Chef definitely shocked the villagers in the field as they once again fled for their lives at his approach. He, however, just put down the cauldron, picked the sack up out of it, and grabbed some water from the creek. It was definitely more awkward to carry a cauldron of water in one hand, but what could he do? He needed water to mix with honey and infuse moisture back into the dried meats he was carrying around.
As he enjoyed the sight of screaming humans, he made his way towards the village entrance. He decided to look at his previously ignored notifications out of curiosity as he got closer, stopping for a moment to take in all the information.
Congratulations! You have digested an entire Giant Bear[58]! You have gained some of its stats and abilities!
Congratulations! You have digested a Bear[13]! You have gained some of its stats and abilities!
Congratulations! You have digested a Bear[12]! You have gained some of its stats and abilities!
Congratulations! You have gained Health, Stamina, Gusto, Intestine, and Ability!
Name: Goblin Chef
Species[Level]: Goblin[57]
Class[Level]: Goblin/Peon[10], Goblin/Cook[10], Goblin/Chef[20], Chef/Baker[17]
Health: 49/49
Mana: 37/37
Stamina: 40/40
Titles:
Cannibal
Skills:
Brawling III Convincing
Conniving III Running
Climbing Intuit
Kitchen Magic Butchering II
Poisoncraft II Poison Resistance II
Baking II Goblin Spreading
Knife Meditation
Kitchen Heat Resistance II
Spellcasting:
Create Cooking Fire Set Temperature
Stir Sharpen Knife
Wash Dishes Breadbox
Knead Summon Flavoring
Rise
Traits:
Gluttonous Loathsome
Garbageman
Boons & Banes:
Exquisite Taste (F)
Goblin Confidence (C)
Attributes:
Power 30 Hutzpah 61
Gusto 40 Intestine 57
Alacrity 27 Waagh 0
Sense 37 Ability 29
Inexplicability: 27
Oh right, he had evolved Summon Seasoning when he summoned the sticky gold. He’d need to investigate the full extent of what could be done with that new spell at some point, especially considering how life changing the last thing he created with it was. But that would have to wait, he had a village of needy humans to feed.
The things he did for flour.
Walking up to the entrance, the two guards stiffened, prepared to do something stupid. Chef decided he didn’t feel like waiting today, so he didn’t.
“I see myself in.”
He just walked between them, thoroughly ignoring the looks he got in response. For a brief moment, they almost did something. Chef saw how little his incredibly sharp knife had done against this very bear hide not too long ago; he had no fear in his heart as he stared at the blunted spearhead pointed his direction.
The man seemed to find the meaning of life as he discovered that dying for no reason wasn’t noble; it was just stupid. So, Chef made it through the town entrance unharmed and unescorted as people continued to run around in fear. Some froze stock still, some ran in the opposite direction without thinking, and others still ran into presumably their homes in order to hide. There was always a chance that the building they entered was random too, but it ultimately didn’t matter that much to Chef. It would be funnier, though.
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Having reached around the center of the town which had this nice circular stone thing with a roof for some reason, Chef decided to stop and set up shop. First, he created a low heat fire, then he placed the cauldron on it and brought the water within to a low boil. After that, he summoned some sticky gold directly into the pot, activated Stir, and opened the sack. He threw in one salty piece of meat at a time until the pot was full, stirring all the while. Some other flavors found their way into the pot, guided by the vague nudges of his skills which inconsistently gave him guidance. But at the end of the day, the flavor was always going to be good.
It was the presentation that he worried about.
He’d gathered up quite a crowd at this point with even a few familiar faces in the mix. At least Chef thought they were familiar but, admittedly, most humans looked very similar to him. The first piece of meat finished and so Chef reached in, pulled it out, and declared for the benefit of those present.
“I have come to feed. Eat and be strong. Eat and make flour.”
Silence filled the town center for several long moments, and Chef considered just eating this food himself. But just then, someone stepped forward to take him up in his generous offer. Of course, it was the handsome man.
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Fresk didn’t know what to think when the creature plopped down next to the well, but he certainly wasn’t going to make himself known. He couldn’t stop it if it decided to do something, but he could at least look to see what precisely it was going to do. Then at least he could warn the others.
But it continued to confound and confuse, magically creating a camp fire of all things. It just casually created matter from nothing as if it were the most natural thing in the world. Then it continued. The next thing it created was some rich smelling sweet, presumably honey. Now he couldn’t be sure if it was from within its magical void space or created from nothing as well, but that was beginning to be more and more irrelevant.
The creature was doing things that nothing would do unless it was phenomenally more powerful than its surroundings. Forget level 100, nothing below 150 would act this way here. His intuit burned to be used, to help him identify just how far the gap was once again.
Fresk swallowed bile as he forced down the urge. No, he couldn’t afford a distraction, not when so much was unknown. But then it surprised him again.
“I have come to feed. Eat and be strong. Eat and make flour.”
Another ultimatum. They had asked it to help them with food production so they could focus on building and what did it do? It instead brought food directly to them. Like a pack animal being brought food so that it would keep working instead of grazing. That’s all they were after all: cattle. Here to work or be eaten if they couldn’t prove their worth.
Fresk had to remember that. He couldn’t afford to forget that this incredibly capable creature before him was not to be underestimated or taken lightly. It was not their friend or colleague; hells, it wasn’t even their species.
He stepped forward. If anyone could survive what it had cooked up it would be him. If he couldn’t, then the others would flee at the sight of his gruesome death. Maybe if they scattered some would survive, but probably not. Oh well, no point in delaying the inevitable.
He took the wet meat handed to him and couldn’t ignore the succulent smell. It should be disgusting if there was any justice in this world, but none of his prayers had been answered thus far. The only conclusion was that their gods were cruel and unfeeling towards the plight of men.
Fresk took a bite—
Thought slipped away leaving only flavor and pleasure. Nothing mattered but the taste in his mouth, nothing at all. After a few more bites, he began to blink tears out of his eyes as the flavor brought emotions out of him that he didn’t know he still had. His legs gave out as he slumped to the floor, unable to handle what he had been given. This weight, this gift, it was too heavy to bear.
“It’s the most incredible thing I’ve ever tasted. What do you call this?”
He had to know. The creature looked down upon him for the first time and he could practically feel the sneer it gave him. No skin was visible, but Fresk couldn’t shake the feeling that he’d fallen for some trap. The others approached cautiously as it handed out more slices of wet meat.
“Good enough for now.”
The carrot and the stick. Promise of more high-quality meals in return for labor. If he got the meaning right, it was even alluding to a better meal if they delivered at or above schedule. Fresk had been right all along. At least the monster that cursed him so long ago had the decency to be transparent in its evil. But this creature, this power before him demanded to be served. It couldn’t be denied. He refused to believe he’d never get to eat that meat again; refused to accept a life where he’d been shown such heights only to never see them again.
“We will build the mill.”
The words weren’t even his. They came from his mouth, but it was obvious looking at the rest of the faces around him.
He spoke for all of them. They’d do it, no matter the cost.