{"id":119,"date":"2015-02-25T21:12:53","date_gmt":"2015-02-25T21:12:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/jeremylanham.com\/?page_id=119"},"modified":"2015-02-25T21:12:53","modified_gmt":"2015-02-25T21:12:53","slug":"an-adventures-wait","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/jeremylanham.com\/?page_id=119","title":{"rendered":"An Adventures Wait"},"content":{"rendered":"

An Adventurer<\/b><\/span><\/span>\u2019s<\/b><\/span><\/span> Wait<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Written & Edited<\/b><\/span><\/span> By<\/b><\/span><\/span>:<\/b><\/span><\/span> Jeremy Lanham<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

I am sure you have heard this story before<\/span><\/span>:<\/span><\/span> a lone adventurer off on his own, trying to do his best just to stay alive in a war torn world. Occasionally <\/span><\/span>he has to do the random good deed or quest to keep himself fed and his equipment maintained. Though he is strong and wise, somehow he always tends to overlook things. So he moves from town to town to stay alive and avoid a past he wants to forget.<\/span><\/span> Most towns have a registrar of complaints or problems from the local populac<\/span><\/span>e. T<\/span><\/span>he local guard takes care of the issues they can or <\/span><\/span>urgently have to.<\/span><\/span> T<\/span><\/span>he rest, however, are offered to <\/span><\/span>adventurers<\/span><\/span> in return for coin. Currently I am arriving in a remote town on the edge of the wastelands<\/span><\/span> and <\/span><\/span>the only safe stop for several days<\/span><\/span>…<\/span><\/span> I think they called it Out-run, <\/span><\/span>Out-urn<\/span><\/span>? I don\u2019t remember. As always, I approach the town<\/span><\/span>\u2019<\/span><\/span>s <\/span><\/span>h<\/span><\/span>erald for where the work is and other information that may<\/span><\/span> prove useful<\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

“Greetings Herald, I am looking to lend a hand for some coin<\/span><\/span>. M<\/span><\/span>ay I see the local contracts<\/span><\/span>?<\/span><\/span>“<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The herald looks over and responds, <\/span><\/span>“Ah, another adventurer<\/span><\/span>!<\/span><\/span> Well at least your kind is not short in supply… unlike our town guards<\/span><\/span>. A<\/span><\/span>nyways, fall in line and<\/span><\/span> the officials will<\/span><\/span> provide you with an assignment<\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/span>“<\/span><\/span> He mentions this while pointing behind him.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

“A<\/span><\/span>…<\/span><\/span> l<\/span><\/span>ine? Herald, if I may inquire, why is there a line? <\/span><\/span>This seems… <\/span><\/span>unique<\/i><\/span><\/span> compared to other towns.<\/span><\/span>“<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

“You know, yo<\/span><\/span>u\u2019re <\/span><\/span>not the first to ask that<\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/span> W<\/span><\/span>e have had a surge of problems here over the past weeks and needed more structure to make sure they get done.<\/span><\/span>\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

He glances back down at his clipboard. \u201d<\/span><\/span>So if you want work, wait in line<\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/span> I<\/span><\/span>f not <\/span><\/span>\u2026<\/span><\/span> be on your way, but it<\/span><\/span>\u2019s<\/span><\/span> another three days to the next town and it<\/span><\/span>\u2019<\/span><\/span>s through <\/span><\/span>the<\/span><\/span> wasteland.” <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

“Are these jobs worth it, Herald? <\/span><\/span>O<\/span><\/span>therwise what kind of jobs are t<\/span><\/span>hey?<\/span><\/span>“<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

“<\/span><\/span>Well <\/span><\/span>our town is fairly large, and I can only be in one pla<\/span><\/span>ce.<\/span><\/span> Since this added structure, I have no need to keep up to date with most issues,<\/span><\/span> s<\/span><\/span>o… I can not say<\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/span> I can only direct adventurers to the line and deliver the news<\/span><\/span>. T<\/span><\/span>hough I have seen a few happy adventurers come out of the hall with large coin purses.”<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

“<\/span><\/span>O<\/span><\/span>h!… <\/span><\/span>A<\/span><\/span> large coin purse does sound nice, <\/span><\/span>hm<\/span><\/span>ph<\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/span> So be it<\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/span> I will wait in line<\/span><\/span>. Thank you for your time, Herald.<\/span><\/span>” <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

“Don<\/span><\/span>\u2019t mention it. Just make sure you cause no trouble and g<\/span><\/span>ood luck<\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/span>“<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

So here I am in a bustling remote town sitting in line<\/span><\/span>,<\/span><\/span> waiting for work<\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/span> M<\/span><\/span>y guess is that the<\/span><\/span>re<\/span><\/span> are around thirty other <\/span><\/span>adventurers<\/span><\/span> ahead of me, and it is still morning. <\/span><\/span>I tend to<\/span><\/span> mind my own business in situations like th<\/span><\/span>ese,<\/span><\/span> and wait for my turn<\/span><\/span>. Though, I<\/span><\/span> do keep diligent for an<\/span><\/span>ything that might require my attention<\/span><\/span>. Waiting and <\/span><\/span>w<\/span><\/span>aiting, I have seen a few other<\/span><\/span> adventurers<\/span><\/span> walk out of the hall in front of me with various paper<\/span><\/span>s.<\/span><\/span> I have to think those are the contracts<\/span><\/span> assigned to them<\/span><\/span>. At the moment, it looks like twelve people are left in front of me. The line is quiet and the bustling of the town starts to pick up as the morning chores finish.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Soon, I am left with only two more people ahead of me and I start to get a little impatient for my turn <\/span><\/span>for<\/span><\/span> a job. I start to take a good look at the sky<\/span><\/span> and see it is only slightly past mid<\/span><\/span>–<\/span><\/span>day. When I bring my head back down, I am <\/span><\/span>in<\/span><\/span> front of the line and see the last person to enter the hall, th<\/span><\/span>e<\/span><\/span>n shortly after exit and myself being beckoned in by a <\/span><\/span>burly<\/span><\/span> toned voice. “N<\/span><\/span>E<\/span><\/span>XT!”<\/span><\/span> Walking in, I see several scholarly-like individuals busy writing on several stacks of paper. It is silent, and soon it is broken by the same burly voice. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

“Please state your name<\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/span>” “<\/span><\/span>Will<\/span><\/span>.”<\/span><\/span> “<\/span><\/span>Also<\/span><\/span> l<\/span><\/span>ast name, sir?”<\/span><\/span> \u201cMorris.”<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

“Well Mr. Morris, we can see you are well built and have considerable weaponry at your disposal. We can offer a substantial 500 coin reward for the clearing of a nearby quarry, non<\/span><\/span>–<\/span><\/span>negotiable. Do you accept?”<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

“<\/span><\/span>Can you provide me with<\/span><\/span> any more information pertaining to the quarry and what needs to be cleared out?<\/span><\/span>\u201d <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

“I<\/span><\/span> am<\/span><\/span> afraid I can not give out details,<\/span><\/span> and can only do so if<\/span><\/span> the contract has been accepted, and once it has been accepted, the job must be completed<\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/span> If not, a fine will need<\/span><\/span> to be pa<\/span><\/span>i<\/span><\/span>d<\/span><\/span>…<\/span><\/span> now!<\/i><\/span><\/span> D<\/span><\/span>o you accept?” <\/span><\/span>H<\/span><\/span>e sa<\/span><\/span>ys<\/span><\/span>,<\/span><\/span> more stern than before. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

“So you are asking me to trust you and gamble my <\/span><\/span>coin<\/span><\/span> for a job I will know nothing about? That is very unconventional and I do<\/span><\/span>n\u2019t like to gamble<\/span><\/span>.”<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

“Mr. Morris, we understand this is a gamble but, rest assured, we choose jobs based on the current state of the adventurer when they walk in. So, <\/span><\/span>Mr. Morris,<\/span><\/span> do you accept the job?” <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

“<\/span><\/span>S<\/span><\/span>igh<\/span><\/span>\u2026<\/span><\/span> F<\/span><\/span>ine, I accept.”<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

He swifts a piece of paper from a nearby stack and hands it to me. <\/span><\/span>“This is your standard contract<\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/span> I<\/span><\/span>t<\/span><\/span> in essence <\/span><\/span>says in exchange for this job, you will not disclose details pertaining to said job unless absolutely necessary<\/span><\/span>. A<\/span><\/span>dditionally, said job must be completed by the signed party below or suffer punishment at the discretion of the employer<\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/span> P<\/span><\/span>lease sign below and <\/span><\/span>we<\/span><\/span> can start giving you the details of the job.<\/span><\/span>\u201d With concern, I decide to sign the contract. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

“<\/span><\/span>V<\/span><\/span>ery good, Mr. Morris<\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/span> N<\/span><\/span>ow said quarry has been lost to us for some time now<\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/span> W<\/span><\/span>e are still unclear on what has taken over it and any <\/span><\/span>of our personnel who has gotten near it has become sick.<\/span><\/span> We<\/span><\/span> do <\/span><\/span>have reports of individuals during<\/span><\/span> late nights leaving and entering the quarry<\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/span> We do not care for <\/span><\/span>the means you use <\/span><\/span>to<\/span><\/span> clear the quarry;<\/span><\/span> we just need it ready for our workers.<\/span><\/span> I<\/span><\/span>s that clear<\/span><\/span>?<\/span><\/span>“<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

“Fairly simple, is there anyone I can talk to for some more details about these <\/span><\/span>reports<\/span><\/span>?”<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

“You may inquire more to the names that are on the report here<\/span><\/span>.\u201d He <\/span><\/span>hands <\/span><\/span>me<\/span><\/span> a <\/span><\/span>list of names. \u201dI<\/span><\/span>f you wish further investigation, please take note of the names you talked to and the<\/span><\/span>ir<\/span><\/span> justification. Now if you will excuse us, we need to keep the line moving<\/span><\/span>, <\/span><\/span>t<\/i><\/span><\/span>hank you<\/i><\/span><\/span>!<\/i><\/span><\/span>“<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

“Right<\/span><\/span>…<\/span><\/span> goodbye for now<\/span><\/span>.\u201d Ready to leave I turn around and begin to walk out casually.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

F<\/span><\/span>inally, some work after waiting in line for half the day<\/span><\/span>. <\/span><\/span>I don\u2019t have much information to get started o<\/span><\/span>n,<\/span><\/span> so I<\/span><\/span> plan<\/span><\/span> to<\/span><\/span> start asking the people<\/span><\/span> on the list about what they have seen. I proceeded to talk to every <\/span><\/span>person<\/span><\/span> on the list <\/span><\/span>and none<\/span><\/span> could <\/span><\/span>give any<\/span><\/span> new information on th<\/span><\/span>e<\/span><\/span> quarry<\/span><\/span>. Th<\/span><\/span>is<\/span><\/span> is when I decided to stake out the mine from a nearby bush to get to the bottom of this. Soon enough, it pays off<\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/span> I leap<\/span><\/span> out<\/span><\/span> and <\/span><\/span>tackle<\/span><\/span> a suspicious looking guy in tattered robes <\/span><\/span>moving<\/span><\/span> towards the mine. Just to be safe, I dragged him back over to my <\/span><\/span>b<\/span><\/span>ush for questioning. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAlright buddy, spill it! What<\/span><\/span>\u2019s<\/span><\/span> going on in th<\/span><\/span>e quarry<\/span><\/span>!<\/span><\/span>\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOw, ow, <\/span><\/span>ow<\/i><\/span><\/span>! <\/span><\/span>C<\/span><\/span>an you lighten your grip a bit?<\/span><\/span>\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNot until you tell me what I want<\/span><\/span>!\u201d Tightening my grip, I say, \u201cN<\/span><\/span>ow <\/span><\/span>talk<\/i><\/span><\/span>!<\/span><\/span>\u201d <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201dFin<\/span><\/span>e…<\/span><\/span> fine, I don’t know the full details, but I was told to come here every night<\/span><\/span>, <\/span><\/span>go into the mine and ensure nothing has been disturbed.<\/span><\/span>\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhat would be disturbed? <\/span><\/span>What\u2019s so important in <\/span><\/span>there?<\/span><\/span>\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know! <\/span><\/span>T<\/span><\/span>hat is all I am instructed to do<\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/span> T<\/span><\/span>here is some weird <\/span><\/span>totem in there that creeps us all out.<\/span><\/span> P<\/span><\/span>lease, let me go<\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/span> I<\/span><\/span>\u2019ll leave you alone and get away from here<\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/span>\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou said us. A<\/span>re there more of you?<\/span><\/span>\u201d <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThere are nine others<\/span><\/span>,<\/span><\/span> each come at different times during the night<\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/span> N<\/span><\/span>ow <\/span><\/span>please<\/i><\/span><\/span>… let me go.<\/span><\/span>\u201d Gaining what I could, I lose my grip on him.<\/span><\/span> \u201cGood<\/span><\/span>!<\/span><\/span> Get away from here… now!<\/span><\/span> Also, what should I remember you by? <\/span><\/span>Just in case I have hunt you down.\u201d <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cC<\/span><\/span>all me Mos<\/span><\/span>. T<\/span><\/span>hank you for letting me go<\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/span> I am going to leave this place right away<\/span><\/span>;<\/span><\/span> I<\/span><\/span> won\u2019t interfere<\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/span>\u201d I watch as Mos rubs his wrists one more time and runs off. I watch him until he is out of sight, then turn my focus back to the quarry.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The conversation with Mos wasn\u2019t all to helpful. At least I know I could encounter some other people at some point<\/span><\/span>, and <\/span><\/span>s<\/span><\/span>ome kind of creepy <\/span><\/span>totem<\/span><\/span> inside a creepy<\/span><\/span> quarry<\/span><\/span> at the creepiest time of the day. Safe to say I am not thrilled about this but hey, a job<\/span><\/span>\u2019<\/span><\/span>s a job and I need <\/span><\/span>coin<\/span><\/span>. Mustering up the courage I have, I start to approach the mine. Already I feel <\/span><\/span>anxious and nauseous<\/span><\/span> to know exactly what that man and others have been checking up on. The closer I get to the door I start to hear a sultry voice <\/span><\/span>and a faint smell of perfume, and the sickly feeling starts to go away<\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/span> Soon I am right in front of the door and the perfume and voice are as strong as ever. I decide to throw caution to the wind and slam open the door to the quarry, and on the other side, I find a beautiful woman lounging around by what looks like the totem Mos mentioned. A little after I step in, the woman takes note of me and is the first to start talking.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAh, you<\/span><\/span>\u2019re<\/span><\/span> a new face<\/span><\/span>!<\/span><\/span> Can you, by any chance, hear me?<\/span><\/span> I take it you also scared off the caretaker? Oh, what was his name again? I am quite <\/span><\/span>so<\/span><\/span> terrible with them<\/span><\/span>.\u201d <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cU<\/span><\/span>h?<\/span><\/span> \u2026 <\/span><\/span>I <\/span><\/span>am going to<\/span><\/span> take a shot in the dark here<\/span><\/span>, but you\u2019re some kind of psycho, aren\u2019t you?\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOh? Well, aren\u2019t we a bit rude. I, sir, am no psycho, but I am an experiment gone wrong… or an enigma? Or something? I don\u2019t know. Oh, I am a female. That I do know.\u201d <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cRiiight<\/i><\/span><\/span>… look, I have no clue who you are\u2014\u201d \u201cHow silly of me! I forgot to give my name. you can call me Bella, Nice to meet you.\u201d <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSigh \u2026 look, I have no real quarrel with you and honestly I do not care who you are. I have been sent to clear this quarry and ask that you leave.\u201d <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNo can do.\u201d \u201cLook, if you insi\u2014\u201d \u201cBefore you say anymore, you need to know\u2014\u201d \u201cPlease! Do not cut me off again!\u201d \u201cWell same goes for you, jerk!\u201d \u201cHo\u2014How am I the jerk?\u201d \u201cYou\u2019re interrupting me and when I was about to say something important.\u201d \u201cFine, speak and then leave. I want to get this job done.\u201d <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWell that last part, about me leaving… is going to be hard to do. Like I was going to say, I can\u2019t leave this place an\u2014\u201d \u201cWhoa! What do you mean you can\u2019t lea\u2014\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIf you don\u2019t mind<\/i><\/span><\/span>… it is because of this totem thing. I can barely leave it.\u201d \u201cUh\u2026 do you have any ideas as to what it is?\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cUm… not really.\u201d She begins to spin her finger through her hair. \u201dI just woke up here one day and watched as each of those caretaker guys came in and out. I tried to get their attention, but I don\u2019t think any of them could see or hear me.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cLet me see then.\u201d Crouching down, I needed to take a closer look at the totem, and what happened next\u2026 well, let\u2019s just say, did not go the way I thought they would.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201dIt looks like it can be removed.\u201d \u201c<\/span><\/span>Remove it?<\/i><\/span><\/span> I don\u2019t know what good that will do. I tried at one point but my hands just slipped right through it.\u201d <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

While grabbing the totem, I reply with, \u201cWell it appears I can touch it,\u201d and with a quick huff, I lifted the totem. \u201dOh, looks like it was lighter then I thought. I feel a tad funny though.\u201d <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHa ha funny? Or weird funny?\u201d \u201cUh? The feeling’s gone. You should be able to leave now, and I should be able to get my coin. I will take the totem with me as proof of the quarries clearing, so this is goodbye, Bella. It was interesting meeting you.\u201d <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBefore you go, can you tell me your name?\u201d \u201cOh? Well, my name is Will.\u201d \u201cWhat a simple name, Will… I like that.\u201d \u201cIt shouldn\u2019t matter now though. We will probably never see each other again, so… goodbye.\u201d <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cUh\u2026 Will?\u201d \u201cLook, this is goodbye, so please stop talking to me.\u201d \u201cWill, I… uhhh, can\u2019t seem to sto\u2014\u201d \u201cPlease, <\/span><\/span>please!<\/i><\/span><\/span> I am leaving, so stop talking t\u2014\u201d \u201cHey jerk! Turn around!\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Getting annoyed I turn around only to see something I really did not want to see. \u201cYou\u2019re being dragged along with the totem, aren\u2019t you?\u201d \u201cYep.\u201d \u201cWell then, I will get rid of the totem… uh? Where did it go\u2026? It was… right here in my hands.\u201d \u201cEh? Ha, looks like you\u2019re my totem now, Will!\u201d \u201cWait! Wait! Wait!\u2014\u201d \u201cYep, you\u2019re stuck with me.\u201d <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAhhhhhhh! You knew this would happen, didn\u2019t you? <\/span><\/span>Didn\u2019t you<\/i><\/span><\/span>?\u201d \u201cNope. So looks like we\u2019re stuck together now… or I\u2019m stuck to you. I guess this isn\u2019t good bye now, is it?\u201d \u201cI\u2014I guess it\u2019s not, but let\u2019s get one thing straight though: I am in charge from now on. You hear me? Besides, you don\u2019t know how to reverse this, do you?\u201d \u201dNope, and that\u2019s fine. I will let you have your freedom. Just remember: my word is <\/span><\/span>final<\/i><\/span><\/span>.\u201d \u201cNo, <\/span><\/span>I\u2019m<\/i><\/span><\/span> the boss.\u201d \u201cYes, you <\/span><\/span>are<\/i><\/span><\/span> the boss, but I am also <\/span><\/span>your <\/i><\/span><\/span>boss, so you listen to me.\u201d \u201cSigh… Whatever. We will settle this later. Let\u2019s get out of here so I can collect my coin.\u201d <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

So there you have it. I came to a town, waited in line to get a job, only to wait in a bush and ambush some guy who has no clue what is going on, then met a random lady I am now stuck to. So let me take a guess, and say you <\/span><\/span>haven\u2019t<\/i><\/span><\/span> heard of a story like this before, have you?<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

An Adventurer\u2019s Wait Written & Edited By: Jeremy Lanham I am sure you have heard this story before: a lone adventurer off on his own, trying to do his best just to stay alive in a war torn world. Occasionally he has to do the random good deed or quest to keep himself fed and […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":91,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-119","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/jeremylanham.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/119","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/jeremylanham.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/jeremylanham.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jeremylanham.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jeremylanham.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=119"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/jeremylanham.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/119\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":122,"href":"https:\/\/jeremylanham.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/119\/revisions\/122"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jeremylanham.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/91"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/jeremylanham.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=119"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}