Before Marcus even got to the gate, he saw a crowd of players clustered around, all buzzing and whispering.
"Hey, what's going on here?"
He spotted an Archer decked out in a black panther hide, talking a mile a minute and gesturing wildly. Since the guy looked like he was wrapping up his story, Marcus stepped up and asked, polite as could be.
"You just get here? I was just telling the story. Weren't you listening?"
'Seriously?'
This guy was full of himself. And what was the big deal about a panther hide outfit, anyway?
"My bad, I just got here and saw the crowd. Got curious. You just look like you know what's up, that's all."
'Fine, I'll play along.' His curiosity had gotten the better of him.
"Alright, man, you asked the right guy. You seem cool enough, I'll run it down for you."
The Panther Hide Archer straightened with pride at the compliment and began his speech.
Jesus. This guy could talk.
Marcus had to admit the guy had a way with words, but he was stretching a two-minute story into a full-length epic, wasting Marcus's time. He instantly regretted not asking someone else.
The gist of it was that some player had found a quest from Lord Leon Drake. Probably a Hidden or Unique Quest, but the player's level was too low to actually take it. That had drawn this crowd of players, all hoping to get lucky and snag the quest for themselves.
If it was a Unique or Hidden Quest, Marcus figured he might as well try his luck, too. No reason to leave a potential benefit on the table.
"Hey, kid, what level are you, anyway? Even a few guys from the Top Ten leaderboard came by and got nothing. Don't waste your time."
Just as Marcus was about to head inside to find Lord Drake, the Panther Hide Archer offered some unsolicited advice.
"Appreciate it. I know. I'm just gonna go check it out, see what the fuss is about."
Entering Lord Leon Drake's office, Marcus found a stern-looking middle-aged man buried in paperwork.
"Lord Drake? Sorry to interrupt. I was hoping you had a moment."
The Lord didn't look up. "Make it quick. I'm buried, and my patience is thin."
"It looks like you're carrying the weight of the world. Is there anything I can do to help?"
"Oh?"
Lord Drake looked up, his eyes scanning Marcus from head to toe before he let out a dismissive grunt.
"That's a decent offer, but you're not ready for what's on my desk. Come back when you've got more experience under your belt. And don't take your time; this is urgent. If you're too slow, I'll have to find someone else."
With that, Lord Drake went back to his work.
Just as the Panther Hide Archer had said, Marcus had triggered the quest. And just like everyone else, he was too low-level to accept it. A real kick in the teeth.
He needed to level up, and fast. He could only hope he'd be strong enough before the opportunity passed him by. Being high-level always had its perks.
"Lord Drake. I'm Stonehaven. I'm here about the system-rewarded mansion."
"Stonehaven? The Stonehaven who activated the Guild System?"
"That's me."
Marcus quickly produced the Guild Creation Token and handed it over.
"By the gods, it is," Drake murmured, turning the token over in his hands before handing it back. He rummaged in a drawer, pulled out a heavy parchment, and passed it to Marcus. "Stonehaven, this is the deed to a manor house near Dragon's Peak Citadel Plaza. It's yours."
"Thank you, Lord Drake."
"Don't thank me. You earned it." Drake leaned back, his expression shifting from bureaucratic to appraising. "Stonehaven, activating the Guild System… that's no small feat. It seems I misjudged you. I've got a problem festering on my southern border. Think you can handle this quest?"
"You have my word, Lord Drake. I'll see it done."
Hearing the word "quest," Marcus's spine straightened. He'd been rejected before, and now the man was handing him one on a silver platter.
"Here's the situation. A few days ago, we got a report from Red River Village, a small settlement on the border with the Elven Kingdom of Forest City. They mentioned activity from Dark Sorcerers. I sent a reconnaissance team to investigate. We haven't heard from them since. I need you to find out what in the blazes is going on down there."
"Ding! Stonehaven, High Protector Leon Drake is offering you the Unique Quest: Investigate Red River Village. Do you accept?"
"Accept." Only a complete idiot would refuse a Unique Quest.
He pulled up the quest details:
Investigate Red River Village: Unique Quest. Requirement: Travel to Red River Village within one month to ascertain the status of the Dragon's Peak Citadel reconnaissance team. Quest parameters may change dynamically.
"Be careful, Stonehaven," Lord Drake cautioned as Marcus turned to leave. "The team I sent was capable, and they've gone completely dark. Don't take this lightly."
Leaving the Lord's office, Marcus headed straight to claim his reward.
"Oh, you have got to be kidding me! Someone took the quest!"
Not a minute after Marcus left, a howl of despair erupted from the office doorway, sending a ripple of agitation through the crowd of players gathered there.
"Seriously? Who got it? I'm so jealous!" came the more measured, envious replies.
"What the hell! Who was it? Show yourself! I'll PK you right now! I've been camping this spot for two days!" shouted the more hot-tempered players.
"Aww, man! Who got it? You're my new hero! Hey, if you need a plus-one for that quest, I'm your girl! I'm a max-level support, and I'm pretty awesome if I do say so myself." A female player announced, her voice a little too loud and eager, causing a couple of nearby players to cringe.
"It's gone! It's really gone! That was my quest! Leon Drake, you bastard! I'll kill you!" One player, wielding a massive greatsword, completely snapped and charged Lord Drake. The outcome was as swift as it was predictable.
Rumor had it that the unhinged player was the original discoverer of the quest, and the shock of losing it for good had finally broken him.
That very night, several threads blew up on the official Dominion forums, rocketing into the top ten:
1) How to Snag a Hidden/Unique Quest: A Deep Dive from the Player Who Got the Dragon's Peak Citadel Lord's Quest (That's Me, Deeply Handsome).
2) Hello everyone, I am FallingFlowers, the one who took the Dragon's Peak Citadel Lord's Quest. The quest requires a female player partner. Interested ladies, please contact me. My contact info is: XXXXX. Video chat first. No 'dinosaurs,' please.
3) Why Does It Always Have to Be Me? The Heartbreak of the Player Who Couldn't Get the Quest.
Marcus was blissfully unaware of all this. He went straight to 88 Blue Dragon Avenue.
'88 Blue Dragon Avenue. This has to be it. Please don't tell me I got the address wrong.'
No. It was correct…
"Holy hell," he breathed, his voice full of awe.
He checked the address twice, confirming it was correct, and nearly shouted in excitement.
It was a genuine manor. The sprawling estate covered at least two thousand square meters, centered around a magnificent three-story classical building of timber and stone. Soaring eaves and pillars painted a deep crimson made it look like a noble's estate. Pushing open the heavy front door revealed a lavishly decorated interior with an elegant, open layout. It was pure, unadulterated luxury.
The best part was the location: right on the Dragon's Peak Citadel Plaza. The front gate opened directly onto the wide square, teeming with players. The spot was beyond perfect. If he opened a shop here, he wouldn't need to spend a single coin on advertising; every player in the city would see it.
This place was too valuable to waste. Marcus's mind was already racing with possibilities.
As he stepped inside, a stunning, system-generated maid approached him.
"Welcome to Stonehaven Manor. How may I assist you?"