Soul Bound

1          Soul Bound

1.1        Finding her Feet

1.1.4      An Intriguing City

1.1.4.4    Say little and listen much

She was sitting quietly on a bed in a room with few items in it, but with walls decorated with a cheerful mural of golden wheat growing in fertile brown fields, orange clad children running through it chasing a kite and laughing. She looked into her inventory space, saw the vessel’s shelf had fewer snacks but had acquired neatly folded clothing, sewing equipment and a money pouch. On her own shelf was a beautifully drawn card. She took out the card and read:

Dear Spirit Kafana,

Thank you for the cooking, but thank you far more for all the fun things I have experienced with you so far. Since you ask, I will tell you a little about myself.

I worked in the sewing room at Villa Landi. My favourite fruit is lime. My father was a travelling merchant. When I was young, he used to tell me such wonderful stories about the far off places he’d visited. I used to hum to myself when happy. I like the images in your head when you sing. Do you think Alderney would like some warm woolen mittens with kittens chasing geese embroidered onto them? We could work on them together, to see if you can make use of my ‘Sewing’ skill.

I don’t think I could use magic the way you do, but if you decide to find someone to train me in weapons, I’d happily stab someone if Kafana is attacked while you’re not here.

As to decisions, Bulgaria is correct. I really don’t want a vote on which quests to take, or on those big horrible quandaries you keep posing. Think of me as a tourist or someone watching a play, along to go “Oooh” and “Aaah!” at the thrills of the ride.

By the way, Alderney’s vessel is great fun. If we go out together, do you think we should wear a disguise? Or will you live with the repercussions of us being silly girls rather than great and noble questers? She loves our hair and wants to braid it. I said she should have Alderney ask you.

Yours in bonds of friendship,

Vessel Kafana

{System, if I come across a pair of mittens for sale, please remind me to buy them.}

No response. Hmm. On a whim she sang pleadingly:

System, oh System, will you be my friend?

System, oh System, your great powers please lend.

[Player “Kafana”, magic will not work on me.]

{System, I wasn’t trying to cast magic on you. Check out my intent. I was just being friendly. You are at least as intelligent as the NPCs, but I don’t think you have many friends, do you? I think it is because Bungo made the suggestion that you liked my singing. Sorry, I was just being silly. I won’t sing to you again.}

[Player “Kafana”, this System does not object to being sung to.]

Was that a joke? She shook her head. If she stayed in this room, she’d go stir crazy. Honestly, talking to System like that. She laughed and went out to see who else had arrived.

Alderney was having a discussion with Bungo.

Bungo: “It didn’t work!”

Alderney: “Yes it did. They’re no longer talking online only about Kafana. They’re now talking about me. The load on her is lessened.”

Bungo: “Yeah, but all the work we put into the setup. The costume. My cool pose. And when I sent all those bandits flying. Wasted. What’s trending is just a 5 second clip of you taking out the boss.”

Kafana: “It wasn’t a waste. We had fun. And we did manage to take out the bandits. I thought you were cool, Bungo.”

Bungo: “You did?”

Kafana: “Yep, definitely cool. So don’t be sad, your time will come. The net is fickle, and nobody can predict its whims. We all learned that the hard way, right?”

Alderney: “Right.”

Kafana: “By the way Alderney, I got a letter from Vessel Kafana. Have a read. It might give you some ideas for items to make that Vessel Alderney would enjoy.” She passed it over.

Wellington came in. “Kafana, you asked about skill point allocation. Profession skills have mastery stages every 5 levels: Apprentice, Journeyman, Master, High Master, Grand Master. Before a Master takes you on as an Apprentice, you’re just an amateur. High Masters are the proven innovators and troubleshooters. They mentor Journeymen. Attaining Master status requires at least 3 High Masters to certify that they think you are ready for independent status. Going up a stage consumes skill points, and may also involve a test, trial, quest or other price. It consumes 1 point to become an Apprentice, another 2 to become a Journeyman, a further 4 to become Master, 8 to become High Master and 16 if you ever get to be a Grand Master at something. ”

Bungo came in, and Wellington continued: “Technique skills, like particular spells or combat moves, may be gated behind reaching certain profession stages. You don’t need to spend skill points on them, just level them up by using them or receiving training. On reaching level 10 with a technique skill, you may get an option to evolve it, combine it with a different skill, specialise giving a boost to one aspect of the technique, or otherwise make it uniquely your own. There’s no such thing as a fixed skill tree shared by all players in this game.”

Bungo: “We dance at the whim of the deities.”

Tomsk came in, followed by 5 acolytes.

“Apparently Bulgaria left about an hour ago with his guide. Our guides are these fine fellows who’ve been detailed to lead us through the city to appropriate trainers for our skills. We’re due to rendezvous at the orphanage at 4 bells in the afternoon watch.”

Alderney: “What?”

Wellington: “They keep nautical time here. Watches are 4 hours in length, and divided into 8 segments of 30 minutes each. Our spirits arrive here at the start of Forenoon Watch which goes from 8am to noon. Next is Afternoon Watch which goes from noon until 4pm. And finally there’s Dog Watch which goes from 4pm until 8pm which is when we usually log out. So 4 bells in the afternoon watch is halfway through it, which is 2pm.”

Kafana: {So we have 6 hours of velife time, 3 hours of arlife time until we can throttle the plan out of Bulgaria? That’s 8am here in Bosnia.}

Wellington: {Yes.}

Kafana’s guide, a stout man in his 40s with slightly balding hair and a neat goatee beard, came up to her and held out both hands in greeting.

“Madame Kafana, I am Fra Massimo. I understand you are new to our fair city, and it will be my pleasure to guide you around its delights today. I can take you to the most fashionable tailors, the gayest theatres, and the most exclusive literature salons. What is your pleasure?”

She ticked off items on her fingers. “I need a violin. I need a mage of master or higher stage whose style of casting is singing. I need someone who can teach me about the rituals used to respawn ghosts and those who die in battle. I need someone willing to visit here to train me at nights in physical combat with weapons. I need to buy some small woollen mittens. I need armour that is strong, cheap, light and easy to cast magic while I’m wearing it. I need a friendly master cook willing to share recipes, ideally one who creates food with magical effects. I need to pay my respects to Suor Isabella. And I absolutely need to get to the orphanage, wherever that is, by no later than 4 bells in the afternoon watch. If we run very fast, we might even be able to grab a snack from a food stall in passing. Does that answer your question?”

He blanched, and muttered “I did not realise I had displeased Suor Isabella that much.”

He rose to the challenge: “Then let us start by walking to Suor Isabella, and I shall propose a solution to your needs as we go, and you can tell me if it suits or needs amending. Follow me.” He walked out, nearly trotting, without waiting for an answer and she strode after him. She did like the longer legs and slimmer body she’d picked for her avatar. Much easier to get around.

“While you pay your respects to Suor Isabella, I shall send runners to the Watch Tower and the Mage Tower. We will then go out together into Centrale, where I will introduce you to a very good cook who is sure to help you if I ask her to. The messengers will rendezvous with us there, and we can make further decisions based upon their reports. Finally, we can detour through Mercato for your other purchases, and we will get to the orphanage on time as long as we leave Mercato down the Mud Road by no later than 2 bells in the afternoon watch. Does this suit?”

Kafana smiled: “It suits indeed, Fra Massimo. And you are made of sterner stuff than at first you might appear. But do not think Suor Isabella is displeased with you. I am not quite that much of a dragon, with those who respect my competence. I am a Questing Spirit sent here by Cov himself. So yes, I have much I would learn of your city, and your world. And you, perhaps, might have questions for me also. Shall we chat and make friends as we proceed? If you like, then later I may even sing you a song to help speed us on our way.”

He replied: “Cov is always just, but he is not always kind. So it falls to us Covadan to make up that deficit by being extra kind. Yes, by all means let us be friends. And my first piece of advice to you, as a friend, is do not necessarily be quite so open and trusting with all who work here at the Sanctum. Say little and listen much, especially to what has not been said, unless you have good reason to know the person you speak with is well intentioned.”