Day 1
We walked into a large open room. There was a bar on the far side with bottles and caskets of what I suspected were alcohol. The room was well-maintained, with at least a dozen tables, each equipped with four chairs, scattered around. Several waitresses were moving between them, carrying trays with food or drinks.
"Mandolin!" Came an exciting squeal to my left. I turned to find a girl running up to us. What made this girl stand out more than any other was the fact that she was a mixed-race child. Her skin was a light brown, as were her eyes. Her hair was still the black of locals, but instead of being straight, it was very curly to the point of being fizzy.
"Mica!" Mandolin exclaimed and embraced the girl. Looking at her, I suspected the girl was about 10 years old.
"What brings you here today?" Mica asked, looking at me with interest.
"This is Adventurer Hector. He is new to the city and looking for a place to stay. Is your mother around?" Mandolin told the girl.
"Go to the bar. I will go find her for you." Mica said quickly as she turned and disappeared, running off.
We walk over to the bar, and Mandolin nods to the barman behind it. The man is slightly shorter than I am, but much rounder. He had thick arms and a chest, evident from the scars; he was not a man to mess with. He doesn't come over but continues to pour drinks when requested by other patrons or the wait staff.
There was a doorway that Mica disappeared through next to the bar, and I could smell food cooking from the other side. Within a few minutes, Mica returned with a woman following her. The resemblance between mother and daughter was clear to see, but the mother was a native of Noreland. She was in her late 30s or early 40s and appeared to have been through a difficult life, yet she was still standing. Her eyes were lined and a deep, sky-blue. Her hair was still black and showed no signs of grey yet.
"Mandolin? Should you still be in the temple?" The woman said after looking at me, then at my guide. She was frowning, not expecting the young woman to be here with me.
"Isabel, this is Adventurer Hector, who is new to the city, and I have been asked to help him." I inclined my head to this woman as I introduced myself, but I took note of how she introduced herself and what Mandolin said about being asked to help me. I was now pretty sure that I was missing something.
"An adventurer? It's been a few years since we had one of your kind through this part of the city." She looked me up and down again, appraising me. Her eyes lingered on the tattoo on the back of my right hand, confirming I was what I claimed to be. "I charge three silver coins for room and board per day. That covers two meals, laundry service and a bath. You pay in advance, and there is no credit."
I knew she meant System silver coins, and it seemed that only the merchants were sticklers on using that definition; the rest of the population was happy to call them by their colouration. I wasn't sure if the silver coins I possessed were made of the metal or only meant to look like silver.
"Of course." I reached out and used my storage ring to place thirty coins onto the bar top. "Ten-day payment. I will let you know if I need any more time in the room."
She nodded to me, scooping the coins away. She seemed a bit happier that I paid, without any argument or conditions.
"Mica, go get the key for room 6." She spoke to her daughter. But she was watching my reaction to the child. At first, I was confused, but then I realised it was because the child was mixed race and the locals were not always as tolerant towards such children. I was unsure how she received my lack of reaction.
The child quickly returned and led me up the set of stairs in the main room. Mandolin stayed back and spoke to Isabel.
As soon as she started to guide me, Mica began a tide of verbal questioning. "Where are you from? What's it like being an adventurer? How many monsters have you fought?"
I need to head off this quickly.
"My apologies, Mica. It's been a long day." She frowns, disappointed, but seems to understand what is being told to her.
Thankfully, it was only a short walk to my new room. The door was sturdy and looked well-maintained, like the rest of the building. The corridor we were walking down had a long, clean rug. On the door, the number six was painted.
"Your room." Mica is the key that unlocks the door, allowing me to enter after her. The room was not bad. There was a double bed and a bathtub on the other side of the room. There was a closet and a small table with a chair. There was a lamp in the room to supply light. There was a single large window with shutters. The window was glazed. The walls were adorned with wallpaper, and everything appeared well-maintained and clean.
Mica explained a few things about the room, including that the outhouse was located at the end of the corridor. Breakfast was served between 6:00 and 8:00 AM, while dinner was served between 6:00 and 8:00 PM. If I wanted hot water for the bath, I had to go down and tell the barman or another member of staff. It would be heated and brought up to me.
After she finished explaining the services, she handed me the key.
"Thank you, Mica." The girl beamed at me and then disappeared, running down the corridor back to the stairs.
I dropped off my rucksack and undid my utility belt. I left the room and locked it behind me, heading towards the stairs. Walking down them, I found Mandolin was still talking to Isabel, but Mica had joined them now. They turned to me when I approached.
"Mandolin, thank you for all your assistance today. Tavern keeper, Isabel, I wish some hot water to be brought to my room for a bath."
"Of course, Adventurer Hector. It will be brought up presently."
"Thank you. Please address me as Hector." I told Isabel. She nodded at my request but said nothing more.
"Goodbye, Hector. I hope to see you again someday." Mandolin said to me. "Unfortunately, I must now return to the temple. I've been away long enough."
She bid her farewell to the others and nodded again to the barman as she turned and walked away. I had nothing else to say, so I returned to my room. I had things to do.
I wanted to remove this strip from the armour I was wearing. Unfortunately, I only had one set of clothing outside of it, and I didn't want to get that dirty just yet with my sweat. It was then that I realised I hadn't bought any additional clothing, and I was cursing myself when there was a knock on the door.
I walked up to it and opened the door.
There were two members of staff, each holding a large copper bucket with steaming water. I quickly stepped aside and allowed them in. They walked up to the copper bath and poured each of the buckets into it. I asked them if there was any more coming, and they told me that this was it. One of them carried a towel that was left for my use. Once this was done, they quickly beat a retreat, and I closed the door behind them, locking it.
I checked the water temperature and found it too hot. Far too hot. I was shaking my hand from just dipping my pinkie into it. I headed over to the window and closed the shutters. I stripped off my armour and placed it on the table along with my utility belt. I also put my room key on the table. My rucksack was on the bed, so I pulled it off and put it on the floor next to the table.
I laid out the clothing that I had arrived with on the bed. I was standing in the underwear I was supplied with. It was then that I realised I didn't have any changes of that either, and another bout of cursing ensued. It only intensified when I also realised that there was no soap.
"Smart Hector. Real smart. Plan for everything but the small things." I muttered to myself as I took the rulebook from my storage ring and placed it on the table. I put the spare ammunition for my pistol into it. I checked and found that the ammunition now occupies two slots, each containing 50 rounds. That meant I had two empty and 20 silver coins left.
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By the time I finished, the water had cooled enough for me to use. I stripped off my underwear and got into the tub. It was still relatively warm, and I had to spend a few moments adjusting to the temperature. This gave me time to play with the HUD. It came with an internal clock, which was very helpful, and I could set an alarm, which I did for 05:30 hours in the morning. The clock was set to military time, and Hylore had a 24-hour day cycle. This function was added to the HUD based on the feedback of the first wave.
I did not like baths, preferring showers, but I had to work with what I had.
Once I am finished here, I will check my gear, prepare for tomorrow and spend the rest of the night reading the Adventurers Rulebook after dinner.
"It will probably put me to sleep quickly."
House Mother Hendriks sat at her desk.
Her office was small but tidy. A small shrine to the Mother was located on one side, and a bookcase stood on the other. Her desk faced the door. The only window was behind her. The little sunlight coming through it warmed her back as she sat in the chair.
She was fleeing her age. Her knees were aching as she realised she had been sitting down too long.
There was a soft knock at the door, and a Mother opened the door. "Acolyte Mandolin has returned."
"Send her to me." She instructed. The Mother nodded and retreated to enact her orders, closing the door.
She stretched her legs, easing the stress on her knees. Her legs remained outstretched until another knock came from her door. She straightened herself before calling out. "Enter."
Acolyte Mandolin entered the room, closing the door behind her.
House Mother Hendriks looked over the younger woman with a stern expression. She had schooled herself to display this look over the years. She reduced grown adults to quivering piles of fear and uncertainty, akin to children. The children under her care only received this look when they had been misbehaving. She also used it on those under her care within the order to express her unhappiness with their decisions. Acolyte Mandolin had received it on several occasions in the past, and she, too, had suffered its effects. At her core, she was a good girl, but she was still young and suffered flights of fancy. She had always been this way since the day she arrived at the temple after the death of her parents. Originally an orphan, she eventually joined the order of the Mother.
But not today.
She stood tall and proud. She still shrank slightly under Hendriks' glare, but today she was standing her ground. This intrigued the House Mother, but she did not change her expression.
"Acolyte Mandolin." She spoke the young woman's title and name slowly. "You have failed to perform your chores of the day. You have left the temple without permission and spent the day gallivanting beyond our walls. Explain."
"An oath binds me and my actions, House Mother Hendriks." The girl stood a little taller as she spoke.
So that was the source of her strength. Mother Hendriks thought to herself.
"Does this oath sit above the one you made to the Mother?" House Mother Hendriks had played this game many times before I knew the steps. The young always thought that their oath and promises were of vital importance. It was a sad fact that, in time, they learned that only a handful truly were.
"The Mother accepts the duties imposed on me by my oath." She replied with a steady tone, confident in her words.
That was not the answer House Mother Hendriks expected. She leaned on her desk, giving the girl the full glare that she had mastered over the decades. She used it as a means to disguise her inner thoughts. She was intrigued and confused. There was something else going on here. Decades of political manoeuvring within her order had taught her to trust her instincts, and she decided to probe deeper.
"What can you say of your oath?" She asked.
"I can tell you all of it." Another unsurprising answer. "But for me to do so, you must take an oath not to repeat what I'm about to tell you to anyone. You can only speak of it to me and the Mother."
The girl's audacity was both shocking and surprising. Making her swear an oath! But again her instincts kicked in, telling her to listen. She knew the game of oaths on how to word them correctly.
"I, House Mother Hendriks of the Order of the Mother. I hereby swear to keep the words spoken by Acolyte Mandolin regarding her oath in the strictest confidence. Unless I deem it not worthy enough for such confidence."
The girl had accepted her oath even with the caveat. She must think it is important enough to ignore such a way to get out of it. House Mother Hendriks knew the weight of the oath now sat on her, along with the punishment that would befall her if she violated it. The System recognised the importance of words under an oath, and only fools played fast and loose with the rules.
The girl took a breath and began her story.
It started with her doing her daily chores, taking the learning to the store cupboard. Everything was as it should be, but then it all changed. She discovered a man there called Hector. She had been alarmed by the presence and was preparing to summon the Mothers to deal with the intruder. But she was stopped when he made an oath promising not to harm her and offered her a secret that would explain his presence.
House Mother Hendriks' eyebrow arched at that, but she said nothing.
The story continued with her agreeing to the oath, and he revealed part of his character sheet to her. The reason she decided to take the oath was that she had received a system message from the Mother, instructing her to listen to the man before her and provide him with all the assistance within her power.
House Mother Hendriks' mind spanned with that knowledge, and her frown deepened. She remained silent, but it was becoming increasingly complex.
The story continued with him revealing the character sheet as promised. He held a title that made her understand why he was so keen on maintaining secrecy. Summoned Crusader.
This caused House Mother Hendriks to sit up in her chair.
"Say that again, Mandolin." She demanded, not believing what she heard.
"The title was listed as Summoned Crusader. I remember the stories that this title can only be given to..."
"Say no more on that." House Mother Hendriks cut off. "Continue with your story. Take your time and tell me every detail you remember, no matter how small or insignificant it seemed at the time."
Acolyte Mandolin went on to explain how she now understood why he needed help. She explained how they were able to leave the temple without being seen, and she guided him through the city to the Adventurer's Guild, where he requested to go. She spoke of their conversations, or lack thereof, during the first part of the journey.
House Mother Hendriks was now paying attention to every word spoken, trying to grasp every nuance and possible important piece of information revealed.
The story then shifted to the Adventurer's Guild and how Hector, a man, became registered with them. Due to her parents' work in the Merchants Guild, she knew where to go to supply him with weapons and armour. She spoke of the weapons, armour, and other items he had bought.
House Mother Hendriks was taking mental notes on everything she was saying.
They conversed more now as Acolyte Mandolin had come to see more of the person than a mythical hero. She spoke about how he got what lunch and during their trip back to Low Town, he seemed to be suffering from heat exhaustion because of his armour. She ended the story with him being introduced to Isabel Lodestone of The Poor Man's Dream. He had taken up rooms they were paying for ten days and made his farewells to her as he retired for the night, as he planned to start early the next day.
The story ended with her returning to the temple and being cornered by the Mothers, who sought to know why she had disappeared for the day. This led her to be in House Mother Hendriks' office.
The story ended in a heavy silence that settled over the room.
House Mother Hendriks' head was spinning with the weight of everything she had just learned.
"My silence is guaranteed. Your oath is worthy." She told the younger woman, who seemed to be unsurprised. House Mother Hendriks looked over the young woman again and made a decision. "Tomorrow, you will start a new series of duties. Most of your daily chores will continue, but I will expect you to go out every night and seek out this Hector. Find out what he has done during the day. Avoid asking him directly if you can; if not, keep the conversation as light as possible. That should be easy for you, as I know that you have always had a fascination for Adventurers."
Acolyte Mandolin nodded at her new duties as they were explained to her.
"Go now. I have a lot to think about, and you have a lot to do. Some of your chores for today are still outstanding." The dismissal was undeniable, and Acolyte Mandolin's shoulder slumped slightly, knowing that she would be working late into the night.
The girl retreated from the room, closing the door, leaving the House Mother with her reeling mind. The girl had given away far more than she realised during her conversation, indicating that there was far more happening here than she realised.
House Mother Hendriks lifted a message that arrived earlier in the day from the High Mother of the city. Her temple, located on top of the hill to the north, was the largest in the city dedicated to any of the pantheon.
It read. A divine message has been sent to all aspects of the sacred holy orders. The Crusaders are coming again to wage war against the abomination seeking to end us. Report any appearance of them.
Such a simple but profoundly important message. It had come from the Voice of the Mother, head of their order, and relayed through all of the High House Mothers. She will inform the other mothers tomorrow of the message content. There will, of course, be rumours and speculation, but she will ensure that nothing is reported back.
She had lived for 52 years and played the game of politics within her order. Many considered that the present High House Mother was jealous of her. Henricks had been blessed several times throughout her life, just as young Acolyte Mandolin had, through messages directly from the Mother. She was considered significantly blessed for this, and many expected her to rise to the order's hierarchy. Instead, she had ensured that she was positioned as the head of this temple and the largest orphanage in the city. She never wanted to go further or do more in politics; she was where she wanted and needed to be. The orphans of the town were in need of a haven, and she dedicated herself to providing such a place.
She stood up and walked over to the small shrine. She pulled out a small kneeling stool. It was heavily padded, and she grunted slightly as she got down onto it, kneeling before the altar.
She thought about the appearance of one within her city. Quietly, she prayed to the mother in thanks for his appearance. She was bound by oath to remain silent about her knowledge of its existence. It was clear that this Crusader wanted to remain unknown for now. Everything he had done up to now showed that he was prepared for the society he had arrived in and was seeking to blend in.
Why? She did not know, but you would honour actions.
But she would remain informed of his actions. The appearance of the Crusaders was always an indication of turbulent times or events ahead. Twice in the past, they had come to her nation, and mainly to the city. Both times heralded hard days for the population.
She prayed to the Mother for strength to see through what was coming.