Zoe
She could have helped! Zoe waits for the mean boy and the pretty girl to come back and untie her. She hopes they are OK even though she's not happy about still being tied up. She's happy about joining the party, though. The Angel last night taught her a lot of things, so she knows this is a good way to get stronger. She want's to get stronger. If she's the strongest then no more monsters will ever...
She can hear them fighting the monsters. This is her brothers room, but almost everything has been moved out of it. she wonders where everything went. Tied up for days, it's only since the dream last night, that she's really tried to escape. Before the Angel, she didn't think she could do anything, but now she wanted to get at the monsters herself. She could hear fighting in the house. First a little, then a lot. The pretty girl ran into the room, she looks scared. She starts to untie Zoe. Good! Zoe knows how to help!
"Jenny run!" That must be the mean boy, he sounds scared. 'Good', Zoe's not happy about still being tied up. She could have helped! The pretty girl, Jenny, pats her head, "Wait here, sweetheart." Then she runs out of the room, 'dang it'. There's more noise, more yelling, and then the sound of glass breaking. It's coming from the room next door, the twin's room, where bad stuff happens. After a while the Jenny girl comes to get her.
"Are you ok, sweetheart?" Jenny asks, as she removes the gag from Zoe's mouth. Zoe glares at her until the gag is off, and the ropes are untied. She stands up, never taking her eyes off the pretty girl. Then she stomps her right foot, little fist balled at her side, "I could have helped!"
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Leon
I walk back into the house at level six on the verge of level seven, with a nice bit of loot and our first piece of armour. I should schedule time for a panic attack but right now, I'm just happy to be alive. Jenny and Zoe clamber down the obstacle course that were once a stair case. Jenny looks relieved but Zoe seems upset for some reason. I raise a single brow at her, "Problem?" I ask. "I could have helped!" She replies. Jenny just smiles.
It's almost pitch black out and no better inside. I don't even think about it when I cast a [Fire Shot] and simply keep it in my hand. Huh, that's interesting. Definitely gonna explore that more later. There's still a lot to do though and I want to get it done. We secure the front door with some of the former furniture on the stairs. Zoe helps. Then we check and secure the rest of the ground floor. The kitchen is a mess of food and cookware. We don't find any more goblins in the house. We find and collect the loot from the goblins, then move their bodies into the living room. I see Zoe collecting all the spears and storing them in her inventory. I want to ask about that, but I'm nervous about all the noise we've generated in the last few hours.
We retreat upstairs and move the goblin bodies down stairs. By which I mean we throw them over the railing. Zoe surprises us by walking into that first room on the right, the one with the broken window and... No screaming, no sobbing. She comes out with tears on her face though. I really have no idea what to say, Jenny and I just look at her. She close the door, then looks at us, "I was Just saying good bye." I can't think of anything to say, so I just nod at her. Jenny runs over and gives her a hug. I walk over to pat her head, a bit awkwardly.
The last room on the left belonged to her parent's, it's one of the cleanest so we set up shop there. While we ate and recuperated, Zoe filled us in on her experiences so far. Zoe's story is pretty much what I expected for the apocalypse. Her parents decided to hold up at home until it was too late, then when they ran out of food they went scavenging and looking for help. A little after heading out, they burst back through the door, but didn't manage to get it closed before they had short, green and horrible company. Her father was killed defending his family. Zoe and her mother, held up in her twin sister's room, they and her older brother being away at college. Eventually, the green bastards got in, and raped her mother. When they made a move for Zoe, her mom went berserk, and killed one with her teeth. They killed her for it, but they didn't touch Zoe for some reason after that. She was tied up and fed scraps the last few days.
She says her class is [Hammer Girl], which I don't understand, until she pulls a comically huge wooden hammer from her inventory. It's as big as she is. "Why did you pick that?" I ask her. "I want to help protect people from monsters." she says with pure determination in her voice. I was really hoping she had a healing class. Ah well, there should be plenty of people who chose a healing class, we'll find them eventually.
Now is as good a time as any to check over everything, especially the messages that popped up mid-combat.
New Stat Leadership
Accept
Decline
New Stat Luck
Accept
Decline
I'm not the least bit interest in the leadership stat, so I hit decline right away. When I do, I find that the [Endurance] stat hasn't disappeared, it's just not active. I guess that means I don't have to earn it twice, that's good. I decline the luck stat as well, now that I know I can accept it later, if I change my mind. I see Jenny going through her own interface. She fought hard, no doubt she's earn a thing or two.
As for the loot, we've got ourselves 13 [Cloth Pouches], a [Spatial gem[Good]] from the Goblin Leader as well as a simple shiny stone ring and over a hundred copper coins in total.
Stone Ring
Type
Accessory
+4 STR
Small Strength Increase
By equipping my staff off and on, I learned the amount of MP it gave was half what a real attribute point gave. So the four to strength would only grant 20HP to whoever used this ring. Jenny wasn't really interested, so we gave it to Zoe. Her eyes lit up, making me smile. The armour went to Zoe as well. Jenny wanted it, since she gets an extra defense boost from leather armour, but I convince her that Zoe needs the most protection right now.
Goblin Leather Breastplate
Type
Armour
Durability
21/25
Req: 15 STR
+5 STR +4 END
Weak Torso Defense
"Good", I say, "That should help keep out newest, youngest and cutest member alive". Zoe turned red for a bit, but puts on the armour right away. There was no doubt in my mind about keeping her with us. As far as I was concerned my plans to solo this world were completely out the window. In fact, we needed to find more people. Still I wasn't so far gone as to just take anyone. I was still worried about tomorrow. Sure working together made sense, but there are still plenty of people who are going to want to be in charge. I had a feeling tomorrow was going to bring them out in force.
The last item to distribute was the book the Goblin Leader dropped. I had a feeling about it... yup it was a skill book, but not what I was hoping for.
Skill Book
Name
Subterranean Attack
Quality
Rare
Req: 30 INT
If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.
+100 MP
Send Skills through the ground to attack from below
I was a little reluctant, after not giving anything to Jenny, but this one was obviously best suited for me. Still it would have to wait until I leveled up, since my INT was at 29 right now, 26 without my staff. Jenny agreed without a problem though, her skills took very little MP, and and her INT was only at 14.
We talked quietly for a bit, introducing and getting comfortable with each other. The plans for the next day come up. It was Zoe who suggested hunting more goblins. Jenny wanted to find people to help rescue her sister. I was too embarrassed to tell her I would help her now, after fighting together for a day.
"We can do both," I suggest. "We can keep an eye out for other people, while we look for more Goblins."
"Cool yo, any idea where more of these green guys are?"
"I don't want to backtrack too far, but they really shouldn't be too hard to find. I passed several houses that looked like they had goblins in 'em." Oh, before I forget. "Jenny, you have a last name on your status." It's half a question, but she fills us in.
"Yeah, the see through dude from the dream, says when you pick a last name it'll influence the way the world interacts with you. Not a lot of info if you ask me, I couldn't really get him to say much more than that. But basically MY last name give me 10% additional damage to people who fuu.. huh, screwed me over." She finishes with a glance at Zoe curled up, but attentive, in her lap.
Hmm, that sounds appealing, after some fooling around with the interface, I get the option to come up. I'm going to hold off on choosing right now, since that's an extra path I may not be able to reverse later. Zoe on the other hand chooses now and settles on 'Shield' for a last name. It gives 10% added defense to her and her group. I'm fine with it, since she's determined to stand between other people and monsters it seems. Zoe also figures out how to hide the last names. Good girl, no need to stand out just yet. There are probably many people who don't know about last names yet.
Status
Name
Zoe Shield
Level
3
Health
295
Mana
140
Stamina
270
Strength
34 (25)
Intelligence
14
Dexterity
11
Agility
12
Intimidate
7
Endurance
4
N/A
0
N/A
0
That seemed to satisfy the girls, so we settled down to sleep. I stayed awake for a time, just to make sure nothing was trying to sneak into the house after we went to bed. But after about an hour, I too fell asleep.
In the morning, we set out early. I ended up very annoyed before we even set off since I couldn't find my bat. It came out the window with me, but was now nowhere to be found. Sigh. The girls strapped a [cloth Pouch] to each thigh, I had six around my waist. The others were put in storage. Jenny had her back up kitchen knives and I had one of Zoe's spears, just in case. I had to clear out a slot for it, so I transfer one of my two food slots to Zoe. With the skill book taking up a slot, I'm out of inventory. So is Jenny, with knives, extra arrows and two slots of food from her work. Zoe is the only one with an open inventory space, but she still has the Goblin Spears, the food I gave her, and a bag full of clothes.
Goblin Spear
Type
Staff
Durability
5/8
Req: 10 DEX
-1 AGI
Rusty Iron Spear
The morning actually went much better than expected. Zoe was disturbingly enthusiastic about smashing rats. She had earned two level last night, and right now was out of the group so she could gain full EXP for the rat smashing. A little eight year heartbreaker in a fluffy bottomed pink dress, maliciously smashing monsters. Made me smile. Jenny was less pleased, but so far hadn't really said anything, just the occasional frown. The dress was what she chose to leave her house in, I didn't see any reason to object.
As it happened there were plenty of people out today hunting [Rodentia]. Most seemed to be keeping away from each other, so we got plenty of looks traveling together. Finally we were approached by a sketchy looking white man I would of called a drug addict before all this. Now everyone was sort of dirty and paranoid looking so...
He keeps eyeing Jenny and Zoe in a way I don't like as he walks up to us. "Yo boss, whatchu got there?" he calls out loudly, despite the fact that he's not that far away. I raise a single brow, "Excuse me?"
"C'mon bro don't be like that, I just see you traveling wit two nice girls here and I think to myself, I think 'Daryl, it just wouldn't be right if you let these nice people walk around without offering some protection', you know?"
I'm not sure how to respond, to this guy, but Jenny makes the point mute. An arrow flashes by Daryl's ear, taking a few strands of greasy brown hair with it. "Thanks, " She says, "but we can take care of ourselves, yo." Huh, remind me to stay on her good side.
Daryl holds up both hands and backs away slowly. He looks like he wants to say somethings, but thinks better of it. I give him an apologetic shrug as we walk on. Zoe only glances at him, before resuming her hunt. I invite Zoe back into the group, in case we need her extra defense. The confrontation made me a bit nervous, but it was nothing you wouldn't have to deal with on a regular day before the apocalypse.
I've just about forgotten the encounter when there's a strange noise behind us, like a huge balloon popped. I turn just in time to see Daryl go flying backwards. He lands awkwardly, but manages roll to his feet before he's finished sliding backwards. He doesn't look nearly as twitchy as he did before.
He points a finger at me, "You too greedy man, you got to learn to share." Then he disappears. Not runs away, but fades from visibility. "He's a Rogue type." Jenny informs us, Zoe having run over to us already.
"What's that." I ask.
"I was looking into classes with invisibility and stealth to escape those assholes at work, That's their major skill."
"Ok, how do we pull him out of it." I've already cast [Quicksand] but, though it might slow him down, it won't hurt him and I'm guessing that might be the only way to see the guy. "You gotta attack him, or get hit by him, to break it." Jenny confirms.
Zoe looks up at us, "I can help!" She declares and runs out to where Daryl was.
"Zoe, No!" Jenny is not happy, and takes after her. I go to grab Jenny but miss. Great now we're all separated.
Zoe Abruptly stops, she's violently turned around and Daryl fades into view with a nasty grin on his face. Jenny pulls up an arrow aim at his head. "I would think twice about that, girly." Daryl taunts. He has a knife at Zoe's throat, but I'm more interested in the fact that Zoe seems fine. She has her hands on Daryl wrists in a vain attempt to keep the knife from her skin, but she has a grin on her face, not much different than Daryls.
"It's ok Jenny, you can shoot now." Zoe grins wider. "Huh" Both Daryls and Jenny reply at the same time.
"He's not going anywhere now." Zoe's grin grows wider.
Daryl's face is red with rage, "You little brat, let me show you..." He cuts off abruptly as we all can see him straining to move his knife hand, but getting nowhere. I finally think to inspect him
Status
Name
Daryl
Level
1
Health
90
Mana
120
Stamina
185
Ridiculously high stamina for a level one, but that health meant a low starting strength attribute. Compared to Zoe's, this was like a grown man trying to arm wrestle an eight year old. Poor Daryl just didn't know which role he was playing in that scenario.
"Jenny, shoot him, he's not going anywhere." I would have done it myself, but my [Fire Shot] is a lot less precise than her arrows. Jenny waste no time and an arrow sprouts from Daryls cheek. Ew, that must be painful. He's knocked away from Zoe even with her holding him. Then Jenny and I proceed with what needs to be done. When we finish, a burnt mess with Several arrows lies on the ground, unrecognizable as once being human.
I want to freak out, everything I was afraid of doing is culminated in this moment. But I don't have that luxury. First Jenny and I fuss over Zoe, making sure she was OK, then we try to get as far away from Daryl's remains as possible. To completely keep from thinking about what just happened, I ask Jenny about that first attack.
"It was my trap skill." she explains. "I was just about to stop setting them when that last one went off. Didn't like the slimy feel of that jerk, yo."
"How long do they last?"
"I can set 'em for up to 5 minutes, right now, before they fade."
We walk in silence for a bit, before Zoe goes back to smashing rats. Jenny frowns harder than before, then goes and has a chat with her. Girl stuff I figure.
I hadn't noticed but Daryl was worth just enough EXP to set Jenny and I over the edge of level 7.