PvP Dungeon Hunter

Before the Ambush

The sun protruded through the broken glass as it shone on Brun. He had been awake for a while, but he remained seated with his back on the wall. The room he was in was empty, some of the wooden floorboards had deteriorated and a foul pissy smell plagued the air. He was covered mostly in shoddy armour and his helmet made it impossible for someone to tell if he was awake or asleep. He however was not alone, others were in this room and many more in the other rooms in the building. He knew none of these people, but regardless of how weak, fragile, or non-intimidating they looked, none of them could be trusted. The first rule, he learned in Ceventia Backlands was trust no one. Without much money to go on or a place to stay, it was an everyman for themselves affair.

Rogues were dangerous. Rogues were deadly. Brun learned the hard way Rogues should be avoided at all costs. It was not like any game he had ever played before, the rogue was not the thief who you would level up. The rogue could be the man you trusted to do your armour, the man that you shopped with, or the random person on the street trying to get your attention. The rogue could be anyone if you weren’t careful.

His eyes study the levels of the NPCs in the room. They were all weaker than him. The strongest in the room was a man that was level two. He should be excited about the news he had recently received, in his backpack was his acceptance letter from the Adventurer’s Guild trial. Brun, however, was only more worried than anything else.

If he got past these stages and was able to gain patronage, he would be able to afford better gear but would have to give back awards based on merit. It worked like a loan in the real world. Successful adventurers would be given large amounts of money, gear, and prestige by signing with certain families, or at least so Brun had heard but the finer details were lost to him. If it meant eating a good meal more than once, he was willing to do what was needed.

Today was the initiation day. He would have to take a bath today. It would also make him vulnerable. There was a lake located in what could be considered a small park nearby. The problem for Brun, was that everyone that lived in the Backland took baths there. It was also the easiest place to be robbed.

He got up causing his armour to clank and the people in the room to cast a steady gaze on him. They were wary of him even though the reality of it, was that he was wary of them.

He gave them a final glance as he left through the door and was greeted by a broken road and death stricken poverty. The buildings were all run down. The vibrant colours of the city were lost here.

The people on the other hand didn’t give the impression of what was around them. The people who gave into their circumstances were the ones who were defeated. They moved around bubbly as if they were living their best lives, Ceventia was all about imagery. He walked into the crowd gripping his bag tightly on his back. He didn’t need it but habit made him still walk with one.

The NPCs unlike him had limited storage but his limit was still left to be determined. He made a beeline towards the park, passing the loud noise; the many people trying to grab his attention and ignoring pickpocketing crimes as they happened.

“Win a silver penny by guessing the right combination, just two marks to play.”

“Spare a few copper coins please, just a few.”

“Get your armour here! Don’t walk around Ceventia empty handed. The best deals that you could find!”

“Hey, can I have your attention for a minute? You won’t be disappointed.”

The step out of the Gunk as the residents called it and into the regular city of Ceventia was like being transported into another world again. He made his way to the park. There wouldn’t be too much time before it became crowded. When he finally arrived there were a few people there. He chose his spot moving as far as possible away from the others. It wouldn’t be an enjoyable bath, a quick wash of the essentials, and go.

He took off his helmet, his clothes, and the leather and dipped himself into the water after checking his surroundings one last time. He closed his eyes for a moment. As the water soaked on his skin, he wished he had soap to clean himself but he had nothing but his hand to use to rub off any dirt.

It was not long before he heard the splashing of water as people were shuffling to get out of the water. The sudden noise made him stand up and he headed towards his clothes.

“You again? This is like the third time I caught you for this week,” a voice spoke. “Aren’t you supposed to be a paladin? I think your order might find you… wanting.”

Brun turned to the voice as he had barely managed to get on his pants. It was a young man he had seen many times before.

Level 4 Patrol Guard.

Brun smiled. “This is the last time, it won’t happen again.”

“You said that the last time too,” the man replied, looking at the women and men running with their clothes in their hands. “The first time I found you, you were naked in the park.”

Brun put the helmet on his head. “I got robbed and thanked you. I promise to repay you for that but I don’t know your name.”

“Stop! Don’t be trying to run away. If it weren’t for the report from the guild with your details to my superiors, I would doubt you.”

Another detail, Brun thought. It seemed Ceventia was aware of every single person in the city and who they are.

Brun responded. “I am not running away.”

 “Good, how exactly will you repay me? You don---.”

“Soon, very soon, I promise.”

“With the way you’re living now? You can’t get work here, from your accent you don’t sound like you’re from Ceventia.”

“I wasn’t lying when I said it was the last time. I got to work at the Adventurer’s Guild.”

“Oh, really? So you will be with the new set of recruits for the trial?”

“Yeah, let me show you.” Brun took out the letter from his bag and handed it to the young man.

“So you weren’t lying? He looked behind me and then finally sighed. “Look, I will let you off, but this is the last time. The laws in Cenvetia are strict and I could get in trouble myself for not enforcing them. Good luck with the Adventurer’s Guild and I hope to never see you out here or in this area again.”

Brun nodded. “I do intend to come back, but only to repay the debt that I owe and the interest.”

The young man laughed. “Well, I will hold you to that. I see that the one silver penny I gave you has gone a long way. I assume that armour came from the Backlands?” He came forward and whispered in Brun’s ear. “Even if damaged that one silver penny of a peasant’s day’s wage wouldn’t get you all of that gear.”

Brun said nothing in return.

The young man walked away. “Fortuna to you, Brun.”

Brun watched him walk away and as he left Brun realized he had not even once gotten his name.