Walking well into the night it wasn’t until Fang whined that she turned off the road toward the river. Which was a farther walk than just eariler that day and on the left rather than the right. The bridge she had seen had been sketchy, more like rotten planks than a bridge.
Reaching the area she dropped her pack, and looked at Fang. “Lets gather firewood,” she said. “Firewood.”
The puppy wagged his tail and they went around gathering sticks. She made sure to give one every time to Fang and tell him firewood.
When she skinned the rabbit and broke it down this time, she started her food first before placing the carcass down.
“Wait,” she said to Fang. The command deeper in her orcish voice. It was best to try and start training the pup now. Fang whined and whimpered. “I know, you’re hungry, but wait.” she said again and held out her hand to indicate wait.
She scratched Fang behind the ear and ruffled his neck fur.
“Okay, eat,” she said no longer holding the puppy back. Fang attacked the rabbit carcass and laied down beside the fire. She was a little nervous about being so far from the road. She was going to sleep here, because Fang needed it. So she picked up a rock and cast Ward on it. The magic flowed through her easier now that she knew what she was feeling for.
She lay back using her pack as a pillow while her rabbit cooked. She could also tell she was not eating enough with how long she was walking for or her small, but energy consuming battles. But she just didn’t feel like eating a lot. Having bodily functions in this game was far from enjoyable.
The night sky was obscured by the tree tops, but it was still stunning what she could see of it. Clouds were rolling in too, from what direction she didn’t know, upriver somewhere.
She ate her rabbit when it was nice and charred on the outside. She tossed the bones to Fang, knowing he would eat them.
She closed her eyes and slept here. At some point during the night Fang laid down beside her.
She woke up to the patter of rain on her face. The light rolling of thunder in the distance was soothing. However she wouldn’t be able to sleep in the rain, and she had no tent to keep dry with. So she begrudgingly got herself up and the fire put out properly, even if it was already out she didn’t want to risk a forest fire.
Getting her pack, she and Fang started back towards the road and then to where ever it lead, hopefully to a city or village of some sort.
She pulled out her cloak and put it on, hopefully it will help keep her a little dryer.
She would need to hunt again for Fang, and herself, however around dawn she stopped on the road and looked towards the river. The brush here had been trampled down and several branches of the trees broken.
“Curious,” she muttered and then broke off from the road to follow the path. Fang was on alert with his ears turned forward.
She slowed down when she heard the sounds of chatter. It was in a chatter she had heard before, goblins. She carefully took off her pack and quietly set it against a tree before summoning her two scimitars in hand and coating one in the ice buff.
Looking out to the river she saw a horse that was down and some goblins cutting into it, and a human that was dead and also looks to have been cut into. There were two of the small goblins, and one… furry big goblin.
She didnt know what that thing was, but it didn’t look so bad. She rushed out from her cover, and before they could make a move she had one goblin on her ice blade. Its body twitched and it screamed before going silent. The second goblin near her thrust out with its spear. She stepped back easily from it.
The next moment she was battered against a tree. She coughed up blood and her vision swam.
The fuck was that?
Looking at her health, she had 16 remaining. That furry goblin took half her health in one sing. The things foot steps were like thunder rolling in the sky. Or it could have been the thunder, she wasn’t sure.
Ducking down, the cash of the morningstar above her head on the tree shattered the trunk half way. She thrust out and her blade sank into the things tough hide. Though she didn’t think it did nearly the amount of damage she had hoped.
Scampering away she slipped in the muddy ground enough to narrowly miss the back swing of the deadly weapon. Struggling she stabbed up and to the side with her glacial enhanced blade. The goblin yelled, or roared, in pain and anger, taking the morningstar in both hands it thrust down. She summoned her greatsword soul blade to act as a shield. But even that rattled her bones.
6 hit points remained. She was regretting her life choices.
She couldn’t not fight back, the greatsword wouldnt help her here, so it shifted into a scimitar again and once more she stabbed upward.
If I am going to be stabbing I need a shortsword, not a slicing weapon.
The heavy morningstar fell beside her. Looking up the furry large goblin coughed up blood and tumbled back.
She scrambled to her feet, and called her blade to her again to look for the second goblin. However it was no where to be seen. She was covered in blood and mud and she was in pain. But at least her clothes weren’t too damaged.
A pop up appeared.
:: Level Up! ::
:: Level : 2 – 3 :: :: Tokens : 6 ::
Yeah, yeah I will deal with that later. She dismissed the pop up and cast cure on herself. The healing took effect, she finally didn’t feel like vomiting.
Note to self, extensive damage sucks and disorientates.
She knelt next to the human and looked through his bag. It was full of letters. However one caught her attention and she looked at it. A pop up appeared again.
:: Quest : Part 1 The Goblin Menace ::
::Deliver this message to Lesik Moors in Llarth Nier ::
::Objective :: :: Deliver the message to Lesik Moors. ::
::Progress :: :: 0/1:: ::Reward :: ::Gold : 2 ::
Ugh… game developers and their dumb naming practices, writers to! How the hell are you suppose to pronounce these things?
She went to stand near the horse. Groaning she frowned at the creature. Then shrugged.
“When in Rome.” She said and summoned a dagger and cut a good slab of horse meat from the beast. “This will make a good meal for us, right Fang?” she asked and then wrapped it in one of her ruined shirts. Tying it to the side of her pack. Now to get away from this area quickly.
Back on the road they traveled for a bit over an hour before she smacked her head. Face turning up into the rain. “I forgot to loot…” she grumbled.
Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
The forest broke into sparse trees and valley land. They were up on one of the rolling hills with the river snaking its way around until it emptied into the ocean, or sea, she didnt know witch. But more than that, there was a city. With the valley lands acting as farm land with green wheat and corn growing.
She picked up the pace as she headed down. Fang bouncing behind her, her excitement for a city infectious.
They reached the city by nightfall. The walls around the inner city were massive, easily 20 - 30 feet tall and the gates remained open with guards posted inside it. There was a brief line waiting to get in. Mostly those with wagons or carts. The guards looked to be the standard typical guards with breast plate armor and carrying spears, though they had a sword on their hip as well.
They were cloaked because of the rain, so their faces were partially hidden like she was hiding hers.
She walked up and was stopped by a couple of the men, they had what looked like a clipboard and a coal pencil.
“Sorry, we have had a lot of travelers recently, so new procedures have been put into place,” the man said. Risking a look she saw that he was on the older side, maybe mid 30s, with just a touch of gray to his dark well kept beard. He had a typical kind guard appearance that she had seen in many anime and webtoon over the years. “Have you been to Llarth Nier before?”
“No.” That was a pretty straight forward.
“To make this process easier here, and in other cities across the L’Nier kingdom, I would recommend getting an registry card,” he said and motioned to the window. “It would just make the process easier for you and us. You’re choice.”
“Will I be stopped every time?” she asked.
“I can’t say for other cities, but here yes,” he answered. “Name?”
“Cagen,” she answered again and looked to the window. “Can I get the card now?” Identification was never a bad thing.
“I just need to check your bag, as this is your first time,” he said with a nod of his head.
She nodded and they moved over to a table and she sat her bag down. Next to her was other guards and they looked like they were in a stand off with someone else. A player tag beside their name. She didn’t want to get involved with that and tuned them out.
“The Expatriates have been causing trouble all day,” the guard said after he caught her looking at the scene. She turned her attention back to him.
“Is that what they are called?” she asked.
“The only thing that fits, they come from the stars and don’t live here,” he explained as he looked through her pack.
“Alright, you’re all set,” he said and motioned to the window area.
Janet took her bag and walked over to the window. The clerk handed her some parchment. It had some pretty basic stuff on it. Most of it she found in her bio screen. She even put in she was a half-orc, half-elf. Then slid it back to the man. He read it over and then looked up.
Maybe she shouldn’t have said she was a half-orc. The man got up and moved to the back and through a door. Janet waited for several long minutes. At least this place was covered and she didn’t have to stand in the rain. The wagons and carts made their way slowly though the gate house.
A door opened to the side of the window and a much older man, but still carried himself well. Like an old martial artist in those webcomics.
“Come with me,” he said. His voice was almost as deep as hers was. She found that somewhat of a comfort. She followed him, and stepped into the hall way.
She paused on the grated mat and kicked off some of the mud she had tracked on her boots. Fang beside her. She looked up and the man was watching her from several steps away.
Following she was lead to a room with nothing in it. Stone walls and the door. Turning she pulled her hood back and looked at the man.
“Am I being detained for some reason?” she asked, her gruff male voice raspy from her travels and the lack of water she has had the past few hours.
“Poor Andy was worried when he read you were a half orc, and I thought if you flew into a rage, this room would contain you while I ask some questions.”
Rage… she didn’t have a skill like that. Was that what the orcish spells were?
She sighed. She had a feeling something like this was going to happen. She walked in and sat her bag down to one side as Fang followed and whined. Sitting down she petted him behind the ear. “I know Fang, but lets answer this man’s questions then we can get a bed and food.”
“I don’t think I need to worry much, but I have to look out for the citizens of Llarth Nier, and L’Nier in general.”
“That’s fine,” she replied, “with the Expatriates pouring in, it must be hard for you.”
“Are you sure you’re of orc blood?”
Janet was having a hard time believing it too. However she pulled off a glove and looked at her fern green hand. “Yeah, pretty sure… or a really big goblin… but my ears aren’t floppy enough,” she said and flicked her pointed ears.
“What clan are you from?”
“Thak,” she answered and looked at her bio screen again to make sure.
“Haven’t heard of it, where is it located?”
“You know, I don’t know,” she answered, the frown that the man had etched his entire face with his mostly white close cut beard. “I woke up in the forest being chased by goblins. Likely a spell gone wrong from one of my sisters,” she said and leaned back on her hand. “But I would like to find my way back there too.”
“What is your level?” he asked.
Wait, NPCs can level?
She didn’t respond right away.
“Its alright if you dont know, we have an option of displaying your level on your card. But don’t go trying to act like the Expatriates, they are blessed by the gods to be able to do anything, and they have increased leveling.”
At her confused look, he decided to go on. “For example, take myself, I have been working and training since I was a lad, about ten years of age. And just last week I was able to reach level ten. Some people, and go their entire lives and only make it to level three. Some, like the King of L’Nier and his Royal guard, are gifted. What level they are I am not sure, above me, I know. Most of my guards are between two and five.”
“Can I opt out of showing my level?” she asked.
“You can, but there is no harm in it, and surely nothing to be embarrassed about.”
“How many half-orcs have you seen?”
“Not many…” the man said and seemed to think about with an upward tilt of his head. “None, actually, you’re my first,” he finally answered. “Met some orcs however, nasty beasts, bulky, shades of green, and angry. Always angry.” The man put his hand on the barred door and opened it. “I don’t think I need to worry about you. But do try not to stand out too much. If you come here often, go to places frequently, the same ones, so folks get to know you and can vouch for you.”
Standing up she nodded her head. “I can do that.” she agreed. Stepping out into the hallway again Fang at her heels whined softly. “Know of any good, but cheap inns?”
“Any of the inns along the wall road or the port side of the city will be what your looking for. The port will be noisier at night and quieter in the day. The slums are in the west, and while they are cheap you’re likely to get robbed. The closer you go to the center of the city the nicer the inns are, but also the pricer.”
They walked back down the hallway. The clerk was standing there with a black slate like stone with a red hue to it.
“Place your hand on the slate,” the clerk said. She placed her ungloved hand on the slate and waited a moment.
Ah, magic mixed with technology. It’s always awkward.
“Did you want your level displayed?” the clerk asked.
“No.” She responded.
There was a melodic chime. The clerk took the slate into what she assumed was the window office. The man offered his hand, and she took it with her green one.
“Don’t take this the wrong way, but I hope I don’t see you again. Oh, I am chief Langston Adams.”
“Cagen, and I hope I don’t see you as well,” she replied. If she had to see him again that likely meant trouble. Trouble she was in.
The clerk came back with a metal plate with her new name and information on it, as well as her thumb print. The plate itself was about the size of a playing card. She pulled the hood back up over her head.
“Come on Fang, lets go get some food,” she said to the wolf pup.
The rain continued to fall inside the city. That didnt detour the natives that lived within Aether. However it was doing a good job at detouring the Players. They all looked to still be in beginner gear. She saw three trying to huddle under an awning of a building. It was odd, and she didn’t understand them.
She entered the first inn and tavern she saw. The room filled with player tags, and a few people that didnt have tags. She walked up to the counter.
“One room please.”
“Sure, its extra for the mut,” the keeper said gruffly.
“Fine, do you have one with a bath?”
“Aye, want food too?” he asked looking blow the counter.
“Yes.”
“Alright, ten silver,” the man said setting a key down.
Janet dug into her pack and pulled out some coins and counted twenty of the silver ones. The keeper snatched them up and slid the key forward.
“Two nights,” the keeper confirmed.
“Yes.”
“Aye, food will be up shortly.” she turned to leave and headed to the stairs. Looking again at the keeper, she didnt want to try and start a fight with him. While he might have a robust gut, his arms were very toned and held muscle. He carried himself well too.
She unlocked the door for her room and let Fang inside. She closed the door behind her and dropped the pack and the cloak to the side of the door and then sat in the chair. She slumped down in the chair. She didn’t realize how much her feet and legs hurt. Fang moved around and then laid down looking up at her sadly.
“I know,” she said and stood up to take the armor off and then her boots. By then there was a knock on the door. She opened it and allowed the woman, an elf in a long skirt and cream colored blouse. She had light brown hair that was in a single braid. She sat a tray down on the table.
“Enjoy your supper,” she told Janet and then stopped when she saw Janet. “Um… huh… have a good night,” she ran from the room and slammed the door closed.
Janet shook her head and looked at the tray. There was a bowl of chopped meat, raw with an egg, and a bone, in water. She took the bowl and set it down for Fang. The puppy dove into the food eagerly.
Her own meal was thick curry like stew with red meat, carrots, turnips, potatoes, onions and peas, there was half a round loaf of bread and a cut pear in what looked like curd milk. There was also a pitcher of water.
She sat down and dug in herself. It had been a few days since she had eaten anything like this.
Thats a depressing thought.
She had never had food like this.