The buckets stood where I’d left them. As I grab them to keep running, I realise they’re much lighter than they were before. The levels are the same, so I check my character sheet.

[Strength: 5]

More than twice what I started with. That’ll explain it. I take off down the path back towards town. The sun hasn’t set yet, but inside the forest it gets dark much faster. A part of me regrets not paying more attention to the trail earlier, but not much to do about that right now.

[Skill discovered: Running]

Yeah, thanks game. Just what I needed, a skill increase.

[Warning: Stamina at 40%]

What? I just started the run. Damn, the extra weight and speed must be draining my stamina. Even with my increased Endurance it’s not balancing out. I slow down my run until the stamina bar stopps dropping. I guess that’s the best I can do. I’m left at a fast walk which won’t get me back in time. Unless… If I take a shortcut through the woods… I think about it for a moment. I’m not completely certain which direction the town is from here. And I’m entirely unfamiliar with surviving in a forest during the night. On the other hand there’s Yadra and being skinned alive as she screams at me. Getting lost in the dark doesn’t seem so bad now, does it. I veer off in the approximate direction, hoping for the best.

***

[Skill increased: Athletics.]

Another near miss. I carefully step around the hole, hoping for better results on the other side. Somehow I’ve managed to wander into some sort of swamp, or marsh. Bog? I need to look up the difference at some point. On the upside, the moisture seems to be good for my skin. Annoyingly, the lack of sunlight is killing my stamina regeneration. I’ve nearly fallen into three different holes, each more wet and mucky than the last. You’d think the forest was out to get me. At least the buckets are still dry. If I lose those on the way, I’ll be really annoyed. I mean, if I can find anyone else to blame for this.

The sounds of the forest are changing subtly as I wander. The happy birdsong is segueing into insects enjoying the spring evening. If it wasn’t for my slowly getting lost it’d be a beautiful experience. Another hole in my path. This time I spot it in time to avoid it.

[Skill increased: Perception.]

If nothing else, this is good for my stat growth. I try to up my speed, keeping an eye out in case of trouble.

***

An hour later I realise I’m hopelessly lost. The sun will go down in about an hour, and I’ll be in the doghouse forever. If I survive. I sit down against a tree. There has to be something I can do. But all I have is the money and amulet I got from..

I have to summon S. Maybe she’ll be able to help me get back in time. I grab the amulet, concentrating on calling her. A few moments later, something smacks me in the head.

“What do you want? I was in the middle of something important.”

I look up at her. The darkness effect is much worse here in the forest. Only her shining eyes are shown under her hood.

“I’m lost and need to get back to town. Can you help me?”

Moving so fast I can’t see, she stabs something into my shoulder, withdrawing it with a spray of blood.

[You have been injured for 30% health.]

“I am not your autocar service, shithead. I thought you’d be some sort of serious player, not the kind of noob that’d get himself lost in the forest. Your mother does know you’re playing, right?”

I’m still reeling from the attack. Even with the stats I’ve built over the last few days she took a serious chunk with a simple attack. She continues.

“I’m going to let you go this time. But don’t think for a second you’re off the hook. Don’t call me again unless you have something important to tell me, or I’ll make this world a living hell for you.”

She lifts a blade over her head, a short sword made of darkness, preparing to end me. It occurs to me that dying will get me back to the inn in time. I’ll lose the hops though. I hold up a hand to stop her.

“Please, can you just, you know, get my stuff back to the village for me? I need it for a quest..”

Her eyes widen at this. A strange sound comes from her throat, a hoarse laugh.

“You’re serious? I’m a dark, mysterious figure in the middle of the forest about to kill you just because it’s easier than ferrying you, and you want me to do you another favour? Fine, I’ll make sure your greens and your shit gets back to the inn.”

She looks at the buckets.

“Is that your family or something?”

I open my mouth to respond just as she thrusts the weapon into my skull, ending me.

[You are in the between…]

I wave away the notification. Not my first rodeo, buddy.

The countdown is showing me an hour until I respawn back in the room. Hopefully I can trust her to get my stuff back to me. I have to think about this a bit more carefully though. By all accounts I’m supposed to get an unerring feeling when another player is nearby, as I did with Captain Tubbins. With S, there’s nothing. I mean, she’s clearly an advanced player, so maybe that’s some sort of defencive skill? I’d love to learn whatever she uses for transport though. It took her no time at all to find me.

My skills are starting to improve, slowly but steadily. The workout helped a lot with my stats, so I have to try to get some more of that done. It makes me wonder what other kinds of professions are available to me. Maybe there’s an innkeeper profession. And do I have to be taught these things explicitly like Rognstad did today, or can I unlock various options on my own? Questions for later I guess.

[Do you wish to respawn? (Warning: you will be unconscious until the clock runs out.)]

I hit yes.

***

[You are affected by Respawn Sickness: Level 4. 10 minutes remaining.]

This shit again. My stat pools are reduced significantly. Health, Mana and Stamina are all at 30% with no sign of regeneration. All my abilities are down by a good margin as well. Nothing to do about it, I have to get downstairs quick before Yadra gets in trouble. I lurch out of bed, hobbling to the stairs and climb them slowly to avoid aggravating my headache. From the kitchen, I hear shouting.

“You keep flaunting my authority, and I will not have it under my roof. I want you out of here, now. And if I see you again you’d better have made your peace with Thenida, because you’ll be fertilising the fields.”

A door slams before I can open the door. The landlady turns towards me. Her eyes widen just a little as she recognises me.

“You.. Where have you been? You look like death, and why are you unclothed. We have to start the evening serving! Oh, you useless creature, come with me.”

She drags me along, and it’s all I can do to follow her without losing balance. She takes me into her study.

[You have been granted temporary access to the Landladys Study. Your access will be revoked when you leave.]

I try not to look guilty, letting my eyes roam the room in wonder. She walks right over to a closet in the corner, opening it. Inside is a rack of clothes. All of them are clean, if a little old and worn. She picks out an outfit and hands it to me. A simple linen shirt, cloth trousers and a vest.

“These used to belong to.. They were left behind in one of the rooms years ago. Try not to lose them as well, and get out there. The dinner service must continue.”

I hurry to put on the clothes, noting the remarkable fit. It’s like they were made for me.

[Your relationship with Yadra has changed to Animosity.]

[Your relationship with Betha has changed to Uncertainty.]

[You are affected by Respawn Sickness: Level 3. 30 minutes remaining.]

Shit. I need to find her, to apologise. Running out of the landladys office, I go through the kitchen. Betha is in here, collecting a bunch of plates to be served. She raises her head as I come in.

“Oh, uhm, can you get the beer while I.. Where are you going?”

I reach the door, about to open it when a notification pops up.

[Attention: If you leave the inn without permission, you will have failed your obligation. A bounty will be put on your head. Any active quests in the township of Hogsmudd will fail.]

I stop, hand on the doorknob. If I do this, I’ll have to leave this place, start again somewhere else. Maybe far away. I won’t be able to tell the others where I’m going, I won’t be able to pick up my stuff, I’ll be without money. I have to stay. Yadra will have to be okay on her own for now. She’s an NPC, she knows how to get by. I turn around, looking at Betha.

“I’ll get the beer, you start serving. And if anyone pinches you, let me know and I’ll give them the terrible beer.”

She looks much more relaxed as she walks out into the main hall.

[Skill discovered: Leadership]

[Ability increased: Charisma]

I sigh, going down to the cellar and filling the mugs.

“Really, this is the deathly important task you had to get back for?”

I spill the mug I’m filling, shouting in surprise. S is there, leaning against the wall. I take a deep breath, picking the mug off the floor and continue pouring.

“Yeah. Still managed to fuck it up though. I shouldn’t have been so impatient building my skills. My coworker, Yadra, was covering for me, and she got punished because I was late coming back.”

S is quiet for a moment. I offer her a mug I pulled from the mayors cask, and she accepts it.

“It’s not easy, working with NPCs. They seem so real some times. The person you’re looking for, is that an NPC too?”

She takes a sip, making an appreciative sound.

“Yeah. Brother of a friend of mine. Rubbish at stealth, at investigation and common sense. He decided to come out here anyway, tracking the damn cult. I think it was Prime that put him up to it, to spice things up. I hate him.”

I finish stacking the mugs, getting ready to carry them upstairs.

“You don’t feel like a player. Why is that?”

Her smile is visible under the hood.

“That’s a secret. Right now, you’re playing at a level where knowing too much about would get you in trouble. If you ever reach another level, I might clue you in. I left your stuff in your room by the way. From now on, when you get lost, fix it yourself. You took me away from an important stakeout. It’ll be days before I get another shot at checking out the Candrid farm.”

I stop midstep.

“Candrid? Like Oltab and Tiene Candrid? The big farm up on the hill?”

She looks at me quizzically before replying.

“Yeah. When I checked out the knife you found, it led me to a cave near their farm. I wasn’t able to scout it out properly, but if the right kind of fungus grows there, it’d be perfect for the toxin that killed you. There was a group about to go in there when you called me.”

“Was there a young woman in the group?”

“I don’t know. There were three females and three males. One of the males walked with a cane. It was too dark to see any details.”

That was still pretty detailed.

“I have to get back upstairs. Obligation and all. But before you do anything permanent up there, do you mind if I check with my friend? Tiene Candrid, she’s the youngest one, and she seems pretty unhappy there.”

I turn back, and S is gone already. Feeling annoyed, I return upstairs. I hope the evening passes quickly.