Sure, his "Past Life Memory" skill gave him an almost USB-like recall of everything he'd experienced in his previous life, but that didn't mean he was an expert on this world. He'd played through the main story, completed a bunch of character-specific side missions, and dabbled in a few activities here and there. But lore? The rich, hidden layers tucked behind random NPC interactions, obscure side quests, or the deep geography of the map? Not his forte.
The devil's in the details, he thought bitterly.
He remembered being too engrossed in Arthur Morgan's tragic journey, too obsessed with hunting down Micah, the snake who'd poisoned the Van der Linde gang from the inside. That obsession had driven him to rush through large parts of the game, skipping over world building details that might have been crucial now.
As he walked, his stomach growled, a sharp reminder of his immediate needs. He hadn't eaten since before his… accident, and the adrenaline that had carried him this far was starting to wear off. He needed food, water, and shelter, soon. Wandering aimlessly wasn't an option. He'd die of thirst, starvation, or worse if he didn't find civilization.
Just as the thought crossed his mind, he spotted something in the distance, a road sign. Relief washed over him, and he quickened his pace, his boots crunching against the dirt. The sign was old and weathered, the paint faded, but the words carved into it were still legible. Caleb's breath caught in his throat as he read them.
Valentine to the left. Emerald Ranch to the right.
"Valentine…" Caleb whispered, his voice tinged with disbelief. "Emerald Ranch…"
He stared at the sign, his mind racing. Valentine was a name he knew well. It was one of the first towns the Van der Linde gang had visited after fleeing Blackwater and settled down at Horseshoe Overlook after getting down from the snowy mountains.
A rough and tumble place full of cowboys, gamblers, and drunks. Emerald Ranch, on the other hand, was quieter, a small settlement with a strange, almost eerie vibe. He remembered it from the game, though the details were fuzzy as he didn't explore much there.
Caleb let out a long, slow breath, his shoulders relaxing slightly. At least now he had a direction. He couldn't just wander aimlessly, he needed a plan. But which way should he go? Valentine was closer, and it was a town, which meant people, supplies, and maybe even work.
But it also meant trouble. The place was a powder keg, and he didn't have the skills or resources to handle himself in a fight. Emerald Ranch was quieter, but it had its own share of mysteries. He remembered something about a locked up girl and a creepy old man, but the details were hazy.
"Decisions, decisions," Caleb muttered, rubbing the back of his neck. He needed to think this through. Walking into Valentine's without a plan could be a disaster. He didn't have any money, no weapons except the skills the system had given him, and no real way to defend himself if things went south.
On the other hand, wandering around the wilderness wasn't exactly a safe bet either. He'd seen enough of the game to know that the world was full of dangers like wolves, bears, bandits, and worse.
As he stood there, weighing his options, a sound caught his attention. Hoofbeats. Distant, but unmistakable. Caleb's head snapped up, his heart rate spiking. He scanned the horizon, his eyes narrowing as he tried to pinpoint the source of the noise. A rider? A group of riders? He couldn't tell yet, but he knew one thing for sure, he wasn't ready to face anyone, friend or foe.
"Time to make a choice," he muttered, his voice tight with urgency. He glanced back at the road sign, then down at his hands. They were trembling slightly, a reminder of just how out of his depth he was. But he couldn't afford to freeze up now. He had to move.
With a deep breath, Caleb turned left, heading toward Valentine. It was the safer bet, he decided. At least in town, he could blend in, find work, and maybe even get his hands on a gun. Out here, he was a sitting duck.
The hoofbeats grew louder as he walked, the sound echoing through the quiet landscape. Caleb kept his head down, his eyes darting nervously toward the road. He didn't want to draw attention to himself, but he also didn't want to be caught off guard.
His mind raced, trying to remember everything he could about Valentine. It was a rough town, full of cowboys, gamblers, and drunks. The saloon was the heart of the place, but it was also where trouble tended to brew. He'd need to be careful.
As he walked, the system window flickered into view again, as if sensing his unease. Caleb glanced at it, his eyes scanning the information. His stats were still the same, Strength: 6, Agility: 6, Perception: 8, Stamina: 5, Charm: 4, Luck: 5. Not terrible, but not great either. He'd need to improve if he wanted to survive in this world.
"Alright, Caleb," he muttered under his breath. "You've got this. Just keep your head down, stay out of trouble, and figure out your next move."
The hoofbeats were closer now, and Caleb could see a cloud of dust rising in the distance. He quickened his pace, his boots kicking up small puffs of dirt as he walked. He didn't want to run, that would only make him look suspicious, but he didn't want to linger either.
As he rounded a bend in the road, the town of Valentine came into view. It was just as he remembered it from the game, a cluster of wooden buildings, a saloon with a swinging sign, and a general store with a hitching post out front.
The place was alive with activity, horses tied up outside the saloon, people milling about, and the faint sound of a piano drifting through the air.
Caleb hesitated at the edge of town, his heart pounding. This was it. His first real test in this world. He adjusted his hat, pulled the bandana up over his nose, and took a deep breath. Then, with a determined stride, he stepped into Valentine.
The town was louder than he'd expected, the air thick with the smell of sweat, tobacco, and alcohol. Caleb kept his head down, his eyes scanning the crowd as he walked. He needed to find a place to lay low, maybe get some food and water.
But first, he needed to figure out where he was in the timeline. Was the Van der Linde gang already here? Had they moved on? Or they haven't arrived yet? He couldn't remember exactly when they'd passed through Valentine, but he knew it had been early in the game.
As he walked, a voice called out to him. "Hey, stranger! You new in town?"
Caleb froze, his heart skipping a beat. He turned slowly, his hand instinctively reaching for a gun that wasn't there. A man stood a few feet away, leaning against a post with a cigarette dangling from his lips. He was dressed in a dusty coat and a wide brimmed hat, his eyes sharp and calculating.
"Uh, yeah," Caleb said, forcing a smile. "Just passing through."
The man studied him for a moment, then nodded. "Well, welcome to Valentine. Watch yourself here stranger, this town ain't for the faint of heart."
Caleb nodded, his throat dry. "Thanks for the warning." As the man walked away, Caleb let out a shaky breath. This was going to be harder than he thought.
Caleb stood at the edge of Valentine, his heart pounding as he took in the bustling town. The air was thick with the scent of tobacco, sweat, and alcohol, and the sound of a piano tinkling from the saloon mixed with the chatter of townsfolk and the occasional whinny of horses.
He adjusted his hat, pulling it lower over his eyes, and tightened the bandana around his neck. The last thing he needed was to draw attention to himself.
He needed information, specifically, whether the Van der Linde gang had already passed through Valentine. If they had, it meant they were likely camped at Horseshoe Overlook, and he could start piecing together where he was in the timeline.
But if they hadn't arrived yet, it meant he was earlier in the story, and that could change everything. The problem was, he didn't want to waltz into the saloon and start asking questions. That was a surefire way to attract trouble, and trouble was the last thing he needed right now.
Instead, Caleb decided to blend in and gather information quietly. He needed work, too. His stomach growled again, a sharp reminder that he hadn't eaten in who knows how long. Money, food, and a place to lay low were his immediate priorities. He scanned the town, his eyes landing on the general store. That seemed like a good place to start.
As he walked toward the store, he kept his head down, his hands tucked into the pockets of his dusty trousers. He passed a group of men lounging outside the saloon, their voices loud and boisterous. One of them glanced his way, and Caleb quickened his pace, his heart skipping a beat. He couldn't afford to get into a confrontation, not now.
The general store was a modest wooden building with a sign that read "Worth's General Store" hanging above the door. Caleb pushed the door open, the bell above it jingling softly. The store was dimly lit, shelves lined with canned goods, tools, and other supplies. A man stood behind the counter, his sleeves rolled up as he sorted through a stack of papers.
Caleb approached the counter, clearing his throat. The man looked up, his eyes narrowing slightly as he took in Caleb's appearance. "Can I help you, stranger?"
"Yeah," Caleb said, forcing a friendly smile. "I'm new in town, looking for work. You know anyone who might be hiring?"
The man studied him for a moment, then shrugged. "Not much work around here unless you're willing to get your hands dirty. You any good with a shovel or an axe?"
Caleb nodded. "I can handle manual labor. Anything to get started."
The man scratched his chin, thinking. "Well, there's always work at the stables, Amos Levi's Blacksmith and Farrier. They're always looking for help mucking out stalls and tending to the horses. Pays a pittance, but it's honest work."
"Thanks," Caleb said, nodding. "I'll check it out."
As he turned to leave, the man called after him. "You might also try the butcher shop. They're always looking for help with deliveries and such. Just don't expect a warm welcome, old Bob runs a tight ship."
He nodded hearing this, muttering a quick thanks before stepping back out into the sunlight. The stables were his first stop. They were located on the outskirts of town, a large wooden structure with several horses tied up outside.
A man in a worn leather apron was brushing down a chestnut mare, his movements slow and deliberate. Caleb approached cautiously, not wanting to startle the horse.
"Excuse me," he said, his voice calm. "I heard you might be looking for help around here."
The man looked up, his eyes narrowing as he sized Caleb up. "You any good with horses?"
"I can handle the basics," Caleb replied. "Mucking stalls, feeding, grooming. I'm a quick learner."
The man grunted, setting the brush down. "Alright. I'll give you a trial run. You work hard, I'll pay you fair. You slack off, you're out. Deal?"
"Deal," Caleb said, nodding. He needed the work, and this was as good a place as any to start.
The man handed him a shovel and pointed toward the stables. "Start with the stalls. When you're done, I'll show you the rest."
Caleb got to work, the physical labor helping to clear his mind and in the hope of leveling attributes or at least attempted to level it up. As he shoveled manure and spread fresh hay, he kept his ears open, listening to the conversations around him.
The stable hands talked about the usual things, the weather, the horses, the latest gossip from the saloon. But there was no mention of the Van der Linde gang, no whispers of outlaws or Pinkertons.
When he finished the stalls, the stable master, a gruff man named Amos Levi, ,showed him how to feed and water the horses. Caleb paid close attention, knowing that any skill he could pick up would be valuable in this world. As they worked, he casually brought up the topic of newcomers in town.
"Seems like a quiet place," Caleb said, brushing down a bay gelding. "You get many strangers passing through?"
Levi shrugged. "Now and then. Mostly cowhands looking for work, or drifters passing through. Why? You expecting someone?"
"No, just curious," Caleb said quickly. "I'm new to the area, trying to get a feel for the place."
Levi grunted, clearly uninterested in small talk. "Well, if you're looking for excitement, you won't find much here. Valentine's a working town. Folks keep to themselves."
Caleb nodded, filing the information away. If the Van der Linde gang had been here, it seemed they hadn't made much of an impression or they hadn't arrived yet. By the time the sun began to dip below the horizon, Caleb's arms ached, and his stomach was growling louder than ever.
__________________________________
Name: Caleb Thorne
Age: 23
Body Attributes:
- Strength: 6/10
- Agility: 6/10
- Perception: 8/10
- Stamina: 5/10
- Charm: 4/10
- Luck: 5/10
Skills:
- Handgun (Lvl 1)
- Rifle (Lvl 1)
- Firearms Knowledge (Lvl 2)
- Past Life Memory (Lvl MAX)