[Solo, Journal] At home with no pressing matters.

[Guthbrand]

Guthbrand leaned his head back against the wall, he was sitting on a bedroll, in his and his brothers impromptu housing on the edge of town. He had decided to keep a journal, writing of his daily going ons and noting specific events that were of importance (at least to him). Of course when he first started it was after he had completed his first true expedition outside of the city it’s self with Mab in the Windsor Greatwood. Before then he hadn't had the money to waste on such “frivolous” things, not when they could hardly afford to eat the horrible gruel that passed for food (especially at first, when it was either salty mush, sweet mush, no taste mush and other such things. It was a great blessing that people had found how to cook and make things taste like real food). The fact that he had to write with a feather quill, and none fast drying ink didn’t help either, he knew how to do it properly from a combination of having researched and built his father a fountain pen for his birthday years ago. Who would have thought that due to his father’s love of these type of things, (anything done in the “old proper way, before we brought the world to where it is today.” Was something that the man loved.” So he had learned how to do many things in an odd way, from shooting a “proper” bow, writing with “proper” ink. He had hated it at the time, why would you want to have to use sand and let things dry? What a waste of time! Of course now he was thankful, though he doubted his father or anyone for that matter had known he would become stuck in a game world.), getting his food the “proper” way and so on and so forth would have come in so very very useful all these years later?



He sighed, he would need to record things like these thoughts in the journal, otherwise he knew he would lose them eventually, just like he had begun to lose the thoughts he normally had when he was deployed for the second time for that long fifteen months. He didn’t want that, and recording them in the journal was one way to keep them present and to allow him to go back and see what it was like if it really came to that (how he hoped that it wouldn't). He also wanted to make sure that he record the lyrics to his favorite songs, he knew he was likely one of the only ones around that enjoyed them as it was an unusual taste in music for a player of games like these. And even if it was more common, everyone had larger things on their minds than the lyrics to a song that they would seemingly never hear once more.



Guthbrand let out a sight as he stared at the black page in the leather bound book that was going to be his journal. He needed to figure out with what he wanted to start, how to organize his journal and if he wanted to write it in plain English , a code or some other way. He didn’t really want any random person to be able to just pick up his journal and learn so much about him, it could prove disastrous, especially down the road when he finally established a reputation here in this world.



In the end he decided to go with plain English, it wouldn't matter much as he never intended for it to see the light of day and it would keep it from becoming such a chore that he would refuse to write in it due to the extra effort required. After that decision was made it was only a short time before he decided to separate the book with the brilliant red strip of soft cloth that was attached as a bookmark/place holder, anything before it would be about the real world, the lyrics to songs he liked and other such things where as after it would be his journal that he would keep of this world, his adventures, notes on monsters, skills, classes and people. He wouldn't organize it like he would do normally, just as a precaution if someone where to get their hands on it.



The first thing he would record would be the lyrics to a song that competed for his favorite, afterwords he would decide what do add to the book next. Guthbrand opened the journal to beginning, set the ink out next to him and uncorked it, undid the lid to his small plain wooden box of sand so it was easy to access, took the quill from where it had been sitting on his ear and wetting it’s tip dipped it into the ink lightly before he bent over the journal to begin his writing.



Warriors of the World by Manowar



Here our soldiers stand from all around the world

Waiting in a line to hear the battle cry

All are gathered here victory is near

The sound will fill the hall bringing power to us all





We alone are fighting for metal that is true

We own the right to live the fight we're here for all of you

Now swear the blood upon your steel will never dry

Stand and fight together beneath the metal sky





Brothers Everywhere

Raise your hands into the air

We're warriors

Warriors of The World

Like thunder from the sky

Sworn to fight and die

We're warriors

Warriors of The World





Many stand against us but they will never win

We said we would return and here we are again

To bring them all destruction suffering and pain

We are the hammer of the Gods we are thunder wind and rain





There they wait in fear with swords in feeble hands

With dreams to be a King first one should be a man

I call them out and charge them all with a life that is a lie

And in their final hour they shell confess before they die





Brothers Everywhere

Raise your hands into the air

We're warriors

Warriors of The World

Like thunder from the sky

Sworn to fight and die

We're warriors

Warriors of The World





If i should fall in battle my brothers who fight by my side

Gather my horse and weapons tell my family how i died

Until then i will be strong I will fight for all that is real

All who stand in my way will die by steel





Brothers Everywhere

Raise your hands into the air

We're warriors

Warriors of The World



Guthbrand leaned back, flexing his right hand to loosen it up, it had been awhile since he had to write like this and he missed his computer where it was easy to type out a letter and then simply sign it. Not wanting the ink to smudge, he quickly set aside his quill and then made use of the sand to soak the extra ink. He had heard that there was fast drying ink, but it was too expensive for him to justify for this frivolous pursuit as of yet. Perhaps when he had leveled up some more and had money ready to blow on things he would consider using it over the much cheaper ink he currently wrote with. Maybe working on that fountain pen would be a good idea, it would put less ink on the paper and that would mean drying quicker, less smudging and perhaps even get rid of the requirement of using the sand box or blotting paper. He set the book to the side to let the ink dry upon its pages before he got back to writing, he would include a few more songs today before he moved on to the name of his family members (and his own name of course). He would need to include his job, position and a brief history. Perhaps he would include specific events, but he wanted to make sure to get it all down first. Corking the ink bottle, setting the quill in it’s well and closing up the sand box he stared at the page for a moment before shaking his head and letting out a sigh, he leaned his head back against the wall, closed his eyes and prepared to

wait. He might even nap for a while before he got back to writing in the book, it was rare that he had a day where he could just relax here without worrying about gold for food or that some pressing task needed his attention or help to be completed. It was a nice feeling to just relax like this. Guthbrand stifled a yawn and shifted to a more comfortable position, closed his eyes and allowed himself to drift off.  


---------------------------------------
Word Count: 1482

[Guthbrand]

Guthbrand’s eyes fluttered open, as he took in his surroundings he sighed. He had been dreaming that he was back in the real world, working on setting integrating the new set of servers and gear that had been sent over for them to use in their new location. How odd was it that he was dreaming of doing his old job, wanting it to be true and being disappointed that he woke up with nothing to do but write and nap? Who would have thought that would be something he would have to worry about? Looking out the open window he saw that the sun had moved a good bit while he was napping, that meant that the ink was likely dry and that he could sweep it clean and continue writing in his journal. Sitting up he quickly checked it to see if the ink was dry, sure enough it was dry as a bone in Death Valley. Giving a bit of a stretch he listened to as his body let out a series of pops and sighed in pleasure before he set about once more getting his supplies ready for the writing that he was about to engage in. He uncorked the ink bottle, opened the sand box and set it to the side carefully so as not spill any, wetted the quill on the tip of his tongue and moved so that he was seated in a more comfortable position so that he could write easily without getting stiff and sore to quickly. He would soon have enough practice at these that it would become second nature and he would no longer need to think about it, which meant that it really had been to long in this world already.

His mind wondered before he actually started writing, was time the same in this world as in the real world? Did anyone notice that he and everyone else were suddenly gone? What did they think of all the mass disappearances all over the world? How many people were actually in this world? And then a thought hit him that he knew he would have to explore at some point, what if you could travel to other servers? Travel around the world and see if anyone else has figured out how to get home… Why hadn't he thought of this before? Had others? With the world only being half scale that meant it would take far less time for them to make trips that would otherwise take exceptionally long times. Even with a simple sail boat traveling from England to the Americas for example would take three months, but with the world being at half scale they would be able to make that journey in just a month and half! Which meant that the European Mainland was just a hop skip away from them, perhaps they could contact them somehow without actually traveling the distance? Smoke Signals for example. He would need to speak to someone about his, while he realized that they hadn’t really explored much of the land they were already in, if they could establish contact with those on the mainland then they could establish trade, exchange ideas and knowledge (did they discover how to make real tasting food? Or are they still eating sweet and salty mush?), and put their heads together to try and find a way out of this world and back to their own.

Taking up his journal, Guthbrand began to quickly jot down notes, questions he would ask when they first met, ideas on communicating before they made it across the channel, ideas on what was needed to cross the channel (didn't people swim it at times? With half distance it should be much easier), and other various things as they popped into his mind. The journal would be a mess, with no real set of information being readily available. Then again, it was never really meant for reading by someone other than himself, so it wasn't something that bothered him in the least when it did enter his mind as he was taking turns thinking and scribbling in the book. Perhaps one day he would organize it properly and write it up as a story, kind of like There and Back Again, the story that Bilbo Baggins wrote in Tolkien’s books, who knew what the future could bring?

Guthbrand paused looking over what he had written so far and nodded, the ideas were things he would pursue at a later time, the random thoughts all seemed relevant to what was written around it (at least to him they did), and while there was some small room to write on the page left he decided he was done for now, he set the book down carefully, reached to his sand box and began to sprinkle it liberally over the page. Once more he would have to let it sit for some time to let it dry, he went about securing his things once more. Corking the ink well, returning the quill to it’s proper place, closing up the sand box and securing the latch and returning them all to their proper place in the pouches. The Journal he would leave here open for the moment.

Guthbrand stood stretching once more and flexing his hand, he really wasn't used to writing like this or as much and his arm and hand cramped a little. After a moment he shook himself and moved to the shutters he had been able to afford for the windows, shutting them he secured them with a wooden board and set the latches over them. While crude it would mean it was impossible to simply lift the board up to open the windows. He also set a small glass bottle, from a empty potion that he had consumed in the past, just to ensure that if someone DID bypass the shutters he would know. Satisfied with the rudimentary security precautions he headed out the door that he had placed on the building, this one locked with two of the locks he had made himself. They were rather basic, but they would work to help keep unwanted visitors out and the only keys were on a necklace around his neck and on a similar necklace on his brother Strast. He turned the sign beside the door over, so that it read “Guthbrand and Strast are now out”. Taking one last look at their run down home he rolled his shoulders individual, let out a yawn and moved, he was heading to have a hamburger from a small player run stand that he enjoyed in St. Pancras station, he ate there every day since he could afford it now and spoke with the lander employees. Sometimes they needed things done, and it was an easy place to grab a quest every now and then… And he really did like the hamburgers there. Guthbrand strode off his stomach giving a small rumble at the anticipation of the burger he was getting and his mouth watering slightly. These days were far better than they had been just a few weeks before while he was still level one, running errands about the town to make just enough to survive on and avoiding heading out of the city for any reason. He hoped that the days would only get better, especially if some of his ideas worked. Of course what would make the day the best it could be would mean someone finding a way back to the real world, where he could see his father, mother and youngest brother again. But he doubted someone would, or at least someone that was on this island with them, or that could communicate the idea to the others so that they could come with them. Now that was a depressing thought wasn't it? With a sigh feeling slightly worse than he had before he turned the corner leaving his home behind and continued on his way to eat, it would cheer him up to have something nice and tasty to eat, he might even get some stuff to go to eat latter while he continued writing in the journal.

-----------------------------------------
Word Count: 1364

[Guthbrand]

Guthbrand patted his stomach and let out a satisfied burp that tasted of the new burger recipe that Richard had wanted to try out before he started to sell to other customers, Guthbrand had no problem tasting it and telling him how he liked it. It was quite honestly one of the better ones he had eaten, not just here in this world but even in the real world. While there was a chance that he was just skewed in his preferences due to eating the tasteless mush for so long, he doubted it as he still disliked things that he didn’t enjoy eating before, and would prefer to eat the tasteless mush again before some of them. As he strode back up to the building he and his brother Strast were currently using as a house he checked the windows before working on unlocking the dual locks they used to keep unwanted people out, “When we can, we really should buy this place. We are already working on improving it, but anyone could just come by, decide that they like and purchase it to take it right out from underneath our noses. While it would be a douchebag move, there was no shortage of douchebags in this world, just like the real world in that manner at least.”, one only had to look towards the guilds focusing on pvp to see that.



Finishing unlocking the door he slid the keys back around his neck, took both of the locks and stepped inside looking about to make sure no one had been in, with the bottles still in place it looked like the coast was clear. He set the locks to hanging in their place beside the door on their designated hooks and closed it behind him, he then set about removing the glass bottles from the shutters and undoing the dual latches on them, taking off the wooden board they used to keep them shut and opened them wide to let the breeze come through and cool the building some. One thing that he definitely missed was heating and air, it was something that could probably be replaced with magic or even built just like in real life, but it had not been accomplished as of yet, at least as far as he knew, just like so many other things that were just conveniences that didn’t really affect the way people lived, at least not too much. They were just things that would be nice to have, and dwelling on them wouldn’t do any good until he had a better understanding of how things worked in this world, he still hadn’t messed around much with his mechanics skill, nor had his brother been working up his blacksmith skill as far as he knew. They really would need to do something with them sometime soon, but today was just a rest day for him, a day to write his ideas, notes and memories in the journal he had been keeping, though it would be so much easier with a faster drying ink that would allow him to write more than two pages at a time.
Perhaps he could spend some more gold on it after leveling up a bit, it would be easier to get it then. Of course he kept saying that, but as far as he knew higher levels had an easier time with the lower tier monsters, but they didn't seem to farm them for some reason... At least not that he had seen, "Perhaps there is something I don't know about the way the system works, wouldn't surprise me. After all I am still just a beginner in this world."

With a sigh Guthbrand moved back to where he had left his journal, the ink on its pages was dry now and ready for him to write more in it. Blowing the sand gently from the pages he turned to the next one as he pondered what to write next for a few moments. Eventually deciding on going with his real life he began by jotting down where he was born, who he was born to and started on some of the more memorable parts of his youth and the lessons he learned from them. He Pulled forth the sand box, opened it and laid it down beside him careful not to spill any of its contents, produced the ink well, set it down beside the box before bringing out his ink vial and uncorking it, he poured a small mount into the well before grabbing his quill, wetting its tip and setting it to the paper to write once again. 

"My grandmother died at the age of fifty-three, she was very important to me at that time and I adored her. I was very unhappy and could even be called depressed when she died. She had a very sudden stroke, she had high blood pressure; the left side of her body was paralyzed and she could not talk, so my mom and step-dad rushed her to the hospital and she was immediately hospitalized, she was there for around a month. In that time her speech was getting better due to the speech therapy they provided, but she could not use her hands or feet without the help of a nurse or our help.  

After a while, the doctor told us that we could take her home and that we could do the exercises ourselves. Around a week after my grandmother was home it appeared that everything seemed to be alright and that she was improving; she was making jokes and had the ability to use her hands and feet more than previously. Then suddenly one night she told me she did not want me to sleep next to her because she wanted to sleep by herself for once. I was a bit upset and didn't understand why she wanted to do that, but I accepted it and went to sleep in my own room for the night. 

The next morning I awoke early and went straight to my grandmother's room, I was going to check up on her since I usually slept by her side. I tried to wake her up, I thought she was sleeping, but she did not stir from her apparent slumber. I called her name and she gave no appearance of hearing, so I ran to my mom's room and woke her up, told her what was happening and asked her to wake grandmother up. As soon as she saw my grandmother she started crying, it was then that I knew she was dead. I dropped down on the floor and began to cry. I cried until I felt like there were no more tears left in me, and then I cried some more. 

My grandmother's death taught me a lot of things, it taught me that things never come out the way you expect, that there is always the possibility of a shocking ending, but the most important thing it taught me was to love my family, because I would never know when death might reach out and take them away from me. This is why I do my best to show them how much I love them whenever I can."

With a sigh Guthbrand sat up straight and leaned back stretching his back, it was a good deal of work to write the way that he had to to prevent smudging the ink in his journal. He looked at the work for a moment before sprinkling sand across the it once more and setting his book to the side, he quickly corked the ink vial, closed up the sand box and set everything to the side. It would be some time before he could work on it again, he would nap once more in the mean time. He lay down on his side, arm under his head to act as a pillow, curled his body in a bit and closed his eyes. It would take some time for him to drift off to sleep, but the cool ground was welcoming and he had nothing to do until the ink dried after all. 


---------------------------

Word Count: 1363