Thankfully the update only took an hour because while it was active, we had no access to our skills, magic or inventory. We took the time to get to know each other a little better, though I didn't really speak much. It Just wasn't my thing, words are words and actions speak louder and all that. Rick, Debrah and Mr. G talked about their lives and work some. It was enlightening to Jenny and Zoe but it was just life to me. I had to pointedly ignore their looks of pity, no one said being a ward of the state was fun and games. Jenny talked about her sister and her plans to rescue her. She didn't ask the others for help, but I think she was just exercising patience. We had just fought together and lived, that creates a bond even I couldn't pretend to ignore. Zoe was a little chatter box when it was her turn, but it was what one would expect from an Eight year old. She missed her friends from school, her toys and her parents. The last was said with tears from everyone and hugs for the little Xena in our midst.
There is a commotion downstairs about half an hour in. Apparently some of our guest thought to check the basement we missed on our quick sweep of the house. There were women down there, only two, but alive. I am starting to get an idea into the nature of these goblins. For one we have yet to find any green-skinned females. That is screaming volumes to me in light of the women they keep collecting. Although this was speculation since they killed Zoe's mom, of course. I'm thinking a few more raids on Goblin abodes might be in order.
Rick keeps questioning Zoe about her class, saying there was something off about it. As the only other close combatant he should know. I agree but I didn't check every class available and none that were non-magical, but they all seemed somewhat gender neutral or male oriented in the naming scheme to me. There was no deep mystery though, it seemed Zoe was just smart enough to question her Celestial more than I had. Her class was actually [Heavy Weapon Specialist] with [Hammer Specialist] being one of the available sub-classes when she hits level 20.
Damn it! I can't believe I hadn't thought to ask more about my class. I just thought Sigma-Bob wouldn't answer for some reason. A part of me was fine with finding out things on my own, but if it got me killed... Ah well, nothing to do or say about it now. Maybe if we find another celestial I can pump it for information.
Finally another window opens up. It's decidedly low on information, but I held no expectations to begin with.
Attention Sentient Beings
Incorporation of [extra-universal energies] into [Native Inhabitants] has also sped the incorporation of [Ancient Beings of Power] That otherwise would have taken [Much Longer]. To compensate, expect greater understanding and survivability at the cost of [Greater Discomfort]
Addition but non-essential information can be obtain from [Celestials]
What's this then? If I had to guess, stronger monsters came through and everyone gets to grow faster so we don't die. Seems about right to me and after a discussion our group basically comes to agree that's the likely meaning. A check of our character screens reveals no change in our attributes, but our HP, MP and Stamina have increased a moderate amount. Regen is also higher. Debrah as a look of surprise after checking her systems, but doesn't choose to share, and I'm not one to pry.
With that out of the way, we look towards the loot collected from the goblins of this house. 18 more [cloth pouches] bringing our grand total to 31. Debrah informs us she can make these if she had the right materials. Not the pouches themselves, that requires a tailor, but she can enchant it with a permanent enchant to become the needed material to upgrade our inventories. We also acquired three Mana shards from the goblin spell casters.
Item Mana Shard Crafting Reagent Combine 10 to create a Mana Crystal Consume to restore 100 MP
Ahh, nice. We also got our hands on quite a bit of useful loot. I was hoping Rick didn't miss any of it. It might seem as though I'm quick to trust Mr. G and the others, but the truth is I'm quite OK with allowing them the opportunity to betray us. So long as it doesn't cost me my life, I'm more than willing to hand out rope. No one really has to earn my trust, they can only lose it.
The first bit of gear to distribute are the wands wielded by the Goblin casters.
Arcane Arrow Wand
Type
Magic Tool
Quality
Rare
Req: 20 INT
Arcane Arrow 20MP/cast
Cast Arcane Arrow at greatly reduced cost
One was Rare the other Good, Those went to Mr. G and Debrah since they are the only ones with a hand free to use them. Debrah wanted to break down the wands but we decide to wait until we had a safe place for her to set up shop. Two stone rings of +4 DEX and +2 DEX /AGI went to Jenny for now, though Debrah can also make use of them. A copper belt of the Rabbit went to Rick. It increases dodge rate and Movement speed in combat. The big guy already moved with surprising agility so it fit well with his sword and shield style. The hobgoblins Leather pants went to Jenny as well, seeing as she would get the most use out of them. They granted only armour, but even that was boosted by her class bonus. The shield went to Rick as a backup, since his own was much weaker and would likely break soon. The Hobgoblins club, was never seen. I narrowed my eyes at Zoe for a bit, but decided against making a scene. None of us could use it properly anyway except for her and maybe Mr, G.
The last item was another Skill book, but the Requirements were strange.
Skill Book
The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.
Name
Light Pulse
Quality
Poor
Req: 10% Air Affinity
+50 STA
Send A Pulse of Light to Distract Enemies or Attract Attention.
I didn't even try to learn it. I felt with enough control over [Fire Shot] I could probably replicate that skill. Mr G thought the same thing since his heals produce quite a bit of light already. Zoe and Debrah couldn't use it, but Jenny could. Interesting. Rick declined to even try, but I think he was holding out for a better drop. Good choice in my opinion.
After distributing the loot and Zoes stash of food that she suddenly had no room for... we went down stairs to see what was what. The minor changes updated earlier was the main topic of discussion. Our fight with the goblins a close second. Two Black women thanked the girls profusely when our party was pointed out to them. Seems these were the women from the basement. Jenny spoke with them for a time. I made my way outside, not really having much to say to strangers.
After a while my group met up on the front lawn. We talked about what we wanted to do next. I was for more hunting of green rapist. Jenny and Mr G agreed with me. Zoe didn't care much. I should probably be worried about her, she just killed a bunch of people and didn't seem the least bit bothered by it. Granted they were green people of the kind that killed her parents, but her resilience was a bit strange.
Debrah change our plans, however, when she pulled out an Item none of us had seen before. She explained that it appeared in her inventory during the update.
Item
CampFire Kit
Level 1 sanctuary field
Combine 10 to create Village Fire Pit
Last 48 hours
Sleep safe within the sanctuary provided by Fire
We agreed this was a god send, maybe literally, to have. It looked like a small rock with a large branch attached at an angle when it came out of her inventory. Debrah spoke to the other people inside the house and it turned out all of the non combat classes have been gifted with this kit. It is literally the most valuable thing in the world right now. I could see this providing a safe place to rest like a city in a video game. No monsters bursting in your door at night. The first real safety since the world ended. It's value could not be over exaggerated.
It didn't take much to convince the others to combine the [Campfire Kit], but no one could decide where to set it up. Mr G pointed out it may not be movable once set up. There followed a long discussion about where to move to and set up a base. Eventually we settled on the park not too far away. If cars still operated it would have been a 10 minute drive. Without them though, we had to travel at the speed of the slowest. I didn't mind though, I was starting to look at these people as resources. They needed to be kept alive long enough to be useful.
There were already a number of people with a gleam in their eye. I think they figured out what I was already afraid of. If we were going to build a village it would need leaders. By any other name a leader is just another politician when it comes to us human beings. I could already see some of the problems bound to rear up in the horizon, but the safety in numbers today far outweighs the possible politics of tomorrow.
Eventually we start the long march to Bright Willow Park. This is a long term investment, once we set up, we'll have to build, Farm and protect ourselves from both monsters and men who will want whatever we manage to scrounge together. On the way we get to know our fellow travelers. There are a variety of classes with as many backgrounds with us. Already there are those trying to exert authority, telling other to keep up, keep sharp or keep an eye out. I ignore anyone stupid enough to try and tell me what to do. We pick up a number of people on the way, so our group grows in size.
Zoe and Mr G. practice the new skills and spells they received for reaching level five. The tank of this group is clearly Zoe, she even has a [Taunt] now. I really should feel bad about a little girl on the front lines, but she won't be little for long. She's the youngest of the 30 people marching for the park. Children are a rare sight these days. Many of the people here say they know where many are hold up at, including some of their own. They want to make sure the park really is safe before they get them.
As we approach the park, the [Rodentia] become scarce but are replaced with higher level monsters. The legless killer rabbits from the news.
Horned Leporid
Level
Type
Health
Mana
4
Animal
80
20
They are dangerous, but we handle them even with the many low levels among us. Mr G is no longer the only healer, though he is the strongest and the only [Cleric]. his magic keeps everyone safe while everyone else deals with the suicidal attacks of the rabbits. We learn the highest number a party can contain is six, lucky us. My group being the highest levels at the moment split up and lead 6 parties for protection. There is low key grumbling about who should be leading the parties, especially when it comes to Zoe's group. Lovely, we already have politicians in the making. I'm not worried about them just yet, power is all that really matters right now.
We all gain a little EXP for the long walk as well as the [Endurance] attribute option. Everyone with Endurance has a vastly increased HP regen rate. I really am giving that one second thoughts, but it can wait for now. The healers are kept pretty busy and gain EXP for healing everyone at a faster rate than we combat classes gain EXP for killing rabbits. I begin to suspect some are allowing unnecessary injuries for the EXP. I didn't quite know what to say about that. I had no interest in leading this bunch, I would just keep an eye out for people I could depend on.
Our Group finally made it to the park. It was a fairly large affair outside the city center and actually not a bad spot to start a new life. Farming was possibly, and might be more than necessary in a few years, though for now, there was still plenty to loot in the city and getting to it would be worthwhile for those of us with a combat orientation. I had nothing to do once we arrived. A nice spot was chosen, largely by Debrah, I think. There was a bright flash when the Campfire kits were combined then she was left with what looked like a large rock with many large branches angled up to form a tent like configuration.
Once it was formed, it turned out it really couldn't be moved. Also the range of it's protection seemed to be at about a 70 yard radius from it. The horn rabbits that had plagued us stayed further away than that and would chase anyone only up to that point. I had the sudden image of 'The Beginner village' flash through my mind. It made me smile.