Out in the world for the first time since I entered the game, the first thing that hits me is the coldness of the climate here. It can’t be much later than early spring. My aching body misses the desert sun from the tutorial. I wrap my arms around my body as I hurry to the town hall. If there’s mail service anywhere in town, it’ll be in there.

“Hey watch it!”

I’m distracted by the shout, right before my world turns upside down, and I’m in the mud once again. Next to me is a muddy apparition wearing what must have been a pretty dress only seconds before. Some decidedly unladylike syllables escape from her mouth as she struggles to get to her feet.

“You complete idiot, why don’t you watch where you’re going?”

She has the look of a drowned cat, her eyes staring at me from between strands of muddy blonde hair. I barely have time to register how many women I seem to be running into when she lays into me.

“I’ve saved months for this dress, I finally got it in the mail, and you, you totally inconsiderate backwards facing green faced .. Wait, why’s your face green?”

She’s close enough to see past my muddy exterior now, her attention drawn away from her own predicament, postponing my troubles.

“Uhh, I’ve got dryads blood ma’m.”

Her eyes refocus on mine as she suddenly remembers what’s happening.

“And if you think that’s going to save you from paying the cleaners bill, you’ve got another thing coming, you lousy waste of space.”

[Quest received. Clean the dress. From bungling a simple agility check you have gained the gift of a new task! Repay this woman for the inconvenience you have caused her before her deadline, or face the consequences. Rewards for success: Higher standing with the young woman. Failure/Refuse: Lower standing with the town of Hogsmudd, small bounty with the kings huntsmen. Time Limit: 2 days.]

I swallow heavily and accept, trying to regain my footing in the conversation.

“I’m really sorry about all this. My name is TeeCee. How can I find you when I’ve got the money together?”

She’s still pretty livid, but my introduction seems to have reminded her of decorum. She straightens up and holds out her hand for me to shake. I do so, ignoring the clump of mud falling off her.

“I am Tiene Candrid, youngest daughter of Oltab Candrid. Charmed to make your acquaintance.”

She even curtsies when she introduces herself, nearly tripping over in the mud again. I reach out to catch her this time, and the look on her face tells me it is not appreciated. I barely resist the urge to drop her back into the mud.

“So your family lives up on the hill then? I think I can find it. How much do you think it’ll cost?”

“Fifty silver pieces, at least. And that’s if you can get it by mid day two days from now. If not, it’ll be a rush job, and cost twice that.”

She turns to huff off, then catches herself, turns around and does another curtsy.

“It was a pleasure meeting you, sir.”

I’m about to reciprocate, but she’s gone before I get the chance. Strange people in this town.

[Your total level of debt has risen to 50 silver, 6 days of servitude]

I finally get to enter the town hall, making sure to brush off all the dirt I can before passing through the doors. The building is well lit with a fireplace in one corner, and a candelabra hanging from the ceiling. A young man is sitting by the front desk writing something in a large ledger. Next to him is a box with the word ‘Mail’ written on the side. I walk up, clearing my throat to get his attention.

“Hello and welcome to Hogsmudd. If you want to pay your taxes, donate to the town coffers or sponsor a town project, please stand to the right. If you need mail services or want to apply for citizenship, stand to your left. If you need anything else, please hold and a member of staff will be right with you.”

I blink for a moment before I step to the left and wait. He takes a deep breath, letting it out with a pained sigh and looks up at me.

“Hello sir, how may I be of assistance today?”

“Hi, I’m TeeCee. I’d like to learn about your mail services please.”

He takes a pamphlet from his desk handing it over to me.

“Please read this thoroughly and have a wonderful day.”

His smile lasts until the last word is uttered, then he goes back to his ledger, leaving me to my pamphlet. I sit down by the fireplace and read about the local mail services. Apparently I first have to pay for an account, 10 silver for the cheapest option, then I can start receiving mail others have sent. If I want to send mail of my own, there’s a basic charge of 5 silver per letter, or a charge based on bulk and weight for parcels. If I upgrade my account to a premium service, the charges go down. Seems simple enough, but there’s still the matter of getting any money whatsoever. I make my way back to the guy, and get the exact same speech. This time I just stand there waiting. After a minute he looks back up, puts on his customer service smile, and enquires as to my business.

“Is there some sort of banking service in the town? I’d like to borrow some money for startup costs. There was an incident, and I find myself in an unfortunate situation. I’m a hard worker, and I’m good with numbers.”

The clerks smile goes from friendly to smug in an instant.

“I’m sorry sir, this is a poor farming village. We don’t rate a proper bank, so the only option would be to borrow from anyone who feels your moral character is sufficient. I must say though, that I don’t envy your chances. Everyone in town knows about your little first day party at the Salty Swine. Anyone who trusts the captain like that can’t be much good with money. I’m afraid it’s hard work for you, unless you can convince someone important that you’re being unfairly treated.”

[You have discovered a new quest: I’m innocent! Clearly, you’re not. But there are extenuating circumstances. If you can trick someone important enough into believing you, you may get away with your shenanigans. Rewards: Success: Clear your debt to the Salty Swine and it’s ominous landlady. Failure/Refusal: Keep serving, see if I care.]

What the hell is going on with these prompts..

“Thanks for your help bud. What’s your name anyway?”

“You can call me Mr. Houg. Please let me know if I can do anything else for you.”

By his body language, he lets me know I’ve been dismissed, and I let myself out into the cold. With the choice of either exploring further or returning to the inn, I decide to check out my room.

The inn is getting pretty packed, and I have vague recollections of some of the people there. Especially as when I enter the room, everyone raises a glass in cheer, then bursts out laughing. I’m not sure where all these people came from, there are many more now than there was for lunch. I guess this is where families gather some nights. I slink off through the room, seeing Betha take the long way around to avoid me as she serves the customers. Once upstairs the noises from the main hall is muffled, and I find my little slice of heaven. It’s a small room with a shoddy bed stuffed with old hay. When I throw myself down on it, a cloud of dust explodes into the little room. When I open the window to air it out, I’m hit by a cold wind that blows out the only light I have. When I finally get it closed, I’m left sitting on my bed in the cold room feeling pretty miserable.

A heavy knock on the door wakes me up from a light slumber, and I get up to answer. Outside is Yadra, the cleaver in hand.

“Time to work, shithead. Bethas on early shift tomorrow, so it’s you and me tonight.”

As to emphasize a point, she brandishes the cleaver. I gesture for her to go ahead, which is met by a scoff.

“How about you go first, tulip.”

I nervously lead the way downstairs, acutely aware of the danger behind me. The state of the main hall is much better tonight, and cleaning it takes less than an hour. When I finish, Yadra flings a simple meal at me, spilling the soup. My stomach growls at the prospect, and I finish the meal much faster than I should have. Afterwards, I look at the angry barmaid.

“It really was an accident.”

She scoffs again, going back to cleaning dishes angrily.

“I spilled all the mugs, and in my haste I forgot to pick the right barrel for the mayor. Is there anything I can do to make it up to her?”

The mugs squeak under her tense ministrations.

“Just tell her I’m sorry, okay? I’ll find a way to make it right.”

As I’m about to walk outside to get some fresh air, she starts talking to me.

“You’re not the first adventurer to come through here.”

I stop in the doorway, letting the door close in front of me.

“She used to be much more outgoing, much more.. Let's say friendly. But too many bad eggs spoiled the pudding. Now, she’ll sulk all day, jump at shadows and just accept any punishment the miss doles out.”

Turning towards me, she rests her hand on the cleaver at her side.

“Leave her alone, and don’t set her up anymore. And if she forgives you, scare her off. She deserves better than your kind.”

[Ability discovered: Charisma]

I nod, exiting the building. The dark night is quiet, with nothing but the sounds of nightbirds to interrupt the ambiance. Checking to see I’m alone, I head to the larder to explore a little more. I wasn’t planning on doing anything criminal or wrong while I was here, but I know there’s something off about this place, and the larder is the easiest place I’ve found to investigate. Inside it’s as dark as sin. I make sure the door is completely closed before I light the lamp. It’s eerie in here with all the animal carcasses hanging from the ceiling, sausages by the coil, pies and various sundry. I hurry to the barrel in the corner and manage to wrangle it away from its resting place. Underneath, I find the trap door, a ring of iron in for a handle. Even when I’m moving as gently as possible, the sound coming from the hinges is deafening, and I stand still for a few moments just waiting for someone to come racing in. Nothing.

The hatch leads to a cellar dug into the earth. The edges seem to be hardened by some kind of fire, preventing it all from falling in. The air down here is much colder than upstairs, and I quickly see why. A pedestal is placed in the middle of the small room, with a tiny creature sitting on top. Like a parrot made from crystal. As soon as it notices me it raises its wings, opening its beak in a silent cry. Curiosity getting the better of me, I move closer. The creature charges towards me, claws first, trying to hit me. Shortly before it hits me, a chain goes tight, causing it to fall, landing by the pedestal. After a short recovery, it flies back up to the pedestal, impotently pecking at the point where the chain attaches to the pedestal.

[Ability discovered: Curiosity]

“You poor thing..”

It looks at me curiously.

“Are you hungry? Do you eat anything?”

Another silent cry. I venture moving a little closer, holding my hand out in front of me. Hopefully I won’t lose any fingers. It keeps staring until I get a little too close, then it opens its beak, warning me off.

“It’s okay fella, I get it. I just want to look at your chain.. I don’t know if I can release you. I guess you’re the secret as to why this place is cold, huh.”

With some time and patience, the cryoparrot calms down enough for me to inspect the pedestal. The chain is made from a silvery metal, embedding itself into the base. The only other distinguishing feature of the block is a small keyhole on one side.

“I’m guessing this is how I’d unlock it if I had the key. Do you know who has it?”

It looks at me with a blank expression.

“Right, no voice, sorry. It’s probably the landlady anyway.”

I step back to the ladder and look to the bird.

“I’m sorry dude, I don’t even know if keeping you here is against any laws.. It feels wrong, but I’m really new here. I’ll have a look around, and if I get a good opportunity, I’ll try to let you out, okay?”

The only response is a lot of flapping, so I climb back up top. I replace the barrel quickly, erasing my tracks as thoroughly as possible. Yadra has left the kitchen by the time I pass by, and I sneak an extra piece of bread for later. Using a lantern from the hallway, I light the lamp in my room and settle down for my first real nights sleep in this strange world. As I’m drifting away, I can hear soft sobs coming from one of the neighbouring rooms, and I feel horrible again.