"You said that it is all relative to the number of players, but the fact is that there simply isn’t enough out there, even for the number of players already there. So how can you, in good faith, encourage others to come to the North? I can't help but feel you are baiting others into a hopeless situation."
A part of me had no interest in replying, I was already over this conversation by the second line of my original statement. And even though I could see that the presenter on stage was eager for me to reply, I really had no interest in arguing with this guy.
"I speak from experience, whether you believe it to be factual or not is up to you. Your sources say one thing, and you believe it to be factual. I won't question who your sources are, nor do I particularly care. My source is my own experience in the North, and it is as factual as any source you have heard from. Care to believe it at your own convenience."
Of course, that only fanned the flames and Mr. Sardonic jumped right on it, proclaiming before everyone, "We are to believe in your experience then, that you are so experienced in the, 'Northern Triangle', as you called it. That the area was so great that you have so much to show for it compared to the guilds in the other regions.
"If I recall, the Northern Triangle wasn't even included in the map provided earlier… so we are to believe the results of someone who has yet to actually see results? You speak of achievements but have none to speak of. I daresay, you shant pull the wool over my eyes, no oh no."
Yeah, this guy was a douchebag through and through.
I had no interest in continuing the conversation so I simply smiled and gave him a wink.
To continue would mean exposing me and my territory to unnecessary risk. No short amount of fame here was worth it to me.
A few people got a laugh when I winked at him, he believed himself the victor and I had no problem conceding that to him if he so wished.
The others could come up with their own opinion and I left it as a matter of intelligence for them to decipher which side was the correct one. I mainly just wanted the mystery girl to know she wasn't alone in her opinion and to stop the mocking laughs of the men with inferiority complexes.
My job was done.
The presenter decided to end the subject and the discussion there, much to my pleasure, but before it was over she said something rather unnecessary, "I believe Brent is the most qualified here to speak on the matter, actually. I would not dare spill any personal information but, he is certainly experienced in the region and what he says should merit some consideration. With that I would like to close our topics for discussion and encourage everyone to share their opinions in the survey. And if you will, please enjoy the food that has been prepared in the banquet hall, I believe you will all find it to your liking. Thank you everyone for coming, and from everyone at AIcorps, we hope you continue to enjoy your adventures in Dragon's Wrath."
And with that Emily turned around and walked off stage.
Except, Emily contradicted herself before she left… and to my dismay it happened to be my name and that I was experienced in the North. I was trying to help you lady and I understand you were trying to help me here, but come on.
Why did she even know my name, anyways?
Why does everyone always seem to know my name?
As people had started funneling out, some had glanced at me as they walked pass. I simply gave them a faint smile and a nod of recognition; I had no desire to be the focus of attention here today, nor any day.
As the room cleared out the mystery girl had started to get up, I kind of wanted to talk to her a bit more but felt a little bad. It would have been easier if I wasn't attracted to her. I always fall apart when I'm interested, but then I'm a damn maestro when I'm not.
After she stood up she turned to me and spoke softly, "Thank you for today, Brent."
I was caught a little off-guard but saw the opportunity flash before my eyes, I had to take it.
I quietly stood up as well and replied in kind, "Anytime, miss… sorry I didn't catch your name." I trailed off on purpose, hoping to get her name in return.
Taking the bait, she replied, "Ah, I'm sorry. It's Valerie."
With a smile she couldn't see and a hand extended that she wouldn't notice to take, I laughed at myself while following up, "Nice to meet you Valerie, I'm Brent… as you so heard earlier ha."
As she nodded in my general direction, she excused herself, "It was nice to meet you as well; perhaps we'll run into each other again sometime."
With that she turned towards the door and started to leave, I was at a critical situation and my mind said no! Don't go! But it also knew I shouldn't push where I'm not welcome.
It was worth the risk this time, I decided.
"Oh, are you not having lunch here? Care to join me?"
"Ah, as you can see, I cannot see. So banquets and buffets like these are a little hard for me as I am unfamiliar with the layout. I typically just go home afterwards."
"Oh. If you don't mind, I could serve as a guide. Although I admit I'm a bit inexperienced in guiding, I can at least attest to the quality of the food provided."
I said the last half with a bit of a laugh to lighten the mood, but her face seemed to show a look of pity and I kind of had a feeling for what was coming next.
On cue, she frowned while answering, "Mm. I believe you would make a very capable guide, but I already have prior arrangements. Thank you for the offer."
I was shot down.
Damn.
Well, I knew when to cut my losses and this was certainly the time to do so, "Well, I can at least hold the door open for you."
I did as I said, and after she passed through I came up with some parting words but decided against it as I watched her walk away. Operation invite-a-girl to lunch was a complete failure.
Mission aborted and returning to base, well… after I eat some free food that is.
Chapter 10: Planning for the Future
(Thursday, January 28nd Game Day / Sunday, January 10th Real Day)
When I had finally completed my Log Cabin I was presented with a System Prompt:
[You have created a Personal Home, do you wish to lay claim to this land?]
[Yes / No]
That was an easy one.
I quickly selected [Yes] and was shown a new tab in the Character Menu, [Land Management]. But before I could continue any further I received two more system event messages:
[The First Settler: As the first person to settle land you receive a +200 Reputation bonus.]
[This bonus is granted to the first one-hundred settlers.]
Not only did I gain a title of [The First Settler] that I could display above my head with my name if I so choose, but I received a huge Reputation bonus as well.
Taking the initiative has led to some rather sizeable bonuses.
With my curiosity piqued, I went to click on the [Land Management] tab and soon after found myself staring at a completely new menu with dozens of sub-menus. Most of them were grayed out, so I could only guess at what was contained within them but one tab caught my eye, [NPC-Recruiter].
It wasn't selectable but it was fairly self-explanatory, it seems at some point I can recruit my own NPCs. This wasn't available in the Alpha or the Beta and there was currently no information available when I tried to do a quick search on the internet.
Just by going off the theme, [Land Management] lead to a menu filled with the following tabs: [General Information], [Player Population], [NPC Population], [Creature Population], [Quest Creator], [Bounty List], [Pacts, Treaties & Terms], [Hostile Territories], [Future Development], and [NPC-Recruiter].
The amount of possibilities that opened up before me was so astounding that I couldn't help but mutter, "Wow, just wow." A Bounty List and a Quest Creator… did that mean I could eventually pay people to do my work for me?
There were a lot of possibilities running through my mind.