Hylore – Seahold (Noreland Capital) Spring 2344 AS

  Day 1

  Next on my list of things to do was weapons.

  No, scratch that, I needed other things first, like a bag to carry everything. That thought occurred to me as I left the armour merchant. I've been focused on getting the primary things I believed I needed, but without the means to carry anything, I would look a bit stupid.

  Across the street from us was a very large storefront that was two or three times the size of the others, and above the main door was written The Adventurer's Bizarre. Numerous windows showcased the wares of the premises. I could see a variety of items, ranging from ropes to pickaxes and countless other oddities.

  "We are heading to their next," I told Mandolin as I pointed to the store.

  "The Bizarre. I've heard of it but never been inside before." She seemed excited to enter the strange shop.

  "Oh? Is it a famous shop then?" I asked her as we crossed the street, approaching it.

  "Amongst the adventurer community, it is very famous. It is where all the cities' adventurers go to get their gear, even weapons and armour sometimes." She said, walking next to me as we crossed.

  That was good to know. A place used by all the adventures meant that it was reliable and would cater to all my needs, hopefully.

  "You know quite a bit about this area of the city and adventurers," I said as we crossed.

  "My parents once worked with some adventurers in the city." I noticed the change in her demeanour and tone when she spoke. It hinted at something bad happening in the past, and I decided not to press. That would also explain why Rodrick Armour Merchant knew her.

  We walked through a set of large double doors, which were already open. We walked into an ample space, but its dimensions were hard to tell due to the amount of… Stuff. Shelving was everywhere, along with containers, both purpose-built and improvised. We began to navigate through the maze of everything. Every conceivable item you can imagine and eventually need was here. But from what I can tell, there was no order; it was pure chaos.

  It took several minutes to work our way through the interior of the shop and identify where the counter was. As we approached, a man stood up from behind the counter, dressed in one of the most shockingly colourful outfits I'd ever seen in this world or my own. I had heard stories and remembered one from the Bible about a multicoloured coat, and what the man behind the counter was wearing would give it a run for its money.

  He looked around and saw us approaching, and he broke out into a huge smile. He looked to be in his late 30s and had greased-back hair and a large handlebar moustache that was equally oiled. He was surprisingly thin and short, and his teeth were two rows of white teeth.

  "Customers! And new ones at that! Come, come! What can Merchant Harold do for you this fine day!" The voice that came from the man was as surprising as his outfit. It was loud and booming.

  "Good day to you, Sir. My name is Hector, and I am on a new adventure within the city, looking for supplies and equipment." As with Rodrick and the receptionist at the Adventurer's Guild, I decided that politeness was the best approach.

  "A new adventurer! Well, you have come to the right place for The Adventurer's Bizarre can supply everything you're looking for." As he spoke, he put his hands into two pockets on his waistcoat and puffed up, expressing his pride in his establishment.

  "That is good to know, Merchant Harold." Well, it was time to see if he could deliver. "I am seeking a large backpack travel bag with numerous external pockets. It will need to be sturdy and reinforced, as I will be moving frequently through rugged terrain. I am also seeking ten meters of sturdy rope. I also require a utility belt with numerous pouches, providing space to attach a firearm and carry one to two close-combat weapons. I am also seeking two large canteens and a compass."

  I rattled off my requirements, closing his eyes and nodding as I spoke. As soon as I was finished, he opened his eyes and looked at me intently.

  "Anything else?" He asked.

  "Yes. I require a basic field healer's kit. A box of matches, a lighter and a small container of oil to refuel it. I will also need a lantern, preferably a miner's, and another container of oil for refuelling. I am looking for the best quality possible at a low price. I am willing, however, to spend on the backpack."

  He laughed when I finished a deep and throaty one. "It is always good to find a customer who knows what he wants. How will you pay for all this?"

  "With system silver upon my satisfaction with the goods," I replied without hesitation.

  "Bargain well and done. Please wait here while I get what you need."

  He walked out from behind the counter, calling out the names of several people, and suddenly, the heads of four youths appeared from within the maze of shelving and containers. He quickly rattled off instructions to each, naming the items I was looking for, and sent them out to search for them. Their appearance had surprised me, yet I managed not to cry out in surprise. But it did leave me wondering where the hell they came from.

  He returned behind the counter. "If everything meets your satisfaction, it will be 25 System silver."

  I didn't say anything, but I nodded to show my understanding.

  Surprisingly quickly, the items were piled up on the counter before us as the youths appeared and disappeared carrying different items. I inspected each as they appeared. I couldn't tell if they were of high quality or not, but they seemed to be within the range I requested. The two canteens had screw tops. The lantern was a reinforced model similar to those used by miners in photographs from the late 1800s. I tested the lighter and it struck straight away. The box of matches had a hundred matches inside. Everything else looks good. The belt was designed to be worn with armour and was much larger than I required it to be while I was not wearing any. That was fine, as the back of it held six pouches that I could use to store additional items. I checked the rope and found it to be sturdy, with no fraying. The field healer's kit was this world's version of a first-aid kit.

  Finally, the bag arrived. It was very similar to a rucksack, and it had two additional pouch pockets on each side, as well as a fifth pocket in the lower part of the bag. It was made from sturdy-looking leather and had a slightly chemical smell. I suspect it had been treated for greater weather resistance. It had adjustable straps that would go over my shoulders.

  "Everything looks good. As promised, your payment." I said as I placed the 25 System silver coins onto the counter, grouping them in sets of five from my storage ring. Merchant Harold took each pile as I produced them. I put everything into the backpack and left the Bizarre.

  "Excellent doing business with you, Adventurer Hector. Please come again." Merchant Harold called out as we left.

  "I shall, Merchant Harold," I said back to him as we were leaving. I stopped and turned back to the merchant when I spoke.

  We were back on the street, and I looked down the street further to the weapons merchant shop. "One last stop before we head back for my armour."

  Approaching the storefront should reveal a selection of goods sold within. There were two large windows on either side of the doors. The one to the right had a display of firearms. The range from pistols to rifles gives you an idea of what was available within the shop. The left had a selection of close combat weapons. Knives, swords, and other types of close-up and personal means of killing were displayed.

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  We entered the store with the ringing of a bell.

  The layout of this shop was different again. It was a long, thin, rectangular room with two counters on either side, each flanked by doors covered by cloth dividers. On the left were displayed hand-to-hand combat weapons, and on the right, the firearms. A young girl was sweeping further back in the room. She looked up and watched us without saying a word.

  "Coming! Coming!" Came from both doorways. One was a man's voice, the other a woman's. The two dividers parted, and the man came from the left and a woman from the right. The woman was first, then the man.

  Both had black hair, and from where I was standing, they had green eyes. That was the only similarity between them, other than the fact that they were night and day. The woman was tall and thin, while the man was short and broad with thick, muscular arms. The woman had long flowing hair that was tied up into a single braided ponytail. The man had short hair, which was almost a crew cut, and a big, bushy beard.

  "Welcome to the Arsenal, how can we serve you today?" The woman said, drawing my attention to her.

  "Greetings, Merchant," I said to her. "My name is Hector. I am a new adventurer in the city and am looking for weapons."

  She nodded in understanding as I spoke. "Do you wish to look through our wares or do you know what you're looking for?"

  "I do. I am looking for a Pinza 10 mm revolver with a standard barrel and holster. I am looking to purchase 100 rounds of ammunition for the gun. I am also looking for a standard combat knife and an iron-tipped club similar to what the Watch uses. Finally, I will need maintenance equipment for all of the weapons."

  A hearty laugh drew my attention to the man. "Truly, you do know what you want. Such a rare thing."

  "Apologies, Adventurer Hector. Do not mind my brother." The woman spoke. "We will need to see your identification and how you will pay for these items."

  "Of course." I walked over to the counter where she was standing and showed her the back of my right hand. She looked at the System tattoo upon it and nodded her head. "As for payment, I have System silver."

  "Bargain well and done. I am Merchant Esmeralda, and that fool is my brother, Albert." She indicated to the other man. "Please wait here while we collect examples of what you're looking for."

  While they were collecting their wares for me to see, I thought about the strange thing all the merchants said. Bargain well done. It was an odd expression that the local merchants used. I don't understand its reverence, but they all used it. I looked at Mandolin and found her to be looking at the weapons on racks behind the counters, interested in the various implements of violence and death. I thought about asking her what the meaning of the saying was, but decided to leave it for now.

  Soon, I had a selection of weapons placed on each counter. As I was closest to Esmeralda's side, I started with her. She had provided examples of the revolver I had asked for. The Pinza 10 mm was the most common type of revolver in this part of the continent I was on. Pinza was a weapons producer based in another country, with satellite facilities spread across multiple countries. The gun itself bears a striking resemblance to a Colt revolver from the 1800s. The most significant difference was in the cylinder that contained the rounds. It was smaller since it could hold only five rounds, and they were 10 mm, not the .38 or .45 that Colt used. Lifting the guns, I inspected them more closely, noting the slight differences between the examples before me. They all had hexagonal barrels, not round ones.

  They were all unloaded, and I tested the weight and balance of each in my hand. I was left-handed, which, although not rare, was uncommon for someone to use a weapon in the left hand. The merchants took note of it but said nothing more. I found one that I was comfortable with.

  "This one." I passed it to Esmeralda, and she nodded in acknowledgement.

  "Good choice. A practical handgrip."

  I turned and walked across the room to her brother's side, inspecting the weapons he had supplied. There were several examples of combat knives for me to look at. They were all of the local style, which resembled a bayonet blade. I had done extensive research before coming, and I decided on my weapons loadout and armour early on. I would come back at a later date when I had better financial reserves to consider adding to my arsenal, but right now, I had to be very frugal and tactical with what I was using.

  Again, I drew each knife from its sheath and checked the blade and how the hand grip fitted. I checked each one, starting with the second one that was presented, as it seemed the best. I tested it again and found it to be the best, so I handed it to Albert. As for the club, he only had one example. It was shorter than a baseball bat but slightly larger than an old-fashioned police truncheon. The tip was covered in iron and was weighted there to increase the power of the swing down. I tested it a few times, and I found it comfortable. It had leather wrapped around the handle area, which allowed for one- or two-handed swings.

  A sharpening stone for the blade and a gun cleaning kit were supplied. With these final purchases, I had lost a total of 240 silver to equip myself. I paid for my weapons and placed them into the backpack I now owned. I bid my goodbye to the merchants and return to Roderick's shop for my armour.

  Roderick told me that the armour would still be a few more minutes and had me sit. He briefly chatted to Mandolin before disappearing back into the shop's interior. Watching my young guide, I decided it was a good time to have a few more words with her.

  "I'm surprised your duties at the temple allowed you to come with me." My words to her surprised her as she was focused on an armoured breastplate. I had already spoken to her about this, but it was nagging at me.

  "Oh, that. I did have duties that needed to be fulfilled, but due to your… Unique circumstances, I believe I will be able to explain my actions."

  "I do not want you to be punished on my account. Do you want me to come with you and help explain what happened?" I didn't want to, but the girl had been a great help to me, and I did not want her to be punished if I could avoid it.

  "No, Hector, it is fine. The oath made between us allows me to tell who I need to, and that will be explanation enough." She became more resolute with the words. Whatever happened in that room when she accepted the oaths had given her a sense of purpose and direction. I knew I was missing something, but I still did not know what it was.

  "Do you know where I can get a city map?" I did not want to dwell on that and decided to change the subject.

  "A city map? I'm not too sure." She turned to the doorway where Roderick had passed through. She yelled out. "Roderick! You know where we can find a map of the city?"

  "The city? There's a cartographer three streets along, try there." He called back.

  "Thank you."

  "That's where we're heading next, then." One last stop. "Once we finish there, I will need to find a place to stay. You spoke of a place named… The Poor Man's Dream." I struggled to remember the name at first.

  "Don't worry, Hector, you will like it there." Roderick returned, cutting off anything else that could be said.

  It took me several more minutes to gather everything and step into a changing room. I quickly took off the clothes I was wearing and changed into my armour. I decided to start wearing it straight away because I needed to get used to the weight of it all. I left the gauntlets off and attached my weapons to my utility belt. I placed the ammunition I bought into my storage ring and found it only took up one of the slots. The rulebook given to me by the Adventurers' Guild was placed into my backpack along with the gauntlets. I decided to keep my hands exposed, so when I was stopped, I could quickly display my System tattoo.

  I wasn't fooling myself; I knew it was a matter of how many times I'd be stopped, not if. The local law enforcement will not take well or kindly to a heavily armed man walking down the streets. If they did, they weren't doing their jobs right.

  I set out the change room, and Roderick looked me over, nodding in satisfaction at his work. I thanked him for his services and left the shop. It didn't take long for us to find the cartographer, but the merchant was out. Her apprentice, however, sold us a map of the city for eight silver. Upon purchasing the map, I was offered the option to integrate it with my HUD map function. As soon as I did this, the map crumpled into ash and disappeared. I opened up my HUD map, and I now had a full display of the city layout. The Adventurers Guild and the merchants I had visited were all listed, along with their locations.

  Before we left the merchant quarter, I bought a meal. Mandolin had protested at first, but her stomach overrode her objections. She went bright red, and I laughed, telling her that a higher power had stepped in. It cost me another two silver coins to buy a good meal with drinks for both of us. I had considered one or more expensive options to show her my appreciation for her help. This left me with 50 silver coins.

  She soon was eating, and it seemed the quality of food was far better than she was used to.

  We had just left the open-air restaurant when I heard. "Stop in the name of the Watch."

  We turned and saw a pair of the city watch walking towards us quickly. They had noted the gun on my hip as well as the weapons.

  "Identify yourself." One barked at me.

  "Of course, Watchguard. I'm Adventurer Hector, heading back to Low Town," I said to them and showed them my right hand as they approached. I noted that their hands were on their weapons in case I tried anything.

  They looked at my tattoo and instantly relaxed. "Thank you for your cooperation, adventurer. Please be on your way."

  We were stopped twice more as we walked. But each time, as soon as I revealed my tattoo, the Watch members who stopped us relaxed and centred on our way.

  We returned to Low Town, and by the time we returned, it was late afternoon. Mandolin guided me to the tavern she spoke of, which doubled up as a boarding-house. The building was larger than most in the area. It was well-maintained and appeared to be well-run from the outside.

  I was glad we had arrived.

  My legs were aching as sweat poured from my body. My body was that of a 30-year-old man, and I no longer felt the joys of old age. I was healthy and strong, but I was not used to carrying the weight of the armour I now wore. It started with the boots and the reinforced shin guards. The steel-reinforced clothing was a weight I was not accustomed to carrying. Then you add it to the padded clothing I was wearing. They were not designed to let out heat well, and soon the simple act of walking was turning into quite a stressful and taxing event.

  "Are you well, Hector?" Mandolin asked, noting my sweaty forehead.

  "I am. It is just I'm not used to carrying the weight of this armour." I pulled out the collar of the gambeson, trying to allow some more of the heat building up within it to escape. It only provided a few moments of mild relief.

  "It looks like you could use a bath." She said, looking me up and down.

  "In that I agree with you." I looked towards the building. "Well, let's get me situated with a room and a bath."