It didn’t feel real when the town builders helped Grinston out of the sewers. Nor did it feel real when he handed the bronze pin to the guild master.
“Ah,” she said, without even turning to meet his eyes. “The man you found was an adventurer from a few years ago. You can tell because the guild no longer uses this design,” she said while pointing at the marking of a mountain and a river that was on the stolen emblem. “He must have gone insane and killed the adventurer we sent. It’s a shame his body was not recoverable but you did your job diligently.” She handed him the three silver coins while she pocketed the bronze symbol. Undoubtedly, it would be given to another young adventurer. “Come back tomorrow and we will give you another quest.”
Grinston departed without another word. Really, he should be happy. In just a day's work, he made a week's worth of wages. But although the man he killed was a murderer, Grinston was not pleased to see his lifeless body and know that it was his spear who caused it. Grinston felt filthy in more ways than one, so he went to an inn and purchased a bath. He didn’t have any copper to pay so he exchanged one of his silver for 10 copper. He then handed them the two copper for the price but then decided that he was finally able to afford to pay an extra copper for hot water, bringing his price up to three. They then asked if he would like his filthy clothes to be washed and so in the end, he spent four copper. He chuckled to himself, because only yesterday he made only five copper a day. Now, he was spending almost that much in a second.
While the warm water washed away all the grime from the day’s adventure, he felt himself begin to relax. He was feeling extremely well-rested when he heard the door open to the bath and a familiar voice.
“Grinston, my young friend. I was relieved to hear that you were successful in your quest.” came Master Flynn’s voice. Grinston watched as the naked old priest walked in and sat down in the bath to his side. The water came crashing out of the bath with a slosh. He heard Flynn sigh as steam from the coals washed over the both of them. The two sat in silence until Grinston finally replied. He was rank 1, which was expected of the pacifistic wise man.
“The man was a fellow adventurer, they tell me.” Grinston replied blankly.
Master Flynn nodded. “Indeed. He was trapped there for gods know how many months. Feasting on whatever vermin that he could get his hands upon. I’ve been told that there was nothing left of the man’s mind. It’s undeniable that he struck down another and threw him for the maggots to feast on. He would’ve done the same to you.”
Grinston continued to watch the steam waft from the fire. “When I was down there, I was so scared of dying. But now that I am back, it is the fear of being left behind that continues to haunt me. Tell me, Master Flynn. If it were me that was stuck down there, would I become the same monster?”
“Every man has evil in him,” the old man replied, “and every man has to fight the evil in him just as he must fight the evil in the world. You did a good deed today. You learned a lesson today that I wish I knew in my youth.”
“What lesson is that?” Grinston asked.
“To never forget that the world is full of horror.” With that final thought, the aged priest stretched his arms as he exited the bath. Once more Grinston was alone with his thoughts. Though the interaction had served to tell him that he had been in the bath for a long time. With both his aching arms, he shoved himself out of the warm bath into the cold air.
The sun was low in the sky while Grinston walked around town square. Normally, he’d be in a tavern drinking his misery away, but something in him told him to walk around. The guild had agreed to clean his spear while he bathed and he felt as though the absence of blood had made it lighter. The street was filled with bright, colorful cloth banners hanging outside of each store and home, but Grinston’s mind was still in the sewer. Young women walked with buckets of water under their arms as they completed their chores of their day while young children carried wooden swords as their mothers called them home for dinner. Men of all ages worked on their trades with a smile. Grinston was sure that this was a common sight, but he couldn’t ever remember seeing it before.
Grinston took a deep breath of the cold air as he walked along the stone path. He was not sure where the path was going to lead him, but still he marched on. Right before he was going to turn around, he saw the town bazaar. At this time of day, most traveling merchants had either left the town to continue down to the next village or had settled down for the night in a local inn. There was only one trader who remained; he was well dressed with several rings and necklaces sparkling from his body. Grinston wondered if they were gold or common brass.
“An adventurer, or a bandit, approaches me.” he called cheerfully. “Care to see my wares?”
“It depends on what you are selling,” Grinston replied, worried that the man may be a swindler.
“Spices, cloths, and other miscellaneous items. Truth is it depends, what do you seek? I have a pretty green cloak to keep you warm on cold nights like these or food that can be taken anywhere without spoiling.”
“I enjoy the cold, and I’m confident that I can hunt for food on the road.” Grinston said cynically.
The man thought for a moment. “A tricky customer” was all he replied. “I have something that I believe you need.” He reached into his jacket and withdrew a crumpled paper. He quickly flattened it with his hands and presented it to Grinston. “A map of the continent- from the smaller town of Stoneshire to the great city of Orapolis. I use it personally on my travels, but I can sell it to you for just a single silver.”
Grinston was tempted. One silver was a lot though. It could buy him a goat or a pair of shoes. Weren’t those things better than just a slip of paper? He was an adventurer though, and he could be in places other than Stoneshire someday. Pushing all his doubts aside, he handed the short man a single silver coin. The merchant flashed a smile filled with perfect teeth as he handed him the map.
Item acquired: Map of Terroimpes
As Grinston walked away, he heard the man still swearing its efficacy. But when Grinston turned around, the trader and his wares were gone. ‘Weird,’ Grinston thought. When he finally inspected the map, he saw there were places in the world that he had never heard of. He looked at where Stoneshire was and he saw that at the top of the map next to a large mountain range was the place he called home. He then looked into the sky and he saw the mountains strike out of the ground around the village like a wall. ‘At least, it’s somewhat accurate,’ he thought. The sun had long since set, but Grinston still couldn’t feel sleep’s beckoning call. He walked every part of the town but all he found was a few guards’ accusing stares. Grinston had always been told never to leave the safety of the village at night, but the alluring call of the forest was unmistakable. Someday, he thought, but not tonight. He returned to the inn, and when he fell asleep, he was back in the sewers.
As Grinston walked into the adventurers guild the following day, he noticed that there was a different person at the counter. “Who are you?” Grinston asked suspiciously.
A tall thin man with a small mustache and top hat answered him. “I’m the other Guild Manager. Trista and I take turns on which responsibilities we have each day. Today, she is managing the guild’s finances while I am in charge of quest giving. “
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‘Trista,’ Grinston thought. ‘I guess she never told me her name.’ Grinston merely nodded in response. “Well, what do you have for me?” Grinston asked the man.
“Well, today is a slow day. Most quests have been completed by a traveling party of adventurers.” Grinston felt emboldened knowing that the shieldman was no resident. “The only contracts we can give right now are fetch quests.”
“I can do that,” Grinston replied confidently. The short man then pulled a large parcel out his desk and began to wrap it.
“This mission will only take two days, if you are slow. Now do you have a map? Grinston thanked his fortune for the meeting with that merchant as he laid the map on the table. The man then continued his explanation, “Now, there are several nearby villages that pay tithes to our town for protection from bandits and monsters.” Before Grinston could complain, the man had already circled the towns on his map. “The names of the places you seek are Brickerton, Faston’s Keep, and one too quaint to be named, but you will find that one if you go deep enough into the farm lands around Farston’s Keep.” After his brief explanation, the man quickly shoved the map back into Grinston’s hands and led him out the guildhall.
Grinston sighed. Being an adventurer was a lot like being a laborer, Grinston thought as he went to buy supplies for his new mission.
Although on the map every town and village was connected with a neat road, Grinston soon learned that the paths around Stoneshire had not been maintained for years. He felt a thorn puncture one of his thin sandals and released a yelp of pain. He decided that after this mission, his next purchase would be a reliable pair of boots. As he inspected his feet, he heard the sound of hoofbeats behind him. He turned and saw a run-down wagon being pulled behind him. An old man with dusty clothing stared at him as the cart passed.
“Fellow traveler!” Grinston called. The man kept riding with no hint of giving a response. “Is this the way to Faston’s Keep?”
After an uncomfortable amount of time, the man answered though made no attempt at stopping his vehicle. “You’re a long ways off, fella.” His bony hands pointed to the side. “Faston’s Keep is about three hours that way.” Grinston watched as the man disappeared into the distance. With a sigh, Grinston began his trip once more.
Faston’s Keep was not nearly as big as Stoneshire, but its large windmill was a unique sight. Stacks of logs were laid out in front of the few cabins that made up the village. Grinston noted that he could see every villager had some sort of makeshift weapon. He approached the largest of the cabins which Grinston assumed to be the town’s center. Though the only indication of its legitimacy was the green banner which was strung about the front door.
Before he got the chance to knock, the door swung open and a tall woman with missing teeth pushed her way towards him.
“So,” she said, her voice rough, “this is the big city adventurer that they send to collect their rent.”
‘I wouldn’t call Stoneshire a big city,’ Grinston thought to himself, but he kept quiet as she continued on.
“How do I know you ain’t some wannabe bandit, anyhow? You are the sorriest excuse for a guard I ever seen.” Grindstone retrieved the parcel from his sack. She snatched it out of his hands and squinted at it.” Grinston felt a tinge of sympathy for her; Grinston only knew how to read because of Master Flynn’s charity.. She sighed in disappointment. “Wait, here,” she said, as she closed the door on Grinston. A few moments later, she came out holding a large bag of silver coins. “This should be enough for this season.”
Just as the angry leader tried to close the door again, Grinston blocked it with his hand. “Excuse me,” he said, trying to be as formal as possible, “It’s nighttime and I would like to seek accommodations until the morning.” She squinted at him.
“We have a place for you to stay, but it is four copper.” Grinston knew this was far too much for a room.
“I have to say that doesn’t seem like a fair price. Though as a guest, I shall pay your fee. Where might I find these accommodations you speak of?”
With a notable lack of grace, she shoved her finger towards the barn.
“You can’t be serious.”
“Do you want me to make it five copper?” Grinston knew from that moment that he should’ve stayed the night first before he asked for their coin.
After an overpriced breakfast, Grinston left Faston’s Keep to tax the surrounding farmland. Most residents paid when he showed them the contract, but a few spat at his feet. Grinston had to coerce them to pay their dues. After he was confident he had checked every log cabin in the fields, he began his search for Brickerton. He was beginning to understand how to use the map and the opportunities excited him. For his whole life, he had stayed in the confines of Stoneshire and did all the odd jobs he could find. Now he was his own man and he was in control of his destiny. Walking all alone only served to remind himself of that fact.
This time he found the settlement easily. Brickerton consisted of only a few towers along with a dozen houses. He saw that it was the red brick roads that gave the place its name. A mother and her children sitting on the porch of one of the homes was the first resident that he spotted.
“Pardon me, madam. Where might I find your people’s town hall.”
Although she was a mother, she seemed awfully young to Grinstion, looking around his age. “No pardon required, stranger! We don’t have a town hall but if you are looking for the mayor, Master Horton will be in that building there.”
Grinston gave her a grin and his thanks as he looked for Master Horton. When he entered the building, he saw that they had a receptionist.
“Excuse me, young lady. I am looking for Master Horton. The Adventurer’s Guild of Stoneshire sent me.”
She nodded before she replied. “Unfortunately, he will not be available today to meet with you.”
“Where is he?” Grinston asked. Something about this seemed suspicious, though he couldn’t tell what exactly.
“A hunting trip.” she said too quickly. Grinston now knew she was lying. But he also knew he was an adventurer now, and he couldn’t be thought of as weak.
“Well, since he is gone, I guess that makes you in charge. You need to pay the protection fee for the month.”
She smiled nervously. “I am just a receptionist sadly, and you will have to wait until Master Horton gets back within a few weeks. Wait, hold on –” Grinston suddenly was right next to her, his spear held threateningly.
“If you aren’t in charge, step aside.” He shoved her to his side as he continued to the door at the back of the room. He could hear her faintly shouting at him to stop. When Grinston kicked at the door, he saw a man passed out on a chair, the smell of alcohol on his breath. Grinston grabbed the collar of his shirt and shook to wake the man from his stupor.
“I am… er… Master Horton of Brickerton. How may– what brings you here?” The receptionist stood behind him, still shouting for him to leave.
“Disgusting,” Grinston said, upon smelling that the man had fallen asleep next to his vomit. “Where is the money that you owe the Adventuring Guild, Master Horton? Did you drink it away?”
He raised a finger. “About the… money. Bandits have come here because of a refugee crisis in nearby cities and, well, all our money was stolen. We asked for help but nobody ever came.” He looked like he was about to vomit again as he swayed from side to side.
“So you mean to tell me that you have not a single piece of value in this village?” He nodded lazily. “What about the food, then? I can take a cartful of grain and call it even”
His eyes looked alarmed. “We need that food to survive. Please, show us mercy. It is hard living on the frontier like this. Just give us another month!”
Grinston was committed to not being taken advantage again. “I saw there was a wooden cart belonging to one of your villagers. I will be taking it as well as your grain. Feel fortunate that I am willing to call this a fair trade.” With a flurry, Grinston pushed his way out of the cramped building. When a large villager tried to stop him, Grinston struck him with the back of the spear, leaving him rolling on the ground. With most of the money collected and a large amount of grain seized, Grinston set back to the Guild to receive his reward. But deep inside, he felt as dirty as he felt in the sewers.
Note: Most pirates have access to water magic so that they can be more aware of the flow of the current. The strongest pirates are so adept at water magic that they can summon storms or bring about tidal waves to drown coastal towns.