The City: PuzzleLocked Book 1

Flor woke in a boat making its way toward an island.

One more failed experiment. Sleeping in a bed does not progress the day to tomorrow. So, our goal today is to talk to Klaos about…something. And then figure out if we can help that thug from the bar. Seems a bit disparate. Here we go…skip the cut scene. Yes. Skip tutorial. Yes. Puzzle.

Your rage increased by 1.

Alright, more rage. Now, before I find Alastair, which one is Klaos?

A stocky, shorter man was further down the street, huddled against the rain. Two lackeys trailed him on either side. Probably the oarsmen. Well, here I go. Follow suit Alastair.

Flor hurried after the man, not wanting to bring attention to herself or startle the Lieutenant or his oarsmen, who looked like they could pummel her easily. As she hustled, someone joined her, dressed in the same normal shirt dress she was wearing. She looked to her left and almost gasped in surprise at Alastair. He was short and fat today, and wearing glasses. Surely he would be more aware of wearing glasses than he had of having a horrendous scar across his brow the day before. She’d done her best not to mention it but figured he’d know anyway.

“We’re gaining on him. Let’s try to get him before the clock tower.”

“What is the focus of our questioning? Although I’m not hungover, my memories are blurring together.”

“Trying to find out if we have more of a character backstory than simply ‘released prisoners.’ And maybe something about the war that is going on in the background. I don’t want to ask about the kidnapping of boys and girls just yet, but maybe he has something to do with that, also.”

“Which is funny. Arguably, they could bring in prisoners from off-island and make them disappear. Why kidnap children?”

“No idea. Alright, here’s the temple. He’s going in. Let’s chat with the oarsmen and see if we can get him on exit. Hey, you!” Alastair addressed Oarsman 1. “Was that Lieutenant Klaos that just went in there?”

“Yeah, what of it?”

“I was wondering if I could ask him a question when he comes out.”

“Look, mate, he’s tired, and so are we. We’ve been up all night rowing your convicted persons across the sea. It’s time to sleep, after Boats gets his blessings, of course.”

“Well, you are a wealth of knowledge. Maybe you can answer my questions instead of me needing to bug the Lieutenant?”

“I’ll try, but if he comes out, we’re leaving.”

“Why can’t we remember who we were before?”

“Shouldn’t say, but since you’re already here, it was probably a mind-eraser potion.”

“So, we did something horrible enough to require mind erasing?”

“I didn’t pay attention to the details,” said Oarsman 1.

“How far away are we from the war?”

The oarsman turned suspicious at this. “Thinking of being a defector, huh? To the north? Good luck swimming across the sea full of hungry sea beasts.”

“No, it’s just the…mind-eraser potion…must have also erased my memory of the world at large.”

“Sucks to be you.” His expression softened a bit. “Look, I was fortunate to get a reprieve from activities directly supporting the war. It’s messy up there, bloody, stinky, terrible. Be glad you’re alive here and not there. Hopefully, it’ll be over before this tour ends so I don’t have to go back toward the front, because even behind the front lines is awful. Now, I expect Boats to be out in a moment. It’d be better for all of us if you buggered off before he came out.”

“Couple of quick last questions. Do you have a name? And does your friend speak?”

“I go by Pocks. That Jubs. He doesn’t speak much. Just like your skinny lady friend over there. Now off with you.”

“Thanks, Pocks.” Alastair walked to Flor. “Should we eat or go directly to puzzle solving?”

“We’re not far from the prison tavern. Let’s grab a quick slop and discuss what Pocks told us.”

“Are we abandoning Klaos?”

“For now. But maybe we’ll need him later.”

Over slop, she said, “What did he mean by skinny lady friend?”

“You’re thin. Overly thin. It’s not off-putting, but doesn’t look healthy.”

“Oh! And you’re quite cute with your crew cut and button nose.”

“I think we’ve filled the full assortment of basic body types. I wonder if we continue to change daily or rotate in a set order.”

“I’m still uncertain what you’re talking about.”

“We have the time, but I’ll save it for later since there are more pressing things.”

“Like mind erasing?” she said.

“It’s a silly, in-game contrivance to justify that we show up without a backstory. Lazy of the developers.”

“What about Pocks being eloquent? That’s unlike the other unnamed NPCs we’ve seen. And he named himself?”

Alastair said, “That’s more tricky. It might be something like a drone-plus, programmed to have slightly more interactions than the generic drones because the devs anticipated he might be asked more than one question. I’ll defer to you on the practicality of programming.”

Flor said, “Or they’re all like that and we haven’t explored it yet. What about the war?”

“Pocks didn’t mention anything specific to differentiate this from any other war. There could be elephants involved, trench warfare, or even rockets. He didn’t give us any indicators on which.”

“Probably due to limited programming. Have you heard the antidote that once men turn thirty, they have to specialize in either barbecuing, the civil war, or …I forgot what the third one is?”

“Maybe competitive dance-offs? That sounds similar to the one about once you turn thirty you have to have an airline that is arbitrarily your nemesis.”

“So, should we put a shed and a garden in order?”

“Lets. And then grab a croissant and head to the tavern to see if we can find Irving before it’s too late.”