Coal eventualy calmed back down enough to think clearly again, and proceded to go over the posible supplies from within the cavern.
In the pile he found the axe in there was also a small assortment of daggers and some knives. There was also a couple small hatchets along with the axe he used. All leather items looked to be gone, and Coal assumed they were eaten.
In the scraps of cloth that looks like it was used as bedding he found an old lice ridden gambeson and some soiled cotton trouseres. He was also able to find an old traveler pack that looked like it had all the leather straps torn from it.
Looking around the cave he was able to see a large caldron by the fire, and there appeared to be a small stream in the back of the room.
Rolling the caldron to the stream he used some of the old cloth scraps to clean the inside of it as thoroughly as he could before rolling it back and placing it on the fire.
After building the fire up with some of the remaining wood he found a couple old metal flasks in the pile and used them to courier water to the large caldron.
Once full Coal left the pot to boil before going to the stream and washing himself.
As soon as the caldron was boiling he took the gambeson, trousers, and emptied traveler pack and through them into the water.
Then just to be safe he took any decent scraps he could find and through them in as well.
He let them boil as he went through what was in the sack.
Before him he had a small piece of flint.
A small tin that appeared to have some old charcloth in it.
“I need to take some of this cloth and replenish some of this, I can see it coming in handy”
A small sewing kit with bone needles.
Two metal flasks.
A damaged cooking pot.
An odd looking set of tongs.
About 20 yards of cord
And a small copper coin about 2 inches wide, and nearly an eighth inch thick.
Looking closer to the coin Coal began to se the light aura form around it like he had when he saw his own status.
Coin Copper piece value 10c Coins are known to form inside creatures upon death. None know where the first coin came from, nor how they are made. They are made from an unknown metal that is incapable of causing or receiving direct damage. They can be carried freely but no known ability has ben able to damage them. All damage automatically phases through coins, thus the use of coins in armor or weapons have been unsuccessful.
“Form inside of creatures upon death?”
Using one of the logs Coal moved the caldron out of the heat to cool down, he then took one of the hatchets and started to cut into the troll.
The first piece he found was a small silver coin directly behind the nasal cavity. After some searching he found another in the spinal column and a third in the heart.
He now knew what the odd set of tongs were for since he doubted he could get the piece out of the spine without them.
Since receiving the message about the coin, he tried to do the same to the other items around him with very limited success. He was able to come up with the name of the items, but that was it.
His large wood axe was a simple axe, and the hatchets were hatchets.
Looking at the gambeson armor though he was able to obtain a little more information.
Putrid Gambeson This armor was once made to where under other heavier armors, but now the only thing it is protecting is the insects living inside of it. May induce sickness if worn.
After removing the corpses from the hooks, he quickly went back and sent them down the stream. He then washed himself off again.
Stringing the cord across one of the hooks in the wall and down to a bolder by the stream he made a makeshift cloths line to dry everything he had in the caldron. After emptying the caldron and refilling it he began to sanitize the flasks, and the pot he found.
Using the sewing kit and some of the scraps of cloth that were already dry he fashioned himself some makeshift mid-calf foot wraps.
He then took some of the heavier cloth and began to replace all the lost straps on the traveler’s pack.
After a short rest on the cold ground by the fire he collected all the items he scavenged and packed what he could. Just to be on the safe side he took the money he found and sewed them into a pouch on the inside of his gambeson. He then set out again to leave the cave.
Using some of the branches, and some of the less usable cloth scraps he managed to make some poor quality make-shift torches.
Looking down at his armor now that he had boiled it he had a new message.
Boiled Gambeson Under armor for other armors. Though considered an under armor it is still quite protective. Though bulkier it is comparable to leather armor when used in enough layers. This armor however has ben infested with lice, then boiled in water greatly reducing its protective qualities. It is now capable of protecting modesty and providing some semblance of warmth.
The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.
Makeshift mid-calf foot wraps Congratulations you have prevented your feet from meeting the ground. Your movement speed will increase by 25% for having less stress on your feet. (this does not affect the speed attribute)
Congratulations you have learned the Identify ability
Identify Useful for learning basic information about an item. Higher levels will reveal more information.
After checking over his other items again he had only one item left of note
Taurus Judge Revolver Like a blunderbuss in function this revolver is capable firing 5 consecutive shots of alchemically propelled metal accurately for a large distance.
Speed 5 (15) Damage 75-120 hp (damage not increased by ability points.) for solid shot.
Damage 25-50 for 5’ spread when using shot. (shot damage drastically decreases after 20 yards)
Compared to the axe.
Wood Axe. Axe for chopping wood, can chop other things if they are slow enough. Speed 2 Damage 65-85+str (2 handed items receive strength x 1.5 when used with both hands to determine damage)
“So, my max damage with the revolver is 120 and non-scalable, but the axe can already do 109 damage, and that will go up with strength. Though it looks like I can get off all 5 shots in the time it takes me to swing the axe twice.”
“I’m shure the speed on the revolver would be much faster if it held more than 5 shots.”
Setting off again he was feeling more complacent with his situation and was doing what he could to get by.
Occasionally able to find small grubs, and insects to eat he was able to stave off complete starvation. Since he was currently walking up stream he also had ready access to water.
Congratulations you have learned tracking.
Tracking lvl1 The ability to follow a path left by others. Higher levels will allow more detailed information about subject being followed.
Congratulations you have learned Foraging
foraging lvl1 the ability to find food in your surroundings One of the most important traits for anybody. Allows an individual to find food where it is not readily available. higher levels will allow individual to find food and resources in larger quantities. Chance to find rare resource also increases.
“Regardless of the reality of the survival shows I\he use to watch, the information was still helpful.”
One step at a time Coal trudged along, stopping every chance he could to forage for food. He couldn’t remember ever being this skinny. Seeing his ribs stick out of his chest, and the almost overwhelming hunger making him dizzy. Coal was beginning to succumb to both malnourishment and starvation.
How the troll was able to get his lair all the way down there Coal had no idea. Having burnt the last of his torches days ago he was back to flaring his mana.
Flaring his mana. This is what he would call it.
It wasn’t a spell. It was the same as lighting a torch in a firework factory and calling it the grand finale. It was crude, and exhausting.
But he had not the time or the energy to work on understanding it better.
To think all the years dreaming to have magic. The amazing things he would be able to do with it. Only to realize that even with it he was nothing, without the knowledge to control it.
Warning health at 10% due to starvation. All regenerations reduced to 10% until renourished.
“Not again. It’s faster this time. At least it will give me a brief respite from the hunger when i wake.”
“What is it at now? 1% helth loss every 15 minutes? I’ll be out again in a little over an hour.”
“13 hours for full recovery this time. So 20 hours up for 13 down. If I don’t eat soon I’ll be unconscious more than awake.”
“ At least the intelligence boost makes figuring this out much easier.”
“It would be nice if I was still by the stream” Coal had found the entrance to the stream nearly a week prior, and discovered it was formed by multiple smaller streams tying together.
All he could do was move on after refilling his flasks. One step at a time. Until the burn happens again.
Trudge till he drops again.
Fire! Fire in his veins! Waking up to the sound of his own screaming Coal was once more rejuvenated by his Mana Burn trait.
Not sure weather it was a gift or a curse all he could do was except it and move on.
“. . … .ere ..at?”
“ … . .ne .s there”
Hearing something but unable to make it out Coal tried to shout.
“I. aehhh ehhhh”
Spitting up blood coal was unable to shout through his dry cracked throat while not under the rejuvenating effects of his mana burn.
Grabbing the pot, and one of the hatchets out of his pack he began to bang them together.
“There it is.”
“Were close to it” Said someone in the distance
In a close branch of the cave were a group of four adventurers who were sent to investigate the mana disturbance from a couple months ago.
“Its on the other side of the wall” Came a soft voice.
“Stand back” Came one that sounded like it was eating gravel while talking.
“Thump”
“Thump”
Coal could feel a tremor in the wall as something was slammed against it. Not knowing what to do he flared his mana to get a brief glimpse of his surroundings. Now knowing he was able to step back he did so. Just as the head of a pick began to break through.
Since exhausting his mana the area went dark again, only to soon have light again coming through the small hole the pick had made.
“Hold it” stated a raspy sure voice. A voice that you immediately feel like following sounding both old and wise.
“Something is disrupting the mana in the other room.”
“Let the disruption dissipate before we continue through.”
Not knowing what was going on, and anxious to see another being again he took his hatchet out, and started to hit the wall to try to get to them.
“Whap”
“Whap”
“Whap”
“Thunk”
Not being made for hitting stone, the head of the axe soon broke sending shrapnel into Coals shoulder, and the majority into his face knocking him out.
“Stonebro did you see what happen?”
“Yah Tash this bastard just knocked himself out.”
“Its Tashia you rock romancing half human”
“I aint got no human in me, so you can take that back right now”
“Both of you cut it, and Stonebro get that wall down.”
“Yes sir.”
“Yes Rendrake.”
The two replied in unison.
“Bartram do you have enough mana left to heal this one?”
The forth of the group only shrugs his shoulders. Not one to talk much he knew the question to be rhetorical. If he did, then he did, if not then he would eventually.
After a few more swings Stonebro was able to make it through the wall.
“And that is why you use the right tool for the job.”
“And to thing Tash you told me I would have no need for my pick.”
“I told you It’s Tashia!”
“Enough you two. Stock dicking around and bind him.”
“Bind him? I thought we were trying to save him.”
“Yes Tashia but did you not see the way he attacked the wall? If he is the one that came through from the Ley Line shift than he has ben here for nearly two months on his own in a known troll cave without light or food.”
“As you should have learned from your studies the Ley Line shifts create plainer ruptures in parallel realms that grow until o suitable host in pulled through.”
“Most these hosts come from un cultured, and uncivilized worlds, and need time to incorporate themselves into our system.”
“Everything will probably be new for him.“
“Imagine what would happen if you were ripped away from all you knew, and cast into a dark hole for nearly two months only to wake to Stonebro’s face?”
“Oh Gods”
“I see your point, lets bind him.”
“Wait a minute now, My wife has no problem waking up to my face.”
“Stonebro your wife is a stone golem and doesn’t sleep.”