Alex spent most of the morning following Liam through town to pick up shoves and helping some of the townspeople dig the pit for the goblins. He was happy to avoid the grieving friends and family that the ones digging the other graves had to deal with, but by early afternoon he was thirsty, hungry, and sore.

"Hey, is there somewhere I can get something to eat?" He asked one of the other gravediggers.

"Gavin's place is along the north path. It's the only place with a covered porch. Can’t miss it."

"Okay, thanks."

"Yeah ah, who are you anyway?"

"I'm Alex. You?"

"Conel."

"Good to meet you, wish it was under better circumstances. We are done here right?"

"I hope so."

Alex started making his way toward the north path when someone called for him. He caught sight of Shapner who motioned for Alex to follow. Reluctantly, he switched to the south path and was soon standing with Shapner, Liam, and a short stout bearded man that looked for all the world to Alex like a dwarf.

"Alex, this is Krom. Krom Alex."

"A pleasure to make your acquaintance." Said Krom holding out a thick, callused hand.

"Nice to meet you." Said Alex reaching for the proffered hand when Krom snatched him by the wrist with an iron grip. He held it for a moment while watching Alex's face. Apparently satisfied with whatever he found there, the stout man gave him a wide grin and let go.

"Right, well." Shapner started. "Krom here thinks it would be a good idea to have some people clear the mine. Just in case some goblins decided to hole up in there. We don’t have a lot of people with a combat class, so I was hoping you’d be willing to go along.”

“Um, combat class?” Alex asked.

“What class do you have?” Shapner asked.

“And what level? If you don’t mind my asking?” Added Krom.

Liam sighed at Alex’s puzzled look. “Do you know how to open your character sheet?”

“Ah, no.”

“What!” Krom practically yelled. “How can you not know how to bring up your character sheet? Even a wee lad figures it out by himself eventually.”

“Sorry?” Alex offered.

“Just concentrate on bringing it up. It’s not hard.” Liam said.

It indeed was not difficult.

Name: Alex

Race: Human

Class: Commoner Level 1

XP to next level 2: 124 of 3,000

HP: 6 of 9

Strain: 4 of 4

Touch Defence: 10

Flat Footed Defence: 10

Resistances: None

Max Proficiency Bonus: +2

Strength: 10; Mod: 0

Agility: 11; Mod: 0

Constitution: 9, Mod: -1

Intelligence: 14; Mod: +2

Wisdom: 12; Mod: +1

Charisma: 13; Mod: +1

Luck: 8; Mod: -1

Equipment:

Crude Iron Handaxe: 1d6, Crit x3, Slashing. Durability 9 of 10 Light Wooden Round Shield: DR 5 slashing. Durability 87 of 100

Funds:

40 silver

Feats:

0 of 1 Available.

Special:

Reduced Feeling: Pain and tactile senses reduced 70%

Skills:

Combat Armor Light Wooden Shield +1 Weapons Handaxe +1

“Wow those stats suck for combat.” Alex thought. “I am a level one commoner.” He said.

Shapner looked horrified.

Korm guffawed. “Lad! You mean to tell me that you’re a level one commoner, and you’re out here fighting goblins? You got some balls on you, ya do!”

Alex looked to Liam who had his eyes closed as he took in a deep breath. Then some random girl wrapped her arms around Alex. He froze. She was short, had long black hair, purple tinted skin, horns, and a long black tail. Krom’s laughter ceased. The girl let go and with her eyes on the ground, she moved up to Liam and wrapped her arms around him. Liam looked just as stunned as Alex felt. That done, the girl walked off.

“What was that about?” Shapner asked?

“No idea.” Liam said with a shrug.

"Ha!" Krom laughed. "Now you're sharing ladies with Liam here. That's a little too familiar for me, but I'll try not to judge too hard."

"What?" Alex asked.

"Okay, so… Alex, if you're interested in helping, that would be great. Though I'm not sure you should." Said Shapner.

"Just out of curiosity." Said Krom. "When's the last time you saw Lord Edmundton?"

"I don't know who that is."

"Are you sure?" Asked Liam.

"Where's Beasaria?" Asked Krom with a widening grin.

Alex glared at him. "I don't know."

"One last question. Who is Peletan?"

Alex said nothing, noticing that everyone was staring at him, including a couple passersby.

"Well?" Asked Krom.

"I don't know."

"Where are you from?" Asked Shapner.

"Wisconsin."

"Where's that?" Asked Liam.

"Next to some vast inland seas." Alex said, trying to gauge the reaction to that one. All three men seemed taken aback.

"Inland sea?" Said Krom.

"He said seas. As in more than one." Liam said.

"So, are you in on searching the mine?" Asked Shapner.

"Can I get something to eat first?"

"I like this guy." Said Krom.

***

If Alex had been tasked with imagining up a fantasy world tavern, it would have looked something like Gavin's Place. Maybe with a bit more decoration and glass in the windows, but the place definitely fit the bill and was currently serving up lunch. Alex sat in the far corner trying to ignore the staring. Money hadn't been hard to figure out. His character sheet said he had forty silver. The pouch he had contained ten small round coins and three larger ten sided ones. What came as a shock was the change he got back from his meal. Two glasses of water and a bowl of what amounted to biscuits and some type of meat filled gravy cost fifteen copper. His tiny round piece of silver turned into eight, ten sided copper coins and seven round ones. Which meant the exchange rate wasn't one hundred to one like most games.

Meal finished, he quickly learned to regret volunteering to clear the mine. It turned out to be devoid of goblins, but it was cold, dark, and claustrophobic. The sound of the party's footsteps seemed to echo forever, making it impossible to hear anything that might be sneaking up on them in the suffocating darkness. Fortunately it was a short tunnel with only a few branches and a barred off door near the entrance, which was supposedly an ancient burial chamber. Not that that was creepy or anything.

***

"Is there a place I can buy a coat?" Alex asked Shapner, his teeth chattering.

"Hmm? Oh sure. We'll have to find Chev."

"What about a place to sleep tonight?"

"Chev again." The balding man said as if that explained all problems. "We don't have an inn here, but Chev should have some of the tents we started out with."

Alex followed Shapner as he searched the town of this one particular man. First stop was the small warehouse that served as the general store, then on to the tavern.

“Is there anything in particular I need to be working on?” Alex asked.

“What do you mean?”

“I just got here. I don’t really understand how my character sheet affects me. And I’m fairly certain my skill set won’t help me with a job here.”

“We could use a few more townwatch. That seems like a reasonable job for you from what I've seen. You’ll want to get your class changed though.”

“And how do I do that?”

“Talk to Liam. He can get you trained up. Do you have the appraise skill?”

“No.”

“That one is easy and pretty useful. Just inspect an item until the information pops up.”

“That’s… Weird.”

Shapner looked at him curiously. “Why?”

“Information doesn't usually pop up.”

Shapner shrugged.

***

Alex sat in his new tent staring intently at his axe. He was tired and physically worn out, but the thought of goblins attacking the moment he closed his eyes had him anxious. He had spent just over thirteen silver on necessities. Flint and steel, some parchment, a couple blankets, a change of clothes, a couple cloaks, and the big ticket item of the tent. He was currently parked next to the river which wasn't saying much as the whole town lay inside a large oxbow. Having water on three sides saved on defensive fortifications and gave the town of Oxbow its name. Alex considered his situation and wondered if he should have asked for a comfy rich second life instead of a fantasy world. He didn't actually request a fantasy world. Damn construct thing.

Alex jumped as several tags popped up in his vision. Bits of text surrounded by a border with a leeder pointed to the axe like some type of augmented reality vision. Very anachronistic.

Crude Iron Handaxe.

Damage: 1d6, Critical x3, Slashing. Durability 9 of 10.

"Freaking weird."