You have the gloves on you, but the bone dagger has vanished from your sleeve.

As you search for your possessions, it's uncanny how easily you're able to find everything, even when you accidentally drop an Aleran coin at one point but find it in the dust in a matter of seconds.

You see that it's a small town with mostly wooden structures up ahead. You see people walking around it in the distance, but can't make out much more yet.

Having found my stuff, I start walking towards the town. I'm careful to keep the gold in a couple of different pockets so that if I need to pay for something I can reach in without pulling out the entire coin bag.

I'm going to walk through town looking for what's there, keeping a particular eye out for an inn, a pub, any occupational buildings where I might apprentice in exchange for room and board or light pay, and anything that strikes me as particularly interesting. I'm also looking for a tailor.

I find myself thinking again about what is going on with me. This is a pattern of... Me dieing. I need to stop that, it hurts far too badly. I doubt this is all virtual reality, Attis and the friends I made at Alera were real, and so were those missing links. But this does mean my memories are probably fine, and I'm just in a really weird situation. Well that can be thought of more once I find out more about this location.

When I tried furycrafting before did I still feel the furies the same way but just less and shorter time before I got my headache or could I not find any furies?

You approach the town, and find what looks like a town pulled straight out of an old western movie. Women wear dresses of varying degrees of wear and tear while most of the men you see are wearing vests and hats, all of whom have their shirts tucked in as they move between buildings.

You see a buggy pulling into town right now with a sign reading "Doctor Olivar's Miracle Elixer!" and beginning to gather a crowd.

The small town has one major cross street, a post that horses are tied to, a tailor, a bank, and store marked "Goods". You don't see any buildings that you recognize as residential from where you are right now.

Hmm, well this is certainly different from Alera, but it seems exploring would be good.

I'll go check out the tailor and see what one golden coin can buy me in terms of period appropriate gear. I'll also take that opportunity to ask questions, including:

What the town's name is/what the surroundings are?
Is he aware of anyone looking for work around town? I'd be fine with apprenticing to someone, hiring on as a deputy, or any basic job. Listed in the order of preference.
What's the basic gossip around town and what do people do in their spare time?

I'm going to be looking for a vest with pockets designed to conceal.

People give you odd looks as you walk through the town. No one overtly ogles your appearance, but you do catch people staring when they don't think you're paying attention. The townsfolk whisper in hushed voices after you pass, but you can't make out their jests.

You arrive at the tailor's door and step inside. The tailor, a short man with great posture, is leaning back in a chair behind the counter when you enter. He seems surprised by the sudden patronage and smiles when the bell above the door announces your entry. "Welcome, good sir! What are we looking for today-" he falls off his greeting, and drops his gaze to the floor. "Anything you need, stranger, just ask."

He answers your questions promptly after each, with answers that leave no opening for conversation. "Town's called Desert Pass."

"Nope. Jobs are filled around here. No one's hiring," he continues, and you feel like the rest has a sharper edge to it, "local law's not far away, though. Got recent bounties listed, too."

"People talk. Most of it's just spittin' in the wind, I suppose."

Before you show him your money, he says, "You can try on some of the vests, britches, and such I've got here, but it'll take at least a day to get something fitted just right for you. Probably a waste of time, since you're just passing through, stranger."


OOC: Answer to earlier question about furycraft attempt. You're not entirely sure that you did make the winds slow, because when you thought you released them, they didn't pick back up. You did get a headache from the effort, though.

I'm taken aback at first at his reaction to seeing me, but assume there was another like Bob Thomas here. I take advantage of letting him answer the questions before going on to my next ones and trying to calm him down.

"Why the strong reaction to my appearance? Have you seen others that look like or dress like myself?"

The tailor throws his hands up, and looks nervously at the door. "Look, mister, I haven't seen you anywhere. As far as I'm concerned, you were never here!"

He backs up, bumping into a rack of hats, which fall and scatter to the floor. He jumps with fright, and somehow manages to keep his eyes on you while avoiding your own eyes.

I chuckle to myself quietly, curious about who he is confusing me with, but then say to him,
"I truly mean you no harm, and you've done me a favor simply by answering my questions. If you could point me in the direction of the law office, I'll head out that way. How long of a walk do you think it would be?"

I'm convinced that someone who looks like me is in trouble with the law, but going to see what's going on there is the best chance I have, so I'm off in that direction.

The tailor looks confused for a moment. "Wait, so..." he laughs. "Oh, my sincerest apologies, my good man," he intercepts you on your way out, and grabs you by your arm.

"Please, if you have money to spend, I'm the tailor to pay. Let me get you out of these rags and into something more fitting for a man of your stature." He takes liberties and begins measuring you for an outfit. "But honestly, I wouldn't go to the law office. You look far too similar to a notorious villain in the area. They would surely mistake you."

He finishes your measurements with a smile, "Now, how much are we planning on spending today?"

I smile when he realizes I'm not a notorious villain. "I suppose I will avoid it at that then, but I will be needing to find a place to work, are there honestly no jobs in the area or were you trying to get a dangerous villain out of the area, which I completely understand. I'm quite talented with the bow, and also a quick study and have a good deal of dexterity in my hands and a decent amount of strength to apply to a trade."

I pull out a golden eagle, "How much would this be worth?"

He looks at you skeptically, and laughs as if you're joking when you mention being good with a bow. "Well, I don't know anybody personally looking for a steady worker, but out east you can definitely find work at the railroad-if you don't mind long hours, blistering heat, and callused hands. But then, I don't know everyone in the area; someone might need some help."

He takes the gold coin, bites it, and smiles. "That's worth plenty. You want a vest with a place to hide your liquor or..." He checks the entrance, which is closed, and lowers his voice, "are you talking about putting things up your sleeves? Either way, that coin there'll pay for your whole outfit, but it won't be ready until tomorrow."

"Just a pocket in my vest will be fine, the other pockets are too good of a way to get stabbed or shot. Do you know if there's a place in town that I'd be able to stay over night? and the railroad is being worked on to the east, what's to the north west and south?"

Edit: Hit enter early, below is the edit

For the rest of the day I'll wander around town inquiring about people looking for a helping hand or apprentice, or if they know someone who might be hiring.

I'm also looking for what people are carrying, are there sideholstered guns? knives? rifles on horses? Trying to figure out the technological level here.
This message was last edited by the player at 12:48, Mon 27 Apr 2015.

You don't see rifles left with horses, but you do find that many of the men walking about in town have sideholsters with revolvers in them.

You see a couple of young men walk into town to the general store with some small game tied up and together over their shoulders. They carry rifles on their backs and guns at their hips.

When you approach people about finding work, those who see you walk briskly away before you can engage them. Others, whom you manage to talk to, give stern shakes of their heads, "No sir, no work that I've heard in town." One man does suggest that maybe some of the ranches around here could use another hand. "Carpenter's putting up a bigger barn at his farm, and they might need help if you're willing to get dirt in your fingernails."

He gives you directions to the farm, in case you were interested. It's half a day's walk south. Then, take the cliff side road and you'll see it.

Did the tailor not have any suggestions on a place to stay for the night?

Either way, I'll check out the goods store and see what's in there while thinking about whether I want to head to that farm. Helping raise a barn doesn't sound bad and might get people to not avoid me as much if I start getting a better reputation and known that I'm not a villian.

When I enter the goods store, if I get strange looks I'll try to set their minds at ease by saying, "I understand I look like someone else, but I mean you no harm and I'm not a violent man. I'm just looking for information for a place to stay for the night, any job opportunities you may have heard of, and possibly looking to purchase some wares."

Sorry, there's an inn above the tavern. They charge a fair rate there for people passing through. "Whatever you do, don't try to sleep in the street. People won't take kindly to you bedding down on their porches."

Others in the general goods store give you the same advice.

You aren't sure that you convince everyone that you aren't an outlaw, but the ox of a man behind the counter grunts and asks, "What're you looking to purchase?"

"Mostly curious what is available, more perusing and then deciding. What do you have?" Most likely I won't buy anything, unless he has
1.technology that doesn't make sense for this era
2 maps of the nearby area
3 a newspaper

I'll go to the inn and see if a half eagle will get me food, a bath, and shelter for the night.

He has some weapons on the back wall that he sells, ranging form revolvers to rifles to a saber.

He shows you a map that he has of the area, which is named the New Segal Region on the map. There's a river that runs east to west and some mountains directly north of the river and very far south. The area around the river is a dull green color, and you see some major roadways drawn, as well as some communities.

For a newspaper, he says that they're delivered to the Post every Sunday afternoon to be distributed.

At the inn, you find that a half eagle gets you a hot bath with soap, dinner, a room, and breakfast in the morning if you're interested. They claim that they can cook up some eggs for you, if you think you'll be in the mood for it.

Are any of the swords similar to the legionaires swords from Alera? I'm interested in a sword as close to that as possible, and a revolver and holster.

Is the map for sale or for his own use? If it's for sale I'm interested in discussing price on that.

I'll start negotiating the price based on a gold eagle, not knowing currencies around here I'm sure I'm over paying for a fair bit, but it's the best I can do for now.

At the inn I'll agree to that, and agree that I'll be in the mood for eggs in the morning, thanking them kindly.

That night when I take my hot bath, I'll try watercrafting to heal my sunburn and soothe my body.

The saber is the only one he has, but it seems like it might have the same balance. From appearance, the major difference you see is that it's meant more for slashing while the Aleran gladius was meant for stabbing.

He says that the map is for sale.

Do you intend to buy the map for one gold coin?

I'll ask how many coins would be required to buy the saber, the map, and a revolver with a holster, all together, showing him one coin to judge it upon.

He eyes your coin suspiciously, but examines it with your permission.

"I'm a fair man, regardless of my patrons' pasts." He says and passes your gold coin back to you. "I don't recognize the mint, but one of those coins is more than enough for all of it." He starts piling the saber, which comes with a sheathe, the map, and the gun with a simple leather holster.

I thank him sincerely. Both for doing business and not attempting to rip me off by pretending the coins were worth far less.

I decide to go to my room for the night at that point. I want to spend some time studying this map and trying to watercraft my sunburn away during my bath.

While studying the map I'm looking for what any large cities or towns marked on it, what the routes look like. I'm trying to pick out the best location to find non menial work. I prefer to learn in the process of doing, and a sizable town is my best chance there. Preferably one along the river.

Light is waning when you step out to go to your room. The room is fairly spartan, but it has a small tub already filled with clean water, with a few rags and a bucket to help wash yourself. One more perk you find is that it has a balcony that looks out on the horizon of the desert you passed through, but you can't see the sunset because of the mountains in the distance blocking the light. A bed and a desk set on opposite sides of the room.

You feel tingly when you try to watercraft the sunburn away, but you again aren't sure if that's from the watercrafting or from the sunburn itself.

It is full-on night after you've eaten dinner, gotten clean, and get out the map to look around. The largest settlements, based on the drawings, are Fort Joaquin that's along the river on its northern bank. Aside from that, you see two other larger cities: one that's a distance south of the river, and one north of the river that has a Clayton City written originally but is crossed out with red and renamed "Desert Pass", the town that the tailor said you were in. You see on the map that there is also an Apache community far north in the mountains.

While you're looking through the map to pick out where to go next, you suddenly notice footsteps directly outside your door, and a crash against the door.

What are you wearing after your bath?

I begin to be a little uneasy that my crafting has taken a turn for the worse, but calm myself by remembering how long I've lived without any crafting, I'll figure this out. Perhaps this area... maybe this world... has fewer furies in it.

I will be in shorts from home, without a shirt since I'll be going to bed shortly. I'm planning to sleep with my money pouch on me however, and have that in my pocket. I'm also keeping the revolver and saber within reach at all times. I'm fairly nervous about being looked at like a wanted man, as well as people seeing that I have money on me.

As soon as I hear the crash I wheel out of the chair, pulling the saber from it's sheathe in one hand and the pistol from it's holder in the other, and putting myself up against the nearest corner to the door. I shout out "Who's there? What do you want?"

"THE LAW!" You hear a deep bellow from the other side of the door, before one more crash into the door slams it open wide and broken.

A tall man with broad shoulders stands in the doorway with a shotgun on you. He wears a grin under a bushy mustache. He wears a matching brown cowboy hat and a duster that has a badge shining over where his heart should be.

You see that there are two more men behind him, taking cover by each side of the entrance. The first officer laughs deep. "Oh, I almost thought we had the wrong room. You look like a fool, Michael."