[Hardwood Wall Panel] = 2 Wood (Hard, 0.1-0.3m) + 2 Wood (Hard, 0.1-3m) + 12 Bone (Any, 0.01-0.02kg) + [Hammer] (Any)
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Home, sweet home.
Sunlight fell across this quiet plateau, casting long rays between the roaring mahogany and palm trees beside. A lake sat in the center, flanked on each end by waterfalls. One poured in from the cliffs above, while the other rolled to the ocean at a slower decline. Naomi and the others could be seen from this location, as it sat on the southern end of the peak that overlooked their harbor. Where the terrain didn’t naturally climb or fall, vast networks of vines snaked down otherwise unapproachable cliffs. A cave opened up like a gaping maw beneath the waterfall, its minerals sparkling when reflected with light.
And Jay stood proudly at the edge of the lake, his hemp shirt drenched in sweat as he gazed upon his latest creation, a fun creation that had raised Tailoring a level, increasing his insulation further for crafted shirts.
A single-story log home had been erected on the beach to the side of the lake, its walls made of hardened mahogany wood bolted together with nails made of bone. Windows with wooden shutters had been left open to keep the breeze flowing, and his crafting tables sat inside, along with the moss-covered bed to sleep at night. The roof had been made with palm and reeds, and the floor was firm and even.
This base was a small cry from what he had built in the security of the ridge, but it would be improved over time. Pits could be dug. Spike traps laid. Palisade walls thrown about where needed, with extra barbs to keep the night’s monsters at bay. The plateau had no shortage of natural defenses that could be exploited.
But here? Here, Jay would find peace and comfort at the end of each night. Now that he was firmly established against Natura’s threat, he could finally set up an area for him to lay his head and feel safe. That much, he had gained after all this time.
Of course, Jay also had his other reason to be situated here, and as he crept along the southern ridge and peeked into the other Expat bases, bow in hand, he cautiously looked about their harbor. His [Sharpshooter] vision let him spy from afar for about ten seconds before launching his arrow, and he’d made over a hundred crude arrows for just this purpose.
Jay might have no interest in joining up with Naomi or her group, but one man’s treasure was another one’s trash, and at the level they were operating, just about anything they tossed was something he could use. So long as he found where their trash pile was located, he’d be in the clear.
He’d deduced this much, anyway. After eavesdropping on their radio conversations enough times, Jay had a general idea of how their group operated. They used a communal “dump” near their collective bases where they’d ditch unwanted mats, and whoever went there had a chance to find something valuable before it despawned.
It wasn’t an explicit trade either. No one seemed to ever warn the others that they might’ve tossed something precious into their hole. They just did it, and if someone found whatever it was before it disappeared, then good on them. If not, then it couldn’t be helped. To have given advanced warning about potential drops was to aid each other, and then Natura would respond. But by saying nothing, their malevolent god could pound sand. Not even Natura could violate Annwyn’s rules.
It was an interesting hack, Jay was forced to admit. Just as Naomi had indirectly helped him on his seventh night by killing that jaguar near his base, so too could they help without actually helping each other.
Rule 5 remained unbroken through this system.
If only Jay could figure out where they’d hidden it…
He entered [Sharpshooter] again. Distant details fell into focus as he scanned another ridge, this one near Sayid’s base. No luck. The crude arrow whizzed into the horizon before dropping harmlessly into the jungle beneath his mountain.
He went again, his skill-based telescope probing more territory. The arrow launched forth when the time was up. Nothing.
It was slow going, but there was no way out of it. Sayid had warned him that the entire harbor was trapped, and after spending a few hours probing from afar, he’d seen what he meant. There were tripwires, pressure plates, deadfalls, pits. Most were blended seamlessly into the environment, and only through [Sharpshooter] did he stand a chance to see them. Even then, he suspected that there was much more than he would not notice until stepping into them.
Another arrow released, dropping into the trees beneath. A distant yelp flowed out from the forest below, barely audible. Jay cringed.
Did he just hit something?
He peered deep into the jungle. Only the reeds swayed in response, even after waiting a minute.
Probably nothing, he told himself before withdrawing back to his main base. His well of skill energy only went so far anyway, and he’d exhausted most of it by spying on their base. Time would need to be spent to have it refilled to full, and he could do other things in the meantime.
He gripped his stone axe and went back to work, selecting the nearest palm.
Whack. Whack. Whack.
What had once been an exhausting process had since become his most relaxing. Felling trees and cutting their logs into smaller planks brought Jay a greater sense of comfort compared to the constant combat, and with the inclusion of the research table into his arsenal, he needed a constant supply of resources to progress through the Crafting tree.
Right now, Jay was continuing to poke at the tech for copper swords, but it needed a gargantuan amount of wood, twine, and copper. Only the wood was easy to come by, but it took so much, and he’d get there, eventually…
“Oy!” a shout resonated out.
Jay jolted, his axe slipping from his hand and his legs losing their footing. When he turned around, he was forced to look up at the goliath closing in.
Desmond was once again shirtless, his painted lips a thin line beneath his monstrous beard, and brow locked in a hardened slant. A thin trickle of blood coagulated on his shoulder where an arrow jutted out.
A crude arrow.
He pointed to the wound, eyes bugged out. “Was this you!?”
Jay paled. “I didn’t know anyone was down there, I swear!”
“What kind of cunt does target practice off a cliff? You tryin’ to get me killed, eh? Maybe steal all my stuff!?”
“No! It was an accident!” How the hell was he supposed to know that anyone was wandering down there without armor!?
But Desmond’s eyes saw nothing but death as he hoisted Jay up. “Well, we can’t have that, now can we? Yeah, methinks you’d best be put down now!”
Jay tried to wriggle free, but the other man’s fingers were hard as steel, and wrapped around his lithe arm with ease. Desmond threw him into the ground, hard. As Jay tasted dust, his opponent raised his axe, ready to cleave him in two.
Oh shit, he’s going to kill me! There was nowhere to go. No time to react. It’d all happened too fast!
And then Desmond burst out in laughter, axe still in hand. “Fucking hell, mate!” he roared. “You should see the look on your face.” He continued to guffaw, slapping his knees as he keeled over.
“You’re not mad?” Jay squeaked after a moment to collect himself.
He wiped a tear from his eyes. “Well, I ain’t exactly chipper right now, if you catch my meaning. Was just out strollin’ about in search of dyes for me runes when lo and behold, an arrow from the sky! Oh, you’re lucky you’re not a sprigg or I’d do you dirty, I would.”
Jay breathed easy, feeling death averted yet again. “You feeling alright? Want me to get you anything?”
Desmond eyed the wound again with a shrug. “Ah, this? Just a crude arrow to pop. Piece of piss, really.” He yanked it free.
The painted tattoos on his chest glowed, and the wound closed in seconds.
“How’d you do that?” Jay asked with a gasp.
He chuckled. “Runes, mate! Fucking runesmithing’s where it’s at!”
Their Guides buzzed.
Desmond frowned. “Oh, you bloody wanker. First you hit me with an arrow while I’m minding me business, and now you’re making me break Rule-fucking-5. Why you being such a cunt today, Jay?”
He chewed his lips, unsure of what else to say. This morning was a roller-coaster.
“I’m sorry,” Jay said after a few moments.
Desmond waved his hand dismissively. “Bah, don’t worry so much. Just be more careful next time, yeah?” He peered around the area, soaking up the lake and cabin. “So this is where you’re setting up now, eh? Not too shabby.”
Jay gulped. He knew he couldn’t hide his current location from the other Expats forever, but he’d been hoping to have a little more time to set up in peace.
But Desmond had already started exploring, his axe still in hand. Jay followed behind, still unsure if this painted-faced axeman was ready to turn violent at any moment. He kept his fingers near his 9mm pistol.
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This guy definitely had a few screws loose. That much was certain.
Just like their first encounter, however, this one ended up pleasant. Jay went back to construction while Desmond droned on without a care in the world, telling more of his stories about his time back on Earth.
Apparently, he’d done everything from being a carpenter to a police officer and had bounced around the UK for years before ending up on Annwyn. He didn’t share how his own death came about, but that suited Jay just fine. The last thing he wanted was to be reminded about how they got here.
Jay even learned a few more tidbits about how to survive that weren’t in the Guide. His lake contained fish that could be farmed to no end, provided that he only drew from its population a few times per week. There were also plenty of other hardwood trees out there, and their hardness varied by type. Most could be found further inland, where the more difficult monsters lay. He’d even learned that softwood existed as well, which had a slew of other properties.
Their Guides buzzed like nobody’s business with all the rule violations, and Jay almost wanted him to stop, but he couldn’t help himself either. Any information he could use was better than nothing, and his most recent fights had gone well for him. Why not kick back and relax for a day? Desmond wasn’t all that bothered either.
All in all, this was looking to be a good day.
But then an explosion rang out from the harbor.
The two looked at where the explosion originated and back to each other.
“What was that?” Jay asked.
Desmond scoffed. “How the bloody hell should I know?”
He pulled out the radio.
“Anyone else feel that?” Naomi’s voice roiled through.
“How could I not!?” Sayid asked.
“What did you do, Desmond?”
He yanked the radio with a grunt. “I didn’t do shit, fam. Been up here with our newest neighbor, having a laugh.”
She sighed. “If you’re not fucking around with another thaumcraft bomb, then who did that?”
The radio whirred again as their last member chimed in.
“We might have a bit of a problem, guys,” Ben murmured.
Another explosion went off, this one demonstrably louder.
“What did you do!?” Naomi yelled.
Ben gasped. “Just get down here, okay!?”
The ground rumbled. Even from this far away, they could see the half-tower atop a stone quarry start vibrating from the shock.
“Well, shit,” Desmond said. “Looks like we’re at it again.” He grabbed his giant axe and started bumbling away. “Come on, Jay. Let’s get this sorted.”
He blinked. “Me? What am I supposed to do?”
“I don’t know, but you’re part of the neighborhood now, so you might as well get on with it.”
Desmond ushered him forth. Jay begrudgingly followed, if for no reason than to catch a glimpse of their stash.
The two jogged down the mountain from there, with Desmond leading the way. Even with a crisis at foot, he still couldn’t help but crack jokes and tell stories, each more ridiculous than the last.
Jay did everything in his power to keep up. Desmond was a machine in human form and crossed miles of treacherous terrain without breaking a sweat. Jay suspected he was going at only a fraction of his maximum pace, his higher vitality no doubt making this all a breeze.
The traps were easy to avoid with the help of his guide, and Jay tried to make a mental note of this path, should he need it in the future.
It wasn’t easy though. So many twists and turns led them safely into the area of the harbor, and nothing marked the safe way there. Only through Desmond’s guidance could he have made it through at all.
They reached the half-tower that represented Ben’s base. Jay gulped at the sight. Made of polished stone and rising three stories tall, it was so much bigger than he’d expected.
The other Expats waited outside. Naomi with her musket and blue cloak, Sayid and his rapier beneath his gambeson…
And a third man he’d never seen before. This guy had short black hair above a clean-shaven face, with glowing blue goggles strapped around his eyes. His shirt and trousers looked like nothing special, but the belt on his waist caught the eye. All sorts of tools and gadgets were attached, ready for use.
“Did you say it’s a D-Rank troll, Ben!?” Naomi shouted.
“Oy!” Desmond called out. “What’s this then?”
Sayid sighed. “It appears that our good friend’s constructs have finally broken into the Evershadow.”
“It unleashed a troll too,” Naomi emphasized. “The fucker’s heading right for us now.”
The ground shook again.
Desmond chuckled. “You did what, Ben?”
He shrunk an inch lower and tapped his goggles. “How was I supposed to know it was down there?”
“What’s Jay doing here?” Naomi asked, her dark eyes narrowing on him. “This is far above his level.”
He opened his mouth to speak, but Desmond cut him off. “He asked to come.”
“What? No, I didn’t!” Jay snapped. “You’re the one who dragged me here.”
“Eh, same difference. You’re here now, so you might as well enjoy it.”
“No,” Naomi said. “He’ll just get killed.”
Desmond grinned. “I’m sure it’ll be fine.”
Another earthquake hit. The half-tower crumbled some more.
“Look, guys,” Ben said, sweat building. “Maybe we can have the argument after we’ve dealt with the troll. Don’t forget, if it comes through here, it’ll tear this harbor apart, and probably a whole lot else.”
Naomi exhaled. “Fine. Let’s go. You can watch too, Jay, but keep your distance.”
Again, Jay wanted to say his piece, and again, Desmond cut him off. “It’s settled then, let’s go!” He yanked him by the arm as the others took flight.
The Expats rushed into the quarry beneath. Jay swallowed the lump in his throat and followed as best as he could, his dinky spear in hand. They rounded the bend and into the pit beneath.
And Jay nearly lost his footing completely, seeing the sheer scope. The half-tower was merely a front. The actual base lay in the quarry beneath.
There were vast networks of ore veins carved away, mine-cart tracks that looped ever-deeper into the pit, support beams and catwalks rising out every which way, and walking along these narrow halls…
What in the actual fuck!? Small humanoid golems worked about, their tiny bodies made of stone. Blue alchemic light leaked through seams in their design as they wandered about. Some carried materials or pushed carts, others hacked the walls with pickaxes, and others merely hobbled for safety, up the hill where the Expats ran down.
How could Ben have made so many of these things? There were dozens of them! All doing basic labor for him.
He’d have to ask later. Though lights were strung up at the top of the quarry, it continued to stretch off into the distance at an even slope, deeper into a thickened darkness.
And it was there where the monster lay. Jay couldn’t see it, but he could feel its overwhelming aura, even this far away. His pace slackened as Desmond forced him onward. Part of him wished to be let go, but he also did want to see this fight play out. This was the first time he’d be able to see his neighbors in combat, and such a moment could not be allowed to pass.
But damn, did he want to turn back. Even though he had the 9mm pistol tucked in his back in case this went south, the further they entered the mine, the more staggering this sense became. He’d never experienced anything like this. Not even the strength of the level 16 minotaur had come close.
Just how tough was this guy?
The guttural bellow rolled down the tunnel, and even his E-Rank allies froze in place against its fury.
Out from the everlasting dark, a new monster approached.
Name: Jay Reis (Primal Age)
Vitality – 38/38
Hunger – 68/72
Thirst – 22/24
Fatigue – 18/24
Sanity – 89/100
Main Crafts: Armor Crafting 2, Base Building 2, Cooking 0, Medicine 0, Tailoring 1, Tool Crafting 1, Weapon Crafting 2.
Weapon Crafts: Axes 0, Bows 4, Clubs 0, Daggers 0, Spears 5, Swords 4.
Armor Crafts: Heavy Armor 5, Light Armor 2, Medium Armor 0, Shields 4.
Armor Skills:
Heavy Armor: [Push], [Stampede]
Light Armor: [Dash]
Shield: [Brace], [Track]
Weapon Skills:
Bows: [Sharpshooter], [Longshot]
Spears: [Thrust], [Sweep]
Swords: [Power Attack], [Slash]
Armor:
[Lizardscale Helmet+2] (Hardened+1)
[Lizardscale Chestpiece+4] (Hardened+1)
[Lizardscale Leggings+2] (Hardened+1)
[Lizardscale Boots+1] (Hardened+1)
[Lizardscale Gauntlets+1] (Hardened+1)
[Scaled Roundshield+3] (Hardened+1)
Weapons:
[Hardwood Sword+3] (Reinforced+1), (Stable+1)
[Flint Spear+4] (Reinforced), (Hardened)
[Wooden Bow+3]
[Basic Leather Quiver]: Contains 20 [Flinthead Arrows]
[Crude Javelin Bag]: Contains 5 [Crude Javelins]
[9mm Semi-Automatic Pistol] (Accurate+2), (Quick): Contains 8 [9mm Cartridge] (JHP)
Tools:
[Flint Knife+1]
[Stone Axe+1]
[Stone Hammer+1]