004 - YOU GOTTA GET IN TO GET IN DEEP

Edge was always growing, with the Warren Dungeon situated directly beneath it and adventurers pulling out wealth day by day the economy was essentially circular and endless. And where there was endless possibility for growth, there was an insatiable need for entertainment. The Merchants, Cooks, Entertainers and all manner of non-combat classes couldn’t leave all that opportunity to languish, and so, The Down was born.

The street seemed born for a different purpose entirely when compared to its bustling, cramped reality, its streets and buildings would have been better suited to spacious residences and infrequent carriage traffic. But, such was the way of growth and commerce.

It was not quite wide enough for two wagons to pass and meandering, like a lazy river as opposed to a planned city, and yet on its banks commerce enough for a neighborhood a dozen times its size flowed and meandered. On its sides buildings crunched in together like a crowd huddling for a view of the nearly never ending parade of adventurers - garbed variously in garish colors and shining weapons and armor - apartments and inns, like squat children perched on the shoulders of their tired parents, reaching high above what the brickwork and wood should have been able to support. Along the edges and jammed against any wall without a door, colorful stands selling everything from bogus cure-all snakeoil, to grilled meat skewers, to enchanted weapons had sprouted up - and were often uprooted just as quickly - like weeds squeezing through chance fissures in the stone of the mountain.

The energy of it was astounding, but it wasn’t the first time Conrad had roamed The Down. Far from it. On his rare opportunities to get away from the homestead, he and his friends chanced the Chaos Lands to come here, to ogle the wares being hawked from every direction, to eat from one of the countless food vendors, or to get drunk and try their luck with the local girls.

But it was the first time he was here alone and with time on his side. There were plenty of todos on his list he should probably knock out first, but the thing that kept pushing its way forward in his mind wasn’t buying up materials or checking in on rumors of monster expulsions from the dungeon.

It was that hunger in Karina’s eyes as she had left. And since he had some time, why not look her up? If he couldn’t find her, he still had the rest of the list to take care of.

But finding her presented its own challenges. There was a certain distance that adventurers and non-combat classes kept between themselves, a natural division between those who sought after and took on the risk of death to make their living, and those who took the slower, safer route along Order’s Path to their own destiny. But in Edge, and especially The Down, that division wasn’t just by custom as it was in places like Conrad’s homestead - it was very nearly by law.

At every bar that catered to adventurers Conrad was turned away. The light of Assess would spark into the eye of the bouncer and he (or, occasionally, she) would hold out a hand and wave to Conrad to walk away, “NPCs don’t drink here, Merchant. Move it along.”

The insult stung. Conrad had heard it plenty of times but it was rare to have it thrown in his face while simultaneously being denied even the basic dignity of service in a bar he could absolutely afford.

The pejorative had originated in Confluence and since culture often flowed with commerce and traffic, it had made its way into Edge as well.

“Non Player Character.”

It was supposed to hurt, to frustrate non-combat classes into feeling as though they were leaving their lives and fate up to Order to decide. They weren’t really “players” in the “great game of life and death” that was the fight between Order and Chaos. All because they chose to work for a living rather than kill.

Some townspeople even tried to start their own phrase in retaliation, calling adventurers “Half Lifers” as a macabre insult of the grim reality that most of them would never reach old age and retire.

But the funny thing about trying to tease somebody who confronts death for a living is they’re too familiar with it to have any illusions about their own invincibility - or far too convinced by the illusion to be bothered. The name vanished after a few unsuccessful attempts to make it work and adventurers were just adventurers now.

Bars owned by those few former dungeon delvers who left the game before age forced them out permanently were often too proud of their old profession to drink alongside NPCs. And Conrad’s chain mail, sword, and shield weren’t enough to fool their doormen into realizing no person classed as Merchant really knew what he was doing geared up like that. But it was those bars where he felt he’d be most likely to find Karina.

And despite it all, Conrad was determined to find her. So he continued onward, trying to catch a glimpse of her in any of the windows or outdoor areas where she might be drinking that night.

But some time and many rejections later it wasn’t in a bar that he found her. It was outside. In an alleyway.

The sound of retching and the wet slap of vomit on brickwork, unwittingly, drew Conrad’s attention off the main thoroughfare. He might not have recognized her but for the ribbons in her hair that his mother had assured the woman made her look more feminine and refined. “It adds a softness to the hardness of that Berserker’s kit you’ve got that’ll keep men guessing,” she had said.

And to his mother’s credit, she had been right, but the ribbons were really putting in work to try to soften up the look of a woman finishing out her puking session by blowing excess vomit out of her nose one nostril at a time.

Conrad decided it would be best to wait a moment and let her compose herself. A few minutes later and after having swigged and swished something from a hip flask, she emerged from the alleyway with a slight smile, letting the world know she felt much better.

And then she walked right past him. Conrad had expected to catch her eye, for her to recognize him and remember how he had killed the lizardkin back in the shop, but instead she made a beeline straight for one of the bars Conrad had only just finished getting rejected by.

“Karina!” he called after her.

She stopped, turned, and looked him over. Despite the alcohol her eyes still looked bright, active, not hooded and tired like most drunks. But she showed no sign of recognition.

“Conrad,” Conrad said, “From the shop?”

Nothing.

“The shop where you got those ribbons. And that sword,” he said, gesturing to the blade slung over her back. She wasn’t wearing the armor now, instead having put it away for a more comfortable blouse that showed far more cleavage than any decent armor would allow.

“Ahhhhh!” Karina said, recognition finally dawning on her, “The one with the woman merchant who swindled me.”

He shrugged, neither confirming nor denying, “I think you mean my mother, but yeah, the one just outside the Edge node.”

“I said what I said. Talked to my band afterward,” the woman said, “They think I didn’t get half of what I was owed - you got a refund for me, swindler’s son?”

“Conrad.”

“Your mother’s a whore, Conrad,” the woman said, as a point of deliberate blunt insult.

This was going to be more difficult than he imagined. Maybe the juice wasn’t worth the squeeze… but he wasn’t one to abandon an opportunity at the first sign of resistance. Conrad invoked one of his Merchant skills, Silver Tongue, which calmed nerves and loosened up the mind, making conversation much easier.

“Couldn’t help but notice how you looked walking out of there. And I don’t mean the equipment. Or the ribbons, which, you have to admit, look pretty damn good,” Conrad said, taking a more relaxed posture.

The woman cracked a reluctant, small smile. Maybe a tad forced.

“Not a refund then? You come out here to bandy words and reassure me I’ll get a better deal on the way out?”

Conrad let the moment draw out before saying, “No. Just a drink.”

Karina cocked an eyebrow, “With you?”

Conrad wanted to remind her that she had invited him out to find her, maybe even let her know he’d spent most of the last hour searching for her, but Silver Tongue assured him that this was not the moment to try to convince her to honor an invitation that, clearly, hadn’t been as serious as he had thought it had been.

“I can’t be seen drinking with NPCs,” she said, but didn’t turn away.

She was testing him, he realized, trying to see how far he would take this and If he was bold enough to stick with his plan.

Adventurer or no, she was still a woman. And Conrad had spent plenty of time around women.

“Can’t or won’t?” he said.

Cocking a roguish smile she said, “You’re a cheeky one aren’t you. What if it’s won’t?”

“What if a Berserker turns down a free drink? I don’t think so. And if you can’t get me past the bouncer well then I guess I misjudged your…” he looked her over openly, “status.”

“You are a cheeky one,” she said and gave him a look, contemplating, “OK. One drink, but you have to buy the whole round for my band as well.”

“Sound like fun,” Conrad said. It was a starting point for negotiation, anyway. Price and what was really at stake couldn’t be discussed until the end. All good deals worked that way.

He walked forward and held his arm out for her. She rolled her eyes and took it.

“Come on then, swindler’s son, let’s see how NPCs drink.”

She led him up to the bar across from the alleyway where she had been “taking a breather”, the big sign advertising no name, but instead showing three distinct symbols: a mug of beer, a glass of wine, and a shot of spirits.

The bouncer, so eager to block him entry only minutes before, noted Karina’s arm locked in with Conrad’s and just rolled his eyes before stepping aside.

“That’s it?” Conrad said, bemused, “Huh.”

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“Not exactly a treasure vault,” Karina quipped and led him through the open door and into the flickering light of the tavern. All around them men and women drank and ate, loudly enjoying their time away from the dungeons or the Chaos Lands or nursing drinks, quietly brooding by themselves. But all of them, like Karina, were armed, armored, or both. Adventurers, it seemed, learned early not to be without weapons. Though why they felt the need to be so cautious inside a node Conrad couldn’t be sure.

He followed Karina up some stairs to the second floor which, instead of open seating, had a couple dozen small tables surrounded by wooden panels and sliding wooden doors, giving them a semblance of privacy when compared to most taverns.

His companion led him to one of them, slid it open, and gestured for him to enter. Inside two men sat in the cramped space, one burly and wearing leather armor, and the other thin, also in less worn leathers, had some visible jewelry that glowed softly with magic. Mana stones.

Conrad instinctively dashed off a quick Identify on the man’s necklace, which had a large stone, either charoite or amethyst he figured.

Amethyst Necklace of Amplification

Rarity: Rare

Description: In addition to providing additional mana, this necklace improves the effectiveness of cast spells by 25%

Mana Bonus: 25

Enchantment: Amplify

Merchant Class Bonus:

Would you like additional information?

He whistled. That had to be expensive.

“Who’s your friend, Karina? The man’s casing us before we’ve even exchanged names,” the thin necklace wearer said.

“Right. Pardon my manners,” Conrad said, attempting to recover after letting his Merchant’s curiosity get the better of him, “I’m the guy who will be buying the next round.” Karina gestured him into a place at the circular table and Conrad sat down.

“Next round?” the other, bigger man asked, “More rounds, more fun! I’m Joy.”

“Joy?” Conrad asked.

“Joy. Like the feeling,” the man said, not embodying his very feminine name at all. He was big, muscular but somewhat fat with the round innocent features of a person who has spent a lifetime not quite comprehending all the things around him. The band’s version of the village idiot, Conrad supposed.

He held out a hand and Conrad shook it firmly, feeling the strength stat of this adventurer immediately. It had to be for this, not his wits, that the band made a space for him.

“I’m Conrad,” he said, and remembering how Karina had introduced herself earlier that day he added, “Merchant.”

“Buck,” the smaller man with the necklace said, “Pyromancer.”

“Drinks first, chat later,” Karina said, signaling to the server and ordering for the whole table. She looked at Conrad who, without hesitation, produced a few copper and silver coins to pay for the round.

“So what’re you doing here?” Karina asked, sipping her drink.

“That battle out at the homestead has everybody nervous after you left, thought I’d come out and see what there is to learn about it,” Conrad replied, simply.

Buck, the pyromancer, scoffed, “More like he caught a glimpse of Karina’s…stats. And came sniffing around for more.”

“Liked her stats! Ha!” Joy, the big man in leather armor said.

Conrad was about to protest when Karina leaned forward, giving him plenty to look at, “Is that true? Did you like what you saw back there in the shop?”

Flirting was one thing, but doing it with an audience was not what Conrad had expected. He invoked Silver Tongue again to help calm his nerves and keep him from getting lock-jaw staring at what Karina was making sure he couldn’t avoid seeing.

Conrad leaned back, turned his head as if he was considering his response, then just shrugged and tacked on a smile.

The two men, Joy and Buck, laughed and raised their glasses.

“He’s bold, sure,” Buck said, “Any skills to go with those balls?”

Conrad was about to answer when Karina cut in, “He’s the son of wealthy merchants, Buck.”

“Shop’s not that -” Conrad said.

“Merchant. He did say that didn’t he,” Buck said, pensive, cutting across Conrad, “Same ones what robbed you earlier?”

“Robbed us,” Karina corrected.

Conrad held up his hands in a slow down gesture, “Be serious, friends. Nobody robbed anybody. A deal was offered and taken, and anyway, how can we be upset by all that when we’re here enjoying drinks? ”

“We are being serious. Stranger,” Buck said, voice level, “Bet a Merchant like you thinks it's just fair dealing, tricking a person into something they wouldn’t like if they knew what you knew, huh?”

“Anybody can walk away from a deal…” Conrad said, unsure now what was going on. This was quickly turning hostile and he didn’t want to start a fight thirty seconds into meeting these people. He decided now was not the time to press his defense of his mother and, well, the entire profession of sales for which he had suddenly found himself the spokesman. “But you make a good point, information can change how you feel about a deal.”

“Oh,” Buck said, nodding in mock sagacity, “You think information can do that, do ya?”

“Let’s not be too harsh on him, Buck!” Karina said, voice silky, “Truth be told, it's his mom we should be upset with. This young man travelled the Chaos lands to come out here! And come to think of it, I did invite him.”

Seizing the lifeline being tossed to him, Conrad agreed, “I was beginning to think you’d forgotten. Never hurts to make new friends.”

Something passed between Buck and Karina that Conrad couldn’t make heads or tails of, but they seemed to be getting on the same page.

“Braved the journey all by himself?” Buck mused, “Not bad.”

“But he said he’s a merchant,” Joy said, looking puzzled.

“Sure, but he’ll have other talents if he’s got the stones to take on the risk of coming out here,” Buck said, “Sure it’s only a day, but that’s one dangerous day when it’s passed in the Chaos Lands.”

“He’s got Merchant skills. That’s not fighting,” Joy said again, clearly not catching whatever was happening between the other two members of the band.

“Don’t burst your brain over it, Joy, just look at it like this,” Buck said, “A fourth member of the team.”

“Now that’s the idea I was hoping we’d get to,” Karina said, “Warren Dungeon is a dangerous place - lots of unknowns and having a fourth to back us, a fourth with skills that could come in handy since we don’t know what we might be facing. We just don’t have enough, uh…” she glanced coyly at Buck.

“Information,” Buck said, smiling.

“Information,” Karina agreed, “And Conrad here has already killed a lizardkin. Silly of me not to mention it, damn near forgot with all the other talk going on. This one is more than just a shopkeeper.”

Buck nodded in agreement, “Doesn’t surprise me. Like I said, you don’t travel the Chaos Lands on your own without skills to handle it - and gumption is a skill, not like fighting skills, Joy, but it’s a skill too!”

Conrad couldn’t believe what he was hearing. Were they seriously about to ask him to join them and delve the dungeon? This offer could be exactly the thing he needed. If they were being serious. There was something to their tones that said maybe it wasn’t a real deal. Not yet at least.

Joining this band, even for just a short term contract, could check every box on his todo list. They’d be going into the dungeon, rubbing shoulders with all the people who might know why it was that the lizardkin had attacked the homestead in force, hell, he’d be there himself and wouldn't just be taking in hearsay and rumor. He’d get the training his grandfather wanted for him, the training and experience he wanted for himself. And with the loot from the dungeon? He might even get the materials and items he needed from his Mother’s list. And a whole lot more.

“How about it, Conrad? I think, we think, you’d make a fine fourth for our merry band here,” Karina said.

Conrad could have sworn she had lost at least one more button from that blouse since she sat down.

“Join a band?” Conrad said, still puzzling over his good fortune, “Become an adventurer? I… really only came out for a drink.”

There was something about this that felt too good to be true. But, no, it wasn’t. All they were offering him was a chance to join them in the dungeon - something he wanted already. The thing that made it feel out of reach was that his grandfather had said this exact situation wasn’t something he should expect from experienced adventurers.

Maybe things had changed since his days in the dungeon. Or maybe they really meant it - maybe a Merchant’s skills could help them make their dives more profitable. That much, at least, was a certainty.

Karina waggled a finger at him, “You’ve got potential, that was plain enough back in the shop. Why waste it behind a counter? You’ve probably already mastered your class, what’s the point in staying where you can’t grow?”

She had a point. Conrad hadn’t learned every Merchant skill but the ones he had were all proficiency level four or maxed out at level five.

“But he’s a Merchant,” Joy said again, still seeming confused.

“Joy shut up a minute and listen to what we’re saying,” Buck admonished.

“It will take some coin though,” Karina said, seeming to think out loud, “Armor, weapons, training, likely some tomes to give him a leg up if we can get them. Not to mention fees for running the dungeon.”

There it was, the time to haggle had arrived and so Conrad’s position depended on his ability to sell his value - or buy his spot. He preferred the former, but knew he didn’t have a ton of firm ground to stand on. But that was just how dealing worked - shine up what you’ve got to get the other guy to value it enough to make the deal profitable for you.

“Dungeon runs would be much more profitable if I came along. There’s an ebb and flow to what sells well in this town and I’ve got skills, Market Sense in particular, which can help us choose what’s worth bringing out. Most adventurers end up piling up items they can’t sell. Not to mention my family running a shop and my other dealing skills… market or no, we could get better prices for any gear we find.”

“See what I mean!” Karina said, “We’ll need somebody with a brain like yours too. Joy here is practically dumb as a rock-”

“Hey!” Joy said, looking hurt.

“And I’m not much better. Best we could do is Buck but he doesn’t have a head for trading or sums like you’ve no doubt got.”

Buck nodded agreement and added, “Not going to be cheap though. There’s contract fees too, on top of what Karina already said.”

“Let’s make these prices concrete,” Conrad said, ready to get into the math of it all, “and see if we can’t find something reasonable.”

Buck laid out a litany of small expenses, from contract creation, “Common for temporary band additions” to guild registration, dungeon entrance taxes collected by the city, exit taxes for goods extracted, on and on. Conrad took note of all of it, mentally keeping tally.

“Normally,” Buck said, “we’d front you all this and you’d pay it back, but from what I understand Karina lost most of what we had on hand picking up her new shinies.”

“Your mom really stuck it to me. Kinda left us in a lurch,” Karina said.

“How long are we thinking for the duration of the contract?” Conrad asked.

“Why don’t we keep it open ended?” Karina said, “See how we mesh down there before we put a firm date on it.”

Buck nodded, “Works for me. We could really use your skills.”

“Why not?” said Joy, still clearly confused.

“We can definitely make this work,” Conrad said. This was it, this was the moment he quit being an NPC and took control of his life. It was time to play the game.

“We’ve got a small stack of expenses tallied already. How much more do we need to get me started?”