***I started playing minecraft over a year ago, then my computer went glitchy and refused to play it except with EXTREME lag. I recently replaced my computer so have joyfully began playing minecraft again. I returned to these forums to see what I had missed, and discovered the Mercenary Challenge, I was instantly fascinated, and took a day out to tweak the challenge into something I was very much looking forward to doing with a bunch of quests.
I ran to a distant area of my world from where I was digging a massive quarry, removed all my gear, made wooden tools and weapons and leather armor, and found a village. This adventure will be told in parts - I will show the "quest" my adventurer is on, and then write out his diary description of what happened, and then show pictures. This first post will be an accumulation of all the stage one quests.***
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Day 1:
It seems ages ago when I sat at the campfire with my father – he a mighty warrior, me just a stripling lad. He told me wonderful stories of ancient warriors fighting for a land of truth and beauty and honor named Avalon. And then he paused, looked at me with that penetrating gaze of his, and spoke words of prophecy.
“One day, my son, you will find yourself alone. Without hearth or home. When this happens, remember a warrior is useless with no one to defend. When this happens, find someone to defend.”
The memory of those words is bitter ash on my tongue now. It has been months since I I have seen my home and family. I don’t remember how I got here in this strange world. I don’t remember anything from falling asleep in my bed to waking up here, alone. For what feels like months, I have journeyed alone. Trying to find SOMEONE and finding no one.
But now I am on the top of a cliff, overlooking the valley below and remembering the wise words of my father.
I have found to defend. To call home.
And I believe I have found it. After days of travelling in the wilderness, what do I see when I break from a forest line?
My future home.
I know not what they call it now. But I will one day rule this place, and my first rule is that it be named Avalon.
Quest: Night Watchman
Upon arrival at the village, you hear grumbling about night raiding zombies. Upon seeing your weapon and armor, the village council seeks to hire you as a security guard, offering you free lodging in one of the town’s empty homes.
Requirements: Remain awake for a night fighting invaders. Make periodic patrols around the village at night on other nights to ensure it remains safe.
Reward: Free lodging
As soon as I arrived in the village, my weapons and armor caught attention, poor as they may be. It seems this lovely town is the constant target of zombies, creepers, and killer skeletons. I am not surprised, these deadly creatures show up everywhere there are people. I was quickly hired on to secure the town against these creatures, and in return was given free lodging.
That first night was brutal. I have never seen an infestation as bad as this. Several times I was forced to retreat and recover before going back out again.
I have never been so glad to see the sweet, precious pink of dawn before.
There were several misplaced explosions from some creepers who gave me trouble, and most of the morning I assisted with repairs. I expected more anger over the damage from the villagers, but they were just happy that there were no deaths or break-ins that night.
The value these people place on their security was clear. I was given a good place, actually the nicest house in town.
I do not expect to need it for long, though. I will build my own home. But first, it seems the local smith has requested a meeting with me and the town council. I heard a rumor they have another project in mind for me.
**Man, fighting creepers with a wooden sword is tough! I always have Iron before I dare engage in combat. ***
Quest: Keeping out the riffraff
You just got off duty after a hard night of fighting when the village smithy approaches you. He tells you that the villagers have been increasingly threatened by the intruding creatures of the night, and that something must be done about the threat. Is this your first contract?
Requirements: You must build a wall around your neighboring village. It must be able to keep out all hostile mobs except spiders, and you must light up the interior of said village to make it (almost) completely secure. Once it's finished, the smith will reward you.
Reward: The smith is extremely pleased with your work. In gratitude, he teaches you how to make armor and weapons out of stone!
Day 2: I have been hired to build a security perimeter around the village. I spent a few hours over planning and land surveying before I began. Right now, due to the intensity of the infestation around this town it is important to get SOMETHING up first. Then I will strengthen and refine it.
Day 6:
The wall is finally finished.
For starting materials, I used simple cobblestone. There was a massive pile of abandoned cobblestone behind the smith’s shop, and he was perfectly willing to give it up. For now, the village has three gated entries, but I have blocked off all but one, and that one I block at night. The first night after the wall was completed was a far more restful one than I had before, but I noticed some intruders still managed to slip over the wall, so the next day and night I set out what felt like hundreds of torches for lighting.
Tonight, for the first time, I heard children playing outside after dusk, and when I patrolled near the well a little before midnight I saw two old widows sitting there chatting.
It is nice to see how quickly I have managed to make a difference in these people’s lives, and there gratitude and affection in return is refreshing.
I stopped by the smithy to speak to him about the success off the wall and go over my plans for improving it. He thought the plans excellent, but says I will need better tools. He will teach me how to make stronger tools. That should make the work a LOT easier.
Quest: Community Agriculture
The town farms are open to all citizens who work in it. You are busy fighting, but the townspeople agree if you add to the farms, then you can make use of the community farms.
Requirements: Add a new fruit/vegetable to the town farms.
Reward: Can utilize the town farms.
Day 7: I was unpleasantly surprised to find I was out of dried meat and bread this morning. I have little time for hunting right now, so I went to the smith, who has become my friend. His name is Will Durant, and he has a lovely wife and two young children. I inquired about the local farming. He informed me they are community farms, and only villagers who assist in tending to them can use them. He mentioned he could probably get enough support so I can use them without tending them, but I don’t like to take advantage of people’s gratitude. At the same time, I do not have time to tend to the farms regularly.
Will and I arrived at an agreeable alternative. So I have went out and hunted down some pumpkins from the hills not too far from the town – but too far for the villagers to risk going. And I am building a new farm for the pumpkins. I am using a similar style to the other village farms, but this one will be larger and better.
Why pumpkins? I am hoping someone knows how to make pumpkin pie. I have a weakness for pumpkin pie…
Quest: Cold winter nights
The villagers know at the door of your domain. The nights are cold and they lack the strength to hunt the wild sheep that roam the wilderness. They plead to catch a few of them and raise a building to keep them in. So that the villagers can use their wool to make clothes and warmer blankets.
Requirements.
Build a barn and bring/raise 6 sheep inside. Add a chest full of wheat to feed the sheep and a pair of shears.
Reward:
Thanks to the heavy work of the villagers, they now have a regular supply of wool for you that you can use in the decoration/building of your home.
Day 14:
Several days ago Will approached me on behalf of the council. It seems this town used to be well known for their wool, but over the last year the night creatures killed all the sheep, and creepers destroyed their barn. It got so dangerous and expensive, the town simply stopped replacing the sheep. I had noticed a few stragglers in the nearby hills, but thought nothing of it. But Will is worried. The town’s supply of wool is exhausted, and things will get very cold next winter without any. The town council has asked if I am able to build a barn and help keep it safe.
I took a day to draw up some plans and rounded up some of the best sheep and get them into a hollow for now. Then I started working. Most of the time was spent in the nearby swamps and forests chopping wood, the barn is a strong one but requires a lot of oak wood. After the barn was completed, with some stalls for pregnant ewes and sickly sheep, I fenced off a good sized pasture and small lake around the barn. Yesterday I drove the sheep to the barn, and put them in the pasture. They seem quite contented. Last night I climbed on the wall and checked. Night creatures were all around, but couldn’t get at the sheep.
The town is absolutely delighted, and they take turns taking care of the sheep so I don’t have to bother with that. As a result of my work I have been promised all the wool I can use, and some good woolen blankets after shearing – all at no cost to me.
1
Nice builds. I really like your style
1
Very interesting read! I'm looking forward to the next chapter of your quest
1
The wiki says: "2×2 spruce trees require a 5×5 column of unobstructed space at least 14 blocks above the saplings to grow (15 blocks including the saplings themselves). This column is centered on the northwestern sapling. A 3×3 area is required at the base of the tree (the level of the saplings)."
try making the hole wider.
1
I love all your builds. Excelent work!
1
Great work man! Congratulations
1
Amazing world dude! I really liked your style. Say hello to Severino for me
1
I suggest you put some pictures, mano. I want to see your work but I don't want to download anything
1
Looks like you found *put sunglasses on* a Sea Horse. yeahhhh
2
People fly when playing in Creative Mode. In creative Mode you fly, enemies don't atack and you have infinite resources to build.
To farm animals need food to breed. Cows and Sheep need wheat, pigs need carrots, chicken need seeds, cats need fish and wolves need meet.
To orientate yourself you can craft a compass. The Compass point towards your original spawn point. Since worlds in the XBox aren't infinite like in the PC this should suffice.
By the way, Welcome to the game!
1
I'm glad that I'm able to help :). Carrots and Potatoes are rare drops from zombies (but I don't know if they are present in the console versions). Cats spawn in jungle and are a pain to tame... you also can find all sort of usefull info in the wiki: http://minecraft.gamepedia.com/Minecraft_Wiki