Chapter 10) Fully loaded. Or, True names and other dangers.

I guess she figured out pretty quick that I was going to be a while because while she was making an effort every now and then to show an interest in what I was saying, she was also checking out all of the gear sitting out and picking out a few things.

"There is a backpack on the starter shelf, as well as some baskets, pots, sacks, and what looked like a small pirate chest."

Let me check that, Focus.

[ Oak lock box and key ]

“Lock box that is. I think there’s a key inside.”

She looked around, then turned to me with a questioning look. “Starter shelf?”

I floated over towards it and bobbed up and down a bit. “I put the category on the back of the shelf in big letters but some of the stuff blocks it. What each item is I wrote down on the shelf in front of them and up on the wall above the pegs for the stuff that’s hung up.”

She nodded and took the pack down, slipping it on she seemed pleased to find the straps already set to fit her perfectly.

The nonadjustable straps.

I guess everything adjusts for the size of each person when they show up, which is really convenient.

“So ah, I didn’t get a name.”

She shot me a superstitious glance. “Call me… York.”

“Hm? Because I’m Tex?”

York slowly nodded. “True names. It seems like something I shouldn't share with a supernatural floating ball of light.”

Well… fair enough. I guess I’m going to stick with Tex from now on too.

Not everything here seems to be on the up and up.

Which is what I’m trying to get across to York, but she picks up on something else.

“From what you said, unlocking skills seems to involve just trying out the basics of doing something, does it have to be inside one of those squares you talked about?”

She didn't wait for me to answer, instead, she began to belt out a fair rendition of "The Yellow Rose of Texas."

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

I guess I had inspired her. Then she grinned. “Singing. Basic skill unlocked.”

Well, I’ll be. “Ain't that a thing. Now I got to wonder if it's only that easy in this here Tutorial Dungeon, or if you can do that once you go through one of them gates. Does unlocking a skill do something for you on the other side of the gates? Panel?"

No answer and I then had to explain to York why I called out “Panel”. Then call up the equipment panel to confirm that she can’t see my Panels at all, just hers.

To be fair I couldn’t see her either. But then she didn't get Panels, just the floating letters in the brackets.

I had sort of lost track of what all she had packed away while I was yapping, but I saw that she had cleared the starter shelf of everything I had put up there, leaving the ghostly white images of them behind for them to get “Filled up” for the next person.

As I looked around I could see white images of some of the seeds, a small pot, some rope, and other odds and ends. Most of them being pretty practical choices.

She also tried out each of the weapons, which seemed smaller than the white ghost versions still in their spots. So I’m thinking it's not just things like the backpacks that adjust to size.

In the end, she took one of the softer leather coats with all the rings sewn on, a sword with a sheath on its own belt with a cross strap to help hold up its weight, and a spear which she was going to carry in her hands.

“Before you head out, I should set up the starter monster. What do you want to fight?”

She thought it over, "Do you have a recommendation."

Hmmm… "The bunny. Its horn is supposed to be worth something so you can remove it from the body before I dismiss the remains. Either that or the slime that gives up some kind of magic rock. I doubt either one is worth all that much money, but either one might be worth more than the coins you got."

Which got me curious. “By the way, what kinda coins are in the bag, all I know is it’s a bag and its the only thing in the wealth category.”

The bag had twenty four shiny red copper coins about the size of a quarter, with an ax and a mace crossed over one of the interstate shield signs on one side, and the other side with a picture of Alice something or other’s face looking to the right with seven stars around her head.

York held one up. “This mean anything?”

Hmmm… "That maybe you just came out of a Tutorial Dungeon and might be an easy mark if you flash that around.”

Her eyes went wide. "Yeah, maybe I should get that horn and the rock. Can I fight two monsters?"

Well, isn’t she just full of ideas. “Let’s do the bunny first, then you can back out of the room and I can try to make the slime. I might only be able to put out one monster per customer."

She nodded, “Makes sense.”

First, she settled all her stuff a bit, then set off down the hall. First stop, Climbing.

As soon as she touched the wall above the ten foot wall, she grinned. “Got it.”

Then she headed over to the pool and started to strip off her gear, getting down to the point she was setting her hands on the bottom of her shirt before looking over at me with an expectant look.

What?

“Tex, do you mind?”

“Oh sorry.” I headed out. “Just out of curiosity, did they give you anything to wear under that?"

She called back out to me. "Yeah, something like a sports bra that has adjustable laces up on the sides and tie off in the front, and some undies that tie up with a string. Not great, but it works."

“Also, do you want me to get that stone ball out?”

"Yeah, can you haul it out for me?"

[ Tutorial quest granted ]

[ “Fetch the ball out of the pool” ]

[ Assign ability score to raise by one point ]

[ Muscle ]

[ Agility ]

[ Health ]

[ Mind ]

[ Wit ]

[ Charm ]

“Ah… York, you might want to hold up for a minute.”

it was curious that it was the Brackets this time and not the panels. Between this and the York seeing Brackets as well instead of Panels made me think the Brackets were the older system with Panels something a salesman had convinced management was worth upgrading too

I explained, and let her choose which one she wanted to get, which was muscle. Then as my wet stone ball rolled out of her hands…

[ Tutorial quest 1 of 3 completed ]

York gave out a triumphant yell. “Yes, now let’s do one for every ability score, then go around again.”

I sighed. “Well about that...”