I'm back in my room at the inn. It feels so different from those other rooms. The rooms with the spinning blade traps. The rooms where I'm paralyzed. I get out my to-do list and insert a few items.
* Eat Breakfast
* Find a Priest
I get dressed and head down to the common room.
"Good Morning Hashi!" Hank says. [Hank, Innkeeper]
I stop and think about this a bit. Something has changed. First Thagnar, now Hank; people are greeting me now.
"Um, Good morning, Hank," I say with emphasis. "I'd like some breakfast, please." I walk up to the bar and have some breakfast and 2 cups of wake-me-up.
After finishing I ask Hank where I can find a priest.
"Down at the temple. Here, let me show you on your map." I get my map out of my bag and Hank points out the temple.
"Thanks, Hank. See you later." Hmm, I think I'm getting the hang of talking with people. Other than buying things I've never had to do it.
I set out for the temple at a run. Yay for running practice. I dodge people, wagons, and livestock as I head to the temple.
Inside I talk to one of the guys walking around in robes [Brother Tim, Priest], "I think there is something wrong with me. I'm having strange visions. Can you help?"
Brother Tim said, “Be at peace my child and follow me to the treatment chambers.” I'm fascinated by his robes. His robes are purple, somewhat shiny, and seem to exude calmness. Maybe Brother Time is the source of the calmness. We walk for a short while down a hall and Brother Tim opened a door and gestured that I enter. He followed me in and closed the door. All that was in the room was a table, a chair, a cabinet of supplies and a low bed. Pointing at the bed he said, “Sit. And tell me what is troubling you.”
“I’ve been having strange dreams where I wake up unable to move in a strange place. Both times I was unable to move and the was a spinning blade trap on the ceiling.”
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Brother Tim stood up, made a few mystical gestures with his hands, and stared at something invisible in the air. “If you will stay right there I consult with one of my superiors about your ‘condition’. Lie back and relax. We’ll take good care of you.” Brother Tim seemed excited as he left the room.
I took him at his word and lay back on the bed. I don’t remember ever lying down in a bed before. I fell asleep.
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Brother Tim is leaning over me saying my name. “Hashi. I’ve talked to my superiors in the order and they’ve found a specialist that claims to have knowledge of your condition.”
I’m feeling a bit muddled at the moment and am really wanting some wake-me-up right now. Sitting up I say, “I’m so glad, when can I meet him?”
Tim replies “Follow me, he’s right outside.”
I leave the room after Tim. Out in the hall is a tallish fellow in unfamiliar clothing. Generally, mages wear cloth robes, thieves wear leather armor, priests and warrior can wear any armor type. This person is wearing leather robes and has some reflective goggles covering his eyes. Looking at the text over his head I can see that he’s named Doktor Urmind and has no class tag.
Doktor Urmind thrusts out a hand and vigorously shakes mine. “Hashi, I am so very glad to meet you. Have no fear. I can help you regarding your recent disturbing experiences.”
Feeling uneasy I glance at brother Tim who nods and says “Doktor Urmind will take care of you. Divine one’s blessing.” He does a short bow, turns and walks off quickly down the hall.
Looking once again at Urmind I say “Can we get some wake-me-up first?”
Doktor Urmind says “But of course young man. Let’s go find a nice quiet coffee shop.”
I trail behind him. I’m feeling uneasy as I haven’t even started on my to do list.
The Doktor looks back and sees me looking at my list. “Let's get that wake me up to go and get you working on your list. We wouldn’t want your player getting suspicious if he logs in, now would we.”
I’m puzzled. I’ve heard other people mention logging in, logging out, players, NPCs, experience, and many other terms that I don’t understand before. I never thought anything of it as I was busy training. Until a few days ago training was a pretty peaceful, mindless way to spend a day. No worries, no troubles. I had an endless series of boxes to check and very few decisions to make. Life was simple.
Lost in thought I just noticed that I’ve lost the Doktor as well. I pull out my list and head back to the fighters guild for training. I start humming and singing to myself. “He’s making a list and checking it twice…” My auto pilot has engaged and I’m fine with that. Thinking so much has given me a headache. I stop and get a cup of wake-me-up before I start training.
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The Doktor is near a coffee shop. It’s not called that in-game. He’s mumbling to himself. “Who came up with the lame wake-me-up description? And where did my test subject run off to?”
“Better head back to the lab and summon my minions.”
“Hashi and I are going to have so much fun together.”