A-Hunting We Will Go

"I thought this class would be a Warrior hidden class! Not a druid!"

Hours later, at his camp, Warren was still complaining. He had burned the body with wood and Fox Fire, and had found a staff and an iron dagger in the cave. Nonetheless, he wasn't totally happy. Druids were a controversial class, for the most part. In some cases, they were nature warriors, but in other they were basically nature clerics. Apparently in Shattered, they had gone for the cleric version, much to Warren's disappointment. Warren preferred melee combat and being given a class that didn't was quite a disappointment to him. But that didn't mean he wouldn't take it, it was still a hidden class, and it was estimated 1 out of 20 people would be able to find one.

"But I might as well hunt those wild hounds down anyways... I owe them one from earlier."

Eager to hunt them, especially that one-eyed one, Warren spent the rest of the night planning his attack while Mire napped away in ignorance of the trials to come the next day.

The next day, Warren crouched in a bush as he watched the hounds come and go from their lair, an old cabin with the bottom half of the door rotted off and shoved to the side by the hounds. He had tracked them back here ignoring the Fox's Fear, only to be stopped cold as they mostly left in pairs, leaving him unable to attack.

The Buddy System. It was the worst enemy ever for anyone looking to quietly take down anyone or anything, especially a social creature. Finally, one hound went off by itself, and Warren eagerly followed. It lead him to a cave entrance, where it entered slowly and disappeared into the shadows. He hesitated to follow it in and then a series of barks, howls, yelps, and growls emerged with the hound flying out with blood streaming down its shoulder. Taking a chance, Warren attacked.

"Entangle!"

With the hound jerked to a halt as Warren charged it, his new iron dagger in hand. He immediately plunged the dagger into the hound's throat, silencing it mid-yip. He yanked it out and finished it with a stab into its ear, causing the dog to twitch and then collapse. With the hound out of the picture, Warren turned his attention back to the cave. He wondered as to what had chased hound out. He should go as well and see, what ever it was enough to beat up a hound and send it running scared. Quietly, Warren entered the cave, to be confronted by a chorus of growls.

It was a pack of wolves. They snarled and prowled slowly towards him, making him take a step back, before firming himself and stepping forward again taking another look at the wolves. They were each heavily wounded, with blood caked on their fur, and some looked like they could barely stand, let alone attack. Seeing how wounded they were, Warren was struck with an idea.

"Animal Speak!"

Then, he stretched and acted as relaxed as possible, putting away his dagger as he spoke to them, ignoring their growls and snarls.

"Here I was, wondering what had driven that hound out of the cave in such a hurry... looks like it was you wolves."

The snarls and growls cut off abruptly as the wolves gaped at him. Obviously, they hadn't expected a man with a dagger in his hand to suddenly start chatting with them. There was shuffling feet, a few wolves retreated, a few wolves stepped forward, their united front against an intruder suddenly broke. Warren smiled, he had hoped a casual and honest act to all this might confuse them and make them hesitate, and it worked. One wolf, a older with a scar over his left eye, stepped forward.

Warren heard the words in Common, the words sounding like they came from a older man, rather than a heavily bleeding wolf.

"Of course. So, how did you get into such a sorry shape, anyways?"

"How do you speak our language? We have never seen fox like you speak like us."

"Because I'm a druid, of course. Why wouldn't I be able to speak to animals? I have to admit, the amount of time I can do this is limited though."

Hearing this, the pack burst out into murmurs.

The older wolf from before growled, before speaking again.

He turned back to Warren, who was petting Mire on his shoulder.

"It's fairly simple, I was hunting the hound and I killed it. I was just curious as to what made it run."

"Because they attack me and I've tired of that. I figure if I kill another nine, they'll hesitate a bit more."

The wolf hesitated before sighing and sitting on his haunches.

"Sounds rough, mind if I help?"

"Rejuvenation!"

Warren grinned as Clawtooth's wounds rapidly began to vanish, before the wolves eyes. They turned to him and he could almost hear the gears in their heads turning. He didn't seem aggressive, he fought and killed hounds, and he could heal wounds. They definitely wouldn't attack him now.

For your actions, your intimacy with the Clawtooth Wolf pack has risen by 20

Clawtooth began examining his body, checking over for remaining wounds, while the other wolves crowded

"Rejuvenation is a healing spell. I used it on you, so you were healed."

"No"

"Several reasons. First off, I don't know how to teach it. Secondly, even if I could teach, we do't know if you'd have the ability or aptitude to learn a nature magic spell like that, you are a wolf. Fourthly, even if you did learn it, who knows if you could actually use it. Therefore, I won't teach you the spell, because you likely can't learn or use it."

Heal the WolvesA pack of wolves was wounded by wild hounds, forcing them to retreat to a cave. Their leader, Clawtooth, has requested that you heal his packs of its wounds. 1/ 23 wolves healedRewards:Higher Intimacy with the Naru Wolf PackPenalty:Lower Intimacy with the Clawtooth Wolf PackRequirements:Have a healing spell

"Sure, but it'll take a while. I can only cast it a couple times before I run out of mana. I'll have to end my Animal Speak spell though."

Ending the spell, Warren accepted the quest and cast Rejuvenation several times on the wolves, before running out of mana. Then, he set up camp, receiving the buff that camp with the skill, a 10% bonus to health and mana regen, along with monsters avoiding my camp. That meant there was less likely to be a hound attack now. With all that done, Warren decided to examine the books he had gotten the day before. He decided to pull out the book on Staff Fighting first, he had gotten plenty of spells earlier and wanted some combat skills to even it out. As as he opened the book,  a progress bar appeared with a timer to indicate he could learn it in 30 minutes.

Staff Fighting is comprised of the skills Staff Mastery and Quarterstaff Combat, created long ago by ancient clerics to defend themselves, before being adjusted so that the user may also attack, though a strong emphasis on defense remains.

Requires at least 30 Strength and Dexterity to learn

The 30 minutes had passed quickly, with Warren casting Rejuvenation every minute or so. With the healing done, he was waiting on the book for the remainder of the time.

-ding-

You have learned a new skill

Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:Staff Mastery (Passive)Beginner10%By paying close attention to the art of Staff Fighting, you have understood how to wield staves, in and out of combat.

Effect:

+1% damage taken negated

+1% movement speedSkill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:Quarterstaff Combat (Passive)Beginner10%By paying close attention to the art of Staff Fighting, you have learned how to fight with staves

Effect:

+1% damage

You have used an Ability Tome! Since it has been used, it will disappear.

These skills would definitely prove useful, though it was a pity he wouldn't have the book anymore. If he had kept it, he could have sold it at a city, if he ever made it to one at this rate. He was starting to feel like things such as cities or villages didn't exist anymore,  all there was monsters and wilderness, and him. It was like he was the last man in the world. Of course, he knew that all that was false. But still, he couldn't help feeling like that. Sighing, he cast Animal Speak then went and found Clawtooth.

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"Clawtooth, I finished."

You have gained 20 intimacy with Clawtooth Pack

"You know, my name is actually Warren."

"Sure, it's not like I've anything else to do."

-ding-

Aid the WolvesThe pack healed, Clawtooth now needs to drive away the threat to them, the wild hounds. He has requested you help in killing and driving them away.Rewards:Higher Intimacy with the Naru Wolf Pack and the contents of the cabin.Penalty:Lower Intimacy with the Clawtooth Wolf PackRequirements:Help the wolves before.

Warren thought about for only a second. He would be able to kill the amount of hounds needed, receive the belongings in the cabin, and gain additional exp.

"Sure, I'll lend a hand."

"Wait, we're going now?"

"Ok, let's go then."

Half the pack, about 12 wolves or so left the cave with Clawtooth in the lead. Warren hurried along with them, not eager to be left alone in the forest at night. Occasionally, they came across wandering wild hounds, but the wolves always detected them before the hounds detected them and were eager to take revenge on the hounds. Each hound vanished silently under a rush of fur and teeth, without the wolves even slowing down in their pace. As they drew nearer and nearer to the cabin, the air grew tenser and tenser. The wolves started going faster, while Warren struggled to keep up with them. In fact, he suspected the only thing not keeping them from a headlong charge was their unwillingness to leave him behind since he could heal them. They reached the cabin as two wild hounds were leaving it, prompting them to howl as they were swarmed.

Stinking hounds!

This is our forest!

A veritable flood of hounds started coming out of the cabin. The only thing that kept the wolves from being overwhelmed was the fact that only a few hounds could make it through the broken door at a time, allowing them to bottleneck them and pull the wounded wolves back while fresh wolves replaced them. Meanwhile, Warren cast Rejuvenation whenever he saw a wolf severely wounded, before he struck upon an idea.

"Earth Manipulation!"

A wall of rock blocked off the doorway, allowing the wolves to regain control of the fight outside the cabin. When they did so, Warren let out a couple hounds and then closed it up, repeating this until none remained.

You have completed the requirements to gain the last of your class' abilities.

You have gained the Affinity Nature

You've gained 10 affinity for Nature

You've gained 15 Wisdom and Intelligence

You've gained Leather Specialization

Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:Leather SpecializationBeginner10%Many casters curse their inability to wear armor better than cloth, as it hampers their casting. A Druid, however, can wear leather armor freely, in fact they can wear it better than a rogue due to their connection to nature.

Effect:

5% more defense

You've learned Rebirth

Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:RebirthBeginner10%You can cast this  on killed players or players who are going to die to revive them with 33% of their total health, though it takes 15 seconds to cast.

Effects:

Revives the targeted player with 33% of their health

Costs: 300 mana

With the hounds killed and having received the rest of the abilities, Warren entered the cabin, eager to see what he would receive. Much to his disappointment, the cabin was a mess. The bed had been ripped apart, the chairs laid broken on the floor, and shattered bows rested in the corners. An large hole had been dug in the far corner, leaving dirt and rocks scattered everywhere. The only thing intact was a battered chest that had been at the end of the bed. He opened it only to find musty clothes, a battered leather chest-plate, and leather leggings.

"These'll go well with the new skill anyways."

Warren quickly went to change, slipping out of his beginner clothes and into the battered leather. Now his defense had jumped by a good 15, not counting Leather Specialization. Stretching in his new armor, he headed back outside, to see Clawtooth waiting for him.

"Hello Clawtooth,looks like you got most of the hounds."

"Well, I had to help out, right? I'm just glad its over."

You have gained 30 Intimacy with the Clawtooth Pack

"What?! Why?"

"I guess I understand that."

"Farewell, Clawtooth."

With that, the pack left, vanishing into the trees around the cabin. Warren stood for a while, then sighed and started heading towards Crescent Beach using the staff for its speed boost, even it if was only 1%. He got halfway there, before changing his mind.

"I've never seen the sea from cliffs, Mire. Let's go take a look."

On arriving at the cliff, he turned around, enjoying the view. The cliff edge was actually higher up than the forest giving him a view that let him see for miles. He could see a lake on the other side of the forest, with a plain stretching northwestward. Southwestward, there were mountains aplenty with looked like a ruined castle, which Warren promptly decided to head to the next day.

Turning back to the sea, he looked, curious as to weather there were any islands or the like. Looking down, he swore there was several shipwrecks underwater, when he heard a noise to make him worry.

Grrrrrrr

It was the one eyed hound he had first fought against. While his eye certainly hadn't healed, he had definitely changed. Now, he was larger and muscled, with scars across its body. It looked a hound on steroids, and he swore his could see a red light bubbling in the hound's one eye.

"You've certainly changed..."

It snarled in response and leaped at him. Warren held the staff with two hands and thrust the middle of the staff into the hound's open maw, preventing it from biting him. It did not, however, prevent the hound from slamming into him at full force, driving him backwards. A moment too late, he rememberrf the cliff, being driven off it with the hound at this chest and Mire on his shoulder.

"DAAAMMMNNN IIIIIIIIITTTT!!!"

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