“We should save Armon,” Xaveon finally said. “It’s the right thing to do.”
“Fine,” huffed Aeslin, sourly.
“Before we go we should get gathering tools,” Theric suggested. “Xaveon, you mentioned that you wanted leather? We’ll need a skinning knife.”
Xaveon handed Theric a pouch of coins. “Skinning knife, herbalism spade, and a mining pick. Make sure they are well crafted!”
“Anything else?” asked Theric.
“Maybe a material bag,” offered Aeslin. “We’re going to fill up on inventory space if we carry around all these crafting materials.”
Theric nodded. “Meet me at the village gates, I shouldn’t be too long.”
***
Theric strolled through the isles of the village general store, inspecting the lines of various tools, each made with different metal qualities, and each offering a different Efficiency Bonus. Theric picked up a Copper Spade.
Copper Spade (Rank 2)
Gathers Herbs, Poisons, and inks
+20% Efficiency Bonus
“Alchemy, Toxicology, and Tattoo Artistry,” muttered to himself. “+20%, that seems a bit too low to try to gain extra material yield.”
Theric examined the price tag.
2 silver pieces
“Xaveon gave me 10 silver pieces for a spade, skinning knife, mining pick, and material bag,” Theric continued thinking out loud. “I think this is a fair price and will have to do.”
Inventory Updated:
1x Copper Spade (Rank 2)
Gathers Herbs, Poisons, and inks
+20% Efficiency Bonus
1x Copper Skinning Knife (rank 2)
Gathers Hide
+20% Efficiency Bonus
1x Copper Mining Pick (rank 2)
Gathers Ore, Gems, and Stone
+20% Efficiency Bonus
1x Material Bag
Adds +20 Inventory Slots for Crafting Materials
Theric paid the shopkeeper 10 silver and joined his companions at the edge of town.
***
“There! It’s wounded!” Xaveon rushed through the thick bushes, tracking a heavy blood trail that a deer left behind. Xaveon's eyes flooded with red mist as the blood’s scent filled his nostrils. Warm; fresh…blood. He spent most of his cursed eternity on Draak’Terra satisfied with wine bottles full of the crimson vitality that he needed to survive. He had forgotten what the thrill of the hunt felt like. It was just as intoxicating as puncturing a trembling throat.
The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.
He chased the deer for its hide, as his armor was in a desperate need of upgrading, but…maybe he could use…a taste—just a taste of…
Xaveon caught a glimpse of a white tail passing a tree. He quickly sunk into a nearby shadow and within a moment leaped out of another to tackle the fearful beast. Without thinking he took a vicious bite into its neck.
“Here,” Theric called out from the brush. “I see Xaveon!”
Xaveon wiped the smear of blood from his lips. “Pass me the skinning knife.”
Theric rummaged through his bag and tossed the Copper Skinning Knife to his vampiric friend.
Xaveon knelt beside the deer and flicked knife
Skinning - 3/12
Extraction - 4/12
Needed Successes - 2
20% Efficiency Bonus
“I didn’t realize how little gathering I’ve done as of late,” Xaveon mumbled. “Better use an Effort Point.”
Skinning - (4)/12
Extraction - 4/12
Needed Successes - 2
20% Efficiency Bonus
Rolls: 4,4,10,11
Success!
Efficiency Roll: 49
Failure!
Xaveon smirked. “I Succeeded on the skinning, so at least I got that.”
Added to the Reader Inventory:
5x Shoddy Leather (rank 2)
5x Dust (enchanting additive)
1x Flawed Guard Orb (enchanting additive)
Aeslin pointed to the east. “The Spiderweb Forest is nearby,”
***
As our heroes entered the murky woods of the Spiderweb Forest, it became abundantly clear how the name was coined. From root to canopy, trees laid thick with a white webbing. Cocoons, both large and small plastered trunks and boulders. Tiny spiders crawled over the ground, creating an ebbing film of arachnids. However the eerie stillness within the air is what caused the atmosphere to be truly terrifying.
Theric rattled his foot with a brief shake, freeing him from a patch of spiders. “I think I prefer the Spirit Cave.”
Xaveon nodded in agreement. “Let’s find Armon and get out of here.”
Aeslin unsheathed his sword and carefully sliced open one of the person-sized cocoons. She recoiled in horror as the withered form of an elven female slumped out.
Gathering her composure, Aeslin pushed the corpse against a stone. She examined its sunken eyes and its flesh stretching over its cheek bones. The hideous turned Aeslin’s stomach upside down. “Something drained the life force from this person,”
Theric sliced open a smaller cocoon revealing the husk of a rabbit. He placed his hand on the animal. “Still warm. Whatever is feeding, is still around.”
A shrill muffle broke across the bleak silence. Xaveon leaped to a cocooned person thrashing against its binds and sliced it open with his skinning knife.
“Thank you!” cried a man dressed in a soldier's jacket.”
Aelsin dashed to the man and used Nuture, healing him for 6 hp. “We’re here to help. What is your name, soldier?”
“Corporal Koren, 2nd Range Patrol Division, Ma’am!” Koren paused after ripping the rest of the sticky webbing from his legs. “Aren’t you Master Sergeant Aeslin Starkeeper? Survivor of the 1st Recon?”
Aeslin didn’t answer.
“Survivor?” Xaveon asked. “Survivor of what?”
Aeslin curled her fists and flushed red. “Let’s get you out of here, Koren.”
“What about Armon?” asked Theric.
“Armon?” Koren blinked. “How do you know Private Barksmith?”
“Wait, Armon was a soldier?” Aeslin pulled Koren to his feet. “Is he part of your patrol?”
“Yes. We heard reports of villagers from Erinton going missing in this part of the forest. My squad was sent to investigate.” explained Koren. “Armon is a new recruit from Erinton. He was our guide.”
“ARMON!!!” Theric called out at the top of his lungs.
Koren tugged on the dragon knight’s arm. “Quiet, she’ll hear you!”
“Who?” Aeslin asked.
The sounds of skittering and broken branches resonated within the canopy.
“Armon called her The Webspinner.” Koren whispered.
The three heroes drew their weapons.
“Please,” Koren whined. “I’m the only one left alive, we must flee.”
“This Webspinner can not go unpunished,” Xaveon hissed.
“Master Sergeant, please talk sense into your friends,” begged Koren.
The branches bent with the weight of a large monster crawling through the trees.
“Theric looked at Aeslin, “Your call.”
Do we escape from The Spiderweb Forest?
Do we slay the Webspinner?
Vote in the poll below!!!!