I feel strange as something as changed in my mind. It seems that one reality has now left me, leaving me in a fog, and now in its place another reality has taken shape around me. This doesn’t feel like a dream but like a new normal…yet perhaps not.

As I look around the room it looks like nothing I have ever scene outside of a fantasy setting. The room is small, only big enough to house what is within the walls. The walls themselves are made up of weathered wooden planks and timber, reinforced with sturdy beams, they are darkened with age and soot. There is a single window that allows some light into the room.

In the center of the room I lay still on a straw and feathered stuff bed, the bed frame is made of rough wood and topped with a faded quilt stitched and sown in earthy tones. Beside it, a small nightstand holds a half-burned candle and a clay jug. A worn but serviceable chair sits against the wall near a basic writing table, its surface bearing a few scratches and stains from years of use.

As I go to stand up I noticed my vision switching to a different viewpoint. In the lower side of my vision I see a health and a mana bar! Just like a video game would have.

What in the world. This is crazy I feel like I am really in this new world. As I catch my bearing a get a notification that crosses my vision, which catch’s me off guard. What in the world? A loud voice within my head speaks.

You have started a Quest.

Quest: Starting your journey

Hello Adventurer, please grab your belongings from the chest and begin your journey.

Wow! Quests just like a video game; not sure I like that it blurs my vision to give me the notifications. I wonder what all I can do, I try to focus on my health and mana again but can’t seem to figure out how to view it, I start to freak out, how am I going to be able to do this if I don’t have someone walk me through this. What if I cant do anything because I was left once again with no info on what to do. My mind starts to spiral out of control. Then I notice against one corner of the room, a wooden chest might be where my starting items are stashed, might be where they hide my belongings, its iron hinges creaking softly when I open it. In the chest is a pair of pants, a tunic, a belt, and a pair of sturdy boots.

Okay that’s nice, I get dressed and then continue to look around the room for anything that might also help me, in most games they at least give you weapons, potions, spells…something, but I haven’t been given anything. Maybe this is just a new scene for therapy sessions and nothing truly “new” like the Doc promised.

As my mind begins to slip back into the familiar depths of loneliness—memories of abandonment creeping in—anger starts to take hold. The weight of it tightens in my chest, but before it can consume me, a loud, booming laugh shatters my thoughts.

The sound itself seems to rattle the very walls of the room, shaking me from my spiral. I hesitate at the threshold, rocking back and forth on my feet, uncertainty gripping me.

What lies beyond this door?

I take a steady breath, forcing myself to push past the doubt. Just open the door. Let’s go see where we are.

Finally, my hand grasps the metal ring handle on the large wooden planked door, I open it and notice that I am on the second story of a tavern inside of a fantasy world! As I looked down from the inside balcony walkway I see things I have only seen in video games. Elves, gnomes, dwarfs, orcs and many more races. This is amazing. I can feel the coarseness of the wooden railing as I place my hand on it. This is amazing, its like I have woken up in a storybook world. I feel amazed and then the feeling goes away very quickly.

“There he is!” exclaims a large dwarf from behind the main bar of the tavern.

The entire room falls silent. Conversations halt, dice stop mid-roll, and every pair of eyes turns toward me.

Oh no. This is not what I wanted.

The dwarf gestures for me to come toward him. I turn to the right, awkwardly adjusting my posture, trying to find a comfortable stance in my own body. Taking a deep breath, I walk down the steps. As I make my way to the bar top where the dwarf awaits, countless eyes follow me. It feels as though an entire courtroom is scrutinizing my every move. I pass by various races, but I pay them little attention—aside from the weight of their gazes. Suddenly, the fantasy world around me fades, replaced by the suffocating reality of my own anxiety. By the time I reach the stone bar top, a vacant look has settled on my face.

The dwarf exclaims, extending his hands toward me, "Adventurer! From what I understand, you're Master Frank. Welcome to Hearthstone Haven! I'm Baldric Stonebrew."

As I look at him my vision focuses and shows his full name. Baldric “The Laughing Storm” Stonebrew. Tavern owner of the Hearthstone Tavern.

"I'm glad you finally made it!" he says, his booming voice echoing throughout the tavern. "I'll be your guide, of sorts, while we get you up on your feet."

"My goal is to welcome you to Avalon and get you up to speed on what comes next. Whenever you need help, consider me your point of contact—I'll be here to assist you on your adventure. If you ever need someone to listen to you, I'm here. And if you’re looking for advice, just ask—I’ll do my best to guide you."

From what I can see, the dwarf before me is stout and hardy, with a thick, braided auburn beard streaked with gold. His broad shoulders and weathered hands speak of a life once dedicated to swinging axes, yet the warmth in his amber eyes suggests he has found peace- something I long for. He wears simple yet well-made clothing—not the kind of attire dwarves are often depicted wearing in movies or storybooks. Instead of heavy armor, he dons a gray tunic and black pants, both adorned with a sturdy leather apron stained with ale and food. Attached to his belt is a finely crafted carved tankard, which I can only assume is an heirloom from his adventuring days—perhaps a treasured keepsake from a journey long past.

“Let’s get you a few things to begin your journey. Give me a moment while I grab some supplies,” he says before disappearing through a door to the left of the bar. I take a look around. The bar itself is built from solid stone, running along one side of the room, lined with well-worn stools. Heavy wooden tables are scattered throughout, their surfaces etched with the marks of countless travelers. The walls are adorned with relics—perhaps mementos from Baldric’s adventuring days. Behind the bar, a chalkboard menu lists hearty dishes like Rockfire Stew and Mountain Ale Bread, alongside an assortment of brews and their names like Deep Delve Stout and Highpeak Honey Mead.

I have no idea what I’m supposed to do next.

Baldric appears out of the side door with a bag in hand.

“Alright, let’s get you started.

Quest Update: Starting your journey You have met your guide to introduce you into the world of Avalon. You are here because your mind is a storm. You’ve been fighting battles, enduring hardships, but now the world within you cries for attention. Shadows grow where light once was, and dragons of doubt and despair roam unchecked. You must confront these forces and heal, or you will be consumed.

You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

He lays the bag on the far end of the bar where I am sitting, other patrons to the tavern respectively get up and move away so we can have some privacy.

Alright laddie, let’s get started with your tutorial.

So I do get a tutorial.

“ So as I can tell you already have seen some adventuring outside of Avalon. A Battle Scholar! That’s a pretty unique build to me my friend. Well since you made it out of the bed and gathered your things from the trunk, we wont have to discuss how to open things or basic movement.

“Let’s check your starting info. Go ahead and check your health and mana.”

I focus on the health and mana bars in my vision they now appear now that I am focusing on them.

Health 100 out of 100

Mana 100 out of 100

Alright, starting fresh, exactly what I excepted, but I just want to make sure you understand how to use your HUD and UI. If you now focus on the bottom of your vision you should see an XP bar.

As I focus the xp bar appears in a cloud of fog.

Nice, so I can level up.

Alright now to get to the important things, focus at the top of your vision and look for these topics: map, journal, inventory, skills, abilities.

Just as before I focus and the area appear, but just like before once I quit focusing on the health and mana bars they disappear and do not block my vision.

"Alright, let’s start with your map settings," Baldric says confidently. "Let’s talk about objective waypoints. The blue rune icon represents your waypoint, and as you adventure, you’ll want to follow it to reach your objective. If you’re too far from the waypoint, it won’t appear on your mini-map or HUD, but don’t worry—just follow the arrow on the outer edge of the map. It works like a compass, always pointing you in the right direction. The map is a useful tool for learning about the area you’re in. It highlights relevant points of interest and places worth exploring. Anytime you’re looking at your map, focus on the various icons—they'll indicate important locations. As you progress, you’ll learn what each one means and represents."

As I focus on the Map I get a notification in my HUD.

This is your map, you will need it- without it- you will be lost.

Well, that seems a little rude and presumptuous. But who am I kidding? They’re probably right.

"Oh, and one more thing, laddie, Baldric adds. "If you don’t want to buy a horse, walk all day, or trek back to a mountain you’ve already discovered, you can use fast travel. As you explore, you’ll come across fast travel locations. Once you’ve discovered one, you can use its portal to quickly travel back to it whenever you need."

"All right, now let’s move on and focus on the area labeled Inventory. This is where you can check out your loot, equip your gear, compare items, and manage anything else you’re carrying. You won’t have to worry about holding everything in your hands—I’m actually going to give you a backpack that will help organize and filter all your items. Near the top of the menu, you’ll find sorting options to easily manage your belongings. And be sure to mark your favorite items so you don’t accidentally sell them! Now, don’t worry—this won’t be like playing a virtual reality game with a headset strapped to your face all day. Once you get used to the system, it’ll become second nature, just like any other task in your daily life."

New item obtained: Adventurer Backpacked (with Hidden enchantments)

That’s awesome, I haven’t been this excited about a new backpack or bag since I was in grade school.

"All right, before I give you your first quest, take this journal," Baldric says, handing me a deep brown, leather-bound tome. "You can read it anytime—whether with your own eyes or through your HUD. This will help you keep track of your progress, log records of your adventures, and monitor any quests or side quests. You can also use it to jot down notes during your journey."

I stop focusing on my HUD as I take the journal from him. Embossed on the cover is a large, leafless tree, its twisted branches stretching outward like skeletal fingers. The design gives the book an air of mystery—ancient, worn, yet full of untold stories.

New item obtained: Adventure Journal (No ink or pen necessary, just open the journal and speak your mind and your own thoughts will be added to it. Also, the journal will update on its own as you progress through your travels)

"All right, now for your first quest," Baldric states.

"Wait," I interrupt. "Do I not get a weapon or anything?"

"That comes later, laddie—once we’ve finished your tutorial."

"Wait... there’s more to this?"

"Well, of course! Trust the process, and everything will be just fine," he assures me. "Your first quest is to venture to The Council of Clerics. Once you arrive, they will tell you what to expect next on your journey."

"Where are they? How will I know where to go?"

"Use the map in front of you. Trust me, you’ll be able to find it. It’s not too far from here—just down the road a bit."

I can feel my stomach twisting with nerves. "Okay… I’ll head off, then. I’m sure I’m running out of time for this therapy session." I grab the pack and go to put it on.

Baldric gives me a reassuring nod. "Laddie, you’ll be all right, trust me. And if you ever get lost, just retrace your steps and come back here."

Quest Update: Starting your journey

Go to the Council of Clerics. There, your true adventure begins. Step forward with intention, for every journey begins not with the steps you take, but with the mindset you carry. The Council of Clerics is not just a destination—it is the threshold of transformation. What you seek is not merely guidance but a deeper understanding of yourself. Go with an open heart, a curious mind, and the courage to embrace the unknown because your true adventure begins the moment you choose to grow.

As I rise from my seat and make my way to the door, the tavern’s patrons momentarily pause their conversations to glance in my direction. Their expressions range from idle curiosity to mild indifference, as if each one silently wonders whether I’ll return with a tale worth hearing.

Around me, the tavern hums with life—the rattle of dice on worn wooden tables, the lilting notes of a minstrel’s tune, and the hushed murmurs of whispered bets placed on some unseen game of skill.

Then, Baldric’s booming laughter cuts through the noise like a beacon, his hearty voice rising above the din. It carries a warmth that momentarily grounds me, as if assuring me that this place, no matter how far I wander, will always be here. At the sound, the tavern stirs back to life, conversations flowing once more just as my hand finds the door.

I push it open, and the warm, spiced air of the tavern gives way to the crisp breeze of Avalon. Stepping out, I pause, letting the moment settle as I take in the world that now lies before me.