Dunstun chuckled, “Obviously you are friends. Let me take these from you and get them altered to your liking.” He took the sets of clothes and started to measure the men before he applied needle and thread to the garments. “Did you arrive with all the other new comers today?”
Dumadin nodded, “Yes but this place feels like a second home to us. We’ve visited each shop in town and purchased fine wares from each. Speaking of, Camelia said you might have something we could help with.”
Dunstun glanced up and seemed to measure them before chewing his lip. “It is a trivial matter really, but if you would like to help. There is an old man living to the north in a cabin, name of Smee. He has a package for the merchants here in town. If you would be so kind as to retrieve it for us.”
Quest: Smee's package.
Collect the package from Smee and deliver it to Dunstun.
Rewards: Increased rep with Stoutbank.
Bonus reward: Deliver the package within six days and get bonus reputation.
Dumadin accepted the quest with a quirk of his lips, as it wasn't the quest he had thought it would be. “We would be happy to help, Dunstun. We shall be leaving a bit later as we still need to stop by the Lonely Wood Inn.”
Dunstun handed back the altered garments, “That will be fine. Is there anything else I can do for you?”
Kittish came out of the back with Amythyst, having already changed into the new silks. “We have a few odds and ends to add to the order,” Kittish said and held up a number of silken strips of multiple colors.
Dunstun chuckled and nodded to Dumadin, “Dumadin has already paid for the clothes and the extras. Let me just get your change,” Dunstun finished, reaching for his coin pouch.
Dumadin interrupted him, “Keep the change, Dunstun. We’ll be back with the package as soon as we can. Let's hit the inn real quick then head out, guys.”
The group said their goodbyes and exited the shop right after Dumadin and Terets changed. Heading over to the inn, Terets spoke up. “We didn't introduce ourselves to the shopkeepers. We forgot you have to tell them your names or they won't use them.”
Kittish frowned but nodded as something was tickling at the back of her mind but she couldn't recall what it was. “Only one quest, and that a simple fetch quest. Maybe Bjorn will have another for us. Hopefully.”
Dumadin nodded, “That would be good. If nothing else, I also want to head to Thallien's cave and burn a little incense to his memory.”
Traveling North
The group noticed the town had largely emptied out by the time they got to the Lonely Wood Inn. They chalked it up to many of the players rushing out to start exploring or doing a quest they had snagged at the start.
As they entered the inn they found it still mostly full of new players. Most of them seemed to be trying to find people to group up with to make the trip to Veno. Making their way to the bar, they found Bjorn and Tabitha both serving people.
“Greetings Bjorn, is business good today?” Dumadin asked with a smile.
Bjorn looked over at the group and smiled, “Aye it is indeed. No food orders, but drinks here or there. What can I do for you folks?”
Amythyst dimpled at him, “A mug of mead for each of us, Bjorn. If you could arrange a meal to take with us as well we would be more than happy to meet your price.”
Tabitha smiled at Amythyst, “I'll go get started on the food. Take care of the drinks while I do so, husband.” As she went into the back she gave Bjorn a light kiss on top of his head.
“I see I am not the only dwarf with a taste for tall women.” Dumadin snagged Kittish in a hug as he spoke. “How long have you two been together?”
“Oh, not long. A little over a month now and she is one of the best things that ever happened to me.” Bjorn said with a smile in the direction of the kitchen. “Have you married the lass next to you?”
Dumadin laughed, “Nay. Kittish and myself have a long standing agreement not to marry. Been together for many years and never had the desire to tie a knot.”
Kittish touched Dumadin's helm with the proprietary air of a proud animal owner. “It took me many years to train Dumadin but I think I finally have him house broken.”
Terets and Amythyst laughed at the couple’s usual banter, “Point to Kittish.”
Bjorn looked a little lost for a second then chuckled, “Ah, an old jest between lovers. I hope one day me and Tabitha can be so comfortable with each other. What of you two?”
Amythyst blushed, “No, that is to say not yet. We have only recently found each other and are still learning our peculiarities. Though one day we might.”
Terets just grinned, “I have hope that we might join into a union such as Tabitha and you have, Bjorn. For now though we are with each other every day and making sure we can coexist.”
Bjorn nodded, “A smart plan, that. It took me years to work up the nerve to ask Tabitha for her hand. Less than half a year later we were married. Thanks to a group of friends who risked life and limb to retrieve valuable items for me.” Small smiles flitted across the group’s faces as he finished speaking.
Finishing the mead Bjorn had given them while they had talked, Dumadin asked the question that brought them into the inn. “We are about to head north to pick up a package from Smee. We wonder, since we are heading that way, if there is anything we can do for you?”
Bjorn studied them for a moment then his brow furrowed as he took in the shield on Dumadin's back. “May I see your shield for a moment please Dumadin?” Dumadin handed it over puzzled, watching as Bjorn examined it with care before handing it back and wiping away a tear that formed at his eye. “I didn't know you had encountered my friend Thallien.”
“We did him a few favors some months back,” Dumadin said putting the shield onto his back again.
Bjorn exuded sadness as he spoke, “Well then, it is my sad duty to break the news. Thallien passed away not long ago. I keep meaning to go to his old cave and offer up an offering where his body was cremated. I haven't been able to get up there with all the business and it doesn't look like I will have time any time soon. Maybe you can take up an offering and burn it in my stead.”
Quest: Thallien remembered.
Burn Bjorn's offering in memory of Thallien at Thallien's cave.
Reward: Increased rep with Stoutbank and bonus rep with Bjorn.
Dumadin accepted the quest with a grave expression. “It would be our honor to pay him respects for you, Bjorn. We shall offer our own as well. We didn't know him long or as well as you but he was a good man. Please, a round for the house in his name.” Dumadin placed ten gold on the counter.
Bjorn looked at the gold and shook his head, “Take it back, lad. I shall pour a round for everyone here but I won't take coin for it.” Dumadin accepted the coin back as Bjorn made up shots for all the people in the inn. “Folks, come and collect a glass, we have a toast.” Once everyone had a glass he continued, “To my friend Thallien, who has gone beyond the veil before us. May he have found Bettie waiting for him along with the peace he deserves.”
The crowd saluted with Thallien's name and downed the shots. Tabitha came out a moment later as other players came over to talk with Bjorn and handed the group a package of food. “Here is the food you ordered. Did I hear right, you are going to honor Thallien?”
Kittish spoke up for the group as Amythyst dug out a few gold to cover the mead and food. “Yes. We will take Bjorn's offering and burn it at Thallien's cave along with our own.”
Tabitha waved the gold back to Amythyst, “Then this food is on us. Bjorn has been very worried he wouldn't be able to make an offering to his friend. Let me go grab the package. I will be right back.”
The group watched her flee toward the back of the inn where Bjorn's room was. She came back a minute later with a tightly wrapped cloth bundle. “Our thanks to you, adventurers,” she paused and kissed the cheek of each of the four in turn. She then rejoined her husband who thanked them again as the group turned and left
the inn.
“Well I guess that answers a few questions,” Terets mused. “The quests we did before seem to have not been reset. Instead the game is generating new quests while keeping everything that happened done. It's too bad they didn't remember us.”
Amythyst sighed and hugged Terets before the group summoned their mounts. “Not sure that would be fair to all the new players. We would have a number of unique achievements if that was the case.”
Dumadin shrugged, “Meh. They could have joined beta and strove as hard as we did. Oh well, we’ll have to take what we can get.”
The group mounted up and started north towards Smee's cabin and Thallien's cave. The first hour was peaceful and quiet for the most part. The only excitement was watching the new players fighting some rabbits just outside of town.
After the hour Kittish dismounted and put her figurine away, “Woodsage, time to walk again.”
The others also dismounted and stowed their figures. Once that was done Terets vanished and the other two followed Kittish over to the herb, just in case. A few minutes after she picked it the group let out a collective chuckle and Terets reappeared.
“Looks like the bug of always being attacked on the first node is done.” Dumadin chuckled but kept his shield and hammer ready.
“Good, I hate being the meat snack for random mobs,” Terets said and put his swords away and got his bow ready.
Kittish chuckled, “But the little squeaks are so cute.”
“He doesn't always make those sounds,” Amythyst said with a blank face belying her amusement.
Terets blushed and shook his head, “You two are corrupting her. Come on, let’s keep moving.” The other three all laughing followed along after him.
A minute later Terets, who was in the lead, stopped and drew his bow, an arrow appearing as the string went taut. The others paused, tracking his point of aim and noticed the Aggressive Wolf laying partially hidden in some brush.
Kittish started to cast Chain Lightning as Terets loosed the arrow. The wolf jumped up with a snarl as the arrow sunk into its right shoulder, then whimpered and fell over as the spell killed it.
“Well that was way easier than beta,” Terets said as he put his bow on his back and drew out his skinning knife, advancing on the body.
Dumadin smirked and chuckled, “Our weapons are doing at least double the damage. So it's not really surprising that the wolves here are going to basically drop dead after two hits.”
Amythyst nodded, “He is right, even without a backstab or a critical they won't last long. Makes me think we could maybe pull off the “You're a special kind of...” achievement again.”
Kittish nodded, “We can ask Smee see if he knows of one close to his cabin. That's still all of today and tomorrow getting to him, though.”
The group started moving again when Dumadin got a whisper from Felton. “Hey man, me and Emilia made it in finally. Our ISP was having issues. I got a text from Gabriel just before we logged on, he and Samantha will be on tomorrow and ready to start getting the coin to head your way. He is really geeked over the castle. Have you set it up yet?”
“Not yet, still deciding on which spot I want to drop it at. Either near Stoutbank or near Thallien's cave will be the choice but not sure which yet. You going to go through the crafting stuff you did previously first?”
“Yeah, Emelia is about to go buy some upgraded gear with the gold from the Carnival then head out to find me some ore. I need to visit the weapon smith and get the best crafting kit I can. Then we’ll see if I can grind through the crafting line quickly. Too bad they aren't offering in game currency up for sale yet. If they had I would have dropped some to get more crafting mats right off the bat.”
Dumadin chuckled, “That and housing I think is why they didn't. Once I get the castle set up I'll let you know. Have fun you two and see you once I get things set.”
After goodbyes Dumadin filled in the group on what Felton had told them. He paused as he got a friend request from Garthur and chuckled before accepting it and getting an immediate whisper. “Hey David, it's Gabriel.”
Laughing over the link Dumadin replied, “A little obvious man we all used our old names. You always loved your special take on that name. Make sure Samantha throws us all friend requests as well as you tagging the others. Oh and Amythyst is the name of Will's lady who is here with us in game. Just in case we didn't tell you during the wake.”
“Already tossing invites to you guys and Felton. Wanted to let you know we’ll be doing what we can to raise the coin for a teleport to Veno. We’ll let you know when we have it ready. And the wife says we won't be doing the full twelve hours of game play that you are. Heh, we shall see if we can sway her though. She’s loving the immersion already.”
Dumadin shook his head, “Don't upset her or she might just yank the plug entirely. Just let us know when and we’ll try to be there to greet you.”
Dumadin filled the group in again when the conversation ended. “Same old Garthur. I would bet he is playing a tank as well. Man really loved his paladin in WoW. I wonder what his wife made?”
Terets chuckled, “Probably talked her into a taking healing spell at first, knowing him. I wish him the best on converting her, though. We all know she doesn't really love games the way we all do. Then again, this is more a second reality than a game in some ways.”
Amythyst hugged Terets as they walked, “Yes it is. I am glad for that as well.”
As Kittish stopped for another flower a flash of light happened just behind them. Turning, they found Jazzy there. “Hello you four. I just wanted to stop in real fast and talk with Amythyst.”
Amythyst ran over and gave Jazzy a hug, “Heya, sis. I take it you got my email last night.”
Jazzy nodded and returned the hug, “Yeah. Little surprised that you about faced so suddenly though, so wanted to make sure you were okay.”
Amythyst nodded, “I'm fine. It's as I said in the email, with everything going on waiting for three months or so before I visit you in New York would be best.”
“That really is for the best. We’ve been swamped with issues so far. Mostly its people thinking this is a standard MMORPG and complaining they have to actually attack the monster instead of just clicking buttons in a hotbar.” Jazzy rolled her eyes with a smile, “Next they’ll complain there aren't add-ons to tell them when a named boss or unique creature is going to do a special attack.”
Dumadin laughed, “Isn't that always the way? Even if they did get those they would then complain the fights were too easy. Of course the fights are easier when you have something that points in the direction you need to run a few seconds before the attack hits.”
Jazzy giggled, “Right. Anyway I just wanted to make sure everything was okay and tell you it was a good idea. I need to run before Pavel throws another fit about the number of complaints. I will talk with you all later. Have you set up your castle yet?”
Shaking his head Dumadin replied, “Not yet. Was debating to set it up near Thallien's cave in his memory or near Stoutbank so we have a town close at hand. Was going to ask these three when we got together for food later. Probably be close a week either way, though.”
Jazzy eyed their armor and gear, “Well keep some cash to get furniture and such. You are going to have to buy it from a carpenter. Every major city has one so Veno would be your closest bet.”
Terets frowned, “How does one transport it?”
“Like the blue prints for a house. You buy the schematic and then place it in the house and poof there it is. Once it is placed in a dwelling it can be moved around inside at will but can't be taken from the dwelling.” Jazzy answered him with a small laugh.
“Making a small money sink if people want to upgrade or downgrade houses,” Kittish said.
Jazzy nodded, “Larry was set on having a downside. The plus side is none of it degrades, we fought over that but eventually he conceded to me.”
Amythyst giggled, “That would have been amusing as hell
to watch. Was the fight at his pizza parlor dev space?”
Jazzy rolled her eyes, “Yes. He rarely leaves there if he can help it. Though I did sneak in there when he was out a bit ago and talk with the staff. He hasn't touched any of them according to them. So at least he is more respectful to his staff than Pavel is with his. If we hadn't needed the business savvy that Pavel has I would so have tried to buy him out before beta. Anyway, got to run see you all later!” With a last hug to her sister and a bright flash of light Jazzy was gone.
Amythyst shook her head and went over and hugged Terets for a moment before turning to Dumadin. “So about the castle?”
Dumadin chuckled, “Yeah, yeah, we’ll talk about it later. We still have miles and miles of forest to walk through here and I’m not doing anything rash.”
Terets chuckled, “So he can learn. I still recall someone who got tired of waiting before a boss pull and 'accidentally' pulled a few times in our past. Not naming any names, mind you…”
Last Horizon: Live Page 3