The waves lapped against the hull as The Generous Djinni finished docking. She had carried you safely across the ocean just as Captain Farrod Wakewell had promised. The two-month long trip had almost ended in disaster several times, due to storms and one almost successful mutiny to turn the ship back. Much to many of those aboard's surprise and delight the coastline of Dusst had been sighted yesterday and the coast navigated to find the first port fit to dock in. The captain was hoping to be the first to reach it after the location of this ancient and power-filled land was uncovered. More ships will surely come from your land and others, looking to profit, plunder, a new home or even to conquer. Captain Farrod didn't pay much attention to the rumours and warnings contained in the scrolls that revealed Dusst's location. "Just stories to keep people away," he said.
Is there an ancient power that could change the world hidden someone here? Do you seek it? Or have you come for some other reason?
Zaidel currently stays on the deck, watching the ship pull into port and enjoys the graphics.
Zerblag stands near the prow of the boat and closes her eyes and holds her face to the wind, feeling it flow over her features and trying to hear what it tells her. It's what she's been doing every day the for the past two months and she still has yet to unlock the wind's secrets. What's different today is that when she opens her eyes again she can see the land mass of Dusst ahead instead of the vast open oceans.
The excitement of the crew is contagious, and despite her normally high levels of self control, the hobgoblin is almost giddy with excitement. Two months in any boat is a long time and this trip hasn't been an easy one. Thoughts of stretching her legs in a long run, of seeing people other than the crew and the few others on board, or even choosing not to see anyone for stretches, are all enthralling. All of that is shoved to the back of Zerblag's mind by another sudden realization.
Turning away from the sea and the new land she faces her fellow explorers. "Will you take a look at that! We're about to have the chance to have fresh food again that's not fish! What sorts of vegetables do you suppose grow here? I hope that they've got lettuce."
I'd be happy with anything that doesn't smell like I put my head up a fish's ass. Siete replies.
Sustenance of the body is not my main concern. The food on board has been adequate, so long as what we find maintains in like quality and quantity it will be sufficient.
Gazing out across the sun-dappled water, Mirpaliniel stared at the land that was drawing ever closer.
Once we gain the land my studies can finally begin in earnest. The scrolls indicate this ancient land may contain many long forgotten secrets about magic, life and death. I am eager to find them.
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"You youngsters. I'm so old that I can't even taste food anymore," Ingoswitu complains.
"It'll be nice to get off the ship, though - the incessant rocking was bad enough for the first hour, and it only got worse from there."
He looks around. "Well, let's go find some of this magic that all those rumours said was here. I'm old enough; I don't want to grow any older just waiting."
Zaidel walks over to the elderly aasimar. "Can I help you off the ship, old-timer?"
Joe laughs to himself. I'm probably out enough to be any of these guy's father IRL.
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Ingoswitu squints suspiciously at the tall young man that addressed him, then grins. "I would appreciate that. I'm not as ... stable as I could be.
It's nice to see the young who have some respect for their elders"
He gazes towards the land. I look forwards to seeing what power I can find for myself here. Whether the rumours are right or wrong, my god would not have led me astray with my desire to explore Dusst
The port town which you have docked at has trouble berthing The Generous Djinni. Your ship is much larger than they are used to accomodating with their smaller docks. Nevertheless a temporary docking is successful. "Likely we'll only have a few hours before I'll have to move her to anchor offshore before low tide. Let's hope we're the first ones to this land, though other could land anywhere along this coast without us knowing. If business here is bad I'll likely sail in search of a larger port. You're welcome to stay on with me if you wish, but don't leave town if so." Captain Farrod explains. A gangway is secured for disembarking and several men wait on the dock. Behind them the docks are busy though this is only because word has spread and people are coming to see the new ship. By the size of the docks, they mostly service fishing and small trading vessels that go up and down the coast, likely they have never seen an ocean crossing vessel. Past the docks and warehouses the little town consists of what look like simple wooden buildings.
Zerblag gives a small, formal bow to the captain. "Thank you for the passage captain. Should you decide this is a good port of business I'll likely see you here in the future, but for now we part ways."
Before disembarking Zerblag will stand prominently on the side of the ship, making sure that the dock workers and others down below can see her, looking to see what races make up the populace here and if there is any visible reaction to her as a hobgoblin.
"Land HO!" one of the lookouts of The Waterborne Giant shouted, causing a stir among those aboard. Now that land had finally been sighted a great relief washed over everyone on board. It had been an unfortunate, some would say unlucky, voyage with 2 travellers knocked overboard in a storm in the first week. The rest of the trip had been quiet, prayers for the dead and prayers for a safe voyage were many.
It seemed the prayers were answered and fortunes were turned when a small port was sighted. "No other ships here. Just a few coast-bound fishing and trading vessels. Looks like we're the first ones to arrive." Captain Gorak Hedor, half-orc, said. When the location of Dusst was discovered, he dropped his cargo for less than it's worth to quickly prepare for this journey, hoping to be first to profit from the new land, fully believing all the rumours. "Let's hope these people are civilised." he said as The Waterborne Giant docked in the too small berth.
Is there an ancient power that could change the world hidden someone here? Do you seek it? Or have you come for some other reason?
It's a good thing NPC's usually didn't have an issue with awkward silence because it takes me, the player, a good long while to get over my first look. I got a short blurb about some deaths on the voyage over from storms and then BOOM! I'm on a ship coasting into the tiny harbor. I can tell it's a game. The water is too uniform, the people all seem to have the same gait and movement, and I can see the edge of generated land. But none of that matters because I am in it. Actually in a game. I can feel the rail under my hand, the deck beneath my feet, and even the sway of the ship. Was that a salty spray? No, it's just water but I could feel the mist on the wind. Awesome. The minimalist HUD really helps with immersion too. Just health and a compass so far. And the captain's name above his head. I must know him already. He has been nice enough to ignore my long pause too.
"Indeed. And I hope your gamble pays off captain," Kyūzo replied. As the captain pointed out, there was nothing but fishing and small trade vessels around the docks. His was the largest by far and would likely see much business. "What was the name of this town?" he asked looking at the buildings and trying to identify an inn for the night.
Down on the dock below, several humans waited for you to disembark. There didn't seem to be any soldiers or weapons. Likely this little town was quite peaceful, and probably not the commerce hub the Captain wanted. They don't seem alarmed at any of you or perhaps they have not yet noticed any particular details.
"Hopefully we'll all be rich before long. Looks like they're here to meet us." Captain Wakewell walked forward with a smile towards the people on the dock showing he was no threat. "Hello. I come from a far off land across the ocean. I am here to trade. We come in peace." The looks of the people seem slightly confused. "Do you understand me?"
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"I'm not a wizard how should I know?" Gorak replies. "Looks all humans. Hope we won't have any problems here." He refers to his greenish skin and orc features. The walkway is finally in place and several people wait on the dock. They don't seem to have any weapons and are mostly curious about such a large boat. Gorak waves and walks towards them with hands open. They move back from him. [b]"Don't fear me. We come here to trade and discover your land. He takes the iron dagger from his belt and offers it to them as a gift.
Zerblag nods, having seen enough for now. How bad could this possibly go? And fortune favors the bold in any case. She follows Captail Wakewell down the gangplank to the dock, and as he addresses the gathered dock workers, the hobgoblin makes her way a bit further in past the immediate warehouses.
When she spots someone who doesn't seem hard at work she wanders up to them, gives a polite bow and starts making a few inquiries. There's no attempt at subtlety or subterfuge at this point. "Good day. I've just been on a ship at sea for two months and am new to your lands. I wonder if you first tell me the name of this settlement and then point me in the direction of a market or an inn?"
A little but of player seeps through as Kyūzo looks at the captain, dumbfounded. Apparently I just hopped on a ship with a captain who had no idea where he was going. Great. Better get off this bucket before he does something really stupid. Kyūzo hefts his halberd and backpack and heads down the gangplank. It was time to get to know his new home. That meant finding a place to sleep, food, and information. Kyūzo makes his way down the street, greeting people pleasantly and asking about inn's in the area. I wonder if they are going to go with the cliche tavern quests? I kind of hope so.
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Ingoswitu hobbles down after the Captain "How rude," he mutters to himself. "They could at least offer a proper greeting."
He stops beside the captain; as a smile lights up his face, he seems to all the world like a kindly elder. After the captain finishes, he says "This old man would be grateful if one of you younglings would show me around your beautiful town - and perhaps help the poor captain with his trade. I'm sure this village is a welcome sight for someone who had to look at my mug for two months."
Jeremiah prompts the sound system to play in a gadda da vida, Then walks Siete into the town. He ramble down the streets with a smile on his face. Looking at the details of the town, he marvels at it's realism. "Where's the best tavern in this town? He asks the locals will milling about.
The workers on the dock wear simple peasants clothes of rough and thick cloth, repaired several times. They wear no shoes and their only ornamentation is a bone carved necklace threaded with string worn by one of them.
Most buildings are made of overlapping planks and are simple structures (those closer to the water are on stilts) with almost flat, thatched roofs. Several buildings stand out with some sort of worn clay render covering a primitive brick frame that can be seen underneath in places due to wear. There is one wide unpaved dirt road through the middle of the village from the dock going east and out of the village. All other roads between buildings are merely thin tracks made by constant use and not design. The only vehicles here are small carts pulled by one or two villagers.
There are many people out, looking at the large ship that has come. The village looks almost frozen for several minutes. But with no alarm, they get back to their day-to-day. The village looks large enough to hold 200 to 300 people, all humans so far. Everyone wears simple bland clothes with little to no decoration or colour.
"There are no lands across the ocean anymore. They were all swallowed in the Calamity many generations ago except for Dusst. All know this, why do you bring lies and want us to trust your trade? Which land do you come from?" The men on the dock reply, thinking you come from elsewhere on Dusst. They watch Zerblag walk down the dock towards their town and stare inquisitively but do not stop him.
To Ingoswitu they reply, "There is not much. We are a small fishing village here, we can trade you fish. Though we do not have much to spare. Lord Mackellyn taxes most of our catch."
Captain Wakewell says to them, [b]"I belong to no land. The sea is my mother and her trading lanes my bread. I have not traveled here before. What is your village called? I seek trade. Perhaps I can enter talks with the leader of your village?"
"We can take you to our leader. Our village is called Dunloch."
Captain Wakewell turns and says to one of his men, [b]"I doubt we're staying here longer. Trade them simple things, enough to refill food and water for 2 weeks. Fetch me a gift for their leader. I intend to get information about larger more profitable ports out of them."
He also says to any of the PC's near him, "If any of you adventure seekers would like to accompany me be my guest. If this out of the way village has anything useful to us, their leader will know of it."
Getting a closer look at the village and the people you get a worn down vibe. A village trudging along underneath a yoke of some kind. They look at you curiously, though don't seem scared of you at all. Perhaps they don't have any experience with others that look like you here and are naive. "You have come to Dunloch. We have only a small market each morning next to the chapel. The Inn is just across the road there."
"Thank you very much. If I were looking for work outside of fishing in the area, perhaps running errands that might even have elements of danger which would be enough to scare others off, is there anyone that you think it might be good to talk to?"
The workers on the dock wear simple peasants clothes of rough and thick cloth, repaired several times. They wear no shoes and some have simple bone earrings or nose piercings.
Most buildings are made of overlapping planks and are simple structures (those closer to the water are on stilts) with almost flat, thatched roofs. Several buildings stand out with some sort of worn clay render covering a primitive brick frame that can be seen underneath in places due to wear. There is one wide unpaved dirt road through the middle of the village from the dock going east and out of the village. All other roads between buildings are merely thin tracks made by constant use and not design. The only vehicles here are small carts pulled by one or two villagers.
There are many people out, looking at the large ship that has come. The village looks almost frozen for several minutes. But with no alarm, they get back to their day-to-day. The village looks large enough to hold 150 to 200 people, all humans so far. Everyone wears simple bland clothes with little to no decoration or colour.
"Your iron gift is appreciated, we welcome you to Arch. For talk about trade we will take you to our village leader."
As Kyūzo walks through the village you notice many people pause to look at you before returning back to their activities. One that you approach tells you there is only one inn close to the docks where many men go after work, though they are mainly out farming or fishing right now. Also close to the dock is a small market open in mornings. You can see several stalls and people there.
"There isn't much to see. The Chief's Hall holds important business. The chapel is a place of worship and meditation. The market is next to the chapel and we sell mostly fish and vegetables. The dock and warehouses are right here. The inn and brewery is in the middle of the village. Most of us will go there after all the fishers return with their catches. The rest are our houses."
One of the women you address replies to your question, "There is no tavern. We have only 1 inn here, the fishers usually go there after a work day," and she points you in the direction of the inn. The people look at you only half as much as they do Zerblag, who you see also walking through the town.
"We stay in the village and face no danger here. If you wish for dangerous work you might ask our chief in the main hall. Or go to the hunter's lodge." They show you a lightly worn path leading south from the village.
Zerblag gives a small bow, a smile on her face. "Thank you again. The hunter's lodge sounds like an excellent place for me to start looking for meaningful things to do." She sets out down the path leading south from the village at a quick pace, taking in the scenery as she goes.
Siete looks down at his feet as the stride along the dirt road. The hyper realistic feeling of the ground and dirt moving with real life physics fascinate him. Zerblag's chat message pulls him from the immersion as he reads about the new world they have found himself in. Siete turns off the music.
His HUD highlights the NPCs and information on their capabilities highlights in small string of text. It seems that his skillsets have a passive mode to fill in blanks he might not otherwise know. He would have to invest in more knowledge skills in the future.
He pans the small town looking for the church mentioned. Allie, full immersion mode please. The HUD information fades away. This is really incredible. He says to himself. The church is where he'll start, he thought. Heading in the direction of the church, he noticed that there were no horses. He hoped he would not have to walk everywhere.
Maybe there is some sort of fast travel he could unlock. Siete was almost certain that something like that had to exist. He get's to the large wooden doors. The smell of cedar is strong, yet subtle. Nice touch. He enters the building. The rough hewn planks under his feet scrap against his leather boots. It takes a few seconds for his eyes to acclimate to the darker interior. He sees a large idol in what seems like an altar. The grimacing head of a dog on the body of a man with out stretched arms seems sinister to him somehow.
A man silently praying in a brown heavy cloak is the only figure he can see. Walking up to the man, Siete calls to him. Sorry to interrupt, but who is this? He points to the statue at the altar.
Man, I ended up in a tiny town. Guess that's what happens when you go solo. I love the way the NPC's respond to someone over armed and armored.
Kyūzo thanks the villager and heads in the indicated direction. Once he had a better idea of what he needed to do here he might visit the market but for now, inn first.
And see how quests work here. Is there a small number of local ones? Random? Do they pop up again? Dynamic quests? This is so exciting.
He finds the inn with no problems and approaches the one he assumes is the owner. "Good day. I would like a room for the night and food if it's included. I am new to this land and was wondering if there are any strong warriors or creatures with which to test my mettle against?"
Hope that's obvious enough to proc a quest.
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Ingoswitu turns to Wakewell. "I will follow you to the town leader, then."
"Hopefully," he mutters just loudly enough for the captain to hear, "this leader isn't too dull to actually accept the existence of our homelands"
He prepares to follow the villagers as they lead the small group to their leader.
You head out of the village, within 500ft. you can no longer see it, following the winding trail as your only guide. Thin trees block your view on either side. The sounds of nature can be heard but not so easily seen, an occasional bird flits through the corner of your eye. As you trek you sometimes glimpse the ocean through the trees and you feel like you are slowly gaining elevation.
You notice several small traps set up in different spots to catch small game. None of them are sprung yet. Perhaps you should be careful where you walk.
Finally you think you see a structure up ahead when an arrowhead buries itself in the tree next to your head with a thunk. It seems to come from the direction of the structure.
You see 2 camoflaged humanoid shapes about 100ft. ahead.
As you walk into the small place of worship the man in the heavy cloak turns around. The idol that you first saw is one among many in this place. When you point to the one you meant he picks it up carefully. "This is the spirit of the lycan." He motions to the rest of them on display, "All of these are the different spirits of Dusst. Strange that you do not know them. You must have come with that big boat. Are you a praying man? Why do you come this place of reverence?"
In your HUD you notice a notebook icon with a page marked Quests. It is currently empty with an option to 'add' and a greyed-out option to 'remove' a quest. You also notice an Achievements page too with one achievement already awarded. It is called To Dusst or Busst and has flavour text, "You have arrived and disembarked. Welcome to Dusst. We hope your adventures are successful and your experience points many."
The inn is one of the sturdier brick buildings, it's roof still thatched. The thick door creaks on its hinges as you enter revealing a modest common room. There are only a couple locals currently here, of course most of the village would be working at this time of day. The owner comes to greet you. "Ahh, I shall give you my best room. You must have traveled far. We rarely get outsiders except for the Tinker. Did you perhaps misread your map? There is small chance of encountering dangerous creatures here. Arch is a peaceful fishing village. Perhaps be here tonight and challenge some of the men. They might want to see how they fare against an outsider. Perhaps you would like to clear my storage cellar of rats, they like the dark," he laughs at the suggestion of such a task, "The only thing that troubles us here is Lord Carlton's men. They always take more than the fair tax, but what can a few fishermen do? I won't trouble you with our issues. I will go to the kitchen right away and get you some food and drink."
Currently AFK but can post again at any time.
Captain Wakewell nods at you, "Perhaps their records of the other continents was lost or destroyed as ours were of Dusst. I will leave them with their ignorance for now until I get more information." His first mate brought him a gift for their leader, an embossed iron cup. When he was ready one of the men on the dock left the others and lead you into the village. Only a few hundred feet away was the main Hall. It was one of the brick buildings, though for its importance it suffered wear just like the others. A couple wooden stairs led up to heavy double doors. Your guide opened one of them to let you in. This building was used for village meetings, benches lined the walls and at the far end a raised section was for those who would speak. Near the back several older men were speaking amongst each other until you entered. They come over to meet you, feigning slight surprise though clearly expecting this meeting. "Greetings newcomers. I am Tharin, chief of this village. We were surprised but glad to see your arrival. Tell us, what reason have you come to Dunloch?"
Captain Wakewell replies, "We followed inaccurate and very old charts. My ship is a trading vessel and we are from a very far land from here. If you can furnish me with an accurate map or perhaps even names and locations of larger ports I will be most grateful." He holds out the cup he had brought as a gift, "As a token of thanks for allowing strangers such as myself to land here and enter your village."
Tharin takes the cup, pleased with its crafting. "It is a splendid gift. I shall indeed give you that which you ask. And you?" Chief Tharin looks at the older Ingoswitu, "What can I do for you?"
Zerblag continues to gaze at the terrain around her, awed at it's realism.
Eventually the path comes to a building and as she slows down she flinches as an arrow sinks deep into the tree beside her, apparently a warning shot. The hobgoblin peers into the area around her to see if there's any sign of it's origin.
Seeing no obvious attackers, but assuming they must be out there somewhere she holds out empty hands and calls out a greeting, "Hail friends! I am Zerblag R`Lyeh and I come seeking the hunter's lodge. The people of Dunloch told me it was a place that I might find work of a dangerous sort."
After speaking Zerblag makes no other moves and waits to see what the reaction might be, though she continues to scan the surrounding woods for movement.
As you walk into the small place of worship the man in the heavy cloak turns around. The idol that you first saw is one among many in this place. When you point to the one you meant he picks it up carefully. "This is the spirit of the lycan." He motions to the rest of them on display, "All of these are the different spirits of Dusst. Strange that you do not know them. You must have come with that big boat. Are you a praying man? Why do you come this place of reverence?"
The Lycan, pretty cool. thinks Jeramiah. Siete Says, While I am dedicated to understanding objective reality, I also understand that it is not the bedrock of existence. I felt the spirit move me to enter the temple and speak to you. Maybe it is because the spirits feel we could help eachother. I am a stranger and would benefit from you explaining this lands religions and in turn I can help you with something you might need.
You wait several long minutes before anything else happens. A voice in the direction that the arrow came from, "Walk forward slowly. Tell us what kind of creature you are. It's dangerous to come here so silently, we mistook you for some kind of beast. Though now we see you stand on two legs and are no beast, still you look strange to our eyes. You come to hunt?"
"Led by the spirit..." the old man says and is lost in thought for a few moments. "I cannot abide being strangers. I am Aaron, caretaker of this little monument to the Spirits of Dusst. What is yours?"
"We don't have much religion here except for the larger cities where they care more for the Gods than we. Everyone lives their own lives out here. We remember the Spirits that were charged by the Gods to keep Dusst from being destroyed in the Calamity. The gods could not interfere but their servants could. We leave gifts for them and pray asking guidance and favour and thanking them for protecting us. The gods are too distant, hiding in their realms, but sometimes i can briefly feel one of the spirits as they come to see what gifts we have left for them."
"Perhaps the spirits really did send you to me. I have sensed something wrong recently. One of our young caught a strange sickness and died. We buried him a few weeks ago but whenever anyone goes to visit his grave they get a terrifying feeling and must leave. I myself have felt a dread when i go near the place. We are not a brave people. I asked the Spirits for a way to cleanse the grave. Perhaps you can find a way and help us?"
Zerblag follows the instructions, walking forward, towards the building as she speaks. "Where I come from my people are known as hobgoblins. We live beside humans, what we would call those in the village of Dunloch, as well several other people. I haven't been in the area long enough to know what people populate this region of Dusst, but the villagers of Dunloch spent some time staring at me as though I was unknown to them, so it is not surprising that you've not seen someone like me either.
"I have come to hunt and learn the ways of this area. Should you be willing to help with either of those I would be most grateful. If there are any tasks involving some amount of danger that you need done I am happy to try to assist."
Enjoying the strange simulated feeling of wind blowing his virtual hair, Zaidel follows the others.
"Led by the spirit..." the old man says and is lost in thought for a few moments. "I cannot abide being strangers. I am Aaron, caretaker of this little monument to the Spirits of Dusst. What is yours?"
"Zaidel Waskalis, sir. Nice to meet you."
"We don't have much religion here except for the larger cities where they care more for the Gods than we. Everyone lives their own lives out here. We remember the Spirits that were charged by the Gods to keep Dusst from being destroyed in the Calamity. The gods could not interfere but their servants could. We leave gifts for them and pray asking guidance and favour and thanking them for protecting us. The gods are too distant, hiding in their realms, but sometimes i can briefly feel one of the spirits as they come to see what gifts we have left for them."
The godling chuckles quietly to himself. "I'm positive the Gods and Spirits appreciate your dedication, Aaron."
"Perhaps the spirits really did send you to me. I have sensed something wrong recently. One of our young caught a strange sickness and died. We buried him a few weeks ago but whenever anyone goes to visit his grave they get a terrifying feeling and must leave. I myself have felt a dread when i go near the place. We are not a brave people. I asked the Spirits for a way to cleanse the grave. Perhaps you can find a way and help us?"
"Absolutely."
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Ingoswitu smiles brightly at Tharin. "I am here not to trade but to learn of this land and of the magic that is said to dwell here; as such, I may be staying in this town - if you'll have me, of course."
He leans forward in an almost intimate manner. "Besides notifying you that we are in your village, I'm here to ask whether there are any locations nearby that might hide the power that I seek - and conversely, as I have nothing to give as a gift, to offer my aid, as a spellcaster, albeit one with little experience, to any task that needs doing. Beware, though, that I have no knowledge of this land - and if you could remedy that, I'm sure any aid I could provide for you would be all the greater."
"Hob...goblins? My mama told me stories about goblins that her mama and her mama told her, but you're taller than they said you should be. I always thought it was stories meant to scare us to behave as children. I've never seen one of your kind, or anything else except the humans of our village. They say there are elves in the northern forest and dwarves in the mountains and orcs in the dessert, surrounding us humans that live in the plains and lowlands, but no one here goes outside the village. You must be far from here if you don't know that." He speaks as if to a child who asks why the sky is blue. "If you are indeed a hunter, go, catch something and return to prove yourself to us. Then we will speak again."
"Oh and when you return, do not sneak, make some noise so that we do not accidentally mistake you for a large turkey." You think you hear the other man stifle laughter.
Thankyou Zaidel, if there's something that could help, maybe the child's mother, Aevera, can help. She may be near the grave, or somewhere in the village. Or perhaps you wish to examine the graveyard first. Please return to me if you discover anything at all. I will be making an offering to the spirits for you. It seems fate led your boat here."
"You say you seek magic and also cast it. Forgive me for doubting but we don't see real magic often. You can stay here in Dunloch for as long as you want as our honoured guest if your abilities can prove useful in aiding us in some way." Tharin seems visibly excited, hoping that you are going to prove your magical ability in front of him here and now.
Well now, if that counted as sneaking then these people should be easy to get a jump on if it's ever needed. Interesting.
Zerblag nods in the direction of the voices. "I shall start my hunt now. Thank you for the information, and I shall see you again soon."
Zerblag starts out slowly into the forest in a random direction looking for tracks or animal trails to follow to something worth hunting.
If she finds a trail she will attempt to follow it to whatever it might lead to, this time trying to be more quiet as she might be sneaking up on prey.
Siete jumps a little at Zaidel's presence. A feeling of deja vu washes over him for some reason. Siete offers his name and hand as well. "Aaron, If you can direct us to the cemetery, we both will be happy to help...Right Zaidel?" the clone nods to the other PC.
flashes across Zaidel's HUD.
Zaidel nods at the investigator. "You bet, Siete."
Derp. Course there is a quest pop-up. And oh my god, did I really just get offered the obligatory giant rat in the cellar quest? Am I really tempted to take it? No. Bad. Stay in character.
Kyūzo nods at the innkeeper. "Far indeed. Across the ocean. No one was aware Dusst survived the Calamity thousands of years ago. But it's good to see the lands survived," he says nodding at the people waling by outside the inn. "If Arch is as peaceful as you say I fear I will be moving on shortly." No thank you rat quest. "I would like to know more of this Tinker person." Gnome. Calling it. And this Lord Carlton? He takes more than is fair? Is there no one you can bring such injustices to?"
"Good hunting, Hobgoblin," the men say as you leave.
Stalking through the trees and the brush, examining your surroundings carefully, you do eventually come upon a trail. A trampled down grass path made by a group of small, 4-legged animals. You could follow it or look for some other trail.
"Yes, go north out of the village, the entrance is lined with trinkets and flowers. Easy to find." He tells the truth, as you head north through the village only one worn down path exists leading away from it. Several women watch you as you walk towards it. The path is a few hundred feet long through sparse trees and bushes until you find a clearing ahead. A deathly quiet descends as you get closer, the usual sounds of nature are gone. The trinkets and flowers left near the end of the trail are still 30 feet from the closest grave. Such things are meant to be placed on the grave of the loved one.
"Across the ocean?" The innkeeper seems very surprised. "How is that possible, everything outside of Dusst is said to have been destroyed."
"Yes, the Lord that controls these lands from his castle. Every 3 months, his men come to collect their tax and empty our stores. Our leader tries to reason with them, but they are the law. No one cares about a little fishing village. Best to keep your head down if you see them."
"The Tinker comers around every couple months or so peddling his wares and offering repairs. He may be due soon but is sometimes delayed. Perhaps you would like to speak to our leader? You could find him in the main hall almost every day."