Day 1
Walking up on a stone slab was not how I expected to begin my life in a new world. The stone was not rough but was cold to the touch. I lay there for several minutes, revelling in the feeling of being young and strong again. The aches, pains and other joys of old age were gone. The bliss of this was indescribable, and I just existed in it.
I had feeling in the avatar creation space, but here it was complete.
I lay there for some time. Getting started was important, and my first few days would be critical. Also, it was getting cold just lying here.
I opened my eyes, and my avatar's HUD display came into view. The display had three coloured bars along the top of my view. These bars represented my levels. At the bottom left was "Status", followed by "Log", "Inventory", and to the far right was "Map". In my view, the last two were greyed out.
Focusing on Status, a new translucent screen opened in my vision.
Character Sheet
Name: Hector
Avatars Age: 30
Level: 1
Titles: Summoned Crusader.
Eldritch Corruption: 0%
Health: 100/100
Stamina: 100/100
Mana: 100/100
Free Stat Points: 0
Stats
Dexterity: 10
Strength: 10
Vitality: 10
Endurance: 10
Intelligence: 10
Wisdom: 10
Luck: 10
Spells
None
Skills
Weapons Skills
None
Crafting Skills
None
Magic Skills
None
General Skills
None
Title Details
Summoned Crusader – An individual summoned to this world by the Gods to oppose the Void. Allows for resurrection at temples with a cost. But know this, the People and Gods of Hylore are watching to see who you are.
That last part of the Summoned Crusader title was a bit odd, but it was given to everyone. I arranged my preferences while dealing with my character sheet. Sections would appear upon demand, but not the whole thing. I also chose to hide my title, as it was one of the few that could be hidden. This was not an uncommon occurrence amongst people, and hopefully, no one would ask too many questions. I could choose to reveal others later on if I wished.
Everything else was exactly how I had planned it. When placed in the pod and connected to Hylore, everyone goes through character and avatar creation. My options were explained, and I set about creating my new body and giving it stats. Reading the accounts from those who returned made it clear why specialist builds were initially a bad idea. Without the proper foundation, it was found that the first wave members and some in the second who specialised in one stat crippled themselves in the long run.
I opened the "Log" option. Under the quests, there was one flashing.
The timer next to the duration continues to tick down. I had time, but I was in an unfamiliar city and needed to find the Adventurer's Guild. But first, I need to know where I was.
I looked down at my body by raising my head slightly. I was dressed in rough cotton clothes and was wearing a pair of what looked like cheap leather shoes. I had a shirt and trousers, both made of cotton. The style was characteristic of the locals, meaning that the cotton was white for the shirt but featured pale blue decorations around the wrists, similar to Celtic knots. My trousers were a pale brown colour.
"At least I am not naked anymore," I said to myself.
The room had sunlight coming through several long, narrow windows at the top of the walls. Alas, a good thing must end as a door to my left swung open. A teenager carrying a pile of linens walked in, unaware of my presence. She walked over to the shelves on the other side of the room and began placing the linen into the existing piles. The arms of her robe were pulled up, allowing her to work with greater ease. Her head was covered with a shawl of some kind.
Well, this was awkward. I start to panic.
How was I going to explain my presence here? Wherever it was. I lifted my head, looking around to see if I could hide. The room was very limited in terms of hiding opportunities. Most of the room was dominated by shelves with more linen; it appeared to be a converted storeroom of some kind.
The girl had still not become aware of my presence, and I sat up. With no obvious places to hide, I had to decide on what I was going to do. I was looking around, but still, no obvious answers came to me as I sat up. I could take the risk and reveal myself early, but that would ruin my plan, and I was hoping for a way out. I would be spotted if I went for the door.
She was quickly running out of her basket's contents, and I was starting to sweat. She was still unaware of me.
Looking around again, more desperately, I am about to be discovered.
Damn it!
I noticed the clothing she was wearing was a uniform of some kind. I think I recognised it from the reports of the first two waves.
Unfortunately, I ran out of time. She turned and saw me sitting on the edge of whatever shelf I was sitting on, and she let out a squeal of surprise, dropping her empty basket.
"Hello," I said to her. "Could you please tell me where I am?"
I kept my voice calm and decided to try a desperate tactic.
"W-w-who are you?" She stammered out, fear evident in her voice.
"Me. Oh, I apologise, I am Hector. What is your name?" I answered the question, choosing to remain sitting, looking at her. I had to make sure not to make any sudden moves and spook her. I kept my hands in a place where she could see them. She would bolt and raise the alarm, as I wouldn't be able to reach her in time before she got to the door. The uniform she was wearing was a chance if I handled this conversation right. I think she was a temple acolyte.
"Acolyte Mandolin." She replied. But then blinked, realising what she was doing. "Wait here while I summon some of the Mothers to deal with you."
"I'd rather you not," I told her. Her look turned to one of fear again as she suspected I would attack. But I held up my hands in a gesture of peace. "May have a chance to explain? If you're not happy, then feel free to go and summon the Mothers."
The Mothers were followers of the Mother aspect of the gods. I might be able to get out of here without raising an alarm.
"What type of trick is this?" She demanded.
"I will show you something that will explain everything. But I require you to make an oath."
"An oath? You seek to confound me?" She was so afraid, but I saw an edge of anger now and a slight hint of curiosity.
"No, it is a title I hold. The oath I ask of you is that you will not speak of what I show you to anyone but your House Mother, but only if she agrees never to speak of what you tell her. I swear to you in the name of The Mother that I will not prevent you from leaving, nor will I seek to harm you." I was taking a terrible gamble here and expected her to bolt from the room straightaway. She was edging towards the door as I spoke.
I knew she had received the same notification. In this world, making an oath that invoked the name of one of the Pantheon became a binding agreement. This stopped her, as now she was safe from anything I could do, as I had sworn not to bring her any harm. Reading the countless reports, stories, and biographies of those who had been here before in the first two waves proved quite handy.
"Ha! Very well, I swear not to speak of what you show me to all but my House Mother if it is important enough. This, I swear this in the name of The Mother of all."
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I reveal my title to her. She stops dead, her eyes wide, and her face going pale. She knew what it meant, as the first two waves had created stories and legends that were told across the world.
"Is that important enough for you, Acolyte Mandolin?" I casually asked her.
“Y-y-your…” She stammered out, still trying to bring herself to believe what she was seeing.
"Yes, I am." I stood up, placing my feet on the floor and jumping slightly off the stone shelf I was sitting on. "Would you be so kind as to show me the way out and then direct me to the local Adventurers' Guild?"
“B-b-but…” I was growing concerned that knowing what I was might have broken her.
"Unfortunately, I cannot stay as I'm required to be elsewhere. I would appreciate it if you would remember your oath, as I choose not to be known at this time." She is standing in front of the doorway. Thankfully, the door is closed, so we cannot be seen from outside.
"Why are you here?" She suddenly blurted out.
I looked at her before answering, thinking about what I was going to say to her. This could have a profound effect on our future relationship, or allow me to leave without being questioned too closely about my presence. I decided a mostly accurate and truthful answer would be best.
"The third wave has come to help the people of this world," I told her. "Unfortunately, I cannot stay now. Can you direct me to the exit of this building and then onto the Adventurer's Guild?"
Her eyes were still widening, her face pale, but now her mouth was opening and closing. She looked like a fish, but I chose not to point that out to her, as a poor girl seemed to be processing something. I might have actually broken her.
Suddenly, she blinked rapidly several times, looking distant, and I think she might have received a formal notification message, but I wasn't sure. I was still new to that part of this new existence. She seemed to straighten and come to a decision.
"Of course. I will guide you out and lead you to the local Adventurers Guild. It is easy to get lost in the city of Seahold."
She was far more confident in her decision, which surprised me. The best I had hoped for was directions, but she seemed to be willing to guide me to the Adventurers' Guild. This would be a great help, but I wondered at what cost?
"I do not wish to interfere with your duties."
"Fear not…Hector." She told me, but took a moment to remember my name. "I believe this is far more important than the tasks I have to do today."
"Very well, lead on." I motioned to the door. I needed to get out of this building.
She turned and opened the door. She took a moment to look out to see if anyone was around. Satisfied that there was no one present, she motioned for me to follow. She led me through several rooms and corridors. After a few moments, we stepped out onto a larger room with four great long tables and dozens of chairs. There was a set of double doors on the opposite side of this long, rectangular room. On the other side, facing, was a painting depicting The Mother.
"What is the purpose of this building? It does not seem to be a temple." I asked, having not spoken since we left the linen storeroom.
"It is a temple dedicated to The Mother, but its primary function is that of an orphanage." She told me so, looking around to see if any of the other priestesses known as Mothers were present. "It is the largest in the city."
An orphanage. Of all the possible places I could have arrived, I had never expected to be here. I said nothing more as she led me out of the building. We exited into a walled courtyard. There was another set of double doors before us on the other side of this courtyard.
"Where is everyone?" I asked my guide as we walked. As we approached the wall, the noise of the city increased.
"They are in class right now." Acolyte Mandolin walked to the outer doors.
She arrived at the doors and opened them by pulling back a latch. She opened up the door slightly and stepped through. I followed her and stepped out onto a street in the city of Seahold.
The noise, colours and smells hit me.
The street was crowded with horses and wagons as well as pedestrians moving to and fro. They were dressed in clothes very similar in design and pattern to my own. The women wore white blouses decorated with the same Celtic knots but with flowers added. They wore long flowing skirts, and many had their heads covered with shawls or hats. The men wore trousers and shirts, many of which were also decorated with Celtic knots, but they did not wear flowers with them. They too wore hats, and nearly everyone wore boots of some type.
The streets were cobblestone and covered in straw, horse manure, and other cast-off items. The buildings around me were three to four storeys high, and across the street, higher up, were lines where clothing was drying. All around me, I looked at the buildings which were made from a collection of different styles and materials. Most were of a cheap-looking grey brick with slate roofs. The architecture had a strong Gothic feel to it. Tall iron lamps lined the streets, which were currently off. I couldn't tell if they were candles or gas.
What also stood out to me was that everything was covered in a slight layer of grime from the chimneys belching out smoke. The city relied on wood and coal as its primary fuel sources, and the air was polluted by the numerous fires, both domestic and industrial.
"This way." Acolyte Mandolin indicated and quickly set off into the crowded street. I need to step up quickly to keep pace with her and avoid losing her in the hustle and bustle. She moved with experience and confidence, while I tried to keep up with her.
"What part of the city are we in?" I asked her.
"Low Town." She said over his shoulder. "The Adventurers Guild is in the merchant section, that is where I am taking you."
In preparation for being sent to this city, I had done my best to learn about it; the System breakdown provided more detail. The city was built in a Y-shaped valley between three large and broad hills. They were locally known as the three pillars. To the east lay the first fork in the valley. Upon it was built the castle of the ruling family, and it was the location of the historical old city. Much of the government was located there. On the other side of the hill lay the largest river, which connected to the sea. The docks were built on that side, and they ran around the hill into the valley.
To the north was the noble section. Those hills were where most of the wealthiest residents of the city lived to the south. The hill was dominated by churches, with the grand Temple of The Mother at its centre. The clergy and many of the upper-middle class who lived there. Down in the valley was the merchant section that ran between them. From what descriptions of the city I had read, in the centre of the merchant section lay the great Coliseum and around it the bazaar.
Finally, at the end of the valley in the west was what was officially called the Low Town. It was a vast area that was essentially a sprawling slum. It was where the three great gates to the city were located. The rest of the town was surrounded by a massive wall that protected it from threats. In Low Town, there was the real gate, which allowed rail transport in and out, the road gate and the smallest of all the gates that led into the local graveyard and its catacombs.
The city had a population of approximately 2.2 million, accounting for around 10% of the country's total population. They were crammed into the city, hemmed in by the walls that protected them. Based on the density of the buildings and the population, I estimate that the city can accommodate approximately a million people in total. Due to the nature of the threats outside the walls, the population, however, was crowded in and made the most of the available space.
Low Town was a maze of buildings and streets, and as we progressed, I quickly became hopelessly lost. Thankfully, my guide knew where she was going and guided me with certainty in her stride that told me she knew exactly where she was and where she needed to be. The assault of bodies, smells, and other sounds increased my disorientation as I was not used to such dense population concentrations.
As we walked, I wondered if this was similar to what it was like during Victorian times in Britain and its major cities. I suspected that it was not as crowded as the cities were able to sprawl out more and not be hemmed in by the wall that protected them from the horrors outside of it.
Acolyte Mandolin not had spoken a great deal since we left the orphanage. I had been unable to engage in any form of meaningful conversation as we were both moving with purpose. She seemed focused on getting us to the Adventurers Guild, and I decided not to distract with benign and foolish questions just yet.
As we walked, I noticed the change in the architecture around us. The streets were the same size, but there were better-dressed people on them. I also started the spot stalls and shopfronts, not just solid housing, and the occasional bakery or other food dispensary. The buildings here were of a higher quality, but still, there was a chaotic mixture of design styles, reflecting a heavy Gothic influence. Many of the buildings were also slightly larger, not in height but in width.
"We are entering the merchant section." Acolyte Mandolin said over her shoulder to me, and I nodded in response. We had been walking for nearly 10 minutes and were making good time, despite the heavy traffic on the streets.
We turned a corner, and I got a glimpse of the Coliseum in the distance. The structure stood above even the surrounding buildings and was the main focal point of this district. It was located closer towards the hill to the east, where noble families resided.
Around us, nearly all the buildings were dedicated to some form of craft or the selling of different items. There was more money here, and I spotted far more members of the local Watch, which acted as the city's police force and part of its defence in case of attack. They were dressed in almost medieval-type armour. Gambesons' padded cloth jackets, reinforced with leather, were worn by all, featuring the Watch symbol on their right breast. They all carry truncheons and large, heavy-looking iron manacles.
I made sure not to stare and continued as if I belonged there. When one or two looked our way, they seemed uninterested and passed us by with no issue. We went deeper into the merchant section, and the Coliseum grew bigger as we got closer to it.
As we moved, I did my best to keep an eye out for shops or traders that I would need to interact with. Weapons, armour, and supplies were going to be key for my long-term survival and establishing good relationships with the merchants and craftspeople who made them was going to be vital.
We passed many different types of weapons stalls. Some had semi-modern firearms, while others had melee weapons that would not be out of place on medieval battlefields. It was the same for the few armour vendors we passed. Plate, chainmail and leather armour were on full display. As soon as I was registered with the Guild, I was going to have to go out and acquire supplies. I knew that when I registered with the Guild, I would complete the quest that was flashing in my
Suddenly, Acolyte Mandolin stopped on the street corner.
"There it is." She pointed to a building across from us, and above the door, I saw a sign. The sign featured a spear and sword crossed with a kite shield, sitting atop them, and underneath, on a depiction of a rolled-out scroll, was written "Adventurers Guild."