Stepping out of the tower Savani was welcomed to a landscape of trees and a permanently clouded over sky. The trees were a dark brown, almost black in color with leaves that were red as blood. There was a clearing between the forest and the tower that spanned about 50 meters, giving the tower room to see any who would come to the door.
In front of Savani laid a road 10 meters across made out of cobbled stone. From the information he had gathered this road marked the only safe path through the forest to lands outside. As long as someone stayed on this road they would not be attacked by the creatures of the forest. Of course that was only if the travelers had an appropriate trinket to show they were a friend. No Sage would leave such a blatent hole in their towers defences. In fact, the road purposefully weaved through some of the more dangerous areas, one of which was the home to the Gallow Trees a sentient tree that would drop vines over its victims that would constrict and hang them until the victim suffocated before cocooning them for later consumption.
Still it was this road that apprentices often used to get to certain parts of the forest for missions. When they were accepted to the tower every apprentice was given a badge that worked as a form of identification. This would protect them from some of the defence mechanisms placed, so long as they were in an approved area. However danger was part of the trials of an apprentice so once they stepped off that road they were concidered free game. Though there were a few creatures trained to not outright attack a student.
Savani began to walk along the road towards his destination. The cave that held the Giant Centipedes was near the swamp where the Giant Alligators resided. If he followed the road for a half hour he would get to the part of the forest that he would have to enter to begin his quest.
As he started to walk down the trail Savani noticed some of the plants along the side of the road seemed to start to move toward him before stopping and return to their original position. Glaring at the plants along the path Savani had an idea. "Chip can you scan the surroundings?"
[Affirmitive. This chip can use your Spirit and bodily senses to make a map of the surrounding area.]
"Perfect. I want you to keep a scan up of the local area and convert it into a map focusing on resources as well as creature territories."
Since the surrounding areas were meant as both a resource site and a protection of the local tower Adept Lance would not allow maps of the area around the tower to be sold. At least not officially. Unofficially there was a black market amongst the apprentices where those that went out and explored would sell crudely drawn maps of the different areas as well as information on where certain resources could be found. The only rule was that these maps and information could not be given to visiting apprentices or traders who would sometimes be allowed in the tower.
The problem was these maps were often increadibly expensive while also being rather vague. Still with the information those going out would have at least some idea of the area they were going to. But with the help of the assistance chip Savani could simply scan the area around him and construct his own private map that was much more detailed than anything he could get elsewhere.
With the chip scanning the area Savani continued his walk down the road. Along the way he saw the Gallow Trees that would snatch adventureres and several zombies just stare at him from between the trees. Savani also thought he saw some Corrupted Dryads, creatures Adept Lance created from infusing negative energy into dryad slaves. Their purpose was to keep the forest healthy while also acting as scouts. They wre also one of the most deadly creatures of the forest, able to blend with the trees and surprise unsuspecting apprentices.
Finally Savani reached the part of the road that he would have to get off and travel into the wilds. Farther down the road one could see the trees start to rise out of a swampy foul smelling water. The cave should be roughly another 10 minute walk through the brush from where he was standing.
"Chip any lifeforms in the area?"
[No sentient life forms detected in surrounding 100 feet in all directions.]
"Good."
Carefully Savani began to creep through the woods keeping his senses trained on his enviroment. The gloom of the forest mixed with his anxiety made it seem like he was a protagonist in some horror film trying to escape a terrifing monster.
Covering the ground was a thick misty fog that made navigating through the trees difficult. Several times Savani almost tripped over a covered tree root or stepped on a twig creating a loud noise that echoed into the forest. Farther away from the main road Savani noticed several Shadow Crows residing in the trees watching him as he advanced through the woods. "Chip scan those crows and show me the data."
Stolen novel; please report.
[Species name: Shadow Crow
Affinities: Darkness
Attributes: Strength: 2 Physique: 1 Vitality: 3 Agility: 5 Spirit: 2
Abilities: Minor Hypnosis]
[Data on new species recorded. New folder named Lifeforms created. Data stored in new folder]
Looking over the data Savani couldnt help but swallow. The speed of these crows was no joke! At least to a fresh apprentice like himself. Not only that but they had the ability to hypnotize their prey, though in what way Savani didn't know. However with its speed the Shadow Crow could slit someones throat while they tried to fight off the hypnotism. Luckily the crows wouldn't try to kill you if they weren't hungry. Though that couldn't be said to hold true for all the species of the forest.
Still the fact that they were even here and that it took so long for Savani to notice startled him. He realized that though he asked the chip to catalogue any creatures he came across he didn't ask it to give him any form of warning. And when he was on the road he had only asked if there were any creatures in that particular area.
"Chip from now on when a creature enters the area that looks like it could be a danger you are scanning you are to send me a warning. No need for normal animals. Also send an alert if there are any resources that seem like they could be useful in Alchemy."
[Affirmitive. Will now send warning for any creature that could post danger to host.]
After getting the confirmation from the chip Savani sighed. It looks like unless he gave a specific order the chip would only go about its own buisiness. He couldn't take for granted that the chip would actively try to keep him safe. While it was an increadibly helpful tool, at the end of the day that's all it was. A tool for him to use to help himself survive and grow stronger.
With that out of the way Savani continued his journey to the cave. Several times the chip informed him of plants in the area that could be potentially used in potions. Savani started to wonder if he should instead of starting with Necromancy like the chip suggested he should start with Alchemy. Though Necromancy would make him safer and give him several servants that would make exploring and resource gathering easier it also wouldn't allow him to strengthen himself as a whole. Just remembering that a simple Shadow Crow had speed that doubled his was worrying.
Noting down the area of these resources Savani finally managed to find the cave where the Giant Centipedes resided. A large hill with a jagged hole in it stood about 30 feet away. Savani knew that this cave was one of many that would lead to the large cave system that stretched under the tower.
Savani sat outside the cave enterance for several minutes to make sure that no creatures would enter the range of the chips scan. Once he was sure the area was clear he started to edge his way inside. While he began following the cave path Savani made sure to keep the wall to one side as well as remind the chip to instantly let him know when a creature entered its range.
Finally what seemed like an hour, though Savani was sure it was only several minutes as he could still see the light coming from the enterance of the cave, the chip sent him a signal. A creature was crawling on the roof of the cave 100 feet away from him. Whats more it seemed to be trying to sneak up on him, slowly moving in his direction. "Chip scan that creature and highlight it for me. I can barely see anything in this light."
[Species name: Giant Centipede
Affinities: Darkness,Earth
Attributes: Strength: 3 Physique: 3 Vitality: 2 Agility: 1 Spirit: 1
Abilities: None]
After sending the information to Savani as well as saving it away for later the chip created a highlighted glow around the Giant Centipede. Savani waited until it was 60 feet away and then started casting Acid Shot. Once the spell was ready to be fired Savani aimed it to hit the Giant Centipede right in its head. With a woosh a small ball of acid formed before shooting toward its target.
With a splat the ball hit the Giant Centipede behind its head, not quite where Savani wanted to but it still was a deadly shot to the creature. With a shriek it fell off the ceiling, the fall causing more injuries to its body. Wriggling on the ground the Giant Centipede continued to shriek as the acid melted its way inside it. After several second it finally laid dead on the ground.
Despite it not moving Savani couldn't help but be paranoid. "Chip is there any form of life?"
[Negative there is no form of life from the creature.]
With the chip confirming its death Savani let out a deep breath. With a grin he walked forward to get a better look at his first kill. The Giant Centipede was a full meter long as as thick as an arm. Hundreds of legs lined the bottom of its body that was covered in a black carapace. On its head were two feelers each about a foot long with pincers that were easily several inches and as sharp as a knife. Behind its head was a hole still smoking from his Acid Shot. The hole was so large it almost completely disected the head from the rest of the body.
Once the remainder of the acid stopped eating through the body Savani grabbed it and flung it over his shoulders like a scarf, making sure that the sides with the legs were facing away from his skin. With this he could take the body with him while he continued his hunt.Looking deeper into the cave Savani couldn't help but frown.
"Chip is there anyway you could help my vision with this darkness?"
[Afirmitive. Chip can module sight into a rudementary form of dark vision using Spirit. Will take 1 Spirit for one hour of activation.]
"Do it. Also let me know when a half hour has gone by from activation so I can start heading back to the surface."
With a sudden burning feeling in his eyes Savanis vision turned into a world of black, white, and grey. However now he could see farther down into the tunnel as well as see the uneven ground ahead of him. With a grin he started to stalk deeper into the earth to continue his hunt.