[SP-F1] <<Blades of Dreams>>Kane -CLOSED-

[Kane 0]

The digital sky was cloudy today, its cerulean blue tones covered by pregnant storm clouds. Kane walked steadfastly through the streets of the Starting City, contemplating the infinite lines of code that must comprise each and every one of the clouds above. A single drop of rain hit his face with a wet -Plop!-, and he marveled at the sensation. After a couple weeks in this place, I'm still surprised by how real this all feels... He almost resented the rain; how dare it have the audacity to remind him of home.

As the sky opened up and the rain began to fall in sheets, Kane looked around the crowded alleyway he was traversing. Players stopped their conversations, looking up in wonder, the same thoughts running through their heads, clearly seen by the expression on their faces. In time, the novelty wore up as their tunics grew soaked and their armor grew slick, and they all mostly sought cover in buildings, under coverings of market stalls, and the streets grew thin as the rain came down.

The NPCs all acted fairly realistically, mimicking the players in their reaction as they ducked under their awnings and closed the windows of their shops. Kane smirked as he saw a player slip in a puddle, and swiftly catch himself as he ran indoors. His smirk lessened as he saw an NPC walk through the same puddle and copy the slip exactly, motion for motion. They're learning...

[Kane 0]

As the clouds continued to empty out their soggy payload, Kane was growing tired of his tunic's growing wetness. Spotting an NPC-run blacksmith shop, he grabbed the old-fashioned door handle and ducked inside.

A classy little bell rang as the door opened, and Kane entered the shop. There were weapons of all sorts lining the walls; lots of swords in various shapes and sizes, single and double-headed axes, spears of different lengths, shields with spikes and flanges, every kind of sharp instrument for taking HP down to zero. The atmosphere inside the shop was cozy, warmed by the flames of the blacksmith's forge that was undoubtedly in the back room.

As the door shut behind him and he shook the water droplets from his hair and boots, a cheerful voice interrupted his thoughts. Welcome! Come on in, get out of the rain!

[Kane 0]

Looking up, Kane saw the source of the voice: A young NPC girl with bright blue hair. The tag above her head read:

NPC:<>

She was standing behind the counter, looking quite cheery in spite of the nasty weather outside. "Welcome to Pepper's Armaments, home of the finest quality weaponry!" She was young looking, couldn't be modeled after anyone older than twelve. Kane stared incredulously.

"You're the resident blacksmith? You're just a child!" Pepper frowned as she climbed up onto a stool that was placed behind the sales counter. "I'll have you know that I'm older than I look! And besides, I'm the best blacksmith in the city!" Kane walked further into the store, a smile on his face. He bowed apologetically. "Forgive me, I didn't realize I was in the presence of a master craftsman."

[Kane 0]

Pepper's face seemed to light up at the compliment. She hopped down from behind the counter, bouncing over it to land in front of Kane. "Aha, finally someone that respects my talents!" She seemed to be back to her previous peppy attitude as she hopped up and down happily. Kane surveyed the weapons lining the walls. Almost all of them were basic weapons, but there were several that were more advanced weapons, forged from sterner stuff.

"If you forged these pieces, you're quite the blacksmith." Even though she didn't really exist, Kane saw no reason to be rude to the NPC. He'd seen instances of times where people would abuse the NPCs, and somehow misfortune seemed to befall them at the most inopportune times. There was no rule that said not to, but Kane knew it was a good policy to treat them with the dignity one would treat a fellow player with.

[Kane 0]

Pepper hummed happily as Kane browsed the weapons on the walls. "Well, it's nice to be appreciated for my talents!" Tell you what, I've got a special discount for you!" She scampered around to a ludicrously expensive Two Handed Axe with the label <> and swiped her hand across the air. The price dropped by half... which was still ten times as much Col than Kane had ever possessed. "Here's a nice, big battle axe for a big strong guy like you!"

Kane laughed, but hefted the battle axe anyway. It was of fine make, the kind of weapon you'd expect a guild leader to carry into battle. It was ludicrously heavy, and Kane just barely had the strength rating to lift it. "<>, huh? A very fine piece, but I'm afraid it's far outside my price range. You see, I'm not really in a place right now to be making big purchases..." He put the axe back on the shelf and turned out his pockets. He only had enough Col left to pay for basic food and stays at the inn when his HP dropped.

[Kane 0]

Pepper laughed as Kane turned out his pockets, his meager funds displaying as a total floating in the air in front of him. Her laughter sounded like wind chimes tinkling as she hopped back up on her stool. "Ahahaha, okay mister. I'll tell you what: How would you like to own a weapon as nice as that one?"

Kane scratched the back of his head in confusion. "Umm, well that would be really nice Miss-" "Please, my name's Pepper!" "Oh ummmm, okay, Pepper. Well, that would be lovely, but I'm not really able to pay for it at the moment...

[Kane 0]

Pepper shook her head lightly, waggling a finger in midair. "Nuh-uh, I'm not asking for money! I'm willing to make you a really nice piece of your choosing, provided that you go get the materials for me!" She smiled widely as a Quest Prompt floated above her head:

<>Accept this quest? Yes / No

Kane was intrigued; this seemed like it would be quite a good opportunity to expand his arsenal beyond his standard <>. He clicked Yes, and Pepper clapped happily. "Okay! What kind of weapon would you like me to make? This will determine what materials you'll need to gather."

[Kane 0]

Kane thought for a moment, stroking his dark blonde beard, obviously thinking through the question. "Well... I'm not really an axe user."

Pepper grabbed a sheet of parchment and a quill from the countertop, and started writing. "Alrighty then, I've got a good look at you, and I think you'd like... this. "

She slid the parchment across the counter. Kane stared at the weapon design in awe.

"Wow... This would be awesome! Please, tell me where I can find the materials for this?

[Kane 0]

Kane thought for a moment, stroking his dark blonde beard, obviously thinking through the question. "Well... I'm not really an axe user."

Pepper grabbed a sheet of parchment and a quill from the countertop, and started writing. "Alrighty then, I've got a good look at you, and I think you'd like... this. "

She slid the parchment across the counter. Kane stared at the weapon design in awe.

"Wow... This would be awesome! Please, tell me where I can find the materials for this?"

[Kane 0]

Pepper giggled and smiled as Kane fan-boyed out over the design of the weapon she was offering to make for him. "Well, that's kind of a rare metal. But they say that somewhere here in the city, there's a man who's addicted to riddles and puzzles. If you can beat him in a contest of wits, I'm sure he'll fork over what you're looking for! Think of it as a test of the mind, since that's just as important to a good swordsman as his strength of body!" She was positively giddy, like she knew something but wasn't letting him in on it.

Kane leaned over the counter: "Where can I find him?"

[Kane 0]

Pepper reached up into the air in front of Kane's face, and marked a house in the city on his map. "That's Mr. Riddle's house. If you manage to pass his riddling test, give him this piece of parchment, and he'll know what to do."

She sealed the parchment with a ribbon, and Kane added it to his inventory as <>.

Kane nodded, making to leave the store. "Arigato-Gozaimasu, Pepper. I'll be back soon!"

[Kane 0]

The doorbell tinkled merrily as Kane stepped out of the store, Pepper's optimistic "Come back soon!" ringing in his ears. The rain was a bit lighter, but it was still a consistent drizzle as Kane pulled up his map. The house in question was all the way on the other side of the city. Sighing heavily, Kane began the long trek through the city streets.

[Kane 0]

Kane felt the rain start to bother him in spite of its reduced amount, so he pulled up his menu and selected his inventory. Equipping the item that he'd bartered off of a higher level player, Kane equipped his <>, a light green cloak with a short hood. It materialized around his shoulders, and he threw the hood up and over his head. The cloak did practically nothing in the way of being a defensive tool, and it only applied its bonus to Hiding in a forest location; even then, it was a paltry +1 to help him hide. Still, it was better than being wet. So he clutched his sword hilt to his side with one hand and grasped the hem of his cloak with the other as he ran through the cobblestone pathways.

[Kane 0]

After about a half hour of jogging lightly through the streets, the rain had slowed even further from a significant torrent to a lighter drizzle. The digital sky above was full of puffy, lighter clouds now, and the sun had peeked out from behind them, turning the weather to a pleasant sun-shower. NPCs and Players were both getting back on the streets, though some held parasols and others wore hooded cloaks to keep from getting too soggy.

Kane was almost at the house of the supposed Mr. Riddle. He wondered what was in store for him as he approached the door of a rather crooked looking, unique house. He took a deep breath... Then knocked three times.

[Kane 0]

A rather tall, gangly looking man in an oddly colored outfit opened the door. Kane stared at the man; he looked completely unique, with blue pinstripe pants, and a harlequin pink and blue vest under a bright blue formal jacket. A vibrant pink top-hat adorned his head, and he wore a monocle above his elegantly mustachioed smile. Even the man's hair was a conflict, with bright blue hair tinged with gray peeking out from under the hat, while the mustache was pink.

The tag above the man's head read thusly: NPC: Mr. Riddle

Well, there was no mistake. This was the man who Kane was looking for.

[Kane 0]

The door swung wide open as Mr. Riddle guffawed heartily. "Bwahahaha! Welcome, welcome my boy! I'm Mr. Riddle, such a pleasure to meet you, bwahahaha!" He shook Kane's hand with such vigor that he thought it might knock some HP loose.

When Kane had recovered his balance, he regained his composure with a short cough to clear his throat. "Ahem, umm, yes. Hello Mr. Riddle, I'm here to offer you... a challenge."

Riddle's smile grew even wider. "A riddling challenge!? Splendid my boy, quite splendid! Please, come in, come inside!" He withdrew into the house, and Kane stepped in after him.

[Kane 0]

The interior of the house was gentlemanly, almost classical compared to the outside. There was a fire in the fireplace, and a pair of chairs in the living room with high backs. They looked incredibly comfortable, and Mr. Riddle gestured to the chair on the left. "Please, my dear boy, have a seat!"

Kane sat down in the soft, downy chair on the left in front of the fire. It faced towards the door, and in front of it was a coffee table, and the other chair was facing him. Riddle sat down in the other chair.

[Kane 0]

"So, my boy. You wish to challenge me to a game of riddles! Well, I accept your challenge. What are the stakes?" Kane pulled up his inventory and removed the <>, placing it on the table. Mr. Riddle picked up the note, and scanned it for the materials Kane was looking for. "Ahahaha! Hoho, so little Miss Pepper sent you, eh?"

Kane nodded, smiling. "Yes, it was quite generous of her to refer me here. If you have what I need, I'm willing to test my wits for it!"

[Kane 0]

Mr. Riddle stroked his pink mustache, considering Kane's challenge. "Alright, listen closely young man: This is quite a lot of material you're looking for. So if I'm going to wager that much, you're going to have to wager quite a lot in return, wahaha!"

Kane nodded. He knew that there had to be an element of risk. "Alright, what would you like me to wager? What do you get if I lose?"

Mr. Riddle's smile turned into a playful smirk. His voice lowered to a conspiratory murmur. "I'd like you to wager... Your levels."

[Kane 0]

Kane's eyes widened. He must've misheard what Mr. Riddle was saying. "I'm sorry, what? My... my levels?" Mr. Riddle nodded, then threw his head back and laughed heartily. "Fufufufu, yes! I desire your skills and your levels, and I can suck them away with a flick of my wrist! However, I'm not a monster. With risk comes reward I say, hahaha! We shall have a contest of three riddles: As the challenged party, I will ask the first, you shall ask the second, and I shall ask the third. If you stump me, or answer one of my riddles correctly, you win that round! But, if I do the same, I win that round. At the end of the game, best two out of three wins the game! If you win, the materials are yours. But if I win, I get your levels. All of them. Savvy?"

Kane swallowed. All of his levels? Being knocked back to level 1 would be a pretty terrible blow... But, as of now he was level 3, so it wasn't like it was the end of the world. It was worth the risk.

Turning to Mr. Riddle, Kane declared, "I accept your terms, and wager my levels. Let's riddle, Riddle!"