Before approaching, Lance continued scanning the common room. His vision passed over an entrance to a kitchen and then to the bar. It was a classic bar with a friendly-looking bartender wiping down his work area with a rag. Lance walked over and ordered a beer. He got something darker than he was used to drinking, he hoped it would be tasty.
He made his way across the space and sat in a comfortable chair next to the mage.
Sparky glanced up from the ale he was nursing and smiled at Lance. "Hey bud, how's it going?"
Lance smiled back, "It's going well so far. I hope you don't mind. I helped myself to a seat near you. How are you doing?"
"Naw, that's fine," Sparky said, "As for how things are going, compared to my life before, this is amazing!"
Lance nodded. "I noticed you didn't choose a god when you created your character. Was there a reason for that?"
"Sure," Sparky replied, "I already have one. A few days ago, I fell in love with... I was saved by..." He appeared confused.
"The devs are censoring the names of gods, all of them. But, if I may be so bold, are you trying to say the name of a man who died on a cross over 2000 years ago?"
"I am. Are you a follower of Him, too?" Sparky asked.
"I am. I have a couple years of seminary training, but I'm not a pastor yet." Lance carefully observed how the elf responded to his words.
"You know," Sparky replied, "I was saved through the Gospel Center Rescue Mission in Stockton, and my counselor Ray taught me a lot about that Man. At about the same time, I ran into some trouble on the streets, and Ray thought coming in here may be a way to get me out of a rough situation. He told me God would not abandon me but take care of me. Meeting you feels like a God thing, and I'm really charged up about it."
Lance was about to ask Sparky if he wanted to party up but then stopped. Do I really want to start depending on people again? Will they just abandon me in the end? Everyone else has abandoned me. He knew that if he were going to adventure, he would need to have a party, so he said, "We ought to hang out a bit and do stuff together."
Sparky smiled, "That sounds wonderful. I have been looking at the game menus while sitting here. We can form a party and even turn on the quest interface and find something to do."
"That's awesome. I found a leadership skill orb and have been wondering what it does. This may help me figure that out." Lance opened the HUD, formed a party, and invited the elf, who accepted.
After this, Lance went into the menus and selected the filter [show level appropriate quest markers].
"Ooh, this is amazing," Sparky said. "I'm seeing one right here in the Eagle and Child."
Lance approached the bartender and took the lead. "Sir, do you have any problems we can help you with?"
The barkeep glanced up, "Sure, we are having an infestation of rats in our basement. If you think you can kill a few rodents, you can both have a free dinner, ale, a room for the night, and some other stuff, too."
"It's a deal," Lance said. Can you show us how to find the basement?
He paused as he viewed the description. This was more than just killing a few rodents.
The bartender led them into a tidy kitchen and opened a heavy door, revealing a set of stairs that descended.
"Be back in a bit," Sparky said to the barkeep, who grunted.
As they descended, the light quickly faded, and they found themselves in near-pitch darkness.
"Ouch!" Sparky yelled as a rodent the size of a German Shepherd emerged from under the stairs and bit him.
Lance spun around and equipped his daggers. He stabbed the creature.
Sparky turned as well, and the basement was lit in a stark blue-white flash as a bolt of electricity left Sparky's hand and struck the rat on the nose.
Lance was notified it had died, but for a moment, while the room was lit, he could see at least four or five rats scattered around on one side.
"Run away!" The elf yelled as he and Lance bounded up the stairs back into the kitchen.
"Okay, not so quick and easy as we thought," Lance said.
Sparky gingerly probed the bite wound and grimaced. "Agreed"
"We need a plan, and I think it needs to start with a light source."
Sparky nodded vigorously. "I have some sort of night vision, but even that was limited in the basement, especially after the flash of lightning."
"We are going to need a way to keep from getting rushed by those rats. There are too many. That's a long battle, and I don't have much in the way of health," Lance thought for a moment, "Okay, let's solve what we can. Let's buy some torches or something."
Walking down the street, they peered at the signs over the door for each business. A shirt and pants for the tailor, a bubbling cauldron for the alchemist, a helmet and sword for the blacksmith, a ring and necklace for the jeweler, and a rope and backpack for general goods. They headed for the general goods store which was taller than the other stores but still one story. It had a wooden exterior, more like something from a wild western set. It had broad front windows and saloon like doors.
As they entered the establishment, they noted a huge wall behind the counter displaying various adventuring equipment, from rope and spikes to backpacks and travel rations. As Lance and Sparky stepped up to the counter, an attractive, middle-aged woman sporting light brown hair shot through with grey streaks greeted them. Lance noticed she was a player named Gwen.
"Hello, Gwen," he said, "We need some supplies."
"Which quest are you on?" She asked.
Sparky jumped in, "The rats in the basement over at the Eagle and Child."
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"Let me guess," the woman said. "You went down, couldn't see a thing, got bit, and ran back up."
"Exactly," Lance moaned.
"Don't feel bad, happens to most. Where is the rest of the party?"
"Just us," Sparky said.
"There is no way a thief and a mage are going to duo that quest. It's bigger and harder than you think. The system underrates that one. I can set you up for it, but you are going to need either a healer or a tank, preferably both," Gwen said.
"Okay, let's buy the kit first. We can find others to help us out after," Lance responded.
Gwen smiled, "Be right back." She exited the room through a small doorway in the back and returned a minute later holding a box. On the side of it was scrawled, "B&B Rats v3."
Lance grinned, "Wow, when you say kit, you mean it!"
"What is version three about the box," Sparky added with his own wry smile.
"We offer discounts for information about quests and are always updating the contents of our packs."
"Makes sense," Lance says. "We want help, and you want to sell stuff. The more you can help, the more you can sell."
"Exactly," Gwen said. I'm glad you understand." She tipped the box over, and its contents spilled onto the counter. She picked up four stones. Here is the solution to your light problem." She squeezed one of the stones, which glowed surprisingly bright. She tossed it out into the shop, and it stayed lit as it hit the floor and rolled to a stop.
Sparky walked over and took the stone. "Wow, this is way better than a torch!" He squeezed it, and it went dark again.
"How long do they last?" Lance asked.
"They glow for four hours at full brightness, then fade over the next two. Bring them back, and we can charge them up again for a lot cheaper than buying them new. They're kind of recyclable, I guess." Gwen took the stone back from Sparky and set it aside.
Next, she grabbed up a length of rope with an attached grappling hook. "The system will not let me share spoilers with you while you have the quest active, but I can tell you this. Without a rope, you will still be able to complete the quest, but you will not find all of the loot. This is very much worth it."
Lance reached over and picked up a water skin, "Water?"
Gwen shook her head, "We are saving you a trip back out, but I can't tell you what it is at this time."
Sparky was pushing some rocks around on the table, "What are these?"
"Those are copper ore. A pickaxe is heavier to carry," Gwen said.
"And two backpacks? Don't we already have inventories?" Lance asked.
"Aah, but these will expand your inventory from 20 to 40 slots each. That's more than enough to gather up all of the valuables and return to sell them. They will pay for themselves."
"Okay," Lance said, "How much will all of this set us back?"
"Two silver," Gwen said with a hopeful look on her face.
He considered it. He could barter her down, but she looked like she needed some help, "How did you get here? Are you apprenticing or something?"
"I'm buying the business from the former owner. I love running the shop, but the payments are high and need to be made weekly, and the game is starting slower than expected."
"The price on the kit is a little expensive," Lance summoned two silvers and pushed them across the counter. "But I'm in a position to help right now, and we appreciate all the hard work you have put into building this. Also, the advice about us needing more party members."
Gwen smiled, "Thank you, Lance, and you too, Sparky. Hope to see you again soon. Some of what you guys may find is stuff we sell. Come back after you finish the quest, and I will give you my best price for those items."
As the adventurers prepared to leave, she said, "I hope it's not rude, but why do you not have a god listed on your tags?"
Lance turned around, "Glad you asked. Sparky and I are both followers of the man who suffered on the cross."
Gwen looked at them. "Do you mean..." Her face screwed up in consternation.
"Yeah," Sparky said, "The game devs blocked the names of gods."
"I'm not into that sort of thing, but I do believe in basic freedoms. Doesn't that violate the Constitution or something?"
"Maybe it does," Lance said, "If you are ever curious or want to know more, talk to one of us, and we can tell you about the God-man who lived and died to save sinners."
She smiled at them, "Not today, but best of luck on your quest."