“Sir, I came out and found Wilbur and Alburet talking. Alburet stated he wanted to see you and Wilbur called him Summoner scum, Sir. After Alburet suggested we all speak with you he called Wilbur by another name. Wilbur objected to being called Skippy and seemed to grow agitated, and when Alburet called him by that name again Wilbur swung at him. Alburet then promptly applied the choke hold you were telling me about when Wilbur missed his attack. I advised Alburet to release Wilbur or face charges, he did so just before you came out, Sir.” Steven replied in a matter of fact tone, standing at attention.
Roberto turned back to Alburet, sighing, “Why did you provoke him?”
“I didn’t. He was provoking me, sir. He has multiple times now called me scum and told me I belong in the gutter just due to my vocation. All I did was use the wrong name and he attacked me. All I was doing was coming to see if I could talk you into a mutually beneficial transaction, paying me to help train your men in the techniques I showed you yesterday.”
Roberto rubbed his head with one hand before replying, “That isn’t going to be possible right now. Look, Wilbur’s father is a lower noble in the city which means when he complains to daddy dearest we will be told to bring you in for assaulting a guard. I suggest you head out of town for a bit, maybe head east to raise your standing with the city by killing goblins.”
“That was why I wanted to make some coin helping train,” Alburet said. “I’m flat broke. I’ve got a handful of silver and copper to my name at the moment.”
Roberto frowned before pulling out two gold, “Call this advanced payment for later training and get going.”
Quest: Return later to help Roberto train the guard
Reward: Coin and reputation with the guard
Optionaclass="underline" Return the gold to cancel the quest
Warning: abandoning this quest will mark
you as a thief with the guards of Stormguard.
Alburet took the two coins, “I’ll be back after a day or two, then. Thank you sir,” Alburet snapped off a textbook salute before grabbing his staff and walking out of the stockade yard.
Roberto watched him go with a thoughtful face. Wilbur groaned as he woke up. Looking down, Roberto sighed, “Wilbur get up, you are to take the day off and think about why it might be inappropriate to make decisions for your superiors. Steven, make sure he heard that and takes the day off.” Steven saluted as Roberto went back into the training building.
Alburet walked for a bit, lost in thought wondering if he had just opened up a can of worms with Wilbur before shaking his head. He looked around to find a guard to get directions to the place he get could buy a portal to the stronghold near the goblin fort. He thanked the guard before walking that way with a slight spring to his step, thinking of a day of grinding mobs and making cash.
Halfway across the city is what it felt like when he finally came to an imposing tower that took up as much room as four normal buildings and rising high into the sky. Alburet chuckled at the classic wizard’s tower look before going in the front door, which stood wide open. Inside was a spacious waiting area with chairs and tables and a single desk near the back of the room in front of a double staircase. Behind the desk sat a stunning redhead who was smiling as he approached.
“Greetings, and welcome to the transport guild, sir. What can we do for you today?” she asked in a voice that rang with actual happiness and not just polite professionalism.
Chuckling, Alburet replied, “Glad to see someone enjoying their job. I wanted to inquire about getting out to the stronghold to the east so I can help thin down the goblin population.”
“That is a popular destination right now,” She said glancing down at a tome open before her. “It is a single gold per person but we do offer a discount if you are going as a group with others.”
Alburet looked back at the waiting area, which was empty, “Looks like it will be just me…”
He cut off when another person came running over to the desk. “Hi, how much to take the portal to the eastern garrison?”
The redhead looked from Alburet to the new comer momentarily, “As I was just telling this gentleman, who was here before you, it is a single gold per person though we do offer a group discount depending on how many are going at once in a party.”
The newcomer looked over at Alburet and nodded, “You off to farm the gobs, too?”
“That was my idea, yes. Did you want to form a party to take advantage of the group rate?” Alburet asked curiously.
“Yeah, that would be awesome,” the bone thin man said, brushing the shock of long black hair back from his face. “Name is DrFrank, what’s yours?”
Alburet raised a brow at the name before replying, “Alburet.” He stressed the syllables for the new player to make sure it was clearly heard, Al-Burr-Et. “What class?”
“Oh, Necro. You?”
“Funny. I’m a Summoner. So do you guys get golems at higher levels?”
“Oh yeah, man. That’s our big minion after the skeletons and zombies,” Frank said, enthused.
The redhead coughed gently, “So, a group rate then?”
Alburet smiled, “Sounds like.” He stopped when a notification appeared before him, he read it and accepted noting the second portrait along with health and mana bars that appeared under his.
DrFrank wants to form a party.
“Let’s do this, man,” Frank said as he dug out a gold. “Here’s my half, babe,” he said, dropping it on the desk before the redhead.
Alburet sighed inwardly before he also dug out a gold and set it before the receptionist. “Here’s my portion as well, miss,” he said with an apologetic smile to her.
The redhead nodded, taking the coins and handing back 10 silver to each of them. “Have a seat and one of our men will be with you shortly.”
The duo walked over to the chairs and sat down and Frank was talking again. “You know your class is the weakest in the game, right?”
“I wouldn’t be so sure about that,” Alburet said. “My imp did okay for me earlier, just really need a tank pet.”
“We can keep the party together when we get there then, if you want. My skeletons can tank for us while we blast away at stuff.” Frank said, looking around like he was bored of waiting already.
“We can try it out and see if it works,” Alburet replied as a robed gentleman came over to them.
“Greetings. The portal is ready for you two, if you will follow me.” The robed man turned and began to walk off. Frank jumped to his feet and hurried after the NPC, stopping every few steps so as not to pass the man. Alburet just walked along behind, content with the pace.
“So annoying how they all walk,” Frank said as he stopped again. “I mean, who does that in a game, am I right?” He turned to see Alburet walking along at the same speed as the NPC.
“You’re absolutely right, no one walks in a game.” Alburet said with a bland smile, watching Frank’s brow furrow.
“No need to be a smart ass, man,” Frank said as he paused again, “it’s just asinine. I mean we can run for hours, so having to walk for the NPC’s is fucking stupid.”
Alburet couldn’t have disagreed more, but held his tongue as he didn’t want to start an argument. They were led up the stairs and to a room with a blue circle with runes inscribed around it that was glowing and pulsing as if in time to invisible music. “Here we are, gentlemen. Just step into the circle and it will whisk you to your destination,” the NPC said as he stepped out of the way.
Frank darted into the circle and vanished causing Alburet to sigh as he turned to the man. “Thanks for the service. I am more than happy with everything, unlike the young one who already left.” He held out a silver, “Please split that with the receptionist. She was most helpful.”
The portal mage chuckled, pocketing the coin, “We normally split any tips we receive sir, but I will let her know you specified. Safe journey and happy hunting to you.” He watched with a thoughtful expression as Alburet stepped into the portal before going back down to speak with the receptionist.