I stretch my achy muscles, bumping into a body lying next to me.

“About time you woke up. Dawn will break soon.”

She drags out her s more than necessary. Probably trying to unnerve me. I turn my head, meeting yellow, narrow slitted eyes.

“Good morning to you too, Rishi.”

A long tongue flickers out from between her lips as she smiles. Admittedly, that’s a little unnerving. She grabs me, pulling me close.

“I missed you, Tee. I’m going to punish you, of course, but I’m happy to see you.”

Her voice is earnest, unusually vulnerable. I laugh, a feeling of comfort rushing through me. She’s still the same, we both are. She’s about to pull away to shout at me, but I hug her back. After a minute, I release her and sit up straight.

“Time to do some work, snake girl. The farm waits for no one.”

She groans, grabbing a handful of straw to cover her head, hiding her face. I leave her there, chuckling as I exit.

Getting outside to the dawn, I find Mika and Tiene sitting around the campfire. A kettle is heating up in the flames as he stirs a skillet filled with vegetables and meat of some kind. She’s observing his actions intently, often sneaking a glance at his literally rock hard body. I ignore it for now, focusing on the delightful smells as I go to the fields. When I get there, I’m met by an unexpected sight. Two fields are covered in the miners sludge, one field is bare dirt and the last one has the voidsiphon, happily growing. I investigate the bare field first.

Field 2: small (100x100).Current crop: Fallow.Soil quality: Normal (high mineral content).Field needs to be prepared for planting. - Clear debris from field. - Remove weeds. - Select crop for planting. (multiple choices available).

Was this a result of the surge, or is it Leonas new powers. Either way the timing is perfect. I look at the other fields.

Field 1: small (100x100).Current crop: Voidsiphon (384)Growing cycle: Growing (2)Average health: 79%Needs: Watering, Weeding, PruningEstimated Yield: 1450.

The yield makes my eyebrows rise. I’m looking at a pretty impressive harvest in a few more days. I get to work on the poor plants, weeding, pruning and watering wherever the grid tells me there’s an imbalance. Soon I have a soft green glow across the board. I’m about to start the new field when I hear a cough. Turning around I see Mika there with a bowl of food and a cup of dark liquid. Definitely coffee.

“You were so focused on your work, I didn’t want to interrupt earlier.”

He gestures to the voidsiphon.

“Looks good? I guess? But those other fields are a bit slimy.”

I walk over to him, taking the offered foodstuffs. We sit down.

“The voidsiphon, those root vegetables there, they’re doing well. I’m going to clear that second field now and plant more emgrass. It’s like grassy wheat. Those other fields were an accident, but I know a guy who loves the stuff. Besides, it’s the only thing that grows on the poisoned soil.”

He nods sagely as I skewer a cube of teal vegetable. I guess they decided to try out the delver. I bite into it, savouring the taste. A nutty aroma rises into my olfactory passages, followed by a hint of greasy mutton and something I can’t quite identify. As I finish the food, he looks around the farm.

“So that Leona lady. You been hitting that?”

I nearly choke on a vegetable. Coughing, I look at him with an incredulous expression.

“No I have not.”

He gives me an infuriatingly knowing look, telling me he doesn’t believe me at all.

“It’s only that she said you weren’t compatible anymore, and…”

I hand him the empty cup and bowl, forcing them into his hands.

“It’s a joke. She enjoyed taunting me with something she thought I’d want. When she realised I wasn’t biting, it became a running theme. Look, why do you care?”

He chuckles, turning towards the campsite. After a few steps he turns back to me.

“Hey Tee, do you mind if Rain and I check out that mine?”

I sigh.

“Sure, but I get half of any loot you find.”

He narrows his eyes, crossing his massive arms.

“Half of any resource and money loot, no claim on equipment.”

I laugh out loud.

“Good one, maybe you want me to rub your back and feed you grapes for the honour. Half of everything. You get first dibs on any non quest equipment with first refusal on buying it from the pot.”

He nods at me.

“You’ve got a deal.”

Skill increased: Trading.

He turns around as I begin working the remaining field. It’s a good hour before I finish, spending another thousand emgrass seeds. With a 73% chance of success, I was hopeful for the future.

Field 2: small (100x100)Current crop: Emgrass (1000)Soil quality: Normal (high mineral content)Growing cycle: Sown (0)Average health: 80%

Gauging by the suns position, I’ll have to go to the keep soon. If not, I’m going to be branded a thief and a liar. I’m about to go to the cart when I see Rishi and Mika heading towards the mine. Close in tow is Tiene, dagger at her side and a heavy wrench over her shoulder. I move to intercept them.

“You guys heading down already?”

Rishi stops and is about to say something when Mika bumps into her, sending her sprawling. As she splutters and curses, he gives me a wink before picking her up, carrying her towards the entrance. Tiene is looking at me, an eyebrow raised.

“You’re going with them?”

She nods.

“They’ll need me to help out in the slag chamber, and to work the pumps. Don’t worry, I’m not going to interfere with your relationship with Rain.”

I take a deep breath.

“Look, me and Rain, we’re… It’s a bit…”

She rolls her eyes and moves to get past me. I turn towards her.

“Dammit Tiene. Just be careful.”

She stops, hands to her sides. I take a step towards her, putting a hand on her shoulder.

“I don’t want to lose you.”

After a sharp intake of breath, she turns towards me. There’s a hint of anger in her eyes, mixed with frustration and sadness.

“If you don’t want to lose me, maybe you should stop being so damn passive and try harder to keep me. Now if you’ll excuse me I have to go join your friends for a dungeon crawl.”

She turns away in a huff, walking briskly to the mine. She calls down first, turns to look at me then jumps in. I’m about to run, to check if she’s okay, but I realise Mika will have caught her. I turn to the camp instead.

I pack up what little I have of value.

Samples:- Disciple-of-Darkness- Dark Mephitis

Crops: - 4000 Emgrass grain. - 8000 Emgrass straw. - 1 crate of Umbral Delver.

Other: - 1 Lesser golem core.

Quest: - 1 keg of fine ale.

And on top of all that wealth, 2 gold coins. I tick off the last day on my shed calendar, marking yet another day to the reckoning with baron Brouswin. At least I have Rishi and Mika to help out with the mine. Hopefully they won’t exterminate the rats completely before I have a chance to try taming them. The thought of offering the baron a kilo of ratmilk butter makes me smile as I prepare Reynard for his last trip into town.

The journey into the keep itself is as uneventful as always. There are no other people around, player nor NPC. A few smaller animals flee at the mighty braying of Reynard, and I see tracks from larger beasts, but overall I’m alone in the forested lands. Soon I see the keep on the horizon, mighty crenellations reaching for the sky. Before I reach the outer walls, I meet a large group of people walking the other way. At least twenty men and women, dirty and malnourished, pass me in quiet despair. I stop the cart and hail a young man with haunted eyes.

“Hi there. Where are you all headed?”

He looks at me without really seeing me.

“We’re going to the quarry, milord.”

I laugh, making him cringe away from me.

“I’m no lord. So you work for the baron?”

He looks like I’m about to slap him.

“Yes milord, of course milord. The baron is a great and wise man, he treats us fairly and honestly.”

He shuffles off to catch up with the others who kept walking. I continue towards the keep, pondering what I just experienced.

The guards receive me as usual, and I decide against asking about the quarriers. Instead I stable Reynard and head to the inn. Yadra is behind the bar as usual, greeting me as I come in.

“Hey Tee! Did the travellers find you?”

I smile at her, nodding.

“Yeah, they both arrived yesterday with Tiene. I’m glad they came back. Grimguard said they left in the wrong direction.”

Yadra gives me a confused look.

“Two? I’ve seen a dozen, at lest. They’re all talking about the farmer and his strange ways. A few of them tipped extra for me to pose with them as well.”

I blink a few times. Strangers? I must have gaped for too long, as Yadra reaches over to close my mouth.

“And you sent them all my way?”

She smiles, shaking her head.

“Nah. I guessed you didn’t need the hassle of a bunch of weirdo adventurers stomping across your farm.”

I nod, smiling at her.

“Yeah, that was probably a good call. Although with some extra manpower I might be able to make some money off this…”

She chuckles at me.

“No reason you shouldn’t make some money too. Some of them reserved rooms at the inn for a week. With the drinking and the tipping, I’m swimming in it. I can’t imagine why the miss didn’t want more travellers back in Hogsmudd.”

As she finishes her sentence, a player walks through the door. Some sort of elf, dressed in green with a bow over his shoulder. He sits down heavily, slamming a coin on the bar.

“Ale. Keep it coming.”

Yadra winks at me as she goes to serve the patron. I get up and walk towards him.

“Heya. Mind some company?”

He looks at me with a tired eye, nodding before getting started on the mug placed in front of him.

“Where are you headed? This isn’t exactly the centre of the World Below.”

Straightening his back, he turns towards me fully. I keep an blank face as he examines me.

“Same reason everyone else is coming here. Why did you make the trip?”

Suspicion is in his voice. I’m suddenly uncomfortable revealing myself to him.

“It’s a big world. I was wandering around when I got a quest that left me in the area for a while.”

He nods slowly.

“Right. And it’s got nothing to do with the agronomer in the area?”

I try hard not to let anything slip.

“Why? Has he done anything wrong?”

He chuckles a bit, going back to his drink.

“Not so much wrong, no, although I have heard of a quest to bring him somewhere. It’s a pretty dark questline though, so not a lot of people would pursue it.”

A quest for me? Is it Fred? Or maybe the miss wants her underwear back.

“So what do you want with him? He’s just a farmer, I hear. Nothing special about him…”

The guy laughs as he turns back to me.

“My name is Krouven. I’ve had a long day ranging through the forest, and I’d really appreciate it if you’d cut the bull. You’re him, aren’t you?”

I sigh, nodding.

“Fine, yes, I am he. My name is Tee. Now would you please tell me why people are looking for me? Do I need to start hiding?”

He shakes his head.

“Not at all. You’ve inspired a lot of people with your rejection of the typical adventurer lifestyle. People want to see what you’re doing in person, to see if it’s a viable playstyle.”

He nods towards Yadra who looks like she’s doing anything but listening in.

“The hot females you keep surrounding yourself with isn’t hurting either. Especially that dryad you found. I wouldn’t mind being entangled in her roots, if you know what I mean.”

I laugh. Leona would love a fresh snack.

“Fair enough. So you reckon I’m safe then?”

He gets a more thoughtful look in his eyes.

“Well, safe is relative. Personally I respect peoples right to do what they’d like. Live and let live, ya know? But there are lots of people who love nothing better than to fuck with others game. I’d look out for griefers if I were you.”

I’m about to answer as the doors to the inn opens. Two guards come in, making a beeline for us. Krouven looks puzzled.

“Serf Tee. You’ve been summoned to the barons court to answer for your crimes.”

Krouven gets up from his stool, making the guards draw weapons pointing towards him. He holds his hands up.

“Hey guys, no killing. I’m in his party, where he goes I go.”

He elbows me, winking at the same time. Confused, I nod.

“Yeah, he’s with me. Come on Toto, we’re off to see the baron.”