The Spinning Top is a typical smaller inn – at least in Daniel’s limited experience. The Top is positioned close to the center of town and is made up of a mixture of wood and stone, though the inn does come with expensive blown-glass windows. The entrance of the inn leads through to a small dining room filled with rustic wooden tables and chairs flanked by a simple, worn wooden bar and a doorway to the kitchen, while a staircase opposite the entrance leads to the top floor and the rooms that the inn rents out. Like most inns in a dungeon town, it’s likely the rooms can be rented on both a short and long-term basis. Daniel’s musing is cut short as the smells from the kitchen set his stomach growling.

Inside, the sole worker is another tall, striking blonde woman, clad in a simple brown frock, whose matronly curves put her sister’s to shame. The moment they cross the threshold of the inn, Charles squirms out from the shelter of his aunt’s arms and into his shocked mother’s.

“Mary…” the aghast mother and innkeeper says, bending a knee to hug her child and to survey the blood and damage. She holds Charles away from her, parsing his words while she checks him over for injury before coming to the surprising conclusion that there are none.

“We had an incident, Elise.” Mary steps forward abashedly, explaining the accident in quick, concise sentences. Charles gets angry as the adults talk over him and he glares at the two, before deciding it is time to sulk. Mary flicks her hand back to Daniel, who has taken to leaning against the bar and staring into the kitchen in longing while the two sisters talk, “… and so I thought we could feed Daniel and maybe house him for a bit?”

“Jar, one plate with extra bread!” Elise calls out to the kitchen before marching over to Daniel and giving him a tight hug. “Thank you! Thank you so much!”

In a few minutes, the bustling Elise has Daniel settled and eating before she drags her bloodied child upstairs to get cleaned up. Mary takes over the counter, watching Daniel eat with a pensive look on her face, glancing between him and his hammer. It doesn’t take long before Daniel is done, leaning back against the chair after mopping up the last of the stew with his bread.

That was very good. Looking around, he doesn’t spot Elise to thank. He frowns slightly, impatient to complete his task but unwilling to leave without thanking her for the meal. As he debates what to do, his thoughts are interrupted by Mary.

“Are you going to join the Guild?” she asks, nodding to his hammer. The guess was not hard since the vast majority of fit young men coming into town had only one goal. She purses her lips as he acknowledges her question with a nod. “And that’s your weapon?”

“Why? Is it a problem?” Defensive, Daniel places his hand on the hilt of the hammer.

“It is. It’s too big and unwieldy for a dungeon.” As he opens his mouth to reply, Mary raises her hand and forestalls him, continuing, “I’m sure you used it while traveling here. Probably killed a few monsters too. There’s no arguing that it’s a fearsome weapon.

“But you have to land your blow. You need space to swing it and time to recover after you’ve swung. In a dungeon where you might face two or three different monsters at the same time, often faster and smaller than you, it won’t work.”

Daniel grunts, hunching slightly at each of her words. He knows it is not perfect; it’s not as if he hadn’t experienced much of what she said himself. “It’s

what I have.”

His words are not unexpected, and as soon as they leave his mouth, Mary turns to the staircase, calling upwards, “Elise, we’re going out. I’ll bring him back later! Jar, put his bags in room 3!”

The blonde stands swiftly, pushing her chair back into place before walking to the exit. When she notices Daniel is not moving, she barks out a single word. “Come.”

“Umm… what’s going on?” Hurrying to catch up with her, Daniel stumbles along, trying to gauge their destination in this strange city. Even as they hurry, human townsfolk offer Mary a quick smile and greeting, each acknowledged by Mary with a short nod.

“We’re going to the Guild to get you registered. You do have the twenty silver, correct?” She doesn’t acknowledge his hasty nod, continuing to speak even as she strides along. “After that, we’ll get you the training you need to wield a proper weapon.”

“Training! I can’t afford that!” Daniel exclaims, catching up with her and trying to slow her down to speak.

“Who asked you to pay?” Arriving at the doors of the Adventurer’s Guild, she strides in and heads to the nearest empty counter. An attendant walks over unhurriedly, tall and thin with a full mop of curly black hair. He smiles slightly as he spots the harried Daniel behind Mary before focusing on her entirely.

“What can I do for you, Mary?” The attendant smiles, his face wrinkling and adding to its lines as he runs a hand through his hair to bring some order to it.

“Got a newbie who needs to be registered, Liev.” She gestures behind, indicating Daniel who’s staring around in confusion. Liev smiles placatingly at the young man, pulling some papers and a small crystal ball out from beneath the counter.

“Not a problem. Just put your hand here; don’t be shy.” Smiling encouragingly, Liev has Daniel place his hand on the crystal ball while he coaches out the information that he needs to finish the registration. “Good, good. A Level 7 Miner. Ooh, very good, a Minor Healing spell. Yes, we can definitely register you as an Adventurer.”

At the end of his words, a low azure light glows on the crystal bringing another contented smile to Liev’s face. “And done. That’ll be twenty silver.”

As Daniel finishes paying, he can’t help but wonder if all his dreams have come true already. Another barked command to follow pulls him out of his contemplation as he hurries to catch up with the impatient Mary as she strides out of the Guild house. While he rushes after her, he calls up his Status Screen to marvel at his new position.

Name: Daniel Chai

Class: Level 1 Adventurer (0%)

Sub-classes: Level 7 (Miner) (14%)

Human (Male)

Statistics

Life: 164

Stamina: 164

Mana: 129

Critical Hit Chance: 4%

Attributes

Strength: 17

Agility: 12

Constitution: 23

Intelligence: 14

Willpower: 16

Luck: 13

Skills

Unarmed Combat: Level 2 (47/100)

Clubs: Level 3 (21/100)

Perception: Level 3 (21/100)

Mining: Level 7 (78/100)

Healing: Level 5 (84/100)

Herb Lore: Level 3 (31/100)

Cooking: Level 2 (37/100)

Singing: Level 2 (14/100)

Skill Proficiencies

Mapping (II)

Spells

Minor Healing (I)

Gifts

Martyr’s Touch - The caster may heal oneself or others by touch and concentration, sacrificing a portion of his life to do so. Cost varies depending on the extent of the injuries healed.

It’s a surprise for Daniel when Mary finally comes to a stop and thrusts a shield and mace at him. He reaches out and grabs the items automatically and then frowns, dismissing the Status Screen to pay proper attention to what he has been given. The mace is a simple construct, though instead of metal, its top is padded with wood and wrapped in cloth. A training weapon, though of better quality than he’s ever wielded before. The shield is a simple wooden shield banded with iron around the corners and weighted with extra lead at the back.

He pauses, looking at the weapons in his hand before looking up and around himself for the first time. Although the training hall they are standing in is made of stone, its high ceiling is vaulted with wooden beams. Windows are thrown open to bring in fresh air, but where wall space is available, weapon racks full of training gear hang. The ground beneath his feet is hard-packed soil, though in the corner he notices a rougher training ground. All around him, adventurers, and those who wish to be adventurers, train.

“Mary…”

“Litzburn!” Mary ignores Daniel again, waving to a towering, bald, ebony-skinned man who seems to be in command of the training floor. The man strides up to them, smiling widely at Mary and then nodding in acknowledgment as she speaks. “This is Daniel. He’s joining today.”

Litzburn chuckles as Daniel opens his mouth to protest to Mary’s already departing back. He drops a surprisingly delicate hand onto the new Adventurer’s shoulder and gently but firmly guides Daniel onto the training floor, “Don’t bother, kid; she isn’t listening. Now, follow along, you’ll want to know this.”