The gnome had called me back with concern in her voice. Bringing me to a desk sized for her infront of a large machine, she showed me a document written in english on some kind of parchment.
"Now see here, this machine is supposed to print your status sheet in the most common language that you know, but this? I have never seen a language like this before, and I have seen many languages. You had better learn Gresh soon or you will be in big trouble. Also, I can't confirm your second class here, so I can't give you full traveler permissions."
She practically shoved the parchment in my face, or she tried to at least, given her height however, she barely reached to my chest. I offered to tell her the class once I had managed to read it over myself
Name: Michael Kawakami Type: Humanoid Subtype: Human, Altered Age: 18 Primary Class: Hero 1 Alternate Class: Thief 1 Alternate Class: Alternate Class: Basic Statistics Vital Force: 18 Mana Pool: 17 Ki Pool:15 Power Pool:16 Strength: 13 Dexterity: 17 Constitution: 20 Speed: 11 Intelligence: 8 Wisdom: 6 Charisma: 9 Appearance: 22 Luck: 10 Magic:11 Ki:8 Psi: 3 Titles Skills Sneak 1 (5/10) Heroic Strike 0 (0/1) Heroic Sacrifice 0 (0/1) Pickpocket 0 (0/1) Feats Profession Focus: Programming Survivalist Special Qualities Hero's Disposition Ever Living Realmwalker
"Warrior" I informed the Gnome. "My primary class is Hero, With an alternate class of Warrior" I knew better than to go around telling people I was a thief after all.
"Well, here is your card then keep it on you at all times" She pulled a cerulean card out from who knows where before handing it to me and stating "We will keep your full status sheet on file unless you request it, though you cannot accept quests if we don't have a copy on file, a copy can be made for 10 silver, now if you have any quests you want to accept, just take them off the board and and them to me."
Taking a look at the provided card I realized it was like a miniature status sheet, though it had some interesting differences
Name: Michael Kawakami Race: Human Vital Force: 18/18 Mana Pool: 17/17 Ki Pool: 15/15 Power Pool:16/16 Attack: 2 Damage: 2-9 Defense: 13
It showed Attack and Defense Values! though, an attack of 2 seemed pitifully low, and If I understood this right I shouldn't even be able to injure myself. Deciding to test my theory, I stabbed myself in the foot. Okay! I was wrong, that fucking hurts. A quick glance at my status card revealed that it had turned red, and I had lost two points of vital force from my attack. Not doing that again, guessing defense isn't a flat reduction then.
Stolen novel; please report.
I headed off to the board to pick up the goblin head quest, and went over towards the receptionist when I noticed a Giant of a man walk in and just drop a brown bag dripping blood on the counter. He was wearing darkened plate, and had a hood covering his face so I couldn't make out any features, but the receptionist just smiled at him and said "Good work Gron, go ahead and pick out another quest while I count out your reward." I quickly removed my quest from the board and rushed over to the gnome as the man walked this way. He had to be almost 10 feet tall, and had a sword larger than I was, I did not want to tick him off by accident. I hurriedly handed her my quest, and left the building, as I heard her call out "3 adamantine, 18 mithril, 79 platinum and 67 gold pieces Grom! Thanks for the Dragon Livers"
Rushing for the gates hurt my foot a bit, but I wanted to get this quest done as soon as possible. I hadn't slept or ate since I came here, and had no money to buy food or rent an inn, so I had better hurry up. Asking the genial gate guard for directions probably saved me a lot of time, since apparently, apart from one little goblin cave nearby, you couldnt find them outside of the forest on the other side of the river. I thanked the man and headed out for the cave.
A short walk down the road and two small hills later I came across a pair of goblins fucking in the shade of a tree, their weapons discarded at their sides. The cave should be just on the other side of the hill here, so these are probably a patrol that decided getting busy was better than standing guard. I carefully snuck up and stabbed the one on top in the back. The spear sunk into its flesh, and it sreeched in pain as the other scrambled out from underneath it and went for its discarded sheild and sword. I withdrew my spear as fast as I could and lunged for the other before it could grab its shield. I managed to clip its side before it got its gear in hand, but it was still in the fight. The first goblin drew its sword and took a quick swing at me, catching me off guard and clipping my leg as it passed out from blood loss.
I thrust one more at the remaining opponent, but it was too fast, nimbly avoiding my blow as it danced in and lashed out at me. Fortunately I had the advantage of reach, and managed to backpedal out of the way. I gave the thing a quick kick on the shield to knock it back before taking advange of the opening and skewering it on my spear. The beasts were both dead, but more were likely on their way. I scrambled up the tree and took a place hiding in the branches, waiting for more to approach.
It took about a minute for more goblins to head out, four of them came over, two were keeping watch, crude bows in hand, one was investigating the corpses, and the fourth was looking up into the tree. Shit.
My heart raced as I tried to remain still, and prayed the little green bugger wouldn't notice me. Luck was on my side as we met eyes, but he then walked away, sword and shield drawn, to look for me else where. The investigating goblin had put down his sword and shield to get a better look at the first one I killed, rolling him over and checking if he was breathing. A little bit later the patrolling goblin had moved far enough away that I thought it was time, and I leapt down onto one with a bow, ramming my spear into its skull. Somehow I didnt actually penetrate it, but the force of my falling on it left a sickening crack as its head turned to face me, but its body did not.
Pressing my momentum I charged at the other archer, but disoriented by my fall I hit the air to his right. Lucky bastard didnt even have to dodge. The investigator went for his gear, giving me a chance to stab him in the chest, while the remaining archer backpedaled and fired his bow, clipping my right shoulder. The patrol, hearing the sounds of battle, rushed our way, but he was far enough out I should be able to take this last one down before he gets here.
It hurt like a bitch, but I had no time to relax, as I forced myself to lunge at the archer, but, tired as I was, my spear clipped off his rudimentary armor. Luckily I frightened the bastard, as he tried to backstep and shoot at me again, but instead tripped over himself and dropped his bow. I thought things were looking up, right as the patrol rushed into me and slammed his sword into my thigh.
Injured and angry, I twirled around to stab this little fucker in the face. Feeling a surge of power within me, The tip of my spear emitted a green glow as I stabbed towards him. He brought his shield up to block, but the might of the blow shattered the shoddy wooden thing and carried through to go right into this little shits face, dropping the bastard immediately. One left, terrified he scrambled for his bow and I took the opening to stab him in the collarbone. I drew some blood, but the strike wasnt quite right, and I was feeling exhausted after that earlier strike the blow didnt strike very deep, and the goblin got his bow and backed off, taking one more shot as he turned to run. MOTHER FUCKER HIT ME IN THE CHEST! Just barely still up I lunged at the bastard one more time before passing out.