The newspaper I'd hustled out of the suspicious merchant wasn't just paper—it was proof. Proof that Storycraft worked, proof that I could lie my way into survival here. And in 1920 colonial India, survival wasn't optional—it was a whole raid boss.
DING!
[Quest Update]
Convince someone to trust you (Progress: 1/3)
Reward on Completion: +50 XP
Three people. Convince three people, it said. In my old life, the only people I convinced regularly were the Swiggy delivery guys that "bhai, change next time, promise." Now, this was life or death.
Fine. If the system wanted me to scam, I'd scam.
The Birth of a Forger
The more I wandered the city, the more I realized this wasn't the India from my history classes. Yes, the Union Jack fluttered above government buildings, soldiers strutted with rifles, and white sahibs rode horses like they owned the land—but magic still lingered.
Not much, not powerful, but enough. A chai seller muttered a charm over boiling water to keep it warm longer. A guard at the railway station scratched faint runes into his baton for intimidation. It was a weird, broken balance—science choking out magic, but the embers of the old world still glowing faintly.
And me? I had zero cash, a bloody hoodie, and a cracked phone that now served as a brick. The system's quest was clear: establish identity.
Identity here wasn't about fingerprints or digital records. It was about paperwork, seals, stamps, and—most importantly—who believed you.
Which meant my Storycraft wasn't just a gimmick skill. It was the meta key.
So, in a dusty corner of the library, I started experimenting. My handwriting was usually worse than a doctor's prescription, but as I wrote, I felt the system nudge me, like invisible training wheels. The pen flowed smoother, the letters took on weight.
By the time I lifted my hand, I stared at this:
To Whom It May Concern,
This gentleman has served under me in matters of logistics and trade. He has proven himself discreet, efficient, and loyal.
— Colonel Henry W. Barstow
DING!
[Skill Activated: Storycraft Lv.1 → Forgery Assist]
Item Created: Fake Letter of Introduction (Convincing: 58%)
"Holy crap," I whispered. "I just unlocked the Indian Jugaad DLC."
Trader Number One
Armed with my new "credentials," I approached a small-time trader near the docks. His stall was stacked with spare parts, fabrics, and crates I was 90% sure weren't declared to customs.
I handed him the letter, standing straighter than usual. "Colonel Barstow recommended me. Said you might have work for a man good with logistics."
The trader squinted. My heart raced.
DING!
[Storycraft Check: Success!]
+20 XP
Quest Progress: 2/3
The man's eyes softened. "Ah, Barstow. Haven't seen him in years. If he vouches for you, sahib, perhaps we can… discuss business."
I smiled. "I'm looking to get my feet wet. Small consignments, whatever needs moving quietly."
He chuckled. "Ambitious. But start with tobacco or textiles before you dream of guns."
I laughed with him, but inside, gears turned. Tobacco today. Arms tomorrow.
Chai Seller Test
Quest demanded three, so next target: a chaiwala balancing his kettle.
"Brother," I said warmly, "I was sent by the municipality to test the quality of tea leaves in this district. Could I have a sample?"
He blinked, clearly thinking, What idiot municipality pays for chai inspections? But Silver Tongue perk shimmered, smoothing the cracks.
DING!
[Storycraft Success!]
+15 XP
Quest Complete: Convince Someone to Trust You
He handed me a clay cup. "Municipality inspectors never pay anyway."
I grinned and sipped the sweetest victory chai of my life.
Quest Complete
The HUD rolled out rewards like a slot machine:
[Quest Complete: Convince Someone to Trust You]
Reward: +50 XP
Skill Level Up: Storycraft → Lv.2
Perk Unlocked: Silver Tongue — Slightly increases believability in all lies.
"Level two already? At this rate I'll be charming my way into Parliament before tea time," I muttered.
But as I leaned against the chai stall, watching people shuffle past—the rickshaw pullers with tired faces, children running barefoot, soldiers swaggering with rifles—the thrill dimmed.
Because here's the thing: in 2025, I was Indian but powerless. Just another guy ranting online about corruption, poverty, lost potential. But in this 1920? My country wasn't even free. The British flag hung heavy in the sky, and people kept their heads down like hope was contraband.
I clenched my fist around the warm chai cup.
"I won't just scam my way to comfort," I whispered. "If I have a system, if I have foresight, then maybe—just maybe—I can tilt the scales. I'll make India great, not in tweets, but in truth."
The system blinked, startling me.
[Hidden Trait Unlocked: Patriot's Heart]
Effect: +5% Persuasion when working toward India's freedom or prosperity.
Warning: Choices influenced by this trait may lock certain paths.
I exhaled slowly. So even the system recognized my loyalty. Good. Then it would fuel me, not chain me.
The Grind Begins
That night, lying on a creaky cot in a cheap inn (paid with my chaiwala scam rupees), I opened the fake Barstow letter again. The ink shimmered faintly.
"This is my class change," I muttered. "From random nobody… to Revolutionary Conman."
And like it heard me, the HUD slid another quest into view:
[New Quest Unlocked]
Quest: Enter the Circles of Trade
Objective: Use forged credentials and persuasion to gain entry into local trading networks.
Reward: +100 XP, Access to Black Market Contacts
Failure: Exposure → Reputation -50 → Arrest Risk: High
I laughed quietly. My Storycraft wasn't just for chai and newspapers anymore. It was my entry ticket into the underground, the gears of power.
And from there? If the British could use paperwork and lies to rule, then so could I. But my lies would be in service of truth.
Time to fake it till I make it.
And when I made it? India would rise with me.