As Mark left the inn, he went over everything he needed to accomplish. At the top of his list were the things he needed to order, so his first plan was to go clothing shopping by visiting Tom in Forest’s Rest. Mark figured he needed miles on the horse and practice mounting and dismounting, so this would kill two birds with one stone.
He arrived at Tom’s workshop just before lunch and sat down to talk to him. "Tom, I got picked and am leaving in nine days. I need a rush job on some gear.”
Tom said, “So I have not seen you for a few weeks and not even a hello first?”
Mark said, “Hello.”
Tom laughed. “Okay, word is out. I think everyone knows you're a Frontier Representative. News is traveling fast. Runners have been coming through with lists of items that the Beaver Crossing council is ordering for you and Garrick.”
Mark said, "Well, that is fast, and way to steal my thunder.”
Mark and Tom spent the next few minutes going over the list of items Mark wanted. He requested two durable work outfits, a rain cloak, spare boots, two or three new spatially enhanced waterskins, leather repair kits, and extra straps and buckles. Tom suggested extra gloves, a leather tool wrap, a cover for his axe, a knife sheath, and a handful of other items Mark lost track of. Tom promised to put a rush on the order.
Mark then walked next door to get lunch, and before he could even sit down at one of the tables and order, Clara was sitting there staring at him.
Clara said, “Not fair you're going and not bringing me.”
Mark said, “Like I had a choice.”
Clara said, “Did you even ask?”
Mark sighed, “Of course I asked if you could go.”
Clara kicked him and walked off. She grabbed plates of food for both of them, came back, and sat down across from him.
Looking him over, she said, “Be safe. We will miss you, and we expect you back, so no pissing off the System while you're there.”
The two of them just sat quietly and ate lunch, and when a huge group came to order, she told him bye and went back to the kitchen to work.
When Mark was finished, he got back on his mount again and headed to Forgeworks to talk to John. He was of course intercepted by him before he could even pull his horse to a stop.
John said, “I heard the news; we just got Garrick's order 20 minutes ago. I assume you're here for the same thing?”
Mark said, “Well, I am here to order some things, but my guess is not as much as Garrick's.”
John said, “You're right. He is paying extra for the lightest and most durable items we can make, five times the going rate to have it rushed. Don't worry, though. I will charge you the same price as everyone else and put you in front of Garrick’s order. Just don't tell him I told you that.”
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Mark's list was long, and he might not be able to take everything depending on what else he ended up with, but he gave John the full list anyway. He wanted a hatchet, an axe, a hammer, a shovel, a pickaxe, wedges, nails, hinges, door latches, a small saw, a two-man saw, and sharpening stones. John looked over Garrick's list, added several items Mark would find useful but might not think to order, and said the order would be ready within a couple of days.
Mark then headed back to Tom because he had forgotten something. He wanted a pack harness for his horse. He planned to walk beside it while it carried as much as it could handle, and he ordered the same setup for Garrick. As he got back on his mount and headed toward Wayrest, his next stop, Mark received a System message.
[Skill Acquired]Riding Level 1
Better control trained mounts during everyday travelImprove confidence mounting and dismountingReduce fatigue during extended travel
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Mark smiled at the message. That was one task done without really thinking about it. He continued down the road until he got to Wayrest. When he stopped, he tied up his horse and went to see his garden spot. Hazel was there tending to her patch when she noticed him.
Hazel said, "Hey, glad you showed up; you will save me a trip to Beaver Crossing.” Hazel then handed him a large pack stuffed full of items. Then continued, "Those are every known herb, plant, and seed that I have access to. They're all in handy little packets and all labeled with instructions. I expect you to tell me about your garden and herb patch when you get back. And we will expect you to come regularly when back in the area to visit us.”
Mark thanked her, and Hazel promised to watch over his spot while he was gone and ushered him away. He then found Emily teaching a couple students at a table in the herb shop. He stopped and talked with her and told him about being picked. She told him that she had already heard and gave him a quick hug. She then went straight into teacher mode and had him show her his lessons.
She could not help him with the Forestry lesson, but she helped him complete the only Herb Identification requirement that needed a teacher: correctly identifying one uncommon herb. She did not make it easy on him, either. She would not sign off until he had identified five different uncommon herbs, and she was proud of him when he finished. She then told him to get going because she had things to do.
Mark rode back to Beaver Crossing in a good mood. He had expected to spend the next few months learning in Wayrest. Instead, the System had decided it was time for him to put everything he had learned into practice. He had handled a few things on his preparation list and said goodbye to Emily and Hazel. He had expected to become a regular visitor, but the System had other plans for him. Back at the inn in Beaver Crossing, he checked in with Sarah, who demanded that he show her his Teaching lesson and what he needed to do. Mark checked his interface and opened Teaching.
[Lesson Generated]Teaching Level 1
RequirementsExplain three different concepts to three different studentsSuccessfully answer five student questions demonstrating understandingAssist a certified teacher during one complete lesson
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Sarah looked over the list and told him she had a lesson scheduled for just after breakfast tomorrow. If he showed up, they could complete that requirement. There would also be plenty of students working on problems, so he could help them until he finished the second requirement. He would have to find his own students to complete the first one.
Mark ate an early dinner and then headed to his cabin, where he planned to unload everything in his inventory, sort it, and put in the items he expected to need and to store all the rest of the items. He was still wearing the pack Hazel had given him and would also go through it, not that he did not trust her but that he did not want to duplicate her efforts.
After an hour of sorting, he realized he was going to bed early. He had not gotten much sleep the night before and was exhausted, so he would start fresh on his preparations in the morning.