Hearthfire

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Thank you for trying //Hearthfire//. Inside //''Hearthfire''//, you play a soldier who has deserted their post in the Fae Invasion War. Their reason for desertion is simple: after three long years of warfare, they want to be somewhere untouched by the war. They find a said place of solace amongst the people of Amerhurst, a small community to the north that is insulated from the outside world... for the most part, aside from the occasional adventurer or homesteader. You come to Amerhurst, exhausted and half-dead, and are taken in with open arms. But now, you have to make your keep to stay in the town, and to recover from the wounds that three years of war has left upon you. Will you settle down with one of the townspeople and start a new life? Or will you leave after sometime, changed by your time in Amerhurst? Your story is your own, make of it what you will. //''Hearthfire''// has three main stats: Heart, Soul, and Body. Every action or inaction you take affects these stats; your endings and self-reflections are also influenced by these stats. The game is also played in a season-like setting, similar to //Stardew Valley//. You will have two out of four weeks every season to make your moves amongst the townsfolk, to heal and recuperate, then the third week to help prepare for the season festival, and the final week is the festival of each season. After the festival, you'll have a chance to ''journal'' on the events of the past season, and to reflect on what you did in other seasons. As for romance, it is one of the key features of //''Hearthfire''//. To romance someone, you need to spend time with them at //least// four times to begin dating, and //ten// times for their ending. With that all said, welcome to //''Hearthfire''//. [[Begin your journey.]]

//''Hearthfire''// is written by Cy Lawson AKA Bottlecap Rabbit Games.

/* how notify works */ /* This macro pops a message up that slides out from the right side of the screen, a short notification that's less distracting than a dialog or alert, for things like inventory changes, experience gains, or even achievements. <notify>words<slashnotify> but with two << */ /* gender and pronouns */ <<set $mchim to "her">> <<set $mchis to "her">> <<set $mchers to "hers">> <<set $mx to "Ms.">> <<set $mcman to "woman">> <<set $gender to "woman">> <<set $genderpicked to false>> <<set $namedone to false>> /* appearance */ <<set $appearance to false>> /* stats */ <<set $heart to 0>> <<set $body to 0>> <<set $soul to 0>> <<set $blacksmithing to 0>> <<set $alchemy to 0>> <<set $tailor to 0>> <<set $fishing to 0>> /* romance */ <<set $alaniirom to 0>> <<set $cedricrom to 0>> <<set $virilarom to 0>> <<set $lyrarom to 0>> <<set $lysanderrom to 0>> <<set $hammondrom to 0>> <<set $lyraspringweek1 to false>> <<set $alaniispringweek1 to false>> <<set $cedricspringweek1 to false>> <<set $lysanderspringweek1 to false>> <<set $virilaspringweek1 to false>> <<set $hammondspringweek1 to false>> /* for the scenes */ <<set $fieldwork to false>> <<set $chopwood to false>> <<set $lakewalk to false>> <<set $skilllearn to false>>

<div class="button">[[Trigger Warnings]]</div> <div class="button">[[Romance Options]]</div> <div class="button">[[Statistics]]</div> <div class="button">[[Character Sheet]]</div> <div class="button">[[Important Links]]</div> <div class="button">[[Thank you to Patreon Members]]</div> <div class="button">[[Achievements|achievements]]</div>

<div class="seasons">Achievements</div> [[Return to story.|$current_scene]]

<div class="seasons">The Prologue</div> In the mortal world, a war against the wild-natured Fae wages on. For three and a half years this war has been waged, in clashes of iron and steel. The war is currently at a standstill; neither side has a foothold above the other, much to the dismay of the Fae and the satisfaction of the humans. You were drafted three years ago, fresh-faced and full of life and happiness. Much of that has been taken from you; from the soul-sucking work of slaughtering Fae and their animal companions to the losses of your fellow soldiers on the battlefield. Dragging their bodies back behind the safety lines… no, it is not something you ever forget. Amidst the war, there are pockets of free, peaceful territories. You have heard stories of some, but never a direct location of where they could be. Your fellows were always interrupted before they could elaborate on where one of these pockets might be… but not tonight. Tonight, amongst the other soldiers in the canteen, you overhear whispers of somewhere peaceful and perhaps, not too far away: Amerhurst, set amongst the Andies Mountains and the Amdell Forest. That is only some miles from where you are now… and it feels like a sign. A sign to get out of this hellhole before it does further damage to you and your mind, body, and soul. [[Next]]

<div class="seasons">Trigger Warnings</div> * Mentions of war and murder * PTSD * Optional Adult Scenes * TBD [[Return to story.|$current_scene]]

<center><img src="hearttoken.png" width="25%"></center> <div class="seasons">The Romanceables</div> <div class="romances">Alanii Matyr</div> Alanii is the Guard Captain of Amerhurst. They are stern but kind, and can be a bit awkward in social interactions. While they are firm and very by-the-rules, they care deeply for the people of their town. Alanii takes the safety of Amerhurst very seriously. Gender: Non-binary (they/them) Race: Half-Fae Romance Tokens: <<print $alaniirom>> <div class="romances">Cedric Ironhand</div> Cedric is the blacksmith of Amerhurst, and is very proud of his craftsmanship. He was widowed a few years ago, and has only recently opened up to the idea of loving again. He is sweet, gentle, and known for shy glances. Gender: Man (he/him) Race: Werewolf Romance Tokens: <<print $cedricrom>> <div class="romances">Hammond Richards</div> Hammond was born and raised in Amerhurst, and is happy to take up the mantle of the lead teacher and librarian in town. He studied abroad for some time before coming back home, bringing with him new knowledge to instill upon his students. Gender: Paramasc Non-binary (He/him) Race: Human Romance Tokens: <<print $hammondrom>> <div class="romances">Lyra Frost</div> Lyra inherited the Coldstone Tavern from the late owner, Alfred, after she moved into town several years ago and took up the mantle of trying to keep the tavern together. She is flirty, ambitious, and loves hearing the tales of adventurers and travelers who pass through. Gender: Woman (she/her) Race: Human Romance Tokens: <<print $lyrarom>> <div class="romances">Lysander River</div> Lysander is a siren who tends to keep to himself. He is the fishmonger and resident fisherman of Amerhurst, and came to Amerhurst as a young lad with his father after his mother passed. While a loner, he is nursing a lonely heart... Gender: Man (he/him) Race: Siren Romance Tokens: <<print $lysanderrom>> <div class="romances">Virila Heather</div> Virila came to Amerhurst a few years ago, and has kept a barrier between herself and others the entire time. However, she prides herself on keeping the town healthy and without ailments. She is a bit mysterious and cryptic at times, but truly, she is still warm as a person. Gender: Woman (she/her) Race: Human Romance Tokens: <<print $virilarom>> [[Return to story.|$current_scene]]

<div class="seasons">Important Links</div> <a href="https://bottlecaprabbitgames.tumblr.com/">My Tumblr</a> <a href="https://bottlecaprabbitgames.itch.io/">My Itch.io</a> <a href="https://ko-fi.com/bottlecaprabbitgames">Ko-fi</a> <a href="https://www.patreon.com/c/bottlecaprabbitgames">Patreon</a> <a href="https://bottlecaprabbitgames.atabook.org/">My Atabook. Leave me a comment!</a> [[Return to story.|$current_scene]]

<div class="seasons">Current Patreon Members:</div> * Goldenie * Chelly * ArkhamMansion [[Return to story.|$current_scene]]

<<if !tags().includes("menu")>><<set $current_scene = passage()>><</if>>

After dinner, you make a plan: steal some supplies, and take off into the Amdell Forest with your horse. Maybe you find Amerhurst, maybe you die in the woods. But either scenario is better than continuing to lose part of yourself to this war. You wait till after lights out, then silently slink from your cot to grab your travel back beside the foot of your makeshift bed. With it in hand, you carefully look outside. There is a few guards and of course a few patrollers, but you can win this game of cat and mouse. You wait till the patrollers pass one another and head to opposite sides of the camp, then you quickly and quietly make your way to the canteen. You toss jerkied meat and preserved fruit in glass jars into your pack, then several bottles of water. With your pack full, you sneak back out of the canteen and out to the stables. "Halt. What are you doing at the stables at this hour?" Questions the guard. "I come with a message: you are needed by the Head Guard; Fae have been sighted nearby, and you are needed to head them off." "Shit!" He immediately abandons his post, tearing hells down to the front gate… leaving the south gate unguarded and the stables free to you. You immediately mount your horse, and when the chaos starts, you hightail it out of there. [[Next|next1]]

Days pass as you explore the Amdell Forest, searching the foot of the mountains for the town of Amerhurst. You are running low on supplies, you have only slept a few hours a night for the several days since you escaped… but you are not worried. To die in the forest would not be the worst that has happened to you. At least you had the heart to try to escape the horrors of war. You continue down the mountain side… and through your bleary eyes, you swear you see a town’s gates up ahead. Maybe it is a hallucination brought on by dehydration. Maybe you are already dead and headed for Purgatory. But you run in the direction of the town, your tired legs gathering renewed strength. Your feet trip and trample over sticks and roots, tree limbs scrape at your legs, arms, and face, but still, you run. You run and run and- You don’t see the ravine. You go hurtling forward, down, down, //down//… [[Thump!]]

You land hard on the packed dirt, the wind knocked out of you. Your tired body doesn’t respond to your attempts to move; maybe this is where you die. Feet away from the little town your brain concocted for you. At least you escaped. At least you //tried//. [[The Darkness...]]

The darkness starts to part and shift. Beads of light begin to dance in the darkness, like fireflies in the night. How you miss watching their dances. Your eyes slowly open, your vision blurry and unfocused. Colors blur together in front of them, nothing making much sense. Where are you? What are you seeing? "Do not stress too much; you need to heal." A calm, whispery feminine voice says softly from somewhere nearby. "Where am I?" You croak out, surprised you actually are audible. With how parched your throat feels, you were sure you would just make an unintelligible noise. "You are safe, in the town of Amerhurst. Now, sleep, stranger. //Sleep//." A powerful pull comes over you, pulling you back into the calming darkness… //What pronouns do you prefer?// <<listbox "$mche" autoselect>> <<option "He/him" he>> <<option "She/her" she>> <<option "They/them" they>> <</listbox>> [[Some time later...]]

<<silently>> <<if $mche is "he">> <<set $mchim to "him">> <<set $mchis to "his">> <<set $mchers to "his">> <<set $mx to "Mr.">> <<elseif $mche is "they">> <<set $mchim to "them">> <<set $mchis to "their">> <<set $mchers to "theirs">> <<set $mx to "Mx.">> <</if>> <</silently>> You wake again some time later, with more clarity this time. Your once bleary eyes open with the ability to //see// again: you are clearly in an apothecary’s shack, given the multitude of herbs, potion ingredients, and various bottles lining the shelves. You can hear someone moving somewhere nearby, shuffling as they quietly sing to themself. The same soft, feminine voice from before… "Hello?" You croak out, trying to look to the side to see the person approach. Suddenly, a woman fills your point of view from where you lay; she has rich, deep brown skin, chestnut eyes, and tightly coiled hair the color of coal. Her plum lips pull into a smile, and that is when you notice a birthmark taking up the right half of her face. "Hello, stranger. Good to see you fully up and //not// before you were ready to be." "You’re the person from before." "Yes, that is me. Virila Heather’s the name. How about you? What’s your name?" It takes a moment, but you remember it… <<textbox "$name" "Adrian">> <<textbox "$surname" "Summers">> [[Your name...]]

<<silently>> <<set $namedone to true>> <</silently>> "My name is $name $surname," you inform her, your voice still weak. "Nice to meetcha. Let me get you a glass of something to drink; it’ll make talkin’ easier." She bustles away, leaving you to look at a thatch roof while she pours something into something else. When she returns, she sits a glass of blue liquid down on the table next to the bed on which you lay. "Here, let me sit you up, it’ll make drinkin’ easier." Her warm hands slide under you and easily hoist your body up some. It’s a bit painful, but the pain subsides quickly. "What is that?" "Healin’ potion. I’ve had to give it to you magically lately, but it’ll be better if you actually //drink// it." She holds the cup up to your lips and you drink deeply. The cool liquid coats your throat and mouth, immediately quenching the pain and parching there. You can feel it slide down into your belly, but you continue to drink until there is nothing left. When it is empty, she takes the cup and rinses it in a small sink nearby, before turning back to you. "Now, you sit still. I’ll be back shortly." She pulls on a dark cloak and without a further word, exits the shack. [[Sit still as she said to.]] [[Explore a little.]]

You stay seated as she requested, careful to not move too much, but still looking around and observing. You can see a small store-like counter directly opposite of the bed you lay on, where an alchemical brewing station is as well. There is a fireplace to your immediate right, on the other side of the bedside table. Animal pelts line the walls, likely for insulation. Your own blanket you have been covered with is stitched together animal pelts, though these are at least the same color; the ones across the walls… not so much. But, it is a home. Something you now lack, as a deserter. [[Yeah.]]

You decide against staying still for much longer. You get up and explore around some, looking at the pelts up close. You run your fingers over them, your hands still stiff, but able to feel their softness. You hobble over to a cabinet full of various alchemical compounds and materials, all lined neatly by alphabetical order. //Interesting.// Then, you turn your attention to the corner across from the bed on which you lay previously. There is clearly a store counter there; you guess Virila sells potions and ointments to the people living in the town. There is also several alchemical machines going behind it, lining the wall of the shack with little bits of steam coming off in some places. //What is all of that?// There's so much to see in here. [[Some time soon...]]

Virila returns within ten minutes with another person, who introduces themself as the mayor of Amerhurst, the town you are now in. "You are welcome to stay with us, of course! We only ask that you take up helping around the town some." "I thank you for that. But how will I help?" "Don’t worry about that; Virila has informed me you should be good to go walking-wise, so I am going to introduce you to the others around town who might need a hand or two." The mayor smiles, their eyes crinkling as they do so. "Come along with me, $mx $surname, and we will see together what you can do around the town!" [[Amerhurst]]

You follow the mayor out of Virila’s shack, feeling her eyes on you the entire way out, before exiting onto a cobblestone street. The center of town is graced by a gigantic, elderly oak tree, which offers shade to the majority of the town. To the left of the apothecary (which is called //Gravewinder’s//) is a barracks for what you’d guess is the town’s guard; across from the apothecary is a blacksmithy; to the immediate right is an iron wall, as well as a west-facing gate. Some people milling about look at you curiously as the mayor leads you to the blacksmithy, their bubbly words reaching the people as they pass. [[The Blacksmithy]]

At the blacksmithy, you meet its proprietor, Cedric Ironhand. He’s a handsome man with tawny skin, cognac-colored eyes, and mahogany hair peppered with white. You also notice a brutal bitemark on his right forearm among the scars from burns, likely from working the forge. "This is $name $surname, Cedric!" The mayor introduces you. Cedric smiles genuinely, his eyes crinkling at the corners. He offers a hand, which you shake. "Nice to meet you, $name. As the mayor has informed you, the name’s Cedric. You can come to me if you need weapons smithed, tools repaired, or if you’d like to learn how to do that on your own." "Thank you, Cedric, I’ll keep that in mind." He nods. "Of course. Just be warned, the forge gets piping hot; it can be a rough one to work around." With that he stands, and you find him a full head taller than you. "I’ll definitely keep that in mind." [[Next|next2]]

As the mayor and yourself depart from the blacksmithy, you see a bundle of homes alongside the blacksmithy. "Quite close together, aren’t they?" "Yes; we’re in the process of expanding the walls so people may have more privacy and an easier time gardening." "That makes sense." The next stop is the small school, which lies on the other side of the houses. The mayor introduces the main teacher, a Mr. Hammond Richards, once you arrive. Hammond has fair but pale skin, green-gray eyes, and reddish brown hair that falls in waves around his ears. He also has silver spectacles. "Nice to meet you, $mx $name," he greets, smiling warmly. "It’s been a fair bit since someone new joined the town; I do hope you’ll stay, it’s good to have new folk in." "We’ll see," you respond with an answering smile. "Well, excellent! Hopefully our warm demeanors and neighborly ways will convince you to stay!" He seems rather sweet, from what you can gather. Before you get much more time to talk to him, the children of the town come to find him, eager for his attention. He smiles at them, then to you. "I hope you’ll excuse me, but my students call." "Of course; please don’t disrupt your schedule on my behalf." "Thank you! Just remember, if you need a book to read, the school hosts the town library as well." With that, he bids farewell, and returns with his class. A rather nice man, at the least. [[Next|Neext3]]

Beside the school is an old greenhouse that seems in grave disrepair. Unfortunate, given it looks large enough to feed the entire town. As you pass it and the east-facing gate, a tall figure comes walking over, donned in silvery armor. There is a fox painted on the front of her armor, much akin to the foxes you have seen painted on other locations in the town, now that you think on it. When she reaches you, your first note is her baby blue eyes and fair skin. "Hello, mayor. I see the one I found is up and around now." Her voice is feminine but deep, and she offers a slight smile. "Glad you aren’t dead." "You are the one who found me?" "Quite, just outside our main gate here," she motions with a thumb behind her. "Ah, but I should introduce myself. Name’s Alanii Matyr; if you’d use they and them pronouns for me, I’d be much obliged." "Of course, Alanii. I’ll definitely make sure to do that." You also make a mental note to adjust the pronouns you have been using for them. "Thank you for bringing me in when you didn’t have to." They scoff, shaking their head, making their short-cropped dirty blonde hair go everywhere. This also makes you notice their pointed ears; a half-Fae perhaps? "Of course, I had to. We won’t let someone die just because we don’t know them." "A noble thing, given the state of the world." "Nah, the war hasn’t touched here, and I plan to keep it that way." They turn to look around the town, then towards the forest to the north. "I may have work for you later; you look like you could handle yourself in a fight. We have a monster issue around here from the woods." "Will keep that in mind, Alanii." "Good." They nod to you and the mayor. "I’ll be back to checking on the fence workers, then." They leave you both to cross the town somewhat behind them, before the two of you reach the //Coldstone Tavern//. The mayor smiles brightly as you follow them up onto the porch of it. "This is our last stop, $mx $surname, and also where you’ll be staying. All our passerthroughs live here, and all our passerthroughs-turned-inhabitants do the same." "That sounds fair enough to me." "Excellent! In we get!" [[The Coldstone Tavern]]

The Coldstone Tavern is quite cozy inside. Overstuffed chairs line the parlor, as well as a waiter with refreshments. Perhaps warmest of all is the welcome. "Welcome to Coldstone! Name’s Lyra Frost, I own and run the place." The said owner, Lyra, comes from around the bar and immediately offers an olive-skinned hand, to which you shake. She grins, her hazel eyes lighting up. "Oooh, a strong grip, aye? I like that in a… well, what do you prefer to be called? It’d be unbecoming for me to get it wrong. And certainly would ruin my first impression, no doubt." <<listbox "$gender" autoselect>> <<option "Man" man>> <<option "Woman" woman>> <<option "Non-binary" non-binary>> <</listbox>> [["I prefer..."]]

<<silently>> <<set $genderpicked to true>> <<if $gender is "woman">> <<set $mcman to "woman">> <<elseif $gender is "man">> <<set $mcman to "man">> <<elseif $gender is "non-binary">> <<set $mcman to "person">> <</if>> <</silently>> "I prefer $mcman." "Well, then, I like a strong grip in a $mcman." She winks, then pulls her hand away and whips around, her golden brown ringlets of hair bouncing with her. "Lysander! Come meet the newcomer, won’t you?" A soft groan issues from the dining hall, before a siren man appears. His skin is a dark teal with even darker spots covering him from elbow to fingers and from the calves down, though you can’t see his feet; they are in galoshes. His hair is pitch black and very shortly cropped, though it is going grey. Lastly, you notice his deep, piercing purple eyes, lacking whites; typical for sirens, but it always throws you off. He offers a hand, which has some loose webbing between the fingers. You shake it. "Name is Lysander; I’m the fisherman around these parts. If you are looking to learn, I can teach ya." "Oh ho, willing to teach the newcomer but not me?" Lyra pouts, looking at him in a playfully reproachful way. He raises a brow. "Last time, all you did was talk my ear off and scare away the fish." "I was //just// making conversation." "Uh-huh." "These are the last two folks I wanted you to go ahead and meet, $mx $surname! They may have some work you can help out with." The mayor smiles warmly. "I’m sure Lyra will get you situated in a bed; no doubt, you are still worn thin from your journey here. There’s only a few more things to tell you, however, and then you are good to go." [["Okay."]] [["Go ahead."]] [["Like what?"]]

"Okay." You are a bit worried at what could come next given how long-winded the mayor is, but you wait anyway. <<include "include1">>

"Go ahead." You patiently wait for them to continue. <<include "include1">>

"Like what?" You inquire, wonder what other information you might be assaulted with to learn today. Yes, this is the town you sought out, but damned if you aren’t needing a break from the relentless back and forth. <<include "include1">>

"At the end of every season, we host a festival. In the weeks following up to it, there may be some things you can help out with to get the festival up and running smoothly. I’m sure the townspeople would love for you to help, as well." "I’ll keep that in mind and keep an ear out for anything like that." "Oh, never fear! The jobs I have for the festival will be pinned to the board outside the my office! It’s just across from the tavern and in front of the old greenhouse, you can’t miss it." With a last few words and a good-bye, the mayor finally makes their leave from your side and leaves you in the hands of Lyra. She gets you settled in in the first room on the left up the stairs, and explains how the bath works. She offers to run you one, but you graciously deny her (given you hardly know her). She promises to fetch some clothes for you from the tailor and leave them outside your room, but there are some clothes you can pick through in the dresser as the room you are staying in is usually a lost-and-found. With that in mind, you start the bath with the water runes (something you have only heard of, never //seen// in person), and pick through the clothes left behind by others who have traveled through the town. You find a <<textbox "$shirt" "red">> long-sleeved shirt to put on, and a pair of black breeches, along with clean underthings, and set them upon your new bed. Then, you strip off your no doubt disgustingly dirty clothes and slip into the bath. The hot water is pleasant against your still sore body, helping wash away the pains left from being in bed for gods’ knows how long. You pick up a bar of soap, scented with lavender, and begin washing away the muck that accumulated upon your skin in your time in the forest. Bits of brush, a lot of dirt, and plenty of other unsavory things are stuck onto where you were sweating, but they come off with the help of soap and the water. When you exit the bath, the water is a nasty brownish color, but your skin is perfectly clean. Your hands… mentally, spiritually, literally… that’s another discussion entirely. With that agonizing thought in mind, you dry off with a towel hung on a rack near the bath, then pull on your newfound $shirt shirt and breeches. A sudden wave of exhaustion rolls over you, and without further effort, you climb into the comfortable-looking bed. You find it nice and soft, likely stuffed with good-quality straw and bird down. It is not long after your head touches the pillow that you fall into a deep slumber, to the point you miss dinner and Lyra knocking on your door… [[Spring I]]

<div class="seasons">Spring I</div> The first week of spring comes with the melting of snow and the chirping of returning birds to the Amdell Forest. The lake to the south of Amerhurst has also dethawed fully, allowing Lysander to get back to regular fishing instead of the task of ice fishing, which you have gathered is something he severely //hates// with every bone in his body. Or so he has said in the dining hall, late at night. But, that is besides the point; the beginning of spring has come on suddenly since your arrival to Amerhurst, much like the Goddess of Spring ordained it herself. But, what will you do with your new-found freedom? //You can choose up to two things to do each week, except weeks three and four.// [[Spend time getting to know someone.][$heart to $heart + 1]] [[Spend a chunk of the day chopping firewood.][$body to $body + 1]] [[You take a walk along the lake.][$soul to $soul + 1]] [[Help work the fields.][$body to $body + 1]] [[Learn a skill with the help of someone else.]]

It is not long before Virila returns, someone new with her. She scolds you for getting out of bed, but the new person, who introduces themself as the mayor of Amerhurst, waves her scoldings off. "Now, now, Virila! You'd want to move around too if you had been bed bound for a time!" "Hmph." The mayor turns their attention to you. "Don't mind her. Anyway, you are welcome to stay with us, of course! We only ask that you take up helping around the town some." "I thank you for that. But how will I help?" "Don’t worry about that; Virila has informed me you should be good to go walking-wise, so I am going to introduce you to the others around town who might need a hand or two." The mayor smiles, their eyes crinkling as they do so. "Come along with me, $mx $surname, and we will see together what you can do around the town!" [[Amerhurst]]

<div class="seasons">Statistics</div> This is the page for your statistics and how your character is advancing in the healing process. <center>//''Major Stats''//</center> ''Body:'' <<print $body>> ''Heart:'' <<print $heart>> ''Soul:'' <<print $soul>> <center>//''Crafting Stats''//</center> ''Blacksmithing:'' <<print $blacksmithing>> ''Alchemy:'' <<print $alchemy>> ''Fishing:'' <<print $fishing>> [[Return to story.|$current_scene]]

<<silently>> <<set $chopwood to true>> <</silently>> You decide to spend a chunk of the day chopping wood and firewood for the town. You head to outside the eastern-facing gate, to where the wood chopping blocks are. A few others are already there when you arrive, and they seem absorbed in their chopping to the point they don't notice you. You find an unattended axe by a rather large stump, maybe an old oak, and you approach it. The axe's blade gleams in the sunlight, its sharp blade ready for working. Clearly, someone sharpens the tools regularly; maybe the blacksmith, Cedric was it? It'd make sense if so. With that thought on your mind, you grab the handle of the axe and pick it up, feeling its weight. It's a hefty one, but that just means it chops better that a lighter one would. At least, you think so. You hit the axe into the stump, then go to the woodpile to carry some wood over for you to use. You check around it carefully for snakes, then put three logs under each arm. You do this a couple of times, until there's about eighteen logs for you to chop. Then, you begin. Set a log on the flattened stump, lift the axe high, and let its weight glide through the air to hit into the log. Rinse, repeat. [[Some hours later...]]

<<silently>> <<set $lakewalk to true>> <</silently>> You decide to take a walk along the lake just south of the walls surrounding Amerhurst. You have heard it is where Lysander, the fisherman, does his trade, and it seems a peaceful enough place to explore. You head to the west-facing gate and exit through it, passing the farming grounds where several townspeople are working the land for the spring crop planting. A few wave to you and you wave back, but you continue on down the dirt path that winds down to the lake. Even from here, you can see it; beautiful blue waters shimmering the early day light. You can even see some fish scales glint under the water around the surface, followed by their ripples as they dart away after catching an insect or two. Gorgeous. The path leads down to a wooden dock with stone pillars holding it up on the water. The siren man, Lysander, is currently fishing there, his rod a white birch one against the marine blue of the water. He nods to you, then turns his attention back to the water. A bucket sits beside him, full of water and lined fish still on the hook. Some flop a little but with a pat from him, they settle back down. The errant thought that maybe he has water or marine life magic crosses your mind as you head to the other half of the dock and take a seat, your feet dangling above the water. You settle in for a little while. [[Some time later....]]

<<silently>> <<set $fieldwork to true>> <</silently>> You decide to help work the farmer's fields just outside the west-facing gate. Heading along the cobblestone path from the tavern, you reach the gate with little time passing. The town isn't very large, after all. As you reach the west gate, two of the guards observe you, but open the gate to allow you to exit out onto the fields. A few people you were not introduced to are working them, but when one of the women spy you, she stands upright and comes to meet you at the wooden fencing surrounding the crops. Dirt is smudged on her aged face, but she smiles warmly. "Come to help wi' the crops, have you, newcomer?" "Yes, ma'am, I have." "There's plenty to do. You can till the fields to prepare for seeds or break the dirt up to prepare for tillin'." She nods to the tools propped on the gate walls. "Just pick a tool and hop to it." She returns to planting seeds in the already prepared soil, leaving you to pick a a tool. [[Take a garden rake to help break up the soil.]] [[Take a hoe to till the soil.]]

You have six different people you can get to know; but perhaps there is someone in particular you feel drawn to know more about after your introduction with the mayor... [[Seek out Alanii at the Barracks.]] [[Go see Cedric at the Blacksmithy.]] [[Visit with Lyra at the Tavern.]] [[Go to the lake and sit with Lysander.]] [[Try to see if Hammond has some time between class.]] [[Go to the Apothecary to visit Virila.]]

<<silently>> <<set $skilllearn to true>> <</silently>> You decide to learn a skill, but there's a few to choose from. There's Cedric at the blacksmithy, Virila at the apothecary, Andra the tailor, and Lysander at the docks. Who will you learn a trade with? [[Learn with Cedric.][$blacksmithing to $blacksmithing + 1]] [[Learn with Virila.][$alchemy to $alchemy + 1]] [[Learn with Lysander.][$fishing to $fishing + 1]]

<<silently>> <<set $alaniispringweek1 to true>> <<set $alaniirom to $alaniirom + 1>> <</silently>> You decide to seek out Alanii at the Barracks. You head out of the tavern and down the cobblestone road to the Barracks, passing another bundle of homes on your right. There's a guard sitting outside, their helmet on and spear in hand. As you approach, their head turns and they stand. "Hello, newcomer. Can I ask why you are coming to the Barracks?" "I wanted to see Alanii, if possible." "Ah, they're inside, top floor to the back." "Thanks." The guard opens the door for you to pass inside, and you head on in, going to the staircase as other guards watch you intently. You head up them and go to the back as directed, where a door stands with a plaque on it with the title //Captain's Quarters// on it. You knock, then wait until you hear Alanii's voice come through the door. "Come in." You open the door to find them behind a large, birch desk, hunched over several pieces of paper with a quill in hand and an open inkwell at their side. They look up when you pause, and straighten upon seeing you. "Oh, $name, correct? Come on in and have a seat." You do as you are bidded, closing the door behind you. The chair across from them is soft and plush, and as you get settled in, you hear them put away the sheets of paper and cap the inkwell. "I'm sorry to interrupt your work, I just wanted to get to know you a little better." "That's, er, fine, I just wasn't expected company." After the pages are cleared, they prop their clasped hands on the desk. "So, what would you like to know?" [["How did you come to be Guard Captain, to start?"]]

<<silently>> <<set $cedricspringweek1 to true>> <<set $cedricrom to $cedricrom + 1>> <</silently>> You decide to go see Cedric at the blacksmithy. You head away from the tavern towards the west-facing gate, remembering that the blacksmithy is to the left of it from this angle. The cobblestone road //clacks// pleasantly under your feet as you walk, and you have the errant thought to wonder who did the roads like this. The blacksmithy comes into view, as does Cedric. He is bent over a sharpening wheel, a stack of axes on either side of them. As you make your way up the stairs to the forge and where he is sat, you can see some of the axes in one pile are dull, while the others are quite sharp. He looks up as you approach, and a shy smile comes to his lips. "Hello. $name, right?" "Yes, that's me." "What can I do for you? I don't see any tools with you that need sharpening." "I just wanted to come know more about you, is all." He nods at that and puts down the axe he was sharpening, and turns to face you, still sat on the stool. From this angle, you can see he is quite a giant of a man, fairly large everywhere. "That makes sense, I guess. What can I tell you?" [["How did you learn your trade?"]]

<<silently>> <<set $lyraspringweek1 to true>> <<set $lyrarom to $lyrarom + 1>> <</silently>> You decide to spend some time with Lyra. You head down from your room at the tavern and head into the dining hall, and find her refilling the bar. She doesn't notice you at first and continues humming to herself as she cleans and replaces drinks. There's a stack of washrags and a bucket of water by her feet, and the hem of her skirt keeps brushing against it. She seems to have a theme of clothes she prefers: a low-cut collared long-sleeved top and a skirt to her calves. She also tends to wear heeled boots that click on the polished wood floors of the tavern. Coming out of you thoughts, you take a seat at the bar, alerting her to your presence. Her humming stops as she turns around, and instead she pulls on a warm smile. "Well, hello, $name. What can I get for you?" "Nothing much, just seeing what you are up to." She shrugs. "Mostly, just cleaning; this place gets dusty like you wouldn't //believe//. How about you? Have any plans for the day?" "Not sure yet; mostly still just settling in, and wanted to get to know you a little better." "Oh, darling, there's not much to know about me. But I'll gladly answer your questions." [["How did you get the bar?"]]

<<silently>> <<set $lysanderspringweek1 to true>> <</silently>> You decide to go to the lake and get to know Lysander a bit better... or at least, sit in his presence and see how that works out for you. You exit the tavern and head for the east-facing gate, then take the dirt path down to the lake. It winds a little, but even from here you can see the gorgeous cerulean blue of the water. Ripples break the surface as fish come and catch insects off the surface of the water, or maybe they come to take a peek at mainlanders. Who are you to say? The wooden dock comes into view, with its stone pillars keeping it held up in the water. As you grow closer, you finally see Lysander sitting at the far end, his fishing rod in hand. A bucket of live fish are sat next to him, their tails flickering in and out of sight. With a pat to the bucket, they seem to calm; you wonder if he has some kind of animal magic that makes them calm. When your feet hit the dock, he looks up, and waves. You wave back, and continue on your path towards him. He seems to get the idea, so he scoots sideways, so he can keep an eye on you and his rod at the same time. When you reach him, you greet him. "Hello, Lysander." "Hey, stranger. How can I be of service? Come for a spot of fishing?" [["No, not quite; I wanted to know more about you."]]

<<silently>> <<set $hammondspringweek1 to true>> <</silently>> You decide to head for the school to see if Hammond has any time between teaching his classes. You leave the tavern and head across the town, towards the mayor's office. You follow the cobblestone road the entire way, passing the mayor's office and turning right, and then the school is in sight. The town's children are playing a small playground on the right of the school, while Hammond is outside of it, reading a book. He looks up at your approach, resting his book on his leg as you come closer. He offers a warm, welcoming smile. "Hello, $name. What can I do for you today?" "I wanted to know more about you, if that's alright." "Why, of course! What do you want to know?" [["How'd you come to be in Amerhurst?"]]

<<silently>> <<set $virilaspringweek1 to true>> <</silently>> You decide to go to the apothecary to visit Virila. You head out of the tavern and make your way past the houses and barracks, on down the cobblestone path towards her shack. You reach it relatively quickly, its thatch roof easily standing out from the other homes and buildings in town. When you reach it, you open the door and go inside. A strange smell is in the air, likely issuing from the working alchemical machinery behind the counter. Virila is currently hovering over it, passing from one piece of machinery to the next. Or, well, she was until she heard the door open. She whips her head around and her gaze lingers on you. "Hello, $name $surname. Does something ail you?" "Not quite; I wanted to know more about you, that's all." "Hmph." She comes from around the counter and nods to the small, two-chaired table off in the corner. You take a seat while she attends to a pot currently over the burning fire near her bed. "What do you want to know? There's little to tell. I'm but a simple apothecary." [["How did you come to learn alchemy?"]]

You pick up the garden rake to help break up the soil for the farmers. With it in hand, you join them inside of the fencing. You start by running the rake over the top levels of soil, picking out any rocks or debris it uncovers. It takes some time covering the field, but you do so. When the top of the soil is finished, you start over, digging a little deeper, collecting the rocks and debris and tossing them outside of the fencing. You do this for some hours, until the sun is at its highest in the mid-afternoon. Sweat soaks your $shirt shirt, your breeches, even your hair; you feel like someone dumped a bad-smelling bucket of water over your head at some point during this venture. But, it is done; you have done enough to help the townsfolk get their seeds into the ground to feed them all. With that in mind, you bid the farmers farewell, put the garden rake back up against the wall, and head for the tavern for a hot meal and a bath. [[After your meal...]]

You pick up the garden hoe to help till the land for the farmers. With it in hand, you join them inside of the fencing. You lift the hoe and chop down upon the soil, breaking up any hard bits and helping to loosen weeds enough to toss them over the fence. Up, then down, up, then down... you continue to repeat this mantra in your head as you chop the soil, breaking it down until it is easy to place seeds into. You work your way slowly across the field, planning to do a few runs over to ensure it is well-churned. You do this for some hours, until the sun is at its highest in the mid-afternoon. Sweat soaks your $shirt shirt, your breeches, even your hair; you feel like someone dumped a bad-smelling bucket of water over your head at some point during this venture. But, it is done; you have done enough to help the townsfolk get their seeds into the ground to feed them all. With that in mind, you bid the farmers farewell, put the garden hoe back up against the wall, and head for the tavern for a hot meal and a bath. [[After your meal...]]

After your meal, you settle in for a nice, warm bath. As the water is pouring into the tub, you disrobe and look in the mirror. The same... <<listbox "$eyecolor" autoselect>> <<option "blue" blue>> <<option "gray" gray>> <<option "green" green>> <<option "brown" brown>> <<option "black" black>> <</listbox>> ...colored eyes stare back at you. And your hair, while sweaty, is still the same... <<listbox "$haircolor" autoselect>> <<option "ginger" ginger>> <<option "black" black>> <<option "brown" brown>> <<option "blonde" blonde>> <</listbox>> ...color that you know. But something feels different. You don't really recognize the person in the mirror, after all the years of combat. Your eyes are sunken in. Your skin is drawn and your features pinched. You look like a walking corpse. Maybe being here will change all of that. For the better. [[After your bath...]]

The midday sun beats down on you as you finish up on the last few logs you have made a trip to grab. You are soaked in sweat, your $shirt shirt stuck to you in it, and your breeches feel heavy with it. But, you finish the wood you have brought over, stack up the split logs, and then head back to the tavern for a quick meal and then a good, hot bath. You have certainly earned one, after working your arse off as hard as you did. [[After your meal...]]

It's roughly midday when you finally part from the dock. Lysander is still there, but he has stopped fishing some time ago and brought his fish to someone in town, before returning. But, he is a quiet man, keeping to his half of the dock while you keep to yours. As you stand, his attention is drawn to you, before he goes back to watching the water as you turn to leave. You head for the east-facing gate to go back inside the walls, passing the chopping blocks for wood on your way in. You also catch sight of Alanii as you head inside, though only their back. You head for the tavern for a quick meal and maybe a bath; you have been sweating, even while in the shade. For a spring day, it is quite warm. [[After your meal...]]

"How about the bar? Or, well, the tavern. How did it come to be in your hands?" "I moved here some ten years ago, when it was ran by a man named Alfred. He had no children, but he favored me like one after I proved I could run it from a few years of working as a waitress and 'tender. He signed the will over to me on his death bed about three years ago, gods rest his soul... he was a good man, kind." "I'm sorry to hear of his death. He definitely sounds like a good man." "He was! He very much was." She smiles nostalgically. "All the staff that works here are the same as when he was runnin' it. They all feel the same as me: we have to keep things running right for the old man, in case he checks in on us." [[That's a good sentiment to keep."]] [["Admirable of you all."]] [[You nod to her as she speaks.]]

"That's a good sentiment to keep." "Thank you, I think so, too." You both continue to chatter for a while, until the midday time. At that point, people have started to pour in for their midday meal, and she has to excuse herself from your company as she heads out to service them. It's a good thing you already had your meal. It might be a good idea to take a bath while you are at it; you have been sweating while talking to her. It's a rather warm day for early spring. [[Up the stairs you go.|After your meal...]]

"Admirable of you all. That's quite some dedication." "Why, thank you, we try." She smiles warmly. You both continue to chatter for a while, until the midday time. At that point, people have started to pour in for their midday meal, and she has to excuse herself from your company as she heads out to service them. It's a good thing you already had your meal. It might be a good idea to take a bath while you are at it; you have been sweating while talking to her. It's a rather warm day for early spring. [[Up the stairs you go.|After your meal...]]

You nod to her as she speaks, listening intently. You both continue to chatter for a while, until the midday time. At that point, people have started to pour in for their midday meal, and she has to excuse herself from your company as she heads out to service them. It's a good thing you already had your meal. It might be a good idea to take a bath while you are at it; you have been sweating while talking to her. It's a rather warm day for early spring. [[Up the stairs you go.|After your meal...]]

<div class="seasons">Character Sheet</div> <<if $namedone is true>> ''Name:'' $name $surname <<elseif $namedone is false>> There's nothing here, yet. <</if>> <<if $genderpicked is true>> You prefer $mche/$mchim pronouns and are a $mcman. <</if>> <<if $appearance is true>> You have $eyecolor eyes and $haircolor hair. <</if>> [[Return to story.|$current_scene]]

"How did you come to be Guard Captain, to start?" "Oh. Well, I was born in Amerhurst; been here my whole life. From a child I wanted to be a guardsmen, and upon reaching the age they start recruiting, I joined. At that time, the Guard Captain was a man named Hoss and didn't... agree with my life choices." Their features turn pinched, but they continue. "Anyway, eventually I worked my way up the ranks. I was his second in command for a few years, before a rabid werewolf pack took his life. After, the other guardsmen voted for me to become Captain, and so I took the mantle." "I see. That's quite a tale." "I suppose. It's just the truth." They shrug, twiddling their thumbs as they look down. [["What do you mean he didn't agree with your life choices?"]]

"What do you mean he didn't agree with your life choices?" You question, that thought hitting you suddenly. "He only believed there were men and women, and nothing else," they say plainly. "So, you can imagine, we didn't get along." "Ah. Yes, I can understand that. What an asshole." They laugh, a short, snort of one. "Yes, he was quite an asshole." "Definitely sounds it." They smile slightly as they look up. "I would love to talk to you more, $name, but right now I have to look over my guardsmen's reports. My off days usually fall on the second week of the month, so if you want to talk again, come see me during those." "Understood." You get up and with a quick good-bye, you head out. You decide to explore around town for a little bit, until midday hits, at which you return to the tavern for a quick meal and mayhaps a shower; it's rather warm for spring and you have been sweating. [[After your meal...]]

"How did you learn your trade?" "Well, when I was a whelp of a lad, I was always hanging around the knees of my pop, who was the blacksmith at the time. I learned everything he knew, and then some, as I got older." He smiles faintly, a nostalgic look in his eyes. "I was born here, and I've always been here, but travelers have passed through with books of new techniques and tools to be made." "That makes sense. So, you are from Amerhurst?" "Aye, born and raised. And I don't see that changing any time soon." As he moves, you see the scar you saw before on his arm. "What's that scar from? If you don't mind me asking. I've never seen anything like it." He looks uncomfortable and shifts his weight. "I do mind, but if I don't tell you, I know someone else will, and I'd rather it come from me. It's from where I was bitten about twenty years ago by a werewolf who had gone mad and wandered too close to town." "Oh. Damn, I'm sorry, that's horrible." "It is what it is. History." "I see." The conversation dies after that, and an uncomfortable silence invades the space between the two of you, until you dismiss yourself and choose to explore around the town until roughly midday. With the sun beaming down so brightly, you have sweated through your clothes, especially your $shirt shirt, and you decide to have a quick meal and a bath after, and with that decision made, you head back to the tavern. [[After your meal...]]

You decide you want to learn blacksmithing from Cedric. You leave the taavern and head towards the apothecary, past the barracks and some housing, then turn and cross the road from the apothecary to find the blacksmithy. Cedric is already working on something, some dirt or dust smudging his face, and his brown-and-white peppered hair is slick with sweat. He sniffs, then turns to look at you as you approach the porch the smithy is sat upon. "Hello, $name. Can I help you with something?" "Yes, actually," you reply as you head up the stairs and stand not far from him, seeing now that he is sharpening farming tools. "I wanted to learn your trade." A shy smile comes over his lips and he takes you in carefully. "I haven't taken an apprentice in some time, but if you want to learn, I'd be happy to teach you." "Excellent! When can we start?" "Right now, if you like. I'll teach you to use the whetstone and after that, you can learn to sharpen tools; then, if you do work around town, you'll know how the tool you use stays in good use. Sound fair?" "Sounds fair." [[Some hours pass...]]

You decide to learn how to fish with Lysander. You leave the tavern and head for the east-facing gate, and once you are outside of it, you pass the wood chopping area to your left. You continue down the hard-packed dirt path, heading for the docks. From here, you can see the lake: it is a gorgeous, deep blue, with ripples running across its surface. You continue your path down to the docks, finding Lysander's sitting form on the far end of the dock, opposite to your side. His head turns to you as your feet hit the dock's wood, and you continue down towards him. He nods to you as you reach him, scooting to where he's facing you but still able to see his rod. "$name, right? Can I help you?" "Yes, actually; I wanted to learn how to fish." He chuckles, looking down, running his fingers along his rod. "Is something about that funny?" "Yes and no; my old man always said I'd be a shit teacher because of my patience, but if you are willing to try still with that in mind, I'll try to teach ya." "I think you might surprise yourself. Besides, can't know if we don't try." He nods. "That's a fair insight. First, we make you a rod. I got the stuff at my shack a little further down the river; come with me." He stands and reels in his line, then sits his rod in a holder fashioned to the dock. You follow him down the side of the lack, towards a little wooden cabin on the lakeside. [[Some hours later...|some]]

You decide you want to learn alchemy with Virila. It's both a good skill and a good way to get to know her further. You leave the tavern and head past the houses and barracks, down to the small shack from whence you came not too long ago. The thatch roof sets it apart from any other building in town. You enter the apothecary shop and find Virila watching her alchemical machines, her attention locked on them. Her dark, rich skin glows in the light coming from a few of them. "Virila?" She turns, raising a brow. "Ah, it's you. Something you need?" "Somewhat. I wanted to learn alchemy from you." She raises both brows now, a curious look on her face. "Well, I certainly wasn't expecting you to say that. Hmmm..." She hums thoughtfully, looking over you carefully. "I've never taken on an apprentice, but I don't see why not." "So, you'll teach me?" "I suppose so." [[A few hours later...]]

"No, not quite; I wanted to know more about you." "Hmph." He taps his knee, thinking as he watches the water. "What exactly do you want to know? There's not much to me other than being a fisherman." "Well, when did you come to Amerhurst?" You take a seat on the dock, facing him. He seems to realize you won't be leaving, so he turns his dark purple eyes to you. "I was a lad when I came here, with my father. He was a human man of a fishing village, but after my ma passed, he wanted to raise me somewhere more connected. So," he splays his hands out, "here I am, sitting here, talkin' with you." "A fair tale. Do you like it here in Amerhurst?" "What's not to like? A beautiful lake full of healthy fish, a population of people who count on me to keep them fed, and a gorgeous home." "That's almost poetic. Didn't take you as a poet." "I'm not, but it's the bare truth; this place is unique, it is." He brushes his toes through the water under him. Your conversation dies down some as time passes, and you find he prefers the silence... but doesn't send you away. You don't head out until midday, as even amidst the silence, his company is quite pleasant. You bid him farewell and head back to the tavern for a meal and a bath; it is a rather hot spring day, and you have sweated through your clothes entirely, especially your $shirt shirt. [[After your meal...]]

"How did you come to learn alchemy?" "Same way anyone else learns something; I was an apprentice to an alchemist for some years, then set off on my own." She stirs the pot. "Told you so; nothing much to know." "I'm sure there's more to you than meets the eye." "We'll see." She stirs again. "You're still a stranger to me; change that, and maybe we'll have more to speak of." "That's fair. We'll see what happens." With that, you stand and bid her farewell, before leaving her shack to spen some time exploring the town. You do so until about midday, to which the strange heat this early in spring has you needing a cooling bath and some food. You head back to the tavern, planning to eat before bathing and changing out of your sweaty clothes. Your $shirt shirt sticks to you with it, and it is quite uncomfortable. [[After your meal...]]

"How'd you come to be in Amerhurst?" "I was born and raised here. My folks were also born and raised here; my family's one of the first to settle into Amerhurst." "So, your history here goes well back through time." "Quite, yes." He smiles. "Though, I didn't always stay here; I traveled abroad for some time about six or seven years ago, and brought back with me knowledge and books to share with the town's children." [["A noble pursuit."]] [["Where did you travel to?"]]

"A most noble pursuit, taking part in shaping the youth of your home." "Yes, I like to think so." He looks over to the children playing. "And if I didn't, who would? They need someone grounded and //wanting// to help shape their futures. Not many meet that criteria." "No, no they do not." <<include "hammondmeet">>

"Where did you travel to?" "Oh, all over the five continents. Delphine, Davenport, I even saw the Twilit Sky Mercenaries at one point. Oh yes, I took in as much as I could." "Sounds like you saw a little bit of everything." "Absolutely. I loved it, and I plan to do it again in the future." <<include "hammondmeet">>

You both chat on for a while, until his students come running to him to continue class. At that point, you both bid each other farewell, and you continue to explore the town until around midday. At that point, the unusually hot sun has beaten down upon you to the point you are covered in sweat, making your $shirt shirt and breeches stick to you uncomfortably. You decide to head back to the tavern for a quick bite to eat and a nice bath. At least the bath will have you feeling refreshed and able to do more. [[After your meal...]]

The main thing Virila has taught you in the past few hours is basics: categories of ingredients (inorganic, organic, and miscellaneous), types of equipment, and some historical information about alchemy itself. Overall, a very thorough lesson, which surprised you; she seems a bit hesitant to share her knowledge on several of the topics, but she pushed past it and made for a great teacher. "You'd be a good teacher of alchemy," you tell her as she wraps up, the midday sun making it nearly unbearable inside the shack. "Well... thank you. I'm not sure I'd agree, but I'll take the compliment." "Of course." "...Come back whenever you are ready for your next lesson, yes?" "Yes, ma'am." With that, you bid her good-bye, and head back to the tavern for some food and a bath; you have been sweating from the heat inside the shack, and you desperately need to change your clothes. [[After your meal...]]

Some hours pass, and you have picked up how to use a moving whetstone quite well. You have managed to sharpen all the axes used for chopping wood to a shiny, sharp curvature, and you were then given the guardsmen's dull blades to learn with. You had a moment where you felt sick to your stomach, thinking about picking up a blade again, but it passed as Cedric's calming voice instructed you how to carefully sharpen them in a way that keeps your fingers clear of the blade's edges. That helped a lot, as did you chanting a reminder that you are not using the blade in your hands; rather, you are just making sure it works to //protect// someone else. That helped, too. As you finish your last sword, Cedric claps his large hands, and motions for you to stand. He easily catches your arm as you sway, your body being used to a hunched over position and not quite ready to stand straight so quickly. "You learn fast, $name. You should be quite proud of yourself, you're taking to blacksmithing like a fish to water." "Well, thank you, Cedric." "It's only the truth." He smiles kindly. "When you are ready for your next lesson, come back to me, yeah?" "Yes, sir." With that, you bid him farewell, and head back to the tavern for some food and for a good bath. You were sweating like wildfire and are covered in metal shavings; definitely want to get both off of you as soon as possible. [[After your meal...]]

<<silently>> <<set $appearance to true>> <</silently>> <div class="seasons">Thanks for playing!</div> <a href="https://bottlecaprabbitgames.tumblr.com/">My Tumblr</a> <a href="https://bottlecaprabbitgames.itch.io/">My Itch.io</a> <a href="https://ko-fi.com/bottlecaprabbitgames">Ko-fi</a> <a href="https://www.patreon.com/c/bottlecaprabbitgames">Patreon</a> <a href="https://bottlecaprabbitgames.atabook.org/">My Atabook. Leave me a comment!</a>

Some hours after heading to his shack, you have a working fishing rod, fashioned with your own hands but with his continued guidance. He //is// susceptible to having a bit of a lack of patience, but he did pretty well when you made mistakes. The rod is a <<texbox "$fishingrod" "blue">> color, painted by you as well. He will be holding onto your rod until you come for your second lesson, which will be to learn to use it. Until then, however, you decide to head back to the tavern to grab a meal and a quick bath; you have been sweating from the unnatural heat of the day, and want to be //clean//. Especially given all your clothes are sticking to you like you have been dunked in a barrel of water. [[After your meal...]]