To the library it is, then! You have an easy time getting there since the streets are mostly empty, due to it still being a work day, and make it to the large, perfectly square building made of glass. Inside you find a vast expanse of literature and data-disks all packed in shelves with ladders. The only staff in the building seems to be the one bored librarian you see manning the desk. She seems to be half asleep with a cup of coffee next to her.
First, you need books on the surrounding area. Again, most of these are for tourists, but you find one that lists many historical military sites and current military bases. There is also a very detailed, multi-paged map that lists every road and street and even underground tunnels and sewers. You find an address book that lists almost every residence with the people living there.
The next books you need are ones that could possibly make you less of a social outcast. You find a good book on social norms and various modern slang and vernacular. You feel like you could do much better at speaking than before, granting you a +2 in charisma. This book was pretty rare, though, and everything else isn't probably worth your time.
You check the books out with the half-asleep librarian and head on your merry way. You make your way to the local Knight's camp just outside town. The place isn't as swarmed with recruits like it was a few days ago. You grab a passing Knight and ask him where everyone's gone.
"They all left on a mission, sir. I can't spare the details," the Knight says monotonously. It seems this is one of those vat-cloned Knights.
"Oh. Anyways, who's in charge here?"
"Commander Olaf, sir. Right in that big tent straight ahead. Commander Sven left with the main force."
You thank the Knight and head for the commander's tent. You didn't need to thank him, since he doesn't really have feelings, but its good practice for your new-found charisma. You enter the tent and bow gently as the commander looks up from his computer and papers. Commander Olaf is broad-shouldered, big-bellied with bigger arms and has a grizzled, scarred face.
"How can I help you, boy? Here to join the Knights?"
"No, sir. I just want to know where we can find some rogue or corrupt data. And end it."
The commander arches a half-singed eyebrow. "Why would you want to know that?"
You use your newly learned skills to bluff this man. [Charisma: 9/9] "One of the miners under my watch lost his life to a corrupted data worm. I want to make sure this doesn't happen to any other innocent person again."
The commander stares at you for a while, breathes and exhales, and pulls out a paper from the stack on his desk. "I know what you're going through, boy, and believe me I was just as angry as you were. I'm not going to stop you, only you can do that, but you need to watch yourself. I've heard news of something in the forest nearby. People going in don't seem to come back out. If you can find out what it is and find a way to stop it, the Knights will be sure to reward you."
"Thank you, Commander Olaf."
"Be careful, boy. Don't overestimate yourself."
You grin widely as you turn around and walk away. You feel your muscles bulging and your teeth growing sharper. "Don't worry, sir. It's going to be a beautiful night tonight."
Name: Damon L. Breckenridge, "The August Ghost"
Background: Before, when the Gods still walked the earth and he was firmly under their heel, he was known only by a simple number: No. 317. He was allowed no pride, no wherewithal to stand for his beliefs or defend that which he cared for, as it could all be taken away in the blink of an eye. But now, with the rise of the Great Wolf once again, he shall be 317 no longer. In public he takes the name Damon, but he is and will always be The August Ghost, the venerable pillar of mankind's unwavering spirit, and he shall languish beneath the yoke of the Gods no more.
Age: 34
Gender: Male
Appearance: Caucasian, 6 feet 5 inches tall. Completely bald except for a thin beard and mustache. Has a brand on the back of his neck that spells out the number '317', but this number bears a /-shaped slash scar across it, to signify his freedom. Prefers to wear earth-toned clothes, particularly a dark green button-down T-shirt and brown pants with black leather belt. Tends to wear a white scarf around his neck to cover up the number and the accompany scar. His wolf form has unbroken white fur, and is somewhat larger than other wolves.
Stats:
Strength [13]
Perception [7]
Endurance [17]
Charisma [9]
Intelligence [8]
Agility [8]
Luck [5]
Perks: Regeneration [15], Mithril Implants [15], Wolf's Den (T1)[5]
(All skills improve with time and use.)
Identify [Ability to detect the identity and basic information of commoners and basic knights.]
Signal Tapping [Ability to detect the surrounding area and estimate the number of units inside. Doesn't work for areas without signals.]
Scan [A basic scan to get an overview of your status.]
Hack [A basic hack to get into local databanks or poorly protected areas. Has a chance of being spotted.]
Port [Allows you to instantly travel back and forth from your wolf's den to your previous location.]
Fighting [Fighting corrupted data has allowed you to have a basic idea of fighting.]
Basic clothing
Miner uniform
Knife [+1 to strength]
Defensive Sword [+2 to strength. +1 to endurance.]
149 Credits [Credits are used for everything. 5 credits gives you a decent room to sleep in or something to eat. You can earn more by working or hacking into databanks.]
((It will be a full moon tonight. You will change gradually, starting with fur, teeth and claws, then with larger body size, then losing yourself, and so on. You can try to reverse a stage of your change by rolling for Endurance each time. The forest is about an hour away from where you are right now, and the sun is setting.))