He looks around as Bright-Solemn lets out a long, disappointed “piiiiii…”.

The dashing Hero looks around with a raised brow as he overlooks the passerbys at buildings.

As a sweet, lone bandura plays somewhere deep from all directions, Hero lays eyes on the most frequented establishment in the town- the alehouse.

“We’ll start there,” Hero says with leader-like certainty. Even with all these stats, he doesn’t feel so different that he’s afraid of looking a new challenge in the eyes; that’s been in him for a long time.

Hero pushes through the doors without ceremony and looks over the various figures arching over the bar and tables.

Smiling faces, and passed drinks, the sort of happiness that can hide the truth behind any personality. He sees pointed ears, round ears, animal ears, or none at all. He sees all manner of weapons and tools and physique. He’s not sure where to start.

At once, Hero, who is almost stoic in his self-understanding, is presented with an entirely new challenge. Let’s see just how far that CHA will get him when he applies it.

He picks out a group of adventurers, a shirtless, blue-haired warrior warrior with a katana, and another one of those cat-eared girls- this one looking like a healer of some sort.

“Greetings,” Hero says to the two, at least half a foot higher than the male who’s arched into his drink.

The swordsman smirks with a lively grin, and the cat-ears waves gently.

“What do you want?” the swordsman asks with a loose chuckle. “Can’t you see I’m busy?”

Hero leans in himself as a display of confidence. “My name’s Hero. I’m forming a party to slay a dragon. I figured I’d ask around and you two look like the capable sort.”

“Haru,” he says. “What’s the level?” The swordsman adds.

“Mine?” Hero asks.

“No, of-” Just because Hero mentioned it, this Haru individual made the elucidating decision of pulling up Hero on his inspection tab.

“Level FIVE MILLION?!” the blue haired swordsman spits, causing a silence in the bar as everyone looks over to the scene of the three.

“W-well yeah.”

“How is that…” Haru’s eyes travel around Hero, noting the one, the only, the Dragon Scythe. “Isn’t that…” He inspects

Hero’s weaponry. “No fuckin’ way.”

“Sir,” Hero responds. “Even so, I still need help to kill Exeranoth. Don’t be intimidated by-”

“Fuuuuuck that! Come on, Neko, let’s blast.”

“Oh, really?” Cat ears asks as she watches Haru down his beer and get up from his seat.

“This guy’s trouble. The game’s open world PvP so anywhere we go we’ll be fighting players like him. One could be their way right now looking for ‘em.”

Hero grips the bar rim with a free hand. This Haru person’s actually pretty well educated for someone who’s only been in the world one day.

“O-okay,” she says, getting up and taking her long, bejeweled staff along with her.

Hero takes a deep breath, not moving to stop them. He watches them step out, leaving him in the bar with a bewildered company of drinkers. At once he moves to one of the tables to try again… and again, and again. Each time he’s turned down. Either he’s too high a level and the people realize he’s trouble to be around, or his approach comes off as too strange. One would think that for someone with his charisma stat it would be easy to attract people; it seems like there’s more (or less) to these stats than what meets the eye.

Finally he decides a completely up-front approach; almost aggressive in its confidence. He pulls up a chair to a dwarf, a meter high and polishing off his fifth stein.

“Good day, dwarf.”

The wide dwarf, geared out in folds of chainmail, leather and cloak wipes a helping of ale from his rich oak-earth-colored beard. “Aye, human. What can aye do for ya?”

“I’m in desperate need. I’m searching for powerful warriors who are willing to join my party in a quest to slay the dragon, Exeranoth.”

The dwarf raises a brow as he takes another sip. “I know not of this dragon, human.”

Hero draws back. “Truly? He is well known in this land.”

The dwarf chuckles, bristling his beard up in a smile. “Perhaps I do not know my own land then. For what reason are you hunting such dangerous quarry?”

Hero takes a deep breath, relieved that he hasn’t been turned down outright. “He has cursed me and my father. What’s more he has killed many and stolen away the princess of the kingdom.”

“…Aye, that is serious.”

Hero leans in. “It will be a quest taking us to the darkest realms of depravity. It will not be easy, I’ll tell you so much, but it will be an honorable and worthwhile pursuit. What say you?” Hero asks, speaking his fanciest.

The dwarf nods, his eyes closed in consideration. “Aye. As it happens I’ve just returned from my last hunt. I’m a killer of beasts by trade.” He offers his gloved hand, fingers at least twice the size of Hero’s. “Gulrin Stonebuns, at ye’ service.”

Bright-Solemn flips away to conceal its expression, though neither humanoids could interpret it to be humorous. What

kind of last name is “Stonebuns”, anyway?

Hero takes up Gulrin’s hand and shakes. “I’m honored. My name is Hero.”

“Of what last name, lad?”

“None, sir.”

The dwarf hums as he returns to his ale. “That’s fine, never been much partial to my surname either.”

The two share a good-natured chuckle.

“So, do you know the direction of our travel?”

Hero nods. “I do. We march for Mt. St. Hellwithins. Are you ready?”

Gulrin nods. “Do we need anyone else?”

Hero shrugs. “We must be hasty more than anything. We’re hunted by other players.”

Gulrin squints an eye. “Players, Hero?”

Hero squints back. Could it be that he’s… normal? “Do you mean, you aren’t one of those-” Hero leans in to whisper. “Players?”

Gulrin’s eyes shift about to the bar, stacked full with players taken up quests or enjoying some virtual libations. “… I’ve been… noticing some strange folks around, Hero. I’ve heard that word ‘player’ thrown around quite a bit… aye, I don’t have the slightest reckoning what that might mean. They’re like code-talkers… like the goblins.”

Hero sighs again in relief. “I’m glad, Mister Stonebuns.”

The dwarf coughs. “Gulrin, I insist.”

Hero nods, his blue eyes shining with the light of a soul that found a friend. “So be it, Gulrin. You’re the first normal sort I’ve met for hours… I don’t really know what’s happening.”

Gulrin nods as he fires up a glance to Bright-Solemn. “Neither do I, lad, but I feel we can at least take solace in that our quest will unite us… It’s as if the whole world has gone mad… What is that floaty thing there?”

Hero smiles. “Bright-Solemn. It’s… I actually don’t know. It’s a companion and it’ll keep us safe.”

Bright-Solemn hovers up. “Pi,” it says in a deflated tone, not much in the mood to talk when no one can understand its words.

Gulrin nods. “Strange magic, but I can dig it. Us dwarves after all are quite good at digging.” He chuckles, leaving Hero to realize this dwarf’s sense of humor is on par with an elderly man’s.

“Alright, so if you’re prepared we should be on our way. I expect we’ll be hunted for my weapon. I encourage any questions to be asked once we’re on the road.”

Gulrin lifts up, the hilt-frame of his three-hander creating its own shadow in the torch light. “Righto, lad. Let’s be off!”

“Pi,” says Bright-Solemn without enthusiasm.

As they head on their way to begin their quest, another few characters are having the fight of their lives.