There were no new jobs posted.
Normally, that would have meant something was wrong. Instead, it meant he needed to decide what to do next.
It was time to go out again, solo, if he didn’t count his bonded companions, vassals, and death-marked summons.
Edward and Ken had begged off, having family duties to attend to. They were helping set up the annual Hallowford Guild tournament on the tourney field.
Things had changed for the better since he’d returned from Prax’s ship three days ago.
Prax had been great, but time had worked against them. He’d explained what he would do so it would be recorded, then hopefully completed those steps later.
Prax had taken a copy of James’s memories, explaining that he would hold it as leverage against Bob should he go back on the rule change. He’d made a second copy and given it to James for his inventory, along with a small vial and a handwritten label.
The instructions had been blunt.
Do not return here until you naturally would have. At least three days from now. Use Round Three as the excuse, but assume that every moment spent there would be assessed by Bob.
Prax needed proof. Evidence that Bob had violated one of the laws: mind control, soul violation, conversion of sentient species into non-sapient forms, or immortal enslavement.
James had already mentioned Bob inside his Commander’s Space during day one, along with the original Queen Gweneviere. It was a start, but not enough. They needed a recording of a violation, or the Queen’s contract itself, to make it stick.
After that, Prax had wiped James’s memories back to the moment just after casting .
For two days, Bob had kept him, all the Commanders, and their attendants there. Even the silver rankers. The Arena was shut down, and no one was allowed to leave.
Charlie and Squire were currently playing on the new pet-specific playground he’d mentally created during his enforced downtime.
James had also used the time to train.
Rock personally ran drills for all three of them, focusing on evasion and defense. Given access to the Silver Rooms, James learned a lot. Evasion and defense used different muscles than offense, though, so to stay balanced he’d also worked on sword technique.
A few cooldowns cycled during that time as well.
Tristan’s last two rings were identified, confirming he’d been prepared for the long travel needed to set up the ambush.
Item: Category: Aspects:
Effects
Seat Sense: Grip Memory:
Note:
Item: Category: Aspects:
Effects
Task Focus: Steady Pace:
Neither ring increased his statistics, which was slightly disappointing.
When they’d returned to Erranoc, Guild Master Anne had secluded them in her office, now fully recovered from the break-in. They’d spent the rest of the day discussing the rule change, what could have caused it, and how it altered her plans.
The consensus was that Bob had realised his mistake in forcing the Earth Commanders to kill each other. He’d been unwilling to remove the “return to Earth with powers” reward, instead leaning harder into the contest.
That also meant Bob’s Dungeons and the Commanders’ Hub were likely going to be far more dangerous now. Anne had tried to re-enter them herself and had been banned.
After that, James had been left to his own devices.
That was last night.
This morning, he’d finally felt safe enough to drink the mysterious potion. His true memories came flooding back.
Now he was still processing, but he needed to act as if he still believed in the competition. He had to appear eager to grow and compete.
It wasn’t entirely an act.
He want to grow. And competing would bring him closer to catching Bob out.
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That left him staring at the quest board.
He ended up picking the delivery quest. The alternative was killing twenty rats in the sewers. Squire probably could handle that herself, but he just didn’t feel like putting any of them through the ordeal.
He then put the quest back on the board.
What he really needed was a way to progress his Griffon Egg hatching. And for that he needed to solve the Griffon quest. He brought up his Active Quest tab.
System Notice - Bond Quest:
Part I:
Reward:
Card Insight:
Progress:
Bond Quest: Griffon Bonding Part I partially completed.
Mother Griffon name provided:
He’d earnt that from giving the Matron-Talon his real name.
It occurred to him that perhaps the Guild had a book on Griffons.
Joe was at the Guild supplies when he got there.
“Hey Joe, how have you been?”
“James, no complaints really. Things have been returning to normal now the Guild elites are back. What can I get you? Do you need more potions?”
“Actually, yes. That would be great. Can I get a resupply of healing potions for my belt?”
“Yep, can do, but if not for potions, what are you here for?”
“I was wondering if you had any guides on Griffons?”
“We might, but you would be better off seeing Jenny for that. I’m sure she could answer any questions you might have.”
James facepalmed.
“Uhh, just those potions then. How much?”
“Forty gold for one, seventy for two, a hundred for three.”
“I’ll take three.”
He handed over a hundred gold.
Joe threw in a healing balm tin for good measure.
“For when you need healing, but a healing potion is over the top.” Joe said in explanation.
James was about to ask if Joe had any quests for him when he remembered the delivery quest.
James assessed his funds and then said, “If you still have those cards I’ll get one of each.”
Joe pulled up the cards he had, along with the listed prices.
Slippery – 80 gold.
Self-Cleaning – 30 gold.
Spikes – 70 gold.
This time they came up with additional information:
Slippery (Common)
Type: Slot Requirement: Target:
Effect:
- Reduces the likelihood of the item being restrained, bound, or stuck due to external forces.
- Improves ease of movement when the item is used in close contact situations such as grappling, dense terrain, or environmental hazards.
Limitations:
- Does not prevent magical binding effects.
- Excessive force can still overcome the effect.
Note:
Self-Cleaning (Basic)
Type: Slot Requirement: Target:
Effect:
- Cleaning occurs over time while the item is worn or carried.
- Prevents buildup that would otherwise require manual maintenance.
Limitations:
- Does not repair damage.
- Does not remove curses, enchantments, or persistent magical effects.
Note:
Spikes (Common)
Type: Slot Requirement: Target:
Effect:
- Enhances grip, anchoring, or traction depending on item type.
- Can cause minor damage when used offensively during close contact.
Limitations:
- The enchantment adapts to the item and will not create unsafe configurations.
- Damage caused is incidental and not considered a primary attack.
Note:
James wasn’t exactly sure how he would use them at this stage, but wanted to investigate that in his crafters hall. Perhaps he could reverse engineer them and obtain the pattern, if the system even allowed that.
He handed over the hundred and eighty gold and put the cards away.
“Given how much you’ve spent, here, have another healing balm.” Joe said slipping another one over the counter.
“Thanks… Get too much in the last supply?”
“Well, while we had no supplies, a lot of guild members donated them. They are pretty common loot after all. Turns out, when the guild got their goods back everyone got paid for whatever they donated.” Joe shrugged. “We don’t normally buy them.”
“Ahh, well I don’t end up looting much, so this is appreciated. Thanks.”
He nodded again then made his way up to Julie’s office and knocked on the closed door.
“One minute,” Julie’s voice came through the closed door, slightly muffled.
Three minutes later she called out “Okay, come in.”
There was a sealed letter on her desk, and the smell of fresh wax in the air.
“What can I do for you James?”
“I was hoping you might be able to help me with some questions I have about Griffons and their eggs? That or a book you could sell me on the topic?”
“Griffons James? Do you have an egg, a griffon, or a quest?”
“Would you believe all three?”
“How about you share the quest with me and I can see if I have any information that would help.”
James shared the quest details, along with the details of the Eyrie in his Commander’s Space.
Julie leaned back. “I don’t have that much information on them, no. Information is tightly controlled by The Riders of Agnar. They have a branch at the Capital, as well as the Agnar mountain range far to the south. In your case, I would recommend the Capital. In the meantime I recommend stocking up on a variety of food for the matron and younglings.
If you haven’t already, I’m sure Charlie and Squire could use some varieties of food in their home too.
He really wasn’t keen on travelling that far. At least not until after the tournament. Maybe a rider would find him instead. Stranger things had happened.
He was walking back to the Guild commons when a familiar dwarven voice rang out.
“Hey James!” Ja’ra called out, no trace of superiority in his tone.
He looked over to see Ja’ra, the spy planted in his party by Guild Master Anne, now just another Guild member, striding towards him, with a smile on his face.
In his hands was a beautifully crafted set of Dwarven chainmail armour.
“Ja’ra”, he said cautiously, unwilling to fully let the past go.
“Look, I’m sorry for tricking you like we did, but we were following orders.”
James scowled.
“I did what I had to. This,” he lifted the chainmail, “I’ll give you a twenty percent discount if you’re still interested. Call it my way of apologising.”
He’d almost expected it to be a gift.
Still, Ja’ra didn’t know he wasn’t real.
James wasn’t entirely convinced of that either.
Holding a grudge now wouldn’t help, he knew, and he needed as much help and good will as he could get.
“Can I try it on?” That was the sound of his resistance collapsing.
“Yes, but no need, it will adapt to you, it has an embedded card for lightness, size change, and toughness.”
James's eyes lit up, then again he didn’t want to lose the crocodile armour set bonus.
“How much?”
Ja’ra’s expression shifted. His eyes lost focus for a moment.
“Uh… apparently I want a griffon.”