As Vendel got closer to town he noticed that the grass was getting shorter, likely because the people living in the town didn't want anything sneaking close in what had been tall grass. Vendel also saw a few buildings out among fields of crops, that appeared to be farmhouses. He hummed to himself and thought on this. Normally you would think that a town on the ocean would be able to sustain itself with fish and trade, so did that mean that this town was not doing well? Vendel pondered awhile longer, but soon shrugged and gave up this line of thought. He did not truly need to worry too much. He stopped walking when he thought this.
“Wait, I think I do need to worry. What was I going to the town for in the beginning? Was I just so relieved to find any kind of civilization that I needed to head towards it? That might be it… but could it also be that I need more supplies? Maybe a mix of those reasons is the cause. But what if these people are unfriendly? Would they eat me? Wait, why would they eat me?”
Vendel’s train of thought got stuck on this idea and he stopped talking to himself as he considered if he would be eaten by other people. Basil was more than content to sit on Vendel’s foot and wait for the ride to start again. He enjoyed listening to his master’s rambling, and thought that just listening could make him smarter, for surely his master was wise.
“They probably don’t want to eat me, but if they do, I will tell them that I eat garbage, and thus taste like garbage. Then I will run. Does that sound like a good foolproof plan Basil?”
Basil concentrated and tried to understand what his master was saying, but in the end he just couldn’t, and so he nodded his little mousey head. Vendel had noticed the focused look on his pet’s face and then when Basil nodded, Vendel realized that he was seeing Basil grow not just stronger, but smarter. This was obviously the Bond skill in action. He smiled and continued towards the town, hoping that he would get there soon, and that the inhabitants were not cannibals.
An hour or two passed and Vendel started to see signs of life among the fields. There were humanoid figures working the fields, so he decided to detour from his straight on approach to the town and go talk with these people. As he walked closer, he was able to see the farmers with more clarity, and he learned that they were indeed human. At least, they were human as far as he could tell.
“So, Basil, do you think they are humans? Sure, they look human, but with how many monsters there are around in this world, it is possible that they could be monsters too.”
Vendel was within hailing distance when one of the farmers, who was kneeling by a plant looked up and saw him. The farmer said something to the others and they all looked up and started staring at the new arrival. Vendel smiled and waved but got no closer. Just in case. None of the farmers returned the wave and a staring contest began. After a few minutes of uncomfortableness, Vendel waved again and turned to continue walking towards the town. He was stopped however, by a voice.
“Hoi there! You want to talk or not? Why did ya wave us down if you just wanted to stare?”
Vendel faced them again and replied,
“Oh, I was just waving hello! I’m not from around here, so I was going to talk to you guys, but you looked busy so I didn’t!”
“Well, we might as well finish up for today anyway, so come on over and we can talk while we put away our equipment!”
Vendel smiled at how friendly these farmers seemed, but being cautious was a newly instilled behavior in him, so he picked up Basil and moved towards the farmers, ready to run for the hills if they showed aggression. Once up close he did a once over, looking at all the farmers. It had seemed as if there were many from a distance, but apparently there were only four of them. The man who seemed to be in charge finished giving orders to the other three, and then faced Vendel, now ready to pay his visitor more attention. However, the farmer froze when he saw Basil.
“The heck are you doing with a Scritch Mouse?! One or two of those beasts can level a field in minutes! Kill it before it eats our crops!”
Vendel backed up a step and held his pet a bit tighter,
“No way! This is Basil, and he is a changed mouse! He would never eat your crops!”
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“Are you insane? That thing is a monster, and yer defendin’ it?”
“I am not insane! Basil has been tamed and follows my orders perfectly. And I am being cautious by holding onto him and not letting him go while in your fields.”
The farmer stared at Vendel before sighing and moving his hand away from what Vendel could only assume was a hidden weapon.
“I don’t know why I am trustin’ you, but I am. Don’t mess up by way of that beast and we won’t have a problem. So, where ya hail from?”
“Thanks so much sir. I came from the forest back a days walk or so, and I was wondering if I could find a way to bargain for some more supplies. I, uhh, lost all of my money…”
Vendel trailed off as he finished with a lie. He seriously doubted that any merchants or farmers accepted credit card. The farmer nodded at Vendel’s story and eyed his clothes dubiously. He thought to himself,
“Don’t look like an ordinary traveler, probaly some noble who done run away for a bit o’ adventure. And if he wasn’t lyin’ about where he came from, then it would make sense if he lost his purse in the Forest of Dreams. Miracle he even made it out alive. Unless he’s high level.”
The farmer smiled at Vendel and said,
“Well I could probably get you some food, but you would be better off looking for food in town. There are a few good pubs where the sailors go drinking, but they serve some decent food too. Oh wait, you don’t have any money. Uhh, try talking to some merchants if you want some coin. They pay well for interesting or valuable trinkets.”
Vendel sighed in relief. These people were normal old humans, and the town sounded like a good place to drop off some junk he didn’t need any more for some coin. He thanked the farmer and started to make his way towards the town. The farmer started to pick up and put away his equipment but remembered something.
“Hey! Make sure to hold onto that mouse! If you put it down the town guard might kill it! And if they stop you from entering town, tell ‘em Bart sent you their way!”
Vendel waved at Bart and walked on towards the town. Once he was out of the fields, he put Basil down and pet the mouse’s head.
“Good job on staying well behaved Basil! You didn’t even try to wiggle your way out of my arms! You can run around for a little while, but don’t go to far, or eat anything either.”
Basil nodded and started to frolic around. Vendel smiled and kept moving towards the town. As he walked, a voice chimed up in his mind,
Acknowledged. You are now a Level 5 Beast Tamer. You have gained some more understanding of your class and skills, which will slightly accelerate the leveling of class related skills under level 5.
Skill: Command Beast is now Lvl 5 Skill: Bond; Basil is now Lvl 5. As a result of reaching Level 5 in Bond; Basil, the tamed beast Basil is now moderately more intelligent, and is now capable of following orders easier. Leveling Command Beast will be slightly easier for the next few levels.
“That is seriously awesome! Basil is smarter, AND, I can level command beast easier! This class is the bomb!”
Vendel stopped to do a little dance of happiness then called Basil to him and prepared himself for another encounter at the town gates. There was a wagon sitting outside of them, waiting to be let in, and the driver was arguing with one of the guards. Vendel walked up and waited behind the wagon until the driver threw his hands in the air and handed over something, then he moved through the gate into the town. Vendel walked up and, before the guards could react to Basil, spoke,
“Hey fellas! Don’t worry about Basil! He’s a tame mouse, and if you don’t believe me, you can ask a kind guy named Bart. He said to let you know that we know each other.”
“So the mouse is tame? Never seen a tame Scritch Mouse. They’re a right pest.”
One of the guards went over to a table and started writing something down, as the other continued talking to Vendel.
“If Bart said you were fine, then it should be alright to let you in. Just don’t cause trouble with any merchants, and steer clear of the sailors unless you want trouble. Randall is getting your papers ready. Mind letting us know your name?”
“My name is Vendel Wane, and this is Basil. Is there anything else you need from me before I enter?”
“Vendel Wane huh. And yeah, we would appreciate it if you keep that thing well behaved. Letting a Scritch mouse into town is frowned on by our superiors, but if you have any troubles, just blame, uh, I mean just tell them that Bart gave you clearance.”
The other guard came up to Vendel and handed him some papers.
“Welcome to Silverport. Don’t cause trouble.”