I walk back through the city of Rhodrik looking for the Adventurers Guild. Eventually I found my way back to the market where I started. I look at the stalls and people around me. I approach a group of nearby players and ask them,
“Hello, I’m new here, can you point me towards the Adventurers Guild?”
A twenty-something female player turns to look at me, she eyes me up and down before replying “Well, I could, but it’ll cost ya”
“Cost me what?” I respond with hesitant curiosity
“Well, I’ll tell you for a SP” she slyly responds smiling
“A what?”
She pauses for a moment, the wind effectively taken out of her sails, “Uhhh, a silver piece?” she restates in confusion
“Oh, uh, yeah I have those sure” I have five, so giving away one probably isn’t a problem, especially if its for information I want.
Trade Request Received from player ‘Roseline’ Do you accept the request Y/N?
Yes.
Elli gives '1sp' – Roseline gives 'nothing'. Do you accept the deal Y/N?
I pause for a moment, she isn’t promising to give me the information. “Hey Roseline, how do I know you will give me the information?”
“Haaa, I really have no reason not to” she responds
Well…
Yes.
1sp removed from inventory
“So, you wanted to know where the Adventurers Guild was right?” she asks
“Yeah” I confirm
“Its right behind me” She states pointing to a sign over the door to the building behind her. ‘Adventurers Guild’ the sign reads. Roseline walks off without another word, and I’m left speechless standing outside the guild. Well, no use crying over spilt milk I think to myself as I enter the building.
I enter the Adventurers Guild. Around the room are several tables, some empty, others with a group of people examining a map. I approach the desk at the front where a middle aged woman in formal attire stands. When I arrive, she looks up from the documents on her desk at me.
“Why hello sweetie” she starts “what can I do for you?”
“I’m, uh, looking for information on healing potions” I reply uncomfortable with being called ‘sweetie’
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“Oh, well, unfortunately I don’t have that information” she responds in something near embarrassment
“Oh, okay” I turn to walk away when I hear something resembling a groan
“Well, you know, the Adventurers Guild has an alchemy table over there” she points to a corner with a strange table “no one really uses it, so you can if you want”
“Really? Thank you so much!” as I walk away, I could almost swear I saw her blush.
I enter the corner with the table. The table is covered in several apparatuses. A few vials, a couple of large flasks, a mixer, a mortar and pestle, and several other things I could not identify. Where to start I thought. I was never very good at chemistry in school, even though my parents forced me to take it this year, but even then – where do I start? I hang my head in shame and return to the receptionist.
“How do you use the alchemy table?” I shyly ask
“Oh, you need to use ingredients, from there, well I don’t know”
“Where do I get ingredients?”
“Well, you can buy them from the market place outside, or you can use the Guild’s ingredients for free. Although, to use our’s you need to be a registered Adventurer and of course the Guild gets royalties on your potions and stuff yada yada”
“How do I register?”
“I’m glad you asked, all you have to do is sign here” she hands me a stack of paper with the title Become an Adventurer! As I pick up a pen to sign it, she adds “It’ll also cost 5sp”
“…” I check my inventory “I only have 4sp…”
There’s a brief momentary pause before she retracts the paper. “Well, never mind then”
We stare at each other for a moment before another adventurer gets in line behind me. I step out of the way before considering my options. I could either try to find another SP to join the guild, or I could buy some ingredients from the market. I decide on the later and head out of the Guild.
Out side I examine the stalls, looking for one with something resembling ingredients. After looking at several stalls, selling various products like armour, weapons, tools, etc, I come across a lonely stall. Behind the stall is a man with a scowling face.
“Whatda want” he spits out
“I was looking for some ingredients for potion making” I reply
“Well look at the counter then, my face ran out of stock” he grumpily replies
I examine the table, looking for anywhere else to plant my gaze. On the table are several different kinds of roots. I really can’t tell anything about them. One of them has a pink flower on the end. One is just a straight stick-like thing. The other one has a rock on the end. They don’t make any sense.
“Uh” I start
“Well hurry up, I don’t have all day” he angrily interrupts me
“I’ll take, uh, one of each”
The man behind the counter snatches one of each roots and places them one at a time in a bag,
“Root Willow” he states as he places the root with a pink flower on it into the bag “6cp”
“Root Reed” he then states, placing the stick-like root into the bag “4cp”
“Rock Root” he finally says, placing the root with a rock on it into the bag “7cp”
“Your total is 17cp” he states
Root Merchant Louke charges 17cp (1sp – 83cp change) in exchange for his product. Do you accept Y/N?
Oh, so CP is a breakdown from SP. I wonder what CP means. ‘Wait!’ I shout in my head ‘doesn’t that mean that Roseline charged me enough around 20 roots worth of money for directions!?’ I must have appeared a little upset as the Louke the root merchant says
“Well, since you’re my only customer in a while, I’ll give ya a little discount, how about I only charge 10cp, and you promise to buy more roots from me later on? Well, how ‘bout it?”
Root Merchant Louke charges 10cp (1sp – 90cp change) in exchange for his product. Do you accept Y/N?
Yes.
I quickly agree and watch as the SP is taken from my inventory, replaced with the CP and the roots.
“Thank you very much sir” I respectfully say, as I return to the Adventurers Guild.
‘Wow, that guy was super nice’ I think to myself as I walk. This game is amazing, I actually forgot that the root merchant and the receptionist were both NPCs, I thought they were real people. I glance at the sky; the sun is starting to fall. It must be approaching dusk soon then, I’ll try to log off after I finish this.