As Callum stepped into the chamber, the meager furnishings greeted him with a bleakness that threatened his spirits. The musty scent of damp wood mingled with the faint flicker of light that emanated from a solitary lamp, casting eerie shadows across the room. The mattress lay on the ground, a sorry excuse for a bed, with thin, scratchy blankets that would scarcely keep the night’s chill at bay. The table in the corner bore the marks of countless cups and plates, its worn wood betraying years of use and its two chairs sat opposite each other. The silence of the room was deafening. The only occasional sounds that could be heard were the creak of a loose floorboard and the gentle hiss of the lamp.
He stood in the doorway for a moment. All motivation and hope seeped away as a weariness settled over him. He thought again of the comfort his sister was likely enjoying at this very moment. With their retainers and crafters from home, she’d be in a bed fit for a queen. Worse yet, he was confident that somewhere in her camp was a bed that lay empty, meant for his use.
Without further hesitation, he secured the door and strode toward the table. Callum withdrew the small leather-bound tome from his pocket and placed it on the table’s surface before taking a seat in one of the chairs. The aged timber creaked in protest, accompanied by the rustling of parchment and the flutter of wings. Callum observed with wonder as the book underwent a metamorphosis, transmuting into a sizable raven forged from parchment and hide. The enchantments at play never failed to astound him.
“Well, that was a little too close for comfort. I was almost certain I’d be hit by an arrow when I saw all of those guards draw on us!” Callum greeted the enchanted creature, who responded with a few hops and a shake of its feathers. Despite the absence of audible sound, save for the rustling of pages, Callum sensed that Book shared his enthusiasm.
Keen to continue charting his path of progression, Callum wasted no time. “Let’s continue, Book. It is time to delve deeper into this legendary class.” With a mere flicker of thought, he accessed his Class Menu, revealing an extensive array of options and qualifications proffered by the System.
With a firm command, he accessed the intricate details of his [Scrap Collector] skill, his mind brimming with the possibilities it presented for the days ahead.
Skill Name: [Scrap Collector] Mana Cost: N/A Description: Scrap Collector is the ability to gather scraps and materials from various sources. From the rusty old car in your neighbor’s yard to the dumpster behind the local fast food joint, those with the Scrap Collector skill can find treasure in even the most unlikely places. Usage: Scrap Collector is perfect for those who love to repurpose and upcycle. With this skill, you can turn almost any piece of junk into something useful and beautiful. Want to make a birdhouse out of old tin cans? No problem. Need some spare parts for your latest DIY project? Scrap Collector’s got you covered. Level-up Requirements: To level up in Scrap Collector, you’ll need to be willing to get your hands dirty. You’ll also need a good eye for spotting hidden gems in piles of junk. And, of course, you’ll need a place to store all your loot – because, let’s face it, you never know when that old bike chain or that broken rat’s tail might come in handy.
Material Scavenged: 0/1,000
Though he longed to delve further into the Branches of Study, he was beset with weariness, his body and soul drained by the drastic change in emotions throughout the day. He resolved to save the exploration of academic pursuits for tomorrow when he could approach them with a fresh mind
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As the sun rose on the following morning, Callum lay in his bed, his eyes already open. The night had been one of restless unease, his emotions a tangled knot. He was a jumble of anxiousness and excitement as he contemplated the challenge that lay ahead. He knew he had a lot of catching up to do if he was to have any hope of climbing the ranks of the ladder.
Callum’s stomach twisted with dread at the thought of being almost a month behind the other Challengers. The gnawing worry had plagued him for the last days before departing his home planet, leaving him feeling hopeless and helpless. But today was different, and he felt a glimmer of hope as he reached up to touch the amulet that hung around his neck.
“This artifact could change everything,” Callum said to himself, clutching the amulet through his undershirt shirt. He needed to figure out how to unlock those hidden abilities. He’d also need to make inquiries into The Cottage. After all, if the necklace was the cottage’s key, he’d need to find the second half at some point; a treasure’s key was no good without a chest of treasure to unlock.
But Callum knew he couldn’t simply rush in headlong, desperate to gain as much experience as possible. He needed to be smart, to play a delicate game of balancing risk and reward. With his knowledge and upbringing added to the new class’s power, he was confident that he could catch up to the top players; however, he would need to be strategic, taking calculated risks to maximize his gains without putting himself in too much danger.
The calculations of risk and reward swirled in Callum’s mind, his thoughts as tangled as the maze of streets in the city of Traben. He knew that if he could just farm experience and use his knowledge, he could pull ahead of his competitors without risking everything. No need to roll the dice or make grand strategies; just steady, efficient progress.
Book hopped closer to the table's edge as he pondered his next move. Callum, while getting dressed, glimpsed his movement and decided to head out. Book reverted to his leather-bound form, his excitement palpable as Callum descended the inn's stairs. As he went, he tapped his leg, pocket, and forehead, saying, "Wand, Book, wits." He almost tripped on his way down the stairs as he tapped his leg and remembered that he'd discarded his wand the day before.
Not that it’ll do me any good without any spells.
Hamish bid him good morning as he left, but Callum was lost in thought. He knew his first stop was the town board, hoping to find quests that would boost his experience quickly. He couldn’t see himself settling into this village, not with its residents’ gear suggesting levels between 5-8, at best, with only a few guards possibly hitting 7 or 8. Callum had ambitious goals, and he knew he couldn’t afford to get too comfortable with such low levels. Once he reached level five, he’d need to look at moving on to a more challenging area.
As Callum strolled through the city, he couldn’t help but sense the guards trailing him. In an odd way, they were a comforting presence, though, and he appreciated their efforts to give him space. It was an odd thing to get accustomed to being level one again. He hadn’t been back at the bottom of the leveling bracket in several years. He took in the sights of the city as he walked, observing the state of the houses. Most of them were in good condition, better than one would expect from a newly integrated race. But Callum knew better than to assume that they were handmade. He suspected that Niles, the town leader, had been posting town board quests that generated experience and coin for the town coffers.
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It was a tricky system; one that was beyond Callum’s personal interests at least. He knew Niles could set taxes on houses and businesses in the area, even taxing items from the local market. This generated enough funds to get the town started. Niles could then use these funds to build more shops, stalls, and homes, creating a cycle of income that allowed for the development of the quest board. The Quest Coffer was a system-generated set of funds that paid out to anyone who completed one of the approved quests from the board.
It was fascinating to witness the early stages of development in this process. Callum had seen the same node system in his family’s city and manor, but he had never seen it in such a raw state. The System allowed for building upgrades to be performed from the node. After a certain number of quests were completed and the population reached a certain number, a town could upgrade the quest board to a quest hall. A quest hall offered significant advantages over the board, allowing for the posting of more quests for the community and significantly harder quests. The hall functioned as a secondary bar and tavern, where adventurers could come and join forces for specific quests if needed.
As Callum strode towards the board, his heart sank like a stone in the depths of a dark river. Only three measly scraps of paper fluttered there, pinned to the worn wood. His gaze flickered across them, taking in their contents with a practiced eye. He knew the danger of overreaching, of biting off more than he could chew. He had learned that lesson the hard way.
Quest Name: Berry Picking for Betsy Quest Description: Betsy is a young woman who lives on the outskirts of the village. She is a skilled cook and baker, but she’s run out of a key ingredient for her famous blueberry pies. She needs someone to go into the forest and gather a bushel of rare blueberries that grow only in a small clearing on the other side of the woods. The task is simple enough, but the forest is also home to a number of small, squirrel-like creatures that love to feast on the blueberries. They can be easily defeated, but they can also be quite tenacious, so the task requires some skill and patience. Bonus Reward: Defeat 10 of the creatures to earn a bonus payment of 20 copper coins
Quest Name: Ring Rescue Quest Description: Raul is a gruff but good-natured man who owns a small blacksmith shop in the village. He recently lost his wedding ring while fishing in a nearby stream and needs someone to retrieve it for him. The ring is lodged in a narrow crevice in the stream bed and is guarded by a horde of slimy, slug-like creatures that are immune to most forms of attack. They are not particularly dangerous, but they can be hard to dislodge without a bit of ingenuity. Bonus Reward: Slay 20 slimy creatures to earn a discount on any single item in Raul’s shop.
Quest Name: Fence Fixin’ Quest Description: Farmer Frank is a kindly man who lives in a small cottage just outside the village. He has a problem with wild boars that keep getting into his vegetable garden and destroying his crops. He needs someone to help him repair a section of his fence and to chase away any boars that come too close. The task is not particularly difficult, but it does require some strength and determination to get the job done. The boars can be aggressive, but they are not particularly fierce and can be chased away with a bit of shouting and noise. Bonus Reward: Defeat 15 of the boars to earn a bonus basket of produce from Frank’s garden.
Callum perused the few requests posted on the board and found them to be of the most common variety. They were low-level kill or fetch quests. Which, he had to admit, was exactly what he needed. He knew that the most efficient way to approach these types of quests was to take them all at once, allowing him to optimize his route and complete them in one fell swoop. Upon returning to town, he could claim his rewards for each quest and reap the benefits of a substantial experience boost. Some people made the mistake of taking one at a time, going out to complete a quest, then coming back to turn it in. The travel time alone made this method inefficient.
As he pondered his new abilities and the quests, Callum made his way to the blacksmith’s stall in search of a wrench. He hoped that the burly man might be willing to lend him the tool once he saw Callum had taken on his request for aid. Perhaps if the blacksmith believed Callum needed the wrench to complete his quest, he would gladly offer it to him.
Callum made his way to the blacksmith’s shop, marveling at how the big man had already begun his day’s work. The front of the shop was already open, and the furnace was blazing. The sound of a hammer striking metal echoed through the village, picking up exactly where Callum had last heard it yesterday as if it had never stopped.
As he approached the stall, Callum paused just outside, determined to wait patiently for the blacksmith’s attention. But despite his efforts, the man remained focused on his work, showing no signs of acknowledging Callum’s presence.
The two guards behind Callum snickered quietly, and the frustration that Callum had been trying to push down began to rise up again. He wondered if the blacksmith was intentionally ignoring him, and the thought made him feel like a child.
Eager to get on the road and leave behind the guards that were beginning to annoy him, Callum stepped into the smithy’s stall. The moment his foot touched the stone slab, the blacksmith froze, his hammer hovering over his shoulder. Slowly, the man’s gaze lifted from his work and settled on Callum. “What d’you want?” he grunted. “I heard the guards talking about you last night. I don’t want nothin’ to do with you.”
Without waiting for a response, he turned back to his work, raising his hammer as if he were going to strike the metal again. Callum could feel his frustration boiling over, but he held it in check. He had to get what he needed from the blacksmith, even if the older man was being obstinate.
Callum stood still as a statue, his heart rate quickening at the possibility of a confrontation with the big smith. He took a moment to process the blacksmith’s abrupt rejection. Though he had encountered many friendly villagers thus far, this man seemed to harbor an unwarranted resentment towards Callum. His face contorted in frustration, but he forced himself to take a deep breath and maintain his composure.
“Good sir,” Callum began, his tone measured and polite. “I have accepted the quest you posted on the job board. Might I borrow a tool to complete it?” The blacksmith remained silent, and Callum heard the muffled laughter of the guards behind him. Undeterred, he tried again. “I apologize if I have offended you in any way. I simply wish to -“
“To what? Bah! Fuck off!” The blacksmith’s outburst was sudden and explosive. He hurled his hammer across the stall, narrowly missing Callum’s head. “You and all your kind are nothing but trouble! You and those damn lizard people killed my wife and son! I don’t want to hear any of your needs! Get out of here before I do something I’ll regret!”
Callum took a step back, his eyes wide with shock. The silence that followed was thick with tension. Even the other shops in the marketplace fell eerily quiet. Without another word, Callum turned and brushed past the guards, his mind racing with thoughts of what to do next.
As he passed the guards, he said softly, “If you knew he would react like that, then you bring shame on you and your families.” He kept his gaze fixed ahead of him and didn’t stop, even as he heard the guards shuffling to keep up.
Callum was not one to give up easily. As he walked, his mind worked through the problem, trying to find a way to complete the quest without the blacksmith’s help. He would need to get creative.
As Callum approached the outskirts of the village, one guard trailed him closely while the other called out their name to stop him. Callum paid them no heed and walked on, disappearing into the thick woods beyond. He glanced back over his shoulder and saw the guards retreating to their posts by the palisade at the village’s entrance.