Civilization

"A hint to an artifact?! What artifact?" - Ian

"I don't know about that, but I know artifacts are super duper rare right? It's all over the forum, that there aren't that many confirmed artifacts in the game so far, with the most well know artifact being Devel's Sword. We don't even know its name but one of the players from Bones confirmed it was an artifact that Devel found inside a cave expedition." - Terrance

"And all of you got this quest?" - Ian

"That's right. All of us, and I'm pretty sure it was all the new players that received the quest." - Scott

"Doesn't that mean you will all get the same hint? Sounds pretty stupid for a quest no?" - Ian

"But the condition for completing the quest is different between the three of us, and it isn't just one quest but a series of quests." - Louis

"Tell me. I'm curious. After listening to what you have to say, I'll make my decision to help you or not." - Ian

"REALLY! PROMISE US!"  - Terrance

"TERRANCE! Have some manners!" - Scott

"I promise to give you guys a fair chance. I won't unfairly leave the moment I hear the quest description." - Ian

"DONE! That's good enough. Let's all tell him our quests." - Terrance

"Alright." - Scott

"HELL YEAH!" - Louis

Terrance's Quest

[Beginner Quest Event 1/3

As a new player, you must become strong enough so that you can enjoy your new life in Settlement to the fullest. The best way to do that is either training together with a group or venturing forth as an individual, however, both will be difficult. Due to such, the first step is to become stronger!

Objective - Slay 50 Monsters not allied with a King/Territory as a group or slay 25 monsters not allied with a King/Territory without any assistance of any kind

Reward - 10 stat points that can be placed wherever the player wants + a small hint to an artifact within the territory the player finishes the quest (Hints will differ from person to person) ]

Louis's Quest

[Beginner Quest Event 1/3

A new player, a new life, but there is danger ahead. You need to become strong enough to defend against any danger that will approach you soon. To do that, either team up with like-minded individuals or seek out strength within yourself. Draw out the hidden power and become stronger!

Objective - Slay 30 humanoid monsters (Small and/or Large monsters) as a group or slay 15 humanoid monsters without any assistance of any kind 

Reward - 10 stat points that can be placed wherever the player wants + a small hint to an artifact within the territory the player finishes the quest (Hints will differ from person to person)]

Scott's Quest

[Beginner Quest Event 1/3

Within this new world, you must strive to become someone stronger than before. Seek out new challenges and adventures either as a group or by yourself, but be warned… Danger lurks at every turn. Protect yourself and your allies by becoming their strength, and press forward, onwards!

Objective - Protect an ally 50 times from an incoming attack or pinpoint the weakness of 25 monsters and inflict critical damage upon them

Reward - 10 stat points that can be placed wherever the player wants + a small hint to an artifact within the territory the player finishes the quest (Hints will differ from person to person)]

Looking at their quests as well as contemplating the situation, I start to realize that the system behind Settlement has so cleverly integrated the movements of the new players into the already established system. Making the Beginner Quests was one way they wanted to fast forward the development of the new players, similar to how we made up our own 'Quests' and rewarded players for their achievements around the three villages.

Giving them an objective and a reward entices them to be more proactive, whether it deliberately pushes them into a more dangerous situation than they could have been wouldn't matter. After all, most people are driven by profits. Just like these three people here… 

Seeing their quests, I can probably see through their thoughts. Terrance just needs to be with a party, killing monsters regardless of their strength. Louis would want to be with a party seeking out goblins, which is probably why he was willing to tag along with 4 other random people. As for Scott, he would be fine with just blocking as many attacks for Terrance as possible while they seek out the 50 monsters. Easy quests, that could be completed in a group at little to no risk. 

"So? Can you help us? I'm sure Scott and Louis wouldn't mind giving you information on the artifact. Right guys?" - Terrance

"Sigh… Terrance is that any way to ask someone for a favor? But yes, you are right. I don't mind exchanging information for your help, Mr. Ian." - Scott

"I don't know these two guys that well, but from what I can see, it isn't unfavorable to trading information about my reward for your help. Heck, I feel like we are getting the better end of the bargain since we have no idea if the hint even helps you find the artifact." - Louis

"Hmm… I can see why you would want my help. It would make completing your quests extremely easy, and the exchange isn't that bad either… Alright, how about this? The quests look to be in three parts, for each part, I will revisit helping you depending on the objective of your quests. Of course, I will judge it fairly, however, if I refuse, you cannot beg for me to change my mind. Once I refuse. I refuse. Understand? Otherwise, I am willing to help the three of you for now." - Ian

"GOT IT! YES!!!!" - Terrance

"Thank you, Mr. Ian." - Scott

"Yea, thanks for helping us out! Otherwise, we would be running around again and maybe be ambushed by skeletons." - Louis

"Speaking of that, I did want to ask you about your encounter with the skeletons. Was that your first experience? And what was happening prior to my arrival." - Ian

"I'll speak for us. Prior to your arrival, we were traveling by foot from Everbloom, seeking out goblins, jackalopes, or wolves, since they were the common monsters described on the quest board. However, we noticed some movement ahead of us and decided to check it out in case it happened to be monsters we were capable of defeating in a team of 5. 

Approaching the clearing we evidently see a group of players fighting against skeletons a total of 8 of them. They fought for a while and managed to defeat 4 of them before dying, and while it may seem cowardly of us, we decided to wait until they died before fighting. After all, I wasn't sure if they would mistake us for monsters attacking from behind and attack us. However, I also underestimated the pressure the skeletons gave off on the rest of the party, which was the disorganized mess you saw right as you saved us." - Scott

"It wasn't that bad…" - Terrance

"I don't know about that, Terrance. We definitely could have or maybe even should have died there. Especially with those 2 girls leaving us behind." - Louis

"I guess you are right…" - Terrance

"Hmm… I see, so you weren't the first group to encounter the skeletons. Alright, that is fine. How are the three of you feeling right now? Are you capable of moving? Can we progress deeper into the forest? Or should we head back to Everbloom and regroup." - Ian

"I'm fine! Let's go deeper." - Terrance

"I'm fine as well, only slightly winded when Scott pushed me out of the way." - Louis

"No damages here. I've been through worse in the army, so I'm quite acquainted with lots of movement." - Scott

"Yo! You were in the army?! That's crazy cool." - Louis

"Thank you. However, I only served for a year, so don't expect too much." - Scott

"Don't say that, Scott. Any experience is experience. I didn't have any survival experience when I started, just gaming experience but it would have been great to know even just the basics. After all, with just the basics you can do a lot." - Ian

"What do you mean?" - Scott

"I've seen videos, so I'm not 100% sure about this information, but when you are in the army, you must have been through some survival courses right? What would you do in a forest with no weapons?" - Ian

"Yes, there is something similar to that. One of the more renowned ones would be from a good long while ago called SERE. A survival course for military personnel, where they are dropped into isolated locations to be told to return. While I have done something similar, I still had gear for that but I would sometimes have to make spears out of branches when I encounter something with a longer reach… Wait. Are you saying I can make my own weapons?" - Scott

"Exactly that. Isn't the rock in your hand before a weapon as well? Why can't you get a branch and make a spear?" - Ian

"I see. I see! I understand now, Mr. Ian. No. SIR! Thank you for this insight. I will get to making some suitable weapons now." - Scott

"Wait, what?" - Terrance

"Damn. Military mode in a second… What can I do?" - Louis

"Why don't the two of you help out Scott and learn a bit? I'll give you 30 minutes to an hour before we head out to complete the quest. Don't worry I won't leave you." - Ian

"Understood, Ian! WAIT UP SCOTT!" - Terrance

"If you say so, wait up Terrance! Scott!" - Louis