Stonewall was supposed to be holding a festival, but all that was seen were a few more smiling faces and people with a lighter spring in their step, as Karastak and his Warriors made their way towards the Guild Hall. Here and there, the trio spied a more than a few children running about in brighter and more cheerful colours. This caused them to slow their pace as small smiles blossomed upon their features as the first Tenet rushed through their minds. However, these were not a part of their System, and therefore could choose to ignore them as they so chose. Which was what their Lord did, as he tapped the pair's chest and pointed at the hall.
That day, the polymorphed Human decided to wear a muted blue robe with a breastplate of the same colour over the robe itself. The plate held a few rust spots along the edges, and gave off the appearance that it had been beaten back into shape many times. This was to show that he wasn't one who wasn't brand new to the fighting scene, even if he was new to the area. Each of these were created by way of magicks, by the by, and held only defensive properties woven into the energies used.
Zabartik, however, desired to have his armoured skin made into the likeness of a Warrior Knight. Beings who wore full plate armours and were the front line of defense in any group. To which Karastak raised an eyebrow in response, but gave in just the same.
As for the last of the trio, Kirin, he wore his own Samurai armours with the demonic mask hanging off to the side of his helmet. Upon his left hip were not one, but two swords of different length he called a Katana and a Wakazashi. They were familiar to their leader's mind, but he spoke nothing of it.
Regardless, the trio entered into the Hall, and was met with a few stares as they drifted over to the board containing various quests. Each of which were classified into F through A quests. From fetch quests to slaying a local monster or group therein, nothing changed between the worlds of Terra and Azzarath in Karastak's eyes. There were even a few guard-styled missions to protect a caravan or one of the many local lords of Stonewall. Either way, he avoided the first and last examples, and focused more upon the subjugation quests.
Here, he learned of a Goblin clan had moved into the vicinity, and was wreaking havoc on the local trappers and hunters' way of life by stealing their game or causing them to branch out further away from their favoured spots. Deeper into the nearby forests, beyond the Goblins and their mischief, was an age old menace. A Basilisk had taken up residence some five years back, and no one was able to do much about it. Partly because people were afraid of the creature's ability to turn others to stone with a glance, and the rest was because it was a Silver Rank A quest.
As he reached out to take up the Basilisk subjugation request, Karastak paused as someone nearby scoffed loud enough to cause their side of the Hall to quiet themselves. Ignoring the commotion, his eyes lit up as a quest alert appeared before him on a placard.
Quest Alert!
A Basilisk has moved into the Elven Woods west of Stonewall!
This quest has been increased from Gold Rank B to Silver Rank A due to the severity of the quest itself. Many have taken up this request, but only a few have returned to give up on it and forfeit the rewards.
Will you be the first to complete this 5 year old quest?
Duration of quest at the time of acceptance: Until completed or forfeited
Rank needed to accept this quest: Silver Rank A
Your Rank: Gold Rank A
Reward/s: 50,000 EXP, 5,000gp, additional rewards upon completion
Do you wish to accept this quest?
Y/N
Glancing at the other two, he noted that they had also received a placard as well, and were waiting for his confirmation on whether or not they should accept it. He then nodded at the pair before pressing the Y, and smiled to himself at receiving his first quest upon the world. The two nodded back as they also gained the quest, and all heard the rising of bodies as chairs nearest them scraped across the wooden flooring. However, this was ignored as his finger tapped against the Goblin Subjugation request. Even though it was two letter grades below them, it would be easier to complete this upon their return due to it being along the way.
Quest Alert!
Goblins have been harassing Hunters and Trappers within the Elven Woods Northwest of Stonewall!
Two weeks ago, they were spotted migrating into the area, but none were able to find their nest before they gained roots and began to spread. Now they are an infestation to those who use the Woods as their source of revenue.
Find and cull the Goblins to receive the rewards below!
Duration of quest at the time of acceptance: 1 week
Rank needed to accept this quest: Copper Rank C
Your Rank: Gold Rank A
Reward/s: 25 EXP and 5sp per Goblin ear; 500 EXP and 50sp for every Goblin Warrior ear; 2,500 EXP and 5gp for every Goblin Sage ear.
If the nest is discovered and destroyed by you and/or your party's hand, extra rewards will be given!
Do you wish to accept this quest?
Y/N
Upon accepting this one, however, Karastak's eyes widened as another alert flashed before his eyes. One which led him to frown then palm his face as he forgot about it completely.
Warning!
This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.
You have reached the maximum amount of quests one can hold at a time!
Your active Quests are as follows:
Goblin Subjugation
Basilisk Subjugation
Find the Lost Beacons of Azzarath
In order to receive more quests, you must either complete or forfeit the others.
Do you wish to forfeit any of the quests presented?
Y/N
'I can't believe I forgot about this one,' he mentally exclaimed, noting that there were still five out of six beacons not found, and he would have to search for them later. For now, there were the recent Quests he had gained, and as he turned around, the trio found their way blocked by a mass of flesh and iron chain. Sighing and shaking his head, Karastak watched as burly arms folded themselves in front of a barrel wide chest. One which rang silently together as the small metal ringlets tapped against one another.
“Outta ta way, shorty,” growled the voice of a Human who was half again his own height. A hand was about to be rested upon his shoulder, but paused when the the blade of Zabartik's Greatword rested a few millimetres above the thick wrist. “Huh?” was all the man said as Karastak spoke up without glancing his way.
“Remove yourself or be removed.”
Behind the mass of flesh and chain came the sounds of chairs being dragged across the floor as feet pounded the area around them. It was here that he glanced up, but not at the giant before himself, but towards the Minimap in his peripheral. Whereupon he noted that there were only half a dozen to their three.
“You surrounded, shorty,” growled the one before him, “Get outta mah way afore I hit you.”
“I wonder if this place is the same,” Karastak's voice was small as his eyes drifted over towards the counter where a woman with red hair and a green dress sat with a forced smile. “You there, woman.” Her eyes widened as she turned towards himself with an expression which begged to whatever Gods she worshiped that he wasn't speaking to her. “Yes you, the one in the green dress. Are the rules here the same as where I'm from? Where you can only defend yourself from attacks by other Guild members, not instigate them or else be in trouble?”
“Huh?” she blinked her eyes a few times before they drifted off to her right. After which they snapped back with a bob of her own head, “Yep.”
“Good,” he grinned a maniacal grin, and, turning back towards the group which surrounded them, stretched it even further as he only then turned his gaze upwards towards the giant's own features. Of which consisted of a square shaped head, a cleft chin, a beak-like nose, and a pair of baby-blue eyes. Ones that were full of confusion and mixed with a tinge of anger.
The anger soon won over the mind of the brute, whose right hand balled into a fist as it reared back ready to strike. Next to him, one of the others had an immediate epiphany, and called out, “No, Brutus! Don't hit him!”
Which led to the large Human to blink a few times, but kept his pose as he turned his head toward the speaker, “Why nah?”
“You'll get another strike on your record,” and when the other didn't respond, continued with, “You'll be kicked out of the Guild and won't be able to help your brother anymore.”
What came next caused the trio to blink with surprise, as the large Human backed away with tears in his eyes as sweat beaded his forehead. The man's hands were out in front of him as though warding off a blow, when he tripped and fell atop a table whilst mumbling something about helping his brother pay off their debts. Whereas Karastak simply shrugged and pointed towards the counter.
Once the group came up to it, he spoke softly, “We'd like a map of the surrounding areas. The more detailed the better.”
“Huh?” the woman's eyes widened before she shook her head as though caught in a dream, “Oh, sure. Um... 5sp, please.”
Once the coinage was passed between them, and a map was secured, the trio left the Guild Hall with nary a word. Eyes followed their path, of course, and many were of scorn over the confrontation between themselves and Brutus. Whereas others were of wonderment or calculation.
*
The trio left by the North Gate within the First Ring of Stonewall relatively easy as they showed off their rank as Guild Members to the guards that passed them by or were at each gate. Of course, leaving was easier than returning, but that was besides the point.
Outside was a long road that stretched onwards, skirting around the forest before disappearing into it. This was a main trade route for many a caravan, but what was most interesting to Karastak's eyes and ears were the amount of children between the ages of ten and sixteen running around casting spells or striking each other with wooden or blunted iron weaponry. Even more so were a few who had taken upon themselves to use their skills against the abundant wildlife which popped out of the ground and forest like eager lambs to the slaughter.
He began to turn towards his Warriors in order to ask if they know what's going on, but stopped half way when it dawned upon his mind that they were both summoned creatures and would know nothing. Which meant he had to ask someone, but there was none in reach, so he turned around to ask the guards stationed at the entrance of the gate what the group was doing and who were they.
“What?” grunted a young man in hard leathers and a silver emblem of a large wall stitched and painted above his left breast.
“The group of children over there,” Karastak thumbed behind him, “who are they and what are they doing?”
“They're the School's kids and they're training for a competition,” he spoke as though everyone knew of this.
“And the school's location?”
“Second Ring between the First and Third entrance.” The comment was automatically given as though others have asked its whereabouts many a time.
“Hmm,” he hummed softly before turned around and walking off towards the woods with his Warriors trailing behind him.
“Lord? What is on your mind?” asked Kirin as the trio paused in front of the woods just as their leader unraveled the purchased map.
Of which led to him pulling up his status page in order to fiddle around with the Passive Skill, Minimap. One that caused the map itself to hold a smaller icon to its bottom right where the map itself lay. When he focused upon it, it would expand to fill up his vision in its entirety, showing their location in conjunction with the map itself. Unfortunately, this new ability also absorbed the whole of the physical map as it was needed to create this new skill.
“There we go,” a small smile stretched across his lips, and he turned towards Kirin in order to address his inquiry, “I shall be asking Lupa and Puella later if they wish for an education when we return. If they wish for it, one will be provided. If not, then not.
“Regardless, let us push forward. I desire something to vent upon, and this five year old Basilisk quest seems like an interesting one to do so.”