Hylore – Seahold (Noreland Capital) Spring 2344 AS

  Day 20

  I was up early to do a bit of retail therapy.

  The plan was a new big gun, but now I had to look at my wardrobe. I was afraid to turn down the Ironbreaker family's invitation. They were not as powerful, I felt, as they once were, as their estate reflected that. But they were still a noble family, and even I, a weaker one, did not want to offend.

  I had spent the night contemplating the invitation, trying to find a way out. My best bet was taking up another quest from the Adventurers Guild. My plan was gun, wardrobe and Guild. If I could get a quest that got me out of the invitation, I would take it.

  Having a legitimate reason to decline the dinner invitation would definitely make my day, but it would put me in danger again. I honestly wondered which would actually be more dangerous, the invitation or another quest.

  It was still quite early in the morning, but the seats were busier than usual. Many were shoppers out and about visiting the stores they wanted. Today was a half-day for most of the population. The luckiest had the day off completely, and they were out in force getting ready for tonight's festivities. Most of the population flocked to the Coliseum or any of the many theatres in the city. Most were out and about trying to get whatever errands and chores they needed completed.

  The morning was a hectic time for the merchant of the city. The food vendors dominated the afternoon and evening.

  It wasn't long before I arrived at the shop on my list first. The Arsenal was busy this morning. Several people were inside, perusing the weapons on display. Esmeralda and Albert, the shop owners, were working the crowd, making sales and taking commissions. Several young teens were running around collecting items or boxing for transport. They were the shop's support staff and were very busy this morning as well.

  Albert saw me shortly after I came into the game and gave me a slight nod as he was dealing with another customer. He probably expected I was here to see him about my war mace or something along those lines, but I was actually seeking to speak to his wife today. She was the gunsmith, and I was looking for an upgrade.

  Esmeralda was too busy. I was happy to wait, as I knew they were a well-respected pair of merchants—this was allowing me to look over the display cases and the firearms on the wall. Most were civilian versions of military-grade weapons. I was looking for something that was definitely military grade.

  There were several shotguns and rifles on display. The rifles all had single-shot with small magazines. Many of the shotguns were also single-barreled, but a few double-barreled ones were on display. All the rifles and shotguns had long barrels and were impractical for what I needed. Because I spent most of my time in the city dealing with requests here, close-quarter combat would be far more likely.

  I took this opportunity to have a look at the numerous revolvers and pistols also on offer. There were many other models outside the Pinzar range, mostly 10 mm calibre. There were others, but I wasn't too keen on picking up another revolver or pistol right now.

  "Good day, Adventurer Hector, welcome back to The Arsenal." Came Esmeralda's voice as she walked over to me. She was still behind the counter and displays. "Seeking a new firearm today?"

  "Good day, Merchant Esmeralda. I am indeed looking for a new firearm." I straightened myself and looked at her while I spoke. "I'm looking for a shotgun with a short barrel and large ammunition capacity. Preferably military grade over civilian."

  "A military-grade combat shotgun?" She seemed thoughtful as she repeated my request. "Not easy to get. But your profession allows access to such weapons."

  She looked around at the stock on display, focusing on a few of the weapons, but then shook her head and moved on. She walked down the displays on the wall, running a hand over a few of the guns, muttering to herself. I can hear what she was saying, but she seemed to be going over the requirements that had been given to her.

  She started frowning quite soon into her trip. By the time she reached the end of the rack of displays, her frown was intense. She turned and walked back towards the door on her side of the shop. She stepped through and disappeared into the back, leaving me to continue to look at the other firearms on display.

  She was gone for a good few minutes before she re-emerged from her storerooms beyond. She was carrying a box wrapped in cloth.

  "Our recent delivery, I have just looked over. I think it will match your needs." She placed the box on the table, wrapped the cloth, and then opened it. I looked in and sized up what she was offering.

  At first glance, it looks like another rifle, but it was in fact a shotgun. The barrel was far shorter and had regularly drilled holes to allow cooling. Where there was a bolt-action breach, there was a mechanism to eject used cartridges. There was no magazine in the gun, and I wondered which type it would take.

  "A Boltar 12-gauge combat shotgun." Esmeralda began to explain the weapon. "Automatic ejection of spent cartridges. Short range but packs one hell of a punch, easily capable of separating limbs from human targets. Well-designed, well-built, and easy to maintain. As you can see, the stock is red rosewood, and the mechanical sections are made of high-quality steel. The magazine section can take a 10-round clip or a 30-round drum magazine."

  "May I?" I asked, indicating the weapon.

  "Of course." She nodded her head, allowing me to pick up the weapon.

  I lifted the combat shotgun from the case. The inside of the box was lined with rich velvet, designed to contain the firearm with a moulded space. Holding the combat shotgun in my hand, the first thing I noticed was the weight.

  "The weight is part of the design. It gives you a much more stable firing platform." Esmeralda spotted me flexing my arms as I lifted the weapon, getting used to the weight. "It also helps reduce recoil as this shotgun packs a hell of a kick when fired."

  There was an independent handgrip for the gun as the trigger and handgrip were built into the base of the shoulder stock. In that respect, it was like a bolt-action rifle. There was also an extended piece of wood under the barrel that allowed me to grip it there to help direct the weapon. It reminded me of a picture I had seen of a Soviet submachinegun from the Second World War.

  I lifted the weapon to my shoulder, placing the stock against my arm, and looked down the iron sights of the gun. I did not point in any direction where people were standing; I just got a feel for the weapon.

  "It's designed to be fired like that from the hip. Unfortunately, the 12-gauge only comes in two types of ammunition. Solid shot or iron pellet." Esmeralda continued talking, explaining more about the gun. "Doesn't have much range as I told you, but anything close to getting hit by that beauty will not ignore it."

  This was what I was looking for, but I had to ask the question I dreaded. "And what with the price be?"

  "A hundred silver coins. That's not counting ammunition." She delivered damage to my wallet, as a matter of fact.

  I wanted to wince but managed to control myself, lowering the gun and holding it in my hands. It was heavy. It didn't have much range. But if she was correct about the damage this thing could do, it could destroy most low-level targets. I needed to know a little more before making my choice.

  "How much is the ammunition and the magazines for the gun?"

  "Because military-grade munitions are far more expensive, you are looking at five silver for a box of 50 cartridges. Stick magazines are a single silver each, while the drummer's three." Again, the assault on my financial situation was delivered professionally and in an almost detached tone.

  I felt like crying. I had recently got my hands on some money, but it was all disappearing again. Looking at the weapon again in my hands, I knew it was what I needed, and I was going to have to pay for it.

  The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

  "I'll take it." I was committing now. "I will also take four boxes of cartridges, two solid slugs, and the other two pellets. I'll also take four stick magazines and one drum."

  Her eyebrows shot up a bit as I committed to a sizeable order. "In total, that'll be one hundred and 27 silver."

  I don't see anything but nodding, accessing my dimensional storage ring and placing 13 gold coins on the counter before her. She takes one look at the money and nods. She looked back up and asked another question.

  "You want the weapon and ammunition delivered? No charge."

  "Please. The City Watch is tolerant of many things when it comes to adventures, but me walking around with the combat shotgun might not be one of them."

  She snorts at that and nods her head in understanding. "You'll have it by mid-afternoon delivered to The Poor Man's Dream."

  "Thank you." She arranged my change, and I decided to ask one more question. "Do you happen to know any good tailors nearby?"

  It happened, she did. She directed me to the tailor that she and her husband use for all their clothing. I thanked her and left the shop considerably poorer. I knew the gun would be delivered later today with the ammunition, but I still missed the financial safety net that all that gold had given me.

  I quickly found the tailor and engaged the woman who ran the shop in conversation. The shop was called Pins and Dresses.

  "Good day, and welcome, new customer." A voice came from the back of the shop as soon as I entered. The space was surprisingly open with examples of clothing on the walls. The woman who had spoken to me was located at the back of the shop.

  "Good day, merchant. I am seeking several new items of clothing." I spoke to the woman sitting at the back of the shop, surrounded by material and mannequins. She was wearing an apron covered in pins, fasteners, and a large pair of scissors. They were all contained within pockets designed for easy access.

  "Excellent, please come forth and tell me your desires." She waved, having the approach her. She was an older woman, possibly in her late 40s or mid-50s. Her grey-streaked black hair was tied up into a bun. She wore a pair of thick-rimmed glasses that magnified the size of her eyes as she watched me approach.

  "Oh my! An Adventurer, I don't see many of your kind these days." She had spotted that tattoo on my right hand as I approached, and I lifted it to look at it. I was still a bit self-conscious about it, as I had never been a great fan of tattoos.

  "Indeed. I'm Adventurer Hector. Merchant Esmeralda of the Arsenal directed me to seek your services as I'm looking for some new clothes."

  "Esmeralda, eh? She must like you to have directed you to me. I am Tailor Susanna." She had been sitting on a stool and jumped off it. If she were barely 5 feet, I would have called you a liar. She quickly moved over to me, her speed on her feet contradicting her short stature. "So tell me, adventurer, what are you looking for?"

  I explained to her that I was looking for several items of clothing to enhance my wardrobe. I only owned a few items of clothing outside my armour. She nodded her long until I told her of the possible dinner and a noble house that had been invited to. She instantly exploded into words and action.

  "A dinner invitation at a noble's home. Invited by the first daughter of the family at that. Dear boy, when!" She had whipped out a measuring cord, and the town began taking my measurements as she talked. She was a furious bundle of energy and movement I could barely keep up with.

  "Eh. Tomorrow?" I said hesitantly as I watched her move around me.

  "Tomorrow! Tomorrow!" She exclaimed loudly. It was almost a wail, and it hurt my ears slightly. "Adventurer Hector, you cannot tell me this! I need time to measure and clothe you properly!"

  I seem to have caused some afont to her. She began quickly moving through his shot, looking at examples of male clothing, trying to find something she believed matched me and the social setting I was entering.

  "I may not be attending as the Guild may have worked for me." I pointed out what caused her to stop fussing around.

  She slowly turned and gave me a stern expression while she spoke. "Adventurer Hector, the invitation from a first daughter of a noble house is not something you idly ignore."

  "I am not Tailor Susanna." This conversation was becoming increasingly uncomfortable. "The city has recently contracted me to probe into the cemetery to discover the level of danger there. I might be sent back in again."

  Not precisely true, but neither a lie.

  That made her stop and look at me again, this time with a more probing look. "The cemetery outside of Low Town?"

  "Yes." The best way to lie was to keep your answers short, simple, and easy to remember. There were a few moments of silence between us, and I managed to keep my composure.

  "Do you think you will be called upon again?" She asked slowly.

  "That I do not know. I only recently recovered from my last excursion, and I know that the situation in the graveyard is becoming concerning to the city elders." All true.

  "You speak truthfully." She paused, putting her hands on her hips, looking around to shop. "So, you're preparing for either event."

  "I am. I will admit I am not one for social engagements, but I know the dangers of snubbing a noble family's invitation. Unfortunately, the cemetery is becoming an increasingly serious concern."

  She nodded slowly as I spoke, her eyes calculating and distant.

  She eventually agreed to supply me with a rather generic outfit. The cost was that I would have to come back and have her complete a full wardrobe for both everyday interactions and social events.

  I realise that I wasn't going to get out of this without agreeing, so I did. I needed to expand my wardrobe anyway, so it all worked out for me. I also paid for a few other items of clothing that were delivered to me, and handed over the last two gold coins I had.

  That left me with 40 silver. The clothing I bought was all excellent quality, making it far easier and more comfortable to wear. The clothes I had at the moment were sturdy and durable, but were a bit unpleasant to wear. The clothes I bought from Susanna were just as durable but far more comfortable.

  Sometimes you have to pay for comfort, as it makes your life far easier.

  I was soon chased out of her establishment with promises to return for a proper measuring and outfitting. I was never so thankful to leave a place outside of the Ironbreaker's family after I met Morgana. That short woman was incredibly intense.

  I had one last place to go, and I quickly made my way there—the Adventurer's Guild.

  I entered the building after working my way through the crowds in the merchant section of the city. More people were out and about now, many preparing for the event and the Coliseum that was soon to start. Many people on street corners were hawking ads for fighters or events. I had enquired around the tavern I was living in and found out that some of the fighters could generate quite a bit of money for the participants. Battles to the death were not unknown, but they were scarce within the city's Coliseum.

  On the far end of the room, when I walked in, was one of the receptionists I could remember the name of. She didn't work most of the week and seemed to be here only during the last two days.

  She barely looked up from her desk, just enough to acknowledge my presence, and then went back to reading. The rest of the room had one or two other people wandering around, and they all seemed to be adventurers as well. Two were sitting on the leather couches, talking, holding a piece of paper and passing it back and forth. They were talking quietly, and I suspected they were discussing a quest that had been posted. A third was standing at the board where the nobles and rich members of society posted their quests.

  I went straight to the board that covered mostly Low Town and the lowest-paying quests. I began working my way through the various pieces of paper pinned to the corkboard. The majority were in favour of exterminating black rats, and I was not eager to even consider picking them up. I would if I had to, but I didn't want to.

  I slowly work my way through each one, reading carefully and marking several I might pick up. I shifted up to the next board. It was then that I realised there had once been three, but now there were four. I found that curious but decided to work my way up them to see where the change had come from. As I worked through quests posted by those in the merchant section, I realised I had been mistaken before. There had always been a corkboard here, but I had not realised it due to the number of quests posted. The third board belonged to the city authorities.

  The corkboard covering the lowest level quests was packed full. The merchant section and midtier quests were also rather densely packed, but due to the close nature of the other board, had slightly spilt over, hence I had not realised the difference.

  The merchant section had similar requests for black rat exterminations, but was offering far more. There are also protection services and some bodyguard work offered. I ignored them.

  I got to the city authority section and found only a few here. Again, I found black rat extermination requests, but at a higher price for more bodies. I definitely was not going to take those. I remember the last one I did and didn't want to go through that again.

  It was then that I noticed one hidden under the others.

  It was an old quest and seemed to have been posted quite some time ago. There were pinholes in the paper from other quests being placed on top of it, and the paper was yellowed and slightly curled. I moved several pieces of paper out of the way and read what was written on it.

  Undead clearance quest. Location: the cemetery. Requirements: travel into the cemetery and eliminate as many undead as you can. Rewards: 3 gold for every low-tier terminated, four gold for every mid-tier, and five gold coins for any high-tier. In addition to any system rewards. Repeatable.

  I've been paid five gold coins for every termination I performed during my last quest for the city. I knew I got paid that much because they were desperate and needed someone to go in.

  I thought about it. Did I want to go in? Hell no! Was I short on money? Hell yes!

  I had my warm mace, and now I have a combat shotgun. I could hunt individual undead through the cemetery. This will help me generate a better map of the area. I checked my map after I came back, while I was recovering. Several areas of it had become revealed, but the rest were still fogged out. Getting a better idea of what was out there could help me in the long run. I had a sneaking suspicion they'll put me back in there quite soon.

  I took it off the board. I did not want it. Dear God or gods, I didn't want it.

  But I was forced to recognise a terrible fact. I would rather go into the cemetery and face the undead than meet Morgana Ironbreaker again. The scent of her perfume still haunted my dreams along with her face.

  I will not be attending her dinner tomorrow. I will need to send her a note informing her of this. Another cost, but one I was willing to pay. Tomorrow I'm returning to the cemetery.

  I turned and walked towards the table at the end of the room—time to get it registered.