Name: Natasha

Race: Mandrill matriarch lvl 10

XP: 435

Size: 75

Type: Beast

Faction: Unaligned

Armor: 0

HP: 88/100

Strength: 8/Speed: 11/Endurance: 8/Magic: 8/Plasticity: 5/Luck 10

Senses: Vision 4, hearing 4, smell 4, taste 1, touch 2

Abilities: Balance 2, omnivorous 4, aposematism 3, specialized innate magic 6, Voice 1, coordination 2

Skills: Piercing bite 6, Jab 8, grapple and strike 7, precise throw 7, agile climb 7, nimble sneak 6, hide 1, rapid dash 6, dodge 2, block 1, discern weakness and strength 6, mysticism 1, quickstep 1, tumbling 1, leadership 4, mystic channeling 1, adaptability 1, infliction 1

Spells: Wind drake breath 6, windfury 5, jetstream 1, cloud step 1, thunder missile 1, misty path 1

Boss ability: mob boss

Lao Tzu

Mandrill lvl 4

HP:20/20

Tony Luciano

Mandrill lvl 4

HP: 20/20

I must have passed out at some point, because I could feel myself waking up. Though what woke me was immediately obvious. My entire body was severely aching. My legs felt like they were on fire, my back stung, my neck hurt, my arms were noodles. My shoulder especially. I was in a LOT of pain. I wondered how long I’d been asleep for a few moments, but I opened my eyes and my vision was filled with a bright red nose about an inch away from my eye. I recognized the scar on the nostril immediately, but was too sore to move away.

I started to try and roll over when a shooting pain thrummed through my shoulder. Ah right, the arrow is still in my arm. Forgot about that. So I rolled over the other way, moving to lay on my back. I let out a long drawn out sigh as I tried to conjure the willpower to actually get up, but like after leg day, the more I tried, the more certain I was that I would need to just get over it and get up. So I started counting down from three, and on zero I would get up. Alright…

Three.

Two.

One.

I was interrupted by the feeling of hot nose air on my face as Tony started sniffing me, probably curious as to what I was even doing laid out on the floor. I can’t blame him, he’s a monkey. And as far as monkeys go, I’m a really weird monkey. Though as the second nose came up to sniff the other side of my face, I figured I’d drop the countdown and just get up. So I reached up to push the two snouts out of my face before just fighting through the pain and sat up.

It hurt bad enough that I was hyper aware of my pulse at any given moment. I brought my hand up to my face to rub it lightly, but it didn’t really help. Looking out of the waterfall cascading in front of me, I could see the sun still wasn’t high in the sky, so it was still morning at least. I really need to go get some of those persimmons to start healing up a bit, but I cannot see myself running all the way to that tree like this. I don’t even know how I managed to climb in here actually.

No, I'll just kind of relax for a while until I actually feel like moving again. So I suppose I’m going to be staying stuck here in this cave for a while. At least until I’m confident that I can get out of here without drowning. So I lifted myself up, moving slowly to the bridge, though as I did, I noticed something I’d supposedly passed up before. A little info screen right at the start of the bridge. All it said was “Bridge” and was grayed out, just like the other one in the boss room. So, I guess that means you can upgrade different rooms and features separately? I glanced back and scanned around the waterfall, and sure enough there was one there. “Secret entrance”. Huh… weird.

I started back down the bridge again, though as I did, the other two followed after, looking much more wary of the place than I was. Probably just because I’d been here before and they hadn’t. Or maybe cause this bridge is freaking creepy. Either way, they were on edge. I walked much slower than I would have liked, but my legs hurt enough as it is. I grumbled slightly as I trudged across the way towards the complex proper. Though as I did, I was reminded I did have the dungeon tab in my menu.

While I was walking the menu popped up in front of me, scrolling over to the dungeon tab and looking at the only two options I had. Spawners and traps. Now, traps I don’t need right now. The spawners though made me curious, and my only two options are archer fish, which… I have no clue what that is. Or mandrills. And a mandrill spawner only costs 100 xp. I just so happen to actually have some xp now so I casually tap the option to see what would happen.

Do you wish to move the current spawner from the Guva Tree, or create a new one?

Accept / Decline

First of all, no clue what a guava tree is, but I assume that was the name of the tree that I was “born” at? In which case, does that mean kipples are actually called guvas? Yeah no, I’m sticking with kipples. Though if I move the spawner from there, what would that actually even do? I imagine it means they will stop spawning at the tree, and start spawning here, but would that change anything really? I mean, I suppose it couldn’t hurt to try. So I just clicked accept to see what would happen.

Congratulations. Abandoned Temple level 0 has been upgraded to Abandoned Temple level 1.

In that moment there was a small flash of light and in the menu came a map of the dungeon itself. On the map popped up several new buttons, each designating different sections of the dungeon, as well as both floors of the interior. There was the secret entrance, bridge, moat, wash basin, belfry, shrine, temple courtyard, mess hall, kitchen, execution chamber, main hall, hot spring, secret hallway, stairway, barracks x50, storage x2, treasure room, boss room.

Well that raised a few questions. Firstly I didn’t realize this place was really that big until it was listed out in front of me. Secondly there were a few rooms here that I do not remember seeing. Like an execution room, or treasure room. I tapped the execution room and it showed on the map where it was. The room to the far left, that had gutters running across the floor. Ah. So that was what those were for… Then I tapped the treasure room, and it moved back behind the secret hallway, marking the room in the very back. So there was a secret door I hadn’t noticed back there. I’ll need to look into that later.

Though now that I had this menu up, I was curious to see what I could actually do with it. So I moved to the temple courtyard and it brought me to the big heavy doors. Which I happened to be walking up to anyways. I opened the tab there and saw a few options but the one that was highlighted first was “place spawner”. So I can actually place the spawner wherever I want then. Interesting. I clicked it and the spawner popped up on the map first, then in front of me I saw a faint light before the stones of the courtyard shifted, quickly reforming to open up a circle in the center, and in moments a small sapling started to grow from the ground, but it didn’t stay that way long, the sapling rapidly growing from the tiny sprout into a full grown tree in about thirty seconds. I watched almost dumbfounded for a few seconds looking back to the menu again.

Mandrill spawner: mandrils- 46/100, minibosses- 1/1

Oh, so when it said move the spawner, it included all of the monkeys that were made by that spawner too. Though I’m surprised that there is an upper limit of 100 on the spawner. Maybe it’s because monkeys are low level? Though, then again, it could be that it’s a theoretical number and not an actual one. Seeing as how there are only 46 right now, and more aren’t spawning. What determines that then? I tapped the spawner and saw it had a timer on it. 2:44:32 and counting down. Which I’m guessing is the timer until the next monkeys spawn. There were also three buttons to upgrade the spawner as well. Upgrade spawn rate 100 XP, Upgrade spawn level 100 XP, and upgrade batch size 500 XP.

Interesting, but not something I want to spend my xp on right now. Instead, I was only thinking about the one place I was already headed to, to start with. Though as I sat in the courtyard, I started to think about how I was supposed to get inside? I certainly can’t push the doors open. So I suppose I’ll just have to climb again. My sore arms already started to protest, but it needed to be done. It took me longer than I’d like to admit, but I did eventually make it up onto the roof, panting out exasperatedly as I quickly hopped back in through the window of the nearest bedroom. The entire time being hyper-vigilant as to not bump the windows or doors with the arrow in my shoulder. Once I was in the hallway I felt like I was in the home stretch, already picking up my pace as I was practically running down the stairs, or more of a jog really. Still in pain.

Finally I opened up the door, and the hot steam billowed out into my face. There was nothing that I could see that would have been more welcoming at that moment than those steaming waters. Though as I approached, I saw the little money pop up in front of one of the large rocks. Showing that the room could be upgraded here too. So you can do it via the menu or through the room itself. Good to know. Though I don’t see why it would be much different where you did it.

I stepped inside and looked behind me, seeing Tony just at the door, looking skeptical, and then Lao stepped in to look around curiously. I slipped into the bath, and immediately the pain in my arms and legs started to melt. I felt my limbs turn to jelly the moment that the tension was over and I just started floating on my belly. My body almost threatened to fall back asleep from the sudden relaxation alone, but I managed to shake my head and fight the urge.

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Tony and Lao both looked cautious, just circling the water and not entering it. Though at that moment I was just thinking about my body, I wasn’t oblivious enough not to notice they were too scared to enter, even seeing me there. They’ll come around at their own pace I suppose. Meanwhile I was just looking at the menu for this room to see what I could do to upgrade the hot spring. Which, as soon as I saw it, I needed to tub my eyes, and read again. The three options for the hot springs were; healing spring 100 XP, stamina spring 100 XP, magic spring 100 XP.

A new source of healing was huge. Plus, the one thing I was worried about was figuring on a new way to heal myself now that I lost my ring. On top of that it says I can restore stamina, which I didn’t really know was a thing mechanically, and magic, which… I don’t really know what that would actually do. My only use of magic is innate magic, and I don’t have anything like a mana bar either. Just a cooldown. Maybe it would be useful if I used non-innate magic? I don’t know, but either way it did mean I have another option to heal and in one of the most enjoyable ways possible.

I selected both healing and stamina, and I watched as the stone in the front, and all those surrounding the pool shined for a brief moment before intricate carvings started to appear in the stone. Looking like waves, small reed and river plants first, then shortly after larger carvings of trees. They looked pretty, but I imagine it was some sort of magical runes, or something along those lines.

+1 hp

As soon as the changes finished I could smell the changes in the water. It went from the normal water smell that’s so hard to describe, to something softer and more herbal. And where before I’d thought that this place was great, now it’s wonderful. The gentle heat that soothed my aching limbs felt less like it was practically knitting me back together. Which technically I suppose it is? Though unlike with the ring or the fruit, the spring heals fairly slowly. Which isn’t an issue, considering the only time I’ll be here and need it is when I’m not fighting, seems pretty good to me.

+1 hp

Though now, this raised the opportunity to get this arrow out of my shoulder too. I reached up to my pierced limb, feeling the place where the arrowhead was stuck into me and groaned slightly. I was going to need to yank this thing out. Which is contrary to what I knew of first aid. Usually if you get something stuck in you then you’re supposed to leave it there, but then they didn’t have magic healing either. So I wrapped my hand around the arrow with my opposite hand, using the free hand to cover my mouth. I took a few seconds to hype myself up, but quickly yanked the arrow out.

-3 hp, +1 hp

I threw the arrow across the room squeezing my fist tightly onto my mouth to keep from making any overly loud noises, or at least not more than the sound of my fist pounding against the rock beside me. After a second it died down however, and the wound started to slowly close, and the bleeding stopped with it. I leaned forwards, my forehead resting against the stone as I panted heavily. This sort of thing has become way too normal for me by this point. Before becoming a monkey the worst injury I’d ever received was one time when I broke my toe when I walked into a table leg. Now I think I’ve had a worse injury literally every day so far.

+1 hp

My train of thought was interrupted when hot water splashed loudly against the side of my face, making me jump in surprise. I looked over to see what had happened, and it was Tony who had jumped into the water beside me and started hooting loudly as he jumped in place, shaking the water away from his face, and onto mine. I sneered slightly but it was hard to be mad when seeing him so excited. He started walking through the water and splashing a bit, but Lao was being more careful, testing the waters with a finger and stepping in slowly.

+1 hp

It looks like they were both more tired than I was expecting, since they both had the same reaction I did, sinking into the warm water and just relaxing for a while. It gave me a moment to sit and quietly contemplate for a bit, free of worry for my immediate well being. I could process everything I’d actually just been through.

+1hp, +1hp, +1hp, +1hp, +1hp, +1hp, +1hp, +1hp, +1hp, +1hp

So, now I know I can’t stay in the starting forest after all. The humans know about me, and have already actively hunted me down. I was actually pretty lucky that they wanted to catch me alive for whatever reason. However this also means that I’m going to have to go up the cliff and start fighting stronger monsters. I was hoping I could make these two a bit higher level before that, but as far as I know, they are already sending out people to recapture me. I can kind of be glad that I at least have this place here to act as a sort of home base. Plus it’s a secret too.

I don’t want these two to be put at risk of dying again, but frankly now they are in just as much danger down there as they are up in the next area so long as the humans are after me. It’s better to just try and powerlevel up against bigger stronger monsters to get myself stronger and these two up to speed as fast as possible. Even if they might die in the process. I’m never going to start treating them like they are disposable, but let's be honest. This whole forest wants to kill basically everything in it. I would much rather the two of them be stronger to try and prevent more deaths.

I look over to the two of them and see Lao blowing bubbles with his nose while Tony was just looking at his toes. The hardest part of this is still communication. I can only really get across the most bare bones ideas. Primary emotions like anger, fear, worry, happy, or simple actions like throw. I still haven’t come up with a way to tell them to actually fight. Somewhere along the line there will be something like an “animal communication” or “language” skill or something like that and I will be obligated to grab it. Either way though, I’m going to need to go up to the higher level and try actually hunting some bigger game. Try and get these two up to level ten and myself up to twenty.

I laid my head back against the stone for a moment before pulling myself up out of the water again. I didn’t want to get out, after all I’d be more than happy to spend a whole hour in here just soaking, but who knows if those humans are already trying to hunt me down. As I stood out of the water, the chill of the air sunk into my fur, and I quickly shook my whole body trying to dry myself off. I looked back and saw the other two still distracted by the water and figured I’d let them have a break. They were just dead after all.

Either way, I stepped out of the hot spring and started up the stairs to the boss room. I passed by the ring in the center and over towards the window to look out again, and curled a brow up at the sight. There ahead of the shine and walking down the bridge was a parade of soaking wet monkeys. There in the front was Boris, leading the whole group on the march. At first I was confused before immediately remembering that I had just changed their spawn point. Though does this mean they instinctively know where their spawner is? I mean, I don’t but I might just be weird.

Still, it is somewhat of a relief knowing the rest of the troop will all be here, and there won’t be a repeat of the whole cat situation. I would rather not be surrounded by a dozen dead monkeys again. They’ll be pretty safe here, or at least theoretically so. I can’t assume that this place will stay safe forever. I suppose I will have to kind of dedicate some of my time and effort to upgrading this place, not just myself. But I can do that after I get myself up to level twenty at least. Though thinking about it, that certainly seems like it’s a good distance away. Well, I can’t say that for sure. I have no clue how much xp I’ll be getting either.

I shook my head and headed back down to the hot spring, sliding open the door. The both of them were splashing each other with the water and more roughhousing than relaxing. I glared slightly, figuring this would be pretty rude if not for the fact that they were basically toddlers. I gave a hoot to get their attention and both heads swiveled around to face me. Then I made a motion with my hand for them to follow. They didn’t seem to get it at first but then I remembered the actual way you get them to follow. Turning and showing the big blue butt to them both and they quickly got the idea that we were leaving.

The two of them jumped out of the water and then violently shook their torsos to dry themselves off before running right along after me. I rolled my eyes, waiting for them to come along before heading back up the stairs, out the window, and hopped out onto the roof. I watched all the other monkeys gradually gathering up under the tree, and Boris casually strutting around and making his way over to the base of the tree, and plopping himself down.

I climbed my way down to the floor again before making my way over to the bridge. There were still a few monkeys making their way inside, but there couldn’t be too many more. I made my way over to the waterfall again, this time making note of the secret entrance label on it. I could probably make that more secure, but better to leave it alone for now. I don’t have hardly any xp to spend and it would be better if I just focused on trying to actually level up again. So I came over to the wall and started scaling upwards.

I swiveled around the corner of the entrance, and tried to climb along the wall, though with the water beating down against the stone, all of them were both slippery and smooth. It was harder than I’d thought to cling to, and made me wonder how the heck I’d done this while I was sore. I did eventually make my way out of the water, and quite quickly after that, made my way back up to the top of the cliff, seeing the trees shift from the familiar yellowish leaves to the bright wave of orange. If I’d have to guess, I’d say they’d be maple, but I’m not all too familiar with tree taxonomy.

Though unlike last time I was here, I was struck with a sense of anxiety. Not even because of the danger of stronger monsters, but the monsters below I at least know about. I don’t know what’s going to be in this new place yet. I instinctively reached down to try and grab my knife, but it wasn’t there. Not only that, but my pouch and skirt were gone too, which made me feel even more naked now that I’m paying attention to it. I’m going to need to get some more clothes and a new knife at some point up here, because my teeth are only going to go so far when dealing with similarly leveled monsters.

I shook my head, figuring if I was going to be going anywhere, I may as well follow this river so that I can get back home quickly. Though admittedly, part of it is because I was hoping that I could use the river as a method of quick escape, hoping that most animals can’t swim. Following the river also has the added benefit that most things that are alive tend to gather near water anyways, so I’ll be more likely to find something than I was last time. Though thinking back, I wonder how many things I had just not seen because their sneak or hide were too high. Mildly disconcerting.

I walked along the riverbank, keeping close enough to the water that I could jump to it, but far enough away that some crocodile wasn’t going to snatch me up either. Though, with fantasy creatures, you never know. There could be a super speed flying crocodile that can grab me from even a distant tree branch… but that’s always the case anyways, so worrying about it doesn’t really help either.

As I traveled up the river, I noticed a plank of wood floating by. Not a stick or log, a plank. Which was unexpected. I was hoping there was no woodland camp set up by the humans, as that would make avoiding them that much harder, but the source was quickly evident after continuing a few hundred more feet. I could see it in the distance, on the far bank of the river. A number of tents, and a fire in the center. However there weren’t any humans there. Instead, they were small figures, about as big as me, if a little bit bigger. They were green, with long ears, and dressed in crude furs. They even had primitive tools made of stone or bones. Any fantasy buff would recognize a goblin when they saw one.

I wasn’t about to test my luck with a group of goblins, but luckily they were on the opposite side of the river, and there was no bridge, so I was perfectly safe… theoretically speaking. Though now, seeing the first group besides humans that seemed to have an actual society, I wondered if goblins count as people, or if they are monsters. You could say that they’re smart, but the undead guy in the dungeon was smart too and he was still a monster. It’s a moral conundrum that I wasn’t expecting to actually have today. Either way though, it will only become an issue if they attack me, and in that case self defense is self defense.

I turned to continue walking along the riverbank, but tried to keep a low profile so as not to catch the attention of the goblins if I didn't have to. Ducking behind the tree line kept me out of sight but I was always conscious of the fact that every time I looked over, I was flashing my bright red and blue face towards them too. The downside of being beautiful I suppose. I sighed slightly.

-5 hp, -5 hp

A sharp sting hunk into my back suddenly, followed immediately by a second. I turned on a dime and looked around behind to see two goblins leaning out of the bushes with a pair of bows in hand. I wondered how I hadn’t seen them, but their green skin blended in with the bushes and their bows were fashioned out of branches, so they blended in near perfectly. Great. Just what I needed right now.

-1 hp

Oh, and I’m poisoned. Perfect.