Day 2If anyone didn't wake up from the rooster crowing, they got a second chance from Rolly cursing at the cock and throwing rocks.

The rooster didn't mind, he was used to performing for harsh audiences and the irate human was a bad shot.

A surprisingly bad shot, with no rock even coming within six feet of the amused bird.

After tossing a few dozen rocks, Rolly gave up.

The cock gave a loud cock-a-doodle-piss-on-you of victory and ran off to check on his hens.

Ozzy and Ben joined a grumpy Rolly outside, all three trying to stretch out sore muscles before joining the morning traffic jam at the out houses.

Suzette walked up to them with a sack over her shoulder.

"C'mon, I've got our work assignments from Billy and breakfast in the bag; we can avoid the morning pep talk." Ozzy noticed that Suzette was looking a lot better this morning.

Her clothes were still the burlap peasant outfit they'd all started the game with, but whereas his was a shapeless tube with holes for arms and head, hers was contoured to her body, cut down in a V at the front of her neck, and the edges were hemmed.

"Did you start sewing, Susy? Looks good.""It's the blood sacrifice that does it." Holding up her hands, they saw numerous small punctures where the needle had punched through the thick fabric.

"I swear it's like I don't know how to sew.

I've sewn in and out of games for years, and now it's like my mind knows what to do but the fingers are stupid.

More practice I guess.

Wonder how much it takes to earn a sewing skill?"Ben nodded.

He'd also been wondering about skill increases.

He'd been spending each evening poking at a tree with a makeshift spear.

It was clumsy, and he'd not seen even one hint of a message about learning basic spear skills.

In most games it took little to earn them; a couple of successful fights, a half hour with a trainer, or an hour of practice on your own.

After six hours of practice with basic thrusts and blocks, he'd seen nothing.

Moving to the back side of the warehouse Suzette opened her bag and tossed each man an apple before biting into her own.

"Fruit! Suzette, I forgive you for several bad things you have done to me over the years." Ben happily bit into his.

"I'm getting a bit tired of groatmeal muffins and boiled groats.""Well, you get those as well.

Or save them for lunch.

I also have the breakfast of champions.

Pull out your mugs." As they complied she took out a her water skin and squirted a cup of fresh milk into each cup, followed by a raw egg.

"There you go.

Fruit, Moo, cluckcluck, and groat: the four basic food groups.""Amazing," Ben said as he stirred up his eggcream until it was foamy.

"And how did you manage all this?" Suzette shrugged, "Just noticed a few things yesterday.

The Tavern has a barn and chicken coop behind it.

I 'volunteered' to do some chores, milking and gathering eggs, in exchange for four eggcreams.

The apples are from a tree near the bridge.

I think we four should take turns doing some chores for a bit each morning and get some better food out of it.

Billy has me on baking duty making muffins for all the meals.

I'll be in the kitchen, baking the first batch.

If one of you three does the chores we all get to eat a lot better.

It's a start at least.""Ok, lets see where you boys are working.

Ozzy is facing off against those stupid cow things.

You're doing a better job than the other two that they tried on the same job.

Rolly gets to use his 'shepherding skills' to manage the herd of sedge beasts and help Lyle get them to Ozzy.

You're also supposed to expand that corral more as they cut wood for fencing, and if you see one of the sheep that just wander in the hills try to move them into a corral."Rolly was none too excited.

"Have I mentioned how much I don't like playing Bo Peep? Shit, I don't even get a sheep dog.

If this was a pet class, I'd be happy.

I love pets in games! I wonder if I can evolve shepherd into some special class with attack animals?""Whatever makes your heart sing, Rolly." Turning to Ben, "And you're supposed to assist the tanners in stretching and scraping skins.

Billy says you should have leatherworking skills, right? So after you have some hides to the point where you can work them he wants you to start making things to outfit people better."Ben raised an eyebrow at that, smiling.

"Why, certainly! and I must say that I just love vague commands like that from the boss.

I am pretty sure my skill is limited to making reins, saddles, and tack as part of the courier skills, but I'll see what I can do.

I'll give a go at making some more shapeless shoes and aprons, but I think outfitting our group in some leather armor for our first day off might be a side project as well.

I'll see what my limits are.""And why don't we all work on getting ready for our day off? If Suzette can squirrel away more food that will help, so we can leave early before breakfast.

I'll work on some armor.

Rolly, you're out roaming around looking for sedgebeasts and sheep.

Keep your eye out for some straight dry wood for spears.

Ozzy can save us some nice thick bones for making spearheads.

It's a start and we can get working on getting some combat skills.

Rolly can also find us some nice starting areas." Ben's plan approved, everyone got off to their work for the day.The second day came and went.

Muffins got baked, cows got slaughtered, and hides were turned into leather.

Rolly found a nice meadow with large rabbits chewing on yellow flowers.

Halfway through the third day things got a bit more interesting for Ozzy.

He'd just finished butchering a sedge beast when he heard a loud DING!! and a message appeared.

Congratulations! You've managed to level up something, despite having turned off notifications.

Wouldn't it be nice to know what happened? Maybe you should go look at those? Most people enjoy the constant barrage of skill-up messages, but if you want to ignore them you also can just request a summary since your last inquiry.

Simply say, subvocalize, or think hard on /Summary to bring up the window.