“That sounds nice.” Raystia lowered her head to hide her elation. She’d just gotten into a party!
“Hey, count me in,” Misa said. “Sounds like sticking around you is the thing to do to get some excitement.”
“We should also invite Fox,” Riley suggested. “With a proper tank, we could scout the area outside the valley.”
“I think I know where we can find suitable … ahem … prey,” Raystia said. “It’s a couple of hours’ walk from here. There’s a swamp and all those nasty little vegetable pygmies.”
Riley went to a stack of logs and made three of them disappear into his inventory. “Sounds like a plan. Let’s finish here, get geared up, and go.”
They continued working side by side, chatting idly as they did so. Raystia found herself opening up to them more as the time went by.
She learned the two were both scientists as well. Misa was a biophysicist from Liverpool, and Riley was a computer data scientist at NYU.
“That’s weird,” Raystia said after the expanded introduction. “I think Fox is some sort of elite architect as well. Do you think it’s a coincidence we all work in advanced fields?”
Misa shrugged. “It could be a coincidence; maybe intelligent people have naturally higher CPA than normal folks. Who knows?”
The time passed quickly as they continued working. After the three hour mark, the section of wall they were constructing was nearly completed. Raystia stood tall, looking at her handiwork. Back in the real world, she produced far less tangible results. This experience was satisfying in a new way.
Fox approached them, looking surlier than ever. “Explaining a static scheme for a lateral load-bearing system to a bunch of goblins was a new low for me,” he complained. “I honestly contemplated throttling them. The satisfaction and the XP would have been worth it.”
“You didn’t!” Raystia looked horrified.
“Na,” he said. “I need the gold more than I needed the quick gratification. I got a lousy ‘Researcher’ skill and 60 gold in store credits now. You each should have 30, so let’s go back to that smartass shopkeeper.”
“Yep,” Misa said cheerfully. “Just got the ‘Quest Completed’ notification.”
“Go ahead,” Riley said. “I’ll be a few minutes behind you.”
The two women and the grouchy bugbear went back to the warehouse.
“Ah, there you are. I have your new shield right here,” Gazlan said brightly.
Fox took the shining metal shield and looked it over. “Not bad,” he said. “Could use a bit more durability, but for 30 gold it’s not bad. I’ll also take a battleaxe and a suit of leather armor.”
Gazlan shook his head. “I’m afraid the armor will cost 50. But I’ll throw in the battleaxe for five.”
“I can loan you the rest,” Raystia offered.
Fox looked at her suspiciously. “Why would you do that?”
“Oh …” She blushed. “I … ahem … I guess no one told you about … our plan?”
“What plan?”
“We are going out as a party, all four of us. You have been unanimously elected to be our tank. All clear now?” Misa said sweetly.
“Hmph,” he snorted. “About time we go kill something. Sure, I’m in. In that case, I’ll accept the loan. I only need 23 gold. But that still won’t leave you much. Don’t you need any equipment?”
“I just need arrows, and they’re cheap,” Raystia said. “I would like, um, 60 arrows please.”
“I can sell you 30 Hugger bone arrows for a little extra,” Gazlan offered. “They have better armor penetration and do more damage. I also have plenty of normal arrows.”
“Oh, so … okay. I’ll take 30 normal and 30 of those, uh … Hugger ones.”
“That will be eight gold.” Gazlan placed six stacks of arrows on the counter.
She had just enough.
“Shackles and a dagger,” Misa said curtly.
“Very well, I’ll reduce 23 gold from your store credit.”
“Hey guys, I just hit the three-hour mark,” Riley said.
He put his arms on the counter, facing Gazlan. “Right, including the credit, I have 32 gold in total. Give me one of those simple shields, an axe, and whatever armor pieces I can get for the rest of it.”
Gazlan gave him a shield and an axe then handed him a weird-looking leather vest and crude leather leggings.
“Hey, how come he gets the armor so cheaply?” Fox demanded, leaning forward on the counter to stare straight at the merchant’s face. The two hobgoblin guards took a threatening step toward him, but the goblin merchant raised his arm to stop them.
“Those were made for goblins,” he explained. “They are the first creation of a novice crafter, so they’re cheap. Also, the clan doesn’t train new goblin warriors anymore, so this armor size is low in demand, compared to hobgoblin-sized armor.”
The bugbear gave him a withering stare but pulled back. “Fine.”
Raystia and Riley exchanged meaningful glances.
They each equipped their new items and then stood looking at each other.
“This is much better.” Misa nodded in approval. “Now we look like a bunch of murderous mobs, instead of a bunch of vagrant mobs.”
Raystia chuckled.
Riley said, “I guess we’re officially a party now. A bunch of monsters teaming up to destroy lives, conquer, and spread darkness … yeah, okay, now that I hear it, it does sound cool.” He grinned at Misa. “So what should we call ourselves?”
“Hmmm, since we’re all playing monsters, might as well be ‘The Monsters?’” Fox suggested.
Misa rolled her eyes. “You have to be joking!”
The bugbear huffed. “You got a better idea, shrivel-ear?”
“Well, we are technically playing as mobs, and we do look the part, so how about …” she drifted off for a moment, then her eyes lit up. “The Mob Squad.”
18 – Homecoming
Dark Mana skill level increased to 38.
Dark Mana skill level increased to 39.
After what felt like a long and peaceful swim through endless space, I’d finally reached my skill level cap. I was about to disengage from my trance, but then I felt something else, deeper, calling out to me. I reached with my mind and gingerly touched that thread of information.
Faith Rank 3 reached
The Following divine spells are now unlocked: Shadow Teleport[upgrade], Dark Protection
Progress to Rank 4: 1,473/2,000
Note: A shrine can be used up to Rank 3. For higher ranks, a more advanced place of worship is required.
Spell upgraded: Shadow Teleport (M)
You can now transport additional creatures with you when you teleport.
New Spell acquired: Dark Protection (M)
Grants bonuses to allies (determined by skill level). Can be cast on multiple allies. Speed 5. Cost 10 MP per individual. Duration 1 min, 50% initial MP cost to maintain for another minute. Shadow discipline.
Level 6: Novice
Effect I: Armor +4.6%, Physical Resistance: +4.6%
Of course! The trip to the Ogre fort was rewarding in more ways than one. Thanks to all the sacrifices I performed, I had just achieved a new Faith Rank 3 and was well on my way to rank 4. With a little luck, the Dark Temple would also be completed soon, to allow me to attain that rank.
The new spell was a nice group buff spell. Belonging to the shadow discipline, it was strengthened by my Dark Mana skill and I had no doubt it would offer more bonuses and increased effectiveness once I invested some more time in increasing the spell level.
The spell was a nice addition, but what was even more important was that I now had enough FP to purchase the Eternal Night blessing. I considered activating it right then and there, but decided to hold off for now. That blessing would mean a significant change in my clan and it called for a proper ceremony. Once I get back to my clan.
I retracted my thoughts from the comforting void of the shrine and opened my eyes.
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“Welcome back, Boss.”
Kaedric?
Give me some good news, Ked.
There was a long pause.
Kaedric?
What’s the holdup? The gremlin marketplace should have been finished already, so we should have access to the required glass. I got a sinking feeling in my gut, dreading my seneschal’s answer.
Damn it. I knew something was going to go wrong. I gritted my teeth. It was always the same story; not enough resources, not enough workers, no proper tools, and now, I was slapped with ‘prerequisite unmet.’
my seneschal continued.
I had to take a moment to compose myself. There was no helping it, this was uncharted ground. My clan was unique, a mix-up of goblin resourcefulness and hobgoblin military nature. To top it off, it now doubled as a starting zone for travelers. Delays were unavoidable.
I understand. You did well, Kaedric. I should be back in a few days to handle things myself.
My belly gurgled audibly, and I felt a sudden dizziness.
Debuff gained: Starved, Dehydrated
Effect I: HP and MP regeneration at 50%
Effect II: Speed: -20%
“Yeah, that happened a while ago. Not really a good idea to go for so long without food or water, Boss. Especially when you’re a squishy meat suit or a mindless puppet.”
I sat down, leaning against the shrine, feeling ravenous. I took out some rations from my inventory and wolfed them down.
Kuzai approached and stood over me.
“Hey, Kuzai.” I waved a piece of smoked meat at him.
“It nourishes of dead flesh and decaying plants. It is not a pure creature of darkness,” the unhinged dwarf muttered to himself.
I ignored his ranting and held out a piece of food. “Want some?”
He drew back and gave me a withering stare. “The master has created a perfect vessel. I am one with darkness, it binds and sustains me.”
“I’ll take that as a no.” I lowered my hand and kept on eating, feeling better already. I finished my plain meal with a drink of water from my flask. “Your loss.”
Debuff removed
“We should leave,” he said flatly. “My shadow will remain behind to maintain the shrine. I have seen to that.”
“We should probably check this place out first, see if we can find anything of value.”
Kuzai snorted. “There is nothing of value here.”
“Here, Boss,” Vic volunteered, pointing to lump of wood. “I got bored while you were meditating so I scouted the place. You never know when you might stumble on a couple of oblivious puppets getting it on. Anyway, this was left in a pile of discarded Ogre refuse. I think you’ll find it interesting.”
I looked at the block of wood he was pointing at. It was a piece of tree log about half a meter tall. It probably weighed over 50 kilos. Analyze.
Totem Pole Piece: Ogre
Description: This piece of totem pole represents a conquered clan of Ogres. It can be added to the main totem pole of another clan. This will strengthen that clan by granting it an Ogre-related feature.
Type: Settlement Totem
Effect I: +10 clan morale
Effect II: Clan gains the Ogre Gluttony trait: Doubling an individual’s upkeep will increase their Physical attribute by +1 and their physical related skills effects by 20%.
Jackpot! This primitive-looking piece of wood was an incredibly valuable find for my clan. I could already imagine the impact it would have on the development of Goblin’s Gorge. The builders would be the first to receive this boon, increasing their construction rate, maybe even all the workers that relied on the Physical attribute. But how the hell was I going to carry it all the way back to my clan? The thing was probably twice my own weight!
As if to answer my question, Kuzai came to investigate. He frowned as I gave him a wide grin. The ex-dwarf was sturdy and had over ten points in his Physical attribute.
“Be a dear and carry this for me,” I almost purred.
“I will not!” he said, his face full of indignation, then mumbled to himself, “It treats me as a common mule, the master’s chosen do not do degenerate menial work.”
I smirked at him. “If you won’t carry it, I will have to attempt it. But I’m not strong enough. You wouldn’t let the master’s choice treat wreck his back, would you?”
He gaped at me for a solid moment before snapping his mouth shut. He gave the piece of log a grudging look. “How far?”
“Let’s start with bringing it out of the fort.”
He grumbled something inaudible but bent down and hoisted the log onto his shoulder. He moved gingerly, nearly buckling under the weight, but was holding it together. “This way,” he said.
He led Tempest and me to a far corner of the cave, then rolled away a boulder, revealing a narrow tunnel leading upward. It was probably an old garbage chute, just enough for a dwarf and a goblin to climb through. Kuzai had it rough, but he managed to half-carry, half-push the totem log all the way up.
We came out through a hatch to stand on a small platform, just above the broken staircase that led back down. Once we descended the platform, we were again standing at the basement level of the fort.
We moved unhurriedly through the main corridor. Now that the demon infestation had been dealt with, there was nothing left that could pose danger.
As we passed the storage room, I again saw the broken plow. “Hold on a sec,” I told Kuzai.
The dwarf grunted, lowered the totem piece, and glared at me. “What does it want now?”
I entered the room and examined the plow from all sides. It looked to be in pretty good shape despite its years of disuse. The metal moldboard, the piece that pierced the ground, was intact. The wooden frame also appeared to be in good shape. Only one axle was broken. The other wheel was in working order. It almost looked like a wheelbarrow. That gave me an idea.
“Kuzai, come here for a sec.”
He gave me a sour look. “What do you want?”
“Grab the handle, see if you can pull this thing.” He grumbled but did as I asked. Despite the broken wheel, the plow rolled behind him, its broken axle dragging along the floor. It was noisy and cumbersome, but it could work.
“Alright,” I said with a tone of finality. “We’re taking it with us. You can put the totem on top of the plow, and we’ll use it as a makeshift wheelbarrow.”
The dwarf glared at me. “I. Am. Not. A beast of burden!” he said through clenched teeth. “Get your wolf to do the hauling.”
Vic groaned.
Sorry, Vic, his idea was actually not a bad one. “Come here, Tempest.”
Though the demon wolf was ten levels below the dwarf, Tempest was physically stronger, and with four legs, he was more ideally suited to drag a heavy burden. With a bit of innovative rope work, I managed to tether plow and wolf. Tempest moved slowly, testing the weight. He wouldn’t win any races but he managed to pull it much more easily than Kuzai.
We stopped near the plundered forge and I threw in the few remaining pieces of armor and the four swords we’d left unclaimed.
With the impromptu wheelbarrow filled to the brim, I nodded to my companions “Now let’s get out of here.”
It took a little doing, but with Tempest managing most of the heavy lifting, we were able to bring everything up from the basement level and out of the fort.
We stood outside, taking in the mountain peaks all around us.
“Time to head home.”
***
It took most of the day to reach the foot of the mountains, the plow’s broken axle scraping a deep gouge on the ground behind us.
We rested the daytime away before coming down to the oxsaurians’ plain. Kuzai was even gruffer than usual during the daytime, preferring to hide below the plow rather than risk exposing his skin to the rays of the sun.
Early the next night, Kaedric contacted me as ordered. He did not have a lot to report. The construction efforts were ongoing and would take some time to complete, so I directed my seneschal to only contact me in case of emergency. I would be back at the clan soon enough to see to it firsthand.
I tightened Tempest’s tethers before entering the hilly area. The grasslands spread far and low, offering visibility for a great distance. The journey was uneventful. We encountered two herds of oxsaurians, but I employed my Shadow Hounds, luring them away each time.
Once we were at the edge of the territory, I decided to test a theory. The oxsaurians were all around level 40, meaning that with my Dark Mana skill at level 39, I should be able to influence some of the lower-level ones.
Following my instructions, my mastiffs separated a single bull from the herd and lured it our way. The powerful beast charged toward us at an alarming speed with the single-minded purpose of a battering ram. I was somewhat gratified to see Kuzai flinching from the incoming impact. I waited until the beast entered my range of influence, then I poured over a hundred points of my mana into its muscles and commanded them to stop. It froze in its tracks, but its momentum carried it forward. It fell to its belly and slid all the way toward us. With a deliberate gesture, my dagger plunged into its eye, sacrificing it.
That single casual kill was enough to push me well up to level 26. I collected the level 39 void crystal with a grin and added 140 units of raw meat to the growing pile on the plow.
Oh yes, I will return here soon enough.
Life Reset_EvP_Environment vs. Player Page 29
