Game Master: Ever guided by the wonderfully subtle direction of the game master, the party of adventurers find themselves wandering about in the almost endless markets of Arbornalea. A gentle respite from the dangerous and perilous quest that still remains ahead of them.
Brittany and Alvin walked about in the jewelers district, not far from the other stalls that sold the finer, more elegant - and unnecessarily expensive - things in life. Trinkets and baubles of glass, gems and precious metals reflected the midday sun like the desert horizon that can nearly blind the unprepared. Not these two chipmunks though as they always see it as where they belong. Brittany traded one accessory in her hand for another, undecisive of which one was more deserving of her beauty while Alvin nodded and agreed with her only half paying attention as he himself fixated on the silks and fabrics that made up the clothes of nobles.
Brittany: Ooo, they all feel so REAL in my hand! You think Simon can whip up some science thing that can let me take them with me? Oh but which one would I take? Alvin? Do you think, emeralds? or sapphires? OR A GIANT DIAMOND!
Alvin: Well how can I say no to any three of those options but Britt look at this ROBE! It's like if heaven was softer than a kitten. Made with 16 kinds of silk only found in the Dunes of Charnor? And dry clean only! That's how you know it's worth the price! I would never have to change!
Brittany, whipping her head: You're still changing.
Alvin: I know I know. But just look at THIS thing! With a scepter like this, people would think I'm a king and they'd throw money at my feet! I could be richer than Queen Gaia!
Brittany: Quick! What kind of money do we have in this world?
Alvin rattled around his empty pockets, then went into his bag of holding and pulled out a small coin pouch. He and Brittany looked inside together and took the pieces out.
Brittany: Only 10 coins after giving the others spending money...
Brittany slunk down and put the jewelry as she stepped over to sit by a fountain as Alvin struggled to separate himself from the 16 silk robe. He gave up and put a foot on the stone seating wall beside Brittany who put her head in her hands with a huff.
Brittany: So much for that.
Alvin: What's the point of playing a game if we don't get plenty of loot!
Brittany: Seriously! I thought we'd be swimming in treasure by now.
Alvin: But noooo, we had to let everyone else have fun. You know, for not being the oldest I feel like we give the most around here for our siblings.
Brittany: Who knew being THIS generous and caring would be so miserable.
Alvin and Brittany shared a sigh.
Brittany after a moment: But at least they're probably having fun, right? I hope they are.
Alvin: Yeah yeah, me too.
Alvin looked into the water of the magnificent fountain behind Brittany, but then had a sudden realization. Rather, he suddenly remembered. He reached into his shirt's inner pocket and took out the sparkling necklace that he found with the sword in the troll cave. He dangled it over the water and let the metals shimmer with the refracting water. He smiled and right as he was about to turn to Brittany, the necklace was suddenly snatched out of his hand.
Brittany: Alvin! Where did you get THIS?
Alvin: Wait Britt I can-
Brittany: Did you steal this? Are you crazy? They'll kill us or worse put us in some dark damp jail!
Alvin: I didn't-
Brittany: I thought bards were supposed to be dashing and courageous with a heart of gold! Like Errol Flynn!
Alvin snatched the necklace back and kept it away from Brittany.
Brittany: And now you're going to keep it to yourself!
Alvin: Britt calm down! I-
He and Brittany noticed a crowd around them starting to take notice of their fighting.
Alvin, lowering his voice: I didn't steal it.
Brittany, lowering hers: Then where did you get it?
Alvin: The troll cave!
Brittany: Is that so, then why hide it?
Alvin: It WAS for you!
Brittany suddenly paused and blushed.
Brittany: F-For me?
Alvin: Yeah you dunce! I was PLANNING on giving it to you but-
Brittany: Well that changes everything! Give it here!
Alvin backed up and kept the necklace away.
Alvin: Oh no! Now you're definitely not getting this! I guess a cowardly and un-charming bard would rather keep it for himself huh?
Brittany: I-I-I was just saying that bards are meant to be dashing and courageous like Errol Flynn and you definitely fit that bill!
Alvin: Uh-huh, sure.
Brittany cooed: And you know... a dashing and courageous bard would DEFINITELY give a gift of love to his fair maiden. Or fair barbarian princess.
Alvin: Well when I find one, I'll be sure to give it to her.
Brittany: Oh low blow!
Alvin started walking away down the market with Brittany in close pursuit.
Alvin: I'll tell you what, I'll give this to you when you've earned it.
Brittany: But like what does that even mean!
Alvin: It means what I say it means.
Brittany: Ugh!
Meanwhile, Eleanor walked along the different stalls with her hands behind her back, taking notice of all the strange and unique things this side of the market purveyed.
Eleanor, to herself: Boy, this game is really elaborate. Who knew Simon's computer could do things like this.
Eleanor looked in more detail at a particular stall. It had different jars and glasses of materials and creatures that were nothing like the ones they had in the real world. 8 legged lizards, maple leaves that were perpetually on fire, and even the odd hissing cheese. Eleanor tried to take it all in. Every new thing made her more curious but also feeling a little more alienated.
Eleanor: What do you even do with all of these things? Do you use them to make food? Or... weapons? I can't even tell... Maybe Jeanette or the boys know more about what they do since they're always playing these kinds of games.
She kept walking along to see other oddities and fancies that took her interest. Eventually she stopped at another stall where the chipmunk preached to the crowd about his one-of-a-kind wares.
Merchant Chipmunk: Come one, come all to the table of treasures! Who needs pieces of gold or shiny stones when you have the greatest treasure of all! The treasure of delight! Your taste buds will ascend to the great cloud cities with every bite!
The merchant chipmunk then directed the crowd's attention towards the odd apparatus on his stall. He looked dramatically back and forth like he kept a secret, then dropped strange ingredients into it and after a moment of movement and smoke, out came little brown cubes.
Eleanor giggled: Chocolate?
She giggled to herself as she took a piece and walked off as she popped it in her mouth.
Eleanor: Oh Si, this would be something fantastical, huh?
Suddenly, someone shouted from behind her.
Merchant Chipmunk: Thief! Dirty rotten thief! Guards! Stop her!
Eleanor, quickly turning around: H-Huh, wh-what?
The merchant chipmunk called out for the many guards that watched over Arbornalea's people and products. Before she could even realize, Eleanor was surrounded by many of them as they circled in on her. Eleanor gasped at the outrage and response, but then smirked.
Eleanor: Oh it's a fight you want, huh? Well let's rock!
Eleanor reached behind her heavy armor for her sword. Then her eyes nearly ripped out of her sockets as she felt weak and pale, discovering that her mighty paladin's sword was not strapped to her back.
Eleanor: Uh-oh...
Eleanor nervously chuckled and shrunk down.
Eleanor: H-Hold on, I think we all just got off to a bad start. Hi I'm Eleanor Miller and I-
The guards pressed their attack with spears aimed directly at the mistaken Chipette. She squeaked as she noticed how very realistic and sharp the tips of the spears were when so close to her. Then she heard a voice cry out again. This time, one very familiar and very near and dear to her.
Theodore: S-Stop! Wait!
Theodore came running in from the crowds around the guards and the merchant. He got between them and stretched himself out to protect Eleanor. Her cheeks grew warm and bright red, but she let out a sigh of relief from holding her breath.
Theodore: W-We're not from around here, sorry!
The guards paused, then stepped back and lowered their spears.
The guard: By our Lady, Queen Gaia we are fair and kind to all. Speak your piece.
Theodore: W-We come from a land of shared wealth. We only know the spirit of giving and having as we need and see. Trade is new to us, so please. Allow me to pay for what my companion took from you unjustly. What is the payment?
The merchant chipmunk: 5 coins.
Theodore: Here's 10 as a sign of good faith, oh kind merchant.
Theodore handed the merchant the money, and after counting the coins the merchant smiled and bowed. He took his leave, then the guards and soon after the crowds went back to their business.
Eleanor: Theo...
Eleanor rushed in to grab hold of Theodore, who blushed and then reciprocated her hug.
Eleanor: Theo that was amazing! You were amazing back there!
Theodore: Th-Thanks. When you play as many RPGs as I do with Simon and Jeanette, you tend to get caught up in the role-playing part.
Eleanor: Oh believe me, you're pulling off the whole role-playing thing way better than me.
Theodore: But Ellie, why did you just take that guy's goods? You know you can't just steal things. They could have really hurt you.
Eleanor, clearing her throat, her cheeks red in embarrassment: I-I guess I kind of forgot. I figured this was a game, right? I just thought I can... just... take it like in other games we play... Now that I say that out loud, that sounds terrible.
Theodore chuckled: Maybe in other games, but Simon did make this game to feel as real as possible, right?
Eleanor: R-Right...
Theodore smiled and took Eleanor's hand.
Theodore: Come on, let's go get what we need for dinner and meet everyone at the inn. I'll show YOU the ropes for once.
Eleanor nodded shyly and the two were off back into the market.
Eleanor: I still think we should be able to just make the hunger go away. And the sleep.
Theodore: Yeah, but where's the fun in that? Oh! That reminds me, we need casual wear when we're in town! Can't go sleeping in our armor and robes!
In the center plaza that connected the many market streets like spokes to its wheel, Simon hurried along in order to keep up with Jeanette. Normally quiet, reserved and shy, Jeanette hopped and danced into the music of a neighboring concert and the sounds of town in an energy she only ever showed during concerts from their younger days. Despite her passion for singing, those were times she really had to prepare herself to be so outward, but here much to Simon's joy she showed no signs of forcing herself to have fun. She looked around the stalls, watched the new fish that swam in the grand central fountain and even talked to the many different peoples of Arbornalea. As exhausted as he was running at a much busier pace than his usual day, Simon did it with a smile while he watched Jeanette.
Jeanette: This place just feels so alive! Oh, this is like a dream come true!
Simon: I-I'm glad you like it Jeanette.
Jeanette: I love it!
Simon: Imagine, all of this and with more time and iteration, it'll get better and better each time we play.
Jeanette: We wouldn't have to pay for one more subscription to our old online games.
Simon: Precisely.
Jeanette and Simon looked at each other with a big smile across their faces, lost in their own little world for a moment before snapping out of it. Their cheeks grew rosy and they began to feel their faces turn warm.
Simon: A-Anyways (he turns away and begins to walk onward) We haven't taken the full tour around the market and there's still time before going back to the inn. What do you say we go stock up on our mana potions?
Jeanette nodded: Y-You're right, w-we wouldn't want to go into another situation like the troll and be underprepared. We can also look into ingredients to make better potions for Eleanor and Brittany to drink before battle.
Simon: Excellent idea Jeanette. A perfect demonstration of using our utility skills.
The two then headed down one of the market streets with veiled stalls.
Jeanette and Simon continued down the market street where all stalls were veiled with dark colored fabrics. Most of the street itself remained a mystery to the people of Arbornalea and the sun itself as many of the same fabrics clouded out the natural light from above. Instead, sconces and torches of green and turquoise flames lit up for vendors and passersby alike. Simon took his eyes off of Jeanette for the time being while he did his own kind of shopping at one stall, meanwhile Jeanette looked into another with a similar inquisitorial interest. The deeper they searched, the more alien and otherworldly the goods became, some even more of a far cry than the "exotic" items merchants laid out in districts where the light touched such as the ones Eleanor walked past.
Simon, looking into a flask of strange ethereal energy: Hmmm, and you say this is Whisk of Wight?
The vendor in a strange accent: Of course, only prepped to the finest for all your mana potion making needs. If not, we have freshly bottled Wisp Essence.
Simon: Fascinating, and how do you do that?
Vendor: The exact process is a trade secret, but it all begins with taking the wisp and boiling it in hot water...
Jeanette stopped to look at the stalls a few stretches downward from Simon where all manners of bizarre creatures were being sold.
Jeanette: Minion-porium? (She reads the sign) A "one stop shop for all your forbidden familiar needs." How interesting! Even spectral steeds and imps need a good home too.
Jeanette stepped away but then had her attention caught by a different stall, where another vendor enticed her with all sorts of strange glass bottles with even stranger colored liquids.
Vendor: Hello deary, might I interest you in Ventilda's Elixirs? Need a barbarian to do some more damage? How about a 'Power Plus Potion'! Need better sight in the dark of night? Try this illuminating concoction!
Jeanette: O-Oh, well those do sound-
Vendor: Or perhaps, one for matters... of the heart?
Jeanette, now more interested than before: H-Huh? What do you mean?
Ventilda: You look to be a very gentle soul, but clouded to the way your path leads.
Jeanette: That's... a very interesting observation. Game Master is way more advanced than I thought...
Ventilda: For one time only, for this price, I have a unique brew just for you.
Jeanette: Just for me? Like a personal quest?
Ventilda: Of sorts.
Ventilda reached into the back of her stalls many different mixes and remedies, then behind them all she pulled out a small glass vial. Within it to the Chipette was the most mesmerizing mix of blue and purple hues, swirling and moving but never fully mixing.
Ventilda: Behold! The Destiny Decoction! I have spent my endless moons of studying alchemy to create just such an item.
Jeanette: A-A Destiny Decoction? (Then she quickly snapped out of her fantasies) B-But I read the manual beforehand and the item roster never had something like this... perhaps Game Master is adding in new content in response to player action...
Ventilda, not hearing Jeanette talk to herself: Well my dear, what say you? Do you wish to add clarity to your heart and provide definition to the undefinable path ahead of you?
Jeanette only reflected in silence.
Simon, with bags in hand, looked around as he headed through the street back to the courtyard. Even for the small time he was shopping, the return of the sun started to make his eyes hurt, like a full night in his basement workshop.
Simon: Jeanette? J-Jeanette, where are you?
He looked around, but then heard a familiar voice from behind catching up.
Jeanette: Coming Simon! I-I uh... (she stopped in front of him) got a little distracted by... familiars...
Simon, smiling: Sounds just like you. Don't worry I still got the ingredients. Ready to head back?
Jeanette, smiling back: Mhm!
They walked out of the street into the sunlit center together, Jeanette holding the decoction in her hands before hiding it away in her bag.