Creating his character with the guidance from a feminine voice of unknown origin, Zed closes his eyes as he skips the tutorial stage.
In a flash of light, the male human player named Dez appears in the Citadel of Serabourg, Rosenheim.
As the sounds of haggling and chattering fills his ears along with a short warm breeze passing by his face, Dez slowly opens his eyes to the crowded street before him. Taking a glance left and right to make a quick scan of his surroundings, Dez calmly walks forward as he normally would in reality.
"Interesting." he says while looking at his hands and feet move naturally like his own would. "Looks like the Koreans have broken another wall."
Having tested out his body casually, Dez stops to check the backpack that was on him since he spawned.
InventoryRye Bread10Canteen100%
"Time to get the rations." says Dez to himself as he heads for nearest bakery.
"Good day to you." he says to the shopkeeper with a warm smile.
Eyeing Dez with suspicion while rubbing his chin, the shopkeeper replies, "Good day to you too."
"How much for a piece of fine Rye Bread?" inquires Dez.
"I don't know about fine, but it will be 3 copper pieces each to you."
"And if I said I want 200 pieces?"
"W-well then that will be 6 silver pieces." answers the surprised shopkeeper.
"Hmm...I'm buying so many pieces here. Can't you give me a discount?" haggles Dez.
"This is the best price we offer around here. In fact, it's the only price. Trust me." says the shopkeeper confidently.
"Is that so...guess I will have to find out about that myself." says Dez before turning around to walk off.
Entering an alleyway, Dez briskly walks through it as he passes by beggars leaning against the walls along the alley. He continues on as it lands on to more alley while keeping an eye out for his target. Walking past an alley, he finally spots what he has been looking for. A group of thugs surrounds a beggar lying on the ground at the end of the alley.
"Come on. We're nice enough to let ya stay in our area in safety from them guards. Now why don't you turn over them shinies and we'll be on our way." says a thug.
"B-but I really don't have any money!" the beggar cries out.
"Well then. I say we help ol' Padre here earn his keep. How about it? An arm, a leg, or maybe the nose and ears?"
Taking out a knife, the thug bends forward as the beggar whimpers and pleads for mercy. Having watched for a while now, Dez decides it was time to step out.
"Woah there. Give the man down on his luck there a bit chance." says Dez as he approached them.
"Look here, boy. Just back away and let us do our business before it becomes your business."
"But it IS my business."
"So you are paying for this ol' one's soul keep?"
"No. I have an even better business proposition." replies Dez with a grin.
***
A minutes later, the crowded street filled with NPCs and players made a wide gap down the middle of it as the smell of rotten eggs and other god forsaken smells fills the air as a dirty beggar walks through it. No one dares to stop or shoo the beggar away as a group of thugs with thick cloth masks surrounds him.
"People of Rosenheim! This 'ere stink-bag was walking around our quarters earlier today, makin' our place smell bad! As good and honest citizens, we have decided to march 'im down to them cells so that the City Guards can clean 'im up. Naturally, such an honourable act is entitled to walking down the main street!" shouts the thug leading the group.
"Just get him away!" cries a little girl.
"You are driving away my customers!" shouts a shopkeeper.
"We could get this stinker out of here faster by them alleys. But they are dangerous and all so without a proper source of motivation or advance compensation for any mishaps that might occur on the way." announces the thug. Grumbling and complains could be heard from the crowd as the true intention of the thugs were revealed. A handful of copper pieces are flung at them from a man in the crowd followed by a shout, "Just get him out of here!" Imitating that action, people begins throwing copper pieces at them as well.
"I would love to make hasty out of here, so why don't we have some of those shinier ones too!" exclaims the thug.
Though an occasional stone or rotten fruit was flung as well, silver pieces were soon being thrown as the group increased their pace. After a minute more of walking, the thug making the announcements till now yells out once more.
"Thank you all! We will now rid you of this stinker and bring 'im to the City Guards by them alleys! Come on, boys!"
Gathering up the last of the copper and silver pieces on the ground, the group moves off the street and into an alley with the beggar in the lead. Turning round a corner, buckets of cold water were splashed on the beggar by waiting thugs, scaring him into running away as quickly as possible. The thugs laughs at the sight of this and fails to notice the figure appearing behind them.
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"Woah!" exclaims the thug leader in surprise as he finally notices a man behind him when he turns around.
"Quite a bit of money you got there." says Dez while looking at the medium sized money bags.
"It was hard work. And you had the easy part." replies the thug leader.
"Now that's just bad business. There are so many more business opportunities too..." says Dez while appearing not to care about his cut.
"Oh? Let's hear it then."
"Not without my share."
Grabbing a money bag from one of the other thugs, the leader opens it and grabs 8 silver pieces which he tosses at Dez, who catches them in a single swipe.
"Now speak." demands the thug leader.
"Not today. In fact, I recommend laying low for a bit to let the tides settled." says Dez in response.
"Hahaha!" laughs the thug leader before saying, "We could use someone like you. How about it?"
Offered rogue
"Plenty of business opportunities waiting out there. I rather not be bound yet." declines Dez.
"That so." says the thug leader who looks like he is ready to take drastic actions but changes his mind. "Well then, if you have any dirty business with plenty of shiny involved, remember us."
Turning around, the thugs walked on into the alley and disappears round a corner. As Dez prepares to return to the bakery, a message pops up in front of him.
Intelligence rises by 2 points. (+2 INT)Wisdom rises by 3 points.Infamy rises by 10 points.New stat: Eloquence
"That's interesting." says Dez at his increase in stats and gaining a new one. He closes the message but another pops up.
Eloquence
The ability to speak with ease while convincing another.
This increases the chance of someone believing what you say.
Also increases the success rates in bartering and negotiations.
You are prohibited from distributing stat bonus points to this stat.
Closing the message window, Dez leaves the alley and heads in the direction of the bakery. Passing by an alley, he spots the beggar from earlier sitting against a wall. Taking out a silver piece, Dez tosses it into the alley. Unfortunately, there were other beggars there too and a struggle soon ensues over the piece of silver. A few moments later, the beggar who was paraded on the street with a putrid smell before runs deeper into the alley happily with the silver piece in hand. Resuming his journey, he arrives back at the bakery a minute later.
"Hello again. So did you manage to find a better price?" asked the shopkeeper.
"The other bakery only had 120 pieces of Rye Bread, which they sold to me at 3 silver pieces." replies Dez while taking out 2 silver pieces.
"I only need another 80 now, so if you will let me have them for 2 silver pieces."
"All right." says the surprised shopkeeper who did not expected the poorly dressed person in front of him to be able to afford that many pieces of Rye Bread.
"Actually, give me another 40 pieces. I could use the extra." adds Dez while taking out another silver piece.
Eloquence rises by 1 point.
Having acquired 120 pieces of Rye Bread, Dez decides to head for the Training Hall. Along his way, he notices a peculiar sculptor working on something with several statues on display at his stall in front of the Central Fountain. Intrigued by this sight, Dez stops in his track and walking over to take a closer look. Upon inspection, the statues of foxes, rabbits and son on were pretty well crafted, though they were still quite lacking. The sculptor himself was working on another piece in his hand which he finishes a few seconds later. Placing the newly crafted statue down, he looks up to see Dez.
"Would you like to buy one? It's only 5 silver pieces." asks the sculptor.
"Maybe next time...I'm barely past the first few hours of the four weeks restriction." replies Dez as he turns to take his leave.
Realising his little detour has wasted more time, Dez heads for the Training Hall without further delays. Upon entering, the instructor glares fiercely at him. As he walks up to the instructor, Dez makes a quick scan of the place and its equipment.
“Young adventurer, I presume you have arrived at the Versailles continent recently,” says the instructor.
"Yes. From what I can see, I take it that I'm supposed to grab a wooden sword and go at it with one of the scarecrows?" asks Dez.
Appearing a bit surprised, the Instructor says, "Yes. Do you need my guidance?"
"I appreciate the offer. Allow me to do this myself first."
"Godspeed."
Walking over to one of the scarecrows, Dez places his backpack on the floor and picks up the heavy wooden sword.
"Looks like it's you and me. Let's get these 4 weeks over with." says Dez before he begins his relentless strikes on the scarecrow before him.