Reasonably satisfied and eager to get on, Ashur told nobody and stopped again. His voice was rougher than what he was expecting it to. It would be something he would grow to learn. He began to move for the gate and would cockily hop over it rather than just using the gate itself. Until he realised that A) he had only just gained access to his legs and was therefore new to it, and B) was a dwarf. So as he jumped, would catch his body on the fence and ended up half face-planting, half bashing his elbows into the dirt, causing him to growl. Pushing himself to his feet, he rubbed at his face. A mix of skin and scale: running down his body in a rhythmic pattern.

But he was still very happy to be able to use his legs. Right now, that feeling of happiness was subdued.

There was a sword sheathed on his hip as well, that had awkwardly doubled over and started falling out of its sheath as he had fallen, so as Ashur unhooked himself and fell, the sword also fell out. His standing would bring him a look of surprise as he picked it up. So many things were new to him though, because he’d even take note of his height changing his look of the world. He was what, four foot five? Not even?

'Christ, haa..' he would mutter as he looked around, a sense of unease and confusion would betray him for the moment. But his hand still held the sword firmly. He would look down at it again as it shone in the light, glinting off - a few small specks of rust to it as well but overall looked to be a well crafted sword.

'Oh.' Ashur would say, surprised with the addition of a weapon as he would’ve expected to have. He would wave it a few times in his hands in surprise, as though he hadn’t just logged into a RPG where combat was a mechanic.

'Oh!' Ashur would say again, knowing that in the bottom of his vision was an icon of a bag, though a small physical bag was on his opposite hip. It was a bag of holding.

It also had money in there as well.

Effectively, the bag was able to compress items down to a small fraction of their original size through spatial magic. So, items could be stolen from his person, taking specific items would require more finesse much less just stealing the entire bag: only the owner of the bag of holding would be able to select and pick out items at their whim. Ashur walked from the gate and out into the new area: this was Kirkenfold. It did seem, though, that his knowledge was quickly running to an end and soon he would be on his own insofar as decisions were made.

The town seemed more spaced out but then with a big amount of land they could afford to. There was a river running through the town that had been paved in cobble, so the town seemed split into two sides, and there was a slight slant as a result though barely noticeable.

There were many small, curved and wooden footbridges that allowed people to cross: with a few larger ones that carts could be carried across. As Ashur would walk closer just inspecting the river it was gorgeous and clean, there were even fish in there!

The fish were all different colours, with bright orange and black and white kinds of fish of different strains, sizes and varieties. On the very opposite side of the bridge was a horseshow orientated row of houses and buildings: with a cut on either side of the reverse U shape that let people walk through the housing estate and towards a wooden wall that could be seen in the distance, hidden by the various buildings.

The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

On his opposite side was the… religious building he had spawned from. Looking to either his left or right would follow the river’s path to two arched gates on either side of the village, with spaced out buildings – some were a bit larger than others, for which he could also see posted signs on the outside hanging from the walls.

‘Shops.’ Ashur thought to himself, wondering if that’s where he should’ve gone first.

Otherwise, it was a gorgeous setting and Ashur didn’t regret his choice although there was likely much more to Algernon that he had only yet seen. The village was also green: vines growing up the sides of the buildings and small gardens littering the outside of the rows of houses.

It wasn’t the busiest village either but there were carts moving over bridges, in and out of the south gate (it said south on the arch the gate hung underneath), so he was in by a fair distance.

There was a fair amount of people that stopped by the square because in the centre was a fountain and statue as was to be expected. People were paying attention to it like you’d have a wishing well. The small shing and plop of coins were heard as he crossed the bridge and into the segregated part. The carts moved around the statue slowly before continuing towards the northern gate. They were likely travelling through the village but for what reason?

Ashur would only dwell on the thought briefly before deciding his first actions as an adventurer where to go, and decided on visiting the fountain and see why so many people were bowing to it, especially the people who were travelling by cart.

It was an interesting concept and way to live one’s life. Religion- Ashur had never really taken much to it. His father had been, but he was never in one’s face about it: a golden cross necklace was the only giveaway.

'Have you come to pay your respects?' a voice carried across from behind the man, as he also stood there with his arms crossed. The man was dirty and had a button nose; he looked like a labourer as well.

'Is this the God?' Ashur had seen earlier that it was something to do with the God of Fertility, looking over to the statue: it was a man spread out on a lounger, marble carving out cloth covering him- the lounge was covered in vines with the man sat on it. Closer inspection would warrant that the man’s modest and skinny proportions were also textured like a lizard kin although his appearance remained strictly human.

'Aye. This is Tulio. If you plan an’ leaving any time soon, make sure you drop ah’ coin for safe travels.' The man would offer a bow to the Statue, and a shing of a coin being dropped into the fountain, before turning to walk away. Ashur would take the prompt for what it was: and to have a conversation with the man.

'Hey, uh I’m actually new around here.' Ashur would turn and face him as well – and the man would sort of look back out of little interest in the dwarf.

'I’ve lived here for forty years. Trus’ me. I know. Not like Dwarf come through here ofen’ enough. Wouln' be too keen on shedskins around here.' He had his own things to do and didn’t seem to want to converse.

‘How in the flying fuck am I meant to get a quest or whatever if nobody wants to talk to me?’ Ashur thought to himself as the man walked off. It was vexing a little bit, but for what fury flared it was quickly quenched by the obvious notation: the man was probably acting like Ashur would in the real world.