The two stone griffons looked down from their perches. Julie rapped her stick on the ground just in case they got any ideas, but without Mrs Winthorpe-Corden to lead them they remained in place.
“Are you alright, Baxter?” She held out her arms so that he could leap up into them. He curled up in her embrace and purred warmly. She could sense that he was uninjured. “Normally I should tell you off for attacking a lady, but she was quite a monster, wasn't she?”
Baxter purred in agreement.
“I should pay more attention to those strange words.” At her bidding a whole sheet of stats floated into her sight.
Level 1 Beast Master. Companion: House Cat, Level 1.
Primary Stats
Valour: 5
Mind: 8
Spirit: 7
Secondary Stats
Speed: 13
HP: 12/12
MP: 10/15
Beast Master Intrinsic: Animal Companion: convert friendly beasts into companions.
Level 1 Mind Ability: Analyse Beast. 5 MP. See primary stats of beasts, and weaknesses.
XP: 5/10
Yes, she had seen the griffons’ weakness with that ability. There was something strange about the numbers though. She urged Baxter up to her shoulders, and patted her jacket and sensible walking trousers. There should be a notepad and pencil somewhere, she never left home without an observation pad. There it was. She jotted down the numbers of her secondary stats.
“Fifteen, thirteen and twelve. Much higher than my primary stats. Could it be...”
Baxter peered down from her shoulders at the pad, his ears twitched as her pencil flew over the paper.
“Baxter, look at this. My highest secondary stat is MP, though I spent five on analysing those griffons. And my two highest primary stats, Mind and Spirit, add up to fifteen! That’s more than coincidence isn’t it? Similarly, speed is the total of my Valour and Mind, and my HP is my Valour and Spirit added together. How curious.”
She jotted down her hypothesis: Secondary stats are each the sum of two primary stats.
1. Secondary stats are the sum of two primary stats.
“And Mrs Ghast and our rude hunting lady both talked about levelling up and XP. If I’m level 1 that implies there must be a level 2 for me. Hmm... XP.”
She wrote down another hypothesis in her notebook.
“If Mind has a level 1 ability then Valour and Spirit could do as well? And Level 1 means there could be a level 2?" She noted down two more ideas. “I have XP. Is that from disciplining those Griffons? Possibly. I should pay attention when I get some more. Mrs Ghast said she gained XP through telling fortunes. Our hunter foe was perhaps hunting people for XP. I wonder if I can tame animals for XP?”
She looked over her full list of hypotheses.
1. Secondary stats are the sum of two primary stats.
2. XP is needed to increase levels.
3. There are Valour Level 1 and Spirit Level 1 abilities.
4. Abilities can be increased in level.
5. Different classes can obtain XP through different methods.
“Well then Baxter, we have a fine collection of hypotheses to test out. Let’s start with testing them. I supposed I should try to level up.”
Julie tapped her stick on the ground absent-mindedly. She didn’t want to go around accosting strangers just to level up, but if there were more people like Mrs Winthorpe-Corden (and she knew there were) then she would need to protect herself.
“Has this happened to everyone, I wonder?” She stroked Baxter’s head.
On Baxter’s part, being enrolled into the System as an animal companion was an insult to his independence. Had he been given the choice he would’ve chosen something like Chelsea Overlord or Bird Terror. But alas, he had not been given the choice as he had not been detected as sentient.
The question of sentience was hotly debated in the aftermath of the Incident. Mostly by philosophy students at London universities given the class of Philosopher, who discovered that engaging in debates gave them XP, and the more weighty the subject the more XP. Sentience was the go-to topic as it was one of the really meaty XP farms, until Cuthbert Gollance of King's College discovered that debating what to have for lunch gave even more XP for some reason, and the entire philosophy department imploded in a fit of existential angst (after choosing salami sandwiches).
Julie knew nothing of this. All she knew was that she was a Beast Master, and that she should probably be taming beasts. Baxter was already quite tame in her eyes, though if she had seen one of his night-time prowls she would have reconsidered.
For some reason, on the topic of taming the wild beast, she thought of Monty. He was not exactly wild, but certainly unruly. What had become of him? She would have to make for the post office, and put a call into his residence and perhaps his club. Hopefully he was at home, safe and sound.
The post office was a few minutes walk away, on the Kings Road. That was a large road that stretched a couple of miles through the borough of Chelsea. There could be any sort of upper class hooligans patrolling there.
“Keep your senses alert, Baxter. Anything could be a threat now.” Baxter yowled from her shoulders and perked up. Mrs Winthorpe-Corden was the largest prey he had ever tangled with, and he wouldn’t mind having another tussle.
The streets on the way to King’s Road were quiet. Occasionally an upper class lady or gent would peer from their window, watching her pass. Normally she would wave hello, but perhaps now was not the time. They might take it as a threat.
At the end of one road she spotted something interesting. A rather fine looking chihuahua, shaking with fear. Its black and brown colouring made it look like an erratic chestnut. It was so small you could have fit it into a teapot, though its vibrations would probably crack the china. The poor thing was bunched up against a lamp-post, seemingly all alone.
“Oh, poor thing, have you lost your owner?” Julie crouched down slightly, but kept her eyes out for anything odd. She wasn’t going to be ambushed by another cruel human trick.
The chihuahua edged a little closer. Its coat was so glossy and fine. A silver tag dangled from its red collar, but she couldn’t quite make out the name.
Baxter stiffened and hissed.
The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.
The chihuahua scurried away, but stopped and turned its head back. “Come on Baxter, don’t be jealous.” Julie edged after the chihuahua, which scampered away again. They continued this stop-start chase a little way until it disappeared round the corner of a garden wall.
Baxter dug his claws into Julie’s shoulder and hissed. “Ow! Baxter, that's really painful, whatever is the matter?” But through his senses she felt that danger was round the corner.
“All right, all right. I know there’s something dangerous there. But in for a penny, in for a pound.” She readied her stick and leapt around the corner. If there was another cruel owner out for XP then Julie was ready for it.
But there was no human there. In fact the chihuahua had joined a pack of five other dogs, a couple of beagles, a bulldog, a Scottish terrier and a cocker spaniel. It scuttled between the legs of the bulldog, sheltering underneath it.
All of them were in fine condition, with pleasing proportions and well-kept coats and claws. They looked like escapees from a dog show.
“Oh dear.” Julie wasn’t sure she could tame or fight six dogs at once. Was the bulldog or the chihuahua the leader? She activated her Analyse Beast ability, focussing on the chihuahua, but surprisingly the pack registered as a single beast.
Show Dogs
Valour : 7
Mind: 2
Spirit: 6
Weakness: Treats and praise.
The bulldog barked and the other dogs jumped into formation, a V shape with the two beagles at each tail. Their tails raised in aggressive fashion, and they stalked towards her slowly like models on a catwalk (though they would have preferred the term dogwalk).
“Oh that’s very clever,” Julie couldn’t help saying. Six tails wagged at once. The bulldog chuckled as its belly was tickled by the chihuahua’s tail, but then it shook its head, barked and all they went back into attack position. The unbidden praise from Julie had certainly affected them if only for a moment.
Baxter leapt down from her shoulders and arched his back. He hissed but the pack was not deterred. The bulldog lipped its lips with a loud slopping sound.
“If you hurt Baxter, you naughty boys!”
The dogs bristled with anger at her warning, and the whole pack rushed forward. Baxter ran straight under the bulldog, making straight for the chihuahua. It yipped in fear and shot out from its hiding place. Baxter made chase.
“One down, five to go...” Though she wished that the bulldog had run away.
It glowered as it stalked forwards slowly. Its deep growl rumbled out of it like a slow motion electric saw cutting through a barrel. Julie’s hands shook a little, but she gripped her stick harder to steady her nerves.
The bulldog barked and lunged at her, she rapped it on its head, but it took the blow as if nothing had happened. It glared up at her through its fatty face folds. Saliva dripped from its mouth as it growled and barked. Meanwhile the other dogs circled her. It was a pincer movement. Had another dog breed been there it would have been a pinscher movement.
She climbed up onto the nearby garden wall as the beagles nipped at her ankles. The cocker spaniel leapt up with the beagles, and she used her walking stick to keep them at bay. It could not last for long, she was no match for a whole pack of dogs. She must take advantage of their weakness.
“You’re very strong aren’t you? You could probably bite me to pieces.” Julie tried to smile as the pack of dogs leapt up and down and barked at her.
As she praised them once again their tails wagged and their features softened. But again the bulldog shook them back into shape with a fierce bark. The bulldog suddenly sat down with his back legs, bracing his front legs. The Scottish terrier ran behind him, and using the broad back and hard skull of the leader as a ramp, launched itself into the air. The beady eyes, the moustachioed face and sharp teeth came flying at Julie. She only had seconds to defend herself. She stared at the growling terror and tried to think of something positive.
“OhyoulookjustlikemyuncleHamishwhoiseversokindandgenerous-“ Julie took a deep breath. “AndIbetyou’refamilyjustlovesyourcutelittlefaceandsoulfuleyes.”
The snapping terrier was transformed by Julie’s barrage of heartfelt compliments moments before it hit her. Its eyes went dewey and soft, its eyebrows softened as if to say ‘I know I’m supposed to be a wandering monster, but aren’t we all wandering in our own way, lost in between the expectations of society and our own desires.’ Those eyebrows had won it the Chelsea Dog Show Bantam-weight trophy twice in a row, and now they were communicating its deep regret for its actions.
Julie caught it mid-air. It sagged in her hands like an apologetic toilet brush from a fancy hotel. “Oh poor thing. You’d best go home.” She dropped it down onto the ground. The rest of the pack circled it in confusion, as its marvellous eyebrows communicated deep regret. Then it ran off into the mist.
She felt a warm, rewarding feeling. “I think I just got some XP.” If she could take out the whole pack perhaps it would be enough to level up?
Before she could think of some more genuine praise, a letter sailed through the air, spinning as it went. It careened off the snout of the bulldog. The bulldog sneezed and turned its head.
The thrower of the letter appeared out of the mist. A figure of heroism, he had on his official blue cap, jacket and trousers. Over his shoulder was slung his enormous brown post satchel bulging with parcels and letters. Below his prominent nose his black moustache drooped down over his pursed lips. Mr Evans, the local postman.
“It’s letter time!” Not the best war-cry, but he was working on it.
The dogs turned and faced their most ancient of foes. Even before domestication wolves have twitched in their sleep at the thought of an unknown intruder approaching their dens and shoving papery rectangles into the entranceway. The whole pack rounded on Mr Evans, who was prepared. Before gaining the class of Messenger, he had faced all sorts of Chelsea hounds. From Pekingese to St Bernards, he had braved their growls and barks to deliver his post. Now he was roaming the streets, delivering letters and standing up to the canine menace wherever he found it. This was his destiny. It was also still within his normal working hours.
His hand reached into his satchel and doled out letters at an alarming rate. The dogs were pelted with envelopes. They howled and had to force their way forwards as if they were in a blizzard, so fierce was his letter delivery.
“You should complement them, Mr Evans. That should calm them down.”
“No time for that, miss.” His focus was entirely on defeating the horde of show dogs. One of the beagles evaporated into mist under his harsh pelting. “Can’t have doggies nipping at people’s ankles.”
The other beagle gave up and ran off. Soon the poodle evaporated into mist as well.
The bulldog roared in anger, but with his pack reduced so his courage faded. He turned around and waddled off into the mist.
Julie felt an immense burst of XP. She got her even share of defeating the Show Dog packed, and it was enough to take her to the next level.
Level 2. Select ability.
Mind Level 2: Outmanoeuvre. 10 MP. Drain beast’s speed to add to user’s.
Valour Level 1: Taming Strike. 10 MP. Attack that reduces a beast’s Valour.
Spirit Level 1: Soothe Beast. 10 MP. Makes neutral beasts friendly, has a chance to turn hostile beasts neutral.
Should she specialise in her Mind abilities or diversify? Both the mind and spirit seemed useful. Speed would presumably give her an advantage in combat and escaping, but the ability to befriend beasts seemed more in keeping with her aims. She chose the Spirit Level 1 ability.
She glanced at her full stats again.
Level 2 Beast Master. Companion: House Cat, Level 2.
Primary Stats
Valour: 5
Mind: 8
Spirit: 10
Secondary Stats
Speed: 13
HP: 15/15
MP: 18/18
XP: 0/20
Her spirit had increased, and also her HP and MP had increased by the same amount, and they had refilled. Support for some of her ideas, and two new hypotheses to write down, with a modification to her XP theory.
1. Secondary stats are the sum of two primary stats. - Partial evidence
2. XP is needed to increase levels. - YES
3. There are Valour Level 1 and Spirit Level 1 abilities. - YES
4. Abilities can be increased in level
5. Different classes can obtain XP through different methods.
1. Battle is a way to gain XP.
6. Choosing an ability raises the corresponding stat by 3
7. Levelling up restores MP (and HP?)
“Are you alright? Miss Julie isn’t it? Number 34 West Street? Would you like a hand down from there?” Mr Evans' voice was deep and soothing.
“Oh yes please.” Julie looked up from her notepad. Mr Evans helped her down to the ground. “Thankyou for your help, you really saved me, Mr Evans!”
“Just doing the rounds, Miss Julie. I will be off then.”
“But don’t you want to know why all this is happening?”
Mr Evans adjusted his satchel. His eyes beneath his cap peered away into the mist. “Not really, Miss. People still need their post delivered. If that means battling with roving hounds on the streets as well as braving muddy garden paths then that’s what I’ll do. Good day.” He tipped his hat politely and then continued on his round.
Julie watched him walk away. She couldn’t believe he was so blasé about everything.
At that moment Baxter slunk back into view, looking extremely pleased with himself. “Well, it looks like we’ve levelled up. But I wish it didn’t have to be so violent.”
Baxter stretched out and meowed. He was quite happy with the level of violence required.
Julie sighed and scooped him up into her arms. “Come on then, my little warrior. We’ve got a post office to visit.”