Vina clutched her small knife tightly. She knew it wouldn’t be much help in a fight, but if something jumped on her, she wanted a way to fend it off. She turned on her Observe skill and moved very slowly up the stairs. The skill’s crippling kaleidoscope effect made her sick if she moved too quickly, but she was too scared to not use it. Previously it had highlighted the spinerling in a red outline, and she was relying on it now to give her a warning now. As she reached the third and final level of the tower, she crouched down, looking across the floor.
Initially Vina couldn’t see much. There was once again a lot of broken furniture scattered about. She examined the ceiling, but nothing was highlighted in her vision. Vina stood slowly and stepped onto the third level. Vina jumped when her Observe skill suddenly lit up a long thin object in blue. She relaxed when she recognized that was the color for an object. “A spear!” she thought. She reached out and took the long handle.
Vina put her knife away and gripped the spear in both hands. “I’ve got a real weapon now.” She thought to herself. Vina scanned the rest of the room but a portion of it was barricaded. Someone had laid several tables on their ends and had fortified them together into a wall. Vina kept scanning the room as she moved toward the barricade. She saw a small entrance to the side and moved toward it. Beyond the barricade was an open window, a body, and something else. Her Observe skill was highlighting the body and a mass that was attached to it.
Vina was disgusted by the sight of a pulsating black mass attached to the chest of the body. She tried to examine it.
Creature: Spinerling Feeder Health: 8/8 Level: 1 Spinerling feeders attach to dead or rotting bodies, bringing about faster decomposition while providing food for mature spinerlings.
Vina was surprised by how much information Examine finally gave her. However, her surprise gave way to revulsion at what she was seeing. She lunged forward with her spear. The spear seemed slippery in her hands, but her mastery and dexterity overrode her absence of skill and she stabbed the disgusting black mass. It fell away from the body with a wet plop onto the wooden floor. It wiggled like a tick stuck on its back. She stabbed it again, once more struggling against the spear.
50 Experience awarded for the kill of a Spinerling Feeder
New Skill Learned: Spears. Progress to next skill level 22%. You have learned how to wield a spear. Quest updated: Learn Skills 2 10/25
Vina whipped around when she heard squealing. A mature spinerling crawled in from one of the open windows. Its six legs skittered toward her as it gnashed its mouth of needle teeth. Vina initially experienced shock and froze for a second, but this time was different. She quickly gathered herself when it appeared the spinerling was moving slower than the first one she encountered. She quickly stepped to the side as the spinerling rushed her and she lashed out with her spear once again. This time the spear did not resist her and she hit it just above the middle leg. The spinerling squealed in pain and Vina yanked her spear back. The creature did not change tactics and merely rushed her again Vina once again flanked the creature and stabbed it. This time the spinerling crumpled to the floor with a mewling whine.
100 Experience awarded for the kill of a Spinerling
Skill Level Up: Spears has reached level 2. You can now attack 3% faster with spears and spears will pierce 1% of armor You have gained 35 experience from leveling a skill.
Vina moved for the stairs when she saw two more squealing spinerlings enter from the windows. In the stairwell she slowly descended backward, holding the spear in front of her to fend off the disgusting creatures. The spinerlings seemed to understand she was dangerous and maintained their distance. She suddenly saw two more above her on the ceiling that she had not seen before. “They want to get behind me”, she thought. Vina reached the second floor and the situation suddenly changed.
The fireplace was still burning brightly and Vina could see the creatures with all their dreadful details. A dozen black bodies she previously couldn't see became visible. Their numerous segmented legs skittered onto the second floor, walls, and ceiling like ants. But they all suddenly stopped and walked toward the fireplace. They all stupidly headed into the fire one after another. The fireplace could only fit two or three of these creatures, but they tried to pack themselves inside in an effort to reach the bright light.
“They’re like moths to a flame…” thought Vina as she watched in shock.
30 Experience awarded for the kill of a Spinerling x6. Experience points reduced for not being active in combat.
Vina Level Up: You reached level 3 and have 5 more attribute points to allocate. You have gained 10 health and 5 stamina.
The fireplace was soon overwhelmed as one spinerling after another caught fire. The burning logs were quickly scattered by their many legs and burning spinerlings littered the floor. Two more had their backs break open once again with black clouds exiting the tower. The rest turned their red eyes back to Vina. She turned and ran as fast as she could out of the tower.
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Vina didn’t stop running once outside. Her mind simply told her, “Nope” over and over again. She didn’t even check the direction as she fled. She just wanted distance between her and those things. She ran until her stamina bar nearly ran out and she was forced to stop.
Skill Level Up: Running has reached level 2. Running currently burns 11.8 times more stamina than walking. You can run at 6.2 miles per hour. You have gained 35 experience from leveling a skill.
Vina collapsed to her knees out of breath. Her mind raced as it tried to process everything she just experienced. “There are monsters here!”, was all she could think. In her panic she tried to activate Observe again to watch for threats. Instead of activating the skill, her stamina bar emptied and she passed out.
Some time later Vina woke up with a start. She had no idea how long she was out, but the sun was just starting to rise. Vina quickly looked around but saw no threats. Her stomach growled from her night time exertion and she contemplatively ate some berries from her backpack and drank from her canteen.
Vina was rattled by what she saw in the tower. “I need a new plan. This forest is not safe.” she said with some stress in her voice. Vina used Examine on her spear.
Item: Six Eyed Infantry Spear Uncommon Damage: 4-8 Durability 2/30 This is a spear with a metal spear point. This spear's wooden shaft is about to break.
She felt some horror at seeing that the weapon’s durability was almost at zero. “Wait a minute…” she said. Then she smirked at what her Examine skill told her. It was almost like the skill was telling her what she needed to do. Vina looked around the forest floor trying to find the perfect branch. Using her Forage skill she found it.
Resource: Pile Wood Tree Branch
Common
This is a branch from a Pile Wood Tree. This wood is considered harder than average. It is primarily used for furniture and framing.
Vina grabbed her spear and smacked it as hard as she could against a tree. After a few smacks, the durability dropped to zero and the spear shattered. Vina grabbed the metal spear point and quickly used her knife to empty out any remaining wood. Then she grabbed her blueish branch and started shaving down the end point. The knife in her hand wiggled once again, signaling that she lacked skill in what she was doing. It felt strange having her dexterity battle her lack of skill. She persevered while growling, “I know how to carve a piece of wood!” The universe seemed to answer her complaint when the knife suddenly slipped and cut her palm.
You have taken 2 points of slicing damage. You are afflicted by mild bleeding. You will suffer one damage every minute until the bleeding is stopped.
Vina recoiled in pain, dropping her knife while she looked at her hand. The cut wasn’t deep enough to damage anything important, but it was about half the length of her palm. She groaned in pain, considering what she should do. She lifted her hand above her head in an attempt to get the bleeding to stop. That effort seemed to slow it down, so she searched her backpack for anything resembling a bandage. She reluctantly tore a piece of her spare clothing and wrapped her hand. She waited for a prompt to appear, hopeful for a first aid skill. Nothing happened.
Vina returned back to her project. “I’m missing a skill here. Best be careful until I can get it.” Vina took her knife to the nearest tree and slowly cut her name into it. She did this over and over again until a window appeared.
New Skill Learned: Wood Carving. Progress to next skill level 18%. You have learned how to carve wood - safely. Quest updated: Learn Skills 2 11/25
Vina glared at that word ‘safely’. It was like the universe was mocking her ever so slightly. She returned back to her wooden branch and began to form the end. Early morning was transitioned to brunch before she felt it was completed.
Skill Level Up: Wood Carving has reached level 2. You have a 5% chance of making exactly what you intended. Wood is 5% easier to form to your desire. You have gained 35 experience from leveling a skill.
Vina slipped the spear point onto the end of the wood shaft one final time and locked it in place with a wooden shim. She was confused by the 5% chance she saw in the skill level. She had made what she intended albeit not perfectly. The spearhead did wobble as she fitted it on. “It’s good enough for now.” she thought to herself. She suspected her dexterity or mastery may enhance her chances of success. She cut off the excess of the shim and examined her creation.
Item: Vina’s Spear Unique Damage: 3-7 Durability 30/30 This spear was crafted by Vina, for Vina using a Six Eyed Spear Point
Vina’s eyes narrowed when she saw the damage had gone down a single point. She slowly shook her head, confused why that would be. She quickly packed her bags and checked her quest marker. It now displayed a distance of 54 miles. Spear in hand, she set off again toward the river and her quest marker.