Note to readers: none of this has anything to do with any religion in the real world.

Also, sorry if this chapter is a bit short lol

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After finishing the rabbit massacre I dismiss Lyra back to Hell before entering Blackthorn. Needless to say having a lusting sex heathen walking next to me in the middle of a holy loving town is asking for trouble.

I make my way to a general store to sell several rabbit fur for a total of 2 silver. The money rate is simple as follows: 100 copper -> 1 silver, 100 silver -> 1 gold.

Then upon exiting the store I notice a message board where bounties are pinned onto the sides and also other things such as guild recruiting papers and players searching for other players to do group quests. Group quests are quests that require at least 5 people to finish and can be difficult depending on the area in which it tells you to go to. However since this is a starting town for players there are only one or two. As a side note, most likely I will not have to worry about that until I reach a higher level.

As I look them over I see one in the corner which attracts me like a moth to a light. For some reason I can’t turn to walk away. Odd as it is it feels as if the game is making me look towards it. Even weirder the paper is black instead of regular white parchment.

-Wanted-

One of the High Priests from the Holy Order has defected from the Church due to special circumstances. By the commands of the Holy Order he must be captured alive and brought back the Church to answer for what he has done. We have reason to believe he is in the Blackfoot Mountains

Reward: 20 gold Difficulty: 3

Hmm, honestly I don’t want to be involved with those Holy Hooligans but it seems like I have to accept it. Besides for a low level 20 gold is a very good opportunity. Also by the sound of it this might lead to a chain quest, which sounds more interesting than doing these petty low level quests already available.

The difficulty for quests go by a number system instead of letters: 1 is easy and 10 is the most difficult, usually for people above level 100 as stated on the GlobalDome forums. So a difficulty 3 is odd for a level 5 to complete.

-Do you accept?-

“Of course.”

Before I go out on my mini-crusade I need to get some cheap potions and food. After buying the potions and food leaving less than 20 copper left I head back to the south gate. The Blackfoot Mountains is a 3 hour trip across plains.

Apparently many landmarks in the area have something to do with the word “black.” So far it is unknown if there is a reason or history behind it. Since there isn’t anything like an Ancient Knowledge or Ancient Excavation skill known yet (or at least on the internet there isn’t) no one has figured out the mystery. Such skills are also hard to level up and looked down on by other players. Certainly, why would someone choose a skill that wouldn’t benefit their combat or crafting skills? However that is just a prediction cooked up by the masses.[/font][/size]

Anyways reaching the foot of the mountain range I realize that I have no idea where to start. There is a small animal trail leading into the woods around the base of the mountain so that is a small clue. I just hope it gets me to where I’m going. I would rather not be a snack for hungry wolves.

Summoning Lyra just in case, I head down the trail rather fast. After an hour of walking mixed with jogging down the trail it leads to a clearing. In the clearing is a small log house with smoke rising from a chimney and the sound of wood chopping.

“Master, there seems to be a person that values chopping things like you.” Lyra whispers with a smug face.

“Ha ha ha. Very funny, do you want to go check it out and see if he also values chopping people?”

“N-no thanks…”

Well that shut her up. Anyways it’s time to see what this fellow is up to. Walking up to the log house I reach the front where a large man in overalls is picking up another chunk of wood to chop. At first glance you would think it’s a normal forest-dwelling hermit with a peaceful life.

That is, until seeing priest clothing hanging on a clothesline next to the window. Isn’t that like broadcasting to people he’s a priest? Well, I guess the muscles and gruff demeanor of the man would scare of most people if they weren’t here for a quest searching for him. I also just realized I have no idea what his name is, and the fact that while studying his dirty holy laundry, he has been staring at me for a while.

“Who the hell are you?”

Is he really a priest?

“My apologies, my name is Grim and this is my companion Lyra. May is ask for your name?” While motioning to Lyra and me, his eyes just stare at me with indifference.

“Hmph, the name is Julius, ex-High Priest. What are you here for? To take me back to those old crazy bastards?”

Ah yeah, well at least he admitted to being a priest. This makes it easier.

“Well that depends, I don’t like those crazy old codgers either, but the reward they are offering is no joke. Unless you have something you can offer that is better?”

“Oh ho, so they sent someone with brains huh? Well I’m sure you will like what I offer better than theirs. It has to do with some dark mumbo-jumbo, and I can see the black aura oozing out of you, not to mention the seductress you have standing next to you. This knowledge is what made me an enemy with the Church in the first place. Those old men are afraid of what they don’t understand.”

Suddenly the familiar ring of a quest and a screen pops up before me:

-Darkness over Light-

The High-Priest Julius has offered to show you the benefits of the Dark that resides in the shadow of the light. Dark has been biding its time, waiting until someone could harness its power and step out of the shadows. The first documents translated by Julius contain only a small portion of the overall power of the Dark. Should you find the rest of the documents and translate them, you will have equal footing with the Holy Order and be able to stand against their Light.

Requirements:

Hostile intimacy with the Holy Order.

Reject the bounty of 20 gold on High-Priest Julius.

Accept the offer from the High-Priest.

Difficulty: unknown.

-Do you accept?-

Well that is a stroke of luck right there. It makes me want to believe that this was set up for my class in the first place, but that could just be arrogance on my part. Certainly like I thought this is a chain quest. Compared to the 20 gold reward from those old fogies this is like heaven and earth. Well that might not be the best choice of words. Compared to the reward it’s like diamond and quartz. The chain quest is obviously the better option.

“Hell yes I accept!”