Trevor looked at his stats, but after a while he realised it probably didn’t matter what his next steps were exactly. After all, he didn’t really have any context as to what his stats currently implied. He just waved it off for the moment, things would probably make themselves clearer pretty soon. If not, he could always call the helpline again.

If he stopped to think about it. He would have realised that he already had links to the information that could tell him everything he needed to know, and probably the optimal route forwards as well. However it was more of a passing thought and the excitement that came with the newness of his current experience was keeping him distracted.

Had anyone been able to hear his thoughts, they would be sighing, face in palm. It might be called a ‘help’ line, but it wasn’t meant to for that sort of help.

“Hmm. Guess I should check around the rest of the house first. These kind of games sometimes have items hidden about right?”

It didn’t take long for him to finish exploring the one story building. Needless to say, he didn’t find any hidden items. This was a brand new player home after all and not a public zone.

Feeling a little underwhelmed, he was about to leave to explore the sect a bit when a pop up appeared in front of him. It explained that the residence he had been issued by the sect was a ‘basic residence’, and that while plenty of customisation was available, it was limited by the size and tier of the building owned.

After expanding all the terms and reading the tooltips, Trevor felt a little more…’whelmed’, about the housing situation. As this building had been issued to him, certain things such as changing the building’s structure was not possible. If in the future he bought a building, he would be able to customise anything his heart desired.

Of course, all the decorative extra’s and different building styles were not free. Real world money meant that you could decorate and furnish your player home in anyway you wanted. Players could also collect the resources and blueprints to make most of the things in the store as well, but it took time and having the right skills to do it.

“Ahem. Well, I might as well take a look at what they are offering.”

Unlike in the real world, anything he bought for his player home would not be lost if he later moved. If he wanted to maintain more than one home though, he would have to have multiple copies of items if he wanted them in more than one of them.

**** **** ****

Half an hour later and Trevor was wandering the dirt paths of the sect, wondering if maybe he had been a little impulsive.

He hadn’t really spent that much money, and it wasn’t as if he was really lacking in that department anyway. Besides he planned to spend quite a bit of time in this world and making his home feel comfortable was part of the fun.

If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

The clacking bamboo water fountain was fine. Buying the turtles to put in the pond might not have been strictly necessary. There were several other small things he could probably have done without, or at least waited until later to buy. It was possible to find some of the things he bought in-game or at least purchase with the in-game currency.

What Trevor was currently trying to justify to himself, were things like; the set of painted sliding screens (Fusuma) with a rather mesmerising mural painted across the length of them. All 24 of them. In his defense though, it also contained a minor spirit array that caused it to emit a sense of peace and calm.

‘I guess it was a little extravagant.’ He admitted to himself as he approached one of the few multi-story buildings. ‘Lining the bottom of the pond with jade pebbles was probably going too far...and bookcases made of Sunbeam Mahogany was definitely too much...I probably shouldn’t have bought the Starlit Mulberry Tree’s to line the courtyard either...’

Trevor was usually good with his money, except when deals or a discount were involved. Initially he was ‘just-taking-a-look’. After picking out one or two novelty items to buy however, it had quickly got out of control when he was informed he would get a 20% discount since it was his first purchase order.

Any further self-reprimanding was halted when a loud and slightly irritated voice cut into his thoughts.

“Are you just going to stand there staring at me, or do you actually need something?” A short and stocky man of middling looking years, stood with his arms crossed over his chest, glaring at Trevor. “Lack of respect for a sect Elder is a punishable offence young man. You are lucky that I don’t have the time or the inclination to waste my time dealing with you.”

“Sorry. Elder…?”

“Agung. If you had been paying attention earlier you would have known that.”

‘Oh dear.’ Trevor’s attempt to apologise to the Elder was just serving to dig the hole he was in deeper.

“I am the Elder in charge of the Forging Department here in the outer court of the sect. Now. Do you need anything? As I am such a forgiving man, I am willing to let you off for your earlier mindlessness. A word of warning though, if you are wasting my time, I will not forgive you a second time, new disciple or not.”

Trevor had not felt this intimidated since he was a boy being scolded by his father for skipping school. He was amazed at how a computer program could elicit such a reaction from him. Now was not the time to be impressed though and he filed the thought away for later.

“Apologies Elder Agung. I was lost in thought, overwhelmed by the newness of the situation I find myself in. I am afraid I may be wasting your time as I was just exploring the sect’s grounds and trying decide what I should be doing. If you have any tasks you need completing, I would happy to do them...as a sign of the sincerity of my apology.”

‘Hah. That sounded pretty genuine, if I do say so myself.’ He thought to himself. It wouldn’t be the first time he had to placate a self-important superior.

“Bah. Sincerity my ass. Seems young’uns these days even need to be taught how to kiss ass properly.” Seeing the faltering look on Trevor’s face, the Elder smirked at him. “You are in luck though. I am in need of some materials and I have not the time nor inclination to gather them myself.”

*Ding!*

You have received a new quest.

Colect the materials for Elder Agung and deliver them to his workroom.

x6 Iron Boar hides.

x8 Steel Wool flower heads.

x5 Fire Stones. 

x12 Ink Sacs.

Reward: ...

Note: Failure to complete the task will result in attracting the ire of the forging Elder of the outer court.

“Once you have collected what I need, bring them here. In future, bother one of the forging disciples if you need anything. If I find you loitering outside my workroom again, I will not let you off so lightly.” Not waiting for Trevor to say anything, Elder Agung turned and walked into his workroom.

Trevor was about to ask the retreating Elder how exactly he was supposed to go about finding these materials when he heard another *Ding!*

You have received a new quest.

Head to the Plaza in the outer court to recieve your map of the surrounding environs.

The Plaza has been added to your waypoints.

Reward: Map of the Evergreen Sect.

Note: Visit Mission Hall in the Plaza to take sect quests and obtain contribution points. The sect's contribution points can be redeemed in Treasure Hall, Martial Hall and Medicine Hall; which are also in the Plaza.