Chapter 5
When I woke up the next morning, those letters from my mailbox were still on my chest. I hadn’t even realized I had fallen asleep, but I had mostly made up my mind about the direction I had wanted to go and now needed to sit with Coot and Bear to discuss our choices.
Even though I had set my mind on one of the professions, I still needed to talk with my boys. We all were interested in continuing to work together and that included making our skill sets complimentary.
I had never been a serious gamer and the professions seemed odd to me. Instead of picking a class and race like you would in any other role-playing game, Wicked West chose to give you an option after you got comfortable with the game mechanics.
Other than being an entirely new concept to me, I loved this. If I had chosen one of those fantasy games, like Realms of the Forever King or the 16th Edition of Dungeons and Dragons, I would have had a very difficult time choosing the thing that would define me for the next 250 levels. This method, of waiting until we were level 10 before we could choose and making it seem more like a job or career, gave us a chance to figure out how everything worked in this world, make alliances, like we had, and generally get a feel for our place in this new society, made the choices more personal.
Also, like those other RPG games, we could always buy into the other professions later if we chose. What was the word? Dual-specialties or something like that. Either way, we could pick what’s good for us and make it even better later.
These jobs also gave us abilities. Not being a fantasy game, they couldn’t just say “You studied and learned a new spell.” Instead, we had to have natural reasons for why we knew what we knew. That was why Bear was reading his books last night. He had the ability to track just about any flower or plant that we might need, but only if he knew enough information about it.
I had a feeling the other professions had books with them as well.
The letters themselves were also fairly immersive to the entire experience. A lot like the letter for when we hired Joan and got access to a permanent home location in the camp.
At level 10 you get your letters, all three of them, but then you have to decide which one to answer, but not by actually writing a letter back. As if they had all the time in the world, each of the letter’s writers was waiting at a location to meet us about the job offer. All we had to do was go to the correct location and accept. If we decided we wanted to do more than one profession, we could head to where the other two letters indicated and pay 5 gold bars.
I’ll admit, this world’s view on money was a joke. 5 gold bars wasn’t cheap, and the idea of me having to pay an employer for the opportunity to work for them made me want to write to my representative.
The first letter that I read was for Bear’s Mountain Man profession. I wasn’t planning on taking up that one, but his search for some decent THC in this backwards world had my interest piqued.
Like every document in this place, that wasn’t directly from the outside world, the letter was yellowed with age, but clear enough to read.
Hello Prospective Partner,
I write to you with an urgent opportunity to assist in cataloging the vast wilderness that we, as a people, have strayed so far from. The need is great, but the rewards could be greater still.
I'm in dire need of herbs, not just any, mind you, but specific kinds that only someone with your skill and keen eye might gather. Our survival, our very connection to this earth, depends on rediscovering the remedies nature offers. Ginseng for the gut, wild tobacco to clear the mind—these are just a taste of what’s required.
My husband, well, he needs pelts. His age keeps him from venturing into the forests and plains as he once did, but you, madam, have already shown yourself to be a capable hunter and gatherer. Between your travels and expertise, you could stand to make quite the fortune supplying us with what we need: pelts for him, herbs for me.
This venture stands to benefit us all, but most of all, you and I. If you're inclined to seize this opportunity, come find me in Saint Emile. I’ll be waiting near the shops on the East Side, close to the train tracks. Look for the woman adorned with peacock feathers—you won’t miss me.
Yours in anticipation,
Abigail Frond
The invitation wasn’t alone, though. The back of it listed the description of what benefits and totally-not-spells that being a Mountain Man would give me.
Mountain Man
Venturing deep into the heart of the wilderness, the Mountain Man is a master of the untamed frontier. You’re the one people seek when something in the forest needs tracking, whether it’s an elusive stag or a hidden trail. With your heightened senses, you can find animals and resources with ease, and your aim is steady when it counts—making you the perfect hunter.
But your talents go beyond hunting. You possess extensive knowledge of nature’s bounty, allowing you to identify herbs for healing and spices to enhance the food you prepare, giving you stronger buffs. Whether you’re cooking up a hearty stew or crafting remedies from wild plants, the wilderness is your larder.
Of course, not every encounter goes smoothly. Did you mistakenly take out the Farmer's beloved goose? Maybe a misunderstanding with his son didn’t end well? No need to fret. Your deep understanding of the natural world allows you to disappear into the environment, easily losing pursuers in the woods. But be careful—stealth is key, as even the sharpest skills aren’t foolproof.
This profession also includes periodic class rewards, providing you with the tools and perks necessary to further master the great outdoors.
It was easy to see why Bear took this when he did. He was alone when I found him in Aberdine. The hunting and gathering nature of it would keep him alive and the ability to hide from the law just by diving into the woods was almost a no-brainer.
It almost made me sad thinking about it. Mountain Man was a profession that was meant for people who played solo. Back when I was a kid, that just meant a good game with a good story, but in this parody of the afterlife it meant that he didn’t expect or want to have to rely on anyone.
Or that my stoner friend has always known what he was after.
The pattern of the rest of the letters was the same, with a letter from the ‘quest-giver’ and a request to meet somewhere along with a description of the perks and special abilities that I would receive on the back of the letter.
Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.
Dear Friend,
Word of your skills has reached my ears, and I reckon you're the sort of person we need. We’ve got a fine opportunity here in Rooster for someone capable and fearless to bring law and order to these untamed lands.
There’s no shortage of criminals who’ve forgotten what justice feels like, and I need someone with the nerve and skill to remind them. The work won’t be easy, but it’ll be rewarding, both in coin and reputation. The town needs a hand in rounding up the worst of them—dead or alive. And you, madam, seem just the kind of person who can handle that.
If you’re interested, come to the Sheriff’s Office in Rooster. Ask for me—Frank Dusharm. We’ll talk terms, settle the details, and I’ll make sure you’re properly equipped for the task ahead. Lawmen are in short supply, but that makes the pay all the better for those who answer the call.
I’ll be here waiting. Rooster’s got its fair share of problems, and we could sure use someone with your talents.
Best regards,
Sheriff Frank Dusharm
Rooster Sheriff's Office
I couldn’t deny the benefits of this job either. Especially the charm skill, which might help out my reputation stats later.
Ruthless Bounty Hunter
In a world where justice is as elusive as a shadow at dusk, the Ruthless Bounty Hunter is your best bet to track down those who have slipped through the cracks. When someone needs finding, you’re the one to get it done—whether they're dead or alive (though let’s be honest, alive pays better, even if it’s less thrilling). Your reputation precedes you, and your targets know that escaping your grasp is no easy feat.
With a natural charm that puts others at ease, you excel in persuasion. Your words carry weight, and witnesses find it hard to resist your inquiries. You’ve honed your skills to discern truth from deceit, able to sniff out a lie with a well-placed question. This keen intuition makes you a formidable interrogator, and those with secrets quickly learn that they’d better come clean.
In the heat of the chase, your aim is steady and true, allowing you to take down targets with precision when the moment calls for it. You thrive in the chaos of pursuit, turning every job into a thrilling hunt. As you carve your path through the underbelly of society, remember: the ruthless always prevail, and your skills come with the promise of periodic class rewards, sharpening your edge as you climb the ranks of the most feared bounty hunters in the West.
I found myself wondering if the tracking skills would work on someone with a Mountain Man profession and, if they did, what the limitations would be. EdtheMund2021, a friend that we had made during our first attempt to defend Easter, had the Ruthless Bounty Hunter role. If we had any questions, he would be the first person that I would ask.
Dear Aspiring Gold Miner,
I trust this letter finds you well. Allow me to introduce myself—I am Gwendolyn Harmon, a lady of some means residing in Juniper. I have a rather splendid opportunity that I believe may pique your interest, especially if you have a penchant for adventure and a keen eye for treasure.
I am seeking a skilled prospector to assist me in uncovering the gold hidden within our fair mountains. The riches that lie beneath the surface could bring prosperity not just to you, but to our entire community. However, the task requires someone with both tenacity and talent—qualities you appear to possess.
If this endeavor captures your imagination, I invite you to join me for coffee on the deck of the Juniper Hotel. I host my morning gatherings between 6 a.m. and 10 a.m., where we can discuss the finer details of the job, as well as the rewards that await.
I do hope to see you soon, as there is much to discuss, and time is of the essence in matters of gold!
Warm regards,
Gwendolyn Harmon
Juniper Hotel
The perks for the Gold Miner were selling me hard. You could know if a Bounty Hunter was tailing you just as if it was the law alert we got in our HUD when we were being chased. No matter what got chosen today by who, one of us had to have this.
Gold Digger
In a land where fortune favors the bold, the Gold Digger is the ultimate seeker of wealth, blessed with an uncanny knack for locating gold. You have an instinctive sense for the glimmer beneath the earth, allowing you to unearth treasures that others can only dream of. But be wary: with your skills comes attention, and it doesn’t take long for others to realize that you know exactly where to find the riches.
With higher payouts for jobs and quests, your ability to strike gold translates into significant rewards. You possess the coveted “Prospector’s Intuition,” a unique skill that guides you to the most promising spots to dig and reveals hidden veins of precious metal. Every expedition becomes a lucrative opportunity, and your reputation as a gold-hunting savant grows with each successful find.
However, in this world, riches come with risks. Your “Paranoia” skill heightens your awareness, alerting you when danger is near, helping you stay one step ahead of those who might want to claim your bounty for themselves. After all, no one can resist the allure of your gold. Should misfortune strike and you fall to an enemy, any gold not safely stashed in a lockbox becomes loot for the taking, making your life a constant game of cat and mouse.
Embrace the thrill of the chase and the allure of wealth, as the Gold Digger thrives in the unforgiving landscape of the Wild West, always on the lookout for the next glittering prize. Periodic class rewards enhance your skills, ensuring you remain a step ahead in both finding gold and surviving the hunt.
Coot definitely looked the part, but I was hoping that he would take the bounty hunter role. For a lot of reasons that had nothing to do, not immediately, with the money. I didn’t want any of my boys being a target. If I had the Gold Digger profession, they would only ever come after me and the boys could use me as bait or at least avenge me and get the money back.
I took a few notes as I was reading the letters, jotting down the basic skills each provided in that notebook that nobody but I could supposedly read. I didn’t buy that either, as everything here was just ones and zeroes, and I was around when internet security was first invented. You can’t fool me: the only safe place to store things is in your mind.
Well, ‘was’ instead of is, I guess. My mind is just ones and zeroes now, too.
That thought disconcerted me whenever it drifted back to the forefront of my frontal cortex and I passed out doing my best not to think about it.
I was slowing gathering the letters off of my chest as the dawn was creeping up over the hills between us and Easter.
“Get up, gran,” Winnie was suddenly beside me and she wasn’t whispering. “You’ve got to go!”
“What?” My girl had startled me so much that I had my Farmer’s Pistol in my hand beore I realized what I was doing.
Winnie eyed me with a smirk. “You’d already be dead.”
“What’s going on?”
Winnie was still smiling, but she had the manic look in her eyes that she’d get when her dad or my Tyler was getting ready to take her hunting or to some amusement park. She was excited almost to the level of panic.
“What’s going on?” She said with a heavy tone of incredulity. “It’s showtime.”
I still didn’t understand and I knew Winnie well enough to know that this was likely something good, but Then I saw Coot coming up behind her.
That’s when I remembered exactly how the dynamic might be different. Good to someone with feet still in the land of the living meant entertaining. ‘Entertaining’ for them was almost never good for us.
“We still need to pick our professions,” I said. “Those skills will help.”
Coot shook his head at me as he finished pulling up his one strap on his overalls and then began checking over his Volcanic Pistol.
“The only thing that’s going to help us is hussle,” he smiled but it didn’t make the trek all the way to his eyes. “We can talk about it later.”
Winnie spun away and started toward Horse with a bag in her hands.
I grabbed Coot’s wrist as I stood up, “What is this? What’s going on?
His face finally switched to a level of stress that matched Winnie’s level of excitement.
“Colonel Sanders is back and he’s very angry about his missing chickens.”