“Dad sent me in before. He saidyou should be awake. He told me to find out who you are. Even though you rescued me, he still doesn’t trust you. Which is just silly.” Elise continued.

“Why would he trust me?” Hank asked slightly bitter as he reflected on his poor reputation.

“Why wouldn’t he. You didn’t kidnap me.” She answered in her normal joyful tone.

“Well I could have.” Hank said.

“Well that’s about as logical as fish flying.” She retorted before continuing on almost to herself. “Mind you there are some stories of fish that fly but none of those are around here. My uncle says you find them in the southern seas.” She turned back to Hank. “Anyway as I was saying it doesn’t make sense for you to kidnap me. Firstly if you had done that you would serve the duke of Sarness but the people at the gate didn't recognise you so that’s unlikely. Secondly you handed over the duke's men and if you were in cahoots, you wouldn’t. But I guess that the best reason you didn’t is because Snaky Sarness never trusts anyone and he would have to trust you. So totally not involved.” She announced.

“Did you just call a duke ‘Snaky Sarness’?” Hank asked.

“Yes, but don’t tell dad. He says that Snaky has spies everywhere, and he is not a man to cross and he doesn’t have a sense of humour. I just believe that you should call something what it is, and he’s so a snake. One of those nasty Mamba ones that hate everything and camp at the side of the path to attack passing prey. He’s a real piece of work. But I forgot, I’m supposed to find out more about you. So tell me where you came from? Are you married with kids? What do you do for a living?” She starred intently at him as if a piercing glance would extract answers.

“I come from the forest where I rescue damsels in distress, which is a full-time job. But I’m on the run from responsibility so no ties to hold me down. Did I answer all your questions?” Hank smirked.

“Well technically yes.” She put her hands on her hips. “But I can tell you made it all up.”

“So?” Hank asked with a smirk and hint of belligerence.

“Tell me where are you really from?” She leant towards Hanks as if it would add impetuous to her question.

“Yes, we all want to know?” Two more people had entered the room. Hank recognised the duke of Doncaster immediately. The other was one of the biggest men Hank had ever met in his life. He was so big he had to duck and sidle through the doorway one shoulder at a time. It was this second man who had spoken and his voice completely fitted his stature, gruff and as low as Hank had ever heard. “Whilst you’re at it, perhaps you can explain why your reputation would align more readily with brigands than the decent folk of Perison.”

Admittedly Hank had seen little of Perison but ‘decent folk’ was not the term that sprang to mind when Hank thought of the ones he’d met so far. Still a story was required. As he drew a breath Hank thought to himself; ‘Just remember don’t say this is a game, stick to the implanted memories. Don’t make the reputation thing worse.’

“Well there was this girl.” Elise pouted at that. Hank sighed. “But not the way that you think. Perhaps I should start my story differently.”

He took another slow breath.

“I was born in a small country town in the kingdom’s north called Simonstown. It's an insignificant nothing town off the road from Salsbury to Memsbury. You won’t find it unless your going out of your way. My mother passed away when I was young. My dad was a dutiful man, and he raised me on the farm he inherited from his dad. But we never saw eye to eye. I had some friends in the town that, in hindsight, were bad company but they were my only friends.”

“My decent, if you will, started with minor things, such as jumping the fence and pinching an apple or two, before eventually progressing to robbery. I wasn’t doing the stealing, but I was there all the same. Before long I had a record with the sheriff. I might have joined the thieves’ guild but the farmer next door had a son.”

“I was sixteen at the time and getting unruly. Dad tried to control me but I hated farming and what he stood for. It was easier stealing with the boys. But old man Griffiths had a son, in his thirties, who came home to work the farm. He brought with him an 18-year-old wife.”

“She was beautiful in a way that us country hicks had never seen and the gang and I all felt we were in love. We must have been unbearable to the entire family. We all pestered her and made fun of young Griffiths. But for some reason she was kind and good to me. So whilst the others still dreamed their dreams, she became a kind of mother figure for me. In hind sight that’s probably a bit strange, she was only a few years older than I.”

“All might have been fine, except both the sheriff and old man Griffiths went to the next town for a pageant. Gregory had finally managed to get his illegal moonshine finished the week before. Naturally, we all drank more than too much. Then Marvin decided to head over to the Griffiths place and stir up trouble.”

Hank’s voice turned slightly raspy with emotion as he continued. “To my last day I will regret being such a coward. I just told the boys that I couldn’t go with them. I went home to sleep off the ‘shine. I knew what they wanted, and I did nothing.” There was genuine regret in Hanks voice.

“About four hours later I heard screaming and banging on the door. Dad opened the door to find the Griffiths girl collapsed on the front step. She was badly wounded and bleeding. We later found out that the gang had broken in to rape her but young Griffiths fought. In the ensuing fight Griffiths killed both Marvin and Greg but Russell killed him whilst Jerry attacked the lady, Gisela.”

“The sheriff and I tracked down both Russell and Jerry. I knew where they always hid. They hung for their crimes. But I couldn’t save Gisela. She died the next day. I think the judge wanted to hang me too, no matter what my dad said. But the Rivers boy had been working on his boat. He had seen when I went home and when Gisela had knocked on our door. So for underage drinking he threw the book at me, and they locked me up for 5 days.”

“When I got out dad had had enough and kicked me out of home. Not that I didn’t deserve it. Since then I have kept my nose clean. I worked odd jobs in fields and small towns earning enough to drink myself into a stupor most nights, eat and sometimes sleep at an inn.”

It was all true but Hank couldn’t explain that looting simulations were what many players would have accepted as normal player behaviour. Turns out Pax Domini’s more realistic game engine didn’t welcome such cavalier actions. Hank certainly hadn’t imagined such it would force such significant consequences. Lesson learned, all actions have consequences.

“That’s so sad.” Elise teared up.

“Quiet.” The duke chided Elise. Hank suspected it was his favourite word to Elise.

“So why did you save my daughter?” The large man was speaking again.

“To be honest, I’m not sure, but after Gisela, seeing another girl in the same situation.” Hank shrugged. “No thought required.”

“It’s not because you thought that there would be a big reward?” The big man asked.

“Why would I think that?” Hank was genuinely puzzled.

“Perhaps you believe I’m rich and I have the right friends. Those kinds of favours are worth a lot to some. Is that why you intervened?” He asked quietly.

“Is that what you think happened?” Hank sighed, “I’ve never been to Perison. I didn’t know you were rich. Your daughter said you kept an inn. I don’t even remember the name. Even if I did, it would mean nothing to me. But assuming I did know of your inn I certainly didn’t recognise your daughter. I didn’t even know her name until the duke mentioned it in the gatehouse. So I certainly wouldn’t have known I would get a reward when I heard her screaming from the other side of a hill.” Hank was resigned more than anything, his reputation stat read ‘bad’ to almost everyone, and it was about to bite him on the backside, again.

Time to get back on the road and leave these people alone. “Sir, I thank you and your daughter for putting me up for the night. But if you all leave, I’ll get dressed and be on my way.”

“Daddy, don’t be so mean. He saved me don’t you know?” Elise looked, doe eyed, at the large man.

“Yes, yes I do.” He sighed before turning to Hank “Your story rings true Mr Sternstrider. But you are wrong. You haven’t been in my daughters care for a single night. It’s Thursday, and you managed to get my daughter to the gatehouse on the Monday. In the process putting the cat amongst the pigeons. But I will leave that story to Roger here.”

He paused momentarily. “So, for rescuing my daughter you may stay here free anytime you are in town. Food and drink you pay for. No free alcohol for drunks here. And I approve your actions.”

Hank hadn’t closed his logs, so he saw the quest change in the window before him.

Quest : Damsel in Distress

Part :

All

Description :

You heard a cry fro help from the other side of hte hill. Investigate what occurred, rescue the girl, protect as you return her to Perison, report to authorities and return her to her family.

Status :

Completed (Success 3/4)

Rewards :

60 xp

2 Tsuki (yet to be received)

Penalties :

No rewards either xp or monetary for part 4

Bonuses :

Reputation with Elise changed to admired

Reputation with Elise’s family changed to acceptance

Reputation with Duke Roger changed to acceptance

Reputation with Duke of Sarness changed to emnity

Free board at “The Duck and Goose” when in Perison

“Thank you sir. But the alcohol won’t be a problem anymore.” Hank answered.

“Sir is for others. Call me Rupert. Why won’t alcohol be a problem anymore?” Rupert asked.

“I had a chat with an old acquaintance recently, he reminded me of a dream I once had.” Hank replied.

“Old acquaintance am I? That’s nice.” The AI was there and then gone. Hank got the message. It was always watching. And obviously always ready with the sarcastic comments.

“And that just miraculously turned things around?” Roger was skeptical.

“Well, not the idea but rather the force with which it was delivered. It, ahh… how can I say this, put some urgency to a half-formed plan.” Hank turned his attention to the duke.

“Plan?” The duke asked.

“Yes it’s been converted into a quest which I now have 180 days to complete.” Hank said.

“What is your quest?” Rupert asked this time

“I'm to found a town.” Hank turned back to him.

“Ambitious, or perhaps foolhardy. I was going to give you a different reward but I can talk to the king and get you a permit. Out in the kingdom’s eastern wilderness there’s space. It’s tough out there on the frontier, little food, no water but rumours of gold,” the duke pondered. “You also have to deal with the duke of Sarness trying to claim all the far eastern lands as part of his duchy.” The duke spoke.

“Thank you for the offer Sir Roger. However, I have decided to go north, past the border. I like forests so I am hoping I can find a good spot there.” Hank responded.

“Hah. Like forests do you?” Rupert scoffed. “The great northern forest is beyond anything you can picture when you think of forests. It is to other forests what the ocean is to lakes.”

“He’s right.” Roger snorted before continuing. “Don’t bother with the Sir bit. It’s only to ensure that the king’s court pansies get out of my way. But Rupert is right. The GNF is something else entirely still, the king’s father always claimed our border extended to the northern ice seas. So you can’t get beyond those boarders.”

“Try telling the naturalists that they’re kingdom subjects.” Hank raised an eyebrow.

“Fair point. Nobody’s can be bothered scuffling with them, but who knows what a new king will decide.” Duke Roger responded.

“Don’t forget the ‘Resolution of Berkipsee’. The land needs to have been tended in the last 100 years to prove ownership. Nobody’s farmed north of the Tillerman. I’ve nothing to worry about.” Hank responded.

“How far north are you willing to go?” Rupert quietly asked.

“Far. I want to run my village to a different set of rules. I don’t want kings and presidents to interfere. So I’m willing to go a long way to avoid them.” Hank noticed that conscious didn’t equate to healed. His side started to hurt.

“In that case I’ll wish you the best and hand over your rewards.” Roger said.

“I’ll get them to pass the word around in the bar that you’re looking for villagers.” Rupert chimed in.

“Thank you Rupert. I appreciate that.” Hank responded.

He was about to thank the duke when he was interrupted. “And I’m coming with you to help start your village. It’s going to be ever so fun.” Elise was irrepressible.

“You absolutely are not going with him. You are not of age and you need to keep your promises to Meg and Lady Mary.” Rupert sharply addressed his daughter.

“But papa….” She pouted.

“Don’t you ‘but papa’ me. We keep our promises in this family and that’s final. Now I will hear a 'Yes papa’ out of your mouth before we go any further. Is that clear?” Rupert remained stern.

“Yes,” she mumbled.

“Yes what?” Rupert asked.

“Yes papa I won’t go.” Elise looked very dejected, almost on the verge of tears.

Which in turn, made the duke uncomfortable, so he changed the conversation. “Yes well, you kicked over a hornets nest with the prisoners you both brought in. Well the one still in captivity. Which, when combined with the testimonies of the captain and myself, has put the duke of Sarness in a bad place.”

“Naturally the duke of Sarness denies everything. He has appealed to the king and started putting pressure on all sorts of people. Consequently, the king has to tread carefully or it’ll be civil war.” The duke sighed. “Just what we need when the south is getting agitated.”

He brightened as he continued. “But you don’t need to worry about that. What you do need to worry about is the word on the street. There is a price on your head. 2 Suiden I understand, which is quite large. So the king has requested that I ensure you are removed from any further involvement in these unsavoury issues. To put it bluntly, I’m to pay you off to stay out of it. Speaking of money, let me give you your reward for capturing those brigands.” The duke handed Hank a small pouch.

“Finally his majesty left me the task of rewarding you for what you did discover. I noticed that you don’t have a lot of skills. So I’m giving you this book. It taught me some useful ones. Diligence in your reading always will.” Roger handed a book to Hank. “And having said all that we should probably leave you in peace to get some rest.”

Hank’s quest updated itself again.

Quest : Something rotten in Perison

Part :

1 - Who’s organising this?

Description :

There are a number of significant problems in Perison

Discover the source of these issues

Report your findings to someone in authority

Status :

Completed

Reward :

0 xp (other people facilitated this, your participation was limited)

Bonus Reward :

1 Suiden and 6 Gohan

The law and the Status by Lawrence Fishmore

The bonus reward for minimal involvement with the quest ‘Something rotten in Perison’ seemed very high. Hank could only assume it was due to someone padding the reward. Or maybe the king just wanted rid of him.

“Thank you.” Hank managed but his weariness was returning. Obviously he wasn’t as recovered as he thought.

“No, thank you. Now get some rest.” With that being said the Rupert shooed everyone out and Hank went back to sleep. Something he repeated frequently over the next two days before Elise finally let him out of bed and down to the taproom.