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CHAPTER 9 – ARMED AND READY
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Upon reaching the plaza, Bunny happily headed towards the player owned stalls; she had little fame, so instead of relying on affections with NPCs, she thought of using her appearance and polite manners on players for discounts. With that decided, she took off her hooded cloak, revealing herself to the people around.
Bunny's high spirits were sent crashing.
“Go away, I don't deal with your kind.” was the respond she got from the first stall.
The second one was worse.
“I already got a wife and son, stay away from me,” the man whimpered while hiding behind his stall.
Bunny's happy face now looked like she had eaten something sour... very sour.
“Hahaha... you are one interesting lady.” was the greeting from the third, who overheard.
“Ain't you afraid of my kind?” Bunny answered with a pout. Although it wasn't immediate rejection, she was expecting a price hike.
“I usually would, but not towards a genuine, cute little girl” the merchant replied still smiling
“Anyone can be a cute little girl in RR”, Bunny retorted.
“Indeed...” the merchant maintained his happy deposition, “But no fakes would declare she wants to punished the lewd while asking for audience.”
“Ah! You mean the priestess.”
The merchant nodded, “Yeah, that's my niece, we didn't get your name, but your show humored us lots, enough for me to give you a 10% discount”
Thanking her lucky stars for such fortune, Bunny introduced herself
“My name is Bunny, currently trying to be a rabbit tamer”
“I am Thomas, a merchant, want to be friends?
Thomas has requested to register you as a friend. Will you accept?
Bunny nodded, “Yes.”
Thomas has been registered as a friend.
“But a Rabbit tamer huh? I've seen lots of jobs, but that one isn't something I know of.”
“I don't even know it exist yet, I am just raising rabbits now.”
“Sounds interesting, if you have time, get Angel to help you”
“Angel? Your niece?”
“Yeah, we will be having dinner together, want join us?”
“I can't, I will be at the orphanage during dinner time, I can join you later.”
“Alright, lets meet up at the Blue Rose tavern tonight.”
“OK,” with that Bunny left, and returned shortly to a laughing Thomas
“Thomas! I forgot I needed to buy some things”
“Hahaha... I was wondering, you just came to chat and left...” Thomas guffawed
“Cut that out, I am buying all your carrots and edible grass”
The laughter abruptly turned into cough of surprise.
“I have 300 carrots at 20 coppers each, and 2000 edible grass at 2 coppers each, you want all?”
“I'll take them... its... just nice, its 1 gold. As for the discount, I will take some cabbages.”
Taking out all her rabbit meat, Bunny offered to exchange them for even more cabbages.
Both felt that they had hit jackpot.
Thomas found a large spender, who would improve his merchant skills, while Bunny got discounted prices even though the environment seems hostile.
*****
Looking at the sky, Bunny estimated 5 more hours before she was needed at Emma's. Equipping her cloak and hood, Bunny, along with her cart, proceed towards the the armorer's shop, owned by Deft Hand. Her itinerary was updated after gaining the shields; She wanted to arm the rabbits, improving overall combat powers.
The item Bunny thought of was the Poleyn, the knee guard of a knight's plate-mail. She picked the design attached with a Cuisse (thigh armor). The Poleyn will become a helmet for the rabbits while the attached Cuisse would act as partial body armor. In addition, Bunny requested to solder a small spear at the back, thus improve the rabbits offensive powers.
Deft Hand was amused with the order. He didn't mind selling armor in pieces, and even offered to do alterations for free. Some blacksmiths would be unhappy about their wares being exploited, but Deft Hand was happy for the change of pace... Amusing customers were rare and Bunny was exceptionally entertaining.
When the first custom product was ready, Bunny inspected, approved and ordered 9 more. While Deft Hand worked on the rest, she went off to the training hall.
“Honorable Instructor, may I buy some scarecrows?” Bunny greeted the Training Hall Instructor.
“Why would you need to buy them? You can just train here.” The Instructor queried.
“We are weak, we do not wish to sullen this place with our weakness. We want to train ourselves to be strong enough, then enter the training hall as people befitting the place.”
As Bunny had expected, the instructor was impressed, so she followed up:
“We have only scrapped together 2 silver pieces, We hope to get at least 2 scarecrows”
“How many of you are training?” The instructor asked curiously
“There are 10 of us, but we are poor, so we cannot afford personal scarecrows”
“I like people who are determined, money is of no issue, take 10 scarecrows, I will give them for free”
“Thank you instructor, we will return when we are ready.” Bunny replied, hiding her true feelings.
*****
Back at the abandoned house, Bunny was drilling the 10 rabbits she had just bought. They were all in armor, and hitting the scarecrows with their spears.
In the start, the rabbits didn't know what to do, pawing at their new armor, feeling irritated at the additional weight. Bunny took one of the rabbits, fling it forward, with its spear piercing through the scarecrow. Once it successfully detached, it was rewarded with a leaf of cabbage.
Pointing to the spear then the scarecrow, the rabbit somewhat understood and speared the target again, earning it another leaf of cabbage. With that, Bunny proceed to the second rabbit and did the same. By the time she was finished with the second, the remaining rabbits were stabbing scarecrows then looking at her for approval. Those that did well were rewarded with a leaf of cabbage, while halfhearted attempts were ignored.
One large rabbit impaled the scarecrow and end up, dangling by its spear, midair. Bunny helped it off as well as giving the reward of 1 carrot. This totally motivated the other rabbits into piercing the scarecrows with all their might. Bunny was left musing over the power of gluttony.
New Stat: Animism
New Skill: You have learned Animal Training Mastery
You have gained 8 Leadership from acquiring this skill!
You have gained 8 Animism from acquiring this skill!
You have gained 6 Luck from acquiring this skill!
“Wow, what are these?” Bunny was surprised. “Stat Info Animism”
Animism
Due to your actions in treating animals as you treat members of your race, the affinity with animals is increased. It also adds to Leadership stats when you party with or command animals. You are prohibited from distributing stat bonus points to this stat.
This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
“Skill Info Animal Trainer”
Animal Training Mastery
Enables you to train animals by verbally giving instructions.
You can party with twice as many animals.
“This skill seems good, the rabbits should obey better now” Bunny happily told herself. “It also allows me to double the amount of animals in the party, I already can have twice as much rabbits as players in the party without penalty, this would make it four times as much.”
“Status Window”
Status WindowName:BunnyAlignment:NeutralLevel:1Class:NoneTitle:The KnowledgeableFame:100Health:150Mana:100Strength:10Agility11Intelligence:10+10Wisdom:10+10Vitality:10Leadership:11Luck:6Charisma:5Animism:8Attack:1Defense:1* Intelligence and Wisdom +10 from title
“Hmmm... I seem to get 1 agility from luring the rats, and some leadership too. With the bonus from Leadership and Animism, on top of doubling the rabbits, I think I can invite that girl called Angel without penalty, if she is willing to scour the sewers with me.” Bunny thought.
With a soft poke to her side, Bunny was suddenly aware of the 8 sets of eyes looking at her, she immediately turned her attention to the troops she was drilling, two were still struggling airborne with spears impaled into scarecrows, one was impatient enough to poke her while the others were staring greedily. Releasing the two from their turmoil, Bunny gave them a carrot each as celebration.
She stopped the spearing activity, and made each of them hold up a small tower shield using their front paws. Once in position she told them:
“I am going out for a while, when I return, I will reward those still holding on, 2 carrots each.”
Bunny left with her cart while the rabbits did their best to hold on.
*****
When Bunny returned, she had 10 more suits of armor as well as 10 new rabbits. To her dismay, only 3 rabbits still held onto the shields. Keeping to her word, she gave out rewards accordingly, making some of the normally red eye rabbits turn green with envy.
Mixing the rabbits, using the trained to lead the recruits, she continue with 10 doing spearing and 10 practicing shield bearing, switching practice every half hour. By the time she needed to visit Emma, all the rabbits were proficient in both skills.
Putting a fair amount of edible grass on the floor she said to the rabbits
“I will be going off, stay in the house.”
Bunny partied all of them, moved a crate to cover the door, then left. Being in the same party, in event any of the rabbits got killed, she would immediately know.
*****
After helping Emma with her cooking, Bunny met up with Thomas at a tavern
“Hello” Bunny greeted
“About time you showed up, I thought you ain't coming” Thomas replied nonchalantly
“I did promise I would come, so here I am.”
“Indeed... Here, let me introduce you to my niece, this is Angel.” Thomas happily introduced a bow wielding girl beside him, “Angel, this is Bunny.”
The last time they met, Bunny didn't notice Angel's attire, she only remembered the 'Healing Hands' a priest skill. However, seeing her armed with a bow, made Bunny curious.
“Priestess with a bow? That is rare.” Bunny commented
“Ah! It isn't as rare, she is an acolyte of Lu. Not one of those Freya pacifist.” Thomas answered for her.
“Anyway, nice to meet you” Bunny raised a hand towards the girl.
She shook it and answered timidly, “Nice to meet you too.”
Sitting back and facing both of them, Bunny said. “Thomas mostly would have a fine day trading, how about you Angel, any great adventures today?”
“She's still confined, so she spent time at the church doing healing services” Thomas answered again.
“Thomas, she will need to speak up herself, you can't protect her forever.” Bunny reprimanded Thomas playfully. She was actually slightly annoyed; Like any guy, Bunny wanted to talk to a cute girl, instead of her overly protective uncle.
Thomas on the other hand mistook Bunny's purpose, but agreed that Angel should be more independent. Angel had been an extra baggage forced upon him by his overly protective brother. If Bunny wanted the guardian role, he was more then happy to relinquish it. He simply just sat back and watch the girls talk.
“So, how did you become an acolyte of Lu, there isn't any Temple of Lu here.” Bunny asked
“When I first started, I met with a visiting priest of Lu, who offered me the job, I was suppose to an apprentice to him, but since I leave the city, and he is needed for a mission. I am stuck here for a while.”
“Do you want to try hunting with me?”
“Hunting in the city?”
“Yeah, there are rats in the sewers. But I must warn you, sewers are stinky and smelly, while the rats looked really gross.”
“Hey, I am not that weak to turn from an opportunity of fun. It'll be better then doing community service in the church all day long.”
After more small talks, Bunny found that Angel wasn't meek or shy. Angel only appeared that way to strangers. When they became more acquainted, she turned out to be rather talkative. Asking Thomas permission, Bunny was allowed to bring Angel for her sewer hunts.
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