When they got to the town gates, all the guards relaxed, and started talking again. The town was surrounded by a low fortification. On the outward facing side was a 10-foot-high stone wall, with a heavy wooden fence across the top along the edge, while on the inside, an earthen ramp rose up to the wall, making it easy for anyone from inside the city to walk up to the edge of the wall. It wasn't something that could keep out invaders by itself, not like the huge things Richard pictured when he thought of castles or city walls, but he could see how it would give defenders of the town an advantage over anyone trying to attack it. A heavy wooden gate was open in front of them.

Location discovered: Bromwich. +60 EXP

The wagon moved slowly, because the streets of town this close to the gate were quite congested with people. The guards stayed with the merchant's wagon until he got to a large shop near the center of the town. As a few men unloaded the goods into the merchant's shop, the merchant counted out coins to pay the guards, with Hadrain getting twice as many coins as any of the other guards. The guards laughed and talked about going to the inn and getting something to drink. Richard started to follow them, thinking of the inn Evelyn had told him about, when Hadrain put his hand on Richard's shoulder. “Didn't you want to go collect that bounty?"

I guess the inn can wait a few more minutes. Getting some money in my pocket is probably a good idea anyway, I doubt anyone here takes credit cards. After getting this bounty, maybe Hadrain will come back to me to the inn where I'm supposed to meet up with Evelyn. He seems like a good guy to have on your side in a fight, if things go sideways. Richard nodded, and followed Hadrain. Hadrain led Richard into the center of town, and they reached a large building. There was a sign on the front of the building that Richard could easily read as saying “Adventurers and Mercenaries hall”

Hadrain led Richard up to a counter that said “Bounties.” It reminded Richard of some of the cages he'd seen in casinos back on Earth; it was a three-sided desk against the wall, with iron bars going from the desk up to the roof on all sides, with a door in the back wall. On the front of a desk was a counter with a small gap in the cage, and a man sitting behind the desk.

“This man killed a merrow-man by the river, a few hours walk south of town.” Hadrain said. “My men confirmed the kill, I can vouch for it.”

The man nodded. “Good to see you, Hadrain. Your word is good enough.” The man turned. “So, what's your name?”

“Richard.”

“Are you a registered adventurer?”

“No. Just got into town.” Richard hesitated. “Ah...if I wanted to register as an adventurer, how would I do that?”

The clerk pointed to a desk on the left side of the hall. “Just sign up over there, pay the fee, and then when someone's available they will cast Insight on you and record your class and skills.”

And then everyone will know I'm a Champion, and that I'm an otherworlder. And that I'm weak.

“Maybe some other time, then. I have someone in town I want to meet up with first.”

The clerk merely nodded. “Do you have any other bounties to claim?”

“I did kill 4, uh, abominations, in White Deer Wood.”

The clerk stopped and looked at him. “Abominations? Describe them.”

Richard described the strange, warped men he fought.

The clerk shook his head. “Where did you find them, and do you think there are more down there?”

“It was in a gully, where a creek flowed through a hill, with rock cliffs on both sides. They crawled up out of a hole in the ground and ambushed me from both sides. And yeah, there were at least two more that got away from me.” More that I got away from them, but this clerk doesn't need to know that.

“I think know the place you're talking about. We'll have get an adventuring team down there to clear them out, before they start to corrupt the area around them.” The clerk leaned forward. "If you were a registered adventure with a solid track record I could pay you a bounty for those 4 as well, just on your word, but as it is we have to get confirmation on those kills as well first. Would you be willing to go back there with a group of adventurers, and show them where the abominations were?”

Richard shook his head. Going back there was the last thing he wanted to do. “No, I'd rather not.”

“Ok. If I can get someone down there, and if they can confirm your kills, then we can pay you half of the bounty on them. Come back in a few days. Until then...” the clerk counted out 8 silver pieces to Richard. “This is your bounty for the marrow-man.”

Achievement earned: Bounty Hunter(novice)-Earn a bounty for slaying a monster. Bonus earned: +1 DEX

Richard took the coins and nodded. Hadrain clapped him on the shoulder, and said “You killed 4 abominations yourself? Hah, I think you're more of an adventurer than you said you were!”

“If you believe him.” Richard hadn't noticed, but a handful of people had gathered behind them and were listening to their conversation. The man speaking was wearing full armor and carrying a large sword. “I have my doubts that this man actually killed 4 abominations. It's us real adventurers who are going to have to go out and waste our time trying to confirm the story of this lying braggart.”

Hadrain turned and eyed the guy up and down. “Do you have a problem?”

“Yes, I have a problem. Look at this man. I do not care if he carries a sword, he is clearly no warrior or adventurer, he is clearly weak and soft. His story does not make any sense. How did you say you killed these abominations, exactly?”

“I didn't say. Maybe I threw my shoes at them.” Richard pointed down to his bare feet. “Believe what you want. I've been through a lot of shit in the past two days, and I don't have the energy to deal with your bullshit.” He started to leave, and the man grabbed him and pushed him. Richard stumbled and almost fell backwards.

Hadrian stood next to Richard and put his hand on his sword. So did the man who had just pushed Richard, and suddenly the whole room grew tense.

Note to self: in the future, avoid being sarcastic towards angry guys with swords.

A woman standing next to the man in armor put her hand on his shoulder.“Teodric, this isn't like you. Have you met this man before?”

Richard noticed the woman had pointed ears. Is she an elf? Are there elves in this world?

The man paused, and hesitated. “No, I don't think I have.”

“If you accuse a stranger of lying for no reason, and you're wrong, you will lose Honor in the eyes of Toran, won't you.”

Yeah. With a sinking feeling, Richard's suspicions of what was going on were confirmed. Of course he is. I knew that “without glory” trait would be a problem sooner or later.

“I...yes.” Teodric paused and pulled himself together. “This isn't like me, is it?”

“No; in all the years I've known you as a knight and an acolyte of Toran, I've never seen you act like this. Come on, let's get out of here...”

The man took one more look at Richard and frowned again but left when the elf with him gave him a nudge and led him to the door.

“I wonder what the hell that was about. Thought that guy was about to draw a weapon on us, right here in the middle of the adventurer's guild.” Hadrain paused and looked at some of the posters offering bounties around the counter. “Hey, that might be that woman those soldiers were asking about!”

On the wall, among other assorted bounties on both monsters and criminals, was a poster with a rough but recognizable sketch of Evelyn. “Wanted-mage practicing forbidden magic. 5 gold reward if captured. 2.5 gold reward if killed.”

“Now there's a bounty that could set up a young adventurer like you for life.” Hadrain said, not noticing the sudden stillness on Richard's face. “Got to say though, I wouldn't try to capture her. Trying to capture any mage is usually suicide, let alone someone who's using forbidden magic. If I saw her somewhere I'd just kill her quick, sword in the back before she even knew I was there. I know it's ugly, but it's the safest way to deal with a mage...”

Richard coughed, and hoped the hand he brought in front of his face hid his expression. I was going to bring this guy to the inn with me to meet Evelyn... “Thanks...thanks for the help collecting the bounty, Hadrain. I really do need to go meet up with some friends in town, but it was nice traveling with you.”

Richard quickly dodged Hadrian's other questions and headed out. He had a pretty good idea of where the inn was from what the other guards had said, but he was now worried Hadrian or someone might try to follow him, so he spent about an hour wandering around town and going into various shops before he circled back around to the inn.