Xander sat on a bench on the first level of the village, looking toward the gorge and the lake. Earlier this afternoon, they had a long discussion about their immediate future. They had spent some time in the streets, going from one shop to another, buying new clothes, refitting their armor up to standards, and seeing to their weapons. They added to these sundries and other things that made life easier. All told they weren't poor yet. Xander had wondered why everything cost so much and got his answer pretty quickly. Taxes. 50% of the price of everything went to the village. The Senior Guardswoman had forewarned them but just hadn't told them how much that would amount to. And besides, they weren't good hagglers, and it seemed it was a skill locals practiced with gusto.
Just like that, they had spent half of their remaining money, as Takeo needed a bit more of everything. Lodging would cost them a thousand a week, eating probably just as much, even if they could get away with a bit less should they choose to eat rations instead. Then there was the maintenance of their gear. Give or take, that made for another thousand a week. If they just sat on their asses, they would be broke in two weeks. Being a Pather was expensive. Neither Xander nor Connor had thought about this before. Their Master had probably mentioned this, but they had been too young to understand. And they had been living in a village, so they hadn't had to pay for anything. Now, they were in the real world, and they had to make a living.
He remembered fondly the time with Connor, as they were chasing the undercity's streets for rodents, cleaning houses, and scrapping roads. All this for a few Orbs. It hadn't been fun, but it had been a good time. Here kids did seem to have a fancy life. He had witnessed a strange custom, an improvised event of sorts, where two kids went at it, but not with their fists, they had used these little slimes instead. It had been fun to watch, violent, but ultimately harmless. He wondered what these would do later to earn an extra Orb.
Connor was already chasing teachers, be they Soul Master, or Crafters. He had his plate full already. And Takeo... well he had his timed bomb ticking and a lot of work to do in the interim. Xander was the only one that could truly work. Besides, it would be a good experience for him. "Two weeks," he said to the sky, looking up. Well, it wasn't a death sentence, of course. He had had a cursory look at the Job Boards. There were standing orders for many items that would be bought at a premium. So scrapping by would work. But that wasn't what he wanted. He had seen many Job opportunities, hunting for specific beasts, gathering well-hidden plants, finding rare ores, and so on. Jobs that required a team. And only a few that could be done alone. He had to find a team.
His Reading, thankfully, hadn't revealed a major obstacle in his Path. Had he had Takeo's Efficiency, where every Orbs in Strength and Constitution could only bring him 80% of their benefits, then it would have been a major handicap. Luckily, the Lady had seen fit to give him extra efficiency to all his physical attributes along with his Charisma, of all things. But then again, none of his efficiencies had gone above 105% or below 95%. Takeo's numbers were... unheard of. Who has more than ten, let alone thirty in Luck? he let the thought go. It ultimately didn't matter to him, if anything it was his good fortune just as much as Takeo's, so long they were in the same team. It was then with a light heart that he upgraded his Seal with a few Orbs in his physical attributes, and a few more in Wisdom, as it was known to increase the capacity to read into their opponent's behavior. It ate into their cash, but it was for a good cause.
He knew from his Master's teaching that Qi Master could affect some of their attributes, mostly the physical ones, either directly, or by increasing their efficacity. For him, it still remained a mystery and he hoped that he'd solve that one sooner rather than later. Right now, most of his physicals were almost at 40, which was a really good score. He only had four slots left, and he had to be careful with his spending. He definitely wanted to add one Jumping Orb in there, because it would compound with his Qi Mastery. But he also wanted to add a few Qi and Mana Orb, and his seal would soon be full and he'd be stuck with these forever.
All his standard Orbs were already Bright, giving him 5 more points. Energy ones were a bit less straightforward in how they worked, but he'd need to upgrade them as well. Upgrading from Bright to Luminous was both a money sink and a question of opportunity. Dame Tanagi had told them that she hadn't the means to do it herself, but the next Haven had such a Fuser, but he was pricing his services at a premium.
Still, one could dream, it would put his strength at 65. A massive number. Already at 40, he could probably wrestle with anything up to a ton. He'd seen his Master do it, once, taking a rumbling stone monster that had chased them during their training. He hadn't even needed to pull out his sword, just his bare hands and a knee. Of course, he had the matching skills to go with it, but it had remained a sight to behold.
And then, he could have 1000 in Strength, but that didn't mean he could use it. It was another teaching from their Master, "Numbers are fine. But they are just that, numbers. They are a potential. You have to work to make them a reality." He had then proceeded to show them his training exercise, to get acquainted with his overbearing strength. He had taken a boulder, and he then put his index finger against it. "I have 55 points in Strength, boys," he said in his gruff voice. "What do you think will happen if I push?" he asked them.
Xander had been the first to answer, "It will break, Master." He had been so sure of himself.
His Master chuckled, "You think so? Well, let's see." He had then pushed, and the boulder had moved. "See? It didn't break. It moved. Now, what do you think will happen if I push again?" he had asked them. He hadn't changed his stance, his finger was still against the boulder. He didn't wait for an answer. And he pushed. The stone didn't explode. His finger just went through as if it was butter. He moved his finger to the side and tried again. This time the whole boulder fractured.
"Physics is a funny thing in front of our Strength," he had said. "Otherwise, I would just crumble the ground wherever I walk, and wouldn't that be a sight?" He had chuckled. "You'll get to experience that, one day."
Xander remembered the scene fondly and was reminded how long the Path was. He wasn't yet to the level of his Master, but just sitting on his bench should have destroyed it outright with the mighty power of his ass falling down. He chuckled at the idea, chasing his foul mood away.
He stood up and walked toward the Job Board and its adjoining booths. While he had seen interesting offers, he hadn't paid much attention to details, like the pay. Or how it was handled. At this time of the day, the clerks were idly chatting together. So he went to the first one and asked, "Excuse me, I'm Xander, nice to meet you." He bowed slightly, "Could you explain to me how the Job Boards work? I am new to the village."
"Oh, a polite one, these are getting rare, aren't they Sally?" chuckled the man in the other booth.
"Shush, Robby," Sally looked toward Xander with a smile. "Allow me then to welcome you to the Village, then. I'm Sally, and this boorish excuse for a man is Robby." She was an older woman, of course clearly not at the same level as the Elder. But she sported a few wrinkles that didn't remove any of her charms. Just like all employees of the Inn, she bore the same uniform, a dark blue waistcoat with white embroidery, and a white shirt underneath. She had made her dark hair into a stylish bun, and her eyes were of a darker shade as well. Green or brown, Xander couldn't tell.
"It is honestly quite simple, anyone can come here and post a job, so long they are in good standing with our office." At which Robby snickered. "Jobs displayed on hardwood tablets are long-standing order, with a fixed rate, offered by the Village." She pointed toward the Job Board. "But, keep in mind that they come with a quota, and thus if it has already been completed this week, then no luck to you."
Robby interjected into the explanation, "Usually, only a few teams work on these, and they arrange among themselves to share the quota. They meet up at the end of the week, so if you want to join the fun, be there that day. Because they don't like interlopers." While Sally was slim, Robby was a bit on the heavy side. He had a round face and his hair was both graying and thinning. He had a few wrinkles as well, along with a bunch of old scars that marred his face. Strange fact, he had a little Blurb on his shoulder. It was a small hairy one, with a little horn on its head. It was sleeping, and snoring bubblily.
"That's three days from now right?" Xander asked. Timekeeping was also a chore. Each Realm had its own calendar and way to keep track of days and weeks. The village was no different. They had a ten-day week, four weeks a month, and ten months a year. The moon changed every month, and the current one was the third. The oddest of course was the day. It was divided into three parts, namely the morning, the day itself, and the evening. The first and the last were mostly equal in length at about three hours. It corresponded to the time the sun wasn't visible, as it was behind the mountains. The day itself was the time the sun was visible, and it was about ten hours long. The night was also about ten hours long, with either a blue or green moon, and sometimes both - an ill omen, apparently.
Robby just nodded, and Sally continued her explanation. "The other jobs are posted on paper, and they are usually one-time jobs. But they can be renewed. Or even have a quota, just like the wooden one." She waved her hand toward the Job Board. "The pay is usually better. Some have time limits, so pay attention." She made a slight pause, "Also if there is a red seal on the paper, it means that the job is known to be dangerous. You are to be vetted by the Guards if you want to take such jobs."
Her booth companion added his own wisdom, a bit serious this time, "Those are mostly Dungeon-related Jobs. The first few levels are alright for most Pathers that know their end of a sword, of course, but you won't find Jobs for these levels. It's easier to get those outside. Don't go get yourself killed."
"The Village won't attempt to recover your body, nor pay for funeral," completed Sally. "So be careful. If you want to take a Job, just take the paper and bring it to me. I'll register you and give you a copy. If the Job's description isn't sufficient, you can then go to the Job's owner and discuss the details."
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"All jobs must be completable in a day. If you don't complete it by the end of the day, you get a fine." Robby added. "Do that too many times, and you'll be barred from the Job Board for a week." He chuckled, "Who did your introduction? 'Or else, you get the sword?' Does it ring a bell?" he guffawed.
"Don't scare him like that, Robby," Sally scolded him. She turned toward Xander, "Joke aside, he is right. It won't end up with a death sentence, but expulsion already happened a few times." She sighed, "It's a shame, really. But we can't have people taking jobs and not completing them. It's bad for business."
Xander didn't know what to think of their duo, but he got the gist of it, "I understand. Thank you for your explanations. Let's say I want to take a Job, but it would require a team to complete it. How do I go about it?"
Robby answered, "Well, that's your job, isn't it? You have to find a team. You can ask around, either in the evening or the morning." He pointed toward the bar counter, "See over there, there is a stack of colored sticks. When someone is looking for people, they will take one, stick it on a table where they sit and it will glow lightly. You can then go and talk to them."
"Bob set that in place because he was tired of people bellowing in the Inn," Sally explained, "Or asking HIM to find them a team. There are three color, Red for people that fight, Brown for people that defends, and Blue for the rest." She smiled, "It's customary to come with a drink," she added with a wink.
Seems simple enough. I'll see what I find. Xander bowed slightly, "Thank you for your time and explanations."
"Anytime," Sally answered. "Come back if you have any questions."
Robby just waved his hand, "Yeah, yeah, come back if you have any questions."
Xander left the two to their gossiping and went to the Job Board. Nothing made much sense at the moment. Most plants and beasts were just names to him. He had no idea what they looked like, where to find them, or how to fight them. Maybe I should seek out if there are some pamphlets or guidebooks about the local fauna and flora. His musing was interrupted by a voice.
"XANDER!" Emma shouted, "How are YOU doing!" She was running toward him, her arms wide open, and took him into a bear hug. She was wearing a simple dress, and her green hair was tied in a ponytail. She smelled oddly good. A couple of chuckles followed her, as she was making a scene.
Xander immediately turned several shades redder. Oh no, not again. He had been caught off guard by her hug, and thrown into another loop when she released him with a peck on the cheek. What is she doing? He was at a loss. He had no idea what to do. He had never been in such a situation before.
Emma was smiling, "I'm so happy to see you again. I was so sad you left this morning without saying goodbye." She pouted, "I thought we were friends!"
Xander was still trying to process what had happened. He had been hugged, kissed, and called a friend. What is going on? He was still red, and he was sure he was sweating. "Emma." A warning growl came from the other side of the room.
Emma turned toward the source of the sound, "What Boss? I'm just saying hello to Xander. And I'm not in my uniform, so it's fine." She turned back toward Xander, "It's fine, right?" she asked him, pleading with her eyes.
His brain was melting in overload. "I-I-..." but he couldn't get any word to come out of his mouth. And she somehow took that for a "Yes."
"SEE? It's fine," she shouted back and gripped his arm firmly. "So, you're looking for a job?" she asked, "Are you going alone? Or your friends are coming too? Is there a room for little me in your group?" She was talking fast, and Xander was still trying to catch up with the current situation.
"You have got a job already..." growled Bob, "And you're going to be late soon. You know what I think of tardiness, right?" He was standing behind the bar, his arms crossed, and his eyes were glaring at Emma.
She pouted and stuck her tongue out at him, eliciting another wave of laughter from the clerks. "I'm not late yet, Boss." She turned toward Xander, "I'm sorry, I have to go. But I'll see you later, right?" She winked at him, gave him another peck, and ran toward the kitchen.
"And you, boy, keep your hands to yourself," Bob growled some more, "Or we will exchange a few Words."
Xander was... Or maybe Xander wasn't anymore.
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As the new guy in town, Xander was both attractive to prospecting teams and shunned. He had no reputation and little experience. He looked young, and he honestly was. And thus it went. He would approach a table with a red or blue stick glowing, with an ale or two in hand. He would be cheerfully greeted, and a few words would be exchanged.
"Hey, I'm Xander, nice to meet you. I'm looking for a team to join, bla bla bla." he would say. By the fifth time, he had trouble to muster conviction.
His interlocutor would then smile at him, and ask one of those questions: "How long have you been on the Path?", "How many Haven have you been to?", "Have you already completed a Dungeon?", and so on.
Xander would answer truthfully, and the smile would fade. "Sorry, we're looking for someone with more experience." or "Sorry, we're looking for someone with more Haven under their belt." or "Sorry, we're looking for someone with more Dungeon experience." and so on.
Smoldering embers of frustration were building up in Xander's chest. He had been at it for an hour or two already. Out of the ten teams he had met that evening, nine had turned him down. He would have been beginning to entertain the idea of going solo if it wasn't for that one ray of light. They hadn't given him straight approval, but they hadn't turned him down completely either. They had asked him to come back the next day, and they would see him in the fields. Drawing on the Connor in him, he guessed that either they were going to rob him, or they were going to test him. He hoped for the latter. Guards would only intervene if anything happened within the bounds of the village after all, so it could be possible.
He found his way outside, his prospection finished for the evening. He wasn't happy with the result of the evening, it had been a bit of a letdown. He had expected to find a team easily, but it seemed that he was wrong. Now in the fresh air of the night, and a bit of a distance from the Inn, he could think more clearly. And he could somewhat understand their reluctance. Being young, without experience meant he also was untested and a liability. So he had to prove himself.
He walked up the main street, going up onto the Plateau. He was greeted by the four Guardsmen on watch, but they left him alone, and they were bundled around a large fire. He was still in civilian clothes and didn't even have his weapon on hand. So there was no way he would get any further than there tonight. The common Jobs at the board, set by the Village were easier tasks and required less experience. Some of those, he could even do by himself. If things didn't work out, he would have to take one of those. In the meantime, he would have to train.
Besides, he NEEDED to train. Just like his friends, he was an Ascender, albeit one with no experience. He sighed. At least compared to Connor's Guide, his was relatively easy to follow. For the martial part of his teaching at least, as his Master's forms weren't so different from his Guide's. But his work on the Qi side was left to be desired. He could rotate his Qi, but further than that, the Guide had been cryptic. That it couldn't truly communicate with him was a pain and a half.
"What's got you there brooding?" asked a gruff voice. "Come here by the fire, we won't bite." It was one of the Guardsmen, and the others faintly laughed at his words. Only two were currently facing the fire, the others were looking toward the fields, their backs to the fire. With their full-body armor on in the night, they were a bit intimidating.
Xander walked toward the fire and sat on a bench. "I'm not brooding," he answered a bit defensively. "I'm just thinking. And I'm Xander, you are?"
"An old man, that's what I am," he chuckled. "And a bit bored too, but the night is still young, so there is hope." He stayed silent then for a few moments. Xander was glad to be by the fire and just basked in its warmth. "So, what's the village's newest sweetheart doing out here, alone, at this time of the night?"
Xander was taken aback by the comment, "Sweetheart?" he asked, bewildered. "Where does that come from?"
"Hey, I'm not one to gossip, you know," he waved the question away. "Besides, how many people do you think there are in this village? Words travel fast, and you are the new attraction in town. The last group of Pathers that came here was a few weeks ago." He add with a smirk that could still be heard, "And they were a bunch of old farts, so you are a breath of fresh air."
The last group came here a few weeks ago? Xander thought. How remote is this place? While he wasn't keeping track of the Pathers in Sandford, because, well, he wasn't allowed in the Pathers sections of the undercity. But he knew that they arrived and departed daily. His interest was piqued, but pelleting the Guardsman with questions didn't seem like a good idea. "I don't know, maybe five or six thousand?" he answered. It was honestly a hard question to answer, how could you count the number of people in a village?
That elicited another round of soft guffaws from the guards. "Nay, not even close, boy. There are a thousand Residents in the village, and about as many Pathers." He chortled, "Now you get it, don't you?"
Yes, he could easily see how they were the new attraction in town. He hadn't quite realized how small the village was, nor the attention that was on them. It would also explain Emma's behavior, somewhat. She was still weird, of course, and excessively friendly. "I see," he softly answered. It clearly wasn't what he had been pondering about when he came up there, but it got him a bit out of his flunk. But it came back quickly enough with a vengeance. He sighed, How am I going to find a team, with people as experienced as I am to tackle easy Jobs if there are so few Pathers in the village?
"Hey, don't be so down," the Guardsman said. "You'll find a team, don't worry."
Am I so transparent? Xander thought again with dismay. "How do you-", he started, but switched to another question, "I need to get to know the Valley without getting myself killed. Do you have any advice?"
"Ah, now that's a good question, isn't it guys?" he asked his companions, but they didn't offer any opinion. "You should be fine on the bottom level by the Lake. Most kids, unSealed even, can go there. Not in the water, of course, those are deadly." After a slight pause, he continued. "The first Plateau is a bit more dangerous, but you'll find monsters alone or in pairs, so you should be fine. Beginning from the second Plateau and up, beasts will come in groups and they will be more dangerous. But I guess you should know that already, right?" he guffawed softly.
Xander was about to ask another question but the old Guardsman interrupted him. "Now, the Valley has several regions, and each has its own dangers. The Fields, the Rivers, the Jungle, the Mountains, the Lake, the Purple Forest, and last but certainly not the least, The Rift." He pointed absentmindedly toward the east, "Just don't go there alone, alright? It's a death sentence."
The young swordsman remembered he had seen some of those names in the Job Board, the Rift especially came back often. "What's the Rift?" he asked.
His interlocutor sighed, a bit regretfully. "Of course, you'd be interested in this one," he sighed. "Some say it's a Dungeon, but it's not. The third Elder, that's way back for your information, we are at the thirteenth. Anyway, he was a bit of a madman and went overboard when dealing with... honestly we don't know. But he cleaved the Eastern Mountain in two. And now there is a massive chasm there we call the Rift. It's filled with mighty bugs and other nasty things. That's where our armor comes from, by the way. But it's a dangerous place, and you shouldn't go there alone."
Xander nodded, "I see. Thank you for your advice." He stood up, "I should go back to the Inn, I have a long day tomorrow."
He waved his concern away, "Don't worry about it, boy. Truly, if you want to know what's around here, you should ask the Pathers, they love to boast about their exploits. Also, as a freebee, if you have some money to spare, just go to the Inn, and put in a Job offer to show you around. You'll get a few takers, just for the change of pace."