26 Astra 10,391 day 5 of trip
Six woke bright and early. His body felt amazing and he was excited for what new things today held. He rolled over and felt something move.
“Oh shit!”
He scrambled out of the tent and got to his feet. There was something in there. He pulled his glaive from storage… wait a minute he didn’t have that. Enchanted spear! He pointed it at the mouth of the tent and waited for whatever parasitical monster was feeding on him last night.
The tent shook and flapped open to reveal the raccoon with raised hackles, growling. It had not appreciated the rude awakening.
“Oh shit, thank god.” Six breathed a sigh of relief and pulled some food out for the bugger. A piece of jerky was all that was required and the beast calmed.
Skill increase: Taming - Initiate - 4
He stretched, ate, packed up his tent and picked up his glaive and spear before finding Denny and Charles. They nodded at him and they started off ahead of everyone on this day’s march, walking upstream along the general course of the river.
Denny had done as he usually did and Six found traps waiting for them but he had to admit the effectiveness of the training as his perception rose by one. Denny had done more and had led them deeper into the forest for a bit before showing them an unaware monster, he then stood back. ”Defeat it.” He spoke with unwavering firmness.
Neither Six nor Charles hesitated, If they were to live on the mountain they would need to be stronger than this.
The monster was about 50 meters away and was a dark wolfish creature. Quadrupedal and covered in thornlike fur. It had a snout filled with razorblade teeth and it was preoccupied with a previous kill. Six analyzed it.
Adult Bristle Hound
Level 9
Six looked at Charles and the kid made eye contact. Six gave a nod of reassurance before gesturing that he would go in after Charles fired an arrow. The boy was initially confused but with enough gesturing understood.
They both moved into a ready position and Charles drew his bow unleashing a surprise arrow from the forest. Six was already moving forward as Charles’ arrow hit. Six began to cast Stone Spear and he focused most of his attention on performing the spell correctly. He didn’t need to close with the beast; he needed to get as much free damage as possible and then draw aggro for Charles.
The beast was struck with Charles arrow and squealed before wheeling about in the direction of the pain, it charged toward Six and straight into an erupting spike of stone coming from the forest floor. Six could see it try to dodge but it took a piercing stab to its shoulder as another arrow came and hit it. But by then it had closed the distance and Six already had his enchanted earth spear out to ward it away. He liked the glaive more but he wanted to see the effects of his enchanting, as minor and random as they may be. This monster was already wounded and there was both Six and Charles, Denny watched over them. He felt fine experimenting.
Six performed a series of stabs to keep distance, the first three pierced the hide with difficulty but the fourth glowed with a dark brownish-green energy and sunk deep into the beast with almost no resistance. The Bristle hound brayed and moved forward taking the stabs, it traded with Six, tackling and sending him sliding into a nearby tree.
Six managed to stay on his feet and with a trembling wheeze, held the contents of his stomach in. He barely managed to push the beast away and felt pain lance through the exposed skin on the side that was hit. The hair of this creature was more than thornlike in appearance, it had punctured Six’s skin and had left the fibers embedded. It caused pain with every movement. A good chunk of his health disappeared, but there was no panic. It was just pain. The beast took another hit from Charles before it wheeled around to charge the boy.
Six threw out a Stone Wall in front of the beast and the large canine collided with the erupting wall of rock. It yelped and rolled about on the ground, pawing at its nose, it's dangerous hair particles being disturbed into a cloud of death. Six focused and aimed his gestures carefully, gathered mana internally, and incanted the words, “Stone Spear.”
A spike of jagged rock shot directly up from the forest floor, impaling the creature through its chest cavity, lifting it up and holding it aloft. The monster struggled weakly and croaked out a moan of pain. It lashed about but only sunk deeper onto the gore covered stalactite. It held still and the cloud of needle fur soon settled. Six slowly approached the dark furred bristle hound and it offered no resistance. It was dying. He raised his glaive and brought it down on the thing’s exposed neck as hard as he could. He visualized cutting through, past the neck, and his swing was flawless. It was the swing of a normal man but still powerful and deadly. The wolf-like head fell.
You have killed Level 9 Adult Bristle Hound.
Experience gained 298
A rush of endorphins went through Six. He was good, he was deadly. Yes Charles had helped but that last Stone Spear had been devastating.
Charles came circling out from behind the stone wall that Six had conjured, he had an arrow nocked. He nodded at Six, most likely having received the same kill prompt.
Six butchered the creature and retrieved the Mundane Mana Core. “Hey Charles, I’ll trade you two silver for every one of these we harvest eh? How bout it?”
Charles just shook his head, no. “You can have them.”
Six shook his head, no. “These are valuable, right? You helped with the kill you should get something from it.”
Charles nodded. “As of right now, I am benefitting from the tutelage of Denny and the experience I gain with you. I appreciate you letting me train alongside you, I have learned much faster out here than… well anyways… Thank you.”
“Alright kid, twist my rubber elbow.” Six pocketed the Mana Core and the three of them continued forward. Six quickly checked his logs and felt a slight rush at seeing his skill gains.
Skill Increase:
Stealth - 3
Analyze - 4
Polearms - 5
Heavy armor - 9
Earth magic - 3
Denny found two more monsters and all five of those same skills rose once more. Six gained 863 experience altogether from those battles and Charles had leveled up. He was level 3 and his glowing face was evidence enough of his pride at achieving victory against such beasts
Just before the mid day break they came upon a small hamlet next to the river. It was a collection of ramshackle huts and shacks that was contained within a wooden palisade, peopled by maybe 50 to 60 humans. They observed it from afar looking at the people trudge about their daily lives before they continued forth and found their way to what looked like a guard. A woman stood near one of the entrances in the palisade. She wore dusty and worn leathers with an old chipped sword on her hip. She was aware and as soon as Six, Charles and Denny showed themselves she approached them on an intercept course. Some grim and weathered villagers noticed and began to gather too.
Six gave a wave. “Howdy.”
She gave them a searching look and nodded. “Travelers, I am Chief Root. This is Alita village. May I ask why you have come to our home?”
Six nodded, “Just passing through, mind if we stop here for an hour or two?”
“There are only the mountains and wildlands past here, are you lost?”
Six shook his head. “Got an expert here,” he said pointing at Denny.
“Well, I suppose it should be ok for you three to stop for a bit. I will warn you though, there are many dangers here. If you are seeking safety you will not find it here.”
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“That's fine. We just need a place to rest… also there are like over two hundred of us, we’re just scouting ahead. They’ll be here soon, maybe a half hour or so.”
The lady looked uncomfortable but eventually nodded. “Just an hour or two?” she asked to confirm.
Six nodded. “Just so everyone catches their breath.”
“Rest quickly, then you must leave.”
Six raised an eyebrow. “You know, we don’t have to stop here.”
“That may be for the best.”
That was weird, this didn’t feel like regular xenophobia. He analyzed her.
Leoka root
Human
Level 7
She was weak for what Denny implied a chieftain should be, but that was no reason to not respect her wishes. “We will be passing by in a while. We will not stop.” Six turned to Charles and Denny, “Lets go.” They went to leave but Leoka stopped them.
“What are your purposes, passing through our land?”
Six considered. “I am not their representative but they are travellers seeking a new home, far from others and their influence. To me it sounds as though they value their freedom, so much so they are willing to put themselves in danger to achieve it. We still have alot of travel ahead of us.”
Leoka looked conflicted. “And If I refuse your passage through our lands?”
“Look lady, if you’re the strongest in your village I don’t even think you could stop me. There are people stronger than me in that settler train. We wouldn’t attack you but you would not stop us.” He turned tack at Leoka’s panicked face. “They are nice people for the most part,” he tried to reassure her.
Her face took on a look of resigned acceptance and stepped in close to whisper. “We need help. There is a man named Amog who has styled himself a bandit lord. He killed my mother, our previous chief. The Empire has not sent anyone despite our pleas and we cannot continue to be slaves to the man. We are industrious and we help our own but something needs to change. Tell the leader of these settlers that I and my people would like to join you. Tell them of Amog, tell them that they might escape Amog’s notice but more likely they too will be visited by the man. All we want is peace, stability and freedom.”
Six nearly laughed at that last bit. “You could come with me and tell her yourself.”
Leoka gave a furtive look about. “Amog’s men are placed here. I wish my people to be safe. Once true strength shows itself they will scatter.”
“You don't think they might hurt your people before running?”
“I do, but things must change.” She said it with a grim helplessness that Six hated.
He feared that weight that she must be bearing, that burden that must constantly be worked. Six wanted to live as easy as possible. Leadership, when you approached it sincerely, was one of the heaviest burdens to bear. He could see it on her face, Leoka cared too much. “I will tell them,” Six said.
They made their way back and regrouped with the head of the column, Alison was there and Six asked her to bring it to an early stop before they reached the town, he quickly informed her of what was ahead.
Alison nodded as he recounted what he learned and she stood up and signaled for the marching to resume.
“You gonna let them follow you guys?” Six asked.
“If I see good people then yes. Of course.”
Six understood. Alison was a good person who was also cursed with a sincere desire to fulfill her role as a leader. From what Six saw, the people from that hamlet were fine folks from the booneys so he assumed Alison would let them tag along for the ride.
Six, Charles, and Denny made their way ahead of the column once more, stopping just long enough in Alita Village to warn Leoka that Alison was close behind and to not worry. Leoka smiled at that and thanked them.
Before they left Alita Village Charles stopped them and cleared his throat. “Seeing as we are going to be continuing to train together, Six, there is something I would like to ask of you.”
“Shoot.”
Charles made a face at that but nodded. “I possess a skill called Battle Leader. It allows me to designate individuals to join my Battle Group. Those within my Battle Group and under my Area of influence gain buffs in accordance with those I have unlocked with Battle Group techniques. Area of Influence is a spherical area that extends from me.”
“Anything negative I should be aware of?”
“The world is more generous with experience points when you're in a battle group. But you also share more despite one’s contribution to the battle.”
It sounded like you must be able to funnel EXP to a person who didn’t contribute in a fight. Six wondered if this was a possible power leveling option?
Charles offered a potential negative. “The higher I am in level than you the more of your stat sheet I can see. It was described to me to be similar to the Analyze skill.”
Six shrugged. “Well, should be fine, I'm a higher level than you.”
Charles nodded and a moment later Six was presented with a prompt.
Charles Penult (Sergeant) has invited you to join his Battle Group. Yes/No?
Six selected yes and a slightly transparent blue outline manifested over Charles. It was not light being generated, rather somesort of magical augmented reality. Six held up his hand and obscured Charles and the blue outline from his vision. There was only his hand, no X-ray effect but still, the visual clarity during battle would be a huge help regardless. There was another prompt, more of an icon of a pair of boots appearing on his vision, when he focused on it an actual prompt explained it.
March 1 - Movement speed increased by 5%
Neat.
Denny shook his head. “Thank you for the invite Charles but I want you two to grow.”
“You sure Denny? Are you not close to level twenty?” the kid asked.
“Yup.”
“Then why not grow?”
Denny smiled and looked at Charles. “I didn’t know how important it was to have a treasure when you evolve. I’ve seen a few in my travels and think I can get one before I move on up. Gotta take it slow until then.”
Charles accepted that with a smile. “Ok.”
Then they continued blazing a trail further west.
They weren’t but five minutes out from the village before a new challenge presented itself. Five filthy bipedals presented themselves from flora of the forest. Two were human, an orc, dwarf, and a fat little halfling. The humans had crossbows, the orc and dwarf had an axe and hammer respectively and the fat little halfling toyed with what looked like a sling.
The dark yellow Muldstanni spoke past his tusks. “Hello travellers. If you wish to continue further throughout our lands you must pay the toll.”
“Nah,” Six murmured. “Leoka said it was cool.”
“Leoka’s not our boss,” the dwarf grunted.
Six analyzed them all.
Doug Stanhope
Human
Level 4
Stella Roper
Human
Level 3
Rushtag
Orc
Level 4
Ahndnewt
Dwarf
Level 3
Beedle Tink
Halfling
Level 0
There was a large part of him that looked for a peaceful solution, there was no ideal outcome where these vagrants were leaving safe and sound.
Six hated thieves. He despised them.
One could threaten them.
One could give them what they want.
But they would eventually report on what happened, and every day he cared about the old world and ways a little less.
Even after they died the danger would not be gone. It would be impossible to hide the passage of so many people. It did not matter but at the very least their deaths would buy time. He looked to Denny. “Please make sure there are no witnesses watching from the forest.”
It was only for a moment but a profound look of sadness passed across the old man’s face before he nodded.
Six brought out a shield out of his spatial and held it between him and the crossbows that let their bolts fly. One of the bolts riccocheted off the shield but the other punched through and into his bicep. Six growled his scream down as Charles let fly with his bow and Denny leapt into the forest.
Six dropped the shield and cast a stone spear at one of the humans who were bent over and struggling to cock their crossbow. The stone spike blasted up and the human’s head exploded.
“Magic!” the yellowed Muldstanii cried and he began to run towards Six dodging from side to side, the Dwarf was but a moment behind.
Six made eye contact with the enemy Muldstanii and cast another Stone Spear but at the last second of the incantation the Orc leapt far away and avoided the Stone Spear but quickly realized that it was not even meant for him. The dwarf behind him was not nearly so nimble and when the spear erupted forth it arrested his movement and pierced right through him, just through the meaty flesh of his shoulder but he was out of the fight for now.
Charles already killed the other crossbow wielder with three well placed arrows, he began to fire at the Muldstanii who restarted his charge towards Six.
The fat halfling flung a stone at Six but it was deflected harmlessly by his dented breastplate.
Six pulled out his glaive just in time to receive the vicious overhead swing of this bandit. He brought his haft up and caught the axe on its handle, the blade came close to caving his head in but Six sent it away. Immediately another blow came and Six blocked that one aswell. Staying alive was all Six could do, the Orc attacked relentlessly and it felt like he had the strength of three men. Six made sure to give Charles an open shot and that effort quickly paid off as a shaft appeared in the yellow man’s side. The Orc winced and choked out some blood but kept coming, swinging faster, this time swinging low and catching the bottom of Six’s block. His finger flew off, blood spattered and the glaive’s shaft shattered.
You have gained Bleeding 1
You are bleeding -15 HP
You have lost a limb: Right Fifth Digit
He used his ring of healing immediately to staunch the blood. Six felt disturbed by the loss of his finger but it was pushed away as the fight demanded attention.
Six was in pain but it was worth it as another arrow appeared in the orc’s back. The tusked man grimaced and turned, leaving the defensive Six, sprinting at the young Charles dodging from side to side.
Six took off in a full straight sprint and his armored form slowly began to close the distance with the zigzaggin Orc. He began to brew another spell and let it fly. Stone Wall.
It miscast and sent 20 damage and more pain coursing through Six but he kept the chase up and in frustration threw his broken glaive at the Muldstanii. It arced through the air and landed right between their legs, tangling them up and delaying them for just a moment.
Charles uttered a small focus, “Powershot,” and let his arrow fly. It was true and impacted the orc, sending him flying back and laying him down on the ground.
Six had already pulled his minor dagger of force from his spatial and after closing the small remaining distance, leapt upon the Orc and stabbed as aggressively as he could. It was incredibly hard to prevent someone from stabbing you and despite being much stronger than Six the orc had been knocked off balance and disoriented. After three arrows it didn’t take much to bleed the man of the last of his HP.
While Six did that, Charles took potshots at the impaled and dying dwarf.
The Halfling went to run and Six took off after him. They ran through the forest, Six was pushed to his limit in terms of ability but he never pushed himself beyond his stamina regen. This went on for a short while until the Halfling began to slow, audible wheezes coming from his small form. The distance between them began to slowly decrease and suddenly the Halfling stopped and turned around before falling to his knees.
“Please!” The Halfling screamed. “I can tell you about Amog.”
Six pulled his earth spear out and stabbed down at the fat little man, stopping just before the man’s face. “Tell me then. Tell me what he can do.”
The Halfling spoke for a while, telling Six all he knew of Amog. Six asked questions and the Halfling either offered an answer or the words “I don’t know.”
Charles and Denny appeared mid interrogation.
When it was done Six nodded. “That will be all I suppose.”
“I can go?”
Six grimaced before looking at Charles. Bah, the boy has probably seen worse. Let Denny think what he wants. Six shook his head, no. He was tired of this shit.
The Halfling’s scream was cut short.
There was a prompt that had been trying to catch Six’s attention
You have reached level 7, advancement options available.