Day 9
I had to jump right in.
Greystone was sitting facing me, waiting.
I explained to him that I was heading towards the Adventurer's Guild. I told him the route I was walking and where I found the altercation. I didn't hold back; I told him everything I saw. The four men in Watch uniforms were beating a man on the ground, and what I heard. I told him about stepping in and stopping the beating.
"Are you sure about the claim about abetting debt?" Greystone asked, looking at me intently.
"Yes," I remembered something from TV shows, always keep your answers short and to the point.
"When you challenged the four Watchman squad, did you draw your firearm?"
"No, I did not."
"Did you threaten to draw your firearm on them?"
"I insinuated that if they attempted to attack me, I would."
Greystone went quiet at that. He looked intently at me, trying to discern if I was telling him the truth. The implications to him were quite apparent that I was willing to draw and fire on the Watch if I felt threatened. The laws governing the interactions between the Watch and Adventurers were clear. I was legally allowed to do it if I felt threatened, but I would have to face a trial by System if I did.
The System was not known for exploring grey areas. I had to be sure I was in danger and facing it. The System's black-and-white view of such interactions would then judge me. If I were found to be righteous, I would be released without issue. If not, the System would punish me.
But that didn't take into account any bad blood that would now exist between the Seahold City Watch and me.
"Doing so would mean you will face trial by System," Greystone said, what was already thinking.
"It would. And I know I would be found innocent." I looked him dead in the eye and did not blink. I needed him to believe me. Hopefully, that will get back to Vincent and his cronies, reducing the chances of me being attacked or facing retribution.
It was several long seconds before he spoke again. "Very well, Adventurer Hector. I thank you for your statement, and I will contact you in the future."
He stood from the table, turned, and walked out of the tavern. The others around, who were doing their best not to seem like they were watching, all quickly looked away as I scanned the room.
I got up and spoke to the servers, asking them to have food delivered to my room instead of eating in the common room. Normally, this was not allowed, but today they granted an exception.
I quickly headed up to my room and, once inside, looked around for my copy of the Adventurer's Handbook. As soon as I found it, I sat at the small table in the room and began reading. I quickly found the section on adventurers, a nation's laws, and those who enforce them. I read this section of the book over and over, making sure I'd done everything within its rules.
Had I initiated the engagement? No.
Had I drawn my weapon and fired it? No.
Had I threatened to draw my weapon and use it? Yes.
Had anyone been injured in the altercation? No.
The text posed these and other questions as I entered them in my head, and I realised I was safely within my rights. This was a relief, but I realised again that I was close to skirting the line, and that was dangerous.
It was Greystone's parting line that stuck with me. That he would see me in the future, and I wondered what that meant. The way he said it suggested it wasn't because of the investigation he was mounting; it was something else.
I went back to reading, and I found what he might have been hinting at.
"Local authorities may call upon an adventurer to partake in an assigned quest without the ability to refuse. The assigned quest must fall within the required bounds dictated by the standing and ability of the requested adventurer."
I really read that section several times. It meant that the Watch could send me on a dangerous quest but not a suicide one. I could see the ability to view such a clause. They could send me on one and claim they didn't know it was. The official making the request could be kept in the dark about the scale of the danger.
"Shit," I said to myself quietly.
There was a knock at my door, which caused me to jump slightly. I got up and opened it, only to find that my food had been delivered. I took it and thanked the server, returning to the desk.
I ate mechanically, not tasting the food, as I thought about what I had just read.
It seems that my act of kindness may come back to bite me in the backside. The local Watch Captain was aware of my presence and knew that I had been involved in an altercation with one of his squads.
Vincent and his cronies were clearly corrupt. The question I now had to answer was whether Captain Greystone was, too.
I sat in thought for a while as the sun was setting. My room was growing dark because I had not lit the lanterns. Outside, I could hear the city starting to settle in for the night.
I realise I was spinning out and needed to sleep. I was still dealing with the grave chill. Tomorrow I should feel better, and I will be back at work, even though I had some breathing room from the debt.
Looking at the corkboard before me in the Adventurer's Guild made me slightly depressed.
The grave chill was gone. I was no longer feeling its effects, so the feeling of depression was coming from something else.
I have successfully cleared nearly ten of the quests that had been posted here. But looking at the board this morning, it seemed that there were even more. I read through several of them, most of which called upon an adventurer to deal with a black rat infestation.
I was getting fed up with dealing with those rats and was looking for something a bit different. I didn't see anything requiring entry to the under city, which I was grateful for. I knew I wasn't ready to go down there and investigate the problems being ignored by the rest of the population.
Something in the back of my mind told me that if I went down there, I would be dealing with a lot of crap. Both figuratively and literally.
I continue to read the quests before me, looking for something to do. I wasn't paying attention to the other boards, which covered the city's different sections. I remain focused on Low Town.
Black rats, black rats, black rats and more black rats.
I flick through flyer after flyer. I really don't want to, but I have to take one of them. There was nothing else that paid as well or was as urgent. The black rat infestation was far worse than I thought.
I took down one flyer that requested the extermination of rats. It was for a street in Low Town. According to the description, the street itself had come together to pay for the request. Black rats had overrun a local house, and the families living there had to push out. They asked an adventurer to enter the house and clear it so the families could return before the rats spread. How many people lived there?
Did I want to do it? Hell no! Was I? Yes.
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I turned and walked towards the receptionist at the far end of the room. She had been watching me since I had entered. I found out her name was Irene. She was the one I had dealt with the most since I had come to the city.
"Good day, Receptionist Irene," I said as I approached, beating her to the greeting.
"Good day, Adventurer Hector." She returned the greeting, smiling. I noticed the change in the smile over the last few days. Normally, she and the other receptionist had the professional smile that never reached their eyes, but now she was generally smiling at me.
"Another request from Low Town?" She has taken the flyer from me and is looking it over.
"Yes. Hopefully, it won't take too long." I make small talk as she begins to enter the details into the System device on her desk. The orb lights up, and I place my hand upon it. It changes from soft white to blue.
"There. The quest is logged, and I wish you well." She smiled again as she spoke. Suddenly, a subtle beep from the machine made us frown and look at it as another sheet of paper that had popped out. She picked up and read it. "Adventurer Hector, I must ask you to take a seat. It seems that the Guild leader would like to talk with you."
I wasn't having my best day, but I tried to keep my face neutral as I panicked a little on the inside. What was it about? Have I broken any rules or laws? Could it be about my altercation with the Watch?
"Very well." I kept it simple and sat down. I learned that in life, it was best not to panic and to handle such meetings as quickly as possible. I've seen too many people make situations worse by simply not rolling with the events until they get a grasp on what was happening.
I watched as Irene disappeared into one of the backrooms. She had gone to the largest and most elaborately redecorated door and knocked on it before entering. I could hear her speaking, as if through a slightly open door. I watched as she returned to the reception desk.
"This way, Adventurer Hector." She indicated to the door that was still slightly open that she had just emerged from.
I stood and walked over, following her to the door, which she opened fully, letting me in.
I stepped past her into a richly furnished room. It was not as large as expected, but it felt smaller because of the numerous bookcases lining the walls. The floor had an expensive-looking rug, and on the far sides of the room was a large, what I think was an oak table. Standing behind it was the Guild Leader of Seahold.
The man was barely 5 feet tall and very round. Yet a chubby face with a thin moustache on it, and his hair that was greased back. He was wearing an expensive-looking suit, but upon closer inspection, I could see that it was old and worn.
"Adventurer Hector, welcome!" He boomed out. I was momentarily thrown off by his deep, commanding voice, which was strange for such a small man. "I am Guild Leader McGriff. I apologise for not having you come meet me sooner."
"There is no need for concern, Guild Leader McGriff. I know a man is in such a position as yours is very busy, and I did not want to disturb you." I had to play it safe until I knew what this meeting was about.
"Very kind of you, sir! But fear not, I always make time for Adventurers within the city." He indicated that I should sit in a chair on the other side of the desk. "Please be seated."
I walked over and had to move my equipment built around slightly to sit in the chair. He sat himself on the opposite side of the desk in his own. It seemed that the chair had been lifted somewhat, so he looked almost as tall seated as he had standing.
"I have called you in today to speak about something that recently happened." As he spoke, he placed his hands on the desk before him, and I did my best not to tense up. "I would like to speak about your recent encounter with the undead skeleton."
I let out a breath I was holding. McGriff opened a folder and spread out several papers on the desk.
"Its discovery was a shock. Your quick action eliminated it before it could become an issue." He was reading a piece of paper as he spoke. "The System recorded your victory, but also the failure of the original quest. It was decided that no action was needed due to the failure, as the undead were seen as more important."
"The temples are cleansing the tomb you found to make it safe. The entry point that the black rats were using to enter the basement from the sewers is also being sealed." He continued. "The city council seems to be happy that a possible danger was dealt with quickly."
All good news for me.
"From our records, it seems that you only take jobs in Low Town. We have a few active adventurers in the city, and I find it a bit surprising that you only concentrate on the poorest area of the city." He looked up at me from the piece of paper when he said this.
"I choose to focus on Low Town as it's been rather neglected." My reply was truthful, and he seemed a bit unsettled by that. I knew that he knew I was speaking the truth; the city slums had been ignored almost entirely.
"Quite. It's good to see that part of the city getting some support from our Guild." He was brushing off attitudes very quickly. "Your record is good, and I was wondering if you are going to take jobs in another part of the city?"
"At the moment, I wasn't planning on it. I'm not seeking fame or fortune, but rather to help the people of the city where I can." Again, I answer truthfully, watching the reaction. He nods along with my words, seemingly approving of them.
"A noble pursuit." He looked back at the papers before him. "I respect your choice to work for that part of the city."
He started shuffling the papers before him. "That will be all. Thank you again for this little indulgence."
McGriif watched the strange adventurer leave.
He had closed the door behind him, leaving the Guild Leader alone in his office.
He snorted at the description of strange. In truth, all adventurers were weird in some ways. He should know; he used to be one himself. You have to be a little insane to do what the men and women do—going out and facing the eldritch horrors directly and doing their best to battle back.
He spent only a decade as an adventurer, but after losing several friends, he chose to give it up and was offered a position within the Guild to inform and teach the next generation. It is leading to his current position.
He shifted slightly in his padded chair, the ache of old wounds still with him even after all these years.
"Hector." He spoke the name of the adventure out loud. "What a rare man you are."
The adventurer's file was before him, and to say it was thin would be an understatement. The man was System-registered and approved for the position. But he had appeared just some 10 days ago. McGriff picked up the list of quests the man had completed since his registration at the Guild.
It was a respectable list. All focused on Low Town—a total of 11 quests completed. Ten accepted and one hidden. Averaging one a day from the look, but the truth was he had taken at least two days off in this period.
Most adventurers listed with the Guild would only do this number of quests over a month. He could understand why he was taking on more work for low pay, but the work ethic still felt strange. McGriff approved of it, knowing the man was doing a great deal to help the population of Low Town.
His eyes went back to the file and the questions bubbling up within him.
His name was Hector; no last name was given. His age was 30. A little older than most adventurers starting, but still within norms. No birthplace listed. No previous occupation. Full System approval to become an adventurer. No issues or warnings raised—a clean acceptance.
Irene had overseen his registration. She had told him that it was almost as if he had been approved the minute his hand touched the orb. Typically, it would take a few seconds, but she said it was like the System was waiting for him.
Apart from the last one, all quests were completed on time and in full. No complaints from clients and no payment issues. He looked around his office, thankful for that last piece. He was lucky to have twenty adventurers active in a good month. Most of them are part-timers now. Either taking it easy with long-term positions or semi-retired. The Guild's finances with this branch had been suffering because of it, and Hector's arrival had been a blessing in disguise. He was bringing a slow but steady income, which they desperately needed.
He had checked the records 25 years ago; there were over three hundred adventurers active in the city, but now there are barely eighty and most were part-time. Time and attrition had worn down the once-powerful Guild, as its members were not replaced when they were lost or retired.
The nation suffered in response.
He was not a native of this land but was sworn to do his best for the world wherever he was assigned. Ten years ago, he took this position and watched with growing dread the decay of the Guild within the city. Out in the countryside, it was even worse.
The undead report had made him pay attention to the new adventurer.
He had read the report several times to make sure he was understanding it correctly.
While exploring for a den of black rats, he had discovered a previously forgotten tomb. Upon investigation, he encountered an undead rising, triggering a hidden System quest. He engaged and destroyed the undead, completing the quest, and then reported it to the client and the Guild.
On the surface, it looked simple. But McGriff was a veteran himself and encountered the undead. It had taken him a week to recover from just fighting one skeleton. Hector looked fine after taking a day off.
McGriff would have claimed that Hector was a veteran adventurer starting over or hiding out in the city. But meeting with the man, it was clear that he was not. He truly seemed to believe in helping people and was focused on Low Town.
This had led to an increase in requests coming from Low Town to the Guild. Hector just accepted another one with problems on the way to it. McGriff knew it wouldn't be long before other groups in the city took notice of the new adventurer, especially if he continued to grow and strengthen.
The fact that he was ignoring the other sections of the city may even put some into an unwelcoming mood to the new adventurer. They would see his ignoring of the rest of the city and more profitable quests as a slight. McGriff knew this was a fallacy, but the wealthy and the nobles were not known for managing their egos.
The black rats were becoming a problem outside of Low Town. There were many within the circles of power calling for quests to be issued to go into the undercity to try to contain the numbers. That was extremely dangerous in itself, as the undercity had been ignored now for a good 20 years. He honestly didn't know what they would encounter down there.
But that was one of many problems facing the city. He had seen the reports of the growing signs of movement within the ancient cemetery just beyond the walls. He knew Low Town was right next to that area, and it was a good chance that Hector might be called upon to investigate the cemetery to see what was going on.
No official request to be made yet, but he suspected one would be issued soon. His contacts in the nobility were warning him of rumblings in the court to this end.
And those were only the most pressing of the local ones. There were many more just beyond the city's walls. That wasn't taken in the condition of the rest of the country. He had seen the reports in the Royal Hall stating that close to 40% of the country was now beyond the crown's control.
That was a scary number, and it showed they were losing to the horrors growing out there.
Hector was a good sign. A man willing to stand up for the people and fight the horrors. McGriff needed another hundred like him to start making a dent in what was happening. The tide was coming in, and everyone was slowly drowning, and he was fearful for the future.