“Guys, this is Jake. He has some cool trait that lets him pop knives out of his skin and will be our designated rogue. I’ll share the quest with him now.”
QUEST: Eliminate 15 Fuzzy Frogs and remove their tongues for verification.
RESTRICTION: Class G
REWARD: 150 credits.
> Accept. No time limit? No worries!
After Ximing’s introduction to the group, Jake proceeded to walk in silence about 10m ahead as a scout. He immediately regretted his decision about being a rogue because what it came down to, was walking into tree branches and having the shit scared out of you every time you hear bird crap hit the floor. After nearly half an hour of the group making a slow sweep through the first 100m of forest parallel to the wall, Jake finally got a glimpse of the prey. There, sitting on its hind legs underneath a tree was a yellow frog of about house cat size. The difference between an Earth frog and this species however (apart from their size), was the fact that the Furry Frog had a coat of hair that would make a Labrador green with envy. Jake skulked away into the shadows, making his way bat to notify the group.
“Frog. That way. Couple minutes. Under tree. Plan?”
> Ugh, hopefully that’ll do because I'm winded as fuck! I seriously thought I’d get some skill or shit from hopping shadow to shadow. Guess this place isn’t as game like as it should be. Stupid bugs and glitches. Positives Jake, positives. At least I’m not puking, guess that VIT is helping a lot.
Name: Jake Steel
Profession: N/A
Trait: Viroid Proto
Class: G
VIT: 3.552
STR: 2.006
AGI: 2.51
PER: 2.505
INT: 1.101
WIS: 1.00
NOTE: stats are relevant to base stats of humans.
“What kind of tree? Birch like all these are? Was it a berry tree, Oak? Details little man.”
Stuart wasn’t too happy with the report it seems, but Jake had other things to worry about. Like the fact that his body didn’t give a care to anything other than oxygen acquisition. Finally, after a minute or two Jake managed to gather his shit together enough to supply sufficient information to get the abomination off his back. Meanwhile the two sisters seemed content to just gaze lovingly at their bows like long lost lovers. Upon feeling his gaze they ruefully spared him a look before going back to their cooing.
If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.
> I guess no sane person would adapt and go hunting straight off the bat would they? I’d hate to see how much attention they give their other night time toys.. Crap this is no time for distracting thoughts.
“How about this guys.” Ximing said, gathering the group. “Me and Stuart approach from the front after Amy fires a shot from cover. Once it’s aware of us, both girls are free to fire until we get close. While all this is going on I want you, Jake to linger behind it so that it can’t escape. Sound good? Great, lets do this!”
“For freedom..” Jake muttered under his breath amusing himself in his wit.
After showing the gang where the little hairball sat, Jake slowly made his way behind the creature using trees and shrubs for cover. Finding a nice sized bush a couple metres behind the prey, Jake settled in to wait for the first signs of battle. He didn’t have to wait long however as not five minutes later an arrow came out of nowhere, not even making a sound and pierced the frogs rear left foot, pinning it to the ground. Following a shriek and a roid raged yell, the next thing Jake saw was Stuarts fist glowing red before it missed and met knuckle to bark with the tree. Some splinters and swearing later and Ximing swiftly stepped forward and cut the frog in two with a sword that looked out of phase. Popping out of the bush Jake walked up to the aggregating group to see both the guys breathing heavily and Amy retrieving her arrow.
> If they weren’t so strange they’d be pretty cool, all dressed up in their brown leather pants and elfish green shirts. Plus those quiver straps to a great job of splitting the cleavage..
The irony of how Jake pigeonholed the girls into the crazy slot was completely lost on him as Ximing got his breath under control.
“That thing was softer than I though it would be but still, it had a bit of AGI to dodge your punch like that Stuart. Maybe try not to yell as loud so it doesn’t know your coming with all you’ve got?”
“Hmpf, next time.” was Stuarts response to Ximings revised tactics.
Amanda was selected to skin the creature because of the two people who didn’t contribute, she at least had experience with the task. 20 minutes, 1 fluffy skin and a blue tongue later the group was ready for action. This setup continued for the rest of the day where the group only stopped to eat lunch, wrap the carcass’ in a plastic garbage bag that Ximing brought along and the occasional water/planning breaks. Scoping out the forest for their ninth victim, Jake got blindsided.
“UGH, OW YOU MOajestic creature. Friends?”
Jake, sitting on his ass was face to snout with a very unhappy looking grey wolf. Without giving him time to think, the wolf pounced. Jake managed to get his left arm up in time for the wolf to swallow his hand. Biting his lip as the wolf gnawed on the wrist bone trying to snap off a snack, Jake desperately went with the easiest weapon on his rage induced mind.
Plunging the iron claws of the Wolverine deep into the beasts belly near its hind legs, Jake ripped his right arm up towards his face. two things happened next, one; a snap, yank, and POP he lost his left hand, two; he gave himself a nice bath in wolf gastric juice and intestines. Watching the light leave the eyes of his arch enemy, Jake poured everything he had into absorbing this adversary.
10 minutes later.
“Where is the little man? did he run off scared?”
“I don’t know Stuart, maybe he had to go to the bathroom?”
/sniff sniff
“What stinks so bad? Was that you Ximing?”
“No. It smells more like vomit anyway…. Hi Jake, what happened to you?”
Strolling out of the bushes into the little clearing the group had occupied for a drinks break, hobbled Jake. Clutching his newly reattached and healed left hand to his stomach to fight off the phantom pains of bone grinding. He had to go stomach diving to find the recently lost appendage but alas, it was stuck half way doen the wolfs throat. Objectively, Jake looked like shit and was literally covered in it. Clothes ripped to shreds and eyes that screamed ‘I am done for the day!’. Seeing their companions state of disarray the group decided to call it at 8. As they were walking back Amy finally twigged onto the story of Jake fighting a wolf and running away.
“Shouldn’t you have like, bite marks or something?”
> Crap! Think quick man, come on years of lying about being late to Uni and missed due dates…
“I heal quick?”
> That works right?
“Do you have a high VIT stat or something?”
“Um, yeah it’s pretty quick so small scratches heal fast.”
That seemed to placate her as Jake released a breath he forgot he was holding.