“Let’s just go to where we know there are quests for us,” I proposed. There was no point walking around randomly if we could start picking up quests immediately.

As we moved on through the city, the number of stalls we saw quickly decreased and were replaced with well established shops. Not all had to do with leveling goods or even game-world type items. It felt like we were walking through a mall.

Food stores, clothing stores, jewelers, even just miscellaneous pubs and places of ‘entertainment’ were abundant. Any temptation I had to visit them were trumped by Maria’s constant commentary about the need to earn some coins. “I can’t wait to buy that necklace,” she would say, or, “those earrings in that window would look so good on you Anna.” I was definitely seeing a more girly and feminine side of her.

We walked for at least thirty minutes before Lucas pointed to a line of a dozen people outside a large building that reminded me of a town hall and which had a sign outside: ‘Mercenaries Wanted: Missions for all Levels.’

“We were told there were quests available in here, but we didn’t go in,” said Lucas.

“Let’s go see, even if we have to wait,” proposed Jessica. In fact, the line of entry moved quickly enough that we crossed through the doorway in under ten minutes. Ahead of us was a counter with two clerks, who were making a note of the levels and classes of applicants. The entire process was quite informal. We weren’t asked any awkward questions, our clerk simply pushed over a parchment with a few questions about our abilities and after Jessica had filled it out, the clerk gave it a cursory glance and told us return in a few hours.

The wait was frustrating. I could see beyond the registration desk was a room with noticeboards and I could almost make out the missions that were being advertised. But we were forced to go back out to the streets. We browsed the shops for only an hour before returning, hoping the fact that the missions building wasn’t busy would mean we could get permission to browse the quests sooner than later.

There wasn’t even a line when we returned and we walked directly up to the front desk. Right away, I got a nod from our clerk that pointed in a direction off to the side. There was a stack of certificates there, made out in our name with the seal of the Rigarn empire, as well as a card that accompanied each one: identification cards.

It went without saying we were at the very lowest rung of the ladder in terms of repution. Still, these cards allowed us past two guards and out of the lobby and into the quest hall where we could read the quests that had been posted. “Let’s spread out and read them all,” Maria urged us, “and call out any good ones.”

I was excited for what we would find, this could be the right way to go about earning coins.

“Ugh. ‘Help me birth my newest calf – two silver,” Anna read a mission with a shake of her head.

“Part-time chef wanted – five silver per week,” Mark read off another.

We continued to read them and realized there was almost nothing anyone was qualified to do, or would even want to do. There was a few that just about anyone could do—carrying heavy goods or clearing up trash.

“This is pretty disappointing,” Jessica said as she scanned a board.

“Excuse me,” Maria went back out to the reception desk, “is this right? There is some mistake right? Where are the good missions that reward gold?”

The clerk looked at her in utter confusion and seemed to have no idea what to say in response. “Sorry, I don’t deal with putting up missions,” he eventually said, “If these quests aren’t to your liking, you can acquire them from private citizens as well. While less strict on their recruitment, you can still receive reputation credit for them.” Without waiting for a response, the clerk stood up and disappeared in a backroom, clearly hoping to avoid dealing with us.

“Maybe it’s always this slow after a battle?” Lucas suggested.

“Does anyone want to help birth a calf?” I jokingly asked. It didn’t seem like any of the missions available for us as first timers was going to be lucrative enough to sway us. A few silver wasn’t a lot: surely we could make more putting our fighting skills to use.

We left the hall with heavy heads. Disappointment was evident across everyone’s faces. Getting the money we wanted clearly wasn’t going to be as easy as we had expected.

“We need a new plan,” I said to everyone. “Any suggestions?” I left it open ended, mainly because I had put all my eggs into one basket, having fully expecting the hall to provide us with the income we desperately needed.

“Find someone who needs help,” Alan said.

You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

Which nearly got Maria to smack him upside the head. “Clearly…. But how do we do that?” she asked instead.

“I… dunno,” Alan admitted.

“Our best bet might just be asking the general.” Richard said. “I’m sure he has connections to people interested in receiving escorts or protection.”

“That’s a good idea,” Jessica replied, “that would be right up our alley, using our fighting power to make money.”

“Any thought about getting a regular paid job?” Anna asked.

Which got unanimous opposition from everyone. No one wanted to spend their time working if we were in a race of some sort to level up and master the post-apocalypse system.

“Someone is following us,” Jessica suddenly said, “act natural.” I felt no urge to look around, with her tracking abilities I had complete confidence she was right. “Follow me,” she moved to the front and abruptly rushed us down a street alley. We turned a sharp corner at the end of it and there she held up her hand. “Let’s wait and confront them,” she whispered.

Not even fifteen seconds passed after we had stopped, waiting quietly, when someone turned the corner. “Oh... excuse me,” a thin man in cheap robes looked surprised. “Just trying to pass through.” Jessica walked past him swiftly and turned to trap him from the far side. “What’re you doing? What’s the meaning of this?” His voice was calm no more, turning to panic.

“You’ve been following us for three blocks,” Jessica stated, “care to explain why?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about…”

“No one would notice your disappearance here,” I said while summoning my undead soldiers. They immediately filled the alley and left no gap for him to run through. Nor for peering eyes to see inside the huddle. “Spill it.”

The man showed a hint of dread and then excitement filled his eyes. “Ah, I wasn’t expecting to be seen through so easily.” He wiped his brow, probably a habit to help calm himself down. He inhaled deeply, “I’m looking for some able bodies to complete a mission.”

This sounded promising. I wanted to maintain our intimidating approach, but Maria’s enthusiastic response betrayed my efforts, “You have a quest?” She pushed through the skeletons towards the man. “Tell us!”

The man cleared his throat, “I do have a mission, but don’t know if you’re qualified.” He looked over his shoulder at Jessica, and after seeing the arrow gripped between her fingers, weighed his words carefully. “My master is in need of some goods that aren’t easy to come by.”

“We aren’t interested stealing or robbing,” said Lucas and I nodded. Regardless of the value of the offer, we had to stay in good standing with the city authorities or this pocket dungeon was over for us.

“You don’t have to steal anything,” he added quickly. “What we need are bodies. Specifically, the bodies of gnoll shamans.”

“Gnoll shamans?” Lucas asked. “What use do you have for them?”

“I can’t say that as I don’t know for certain,” the man replied. “I would assume its for research, though. That’s all I can tell you.”

“What are the specifics of this mission?” I asked.

“One gold per body,” he said, “it needs to be intact enough to be studied. You can’t blow it up or damage the head. Even better if its captured alive.”

“How do you suppose we do that?” Jessica asked, albeit sarcastically.

The evident comfort the man had been feeling while steering the conversation disappeared in a flash and a bit of nervousness came back, “I don’t know, I only deliver the message. You guys can fight, that’s for you to figure out.”

“If we capture a shaman alive, how much?” I asked.

“Three gold.”

“Seems terribly low,” Lucas said, “if it was alive, then clearly we would have to smuggle said gnoll into the city, which no doubt comes with a hefty punishment.” He made a slicing motion across his neck.

“None of that will be your concern. If you can get the bodies and captives to the eastern gate before moonrise, we have men in place to take them.”

“How will we get paid?” I asked.

“I just need an address and we can deliver the gold next day,” he said.

“Not good enough,” answered Jessica. “We don’t know anything about you. You might disappear without payment. Bring the gold tonight. Bring lots of it.”

“Wait, hold up.” Richard said. “Where are we even supposed to find these shamans, and capture them for you?” It was a good question, as we had moved through the forest on our way here we had found nothing, and the plains we walked looped for eternity. Unless this dungeon world morphed its structure to follow the dynamic of our decisions, there was no way to fit a huge gnoll settlement inside the limited space we had seen.

“Ten miles east of the eastern gate you’ll start seeing gnoll patrols,” the man said.

“They’re that close?” Lucas asked.

“Right, they dare come this close,” he growled. “They’ve been moving west every year and taking more and more of the forest. You should be able to find them there. One gold per body; three gold alive. Payment on delivery. A deal can be worked out if you’re more impressive than expected and bring more than we have gold for.”

“Fair enough,” I said.

The man paused for a moment, “It goes without saying you can’t discuss this with anyone, ANYONE.”

“How will we go about reporting our battles against the gnolls for an increase in reputation then?” asked Alan. I could see that it would be valuable if we could get both gold from this mystery quest and official approval for ambushing gnolls at the same time. If we were here for any extended period of time, a reputation increase would be important, not least because I hoped for better quests.

“Usually people hand in canines,” he answered. “As for the bodies, you saw you left them on the ground. And you definitely don’t say if you bring back a gnoll to the city alive.” This time it was the man who made motion of his hand towards his neck. “Contraband like that will get you executed.”

“As of right now we don’t know if we’re allowed to venture out of the city,” I said, “we’ve only just been conscripted.”

“For that problem I cannot help you.” He said with evident disappointment, “I suggest you find out and you leave a message for Lazemus at the hall if you are able to go outside. Then we’ll know to meet you afterwards. What name will you use on your message?”

“I’m Mike,” I said.

“Leave a message for Lazemus from Mike and the subject as ‘gnolls’. I’ll be in contact.” He turned towards Jessica whom raised her bow as if she had no intention of moving. Putting his hands together, like in prayer, he silently pleaded for her to move, which, after a dozen seconds, she finally did.

“He runs like a rat,” she said, watching the man flee back down the alley.