Chapter One: Impressed by the Locals
When reality returned to him, Michael was in a large courtyard, with pristine hedgerows that reached just higher than his head following paved paths across a large garden. Round white stone fountains were dotted across the garden, ringed by colorful flowers that were of all manner of shape and colors, even some not native to his world.
Rainbow colored Primrose, purple Hollyhocks, yellow Tulips, Baby Blue Eyes, and all manner of Rose bloomed under the summer sun that was quite comfortably warm. Many flowers were in bloom, even though it wouldn't be their natural time of year to do such. It must have been the magic of some wizard or witch. That was the only logical conclusion that he could come to.
Up on a large hill sat Lumbridge Castle, a massive edifice and marvel of Gielinorian Architecture that had stood since the claiming of the land east of the River Lum all the way back in the fourth age.
What had once been a small village was now a thriving town that one might even dare call a small city if one were to be generous with the definition. The castle itself was much longer than it was tall, with five floors from the ground floor, excluding the large basement that stored most of the food and weaponry, along with any artefacts and odds that were not to be used at the time.
The first floor, aside from the kitchen and dining hall, had several large lounges, each with pristine furniture, couches, tables, and fireplaces. Of course this was to say nothing of the standards, crests, suits of Armor and brilliant tapestries that decorated the blue and white walls. There even was a dueling room where mock duels would take place between combatants, equipped with a ring, sparring weapons, and seats for an audience of fifty or more.
On the second floor was the conference halls and guard rooms, in which many decisions were made that would effect the people of Lumbridge for the years to come.
On the third and fourth floor were the living quarters of many of the trusted nobility, as well as the Duke's on the fourth. Everyone important and trusted enough lived on these floors, and enjoyed the protection the castle offered, with it's tall ramparts, and impressive defenses. Large black cannons lined the walls, and Archers patrolled the walls day and night, while the Duke's best men would walk through the gardens and training yard below.
With the Goblins in the village to the west of the long ancient river Lum seemingly amassing forces, one could not be too wary these days. And there were whispers of the undead rising from their graves in the graveyard behind the Church of Saradomin. These were trying times indeed, and measures needed to be taken, for everyone's sake.
As he looked around at the marvels of the castle, Michael turned towards the massive walls that spanned all around the garden, the nearby training grounds, and the back of the castle.
He could just make out the guards clad in yellow and blue, wielding bows, spears and swords sheathed at their waists. However, something caught his eye, something glittering, something very gold. Not too far away towards the main road to the castle, stood a large four foot gnome statue, made of solid gold just standing in the middle of the path.
Occasionally a guard would pass by, give it a once over, and continue his rounds.
This was in fact, a passion purchase by the Duke, Horacio several years after the Battle of Lumbridge, despite the Duchy being deeply in debt. Still, despite it's gaudiness, Gold in this world had far less value than the Earth he had come from.
He had to suppress a tear from falling out of his eye at the excess display of wealth before walking down the path towards the main avenue. The summer sun shone over the garden, and the bees and insects hovered and buzzed, and the small red squirrels with their white bellies could be seen occasionally bounding across the path.
As he made his way through the garden, he passed a young man and young lady, both about the ages of perhaps sixteen or seventeen, both in brilliant fineries. The young man, a tall red haired boy of thin stature in a white laced jacket with a white lace around his neck, sat on a bench with the young lady in his lap, fawning over him. Her golden hair fell in locks that glittered in the sunlight, and her pale countenance showed she likely didn't spend much time outside of the castle.
Michael passed by them, not saying anything as the sounds of kissing could be heard behind him. It seemed the two had made this as an escape from the eyes of the nobles within the castle, and sharing a tender intimate moment away from everyone else. Best not to disturb them.
After passing by them, and walking down another pathway, he found himself almost walking head first into a woman in her mid twenties who had long parted brown hair, bright blue eyes, and a slightly tanned complexion from no doubt being in the sun of the garden for hours on end all day.
She wore a steel chain body, which had been covered by a silver cloth wrapped over it, and blue pants that were guarded by thin chain wraps at the knees with plated boots. A halberd was fastened to her back, and her corded muscles on her arms gave the impression of an adventurer, or a soldier.
She took a quick step to the side, avoiding a head on collision.
"Watch it" She said with irritation, her sharp voice giving the impression of a grouch.
"Sorry" He said, stopping and looking at her better.
Then, the lady narrowed her eyes.
"I know you from somewhere... Hmmm...No, too young. Must be someone else" She grumbled about to turn and walk away, only for Michael to speak up.
"Jacqueline is it?" he asked, realization in his voice.
She tensed up, turning and looking at him for a good moment.
"Do you know me?" She asked, cocking her head to the side, having seemingly realized by now he wasn't a threat.
"I've seen you before. You're a Slayer Master right?" He asked, building up to his coming question.
"Yes? Go on then, what do you want?" She asked, her curiosity seemingly piqued by this young man. She didn't just tell anyone her profession, and usually just had to deal with suitors that wished to try their luck with a dangerous woman. However, it was obvious that this young man wasn't a suitor. What he was, she had yet to find out.
"Can you give me something to kill?" He asked, suppressing his big grin. It was something he had always wanted to do at least once before he died. It didn't really matter which slayer master it was, but getting a slayer task was always on his personal bucket list.
The woman, who was a head shorter than him gave a soft sigh.
"Fine. If it gets you out of my hair. Go kill ten goblins and bring me back their ears. There's too many of em these days" She replied, motioning her head towards the western wall.
"Yes!" Michael pumped his fist before turning away and running off with a hasty wave alongside a "Thank you!".
"Odd fellow" Jacqueline muttered, and went back to standing around like she had been doing earlier.
Michael ran through the hedgerows, eventually after a few wrong turns making it to the entrance to the castle grounds, which was open at this time, but wasn't so at night. If he wanted to get more tasks from Jacqueline, well he would have to do so during the day.
He had to admit, getting a slayer task was pretty cool, even if it was just the equivalent of any other mmo's basic quest.
Now came the hard part. Killing ten goblins.
He was pretty sure he could manage to do it if he didn't go straight into the village and picked off the stragglers near the outside of the village. He was after all, an untrained, unarmored normal guy.
First, he had to get a weapon.
There were two places he knew off the top of his head. The Smithy, and Bob's Axes.
As cool as a battle-axe was, he was better off with a sword and shield, and so, he made his way past the guards, and out into the village of Lumbridge.
The buildings and houses were a mixture of stone, wood, and white stucco with open faced windows and long clotheslines in their yards. Men, women, carts and children went to and fro, with guards in their blue and white armor patrolling and lounging nearby.
It looked truly out of a fantasy movie, or in this case, game.
Long rows of houses and shops lined the streets, and even a stable filled with unicorns was seen at the distant end of a path to the north. It was all so surreal. If he had to say why he wasn't freaking out at such a situation, he would have to give the explanation that this all hadn't sunk in, and still very much felt unreal, like a disconnected dream.
It was as if he were looking at everything through a disassociated fog. Still, slowly and very much steadily, that fog was peeling away, and everything would soon hit him like a truck.
"Well, off to the smithy I go" He said, taking his first steps toward becoming a true resident of this new world. No way would he try to kill goblins barehanded.