Chapter 6 - 6. Clearing The Basement

"How are you feeling right now, my young friend?" asked Prius as he greeted me the moment I entered the Great Hall. It wasn't much to say about this hall except there was 2 long dining table that could accommodate 6 people each.

There was 2 candlelight holder on each table and had 6 mugs and a jug each. "Hmm, why would there be 2 dining tables that could easily accommodate 12 people whereby there are only 2 people living in this house?" I began to ponder as I began to observe my surroundings.

A fireplace was set at the end of the great hall and on top of the mantelpiece was another candle holder and a shield with 2 swords laid across one another in a crossed position. The moment I laid my eyes on it, Prius noticed and remarked excitedly, "That's our family coat of arms, it's the same throughout the house on every top of the mantlepiece."

I nodded in apprehension and looked at the coat of arms and wondered why it looked like the way its design as well as the colours and such. "Do you need me to explain the heritage of this shield and its meaning?" Prius asked as he was looking at me, who was observing the shield with interest.

"The blue coloured saltire design represents Resolution and Resolve and the colour represents Strength and Loyalty. On each of the spaces held heraldic images such as a red lion that represents Courage, a white dove that represents Love and Peace, a green shamrock that represents Perpectuality and Longevity and an arm with armour that represents a person of High Deeds." Prius explained and underneath the shield was the family name 'Keating'.

"Wow... I didn't know a single shield can represent so much in detail and it can even spell out the whole interpretation for the family's coat of arms. It's something that I never knew before." I casually answered and was given a surprised look as Prius looked at me with bewilderment, as though I had never known about this since I was a warrior before, serving for the Ruler of Aermagh.

I went over and touch the shield and I received yet another announcement. It seems everything I touched would ring up a notification.

*Ding* Congratulations on discovering the Keating's family bronze coat of arms.

"How about you, what is your coat of arms be?" Prius asked cautiously and I answered truthfully based on the exact coat of arms that was imbedded on our Body Shield.

"Oh, it was a Red and White on a Chief Design, had 3 green four-leaf clovers and a black hoe at the bottom of it, arranged in a diamond shape. At the bottom of it had our motto 'Promptus Ut Rursus Adveniat" in Latin which means' Ready To Strike'." I explained about the recent coat of arms.

"Hmm, it seems rather interesting enough. I had not seen such coat of arms before and the design of it represents Dominion, Authority, Wisdom and Achievement in Battle. The Red and White colours represent Warrior, Martyr, Military Strength, Sincerity and Peace."

"The four-leaf clovers means luck and the garden hoe would represent an industrious person. Very interesting indeed especially with a motto underneath and not a family name at all." Prius continued to explain about my recent coat of arms that represented the Band of Vagabonds and the New Vagabond Army.

"Say, Young man. Your equipment had been destroyed when they brought you here and you don't even have a piece of armour or even a weapon right now. Hang on, let me pass you something so that at least you won't feel naked. Would a dagger suit you fine?" Prius asked as he waved his hands on the table and a dagger visualised right before my eyes.

"Yes, a dagger would suit me fine, at least for a start," I replied as Prius took the dagger and handed it to me.

*Ding* Congratulations on discovering bronze Cross Pommel Celtic Dagger. 12 inches long and 2 inches wide. Damage +3

"It is beautiful. It feels the right weight and the design is rather cool. I like the black pommel handle and hilt as well. The blade is double-edged and it feels right for slashing and stabbing. However, I felt that I should find another one to act as a utility knife of some sort. Such a pity to use this to pry or cut some plants for hemp et cetera."

"Ah, a small utility knife. Yes, yes... This cross pommel dagger is used for defence and offence. It would definitely be poorly seen if one would use it to pry at clams and other shellfish. Hah hah hah. There's a shop in the marketplace where you can get a utility knife for under 15 credits." Prius explained as he pointed out that the dagger is meant to take someone's life instead.

I placed the dagger at the left-hand side of my belt and when I drew up my interface, it showed the damage rating and a miniscule increase in my stats." Ah well, a different era had different stats I suppose."

Name: Audemars

Male, 21 years old, 1.75m tall, 60kg.

Level: 0/100,000

Progress: 11%

Attributes

Strength: 4

Dexterity: 3

Intelligence: 2

Vitality: 3

Toughness: 2

Damage: 2 (+3)

Recovery: 2

Free unallocated points: 0

Class: unknown (has yet to be unlocked)

Profession: unknown (has yet to be unlocked)

Skills: none

Wealth: 50 credits

Weapon: Dagger (+3)

Armour: none

"Hmm, the plus 3 I've got is from the dagger which means my own attributes hadn't increased yet. Haiya... Now I've got a progress level and it showed just 11%? Which means every time I discover something and receive a notification, then I would gain a 1% increment. Oh. My. God... Don't tell me I have to touch everything I go? "I sighed inwardly as I thought about the progress and also about touching when a devilish smile crept to my lips.

"Which also means I could start touchy freely with the NPCs here without being reported? Hah hah hah... You've got it right, my dear Audemar... Hah hah hah." I thought to myself and finds it hard to stop a grin from curling up and spread over my face.

"What would you be doing right now, my young friend? The moment you step out that door is where your new life begins and a new adventure awaits you. Do you have any credits on you? Would you like to borrow some from me, to begin with?" Prius asked me as if my grin was a sign that I am due to embark on an adventure of my own the moment I stepped out of the house.

"He's not going anywhere yet Prius, let him stick around the house and explore. I'm sure he could find something useful around here. Come, let's all sit down for lunch. I've prepared something hot to fill your tummy."

Patricia was saying as she carried 3 huge bowls of steaming hot food from the kitchen and into the great hall. From the looks of it, I surely need sustenance to go through the day and decided to stay around for a bit since I had recovered from my deep sleep.

Furthermore, I'm sure to find something useful around the house that would be worth my time looking for it. Three of us settled down as I sat across Prius and Patricia and was served with another bowl of gruel. Although it was the same as I had earlier, the food is still food and is greatly welcomed by me.

We soon engaged in small talk and was advised to change into my other wear if I were to explore the basement of the house. It was said to have some rats in the storage area that need to be cleared up. The storage area is where they store their grains and seeds and these rats may eat through the sacks and defecate on it.

"You won't want to stain your newly acquired clothes, am I right? Such a pity to see those new clothes that form your wardrobe to be stained or ripped through shreds, right?" Prius suggested to me since I had gotten quite a good few outwear from Medieval Collectibles, an online merchandiser that deals with the most authentic wear for gatherings, events and so on.

"Hmm, I will get to it Prius. Do show me the way once we had finished lunch and I would help you to clear those rats once and for all." I replied as I thought, what's the big deal with those rats. Just a good whack over it would solve the matter once and for all. At least I could do with some exercise too.

I began to think of some old scroller games where you hacked a few beasts and get experience points from it. Yeah, just like that I reckon. Hack and slash and merrily go my way.

"Sure, my young friend. I would show you the entrance of the basement and from then on, it is going to be on your own. Just be careful, those rats would surely give a nasty bite or two." Prius advised me with caution. "Bah... Rats, what kind of harm would it do to me..." I said as I scooped another mouthful of gruel into my mouth.

Feeling the cold bronze dagger at my sides, it gave off a reassuring feeling that there is nothing I could not handle. Hah hah hah. Time to die, you little rodents!!!