Sam noticed Tamako’s arm was injured and asked, “You going to be O.K.?”
Tamako replied, “All good, but I’d be better if you could get my shield out of those rings.”
Pudding was stacking up all the clothing and weapons they’d looted from the dead, and commented, “Most of dis junk is no better than ours, but I received quite a few credeets from the System Quest.”
Sam tossed Pudding a stone, and said, “I only have two remaining after that one. Use it to store all that junk.” Sam was starting to shiver after he’d been sloshing around in the river, and asked Jen, “Did we score enough credits to get the oracle clue from the Shop?”
Jen’s AI had already tallied up the credits she, Tamako, and Sam had received. But she ignored Sam as she continued to cast her healing spell on Tamako’s arm.
Sam realized Jen and Tamako were busy, and went over to the pile of loot Pudding was stacking on the shore. He then dug through some of the “clothes” until he found a relatively dry cape to hang on over his shoulders, and sighed, “Now, that’s better!”
Pudding nodded to Sam, as he pulled on a cloak as well, and said, “I think we be lucky when we killed that old skinny mage in de ambush. I think dis group be from de Pockets Guild. Before I looted de old mage, I noticed pool que tattoos on his neck. De Pockets guild only give dat tattoo to their top tear mages.”
Sam muttered, “Yea, luck is good, but we can’t rely on it. What do you think he could’ve done if we hadn’t taken him out right away?”
Pudding shrugged, “Don’t know, but with what we hit dem with, I’m sure if he was able he would have retreated. Den he would be tying to hunt us down later though.”
Sam nodded in understanding, and replied, “It’s a good thing we got them all.” He then poured most of his mana into his evolved luck stat activation to see if there was something they’d missed, but really to just give him peace of mind that they hadn’t missed anything.” That’s when he noticed an arrow floating in his vision pointing downstream about 20 yards to an areas of river grass, and in the middle was a small area devoid of the grass. Sam immediately assumed someone or something was laying low in the river grass in hiding. He messaged Jen and Tamako telling them where he was looking, but out loud said to Pudding, “Yea, glad we got them all. Jen and Tamako are almost done, and we’ll get out of here.”
Jen messaged Sam and Tamako, “Sam, you get ready with a lightning bolt, but wait until Tamako and I make our way over there quietly.”
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Jen called out to Sam, “We’re going to go gather what’s left of Tamako’s spear, and then we’ll get out of here.” She and Tamako then moved off into the woods to approach the river grass from the thick woodline.
Sam continued to appear busy with the loot as he did his best to prepare his lightning spell without being too obvious. A few minutes later, he received Jen’s message, “There’s definitely someone or something there, but we can’t see what without being seen ourselves. Release your lightning in 3, 2, 1…”
Jen and Tamako closed their eyes just before Sam’s lightning was released. Then immediately charged into the river splashing towards the area of grass that Sam struck.
“What de hell be dat!” Pudding screamed as he dove for the ground. As he looked up he noticed Jen and Tamako were charging something downstream and Sam was also charging in that direction. Pudding jumped up and motioned for the golem and Jee to follow him as he ran to help.
“He’s dead!” Tamako called out to Sam and Pudding as she removed her spear from the lifeless body.
Sam noticed the confused look on Jen’s face as Sam ran up to them, and before he could say anything, Pudding was hollering, “What be happening? Who be dead?”
Jen was squatting near the dead man, ad replied as Sam and Pudding came closer, “He’s naked. I don’t know if he was already dead, or if your lightning killed him. Tamako just made sure he was dead with her spear. But why is he naked?! Well… almost naked, it looks like he’s wearing some kind of necklace.”
As pudding moved to the side of Sam to see the naked man and necklace, he exclaimed, “That be impossible, dat be the old mage I was telling you about Sam! I just looted his dead body less than 10 minutes ago! But he was no naked, and he didn’t have no necklace on either!”
Everyone in the party started looking around the river in case there was something about to attack them. Jen commented, “My bird and Slim both tell me there is nothing dangerous close by, but let’s get our shit and get the hell out of here.” She then stood up, still on the lookout for any problems, and said, “Sam, get the necklace and loot the body. Maybe it’s gold or some other metal you can use. We should get out of here, now.”
As Sam removed the necklace the body dissipated like usual, but that’s when Sam received a System Message.
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System Gambling Quest:
You have looted a soul-bound necklace. Its former owner is now dead, and you may bind it with your soul.
This necklace may be a boon or a curse.
Bind this necklace with your soul? Yes/No.
You have five minutes to decide before the item is recovered by the System.
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Sam called out to the party, “Hey! We need to look at this necklace now!” as he simultaneously forwarded the gambling quest to Jen and Tamako.
Pudding paused to read the System Message he’d just received.
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System Gambling Quest
Convince Sam not to bind his soul with the necklace.
If you succeed, the necklace will be placed in the System Shop for you to remove for free at anytime you wish. The necklace may be bound to your soul upon your removal from the shop. Upon binding to your soul, the necklace cannot be seen by others while you wear it.
There is no penalty if you fail.
Accept: Yes/No.
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Pudding selected “Yes”.