Trystan spends the next few hours of daylight running around the town, completing odd-jobs for points and more importantly stat increases. With the last few jobs completed, it looked like he was nearing the point cap for this level of the Tower. There was a theory that the point cap was implemented on each level in order to keep people from just farming the first safe level of the Tower until they were nearly invincible. Given that that was exactly what people had tried to do the first time he imagined that it was likely a correct theory. This meant that while the points would be good, especially to buy equipment, the actual gains that he looked forward to on this level were the stat gains. Last time he had spent far too many points on increasing his stats directly, this time he would get a few stat-boosting abilities, but primarily rely on hard work to increase his base abilities.

As Trystan ran from one store to another completing fetch quests he realizes that the most important thing would likely be increasing his Mana Manipulation ability. He wasn’t sure if it worked the same as Ki Cultivation, but if it did then it would likely jump up his base stats as well as providing a general boost as he trained in it. But that would take time, time he couldn’t waste while he was still trying to get back to his family and friends. He would need to spend some time training, gaining points, and increasing his skills again since otherwise, he wouldn't have the power to protect them, but it would be a balancing act, weighing out time spent increasing his personal skills and time spent traveling out to them. At the bare minimum, he could likely spend the week or so it would take traveling to Riverside by foot training, but he didn't know how much that would slow him down. A day here, maybe two would be fine, it may even allow him to buy a horse to decrease the time the trip would take, but after that, he would need to start traveling again, unless something far outside of his expectations occurred they would be safe, but he would feel better if he were nearby.

As he finishes off another quest, marking off yet more points, and silver, he spots a couple of other humans, on the side of the road. They seem to be approaching any human that they see and talking to them. Trystan smiles softly, ‘I guess that the first guilds are starting to be created.’ he thinks to himself. Most of the guilds were good ones, some less so, and some were simply abominations. As he had warned his friends, some people found PvP to be just too enticing. The ability to break the Level caps for points, and to gain a large number of points in a single swoop was very tempting.

The two men spot him and approach quickly with large smiles on their faces.

“Good evening sir. You look like your new in town, not that we all aren’t new, but we’ve been trying to make sure that we keep track of the fresh faces. Better for us to all work together to survive isn’t it?”

Trystan looks over the man speaking to him, trying to get a sense of who the person is. He has dirty blonde hair, green eyes, and was wearing some fairly expensive steel armor with weapons, but nothing enchanted. As far as he could tell it was just a normal guy. He nods slowly, “True, I mean it is sorta crazy that we’re all here now, almost like a game.”

The second man shakes his head, “Oh no, it’s most definitely not a game, you die here and you’re permanently dead, unlike that Test that everyone took.” The man looks to the side, as if remembering something sad, “We’ve learned that first hand.”

Trystan nods again slowly, “I guess so. So who are you guys, have you all started up a support group or something?”

The first man, his smile widening, “Yes, we are a support group.” He stretches an arm casually around Trystan while talking to him. Guiding the group to walk as they talk. “We’ve recently decided on the name of The Chosen.” The man sees Trystan's face drop slightly and misinterpreting it continues, “Yeah, I know that it’s a little preachy and a little arrogant. But we figured that we’re likely to be the first to create a group per the Tower rules, and we might as well choose something flashy that can be remembered. Besides, did we all choose to take the Test, and in doing so we were chosen to be a part of this Tower, and this war if you actually believe that.”

Trystan struggles to keep his face neutral. Internally screaming he glances out of the side of his eyes to make sure he is keeping track of the second man as well. The Chosen was the only group known to have been formed during, and survived, the First Wave. This was in no small part due to the way that they operated. On the face of it, they were a very good and humanitarian, group. A group that assisted with the clearing of Tower levels, helping people farm for points, and lending out equipment and items as needed. But unfortunately, it was a front, this was a fact that was discovered by later Waves, and far too late for many who had fallen to them. There were, of course, a few people that were good-intentioned in the group, but as it was determined the first time through, the group’s leadership was comprised of prisoners who had selected yes to the test because they figured they had nothing left to lose. The rumor was that most of them were in for lifetime sentences, but really no one knew for sure. What was found out for a fact later, was that they would locate people, help them max out their point cap for the current level, and then, if they felt that there was no risk, they would kill them to take in all of their points.

“That makes a lot of sense. How long have you guys been helping people in this area?” Trystan asks, trying to keep his voice as level as possible. This could also give him the information on how much time he lost on the Test in comparison to other people.

The second man, smiling, “I’ve been here for a week. Joe,” pointing at the first man, “there has been there for almost two weeks.” He leans over and in a stage whisper, which now that Trystan is paying attention is definitely well-rehearsed, “He died almost immediately in the test, something about man-eating plants, he doesn’t like to talk about it.”

Joe fake swats at the second man and then turning to Trystan shrugs, “I wasn’t as lucky as others, from what the Chosen have managed to gather together so far, it appears that the people who successfully pass the test end up taking longer to make it to the Tower than those that don’t, though a few of our members got really lucky and managed to clear their test and make it to the Tower early on, we are very lucky to have them among us.”

Trystan nods to Joe’s statement. “Sounds like you all have a strong grasp on what is needed. What would be your first advice for me?”

Joe smiles as he continues to guide the group, walking down the streets. “Well now, that depends on how many points you managed to get. If you still have any remaining, we would recommend outfitting you with much better equipment. Once you get that we can bring it back to our smith, who picked up some crafting abilities that let him upgrade the items that are purchased. We wouldn’t recommend it for your current gear, it’s just far too low a level to actually make a difference.”

Trystan nods, and curses internally again, “I don’t have all too many points available right now, I didn’t do too well on the Test, managed to survive for a while, but didn’t really finish much.”

Trystan hopes that they buy that line. It wouldn’t matter too much to them once they got him maxed points for this level, but if he had enough points to make it worth it to them, they may end up jumping him now rather than later, before he got the experience to actually fight back. If they didn’t buy it, well he would know shortly, based on where they ended up trying to take him. He really couldn’t afford to start a fight with the Chosen yet, they had been here for a bit already, and while he knew that he was theoretically stronger than they were, there were a ton of them from what he remembered. Though he thinks for a moment, maybe they hadn’t managed to gain that many members yet, it was still early on.

The second man looks at him for a moment before looking at Joe and tilting his head slightly in one direction. Joe nods slowly, “Alright kid, how about we help you out with some quests first then. I’m sure you already saw that you can get quests from just about anyone, a small amount of pay, a small number of points, but safe work for the most part. We’ve been fairly lucky though, and have discovered a secret quest chain. Gives far more points and should help you get the equipment that you need really fast.”

Joe starts guiding them away from the center of the town, out towards the outskirts. Trystan glances behind him back towards the center of the Town, he quickly stammers out, "I mean, that's nice and all, but maybe tomorrow? I have a timed quest with the Gate Guard to try and get him some food."

Joe puts a hand around Trystan's shoulder, his grip still appearing friendly, but unyielding as steel when Trystan tries to pull away slightly. Joe shakes his head, "No, no, that's piddly stuff there, what you really want is down this way, we'll make sure you get back in time to get his food, and heck, we can cover the cost of it if needed, but what's twenty points in comparison to three or four times that number."

“You see,” says Joe as they walk, “We discovered this place a while back, the guards in the area don’t come down this way so the quest that gets generated here is a bit more dangerous, but also continues to grow in reward for every day that it goes uncompleted. Waves upon waves of rats will start swarming out of the grates near the back of the alley, each small rodent is actually worth a point in and of itself, but it auto-triggers a quest to ‘Clean the Streets’ which is also worth another fifty points. Should be able to get you all the points you need and real fast.” With the sun slowly setting the shadows seem deeper and darker, and the entire trip begins to feel far more ominous. As they reach what Trystan can only imagine is the slums of the town they turn down into an alleyway.

Trystan nods, those kinds of quests were actually real. But, if he was guessing correctly they would be using him to gain points, and then, once the waves were completed they would likely jump him while he was tired. There wasn’t too much that he could do about it, maybe try and fake them out, use them the way that they were planning on using him, and then, if they jumped him then he would be in good enough shape to at least escape.

Joe continues to motion for Trystan to follow down the dark alleyway. Trystan hesitates for a moment and then shrugs and follows. There was no way that they would just be letting him go right now, and it would be better to try and wear them out during the following battle with the rats than it would be to take them fully rested. Trystan nods as he sees the blue box opens up in front of him and hits ‘yes’ mentally to accept the quest.

New Quest Offered - Clean the Streets

Clean the Streets: These back streets are away from the crowded city and often go untended. Being unafraid of the dark you have continued forth and been granted the option to clean these dark areas of the vermin thriving within.

Completion Requirements: Destroy all waves of vermin.

Reward: 50 points. 10 Silver. Increased reputation in Opiales. 1 piece of starter equipment.

Joe’s eyes brighten as he sees the first beady red eyes glowing from out of the back of the alley.

“Here we go.”