The night sky stretched above Vex like a vast tapestry, speckled with countless stars that twinkled like tiny diamonds scattered by a generous hand. Lying on his back, he couldn't help but feel a sense of awe at the sheer magnitude of the pocket dimension he was trapped in.
"It's strange how I felt like a prisoner for months," Vex pondered. "And then I realized this was all mine..."
Sir Sneaks and Strikesies were perched nearby on the plateau's edge, their shadowy forms blending seamlessly with the darkness around them. The two Shadowlings stared at the horizon, occasionally making little hand gestures at each other as they carried on a silent conversation.
After months of being stuck in his mystical guild hall and struggling to survive, this was the first real break that Vex had taken with the two Shadowlings. While exploring the pocket realm, they had stopped to rest quite often but hadn't taken a real break. Each stop they made was for Vex to rest and recover, an activity the Shadowlings did not appear to need while in the mystical guild hall. It had taken Vex ages to build up a supply of food and water in the guild vaults and just as long to get himself to the point of relative sustainability. Now, there were enough foragables squirreled away to survive for several months.
As Vex took another moment to breathe in the tranquil night air, his gaze shifted toward the cabin he had been steadily building. In overly optimistic terms, the structure was rough. The ends of the logs and relief grooves looked chewed up, thanks to a stone axe being the most advanced tool available. There were also nicks and cuts across most of the logs from the bark-stripping process. Yet, despite the unrefined aesthetic, the walls stood in a reasonably sized rectangle. At the top of the structure, the framing for a roof had been laid out, with roughly squared logs placed down in an A-frame pattern over the corners of the walls.
Unfortunately for Vex, he hadn't been fortunate enough to find any metal within the surrounding world. Instead, he was forced to devise a more creative solution to ensure the roof would stay together. To that end, he had begun crafting pegs that could be hammered through the logs in the roof.
While it sounded like a relatively easy solution, one key issue took Vex quite a while to solve — figuring out how to make a drill. At first, he had tried simply burning a small hole through the logs. However, he quickly found the process extremely time-consuming, somewhat inaccurate, and hard to align. However, the attempt had come with one silver lining. The failure had engrained the necessity of using scrap materials to test new ideas with. Unfortunately, the charred log was now nestled into the guild hall as a constant reminder of the lesson learned.
Eventually, in continued aversion to using more stone tools than necessary, Vex had an ingenious breakthrough. By carefully boiling the gremlin claws, he could mold them into basic shapes. It took him several tries, but he eventually succeeded at forming the softened material into a spiral pattern. Once dried and hardened, the makeshift drill bit was secured to the end of a stick.
With the makeshift drill, Vex planned to secure the trusses with wooden pegs. He would then use smaller logs or long sticks, depending on what he could source, to connect the trusses. To finish the roof, Vex debated using wooden planks and crafting shingles, or using a cobb mix and topping the structure with local vegetation. While he was getting the instinctual nudge from his skills that either would be fine, he wanted to ensure the building wasn't too primitive.
The indecision over how to finish the roof and some mild frustration with his construction resources had finally forced a break. While he loathed to admit it, Vex felt anxious. He was getting closer to his goal of leaving but had yet to find a solution for the gremlins. He continuously failed to bond with the Shadowlings. Their interactions felt forced, and he had yet to learn the Shadowling's hand signals.
Looking over at the two Shadowlings, Vex grinned as he watched them exchange several hand gestures in their silent conversation. It appeared the rogue was talking through fast, wild gestures, which were responded to with simple shrugs. Sir Sneaks was animated and seemingly becoming agitated with each passing second in which Strikesies feigned disinterest. Even from Vex's distance, it was clear the warrior was intentionally nonchalant. After several seconds of just watching the back-and-forth exchange, attempting to work out what they could be saying, the Shadowlings finally noticed their audience.
Vex casually waved at the two. In exchange, both Shadowlings raised their fists, setting a flat palm on top. It was a gesture that the two repeated at Vex quite often — usually after being given a task.
Chuckling a bit, Vex smiled at the gesture he had labeled a salute and offered an olive branch for having been staring. "You know, you two don't always have to be so formal."
The Shadowlings stared at Vex momentarily, then looked at each other before finally shrugging.
"At this point, I consider you both to be friends," Vex said, finally deciding to push through some of his mental hang-ups. "I know I've not really shown it, but I don't want to just order you two around. I know we're stuck together, but as I build the guild, I want you, all of the Shadowlings really, to have some input on the direction and what we do."
Both Shadowlings continued to stare, making no other expressions. As the silence continued, Vex succumbed to a bit of nervous energy.
"I'm not certain how, but I was thinking that all of you could pick some of the guild expansions. Once we're out of here, I could set aside a portion of the resources that we gather for projects." As his confidence built, Vex let the silence hang momentarily before continuing. "And I think it's past time that I start learning the sign language you two use to communicate."
At the last part, both the Shadowlings turned to each other, quickly using their silent Shadown Cant to converse privately. Vex gave a sincere smile, feeling like he was finally making some progress.
After an intense exchange and a round of a game that looked similar to paper, rock, and scissors, Sir Sneaks crossed their arms and turned to stare back over the valley. Strikesies then turned to face Vex fully, with a contemplative expression on their face.
Then, right as Strikesies began to make a simple gesture at Vex, Sir Sneaks jumped up frantically, pulling on Strikesies arm while pointing out over the valley below. As both Shadowlings began pointing frantically and signing to each other, Vex hurried over to look in the general direction they had been pointing.
It was difficult for Vex to see, but a small sea of creatures swam between the trees at the base of the plateau on the eastern side of the valley. It took a moment for Vex to come to terms with what was happening below, but he soon realized that below him was a writhing mass of white fur flowing like water over the landscape. His breath caught in his throat as it drew closer, and the calm he had felt just moments ago vanished.
Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.
"Oh shit," Vex whispered in disbelief, pointing towards the approaching horde. "Tell me that's not a few hundred gremlins headed straight for us."
Sir Sneaks and Strikesies exchanged glances before focusing on the rapidly advancing mass. As they stared, their stances shifted, their subtle movements growing more energetic at the prospect of what lay ahead.
Before Vex could come to terms with what the advancing hoard meant, the mass of Gremlins began to climb the plateau. Without much of a change in momentum, the mass of creatures began climbing straight up the nearly verticle walls. Now panicked, Vex found himself holding his hands out over the cliff and summoning a log he had cut and prepared from the guild inventory, watching it drop over the side of the cliff.
Approximately ten feet of barkless trunk tumbled down the steep walls of the plateau, striking the front line of gremlins before bouncing high into the air. The impact sent a wave of fur and black viscera flying before the log landed amid the horde, its momentum unrested. Although Vex found the dropped log oddly satisfying to watch as it hit the wave of gremlins and forced the swarm to scatter, it did little to slow down or thin out their advance. The rising sense of dread was causing a knot of panic to tighten in Vex's chest, forcing him to dismiss the next system message.
> Your Siege Defense skill has reached level 1.
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> Your Caber Toss skill has reached level 1.
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> You have killed 17 gremlins of the apocalypse. You have gained 138,160 experience points.
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> You have gained a level! You are now level 15.
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> You have become a bit stronger.
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> You have gained 5 training points.
With every passing moment, the horde grew steadily closer. Vex could feel the tension slowly strangling him, his heart pounding with mounting certainty of his pending demise. Forcing himself to analyze the situation, Vex quickly realized that even if he disassembled the cabin, he wouldn't have enough logs to do any significant damage to the approaching hoard.
Realizing he was nearly helpless and standing in the path of death, his body instinctively surged into action before his mind could catch up. The sight of the advancing gremlin horde left no room for doubt – they needed to run.
"We need to go. Now!" Vex shouted, panic lacing his voice as he turned on his heel and sprinted back toward the narrow path leading away from the plateau. Sir Sneaks and Strikesies wasted no time following suit, their agile forms darting behind Vex.
Quickly surveying the walking path before mindlessly charging down the plateau gave Vex a little hope. The western side of the plateau was almost directly opposite the sea of gremlins and completely free of the wretched creatures. It meant that he at least had a chance of outrunning the pursuing swarm of teeth and fluff.
As they raced along the treacherous path, Vex's heart hammered against his ribcage, each surge of adrenaline driving him forward. The terrain was unforgiving, with loose rocks and uneven footing threatening to trip them up at every turn. Vex's lungs burned with exhaustion, but the thought of being overrun by the monstrous hoard drove him onward.
"Don't stop, don't look back, don't die here," Vex muttered to himself between ragged breaths, his legs feeling like lead weights. The adrenaline coursing through his veins was both a blessing and a curse, fueling his flight but leaving him acutely aware of the danger snapping at their heels. His mind raced as fast as his legs, desperate to outpace and elude the relentless gremlin horde.
As Vex's legs finally threatened to give out, his lungs wheezing pitifully in their desperation for air, he and the Shadowlings made it into the tree line at the base of the plateau. Chancing a glance, Vex slowed his stride and peeked over his shoulder, looking up towards the night sky. It was difficult to see in the dim light, but he could just barely make out the sea of gremlins as they peered over the plateau's edge, staring directly at him.
Abruptly stopping in place, Vex's body was tense and alert as he turned to face the swarm of gremlins. A creeping sense of unease washed over him, making every hair on his body stand on end. The hoard of creatures should have continued chasing him. Instead, they stood unmoving in the starlight.
Vex's entire body quivered with terror as Sir Sneaks, and Strikeses inched closer toward him. From every direction, white balls of fur with sharp teeth emerged from the darkness, surrounding the group. Within seconds, hundreds of these creatures were gathered a few feet away from Vex and the Shadowlings, their hunger evident in their predatory stares.
As Vex mentally begged for forgiveness from whatever gods he had wronged, a hairless, oily-skinned creature slowly moved through the pack of ravenous gremlins. It took Vex several moments of abject terror before noticing the name tag above the abhorrent thing that read "Elder Gremlin."
As the hairless creature halted several feet away, the lesser gremlins swarmed toward Vex and the shadowlings.
Without pause, the Shadowlings summoned their weapons, charging towards the gremlins in the space of a breath the moment the charge began. But they could do little against the tide, as dozens of claws raked them apart within seconds. Their errant slashes failed to maim any of the lesser gremlins before their forms disappeared into tiny wisps of smoky shadow, fading into absolute darkness.
Lacking the reflexes of the Shadowlings, Vex was tackled to the ground before he could react. Before he understood what had happened, the system bombarded him with notifications.
> Sir Sneaks has died in combat.
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> Your follower will respawn in 48 hours.
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> Strikesies have died in combat.
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> Your follower will respawn in 48 hours.
Struggling against the weight of the smaller gremlins holding him down, Vex flailed wildly, surprised at how surprisingly heavy the tiny creatures were. Slowly, the elder gremlin approached, taking its time to let Vex wear himself out. Behind the elder, several of the lessers followed, each carrying a clay pot. Once Vex had exhausted himself, the lesser gremlins moved to surround him while the elder stepped forward, emitting a pungent smell that almost made Vex gag. The elder let out a low chortle and playfully patted Vex on the head before extending its sharp claws.
With methodical precision, the elder gremlin began maliciously rending Vex's flesh. From the cuts, crimson drops of blood flowed steadily. The lessers each took turns stepping forward, collecting the liquid into the waiting clay pots. As the scent of iron and earth filled the air, Vex could feel the pain from each cut intensifying. He desperately wanted to fight back or at least cry out but could not move or resist as the gremlin's power over him grew stronger.
As blood seeped from his body and flowed into the clay containers, Vex could feel his sight blurring. The darkness was seeping in from the corners of his vision as his energy drained. His breaths became slower and more labored, and his tense muscles began to relax against his will. In that moment, Vex was confronted with a familiar sensation: the cold numbness of nothingness setting in and the detachment between his body and mind growing, connected only by a thin thread of sanity.
"Enough," the Elder Gremlin finally declared in its guttural language, satisfied with the contents of the clay pot. "I wouldn't want you to die just yet. You might still prove useful."
With a wave of his gnarled hand, the gremlin muttered an incantation under his breath. A faint, sickly green glow enveloped Vex's body, mending his wounds just enough to stop the bleeding. The sickly magic was enough to keep him alive but did nothing for his strength or spirit.
"Rest now, little morsel," the Elder Gremlin taunted. "You'll need your energy for what comes next."
As Vex lay on the cold ground, shivering and weak, the elder gremlin slowly walked towards the plateau with the lessers on its heels. Fear and uncertainty gnawed at Vex in his last few moments of consciousness. He didn't understand anything the elder said, nor did he care. He wasn't even concerned with why he hadn't been killed, as he clung to a single word: respawn.