Walking into his house, loaded with groceries, Tony Farquhar noted as passing the hall mirror that he seemed a little jaded. Average looking in the morning's jeans and a polo shirt, more for comfort than style. 

  Tony looked forward to the afternoon when he could pretend to be someone heroic and unconnected to the hardware store where he spent his working life. Today was the Role Playing Club; Tony's avatar is either an Engineer or a Wizard using Artifact magic; these at least used some of the skills he had learnt in his work.

  Tony had just finished packing away my morning shopping when a knock came at the door. "Bother who could that be?" Tony asked himself, dreading a pair of  JWs or worse Mormons.

  However, standing at the door was Edmond, standing dignified and composed. Ed is the Gamemaster of the Club where Tony spent Saturday afternoons, sometimes running into the evenings.

 "Ed? Come in," I said, "What's up?"

  "Good day, Tony. I am dropping off the kit for today," Ed said, "The mystery is laid out in the box with the items you will need. I won't spoil the surprise by handing too much information out."

 With that, he waved and left the house, leaving me puzzled. Typically when the team turned up for a session, the gear for the day's scenario was waiting in each team member's locker. The team then had a few minutes to guess what the game for the session was; sometimes, this meant still struggling with the accessories while entering the game.

 This process either enhanced the buildup or led to frustration as each learnt the assigned role. Lately, there had been some grumbling, a couple, including Tony, were considering dropping out and finding something else to fill the Saturdays.

 While Tony sat down to eat lunch, he decided to open the box to see what was in it.

  A computer tablet in a bag, belt with fancy buckle, a pair of arm braces and jacket; lastly, at the bottom was a carry sack.

 This last meant the game would involve some exercise, rather than watching a screen rolling the dice, while seated at a table. Ed had a large shed where he set out the 'live-action' games, a two-tier network of rooms and corridors allowed for movement between melees. Some of his games must take a significant amount of preparation, though as far as Tony knew, this was his sole activity. The fee for teams was moderate and well within average people's budget.

   Behind the shed, there was an extensive garden adjoining a nature park; some of the contemporary settings had the team wandering through the bush while a work crew set a new stage. Completing the loop via a different gate would then place the team in a unique context to broaden the game; the park only used as a track with no activities permitted.

  Initialising the computer tablet, Tony read the text, which began to itemise the equipment and how he should wear it.

 Tony was familiar with this; as depending on the background, the items had several functions. The staff was a trekking pole in a contemporary timeline and a Wizard's staff in D&D when a crystal replaced the handle and extending it to 1.7 metres. Similarly, the belt and armbraces performed different roles as required.

 The text stipulated that the team were to be wearing the gear before entering the shed and not to discuss the day with fellow Gamers. Typically the team chats over the phone beforehand to see who was coming and theorise what would be the game this time. Ed often made exotic conditions as a build-up to the scene.

  Tony supposed he would find out on arrival at Ed's house. He dressed in his game clothes and made the way there.

  Tony found the team waiting, looking as puzzled.

  "What do you reckon?" Sue asked.

 "Hush, we aren't supposed to guess," Noel said, "Ed is here, we will soon know."

   "Good afternoon all, step this way for the adventure," Ed announced, as he opened the door to the shed and waved them in. 

  As we assembled in the foyer where Ed kept the lockers; he pointed to these and said, "Inside you will find virtual goggles, please put them on and follow me."

  I grabbed mine and could still see the room, rather than a blank screen like regular ones.

   "Step this way," Ed said as he opened the door into the stage area, "Now do you see the special effects?"

  There was a chorus of 'yes', as the walls looked like a tavern complete with a bar and customers drinking, talking and eating. The room was now full of people dressed as Medieval soldiers, monks etcetera, the figures likely NPCs disappeared as Tony lifted the glasses and viewed the room which resolved into the standard open area with hangings covering the walls. 

 "No peeking," Ed admonished as he caught a few, "Allow the video to play out and set the theme."

   A woman NPC (live actress/waitress) walked over and addressed our group, "Welcome to the Grumbling Rocks, would you like to sit down while I take your orders?" She asked, indicating a bench with a row of empty seats waiting.

  Ed said, "Drinks all round, please, Alice. Has anyone been looking for a team for a quest?" 

 "I will ask and send them over, call me if you need anything," Alice said as she moved off to order the drinks; she knew our preferences as we were regulars.

 The team sat down and waited for the next move; it wasn't long, and a dubious looking character sidled over and sat down on a vacant seat at the table. This man spoke out of the corner of his mouth loud enough to be heard, "I am Tom  Giles, and I have a botheration at my farm near the cemetery. " 

 "What is your problem?" Tony asked as the spokesman, "Would you like us to deal with it?"

 "My animals in the barn are being harassed every night. It is putting the cows off milk and the chickens off the lay," Farmer Giles said.

 Glancing around at each other as this wasn't the usual type of task we would pursue, then Ed made an exaggerated nod to encourage, all the others joined in, if not enthusiastically. Taking the lead, Tony said, "It seems we have a quest. Could we have some details?"

 "Yes, my farm is about a mile up the road towards the forest," Farmer Giles said, "I am not rich, but I can cover your expenses."

 "You will receive experience points," Ed added, receiving 'of course' looks from the team. 

 The first stage set, Ed now withdrew to the control room; leaving us to organise ourselves.

 Acting as the senior magic-user, Tony asked, "Farmer Giles, would you guide us to your farm?"

  This action decided, once we had finished our drinks, the team rose and gathered at the doorway to follow Giles' path.

  With Tom and Gwen (huntsmen) leading as scouts, Tony as the wizard spokesman with Farmer Giles, Sue (elf) and Noel (monk) next, last were Harold and Jill (barbarian and warrior). Giles pointed up the road, and we sorted ourselves out and headed that way.

 The team made good progress, and Giles said, "That's my farm, over there the barn and here are the tracks left each night." Giles pointed at rather large indentations in the ground.

 Tony's role was supplying insights into physical signs; he pulled out his tablet to compare the prints. The answer he found wasn't too reassuring. It was consistent with a water troll, just within the team's capabilities. The tracks led towards the dam; Tony waved Harold and Jill forward. Then directed Tom and Gwen to take up a position on a hillock to cover the team with their bows. Sue and Brian would take a point a little back to throw blessings to confuse any attack and keep watch for intruders. 

 Approaching the dam where the prints disappeared, Tony extracted an item from his pouch, made some esoteric motions and chanted a complicated formula before hurling a capsule into the centre of the water. An eruption of colourful bubbles and fumes burst up with a roar. Very impressive, Tony had outdone himself, receiving a clap from the team for the performance.

  "Heads up, people, that should get him bolting out," Tony warned.

  That settled them down in time for the next stage which soon happened as the water erupted again and a large shape rose up, streaming water everywhere, requiring the team to retreat to drier ground.

 The troll stomped out of the dam and roared its' defiance, catching sight of his tormentors he roared again and charged. Tony threw a smoke spell to obscure the troll's vision while Sue and Noel threw binding spells to hinder it while the two warriors drove their shields into his arms shocking him to a halt while they swung the swords to start the task of disabling the troll. As the beast had natural armour, the team and monster exchanged several blows; the Troll had landed a couple of hits on our two. As the Troll attacked Harold, Jill delivered telling cuts, and between the two had the monster subdued.

  Farmer Giles came running over once the dust had settled, "Thank you, oh thank you, is that the only one?" He asked.

 Tony sent Tom and Gwen for a survey around the pond.

 Tom completed his ground search and said, "That is all the tracks I could find."

 "Excellent work, here is a small sum, all I can afford," Giles offered.

  "We always help the needy as part of our quests," Tony assured, "Would you know of any other problems that other of your friends may have?"

 "Let me think, oh yes Evan Brown over the creek has a similar problem," Giles said, "His farm is just over the bridge, you will see the house from the top of the hill."

"Onward to the next quest," Tony said as the team resumed travel, leaving Giles to tend to his farming.

 Approaching the bridge, yes a house and barn came into view, a bridge is often the bone of contention as it is a natural chokepoint for an ambush.

 It was no surprise that a bunch of rowdies emerged from the bushes on the approach and menaced the team.

 "Seven coins toll, before you cross," The leader demanded.

 "And if we don't pay?" Harold rumbled, "Little man?" As he flexed his muscles and played with his blade.

 "Umm, I have archers in the bushes," The Leader said if not as confident.

   "Sorry, were you talking about these?" Tom asked, "I think they need a little more sleep." And a couple of louts tumbled out of the bushes with Tom and Gwen following wearing grins.

  Harold and Jill stepped forward and knocked the three standing on the road out with the flats of their swords. These were all frisked, their money and weapons collected.

 Tom said, "They have been busy. A nice little sum." 

 "Perhaps they may turn their energy to useful employment?" Gwen suggested, "They are useless at this task, picking on a large troop."

"If we are ready, onward to Farmer Brown's house and see what he has for us," Tony said, crossing the bridge to the farm on the left.

  Farmer Brown came out of his front door and hailed the team. He said, "Well met, could you help me with my farm?"

 "If it is to remove large vermin? Yes," Gwen answered.

 "Indeed that is my sorrow, each evening a bunch of dwarfs raid my farm trying to carry off my stock," Brown said, "It is all I can do to discourage them by herding the stock into the barn, and they get bolder each day."

"Would you know where they hide in the day?" Tom asked, "How many have you seen?"

 "At least ten, perhaps there are more. The dwarfs have left a clear path into the forest, I haven’t followed far," Brown said, "Though I can show where the trail leaves my farm."

 "Then lead on, and we will chase them away for you," Tony said.

  Following Farmer Brown's directions; it was easy to follow the tracks leading into the scrub. 

 "Caution, look out for an Ambush," Tom said, signalling for Gwen to cover him as he led the team along the path. The brush on each side precluded patrolling parallel; it meant only single file progress.

 As Tom saw a clearing ahead, he signalled a halt and Tony forward. 

  "It widens ahead, the best place to set an Ambush," Tom whispered, "I would have an armed troop ready to sweep down from the side and Bowmen at the end to cover." 

 "Okay, if you two scout ahead to see if the dwarfs are doing that and let us know," Tony directed. "We will go to cover while you do this, then we will roll up the end."

 Tom gave the thumbs up and waved Gwen to start into the scrub; while Tony gave the signal to seek cover while they waited.

 After a short time, the two scouts crept back to report; Tom whispered, "Yes, they are there on the high side to the right. There are three bowmen at each end with five dwarfs with shields and axes."

 "Can we approach from the rear?" Tony asked.

 "No, it is too thick, but we can work along the crest of the hill and take on a one at a time," Tom reported, "We can then flush them forward out into the open giving us the advantage."

 "If Harold, Gwen, Jill and yourself do that, we will distract them by starting up the track ready to use our ranged weapons to pick them off as they emerge," Tony said.

 The four skirmishers crept forward along the hill and started bumping the dwarf archers out onto the track; as each emerged from cover, Sue and Tony subdued them with arrows and knockout beams.

 The next group was the axe and shield men who reformed in a wall facing the slope, leaving their flank open, Sue and Tony disabled a couple more to make the group change to confront this threat. The team's melee group pushed the last of the dwarves into the open rolling the archers into the back of the axemen disturbing the formation.

 This tactic confused the dwarves, as they were on the point of charging at Tony's group and they had to reverse their orientation to confront the melee team. Tony and Sue drew their swords and charged into the back so that missed shots wouldn't harm the team.

 With the dwarves surrounded, the team subdued the adversaries, and the team was soon collecting the spoils while Noel moved around distributing health doses for the assorted gashes and bruises suffered. 

 Gwen and Tom went off up the track to check for adversaries and the camp for further spoils.

 Once the scouts had completed this task, they returned with big grins and swag to share. 

Tony called them in to discuss the next move.

"Farmer Brown may know another trouble spot, or we can return to the Grumbling Rocks and see what is cooking," Tony said with nods from the team. They packed up the rest of their gear and returned to Brown's home.

 "Farmer Brown, I believe we have settled your visitor problem, and they shouldn't bother you in future," Tony announced.

 "My family thanks you, here is a mite for your trouble, if you need fresh vegetables, you know where to find them," Brown said as he handed over the purse. 

 "We are away to the tavern; farewell," Tony said as the team started the return track.

 "Fare thee well, heroes," Brown and his family said as they waved the team on their way.