“Yes, but I need a break for a few hours,” Karen said, her customary smirk back in place. “Don’t forget to see the Commander for your gold. Where would you like to meet in Stormguard later to celebrate our success?”
“I’ve been over at the Dead Man Inn, good food there,” Alburet replied. “I need to see about another set of clothes as well, that assassin really fucked up my gear by killing me three times.”
“Okay, so meet up at the inn in three hours?”
“Works. See you there, Karen.”
Karen nodded, pulling her Homestone and using it. Alburet turned to Tiny and Bob, “Okay, take a break guys. I’m going to head back to Stormguard.” He pulled out his Homestone as the demons vanished.
Once he appeared in the graveyard, Alburet opened up his character screen to apply his stat points. When that was done he checked what spell he received at level thirteen, which turned out to be Demonic Retribution rank 2. Alburet read over the updated spell, seeing that the damage had doubled to 10 and the mana cost to cast was increased to 50. It still only lasted five minutes. Shrugging, mildly nonplussed only getting an upgraded spell rather than a new one, he wandered off to sell the stuff he’d looted during the day.
As he walked it struck him again how alive the city was, with people moving about going about personal business. He had to dodge around a pair of old women who suddenly stopped in front of him to start talking about their grandkids. His sudden swerve caused both of them to eye him warily, but he only grinned at them as he kept on going. In a good mood he reached the leather shop, Tanned Hides, the small bell attached to the door announcing his entry.
He heard the owner, Almira Smoothskin, arguing with a customer over the price of a hardened leather chest piece. “I’m telling you, that is the final price. If you don’t like it take your business elsewhere. I would tell you to try making a piece like this yourself but you two-souled can’t craft anything.”
The customer sneered at Almira, “Uppity fuckin’ elf bitch, maybe someone should teach you that the customer is always right.” The customer tossed her blonde hair back over her shoulder as the condescending words cascaded from her lips. “You won’t make any money from me or my friends once I tell them about your shitty service, fucking NPC.” The player stormed out of the shop, leaving the door open as she went.
Alburet calmly shut the door, shaking his head in exasperation at how people acted even in a game. Turning, he saw that Almira was looking at him with a stern gaze, as if to ask if he was going to start as well. A small smile quirked his lips as he gave her a small bow, “I promise I am much more civil, Miss Smoothskin. I have just come to sell off some of this loot I’ve picked up today.”
Almira sighed softly, nodding, “Of course. I’m glad the crown pays us for doing this, otherwise I would be turning people away. You two-souled are very industrious when it comes to killing monsters in the wilds.”
“And some of us even know how to speak properly,” Alburet chuckled, “or at least, politely.” He began to lay out the leather he’d looted, setting aside a few pieces. Once he had all the leather out he took those pieces he set aside and equipped them. It wasn’t better than his Demon Skin, but he could wear it without giving away his relation to Demons. “Okay, all of this here is what I’d like to sell.”
Almira took her time checking the loot before nodding, “I’ll take it. I’m curious why you didn’t equip some of it out in the field.”
Alburet looked away before replying, “I have an ability that hardens my skin to equal to this, but it lowers my ability to interact with people.”
One of Almira’s eyebrows went up, “Summoner?”
Shrugging, Alburet nodded, “I understand if you do not want me back in the shop.”
Pursing her lips, Almira sighed, “I don't discriminate based on vocation and you haven’t struck me as a bad person. So for now I will continue to treat you as a valued customer. The customer who just left was a Paladin, for frack’s sake and she was way less pleasant than you’ve been.”
Chuckling Alburet replied, “Yeah a lot of us are self-absorbed, sadly. I thank you for treating me fairly. Goodness knows many don’t, including among the city guards.”
Almira held out several gold coins, “Six gold for the lot.”
Taking the coin, he thanked her before heading to the chain armor shop to sell off mail armor. He went to Grimgar’s last with a bounce to his step as he entered. The small bell jingled, announcing him, which brought Grimgar from the back of the shop.
“Afternoon, Grimgar,” Alburet greeted the owner as he went to the counter and began to unload weapons. “How’s business today?”
“Welcome back, lad. Business be fine,” Grimgar replied as he checked the weapons Alburet was laying out on the counter. “Seems ye been busy, eh?”
“Orc slaying for the most part. Need to go see a tailor after this, my clothes have taken a beating.”
“It does me glad to see ye wearin’ some armor at least,” Grimgar said, counting out gold. “I can give ye eight gold for the lot. How is the maul workin’ out?”
“I’ll take it,” Alburet replied. “It was wonderful. Unfortunately the durability has taken a huge hit. I got killed three times by an assassin which really did a number on it.”
“Aich, why be ye messin’ with that ugly lot?”
“Wasn’t my plan, but I pissed off a minor noble house and they got their panties in a twist. So they decided having me killed three times was the answer. It’s over now. I plan to look into why the kid I pissed off thought three times was the magic number.”
Shaking his head, Grimgar sighed, “Aich, iffen it was a young noble than ye might never find out as most o’ them be without reason at all.”
Laughing, Alburet put the gold away before turning to the door, “Right you are Grimgar. See you later.”
“Aye lad, be safe and try not to run afoul of them assassins again, eh?”
Stepping out into the street, Alburet paused to soak in the sights. He was still impressed by how alive the game was. The NPCs acted like people would in real life, from those who were simply going about the business of day to day life to the shop owners. He smiled as he watched a brother and sister playing tag around a put upon looking woman who was probably their mother. He set off to the tailor to see about new clothes and to check on the set Mrs. Wilson, the tailor, was making for him.
Alburet entered Silken Needles, smiling at the simple jingle bells that announced people entering shops. Margret was behind the counter. She looked up with a polite smile on her face that widened when she saw it was him. “Welcome back, Alburet. Your clothes should be done tomorrow.”
Returning the smile, Alburet nodded, “My thanks, but what I came for right now is to see about another set of clothes for day to day wear. These have done me well but sadly they’ve taken a rather severe beating over the last few days. Do you have anything you can alter for me?”
Lips compressing slightly, Margret frowned, “My clothes should have held up better than that.”
Sighing, Alburet explained his encounters with the assassin much to Margret's shock. “My goodness, that would of course account for the excessive wear on the clothing. Are you sure it’s safe for you now?”
“The assassin was kind enough to assure me that three was the number to be met and he did ensure my death thrice, so hopefully. Can you do what I am asking of you?”
“Of course. A full set will cost fifty silver. I can have them ready in an hour or I can have them delivered to someplace in the city for you.”
“Wonderful. Would you have them dropped off at the Dead Man Inn for me, please?”
Her smile vanished and her lips thinned, “You’re with them?”
Blinking for a moment Alburet felt a loss before he nodded, “Yes. If this is a problem, I can take my business elsewhere if you wish me to, Mrs. Wilson.”