Kalydren – Year 1344, Month 1, Day 6. Spring
Olea Munroe
“So, my first job.” I carelessly utter these words as I head south down Imperial Way, off to find the baker named Mr. Baker. Killing a few rats in the basement, should be a good warm up though the whole removing tails seems grizzly. The price of money! Taking in the sights as I shoot off to my first successful job as an adventurer for hire, slaying rats is serious adventurer business! Maybe the rats will even give me experience. Sweet, sweet experience!
“Oy, boy. Move it!” somebody shouts in a harsh voice, “Make way!”
I wake from my dreams of eternal glory and am quite startled to see a large wagon heading directly north, through the center of the road, and by extension me. I jump to the side with enough time to see the carriage pass by and manage to almost not need the assistance of the wall to keep from falling over. Casual awesomeness, I have it in spades. I see the driver exercising an angry glare as he urges his horse down the cobbled street, the clop of hooves should have gotten my attention, I wonder if this is an effect of low Wisdom, I have what a seven. Does the system think I am some sheltered dunce with no worldly knowledge, or maybe it’s a lack of understanding when it comes to using my knowledge. Let us check.
Name: Olea
Archetype: Merciful Blade
Attributes:
* Strength: 9
* Dexterity: 13
* Constitution: 9
* Charisma: 16
* Intelligence: 13
* Wisdom: 7
Yeah, low wisdom. I should have put more thought into that whole healing spells thing. I wonder if stat points are a thing, raising my attributes would be swell. It’s not like I can start a training montage and boost my wisdom with a non-stop string of hard life-choice decisions. Speaking of training, could Help-chan display my skills again?
Skills:
Zero skill points remaining.
Stealth [1/4]
* Knifework [1/4]
* Sneak [1/4]
Piety [1/4]
* Cure Wounds [1/4]
Experience Till Next Level: 0/1000
I cannot help but think that my wisdom is clouding me from remembering something about this job as well, something important. No matter, “Onward!”
It was an hour later when I finally reached the bakery, not a big city, donuts everywhere kind of bakery. This place had a three tier shelf up from where spaces were allotted for several dozens of loaves of bread, those big thick brown-topped, hard-shell loaves with the soft insides you see in the Amish taverns. The place smelled fantastic, it was at about this time I realized I had not eaten since I arrived some time yesterday, I say sometime because I think I slept through the entire transfer process. Did this world’s God summon me only to find me asleep, then failing to rouse me just plop me down in some lord’s home to watch the show? I think I would be upset if it were not somewhat humorous in hindsight.
Distractions! Low wisdom must be the source of ADD, this is hard. I stand there acting like I belong for a few moments because I do. Three minutes pass before the kindly woman turns and sees me in all my solemnity, as if reporting for duty on the front lines. First impressions! I smile as best I can and cleverly say, “Hello, I am Olea, I was sent down from the Job’s Hall to deal with your mouse problem.” After handing her the papers I step back while she reads them, peering at me strangely as she finishes the documents.
“You seem to be the right person,” She states hesitantly, “but are not you a little young for this kind of work, and a girl no less. I would expect some rougher lad at your age, or some other reluctant person who got pressured into cutting down the backlog at the office to show up.” She tsked at me, then turned about and yelled through a small window, “Thomas! Oy, Thomas! The kid is here to clean out the basement.”
I catch the sound of a slamming set of doors and chains being jingle-jangled in a hurry. “Be right their Carol!” was the curt reply. No more than a minute passed as a wide shouldered man, probably Thomas, walks through the rear door between the kneading table and large wood stove in the back of the store carrying three large sacks of flour, these were large bags, I’d think they must have been eighty pounds each. Hard working life pays off in some well-earned muscles. He wore a thick pair of leather pants, mostly brown with big handprints of white flour in places along his sides, a white shirt with extra white handprints covering his barrel chest. He had a slight hunch to his shoulders, leaning over the table kneading bread for years has the potential to do worse. His brown eyes seem to take my measure of him, brown hair hanging over a tan band he has tied around his head. Taking that in I begin to notice some problems, the man seems to be bleeding from several small wounds on his legs and arm, is that a scratch on his forehead, it must be. I started to get a bad feeling as I stood there.
“This the lad?” he asks his wife before turning to me, “Oh, sorry lass. Why would a girl take this job.” He asks this last after turning to his wife. I am right here.
“She’s here for the job, does it matter why,” Carol turns back to me then, “listen hon, if you are here because you have nothing else we won’t judge, but them rats are vicious. Are you sure you can handle them?” Pausing for a moment as she looks me up and down again, she adds, “Are you a mage perhaps, you don’t seem to be carrying anything for killing rats.”
Crud, low wisdom strike, I forgot I would need a knife, what kind of idiot has a skill called knifework and fails to acquire a knife!? I stammer out, “I took the job because I need the work, but I also think I can manage. No coercion, no desperate need.” I finish lamely with, “Although, I did forget to bring any tools for dealing with the rats.”
A loud laugh can be heard behind the back of Mrs. Baker, we turn to see her husband laughing like a loon, one hand on the table and while the other was tight to his chest, “No weapons, those rats will eat you alive little miss. They nearly shredded me while I was saving these last bags of flour from those foul beasties.” He just stood there, laughing. His wife turned to me with an apologetic smile before she turned on her heel, walked six feet to her husband and delivered a powerful shut-the-hell-up-you-idiot slap to the rear of his cranium.
That is when I started laughing, and you know what? Thomas looked up, saw me laughing and then started laughing just as hard as he had before. We’re all crazy, his wife having to deal with us was crazy for doing so, I was crazy for being so unprofessional while trying to look competent, and Thomas was crazy for laughing again after being hit hard enough to have probably killed me.
A stern gaze fixed us both, and I am not sure how but it had the effect of silencing our laughter, they must have had children. This is a mommy stare, the kind that leads you to your bedroom and has you grounded for an amount of time fixed solely by the weight of that glare, no words can explain their severity. Thomas and I fixed our faces though he still had a smile. This seemed to ease down the severity of the death stare as Thomas turned to dig around in his cupboard drawers.
“Now that we have calmed a bit, what say you about us going to the back there and letting you go down to address the situation?” asks a very patient and kind Carol who in no way was the incarnation of the devil.
“Sure thing!” I exclaim.
“Found it!” Shouts Thomas at the same time.
We both turned to Thomas who was holding out a long dagger with a rough, nay barely attached and badly battered handle. The blade was still long, maybe 18 inches, it appeared to be crafted of a gray steel, chips and dents litters the spine, the tang seemed to be secured to it’s handle with leather apron strings, I could see many different shades of coppery blood and black dried liquid spotting the handle. This thing may have been abused but in my eyes it shone with the look of a blade that had seen many perilous battles!
“I call her Ratsbane! It’s what I use on the rats normally, but they are a bit too much for me in my old age, and quite frankly we have never had so many of the vermin move into our basement all at once before, one, two, sometimes three.” Thomas pauses to take a breath before continuing “Those numbers I can handle, but what’s down there now, I saw seven and knew there were more. If it gets much worse the Guard will end up taking care of it and I’ll be paying fines from my profits for a month.”
“Ok calm down hon, we should escort this fine adventurer to her place of work.” Carol admonishes, “No use for speeches and grandstanding, you just want to not work today.” She ushers us through the back door into the alley behind the store.
In both directions I can see various tradespeople busy with chores, carrying water from a well at the end of the alleyway to their various troughs and barrels, one woman was apparently having a serious conversation with an orange tom-cat that was pointedly ignoring her while it licked itself as it sat on her dumpster lid. The opposite row of stores could be seen from here, the entire alley only being thirty feet in width. Getting distracted again, I look back toward the door we came through, to the left is Carol, her husband standing beside her, they were almost of the same height, nearly six feet tall. He was brown haired while she was that color of blonde that goes to silver early, or maybe it would stay that color with those strands of silver, hair is weird here. They both had those chestnut brown eyes and the look of rugged readiness that just happens when you work all your life. A look that you can’t help but notice, as the person just always seems prepared to get to work, no fidgeting or idle hand movement, no wandering looks, I am a hotbed of wandering looks. Just behind Thomas I saw a set of doors going down into a cellar, which explains the sound of slamming doors, the chains are even wrapped around the bars. Nervous, me? This is not making me feel safe. At least Thomas is going to let me use his super handy Ratsbane, I’ll need it.
I walk over as Thomas finishes unchaining the cellar doors and removing an iron bar that serves as more of a ward against errant wind damage than any serious thieves. He looks back at me with a grim expression as he wipes a little blood from his forehead, “You ready lass?” he asks, handing me the knife with his right hand as his left drops onto my shoulder, “It’s not too late for us to go find someone else for the job.” I swear he had to ask after handing me the knife, he has to know I was totally sold on just a chance to use this scary thing.
I nod solemnly accepting my fate, “I shall do my best to accomplish the mission!”
Coughing can be heard behind me now, “You two are such children, let’s just open the door so she can go down there and clear out the rats, we have work to do Tom.” Carol had to interrupt our moment.
Thomas relents stepping back, “Don’t be afraid to run like hell if you think it’s too much, I really don’t know how many rats are down there.”
I smile then, I am finally going to fight something, granted it’s just a bunch of mice, probably just quick little buggers with more hair than teeth, whatever that means. I heard it on a late show, sue me. I took a few steps down into the barely lit cellar, at least someone left the lights on for me. I take a few swings with the knife, my skill making me feel a little less stupid as I work my way through some ultra-basic slashing and thrusting moves. I step down the last few feet into the musty smelling cellar, dirt floor under my feet with solid looking heavy bricks for the walls sealed with a flaking gray mortar and painted over with a basic whitewash, no longer white. Support beams are placed around the room in the form of foot thick wooden poles placed firmly into the ground running up to the supports for the floor above.
It is then that I catch the increasing sounds of scurrying feet and chittering rodents from everywhere, all at once. I took a ready stance, my mind instantly screaming I did it wrong as a rat leaps from a wooden pole that served as a cross beam. The rat is about the size of a cat, the tail stretching to the length of my arm, its teeth are the size of my thumbnails: Flat, yellow, and sharp. Red eyes, surely an effect of the lantern light stare at me as it flies teeth first through the air, its thick, matted, slimy hair glistening like oil on water. Not sleeping tonight. I stepped forward bringing my blade to bare and whoosh, I struck too soon, my slash was nearly complete before the rat skewered itself on my blade, the dagger going several inches deep just below the creature’s neck. I continue my swing fully invested in the strike, the rat biting into my left wrist at the joint as I finish the slash, the rat is flung free landing with a thud at my feet, it’s wound fatal at the costs of a bleeding hole in my wrist.
I stepped back, breath coming out quickly as I hit myself with a Cure Wounds spell. The hole closes slightly, less bleeding now. Still hurts! Three more rats stalk out from around a support beam on my right, I ready myself for round two, but they are suddenly in motion, sinking sharp teeth into the screeching rat that I had just downed. Two more come from my right side from under a stack of firewood, I turn to face the threat and feel a pain in my left foot, kicking furiously I wince as my shoe is torn and I see a rat flying forward to smack into the wall above the stacked logs conveniently impaling itself on a nail, it’s rusted head now sticking out from the rats throat. The two from below charged forward like two alley cats chasing a pigeon, I felt like a snack. Their black forms flowing over the few feet that separate us, I stab down, blade held in my right hand I pierce the rat on the right through it’s back above and probably behind the heart, and then swing as hard as I can to the left bringing the rat around like a screaming meaty mace, I make contact with the other rat, it’s teeth finding purchase in the struggling creature I have affixed to the mighty Ratsbane.
They fall away from the knife in a tangle of teeth and fur, angry screaming as they tear into one another confused as to why they would be attacked by an ally, I guess their mental stats couldn’t keep up. A rat falls from above, landing on my back biting teeth sharp and fast as it clamps onto my left shoulder, I scream, fumbling back as I reach around trying to dislodge the beast. My back hits the brick wall sandwiching the rat against me, it bites down harder before releasing and rushes forward as it drops to the ground, staggering from the impact with me recovering from several deep bites. I cast another Cure Wounds spell, channeling extra energy to speed the process, the bleeding in my wrist stopped and the pain subsided in my back, I could still feel the spreading of blood. How much mana do I have, I can’t heal all day I’m sure of it.
I step down with my foot crushing the downed rat before it could regain its bearings causing it to squirm and bite. I say this now, never step on animals with teeth while wearing leather shoes that are soft and already sporting holes. I screamed again as its teeth bit into the flesh of my foot, again and again. “Why won’t you die!” I shout, bringing my dagger down into its head, narrowly missing my toes. I stand up and look around, I’ve somehow managed to get turned about, facing the left wall with the stairs leading from this cellar, nay dungeon, on my left behind me the pair of rats are bleeding on the floor having chewed through one another sufficiently to take them from the fight as they bleed out, that’s four down. Thomas said he saw seven with maybe more in hiding, I now understood his issue with counting. This could take a while.
The three rats from earlier were finished chewing the juicy bits from their fallen comrade and were now spreading out on my right, in the direction of the rear wall, I saw another pair of eyes coming up from the center, that’s four. I drop low after looking up to check for snipers and move forward and left, keeping a wall to one side to the enemy from flanking me, rats flanking me. Funny, but it was happening.
I scanned the dim space ahead, trying to find the next target of my heady vengeance, this was my only set of clothing! Stillness. A soft buzzing on my consciousness makes me think Help-chan has added information for me. Can’t it wait?
You have killed: cat-sized rodent 3[Level 3], 1[Level 5] Experience Earned: Level multiplied by base of 50, bonus for each level above current level +10%.
Total Experience Gained: 960, Experience Till Next Level 40.
I grinned then, thank you Help-Chan! Motivation, I did not expect the advantages brought on by pest extermination. Loud squeaking brought my head into the moment. The three rats from earlier, my giant bags of angry experience, came shuffling along from the far side of the left wall that I was crouched next to, two others were coming around on my right, blocking my way back to the stairs. I was not planning to run regardless, not after my pep-talk from Help-chan. I looked around again, readying my borrowed blade. The three amigos were closing in with the pair to my right happily waiting their turn, at least they are not practiced in tactical combat, a two-sided attack now could end badly for me. They rushed over the last ten feet, covering the distance faster than I thought they would or could. I raised my dagger in a sideways hold, which turned out to be a good play as two of the rats launched at heights similar to one another allowing me to catch them both with the blade, slicing through one rats mouth while the other was knocked aside with the combination of my blade and the other rats body as I swung forward and out to the right not cutting near as deep with its body so close to my wrist. The third rat landed lower, teeth biting into my stomach, claws tearing at my clothing, I was covered in weeping cuts, my shirt looking more like a football jersey.
I drop to one knee, using my left hand to grip the rat’s neck, its claws continuing to dig into my flesh. I tear and pull, twisting the rat as it squeals in protest. I bring the knife down, my hand guided partially by the skill to get a proper grip as I bring the blade in toward my stomach and as the blade bites into the soft belly of the rat I push out and down, it’s claws dig into the meat of my hand, mouth opening in a scream as I push out and down with the dagger. My knife splits flesh opening the intestines to spill onto the ground. I release the rat, yanking the dagger free I channel some mana through the wounds, almost screaming “Cure Wounds!” as the pain pushes through my shock. Of the two rats I hit with my blade moments ago, one is dead, its jaw hanging loose from its skull while the other stared at me from only three feet away, its mouth open in a furious hiss. I could see where my blade had barely managed to slice into one side of its face, splitting the muscles of the cheek and jaw. It lunged at me then, eyes glowing in the dim light. I raised my arms to block, not having enough time to bring the blade across. The momentum of the leap carried the rat into my body knocking me flat. The air left my lungs as I fell back with a thud, my arms once held to my chest flew open when I landed, the rats teeth tearing free of my arm. It hits the wall to my left, I look up seeing I had been backed into the corner during my flailing fall, somewhat dazed I twist, bringing my body in to a sideways roll and getting my feet and hands under me as I struggle to get a breath in, a deep cut leaking red hot blood mars the flesh of my arm dripping to cover my right hand as I steady myself. Focus. I feel a tug at my shoe and kick out, still unbalanced, my left leg shoots out, rat ripping away, another hole in my foot. I toppled over, my left hand unable to hold me up. My right arm and leg leave the ground as I roll recklessly over my left arm while it is pinned beneath me, a painful twinge in the shoulder I nearly dislocated the thing. My right side comes down with me staring at the ceiling again. Kicking my legs furiously to get my back against the wall and push myself to my feet, I am barely in time as the rat’s teeth close on the space where my feet were seconds before.
Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.
Finally standing upright, I look down at the beady little bastard, hatred for all things rat-like burning in my mind as I invoke my inner chuuni-warrior, “It’s on” I spit the words, and to my amazement the rat flinched I’m sure it was more the change in volume than the words of my threat, but I would take it. I growl as I begin to furiously channel healing into my body, I can feel my mana reserves dropping, here’s to hoping my regeneration holds up to my use. The pain lessens but I can still feel blood flowing from several open wounds, I must look quite frightening by now. I stepped forward leaving my wall and the rat backed away, I noticed the other two that were until this point motionless begin moving forward, whether to get at me or grab an easy meal of their brethren I did not know. I bring the dagger up and then plunge the blade down as I extend my left leg forward, lowering my body and extending my reach, the blade sinks home severing the spine of my one-time assailant.
I backed away after freeing the blade from the rat, its thick hair reluctantly parting as I withdrew the blade. I attempt to cast Cure Wounds yet again, the spell stops after just a second. Hardly any healing was done. I guess I may be out of mana, at least I don’t drop into a coma when I bottom out. More facts for later. Help-chan is insisting that I pay it some attention again, I know I shouldn’t look but I was curious!
You have killed: cat-sized rodent 2[Level 2], 1[Level 3] Experience Earned: Level multiplied by base of 50, bonus for each level above current level +10%.
Total Experience Gained: 435, Experience Till Next Level 2605.
You have advanced to level 1: Minor regeneration bonus applied, one free attribute gained, three free skill points gained. You now have access to increased system information.
“Thank you, Help-chan!” I almost yip with joy. I am in no way ashamed of my dignified behavior, it is polite to show gratitude when earned.
It was at this moment that the other spectators made their move. The two rats, who until this moment were waiting patiently for whatever cue to charge did just that, plowing forward and shoving aside the bodies of their fallen brethren, they split up, each diving forward aiming to either tackle me or just latch onto my feet, why is it that everyone wants to separate me from my shoes? Ugh. I stumble a bit as I attempt to leap backward, bumping the wall with the bum which in turn jarred my poor tailbone making for lots of uncomfortable pain and no small amount of internal swearing. The rats leapt forward immediately upon landing, intent on sinking their teeth into my innocent shoes, and by association my poor feet.
In that moment of exhaustion and pain, my back aching, feet bleeding, and back so close to the wall that I could not fall backward, I dropped bodily to my knees, nearly crushing one of the rats under my left knee while my right knee pinned the others foot to the ground. The crushed rat did what crushed rats will do, it died, slowly. The other, having literally toe stomped by my knee, did what trapped rats will do, that one bit me! My poor knee jerked at the sudden pain, bent and solidly upon the ground it could go nowhere as my leg reflexively twisted, moving away from the source of the pain. My leg went sideways straightening, the rat’s teeth becoming dislodged at my unwitting action even as my foot contacted the wall costing me my balance and stubbing toe as I toppled back onto my left side. The rat, glad at being freed scampers off on its wounded leg as I thank the heavens above for this brief reprieve.
I manage to extend my left leg, freeing it from under the weight of my body and moving it ever so slowly. Does not seem broken, I lie there trying to calm myself and slow my racing heart. I had been in this damned basement for ten minutes and had almost died, at least twice. With eight rats down and at least one to go I sigh. “There must be easier ways to make money in this city.” No helping it now, I took the job and even got some helpful information about a second appointment. I cannot fail after coming so far!
I rolled back over, staring at the ceiling now, totally not losing to rats, nope not me! I sit up then, slapping my hands to the sides of my face, more an expression of determination than for any actual reason. It works in the movies. What was not in the movies was a disclaimer mentioning all the blood that would streak your face when your hands were liberally covered in the stuff. I want a shower.
I stand then, slowly, so slowly, some may even say that I was leaning against the wall more than standing. Let those bastards judge me after taking several bites from an oversized Hamtaro. Looking around at the carnage I did indeed count eight fur-covered sacks of rat-flesh. At that moment a brief impulse to chant out Cure Wounds invaded my mind, I tamped the urge down, knowing it would be best to save my spell for a time when I could channel it for more than a second or two. Patience.
“Aha!” I say as I snap my fingers. I’ll just sink another skill point into Cure Wounds, to raise my skill tier to the next level and thus improve my healing ability, I am a genius!
Skills:
Three skill points remaining.
Stealth [1/4]
* Knifework [1/4]
* Sneak [1/4]
Piety [1/4]
* Cure Wounds [1/4]
Attempt to increase Spell Tier Cure Wounds:
Failed, please increase Tier for Prerequisite skills first.
Prerequisite for Cure Wounds Tier 2: Piety [2/4]
Let’s increase Piety to tier 2 then! I have three skill points, it couldn’t hurt to increase the base specialist skill tiers, right?
Piety [2/4]
New skill choices unlocked.
* Cure Blindness
* Cure Disease
* Cure Poison
* Detect Aura
* Detect Magic
* Detect Poison
* Remove Curse
Cure Blindness: This spell will cure blindness, at higher tiers the ability of the spell to restore sight improves. Your level in Piety along with your score in Wisdom can increase this spell’s effectiveness.
Cure Disease: This spell allows the caster to attempt to cure a target of any diseases that they may be affected by. Channeling of this spell increases effectiveness. A higher Wisdom or Piety level will add to the spell’s ability to cure diseases.
Detect Aura: This skill at Tier One provides you with a spell which when used will allow the user to detect subtle hints in the aura of others, this information can allow you to detect a person’s general motivation leanings. A red aura will indicate someone who is evil, or currently hostile to the user, a blue aura will indicate honorable intent or friendliness. Other aura colors and traits are detectable at higher tiers and in various situations. Exploration and experimentation will expand your knowledge!
Detect Magic: This ability grants a spell to allow the caster to detect magical energies imbued in objects, creatures, and even the very air. Colors and patterns can help discern the nature of many magical spells and items. Spell effectiveness increases with level of Magical Attributes, tier of Piety, and tier of Arcana Mastery.
Detect Poison: This spell allows the user to detect poisons at a glance; duration and effectiveness can be increased with a higher score in Wisdom, as well as a larger knowledge of poisonous substances.
Remove Curse: A spell that allows the user to remove curses from people and objects. Cursed items have various effects, most of which are bad. Awfully bad. Curses on living creatures have a much wider and more diverse host of effects, also bad. Be the savior of your fellow people and rescue them from a cursed existence.
Remove Poison: This spell will allow the caster to attempt to nullify or remove a poison from the target. This spell can be concentrated upon a smaller region of the body for increased effect on localized poisons. Channeling will improve spell effectiveness for harder to remove poisons. Spell ability can be improved with a higher Wisdom, higher Tier in Piety, or using various tonics, tinctures, poultices, and potions.
Available Skills:
Specialty Skills:
* Arcana Mastery [0/4]
* Combat [0/4]
* Necromancy [0/4]
* Piety [2/4]
* Stealth [1/4]
* Woodcraft [0/4]
Other Skills:
* Armor [0/4]
* Bless [0/4]
* Cure Blindness [0/4]
* Cure Disease [0/4]
* Cure Wounds [1/4]
* Detect Aura [0/4]
* Detect Magic [0/4]
* Detect Poison [0/4]
* Hide [0/4]
* Knifework [1/4]
* Remove Curse [0/4]
* Remove Poison [0/4]
* Sneak [1/4]
* Vigor [0/4]
Cool, new skills to stare at later, “Let’s get tier two for cure wounds right now, Help-Chan!” I whisper-shout. I can probably just think these things, but the situation almost screams for dramatic, almost random shouts. I can’t help it, drama is always fun, too bad my audience is just a bunch of rats, mostly dead rats. At least they aren’t critics.
Cure Wounds [2/4]
Tier 2 ability unlocked:
Tier 2: Increased healing effectiveness. Spell can be cast at an effective range of ten feet, spell loses ten percent of potency for each foot of distance beyond this.
“Awesome!” I shout, then scream, looking down. In all my excitement I did not even bother to stand back up after freeing “You little bastard!” I shouted to the rat latched onto my foot, again! I swung my foot up to the wall, trapping the vile creature between the tattered hide of my once-upon-a-time-shoe and the cobbled wall, bringing the knife down I let the thing know why Thomas called it Ratsbane! A sharp keening squeal fills the air for but a moment as I pierce the neck of the rodent, hot blood pouring out in spurts, keeping rhythm with the rats fading heartbeat.
“Okay, let’s check my improved spell.” I state to the air in front of me. Stirring the mana inside me I begin to channel the spell into my stomach, I’m not sure if touching a specific body part adds to the effect but it feels better to cover the hole in my stomach. The familiar rush of mana leaving my hands, filling them with warmth, like cozy mittens. I see the Band-Aid sized cuts sealing themselves almost immediately as the larger punctures begin to reform fresh skin over the opening, blood flaking away and falling to the ground. After four seconds I feel my mana reserve dip low on again, a slight mental fugue for the briefest moment letting me know to stop.
Taking stock of myself I see only a few small holes in my body, though my clothes were not healed by my magic, at all. I looked scandalous. Displaying ample side-boob through the many holes in the fabric, my pants are holding up much better, with all the attention the rats have shown my feet and stomach this should be no surprise though there is quite a lot of thigh visible under the ragged tatters of my right pants leg, where the toe-stomped rat shredded them. This attire did not come with underclothes! Gah!
Calm breaths, calm. Time to get back to work, nine rats down, were there any left? All this noise must have attracted them all by now. I look to my right, the stairs leading up not far away, a little further I see the opposite wall just thirty feet distant. Looking left the wall heads further back, shelves, mostly empty line the wall toward the street side with various bags and tools, a few long pans and wooden kitchen implements. I walk forward, scanning the shelves, it would not do to have missed a rat or three, Thomas and Carol hired me to do this, and I would not be failing my first job. Nope.
I reach the next corner and turn right, amazed at how I just participated in a life and death struggle of epic proportions in a room no more than sixty by thirty feet in size. The center of the room has two lines of shelves extending up from the floor, making use of the beams that run out of the ground supporting the building. They make a nice little row leading straight to the stairs and fresh air outside. I pass them by, arriving at the next corner of the room. Nothing. Turning right to head for the rear of the building and finishing my inspection I notice a large hole dug into the wall, ripped bags of what was once flour strewn about like bedding in a pet store littering the ground around it. The smell of decaying food and refuse drifts through the unmoving fetid air.
What do you do when you find a hole in the wall in a rat-infested dungeon under the local Baker’s Bakery? Look inside of course! I lean over, peering into the dark. After a moment, my eyes adjust, piercing the darkness just a little as a pair of red eyes begin to float forward from the rear of the hole. I backed away, the eyes continued floating forward, slowly gaining a face and body as it entered the dim light of the open basement. A rat the size of a large dog lumbered from the hole, its tail clearly visible behind its monstrous body. I think I found the mother of the nest.
“RN Jesus, save me.” I mutter out my quick prayer as the rat momma emerges. She takes a brief look around the open floor, seeing one or two of her fallen children before settling her eyes on me. She does not look like she would believe me if I told her I had nothing to do with it. In the low light of the basement, I can finally see her true size, the other rats were a foot in length excluding the tail, this monster was nearly three feet from tooth to the start of it’s four foot long tail. I was not looking forward to this.
I quickly ran to the right, toward the stairs, tossing a few of the shelved cans in the direction of the rat. It did not show signs of waiting as it lunged for me, its dagger like teeth missing the scraps of my shoes. I make to head up the steps and catch sight of another rat sitting there in wait. I curse as I rush into the farther corner, turning about with Ratsbane in hand. Momma was headed for me, sleek black fur sending shafts of oily light into the floating dust motes. True nightmare fuel. I drop one leg backward shifting my feet in case I need to jump left as it charged. It launched itself forward, teeth and claws opening for me as I moved left taking a claw to my side as I sliced up its right side with Ratsbane, splitting flesh and fur even as my own blood flows freely from just under my armpit. I continue turning left as the beast flies forward, hitting the shelf with a clatter of broken wood and cracked masonry and shove the dagger home piercing its side yet again under the arm trying to make it bleed. Any hit I got in when the chance was open would just lengthen the fight and get me closer to death. I back pedal and turn again putting space between me and the rat-who-shan’t-be-fed.
I stop at the next corner, investing in a quick channel to Cure Wounds to help with the pain, less bleeding from my side, good stuff. I am starting to feel a little dizzy, no doubt my lack of food and such for the past day is making it extremely hard to replace my lost blood even with the help of magic. The rat frees itself from the shelves and turns to face me. Eyes alight with ominous intent. I cannot help but shiver as it stares at me. I drop low again, preparing myself for its next attempt.
The great rat began to walk forward, favoring its right side, the side bleeding from my earlier attacks, black hair becoming heavy and wet with blood. I begin circling left, cutting between the shelves instead of skirting the outside of the room. I see the rat on the other side of the shelves as it walks by, wishing I had a spear or at least a longer knife! Not even having the ability to knock the shelves over and pin the bastard. It turns the corner and moves it head to look at the spot where I stand, a deep hiss of loathing emanates from its mouth, teeth bared, thick round togue pointed straight out as saliva flies forth in a frothy stream of ick to land on my face. I turn to run as the beat lunges, too slow, pain explodes from my calf as I feel claws tear into my flesh from behind. I stumble forward away from the creature, limping badly as the rat huffs at my back. Possibly annoyed that I yet draw breath. I made to climb the stairs ahead, the rat from earlier having moved on to somewhere quieter, maybe they feared their own mother, at this moment I could not blame them.
The air behind me seems to hum with tension as I take the first steps up from the basement, I needed help for this fight. Time to leave, I hear the rat queen behind me as I make to leave, its frustrations obvious as it closes on me. I turn to look back and see the rat lunge, just as I slip on the steps underfoot. My legs buckle and slide as I fall backward, back into hell landing on my back in time to see the underbelly of the rat as it soars through the air to where I once stood. I make one last attempt at defense, raising Ratsbane directly above me in a straight line above my chest as the rats heavy body falls atop me forcing my dagger and then my outstretched arm deep into the rat, through its chest. The large beast struggled mightily as its blood flowed hot and fast over my prone form, legs and arms clawing ferociously attempting to find purchase and escape. The only thing it found was my soft skin as it tore flesh from my body before it finally died of a broken heart. I knew this because I could feel that same organ beat its last as my arm was lodged still elbow deep in its chest.
I lay there, barely able to draw breath trapped under the beast, its blood flowing slowly to pool beneath me, drying and congealing. Trapped as I was, right arm stuck in the beast with wounds not yet healed, I had no way to escape the last release of its corpse as the bowels let go of their reserves. All I could do was close my eyes and pretend I was somewhere else, anywhere but here as I cast Cure Wounds with my left hand, feeling my low mana reserves bottom out again after only a second. At least I would live, I hoped.
It was at this time that Help-chan nudged my hind-brain, “Nothing better to do,” I wheeze.
You have killed: cat-sized rodent 2[Level 4 Experience Earned: Level multiplied by base of 50, bonus for each level above current level +10%.
You have killed: Rat Brood-Mother, 1[Level 13] Experience Earned: Level multiplied by base of 50, bonus for each level above current level +10%, Bonus for killing a non-sentient creature one rank higher than yourself +50%.
Total Experience Gained: 2665, Experience till Next Level 4940.
You have advanced to level 2: Minor regeneration bonus applied, one free attribute gained, three free skill points gained. You still have access to increased system information, pay attention!
Name: Olea
Archetype: Merciful Blade
Sex: Female
Age: 15 Winters
HP: 13/64
Mana: 4/61
Stamina: 19/88
Attributes:
Strength: 9
Dexterity: 13
Constitution: 9
Charisma: 16
Intelligence: 13
Wisdom: 7
You have two Attribute Points Remaining
Skills:
Three skill points remaining.
Stealth [1/4]
* Knifework [1/4]
* Sneak [1/4]
Piety [2/4]
* Cure Wounds [2/4]
Experience Till Next Level: 4940/5000
Well, that is interesting, a few things stand out to me, at least someone can stand somewhere. My health, mana, and stamina are finally listed, I wonder what the math looks like. Also up to two Attribute points now, I will have to hold on to those, decide after I know a little more. Two more new things, I’m apparently 15 Winters of age, weird way to phrase an age. No birthdays, bah! And, as if I did not know and needed it confirmed, the system lets me know that I’m a female! Hallelujah, I am so happy to have it confirmed for me! Really?! I’d rather you added something useful like a path forward through this system of prerequisites!
Meh, whatever. I’m not bleeding out so I should work on getting free. I wriggle around a bit pushing with my feet as I use my left arm to lift my body turning the corpse until I am almost spooning its underside in a very unladylike way. The body falls from atop me and I manage to get my legs under me as I push my way to my feet, right arm sliding free of the stinking remains, blood following my arm in a loud SPLOOSH as it leaves the chest, Ratsbane held tightly in hand.
I stand there for some time, getting my wits together. The first thing I need to do is gather the evidence, I need to liberate some rat tails! I look at the body of the large Brood Mother, that’s what the system message called it, level thirteen and of a higher rank, I wonder if I can get a monetary bonus comparable to the experience bonus. I’ll ask later. Looking at the tail again, I frown as I get to work sawing away at the thick corded tail, it’s longer than my leg. Ugh. I cut and I cut, severing the tail at the base of the creatures’ body before I turn to finish off the rest of its brood. Nine small tails, and one rather large smelly Brood-Mother tail over my shoulder I make my way once again toward daylight, climbing the stairs one at a time. Finally done!
As my eyes break level with the ground of the yard outside I can once again see the small alley running behind the row of shops, Carol and Thomas stand not far away, facing the opposite buildings while in conversation.
“I’m sure she’s fine, Carol.” Thomas says, probably not for the first time.
“I’m just worried Tom, she’s been down there for thirty minutes,” complains Carol, “and those noises, she could be hurt!”
“It’ll be fine dear, she’s an adventurer they do this kind of thing all the time.”
“I am going down to check on her!” Carol states flatly as she turns around, locking her gaze on me as I finish my ascent.
“Hi Carol!” I exclaimed. “I’m safe, all the rats are dead!”
“Oh my, dear,” she shouts, “Are you alright, you are covered in blood, and… other things. What happened to your clothes?”
Thomas turns smiling at what he hears as proof of my continued ability to breathe, he finishes his turn his eyes shoot wide as he points, shouting “Behind you!”
I do a one-eighty falling back on my bum as I top the stairs to see that last large rat, I somehow forgot this one! My arms encumbered by my bounty of rat tails won’t make it in time to cover my throat as the rat closes on me, mouth opening to bite down on my neck as it closes the distance. I close my eyes, just before I hear a loud, “KAWWWW”.
Opening my eyes I see the empty air between me and the rear of the Bakery, spinning my head around to find out what happened, I see a large purple-black raven lifting high above the roof. A large dead rat was held easily in its talons.
“Bloody hell! that was close.” I sigh in relief. Sitting there on my arse, covered in blood and worse with my clothes in tatters I can’t help but think of going back to the Jobs Hall and finishing my quest.