The Tradesman’s Hall turned out to be a large plaza with individual offices around the outside while the middle was full of open air workshops and even a kitchen. Each office was marked with a sign signifying their respective trades, some of which were familiar like the anvil for a blacksmiths while other symbols were completely unfamiliar.

“So how does this place work Tanya?” Micky asked looking around the open space, “do we go to the offices or the workshops?”

“That kind of depends” Tanya gestured to the offices, “what kind of Skills are you looking for? Are we looking to get you some new skills or have some of your old Skills system recognized? We can also look at getting some more Abilities for Skills that you have already unlocked.”

“I don’t really know what kind of skills I might have that aren’t recognized, back at home. I was a decent writer and I cooked a lot” Micky trailed off.

“Ok, we can definitely work with that. Let’s head to the scholars guild first and get you writing. Once the system has recognized your skill in writing we will have a look at the active or passive Abilities they have available, there might by some synergy there with the Bard Class” Tanya said striding towards the office marked with a fountain pen sign.

Long wooden bookshelves lined both walls of the small scholars guild office, bowing slightly under the weight of the leather bound tomes lined neatly atop them. Sat behind a smooth brass and pine desk was a thin, pale man in a grey woolen suit with patches at the elbow. At first Micky assumed the figure was human, but this impression was quickly dispelled when he lifted his gaze from the desk, revealing eight glossy, black arachnid eyes set in a spray over a thin wide mouth.

Micky felt a visceral fear bubble up through his stomach. Unable to prevent his reaction from showing he took an instinctive step back.

Noticing the response the man raised his hands widely palms turned up to face Micky and Tanya. “Ah, you must be a new arrival, please do not be alarmed. I assume you the o'rgimchak ruhi are as civilized as all the other peoples of Outremer. I take it from your response you a from a ‘verse with predators which resemble us?” He asked?

“Uh yeah, we have spiders. I’m sorry if I offended you” apologized Micky, “it took me by surprise a little.

“It is understandable to be alarmed by the unfamiliar, but it does not do to let it control us. I am Alisher” the man said placidly, rising from his chair to offer Micky and Tanya his hand.

Embarrassed by his reaction Micky stepped forward to shake the offered hand, noticing as he did that each of the long delicate fingers had four joints and where he would have expected to see a fingernail there was instead a sharp tapered point.

“Perhaps you can tell me about these spiders and I can teach you of the o’rgimchak. Thus neither will be unfamiliar and deserving of apprehension” he said as he took Tanya’s hand in turn.

“That sounds good to me” said Micky with relief, following the man and sitting opposite him as he moved back to the desk.

“But before we can share such knowledge we must attend to business. I am sure you came here for a reason” Alisher said.

“Micky here has just arrived in Outremer and I’m helping him get some Skills and hopefully some Abilities under his belt” Tanya said, speaking up for the first time as she dropped into the chair beside Micky.

“Improving oneself is a worthy goal, even for those of us born here”, Alisher turned to Micky before continuing “helping individuals to demonstrate their skills to the system is a core part of our function at the scholars guild. As such any testing is conducted is free of charge. However should you wish to learn any of the Abilities we have on offer they will be charged at the standard rate.”

Micky turned to Tanya, “I read about this in the IP, standard rates are 10 silver for an Ability at the Novice level, 1 gold for Apprentice level Abilities, and 10 Gold for Journeyman level”

“Yeah that’s pretty much right, although it can be hard to find a trainer for anything above the journeyman level Abilities as the teacher would need to be at at least the Expert level themselves” Tanya explained.

“A fine summation from both of you”. Alisher passed Mickey a silver fountain pen and a sheet of paper. “Now for this to work best I want you to write about something familiar to you in the style you know best. Please take your time.”

What to write about? Thought Micky, I could go full academic and rewrite some of my work from the University, or maybe -

Before Micky could begin writing Tanya rose from her chair. “As much fun as it would be to watch you write singer boy, I’m going to go check a few bars to organize a venue for you to play at tonight”.

“Okay, that sounds excellent, thanks Tanya.” Micky looked up from the page and gave her a friendly wave.

“If you get finished in here you can head for the Provisioners Guild and I’ll meet you there. It’s the sign of the crossed forks just across the plaza.” Tanya offered her own jaunty wave to both Micky and Alisher before gliding from the room.

Half an hour and a few false starts with the fountain pen later Micky looked down at the sheet of paper relatively pleased with what he had written. In the end he’d decided to write something Alisher would like, in part as an apology for his earlier actions. He hadn’t worked in the biology department at Victoria, but he had helped to edit several of there works for publication.

An Introductory Guide to the Spiders of New Zealand

by Micky Taylor

*Ding* In recognition of your actions the system has recognized your Skill.

Skill Acquired: Writing - Academic. Novice (32)

“Congratulations on finishing your first piece of writing in Outremer Micky, has the system acknowledged your work?” Asked Alisher.

“Yep, I got the ‘Writing - Academic Skill. Novice (32) as well” Micky gestured to the paper. This is for you as well.”

Alisher took the paper delicately on one side to avoid smudging the still drying ink. “Novice (32) is most impressive for a system recognized skill. You are within touching distance of the Apprentice milestone”. Looking down at the paper a small crept over his face, exposing the hint of fangs at the edge of his top lip. “A spider guide. This is most thoughtful of you.”

Micky looked slightly abashed. “I felt pretty bad about how I reacted before, I’m still pretty new to this whole Outremer thing. My ‘verse only had one sentient species.”

“I completely understand, there is no obligation between us for your response” Alisher responded whilst looking reading through the first part of the essay.

Alisher place the page on his desk before reaching into one of the drawers to withdraw a cloudy hexagon of glass. “Now that you have demonstrated your written Skill under the system we can begin to look at Abilities. Do you have either the mundane or magical research Skills?”

“Yeah, mundane research was one of the skills I came to Outremer with” responded Micky with quiet pride.

“That is most fortunate, there is a great deal of synergy between the writing and research skills. Would you interested in acquiring the magic research skill as well?” Asked Alisher.

“Is that possible?” Micky responded quickly, thinking about all the things he could achieve or learn with the Skill.

“Indeed, with a little effort when can unlock it now, I have a series of objects and reports on their origins and uses which should help you to gain at least Novice (1) in magical research.” Alisher gracefully rose from his chair and walked over to the bookcase. Withdrawing a key from the breast of his jacket pocket he unlocked a small drawer and withdrew a manilla envelope and placed it on the desk before Micky.

“Take the object from the envelop and use the “Examine’ Skill on it, and then read the document describing it it detail. Use the ‘Examine’ Skill on the object again and see if you can glean any further information on it. If you have the requisite aptitudes for the Skill then it will be unlocked by the System.”

“That sounds pretty straightforward mate, ill give it a go” replied Micky.

Unwinding the string fastener from the envelope Micky reached in his hand and withdrew a dull green column the circumference and length of his thumb. One end had be bevelled to a smooth finish while the other was ragged, as though it had been snapped roughly from a larger whole.

Concentrating on the object Micky activated “Examine’

Item Name: Bio-mechanical Piston (ruined)

Description: Part of a larger device which blended organic components and arcane technologies. The piston was recovered from a semi-permanent convergence after it snapped free from a hostile entity.

Well, that’s not ominous at all thought Micky as he reached for the report.

Five minutes of discomforting reading later Micky returned his attention to the fragment and activated ‘Examine’ a second time.

Item Name: Karstbone Bio-mechanical Piston (ruined)

Description: Part of a larger device intended to created rotational force which blended organic components and arcane technologies. The larger device was used as both weapon and mining tool by its wielder.

The piston was recovered from a semi-permanent convergence after it snapped free from a hostile entity after a confrontation that resulted in several deaths.

*Ding* congratulations, your Examine Ability has reached Level 2

*Ding* congratulations, you have unlocked the Skill - Research (Magical) at Novice (1)

Seeing that Micky has replaced the envelope’s content Alisher puts down the book he was reading. “Did you receive more information on the second examination?”

“I unlocked magical research as a Skill and I improved my ‘Examine’ Ability” Micky smiled warmly.

“Spectacular, have a look through this crystal, it contains a list of all the skills we offer and the perquisites” said Alisher handing Micky the cloudy hexagon. “Once you have had a chance to look through what we offer I can answer any questions you might have and provide any Abilities you request.”

“Wonderful” answered Micky distractedly, his attention already focusing on the warm crystal in his hand.