Emerald and Jeri told him about what currency was used here, while miss Morey headed back to her work instead.

Apprently there were three primary types of currency, and denominations of coins were fairly simple, except for the higher tiers.

On the low end you had copper pieces, or "cp". Copper pieces didn't even have to be minted. If you could melt copper, you could use it to trade in weight. Some copper lumps would even turn green-blue from oxides, because they ended up being stuck switching hands and take too long for them to get to some kind of production facility that would melt the copper down for use, like a mint that would make proper coin.

It was 5 cp to a copper coin, one "cc". Copper pieces were mostly used for children or negligible amounts, like if you didn't want to mooch off your friends, so you offer a token amount. Maybe a cheap establishment charged you for a bit of hay for your cart animal, asking for simple copper pieces.

Copper coins were properly minted coins that had value as expressed by the state, the various governments of the different countries here. Cheap labor might earn you a few copper coins a day, which you rented a bunk and bought food for. Once you got past the lower ends of cheap, you could buy clothes, and keep savings. There were also denominations, 10 and 50 cc coins, which helped when people earned more money, or had to hide their savings in a small, inconspicious place. Someone who wasn't poor might keep 10 + 9 cc on them for everyday purchases. Ten coins, in total, was easy to carry, and you had some small coin since there might not be change.

The old men, having their share of wisdom, were giving Greg practical, useful examples in their explanation.

Apparently this region consisted of a group of newer countries, more recently in history established by settlers, and these were the very south-western parts. The settlers came from old kingdoms in the north, the Conglomerate, which used the same system of currency – it had been brought over. Pricing, however, would vary between countries and places, but Gregory wasn't inclined to make some kind of BigMac index for variation in purchasing power.

I'll pick it up as I go, was what he settled for.

Better to work than have to head back to school all over.

Above 100 copper coins you had brass coins. Up in those price ranges there were a lot of different denominations which the mints regulated harshly. Brass coins also had a hole in the middle so you could thread them on pins or wire. However that was something he didn't have to worry about for now.

"No worries! Clever fellow like you will have it secure in head in no time."

Jeri himself seemed to be a positive fellow.

"What kind of schooling did you get growing up?" Emerald tried. He, in turn, seemed to be more of a clever and educated fellow, which obviously meant trying to shake some information out of this odd foreigner.

"Too much!" Gregory replied honestly.

"I might have to reconsider though, since I am a bit curious about the magic tutoring around here. If they would accept outsiders in the academies?"

This topic was simply one Gregory *had* to fish for information on.

Emerald glanced back into his glass, the emptiness of the glass somehow resembling the void of insightful information from Greg's very unspecific replies.

"The academies don't close their doors on anyone barring disrespect and criminal offence."

"Pfaugh! Study magic like that? Better to properly live life, ain't that right, Greg?"

"So it's difficult?"

"Well... It comes down to comprehension. The amount of time it takes depends on one's luck in comprehending it. Ye can guarantee it takes at least a few years though."

Gregory had to consider how he felt about that at all.

It is magic though! Isn't that really cool?!

Lengtan also didn't really seem to respect magic too highly, giving preference to wandering.

I wonder just how far him and that deer have gone. Would be interesting to have a GPS summary of their travels.

He only spent a few seconds pondering before picking up again.

"I'm curious. But my curiosity right now probably goes towards foraging. Do you think there would be some gatherer in the village that I could accompany?"

The two old men looked at eachother, exchanging a knowing look, before Emerald replied.

"Some of the gatherers have secret spots which they can't reveal, but if we talk to them there's probably certain things to help them out with."

"We'll take a session with us veterans heading out! We might not be as spry in our step, but we have lifetimes worth of experience!"

"Literally!" Gregory laughed. These guys were legends.

Gregory hadn't even noticed, but he had previously tensed up significantly. The uncertainties, the insecurities, it was a type of pressure that got to a person in an odd way. Shoulders drawn up, as if expecting to get beat and have to defend yourself, but as you notice that the violence isn't coming – and you're instead surrounded by warm, friendly people – you start to relax. First food, then being social.

It was a recipe to cure his ailment.

"Haaaah," he exhaled.

"Innkeeper! Another set of drinks for us!"

Jeri seemed to think that refreshments were in order.

"What do you think of this piece of clothing?" Greg asked as he untied his sweater from his waist.

"Someone mentioned that it was unusual for clothes around here. I was thinking I could maybe trade it in."

"No need for that yet." Jeri shifted in his seat sometimes, as if he wasn't quite comfortable on the high bar stool. "We'll have to look for some worker's clothes your size that ye can borrow to start with. Then we'll arrange trading and purchases once ye're a bit more settled."

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"That sounds excellent! I will be in your debt for assistance rendered, for now, but unless I make an utter fool of myself, I will make sure to let you keep a decent opinion of me."

Maybe it was a bit excessive, but Greg avoided saying something like "I'll be sure to pay you back."

He was in an exposed situation and might have to use the kindness of others. He would still do his best to keep a clear conscience, pay what he borrowed back, and keep upright. He thought that if he put some effort into it, he should be able to resolve things in a way that did not bother these people.

What did my pa' call it? Being responsible... Something like "If you aren't responsible and keep your back straight, at some point someone's going to straighten it for you, and that might be less than pleasant."

A server refilling their drinks had let Gregory a moment to think to himself, but now Jeri raised his glass.

"To Tory!"

"To Tory" Greg smiled

The two of them hungrily drank, while Emerald took it more slowly. The old man sitting on the other side of Jeri had a clever gleam in his eyes that somewhat intimidated Gregory. He seemed to be in a good mood as well though, so Greg decided not to worry.

"So. Where are ye sleeping tonight?"

Jeri bluntly getting to the point stirred Gregory back to reality again.

"I think that I am still exploring my options," was his timid reply.

"Want to see what a peasant's hut is like? I have some space, but ye might find it uncomfortable."

Jeri's statement made Emerald raise his eyebrows like a father tossing his toddler into the air.

"I would love to see it! And if you're willing to invite me for tonight's rest as well, that might be a good solution. I'm tired enough from traveling that I think I'd probably be able to sleep on a brick, and I still need a couple of days to figure out what would be a good way to do things."

Jeri nodded with a warm smile that creased the aged skin of his face, and a glint in his eyes that seemed to reveal a certain assurance about something.

"Well! Let's give ye a brief tour of the village. Ye just about came through the west gate, aye?"

"That's right. The guard told me where I could find the inn, and I had previously heard that it might be a good place to ask around."

"Who did ye meet? One of the farmers outside?"

"No, it was Lengtan the wanderer, with his trusty companion."

"Ah, that fellow. So you've been asking him about foraging?"

"Yes, we haven't been traveling together for long. He introduced me a bit to a few things. I have no clue about roots, and probably a lot of other things. I was hoping to maybe find a book for reference."

"Things and things. The forests are full of them!"

"Otherthings and aroundthings," Emerald was being a bit poetic, "I know two people with such books. We'll ask them later, but books can be a touchy matter here in the outback. Best if ye built some favor first."

"Ah, certainly."

Gregory thought he had done well avoiding saying "stuff" too much, since overly modern language use could seem out of place, but they pointed out his language anyway. And now he was wondering if "otherthings" actually is a common word around here, or if it's just a reference to some lyrics or something like that.

"A quick tour then! Hop hop! Enough of this sitting around." Jeri was squirming out of his chair and setting his leg into his prosthesis.

Emerald seemed to move to join them as well, but Gregory felt like he didn't want to impose.

"You don't need to accompany us if you're busy, Emerald. Jeri can probably get me sorted."

"What, and miss this? I'm helping out at a ranch outside the village anyway, might as well stay here today and head out early in the morrow."

The old men left some coin at the bar, and Gregory felt his pockets out of habit as he stood up.

Right. No wallet, no phone, no nothing.

They waved to some other patrons sitting around, and headed out into the sunlight again.

Gregory tried to assess the position of the sun. "Considering the west gate, is south somewhere in this direction?" He gestured to his right.

"The main street's long straight goes north and south. That's why we call it Ennes street, 'N' and 'S'."

"That's useful! .. And what time would you say that it is?"

This time Emerald replied, "About the 17th hour."

"I see..." Gregory said, although the truth was that he didn't quite see.

Makes sense that people doing this type of labor would like to eat dinner decently early, but if it's subtropical climate, wouldn't that be fairly close to the equator? Which would mean it getting dark early, but it doesn't seem like it is particularly close to getting dark.

"What time does it get dark here?"

"22nd hour, we still some daylight to spare."

I guess the climate really is different here.

"Where to, Jeri?"

"We'll head right here and show ye the main street."

There was still some people heading to the food stalls, or hanging out next to them chatting as they ate, and as the party went in their direction, the sounds of the smithy started ringing clearer. As was the gleeful laughter of children playing.

"Around here are a few shops, some homes, but our first stop is past the vendors."

"Macey!" Jeri was now hollering at someone, "get yer thorny bristles back to work, and stop hanging around the food vendors waiting for it to rain!"

"Jeri, you rambunctious old fossil! Only way you would recognize proper work is if you ate it!" was the reply he got back.

"I'll happily eat what ye grew, if only there was some to eat!"

Jeri's face seemed even ruddier now that he was out in the sun, walking and *greeting* people. He turned to Greg as he remembered to act a bit like a guide.

"These buildings around the inn are some homes and a couple of shops. It's the oldest part of town, as it was built around the inn. Tory started as a mix of a mercenary outpost and some settlers."

"How long ago was that?"

Jeri glanced at Emerald, who replied, "150 years or so. Mostly around five to eight generations."

"Here's our first stop! These are the playgrounds. The little ones hang out around here with someone watching over them. It's good to know because you might have to bring a child back here, or you might get sitting duty!"

They went down some stairs to get to the park.

To Gregory it looked quite familiar, even if it was different from the colorful metals and plastics he was used to seeing. Some obstacles, some kids, some places for tired adults to sit down and bury their heads into their hands.

"The stairs help contain the lively young ones to the playgrounds, to prevent them from dashing out into the street. However some still make it out." Emerald turned to a couple of girls who had come up to see him, while Jeri gestured Greg follow him.

"Moxley is on duty today. He's good to ask about maps and locations."

Maps? That does sound interesting.

They found him sitting in the shade below a tree, strategically positioned to have a good view over the children playing. A middle-aged man with some furrows in a handsome face with a square jaw. His piercing blue eyes and dark hair reminiscent of some kind of fashion catalogue model.

Jeri waved as he approached "Hey Moxley, we got ourselves a traveler today."

Moxley, soon-to-be-actor, as Gregory had dubbed him, sat up at attention from his previous comfortable position.

"Jeri, traveler," he adressed them in turn, "a fine day seeing you two gentlemen."

Gentlemen? Is that something that people aspire to here? Like way back whenever that had been popular in my world.

"Pleasure to do your acquaintance, I am Gregory, but I hope people will call me Greg, and not be strangers."

"Greg then. I'm Moxley, and my kid is the little one climbing over there. Got another one that's old enough to help with work."

"Greg here is completely new to the area, and I thought we'd check in with ye for maps."

"They have one in the inn, you know. Don't tell me you haven't stopped by the inn yet."

"We were at the inn, but now we're out touring the village. Hard to look at things in the inn if we're out here walking!"

"Hmm, I see." After a simple reply, Moxley stood up, picked a branch up and headed down to the playground at a spot where there was loose dirt, with Greg and Jeri following him.

Moxley started drawing on the ground and soon had a simple map.

"These are the Open Wind Plains, which our country is largely build upon. To the north of the plains there are forests, over here the sea," he said pointing to the south – probably around the beaches where Gregory had been – "and the human holds are Tory, Tersville, The Orchards, and then the Northern Farm Basin. A few more villages, the main road... It's a fairly simple outback of various farmers. People do shorter ventures into the forests, but it's dangerous to head too deep."

This was all very interesting, but Gregory couldn't help but notice something pretty significant...

He couldn't read what was written.