The Rifleman - Bk1 - Ch.13 (Patreon)

Chapter 13

Delver’s Guild

Wesley Lancaster did his best not to look like a tourist while navigating the busy streets of the Unnamed City. He kept his head down, hands in his pockets, as he strolled, pretty much aimlessly, through the city's main thoroughfares. 

The trick was not to be one of the ones staring wide-eyed at everything and everyone, normally while pointing and saying things like ‘wow’ and ‘What the fuck is that thing?’ It was a dead giveaway, and more than once, he noted that some ‘helpful’ souls would take them away to places unknown where they would no doubt be conned out of everything they had. Or not, as this world seemed to be a lot kinder than he had expected, given the actions of the stone-folk farmer, Malia, and the villagers. 

Honestly, he was starting to feel like a bit of a dick for being so suspicious all the time. Hell, at this point, he was starting to feel like the one black sheep in the flock of snow while lambs. 

There were certainly plenty of things to stare at. The streets were clean, but every inch of space was taken up by something. Stalls were set up at seeming random, selling everything from gear to food, clothing, and what seemed to be charms. Jewelry was on sale right next to a makeshift restaurant where food was bought and sold out an open window. 

The non-stop assault of sights and smells was not merely limited to the items on offer. The people were just as varied. He saw people in cloth and leather armor laughing with a man who appeared to be something like a pirate while a trio of laughing people walked past in flowing robes and massive Saracen swords on their hips. The traffic parted briefly as something like a half-spider-half human scuttled down the center, easily twice the size of everyone else and earning more than a few dark mutters in the process. 

Everywhere he looked was something he had never seen before. What drew his eye the most was an intimidating pair that walked on the far side of the road from him. They were clearly heavily modified. The man had a robotic arm, while the woman had something like a targeting reticule over one eye and what appeared to be some kind of energy rifle on her back.

The city used the same large stones as signposts within the city as it did in the rest of the zone, and again, they were in multiple languages. None of them pointed him in the direction of a place to stay, and he was reluctant to just ask someone. 

The only thing he could think of was to head for the Delver’s Guild. Malia’s warning was still on his mind, but surely they must have something for people new to the city that would be safe to ask, right? 

With no better idea, he followed the signposts, moving quickly out of the packed streets around the city entrance and into what appeared to be the more traditional business area. He passed multiple Guild Halls, each one advertising its services. In between the ones advertising for recruits and those preaching their superiority were the support businesses: alchemist shops, armorsmiths, weaponsmiths, and more. He even saw a place selling access to primer tablets. It proudly proclaimed that every known language in the game world was on offer inside its doors.

Wesley noted the location for the future. He really wished he could have spoken to the people on the caravan, and this place could prevent the situation from happening again. The prices for a few of the more common languages were printed next to the door, and all of it was well out of his range, at least for now. 

Which reminded him that he would need a job. City living was clearly expensive, a cost that seemed to come with a reasonable amount of safety at least, and if he decided to stay here, a job was a must. 

One thing he had not seen anywhere on his wanderings was a stage or playhouse of any kind. His skills as an actor were clearly not going to get him very far in this world, which only really left him with one skill. Shooting things, or maybe healing a little. It wasn’t a set of skills he imagined would be of great interest in the city itself. They had to have their own healers here, right? 

With all this on his mind, he finally found the Delver’s Guild.

Looking up at the imposing building was like looking at the city as a whole. Rough stone and poorly dyed cloth on the ground floor improved on the second level before giving way to polished stone and thick, brightly colored awnings on the third. The third floor even had its own entrance, a covered bridge stretching from the elevated road that passed through the city at the third story and into the Guild itself. The whole place was like a literal example of the class system, with the plebian NPCs kept two levels lower below the city proper. 

Wesley didn’t want to spend too long gawking and so pushed into the Delver’s Guild and hoped for the best. 

Inside the doors was the typical waiting room crossed with a pub you would expect from a place that catered to dungeon delving. The far side of the room had three counters. The first was marked as the reception, the second was the Guild Market, and the third featured a very attractive but bored-looking woman with the sign ‘New Game Draftees’ over it.

An anxious-looking pair came in behind him, and he moved aside, seeing them head straight for the orientation desk. The woman beamed and chatted away with them while making notes and the occasional reassuring noise or commiserating expression. To Wesley, it looked like exactly the same kind of polite nothings that recruiters everywhere used to get some desperate idiot to join up. 

It was all in that ‘used car salesman’ smile she had. 

That finally convinced Wesley to follow Malia’s advice and head for the standard desk. It was staffed by a man with a face like a butcher’s cutting board and a resting ‘fuck off’ face as if he had never seen a single thing to smile about. 

Oddly enough, that made Wes feel more relaxed. The guy looked like the behemoths that guarded every stage door in every shitty play he had ever worked on.

“Morning,” Wesley nodded politely. “I was wondering if you could help me?”

“New players upstairs, new NPCs over there,” He jabbed a thumb toward the still-beaming recruiter.

“Not new, just new to the city,” Wesley said. “Any tips on where to stay around here? Cheap would be good.” He grimaced, “If I get to wake up with all my stuff the next day, even better.”

That got a half smile, at least.

“You in the Guild?” The man asked.

“I don’t think so,” Wesley admitted. “I completed some requests for you guys; that’s about it.”

“It’s a start,” the man grunted a little, then leaned forward. “You need three completed for membership, so…”

“Uh, shit,” Wesley sighed. “I did two, then on the third, the person I was hired to escort kind of abandoned me.”

“Sure they did,” The man glared. “This person ain’t likely to agree with that, I’m guessing?”

“She should,” Wesley said honestly. “She’s a guild member and definitely did it. Her name is Gem, and she was supposed to be headed here.”

“Gem?” The man nearly growled. “You claim Gem left you, not the other way around?”

“She seemed to think my situation was pretty hopeless,” Wesley admitted. “I mean, she was wrong, but still.”

“Wait ‘ere.” The man got up and stomped up the stairs, and Wes settled in to wait.

“This ‘im?” the voice came from the top of the stairs, and Wes looked up to see a wide-eyed Gem staring down at him in shock.

“Yes,” Gem nodded. “He’s telling the truth.” She swallowed hard. “I’d like to speak to him alone.”

“I bet you would,” the man chuckled darkly. “How about in the corner over there, just in case he trips and accidentally gets turned into a zombie.” He stomped down the stairs again and stopped in front of Wes. “You decide to shoot ‘er? I ain’t seen a thing.” With that, he disappeared behind the counter again.

“Over here,” Gem called, and he followed her over, not knowing what to say.

He was never not going to be pissed about what she did, even if he did understand it. 

He sat stiffly in the chair opposite her and simply waited for her to talk. It was often the best way… especially when he needed time to control his temper. 

“Look,” she sighed. I don’t know how you survived, but I need you not to tell too many people what I did.” Gem’s eyes darted to the receptionist, who laughed. “It could put people off the guild if an officer was known to have abandoned someone to die.”

“I can’t imagine why,” Wesley said with a tight smile. “It was a hopeless situation, according to you.”

“Yeah, well, I was wrong, apparently.” Gem frowned. “How did you manage to get away?”

“I'm not sure I really want to tell you that,” Wesley said honestly. “I think I have developed trust issues since we last saw each other.”

Gem nodded slowly.

“What do you want?” She asked after a short, awkward silence. “To not tell anyone else, I mean.”

“Well, an apology would be nice,” Wesley said, his temper flaring. “I fucking trusted you.”

Gem seemed to flush momentarily before she got herself under control again.

“I am sorry. I must have been mistaken and allowed my eagerness to return to overcome my duty as an Officer of the Delver’s Guild.” Her voice was formal, almost void of any emotion.

Wesley thought for a moment, then sighed. It was clearly pointless. If she was sorry in any way, maybe they could move on from this, but she wasn’t. At the least, she was hiding it too well for him to see. It added up to one thing.

Their friendship, if there ever was one, was done with.

“I accept your formal apology,” Wesley said calmly, making sure to note it was a formal apology, not a real one. He got up from the table.

“Wait, what do you want in exchange for not telling people?” Gem caught his hand.

“I’ll keep quiet,” Wesley said, pulling his hand from hers. “I didn’t want anything from you but an apology, maybe an explanation. Now? It doesn’t matter.”

“Worst day in years when she came striding back in ‘ere,” The receptionist said as Wesley came back to the desk. “But this makes it all worth it.” He grinned and extended his hand. “I’m Karl.”

“Wes Lancaster,” Wesley shook the hand, feeling empty inside, “So, can I get that membership now?”

“Son,” Karl beamed. “I’d make you an officer if I could,” He laughed and tossed a small copper badge on the counter. “All yours,” Next, he pulled out a ledger and had him sign after the badge number had been written down. The badge and ledger both flashed twice. “Welcome to the Delver’s Guild, Lancaster,” Karl said. 

The two of them chatted for a while, going over places to stay, areas to avoid, and all of that good stuff before Karl stiffened as Gem returned.

“I’ll handle this, Karl. Go away.” Gem’s voice was as hard as ice, but Karl looked at her contemptuously.

“I do registrations around here, Officer Gem,” He grinned. “And we got us a new Copper member.”

“I am well aware,” Gem replied sweetly. “In fact, I am assigned as his handler and placement officer.”

“Bullshit!” Karl growled. “You got every reason to–”

“Be careful what you accuse me of, Receptionist,” Gem’s voice was hollow and ethereal.

Karl paled.

“You hang in there, Lancaster,” He said. “I’ll get this put right.” Reluctance in every fiber of his being, Karl stepped back and bowed to Gem before heading into the back.

“What the hell, Gem?” Wesley asked her.

“Copper badge holder,” She smiled sadly. “Well done, but I do wish you had asked me for something, anything.” She pulled a book labeled ‘assignments’ from behind the counter and trailed a finger down the page. “Just something so I knew I could trust you.”

“You trust me?” Wesley asked. “Are you fucking cracked or what? I never did anything to you.”

“I do what I have to,” Gem said, “And if you run your mouth, my rank as officer could be gone like that!” She snapped her fingers. “So, I need you out of this city. Tonight.” She jabbed a finger at an entry. “Perfect.” 

“You’re trying to get me killed, aren’t you?” Wesley said in disbelief.

“Not dead, just gone,” Gem said with a sad smile. “Assign Group.” 

Wes felt the copper badge he was still holding vibrate. He looked at the badge, seeing it had a shield with a sword and hammer crossed on it. A number along the top read ‘4077,’ then his name; now, another name was filled in.

Wyrd Watchmen (Provisional)

“What the hell is this?” He asked Gem. 

“Your new group,” She said with a sigh. “Karl will come back in a minute and take you to a portal that will get you to their closest outpost.” She looked him in the eye. “I wish it hadn’t come to this, Wes.”

“My friends call me Wes, Officer Gem,” Wesley said as calmly as he could manage. “That apparently doesn’t include you.”

Gem gave a half smile and tapped a bell behind the counter before she went back upstairs. 

“What did she give you?” Karl asked the moment he reappeared through the little curtain.

Wesley showed the man his badge. “How screwed am I?”

“It was nice knowing you, kid,” Karl said with a wince. “I think they ate the last one we sent them.”

One of the highlights of Wes’ short career as an actor was a stage play. One scene in particular had stuck with him through the years. His character had been accused, tried, and convicted of murder. The scene in question was the finale of the whole thing. His character had walked the line while everyone looked at him with sad eyes. He was going to his death, and they all knew it. 

In the intervening months, Wesley had often wondered how it actually felt to make that walk.

Now he knew.

Karl had come through like a trooper. He spent a good ten minutes collecting everything he could scrounge up for Wes. His pack was now stuffed with travel rations, a set of the most basic leather armor, and a half dozen water skins. The recruiter he had dismissed earlier had even given him a copy of the welcome pack that new recruits get and a cheaply printed pamphlet labeled ‘orientation.’ 

She even hugged him.

All of it was stuffed into his pack as Karl fretted and complained. 

“Can’t put it off any longer, Lancaster,” The burly man said apologetically. “You hang in through this if you can. I’ll get it sorted out, don’t worry.”

Wesley was led along a long hallway, the occasional head stuck around the door, giving him an apologetic look and a sad smile before he finally found himself standing before another portal arch. 

Wesley took a deep breath and stepped into the rippling silver surface.