We go into the fahncy part of town. Ser Maximilian, Captain of the Wyrm Hunt is ready to show us four possible quests. I just grab the first in the list: Decipher a Text. He hands me a slate with old writing. Only a couple of words are understandable. “Arisen” is in there, as is “heart”. It’s obviously about us. We’re to run around town and ask for more info.
Other quest bubbles pop up now. A man named Steffen seeks Salomet’s Grimoire, a magical tome. We’re told to ask a thief about such an item. (Aha!)
Mason, our friendly greeter, also has a quest. He says it’s more trouble with Salvation. (Did he already mention Salvation?) This shadow group has a spy inside the castle. We should keep watch and “lay chivalry aside” to investigate. (Have I been chivalrous up until now?) Mason would do it himself, but “aught has me away from Gran Soren”.
Everyone we meet in the game looks of European ancestry. No one looks Asian. (This is a Japanese-made game.) Mason is the only one with dark skin and, I think, a Jamaican-British accent. Morally, he feels a little squishy. This choice by the game developers — to make a Black man a suspicious, possibly sinister character — is uncomfortable.
Perhaps they wanted someone to stand out from the crowd. Mason is a key player in the plot. However, it’s still a very unfortunate decision.