Emie's Game of Conquest

"Let's get this over with," I muttered as I pulled on my armor.

My mother walked into the room. "Don't be so hasty, Emie."

"The sooner I get this finished, the sooner I can go back to the tavern and have a drink."

"You know that you're not supposed to drink while working on your quest."

"I'm not *working* on it! I'm finishing it!" I grumbled, putting on the last piece of armor. "And it's a roleplaying game! How am I *supposed* to play if I'm not supposed to drink?"

"It doesn't say anything about drinking in the rules." My mother was trying her best to keep a straight face, but she was fighting a losing battle. When she thought she had regained control of herself, she continued. "But you do have to finish before sunrise or else you'll lose a level."

I sighed heavily and gave up for now. If she kept it up all day then there would be no point in even starting. Before heading out the door, I turned around and said, "Are you sure you don't want me to bring home some loot? The guy at the weapons store says he has some cool stuff he wants me to look at."

My mother shook her head and smiled. "No, honey. As far as I understand it, you aren't actually supposed to go shopping for gear until after you've finished your quest. And by then you'll have plenty of money anyway." She pointed at the gold coin hanging on my shield and added, "That will be enough to buy everything they have in their stock."

I nodded and left. Walking outside through the town gate, I was greeted by a harsh gust of wind from behind me. The sun had already set and night had taken over the world around me. With only my moonlight vision skill active, there was no way for me to see much more than one or two feet ahead of me. I lifted up my shield and pressed forward blindly into the dark stillness of the forest that stood in front of me.