Daggat searched his statistics for something. Finally, he found it. A small box at the top, a tab. Clicking on it, it opened another screen. This one had an option for [party] and several blank spaces beneath them as well as a tab for alchemy. He opened the party menu, which had a list of the party members. Alchemy would be explored when he was safer. Glut was missing from the list. Zuss… was still there! He felt like his heart stopped.

He closed everything and scrambled to Zuss. She took a shallow, rattly breath. He collapsed in relief. “Klaw. KLAW! She’s alive. Hurt, badly, but alive!” Klaw scrambled towards her. When he saw for himself, he laughed.

“I knew that wouldn’t be enough to take her out!” Neither looked at her face.

Opening the party menu again, he found the option to leave the party. He made a loud, strangled cry towards the cave entrance, then left the party. Hopefully, that would make it seem as though the monster killed him. He talked Klaw through the same process. Zuss was unconscious, but neither was willing to wake her. They hoped it would be enough.

Daggat waited an hour before he poked his head out. Gobma and the gremlins were gone. They likely thought they were killed, as he planned, and moved on before the monster could come out. Then a thought occurred to him. There was no notice of gaining experience from the monster, as he expected. But, he recalled the mud pits. He did not gain any reward until he actually ate the other gremlins.

He approached the corpse of the drake. Then bit a large chunk out of it. It was rough, and burned at his tongue. The flavor was like a gamey chicken fresh from the fire.

[You have devoured - Drake, level 5. Experience Gained. You have gained one monster level. One Biotrait Point awarded. All attributes increased by 1. One growth point available.]

“What are you doing?” Klaw asked the cackling Daggat.

“Take a bite! You will see.” He did so.

“It’s Ok. I’d eat it regular. But, I don’t see anything.”

“No experience notification?”

“No…?” That intrigued him. Perhaps it was whoever ate it first?

“Oh… Sorry. You get the next one. Anyway, we should get moving.” Before they left, the gremlins ate their fill of the drake. An idea occurred to Daggat. He had used dead animals for potions. What about a dead drake? He took the horns and dug around until he found its heart. Then cut into the throat and found a large gland that burned to the touch. If THESE couldn’t make something useful, he would quite alchemy altogether.

Daggat also had to decide where his growth point went. He could even his strength to his other physical stats. But, he also felt like his charm was lacking. He relied on bluffing, convincing, and controlling too much to be too lacking in it. So, he increased it to 7. Next, he still had a biotrait point. He briefly considered claws, like Klaw’s, but that might upset him. There was an option to evolve his existing biotraits, however.

He decided to evolve his hypnotic gaze. There were three options.

[Mesmerizing Gaze: The Hypnotic Gaze becomes more subtle. Those under its effects are ignorant to the cause.]

[Dominating Gaze: Creatures of low will have their mental resistances lowered while under the hypnotic Gaze, ensuring they follow any simple suggestion the user demands. Many factors, such as level, type of suggestion, and users charm can change the effectiveness of this biotrait.]

[Fearsome Gaze: Hypnotic Gaze instills fear in those that behold it.]

Without hesitation, he selected dominating gaze. In his stats, Hypnotic Gaze turned into Dominating Gaze. A small asterisk was written next to it. Now, they had to find somewhere to hide, build strength, and use as their den.

It took some time to crawl out of the canyon with Zuss, still unconscious. It was nearly nightfall by the time they made it out. Instead of going back the way they came, they more or less chose a random direction. Traveling through the forest at night was much different than day. Not because of the dark, but the fog. It grew particularly thick at night.

They traveled in silence for more than an hour, allowing the night to settle. He was focused on his steps, to be as silent as possible, so he almost missed it. Something was hanging from a nearby tree. He couldn't make it out, but then he saw another. Round objects hung from the trees, dozens per tree, like a grove of fruit. At the base of the trees, similar objects were piled high. The scent of rot and death was carried by a sudden gust of wind. With trepidation, Daggat guided them closer to a tree.

Wind brushed aside a branch, allowing the moon to directly light one of the objects. A shriveled, rotting head grinned at him. Daggat screamed and stumbled back, tripping from his leg. His hand rested on something wet. Another rotting head. Daggat scrambled away, eyes frantically darting around. Heads, skulls, and similar trophies. He could make them out now he knew what to look for. They hung from the branches, were piled around the trees. Some were speared by branches, others were strung together by tied hair. Goblin, human, other creatures heads were used. He looked at his hand, now smeared with rot and maggot guts. Daggat vomited.

Where were they? He had an inkling that they were still well within goblin territory. What kind of people raised him, exactly? Daggat knew they were rough… but that was the way of the world. This? This was too much. Unnecessary and gruesome. Cruel for cruelties sake. Daggat understood Samuel’s grief. He imagined Zuss’s head or Glut’s hanging from a tree. A sick trophy. For a moment, a gremlin head twirled around on its rope, and Daggat saw Glut’s evil grin look back at him. Then his mind cleared. It was not Glut. Glut was still back at the cave.

“Let’s keep going. This is a bad place.” Klaw agreed quickly. Zuss was silent. Her breath was getting slower, weaker. It worried Daggat to no end, but what could he do? After almost an hour, they finally passed the last of the strange trees decorated with the dead.

Exhaustion threatened to claim him. Klaw was in no better shape, but he doggedly went on. Further into the forest and longer into the night. They took frequent breaks. Klaw carried Zuss, and Daggat limped along. He had hurt his ankle when he was thrown into the crevice, though it was not broken. Every step felt like stepping on broken glass.

Just as Daggat decided enough distance was between them and their old home, red lights appeared in the distance. Two, far enough away to get no detail. But, they were something to head towards. After a few staggered steps, a deep growl rumbled through the forest. Daggat nearly sank to the forest floor as he realized, they were not lights in the distance. Rather, they were glowing red eyes. Klaw noticed as well. “Daggat…” was all he managed to creak out.

The monster in the forest was dark, and large. Where it moved, the light of the moon seemed to shrink back. It circled them, staying just far enough away to be a silhouette in the night. Then it spoke.

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“Morsels, delivered to me fresh. And cooked well, I see.” It’s voice was deep and full, with a certain restraint to it. Like it was holding back a roar with every breath. “What brings little gremlins so far from home?” Daggat suddenly remembered what Gobma had said some weeks back. Wargs guarding the outskirts of the village.

Daggat’s suspicion was confirmed as it stepped into view. The warg was huge, with jaws large enough to swallow a gremlin whole. A wolf-like creature with fur so black to be darker than the surrounding night. Wargs were intelligent, they could be reasoned with. Daggat had to try.

“We are just passing by, you see. Orders from Rika! She wouldn’t be happy if we didn’t come back.” The beast laughed. The stench of its breath threatened to knock out Daggat, but he held firm.

“You are a poor liar, gremlin. No… Daggat. I remember you. I remember that fear. But, I can appreciate your bravery. I prefer the taste of TRUE fear… so I might let you go. For another day” Daggat’s hope soared. “If you can convince me it’s worth giving up a snack.” For a moment, Daggat was tempted to simply let it eat him. It would be so much easier. But, no. He had Klaw and Zuss to worry about. They were his friends and family. True, in Daggat’s mind when he mean “his” friends, it was in the sense of ownership, but that did not weaken his resolve.

Daggat rubbed his hands together. Then he activated his gaze. “Perhaps a trade? You let us go, and we will bring you something to eat latter. Something tastier than gremlin.” The beast chuckled as it looked into Daggat’s subtlety spinning eyes.

“I agree… to a trade. I will let you go, for a morsel now.” Did the gaze work? Daggat couldn’t tell.

“But we have nothing!”

“Not true, little gremlin. You have two morsels to trade right here.” Daggat’s stomach dropped.

“We certainly are not tasty-”

“Choose.” The Warg smiled. White teeth seemed to glow in the night compared to its dark fur.

“Wait, I think-”

“CHOOSE! Or I will eat all of you.” Klaw waited for Daggat. Zuss was unconscious. Daggat looked around. Nothing could save them. He would have to choose. Could he? Maybe it was a test. Choose yourself, and be let go for your sacrifice. That sort of thing. He opened his mouth to speak.

“I-” He trembled. Daggat didn’t have the courage to choose himself. Not without being sure it would work. A cold part of him thought through it logically. Klaw was healthy. Zuss was wounded badly, and unconscious. Daggat felt shame tremble through him as he squeaked out the words. “Zuss… the wounded one.” The words slithered from his mouth like a serpent. The wargs eyes flashed.

Klaw said “What? Wait!”, Daggat had never seen him look at him with the look he gave him now. With tremendous speed, the warg dashed forward, seized Zuss from Klaw’s grip… and gently moved her aside. Then, it attacked Klaw.

But Klaw was ready. Too angry to be attacked at the moment. He lashed out with his claws, cutting at its nose. The beast grunted in pain, then shook his head. “Run!” Was all Daggat could think of to say. The beast laughed. He had went for Klaw, not Zuss. A prank or joke of the cruelest kind.

They two gremlins ran, leaving behind their sister. Had they kept their minds, they would have noticed. But, panic spurned them on. Then there was a howl behind them. Daggat almost fainted from the fear. Or that could be the exhaustion. Begging Zuss for forgiveness, he ran.

His ankle screamed with every step, but adrenaline kept him running. Klaw kept pace with him. He thought he could hear steps behind him. There was nothing to do but to move forward.

Who know how many hours or miles latter, Daggat was dragging himself and Klaw along. The sun shyly peaked through the leaves. Long ago he the Warg stopped following them. He didn’t know why, but it didn’t slow him. Now the morning was peaceful. Birds chirped in the trees. A cool breeze rustled the leaves. A brook babbled away. With every one of these sounds, Daggat flinched. When a bird frightened him for the third time, he slipped on a mossy stone. The world faded away as Daggat hit his head and fell unconscious.

—

Zuss saw her victory. A sneaky stab from behind. Straight through it’s scales, right behind it’s skull. Easy. She had practiced on rats, snakes, and even a raccoon once. But, she had never killed anything worth killing since the mud pits. Today was the day.

She flew through the air, coming from above. Like a bird of prey. Zuss never felt truly comfortable unless she knew she held the high ground. It gave her confidence and a sense of freedom.

Then pain tore everything away. Her confidence, her control. Every thought and urge. She knew only a screaming pain that encompassed her entire soul. Zuss screamed until she couldn’t. Her lungs burned. Her face and mouth. Her eyes felt like they had boiled away. After an eternity of hell, she lost consciousness. It was a small mercy, one that wouldn’t last.

She woke some time latter. Calmly, almost terrifyingly calm, Zuss realized she couldn’t see. Every difficult breath felt like inhaling glass shards. Her mouth was so dry, she could feel it cracking. But her face… her face pulsed with agony. A slow, rhythmic heat in time with her heartbeat. Worse was the jostling movement. She was being carried. Every small bump was followed by agony.

She was sure her body was fine, but she couldn’t feel anything but he wound. Eventually, they moved faster. Whoever had her, Gobma she assumed, wasn’t being gentle. Then, voices. She strained to hear. To focus on anything but the pain. It sounded like she was under a layer of heavy cloth, despite the wind against her.

“Choose.” Said a deep, dark voice. Zuss shivered.

“Wait, I think-” Daggat! She knew his rat-like voice anywhere. She relaxed. Daggat was here, which meant the others.

“CHOOSE! Or I will eat all of you.” Choose what? Zuss desperately wanted to know what was happening. She tried to speak. It came out as an inaudible groan.

“I-” Daggat hesitated. He almost never hesitated. “Zuss… the wounded one.” Realization hit her harder than the ground did as she was dropped. He had to choose one to leave… or to sacrifice. A punishment for their brazen actions? Whatever it was, he chose her.

Pain gave way to despair, which in turn fell before rage. How dare he! Did he know what she did for him? For the crew? If it wasn’t for Zuss, they would have nothing. No wealth, no food. It was her skill and cunning which set them truly above the other gremlins.

“What do we do with this?” Another gruff voice asked. Then something sniffed her.

“Eh, leave it. It’s burned and too small to be worth the effort eating. Let it stew here for a while, then we can follow the tracks of whatever finds it.” Zuss laid absolutely still.

Eventually, the monsters left. She shivered in the cold night air, but also from her wound. But she held a fire in her belly. A defiance against her fate. Slowly, shakily, she rose into a crawl. Then, she moved.

It was slow. Very slow. And she did not know where she was, where she was going, or what she would do when she got there. Realistically, she expected to come across a hungry bear or wolf. Or maybe succumb to her wounds or die of thirst. Still, she crawled.

When she found Daggat again, she would kick his ass so hard for leaving her behind. Klaw and Glut too. One of them had carried her, probably Klaw.

After what felt like several hours, she heard a voice cry out in shock. The stomping of large footsteps followed after.

“Oh dear, oh dear… what happened here?” Zuss felt large, powerful hands gently grab her. “Are you-” He paused as he beheld her face. Then, softly, “oh dear.”

Daggat

True Name: Daggat

Soul: Monster

Genseed: gremlin

Monster Level: 4

Attributes [0]:

Strength: 6

Dexterity: 7

Constitution: 7

Intelligence: 16

Will: 6

Charm: 7

Feats:

Encounter: True Angel

Act: Fledgling Alchemist

Knowledge: System Knowledge

Ability: Mighty Intellect

Skills[1]:

Alchemy: 1

System Aptitude: 1

Biotraits [0]:

Base size: Tiny

Regenerative Teeth

Enhanced Night Vision

Rot Resistance

Dominating Gaze*

Other:

Variant: +10 Intelligence

Klaw

True Name: Klaw

Soul: Monster

Genseed: gremlin

Monster Level: 3

Attributes [0]:

Strength: 7

Dexterity: 6

Constitution: 5

Intelligence: 4

Will: 5

Charm: 5

Feats:

Knowledge: System Knowledge

Skills[0]:

System Aptitude: 1

Biotraits [0]:

Base size: Tiny

Regenerative Teeth

Enhanced Night Vision

Rot Resistance

Forged Claws*

Zuss

True Name: Zuss

Soul: Monster

Genseed: gremlin

Monster Level: 3

Attributes [0]:

Strength: 5

Dexterity: 8

Constitution: 5

Intelligence: 4

Will: 5

Charm: 5

Feats:

Knowledge: System Knowledge

Skills[0]:

System Aptitude: 1

Biotraits [0]:

Base size: Tiny

Regenerative Teeth

Enhanced Night Vision

Rot Resistance

Improved nerve conduction

Improved Balance

Ad