Their next order of business was 'establishing a base of operations', as Demit put it. They continued to wander the town, learning of landmarks and mentally mapping their way around. They found the location of Sherry's Tavern. They also found the Volunteer Corp lodging but did not check in, because they found out Trainees who got the free necklace still needed to pay 10 coppers. It was the 20 silver badge that made the room free. Other rooms elsewhere ranged as high as 40 coppers, so that option was out. Still, 10 was cheaper and clearly meant to help new trainees.

It was about 2 in the afternoon and everyone was rather frustrated at being in a place so foreign, so they decided to stop for lunch. This time, they found a stall that sold some kind of food in a bowl called 'Sorruz'. It was way too overpriced for the amount of coin they had, considering they were still jobless, but the day's events was a shock to all. As they slurped the delicious noodles and drank something from another nearby stall, they said nothing to each other. Each was lost in their own thoughts. The heavy dish helped raise their spirits somewhat. Jakson thought the copper coins in his pouch were a hassle so he paid for lunch, lightening the load considerably.

Roland had had quite enough.

"Let's just find a room, I want to sleep and maybe I'll wake from this bad dream."

"Rooms are 10 coppers per night, Honey", said Brewary. "We don't even have jobs yet."

"We're not exactly fueling on the cheap stuff, either", said Demit. They all saw what 4 bowls of Sorruz could do to a bag filled with copper.

"And we got no fucking clue how much things really cost long term, fucking local currency. If this were Dollars….", she trailed off. That word sounded familiar.

"Money not normal", said Jakson. The rest looked at him.

"10 copper food a day, 2 and half copper 4-bed room, if share", he said, gesturing to Demit. The guys could share, but Demit would need her own room. That was 20 coppers per night, with Demit paying 10 in full. Roland was impressed that he thought a great deal for someone who barely spoke. Thinking back at prices, 10 coppers was bad food but it could feed you for a day.

"1 silver, maybe 8 day", he said over his second drink. Jakson really did like to drink. A 10 copper meal allotment would not accommodate that.

"10 silver… too much."

"Sugar's right. 10 silver could feed a person for over 2 months. No one's that generous."

The last missing piece was job hunting. It was still day outside, and it was time to ask around again. It was time to try Sherry's Tavern. Halfway to the place, Jakson had another idea;

"You want know things? Find old man, little bit drunk. Pay his drink, he teach everything".

"Oh you're just looking for cheap booze again, Broski", snapped Demit. Yet 4 people in a tavern won't learn much, and it did make sense to split for awhile, and the plan was then to meet up at the lodgings at sunset.

Jakson slapped Roland's arm, gestured with his head, hand and a sound towards a side alley. It was decided. Brewary would head to Sherry's with Demit and Roland would follow Jakson elsewhere. Jakson seemed to have a knack for shortcuts, as he cut from alley to main street back to alley again. They came to what looked like the edge of the poorer side of town. Another slap on Roland's arm. Jakson motioned drinking and pointed to some slanted roof at the side of the street. It wasn't a store proper, but a roof erected between 2 buildings, blocking off the entrance to a dead-end alley. There were only a few small tables and stools. He held out his hand.

"One silver, take out now. Hide money bag". Ah, Roland thought. He still had 10 silver pieces. This asshole in his striped clothing is going to make me pay for bootleg.

Roland could see why Jakson chose the place. 2 older looking men sat on a table, drinking. That was to be their target. There were several empty mugs on the table, a sign that they had been drinking for awhile. The bartender didn't really look at them in a friendly manner on account of their dressing. He did however recognise the silver that Jakson spun on the counter. Jakson gestured with his head to some barrels and some mugs were set. There wasn't even a tap; it was scooping the mugs into the barrel and serving it straight. Jakson gestured some more so more mugs came out. Carrying 2 in each hand, the 2 men headed for the table. Some man in black with 3 white stripes on his hoodie and track pants followed by another in cargoes and a red t-shirt isn't hard to notice. The older men were not friendly.

"What you want, outsiders?". Jakson set to work; new people in town, and they saw some veteran warriors they could learn from, you know, maybe learn a thing or two, maybe some of their greatest battles, maybe be pointed in the right direction, so maybe they can stay alive as long and drink like sensible men instead of being headstones on that hill. Not asking for free, of course. Will accompany and buy some drink but please consider that new volunteers only have a few silver-

Jakson was interrupted right away. The warriors grabbed a mug each and began taking turns, talking over and interrupting each other. One enjoyed tapping his mug on the table for emphasis. Another one kept jabbing Roland or Jakson in the arm, depending on who he talked to. Waking up in the tower, coming out into an unknown world, the graveyard, Britanny and the weird Deposit Company girl was strange enough as it is. They were going to be hit with the worst one that day; just to start, one needed 8 silver. So that was why Red Moon gave 10. Jakson gestured for more mugs. 8 mugs were purchased that evening with Roland's silver coin. They had only one each as the veterans drank and talked themselves to sleep. They refused to pay for what the veterans had drunk before their arrival, so the annoyed bartender snatched the silver and slammed the coppers in change on the counter. There was no mood for largesse after what they have just heard.

It was almost dusk when they met at the lodgings, with Roland and Jakson being slightly later. Somehow Jakson managed to sneak a mug which he emptied along the way. Brewary and Demit were much more cheerful. It seemed like they had good info to share. Greeting them with a smile, Demit started;

"This guy right here is dead set on being a Warrior. Shit, one look at some dude's 2 handed sword, he's made up his mind. I'm telling him 'be a Paladin, I'll be a priest, we'll train together' but nah, he wants a longer sword."

"That solves part of the front line and healer, then. It's going to cost 8 silver each". That wiped off smiles anyone had. There was about a minute of silence as Demit and Brewary digested that news.

"Well, then we best get indoors, clean up, then share what we learn, darlings. It's been a long day for us, and it's not over yet."

"Fucking hell. Looks like we're sharing bunk."

10 coppers changed hands and the group went into their room. There were bunk beds on each side of the wall with only space for one to stand in between. There was a table by a high window, with one candle stand for the whole room. There was only straw to lie in for the beds. Demit went out first to clean up at the shared bath. She came back slightly annoyed, but fresher after all that had happened that day.

"Shit, the bath's a fucking hole in the ground, the toilet's a wooden bucket, the ground's dirt and stone". The men then left for the baths together.

They had their meeting in the room that night. The table was dragged between the beds.

"The guys at Sherry's didn't mention the price to join a guild?"

"Afraid not, Honey. I wished they did, and I wouldn't have spent so much."

"Common local knowledge, so the natives thought we knew. You do have your 8 silver, don't you?". Demit looked at each member to make sure everyone nodded. It's funny how she calls people 'natives', thought Roland. As if there was a way out of this.

They shared what they learned. Basic tactics and where each person should stand, represented by silver coins arranged in formation. Basically, there were 3 roles; Front Line, Scout, and Support. Paladins and Warriors made the front line to use their armour and tank damage. Hunters and Thieves made better scouts. With a bow, Hunters could switch to support. At the back were the poorer armoured support class, in the form of Priest and Mage. Dread Knights were useful and could serve multiple roles, like an off-tank and melee support due to their lighter weight and being able to switch to the back lines in a pinch. They discussed what guild each member would join to see how the party formation would turn out;

Brewary would be a Warrior, and would not budge to be Paladin.

Demit would be a Priest, 'Cos then who's gonna take care of you hopeless fuckers?'. Brewary tried to convince her to be the Paladin, because Orion members did mention an experienced Priest named Mary that could potentially be recruited. Demit rubbished the suggestion. There was something about Mary; 'PTSD' and 'threat to squad morale'. Those sounded familiar. Even Demit seemed unsure of what she just said.

Jakson said 'Thief'. His hoodie was off, and under it also a black shirt with the three white stripes.

Roland explained that he somehow noticed bows before anything else, and was fairly sure that he knew how to use one. Actually, he liked bows. Yet with nobody remembering anything other than their own names, it was hard to be sure.

"Sure, we got game with a Hunter around", said Demit. She approved the potential source of food.

"In combat, designated marksman", she continued.

"Oh Honey you will have the cutest lil' puppy following you around", Brewary was excited about a Wolf Hound in the party.

"Uh, no. I'm going to be an Archer."

"Same diff, soldier."

"Not same". Roland felt a gentle push on the shoulder and a sound from Jakson. It was the sign he should do the talking.

So he explained what the Veterans said about Specialist classes. As far as they knew, there were things like Samurai, Archer and Necromancer. Matter of fact, Alterna had an Archery Guild close to the Hunter's Guild. It was a low intake guild as people tended to be more attracted to the Hunter. The one who kept jabbing his arm said that he once campaigned alongside an Archer. 'Them arrows could slam through armour plating, no way in hell could a Hunter ever pull that off', was the quote. 'Problem was, the poor bastard couldn't move much so he got speared where he stood when the front line got broken through' was the part he left out. Jakson said nothing as well.

It was decided. First thing in the morning after breakfast, off to the guilds for a week's training.

"Money's going to be bad once we come out", said Roland.

"Maybe can fix", said Jakson. He tied one arm of his hoodie to make a small bag and emptied his pouch into it. Everyone did the same. He gave it a few shakes, poured out the coins and redistributed them equally, with one extra copper that Demit took.

He gestured in a way that seemed to suggest 'Better?'. Hardly, but it was the thought that counted.

"Bri-chan's silver bailed us out, there. One of us wouldn't have a guild if it weren't for that. We thought 10 silver was plenty."

"So that's why he had no problems giving one away."

"All that's past. We graduate, hit the ground running and start earning", said Demit as she held out her hand.

"Hooah?"

"Hooah, Paprika dear", Brewary extended his hand.

"Yeah. Hooah."

"Ura", replied Jakson, his hand slapping the top of the pile.

The red moon shining through the window still spooked Roland, but he was exhausted. What was 'Hooah' again? It was oddly comforting if a group said it together.