Ch 3 Dawn

          Waking up with the sun’s rays blinding me I rub my eyes and wait for my pistons to start firing, if anyone ever planned to assassinate me the best time would be when I wake up as I am always sluggish and feel detached.

          While waiting for my functions to reach 100% I start getting dressed and combing my hair luckily the inn I found provided simple essentials to its tenants for a reasonable price at about 5 silver a night. Finishing up my morning routine I head down stairs to get some breakfast.

          Noticing a few other occupants also waiting in the diner I proceeded to refrain from being noticed as I am a lot more apt to burst in the morning than any other time. Quickly getting a table in a back corner I wait for one of the waiters to take my order while drinking a fresh glass of orange juice I picked up on my way over.

          After a short while my order got taken so during my wait I decided to make up a plan of action and what I should do in this world. Yeah, I could just make a living from my masks but that would be no fun so before I had left the merchants guild I asked the woman I dealt with earlier if I could join other guilds. Getting a satisfactory answer of yes but under the rules that I must refrain from tarnishing the merchant guild in anyway.

          Deciding now to join the adventures guild and enjoy this new life of adventure became my primary focus for the day with other menial tasks second. With my decision set my order finally arrived with a big helping of bacon and eggs with what was seemed to be a mix between a pancake and waffle I started to scarf down my food.

          Keeping to myself and enjoying my breakfast didn’t last long before a group of 3 ruffians looking guys walks into the inn and sits down across from me, not bothering giving them any more focus I resume eating before they start to talk then it begins to get progressively louder to try and catch someone attention. Turns out they were talking about me and were trying to get a rise, due to my weird appearance it gave them plenty of fuel to fan the fire.

          As I couldn’t help but listen at this point I noticed they were trying to start either a fight or get me shunned by the other occupants by saying how a person with a mask can only be 2 things an assassin or a criminal. Noticing that the situation was not in my favor I quickly finished my food then stood up to leave.

          Noticing there attempt to irritate me were not working and that I was leaving I guess riled them up even more where one of the lackeys approached me and attempted to man handle me.

With the situation escalated I refrain from making and aggressive actions and called out to the owner to get the guards quickly as they were getting hostile.

          With the owner running out to fetch the guards I jumped away from them and maintained my calm demeanor and told them to leave me alone and the guards were on their way. Hoping they got here quickly so I could be on my way was the best outcome.

          Over the next 40 mins they continued their attempt to restrain me and even began to rouse up the rest to help them catch this so-called assassin, now I wasn’t really sure why they would just randomly try to start something with me nor what there issues were as I had just arrived to the world the other day.

          Even taking the appearance into question these guys screamed ruffian so the only conclusion I could come up with was my money. Not sure that was it but was only thing that could cause this situation trying to think how they could have come to the idea I had money just now sunk in the merchant’s guild.

          As I am quite sure they didn’t sell me out the only other outcome would be they were there waiting for new blood to walk in and wop out 10 gold signifying they had enough money to spare.

With everything clicking I got pissed off but kept avoiding a confrontation and hoped the guards would arrive so because if I did retaliate it would just help their case I was a criminal or something.

          With that figured out I would guess they’d claim the money I have was stolen from them so they could get my money without stealing it and becoming criminals themselves, I must give it to them though it is quite an ingenious plan for what looks like 3 dumb idiots. They picked the worse guy to do it to as I hold quite the grudge well not the current me now but you know.

          Nearing the end of my patience I was getting to the point of switching out my mask for another when I heard the doors slam open to my left, quickly glancing over hoping there weren’t more lackey’s income I was met with fortune as the city guards were hear. On that note I stopped running around the room and began to explain what I believed was going on and that I am innocent.

          As the guards heard my story they turned their attention to the 3 ruffians and quickly apprehended them quickly explain to the crowd they were not thieves that picked on new merchant members but were quite sly so were unable to be apprehended tell now.

          With the situation deflated I quickly apologized to the owner and thanked him for getting the guards, with his kind reply I left him an extra 10 silver before leaving the inn and started making my way towards the middle distract where he informed me the adventures guild was located.

          I had almost decided to just leave the city, not join the guild and just survive away from people and their problems but not everyone is shitty so I proceeded to the middle distract. Quickly arriving I noticed all around me people with armor, weapons, robes and staffs running around, quickly deciding that if I was to be acknowledged I need some gear before I join the guild.

          Looking around for a while due to being undecided on what path to choose a warrior, mage, rouge build or what. With hundreds of pros and cons running through my head I just sat down by a fountain trying to think of what to do. Taking my current state and items into account I decided to go with an axe wielding build.

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          Now as a scrawny guy this would look quite strange even I would agree but it just feels right, with my decision made I head to the nearest blacksmith shop to hopefully purchase scale mail as it is reasonably light weight with good defense.

          Walking into an inferno I couldn’t help but let out a breath due to the heat quickly thinking that having it so hot was not the best idea if you want to sell stuff, quickly shrugging my thoughts off I proceed to look around trying to find the armor type if they even craft it in the first place. Over 30 min in with no luck I decide to ask for assistants.

          Arriving at the front counter with no one there I began to call into the back hoping someone can hear me over the loud hammering and bellows of the furnace. Over 10 min into my yelling I hear someone stumbling around and loud clangs of metal getting knocked about when a short hulk walks out panting and looking shocked. Not knowing how to handle the situation I just let out a weak hello before what I assume to be a dwarf burst out laughing at me. Slightly embarrassed I proceed to ask if I could purchase things here as I noticed no one maned the counter.

          With a quick confirmation that I can purchase things here and that the reason behind no one here and the heat is due to him being a dwarf as It turns out there is a high degree of racism and prejudice on anything not human go figure so he was unable to sell anything so he just lit the place ablaze quite a hilarious guy I would say.

          Setting that aside I began to explain the armor type I was looking for and if he had such an armor style, not expecting much due to the era of things here I could only hope. Over a quick ponder the dwarf introduced himself as Olkine Thunderfield along with not having the armor type but could easily craft me a full set for the right price. Ecstatic over the news I asked what the cost would be and if I like the outcome could he be my primary smith.

          After shocking him with my request as I guess it’s rare and a privilege to be asked to be someone’s primary smith he gave me an estimate of about 100 gold for a whole set made of steel hide. Handing over 125 gold just for safe measures he confirms the transaction and lets me know it will be done by tonight.

          Not believing what I heard I asked to confirm, turns out he’s a master smith so his work is always master grade and done quite quickly, well also due to the fact I am his only customer. Asking him what steel hide was before leaving I was glad to find out it’s a light weight metal grown of the backs of (Rock breakers: Giant Boars that are blind and live in mountains) that were like and extra layer of skin but made from their main source of food steel ore.

          So not only am I getting good defense but is should weight about the same as leather armor. With the order placed and questions answered I say my farewells and proceed to the adventurer’s guild.

          Not needing anything else that I can think of as I already have my preferred weapon the hatchet witch also seems to evolve not sure how but il find eventually so with my list complete I walk into the guild and ignore all the stares as I approach the counter and meet with a crimson haired beauty with long ears quickly assuming she’s an elf. As I can’t help but ponder why the treatment is different due to all the adventures calling out to her, but I am going to pass it on to beauty over race I guess.

          After she calmed down all the adventurers she focuses her attention onto me, I explain my intention to join the guild she hands over a clipboard with paper work to fill out that’s almost exactly the same from the merchant’s guild but with a few additions such as combat experience and years of adventuring before registration etc.

          Finishing up the paperwork and handing it over she explains that there isn’t a fee however the adventures tag I will receive if lost to get a new one will cost me 10 silver for the first time and get more expensive with each recurrence. After finalizing everything she notifies that I will start out as a rank E-1 and can only do quests of the same rank or one lower.

          As I am at the lowest rank that doesn’t apply to me yet, setting that aside I ask how many ranks are there and what is required to advance. So, for starters this is what I could get after she explained it to me.

                    The ranks start from the lowest which starts at E-D-C-B-A-S-SS-SSS-X-XX-Q within each rank there are 10 levels that are required to level before advancing to a new rank, for example as I am ranked E-1 I would need to go up 9 levels to be viable for promotion and this applies to every rank.

          From what I could understand anything after rank A requires not only the 10 levels but also equivalent achievements so it would look something like this: Rank A-1-0 and to advance it would look like this (A-10-1) = (A2-1-0) to progress due to this the highest ranked adventure is currently ranked S1-8-5 and that he is ridiculously powerful as he killed 3 mid dragons that were slaughtering the countryside and some cities along with subduing 2 hell ranked dungeons.

          Letting that sink as the difficulties to progress were insane I just couldn’t comprehend yet after realizing she mention dungeons I had to ask and what she said was much easier to process so here it is.

          Over the world there are many dungeons and the older it gets the stronger it will be now some dungeons are used as training grounds and are maintained monthly to keep it in check these are called Instances. Next up are dungeons left to their own devices called Rifts which go up in rank from: Casual-Normal-Intermediate-Difficult-Hard-Hell-Nightmare-Insane-Impossible-Demonic-Unholy-Holy-Divine.

          With every rank verified even though no one can clear let alone enter rifts over nightmare yet due to the skill [Identify Max] which the high elven king possesses. Moving on next up are dungeons that can only be entered with over 600 people called raids, these are much smaller in size but much more difficult due to having bosses as roaming mobs and floor guardians with a final overlord at the end.

          They are ranked the same as rifts but with a x1-x5 next to it as you could have a casual raid x1 that can be ran with 600 while an x2 need 1200 etc. And finally, world pillars these have been around sense history can recall and what is known of them is that should it ever be conquered the victors can move to higher plains per legend.

          After getting the run-down I notice the sun has started to set saying my thanks for the information and assistants I take my leave heading to Olkine’s shop to pick up my gear and call it a night.

          With my quick arrival, I notice Olkine is just sitting at the counter with a huge grin not knowing why I ask and he drags me into the back, once there I notice a beautiful set of armor that looks almost like a full body exo-suit from my world.

          Taking in its beauty Olkine explains it’s his finest work yet and that he ended up using more money than he planned so he could make it the best of the best. Approaching it I run my hands along the smooth finish and fine scales making up the armor as I finish I step back and use [Examine] on the set and what I get knocks the wind out of me.

[Armor of the serpent lord]

Armor: 475

Durability: 1,000

Maneuverability: 800

Stats: +100 Agi +100 Str +75 Stam +80 Vit

Effects: 60% Evasion, 40% Stam Reg, 30% Atk Spd, 30% Move Spd

75% Dmg Red, bask in the sun 5 times for 4 hours to receive [Serpent Rejuvenation]

Ability: [Serpent Rejuvenation] Allows the user to increase regen of health by 300% for 4 min healing all injuries and repairing all lost appendages CD 3 weeks

Description: Armor crafted by dwarf master smith Olkine Thunderfield for his only customer and partner, created with highest quality material’s and imbued with A lvl 80 Serpent lord’s soul.

          Unable to resist I gave Olkine a huge thank you while promising to use is all the time and continue being his customer as well as promising when I get stronger whatever he needs I will get it for him.

          Cracking me in the head while saying quit being all mushy he proceeds to pack the armor away into a bag and hands it over telling me I had better make it big.

          With our business complete I give him a final thank you and goodbye before heading out and finding a room for the night for tomorrow will be a busy day.