'Item?
I haven't picked up anything new.'
Exhausted and unmoving, he called up the menu.
[Items]
[Thorn]
[Type: Short Sword]
[Attack +2%]
[Effect: None]
[Belt Pouch]
[Contents: 5 Gold]
"Belt Pouch?" Ramsey questioned while closing the menu and looking down.
There, attached to his oversized belt, was a leather pouch cinched with a black cord. Quickly grasping it confirmed there were coins inside, but also revealed a surprise - unlike the rest of him, it was dry.
Just as Ramsey had appeared in the clearing of the forest, the system had manifested this.. reward.
'I guess I shouldn't be surprised,' he thought as he sat up.
Being rewarded with a free point for defeating the herd of warvles was amazing enough, and it also shed some light on how Ramsey could progress, but gold?
This did momentarily solve his money problem, although Ramsey wouldn't wish to test fate again. Not yet. He knew how incredibly lucky he had been. At any other point on the creekside he may have been mobbed and mauled to death.
"Knowing magic would be really nice," Ramsey sarcastically sighed at the system, while taking off his boots and pouring out what water had invaded them.
Stripping down to his underwear, he wrung out his tunic, pants, and socks, while pleading aloud, "Gods of Elorr - whoever you are - please don't let me get attacked half naked."
Thankfully, either the gods were merciful or the recent battle was enough commotion to clear the area. Whatever the case, Ramsey welcomed the respite.
After dressing and wiping the blood from his blade, he spent a moment looking at the scene.
Most of the carnage had been washed downstream, but in the shallows and on the shoreline, bits of gore remained. One bit in particular stood out among the rest.
Ramsey cocked his head and knelt to examine it.
'A tooth.'
A long front tooth to be exact.
It had been cleanly extracted somehow during the melee. With the ease that he carved up the warvles, it was obvious they had a weak constitution. But their teeth... they were substantial, resembling chisels made of polished white granite.
Ramsey washed off the tooth in the creek and pocketed it. He wasn't sure why he wanted it, really. Maybe as a memento of his first trial on Elorr or perhaps a lucky charm.
He had expected to hear another inventory announcement, but none came.
'So, not every item is worthy of the system's recognition...'
That was a relief. Ramsey didn't want to be bombarded with notifications for every item he carried or purchased.
'But what are the criteria?' He pondered, continuing on the path downstream, a little worse for wear, and uncomfortably moist.
***
The second half of the journey was uneventful. So much so that Ramsey had fallen deep in thought, staring only at the path and neglecting his safety.
But a faint glow in the distance revealed rigid structures, snapping him from his stupor.
"I made it."
With each step the silhouette faded revealing the textures and colors of the much needed sanctuary.
Beyond a simple wooden fence and archway, single story stone structures lined both sides of the way. Their hanging signage alighted by torches affixed to the front of each building.
Between the buildings there were shuttered stalls, as expected this time into the evening.
The way continued to and around a central structure. Built taller than the rest, with several steps leading to large arched double doors. Its nearly seamless white stone walls and vividly colored banners were majestic among the simple landscape.
Ramsey stopped just before the archway and looked up.
Welcome to Harkynn
He hoped the townspeople were as welcoming as the sign.
There were only a few people outside, which were further down toward the impressive central building, but this was by no means a ghost town.
Several buildings were lit up inside, with boisterous chatter escaping a few establishments.
The first building on the right had a painted sign with images of medicine and bandages. Perhaps a pharmacist or a doctor. It was closed and darkened, but it had a bell mounted beside its torch with a long chain that reached almost to the ground.
Across the way was another closed business, this one twice the size and boasting a large garage type attachment. The name was fitting for its location and great marketing for impulse buys - Last Chance Supplies.
There were several homes scattered among the storefronts. Through their windows, Ramsey got a glimpse of people as he walked. Some were dining, laughing, or reading by candlelight. It was simple and refreshing.
Getting closer to the regal building at the town's center only intensified its wonder. It was not lit with torches like every other building. Instead, it and each of its different colored banners were lit by spotlights from the ground around it.
'It's like a rich person's house on Earth.
But they shouldn't have that kind of technology here. How are th-'
A bursting swinging door made Ramsey jump back to avoid being hit.
"Ahh, come on, you saw the way she was flirting with me," a heavily intoxicated man slurred as he was assisted out the door, falling to one knee.
"Asking if you'd like another drink is her job, Ryce. Go home, I'm sure we'll see you tomorrow."
A ponytailed man with a few stray bangs turned to go back inside, but stopped when laying eyes on Ramsey. "By the gods, are you hurt?!"
"Me?" Ramsey pointed to himself. He then looked down to see what he had not in the dark. His clothes had been heavily splattered with blood, although some of it had been dulled by wringing out the water, he was quite a site.
"Oh, I'm fine!" Ramsey smiled, "it's not my blood."
Realizing too late that made him sound villainous, he quickly added, "I was attacked by warvles, but I managed to fight them off."
"Huh, impressive kid," the drunkard chuckled as he rose to his feet.
"Need a place to stay and get cleaned up?" The ponytailed man pointed at a sign hanging above him - Break-Inn
"Yes, please."
Ramsey started toward the door, but was stopped by a hand on his chest. "You have money, right?"
"Oh.. yes, I do."
"Come in, come in, welcome to Break-Inn. Where our prices are so good, you'll swear you're stealing." The ponytailed man led the way in, then walked behind a bar on the right. "But I don't recommend stealing," he whispered, nodding toward a very tall muscular woman perched on a stool, monitoring the patrons. Unmoving her eyes rapidly shifted to Ramsey.
"Of course not," Ramsey raised his hands. "I wouldn't dare."
The many conversations happening quieted down as customers caught sight of the soggy and bloodied stranger. Their curious gazes all at once were a little intense.
"Don't mind them, they hardly ever see a new face, not to mention one in your condition. You might be the topic of conversation tonight, but it'll pass."
Ramsey raised one hand greeting the people, who then gradually returned to their conversations.
"How long will you be staying with us?" He asked Ramsey while pouring a drink for a hooded figure on the first barstool.
"I'm not sure, it may be a while. What's the going rate?"
"Well, a basic room will set you back 30 silver a night, or a room with a washtub…" he looked down at Ramsey's condition, "is 50 silver. But if you book it for the week, I'll only charge you 3 gold."
He bumped elbows with an attractive woman behind the bar with two long black braids. "It's thievery, Anya!" He exclaimed.
"Yeah, yeah, Armyn, we get it," she sighed while serving drinks with one hand and clearing empties with another.
"You're no fun, you know that?" Armyn questioned.
"What are sisters for?" She winked.
"I'll book for a week then, with the washtub," Ramsey interrupted.
Armyn reached below the bar and retrieved a key. "You'll be staying in room 6. Head to the end of the bar and follow the signs."
Uncinching his pouch, Ramsey pulled out 3 gold for the exchange. This drew some uncomfortable side eyes from a few nefarious looking locals.
Placing the gold on the bar top, he got a first look at this world's currency. It was a rarity to possess gold coins on Earth, so he'd never actually held them before. It was definitely alluring.
One side of the coin had a picture of a woman assumed to be the queen, the other side was emblazoned with a crossed sword and wand.
And with that, more than half of Ramsey's money was gone. He accepted the key and the stares of the other patrons as he passed.
The room was easy to find, there were only 8 in total, with larger rooms like his further down a back hall. Opening the door, he found a cozy bed with unexpectedly fluffy pillows and blankets, a fur rug from a very soft unknown creature, and a large soaking tub.
He bathed immediately.
Slipping underwater he tried not to remember drowning the warvles. After cleaning himself, he washed his clothes as best he could and hung them up to dry.
Walking barefoot on the fur rug, Ramsey jumped into bed. "Worth the 3 gold," he sighed.
"What a day."
Tomorrow held many possibilities. He needed to find new clothes and perhaps work. With only a week of lodging, each day was important.
"I'll ask around in the morning," he yawned and nestled into his pillows.
'Maybe at that majestic building.'