took the stone back from Sparky and set them aside.

Next, she picked up a length of rope. "The system will not let me share spoilers with you while you have the quest active, but I can tell you this. Without a rope, you will still be able to complete the quest but you will not get all of the loot. This rope is very much worth it."

Lance reached over and picked up a water skin, "Water?"

Gwen shook her head, "We are saving you a trip back out to get this, but I can't tell you what it is at this time."

Sparky was pushing some rocks around on the table, "What are these?"

"Those are copper ore, a pickaxe is heavier to carry," Gwen said.

"And two backpacks? Don't we already have inventories?" Lance asked.

"Aah, but these will expand your inventory from 20 to 40 slots each. That's more than enough to gather up all of the valuables and return to sell them. they will pay for themselves."

"Okay," Lance said, "How much will all of this set us back?"

"Two silver," Gwen said with a hopeful look on her face.

Lance considered, he could barter her down but she looked like she needed a little help, "How did you get your position here? Are you apprenticing or something?"

"I am buying the business from the former owner. I love keeping shop but the payments are high and need to be paid every week and the game is starting slower than I expected."

"The price on the kit feels a little expensive," Lance summoned two silvers and pushed them across the counter. "But I am in a position to help right now, and we appreciate all of the hard work you have put into building this kit. Also the advice about us needing more party members."

Gwen smiled, "Thank you Lance, and you too Sparky. Hope to see you again soon. Some of what you guys may find is stuff we sell. Come back after you finish the quest and I will give you my best price on that stuff."

As Lance and Sparky turned to leave Gwen said, "I hope it is not rude, but why do you not have a god listed on your tags?"

Lance turned around and smiled, "Glad you asked Gwen. Sparky and I are both followers of the man who suffered on a cross."

Gwen looked at them kind of funny, "Do you mean..." Her face screwed up in consternation.

"Yeah," Sparky said, "The game devs blocked the names of gods, they want to control that."

"I am not into that sort of thing, but I do believe in basic freedoms, doesn't that violate the Constitution or something?"

"Maybe it does," Lance said, "If you are ever curious or want to know more just let one of us know and we can tell you about the God-man who lived and died to save sinners."

She smiled at them, "Not today, but good luck on your quest."