Trust is the benefit of the doubt, and not just mere reassurance born from unwavering repetition.

- A Quassian Aphorism.

Rosy-fingered dawn was just starting to climb the morning sky when I awoke once more to another day. As was my habit, I checked my Status or ‘character sheet’, pleased that after my rest I was in peak condition. A minor annoyance was the list of skills and spells that seemed to be growing ever longer. Was there a way to filter out any of the extraneous information that cluttered my mind’s eye? I imagined that a sibilant raspy voice almost mouthed a reluctant ‘yes’ in assent in the far corners of my mind.

[STATUS] Calling: Gilgamesh lvl.11 Paladin/Reaver

Strength: 25

Dexterity: 20

Constitution: 37

Intelligence: 21

Wisdom: 18

Charisma: 12

Luck: 17

SKILLS & PROFICIENCIES

Pain Nullification (lvl.2)

Power Strike (lvl.2) 10

Endure (lvl.3)

Stealth (lvl.1)

Rest (lvl.3)

Backstab (lvl.2)

Dodge (lvl.3)

Polearms (lvl.2)

Dual Wield (lvl.2)

Critical Hit Mastery (lvl.2)

Mining (lvl.2)

Unarmed Combat (lvl.3)

Hammers (lvl.2)

Flails (lvl.2)

Maces (lvl.2)

Shields (lvl.1)

Medium Armor (lvl.2)

Heavy Armor (lvl.3)

Axes (lvl.1)

Daggers (lvl.2)

Throwing Weapons (lvl.2)

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Double-Throw (lvl.1) 5

SPELLS & MAGIC

Heal (lvl.5) 5

Rust (lvl.3) 2

Identify (lvl.2) 1

Silent Casting (lvl.2)

Mana Regeneration (lvl.2)

Purify (lvl.2) 3

Greater Heal (lvl.1) 10

Holy Aura (lvl.1) 2

Decay (lvl.1) 1

Drain (lvl.4) 2

Entropic Aura (lvl.2) 2

GIFTS

Curse of Entropy -20% to all starting attributes.

Mark of the Paladin 10% resistance to Dark/Holy magic. 5% resistance to Physical.

Touch of the Void 10% reduced resistance to Holy/Fire magic, 20% resistance to Mental Effects, 15% immunity to Mental Effects.

Experience to next level 2613/3202

Health: 264/272

Stamina: 32/59

Mana: 10/15

I quickly dismissed this inner monologue, fearful that these thoughts may lead to even greater insanity. I looked across at my companions, finding them industriously going about their business and readying themselves for the coming conflict. Elwin was sharpening his knives, favoring the damask-etched blade that we had gained from the wholesale slaughter of the Charcoal Burners. My other boon companion, Kidu, was checking his arrows, looking for warps or flawed fletchings that would affect their flight.

We cooked up a simple breakfast, a lightly-salted meat stew that I consumed with gusto. Ever since my time as a slave, food now held new importance in my life. Poor as I had been, worrying about starving was an alien concept. The significance of food and what it represented had changed on an intrinsic level. How truly sheltered my old life had been, I mused absent-mindedly.

After breakfast, we continued with our preparations, seeing to the minutiae of maintenance of our arms and armor. I felt a growing pressure in the pit of my gut that demanded release and, recognizing it for what it was, I let it flow over and through me. It was anticipation mixed with trepidation, but they seemed like old friends now, their edges losing their sharpness when ground against raw experience.

Our preparations now complete, we headed off in the direction of the river bank, eager to accomplish our mission. Every step through the forest to the river was accompanied by a heightened tension that brought our senses into sharp focus. Eventually, we could hear once more the sound of vigorously-running water, but threaded through the sounds were new notes. The wind softly whispered a sensation of danger, the hissing of ferocious reptile creatures driven to the heights of frenzy.

Kidu signaled to us that we should move slower as we crept up to the edge of the trees and observed the scene before us.

What bloomed before my eyes could truly be called a festival of bestial violence. Deep hisses of challenge ringed in the air as River Lurkers squabbled with each other over an animal they had recently brought down, which was now an unidentifiable large mound of meat, bone, and offal. The familiar smell of copper and iron tinged the air - the scent of freshly-spilled blood. Some of the creatures had wounded each other over the promise of warm meat, and great rents were torn into their thick, scaly hides.

Out of the water, the creatures themselves reminded me of alligators or large crocodiles from Earth. Only, these specimens were more heavily-armored, with bony protrusions and small spikes running along their scaled hides. They each had three pairs of stumpy, muscular legs that had a surprisingly fast cadence, allowing them a good amount of speed on land. Their snouts, too, were shorter than an alligator’s, and filled with sharp serrated teeth that promised death. Their clawed feet were webbed in the manner of aquatic creatures. The academic in me admired such a clear example of convergent evolution.

Theorizing about killing these monsters was one thing, but witnessing them up close, as they tore into bloody flesh, made the whole thing seem an altogether different prospect. However, the Lurkers, preoccupied with what appeared to be a fresh kill, could prove advantageous. With these thoughts swirling in my mind, I turned to Kidu, my eyes seeking guidance.

“The feeding frenzy is upon them. Thankfully, we are downwind of the gathering. We should wait till they are sated; with fortune’s favor, they will be in a stupor,” advised the man from the North, his steady rumbling voice lending a welcome assurance.

“Nothing has changed, except that we need to wait a little while. Let us retreat and pray that the wind does not change,” I concluded, looking at each of my companions in turn, and silenced the Rogue’s protestations with a stern look.

Elwin rolled his eyes before falling in line, muttering something under his breath, as my group retreated a bit further into the trees. I noticed that Patches was trembling, but she wasn’t giving in to her fear. Most donkeys at this point would have likely fled in such proximity to the monstrously-large crocodilian analogs. A truly noble beast, I thought to myself, as we staked her down deep within the tree line.