He stared in awe, as a series of soft dings informed him of a few new notifications ready for his perusal.
Entering ‘Verdant Green’ Sub-Location
The Forgotten Hall {Safezone}
Recommended Level 15+
Quest Updated!
Home is where the monsters won’t hurt you (1/3)
Objective
Find the central node of [Verdant Green] inside [The Forgotten Hall] Sub-Location and claim it.
‘I guess it’s nice to have confirmation that I’m in the right place.’ Closing the screens in front of him, he starts the slow decline down the slope, feeling the soft tickle of the waste length grass; Verdant is once again reminded of his jewels and their current vulnerable state. 'I can't see a damn thing through this grass, it's not that tall but there could be anything in here and I don't have anything protecting me from the waist down.'
He continued for several minutes down the sloping plain moving slowly and remaining on high alert for any signs of movement, his seax lay ready in his hand to strike any targets that might use this opportunity to ambush him. As he walked and remained whole, he became more comfortable and stopped looking at every piece of grass as though it held the greatest threat to his existence in that moment. Verdant began to enjoy himself, with a large open field of grass and the night sky spread out above him; he felt a moment of peace, something he hadn't had much of since he arrived, and took a deep breath in.
He approached the outer wall of the grounds he'd seen form the distance, it was falling apart, stones were cracked or shattered in some places and the mortar holding it together was crumbling out from between them. Approaching a hole in the wall, which looked as though something massive had struck it from the outside. stones were visible for several meters past the wall, half buried with grass grown over them. He touched the wall as he walked past it, stones were twisted the wrong way, some barely held in place by the crumbling mortar.
Verdant continued past the wall, stepping down off a small retaining wall and entering the field. He was shocked by what he saw. While the wall was in a clear state of disrepair and has been attacking by an unknown force in the past, the field he now stood in looked well-kept and unblemished, except for the half-buried rocks from the wrecked wall behind him. The grass was short, and a low wall of white stone circled the field around him. 'What is going on here. That wall is clearly ancient and has been attacked at some point, then left to fall into disrepair. But this field looks like a troupe of warriors are about to step out onto it at any second. It has clearly been maintained and well cared for. Why is there such a difference...is there something different about the land inside the wall?'
He turned away from the wall and kept walking past the fields where the ground was filled with tightly packed gravel under foot. It created several roads around and between fields as well as leading away from the fields, up a steady incline towards the hall in the middle of the basin.
Walking along the packed road, Verdant noted once again how well maintained all of the roads and fields were, as though they were ready to be used at a moment's notice. 'This is so bizarre; it doesn't make sense with the obviously destroyed wall on the perimeter.' Looking around again, he noted that, except for the central hall, there wasn't a single building present anywhere, despite there being open plots that have been clearly prepared for buildings. 'It's like someone came in, did all the earth works, built all the roads and no one showed up to start building.'
He was approaching the hall now; it was an impressive construction of wood and stone. Around fifty metres long and twenty metres wide, the side walls rounded up meeting at the top with tiered vents; it would have dwarfed a four-story building from earth. It had clearly been built with some of the ancient trees outside as he could not see a single join along the walls. It was an impressive feat of architecture, done with, he can only assume, archaic tools and simple machinery like levers and pulleys.
Walking to the front door, he wondered how he would be able to push open solid wooden double doors that stood ten meters or more, rounded at the top; when he looked at a more appropriate height and noticed a standard sized door sitting in the face of the left double door. He knocked loudly against the hard wood of the smaller door, feeling stupid as soon as he'd done it. 'Why would I knock on the door of a building in a place that must have been abandoned for hundreds, if not thousands of years.'
For the first time Verdant was extremely grateful for the lower garment wrapped around his waist as the door opened lightly and without warning, on well-oiled hinges. Jumping back from the door in a very manly way and definitely not making a distinctly feminine squeak, Verdant dropped his position, readying his seax in his right hand and going on high alert for anything about to jump at him from the dark.
"You should really seek professional assistance, you know? It's not normal to jump and shriek in such an undignified manner at the opening of a door." A voice called out to Verdant from the darkness beyond the door.
"Quickly, I do not have all day... Actually… I have all 'days', millennia of them, but that is neither here nor there. Now, come inside or I will take the choice from you, child."
Verdant stared at the darkness in apprehension. Struggling to take a step forward and enter the hall or step away and flee. Suddenly, he felt as though he weighed nothing, looking down, his shadow had taken on a life of its own and had wrapped him up before lifting him, bodily, from the ground. Before he could react, it had carried him across the threshold and into the dark room beyond. His eyes adjusted quickly and noted that his shadow was carrying him past dozens of piles of furs on the ground, they looked kind of like bed rolls you would use while camping, except they were clearly made of a soft leather and covered in fur.
Soon, he had passed all the bedding and now his shadow was carrying him past large feasting tables, covered in beautiful silverware, stone goblets and wooden plates. 'What is this, it looks like this hall is set up to receive hundreds of men at a moment's notice and, if I didn't know better, I'd say the inside of this hall is a great deal larger than it appeared on the outside.' Continuing past the tables his shadow approached stairs made of fine quarried stone, leading to a platform that housed a large ornate throne, carved with runes and glowing with a dull light. To the side of the throne stood a tall man... man-thing? He would come close to two metres in height, his frame was wide and thick with muscle. Thick, dark hair covered his face, making it difficult to see his features except for one thing, actually two things; two very obvious things that appeared to burst from his temples, curling up and over his head before twisting back on themselves and ending in spikes just below his ears. 'Horns… they look like the bark from the ash trees I saw earlier, what is he?'
Bölvasmiðr - Level???? {Fragment}
Skill level too low.
Verdant's eyes went wide as the implications of what stood before him settled into his mind. "Oh shit." He looked back to the bearded face in front of him, green eyes glowing with an ethereal light, were crinkled into a scowl. ‘Oh damn, I really shit the bed on this one.’
The glowing shards of emerald contained in the face of the strange being before him, stare right through him; as though assessing him and weighing his value. “Are you aware that is considered extremely rude to use identification skills before you’ve even introduced yourself? It is simply not done in polite company. I like to consider myself rather polite, though you’ve done little to enamour me of your presence here.”
This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author's consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.
“Uhh… Sorry?” The horned creature before him did not appear to be genuinely bothered by his social faux pas. If he was, Verdant was sure that he could simply have made a fine paste out of him in an instant
Raising his hand up, palms out, in surrender. “I am here for a quest I received about claiming the central node of this region.”
“Oh, I know why you are here Verdant Green, I have been awaiting your arrival for almost two days now. The world informed me when your quest was issued, you should have been here almost a full day ago. I do not appreciate being made to wait like some common house pet.”
“Uhh… Sorry?” Verdant repeated himself dumbly. He hadn’t expected to see anyone in this compound, let alone find something actively waiting for him.
“Yes, yes, you’re sorry. I don’t care what took you so long to arrive, save your excuses. I can see that you’ve been awarded quite a deal of experience as well as an available +60% efficiency that you have failed to apply. Dare I ask why you have yet to gain even one level or apply your efficiency yet?”
During the creature’s tirade, Verdant felt his shadow loosen around him and lower him to the ground, further marking the disparity in height more apparent. ‘Wait, how tall am I? I’ve just been making assumptions about the size of things based on my assumed height, but I could be completely wrong based on a different perspective. Can I make my system tell me stuff like height?’ He willed something to appear from his status and was surprised when it worked, an unfamiliar blue screen appearing before him.
Physical Characteristics
Height – 188cms
Weight – 104kgs
Hair Colour – Blonde
Eye Colour - Grey
ᛒᛚᛟᛟᛞᛚᛁᚾᛖ - HIDDEN
‘He’s huge. With my height, he’s still got to be half again as tall; more than two and a half metres. And the dais he’s on right now makes him look like a bloody giant.’ Verdant stared, open mouthed, in shock for several moments before a firm coughing sound startled him from stupor.
“I am still waiting for an answer. While it’s true that there are few places in this location where you might find animals or monsters of any kind; you have clearly found enough of them to gain so much experience so quickly. Why in One-Eye’s name would you leave yourself so vulnerable when you had the means to change in an instant? Who in this forsaken world taught you about your system?”
“I can see from the stupefaction upon your face, that the answer is likely to be no one. How unfortunate.”
“Very well, as I am sure you saw. My name is Bölvasmiðr, or, if you prefer, you may call me Bolva. I am the caretaker of this location that you have usurped from me by claiming the entire region through some trickery I do not fully understand. I am to assist you in any way I can, in order to complete your quest as you are, technically, my superior.” Bolva sniffed lightly before continuing.
“I will not harm you, I could not do so directly, if I wished to. I am not fully a physical being and am merely an ethereal construct with considerable means of interacting with this world as long as I remain within my designated location. I’m sure you noticed the damage to the wall around my home; as much as I wish to fix it, I cannot. It lay directly on the perimeter of my territory, and I cannot exert my influence there without first increasing my lands. Forgive me, your lands… for now.” Crossing his arms, Bolva snorts in agitation; he glowed with a golden light as his size reduced and moments later, he was a similar size to Verdant, though maybe a small bit taller. He sat upon the top step beneath him and exhaled deeply.
“Ahh... I have been alone for so long, I forget myself. Truthfully, I would be glad for the company and to have a purpose once more. The ages have been long, and I do not sleep. Sit, we must talk.” He waved his hand, and a wooden stool slid smoothly across the flagstone floors to rest behind Verdant’s knees.
Feeling much less intimidated, Verdant sat down, offering a small smile towards the now more reasonably sized entity before him. “I just want to find the central node and complete my quest. I have another on a timer and It would be a very bad idea for me to allow the timer to run out; there is a Voidborn Arachnid Queen somewhere in the forest, likely several hours back the way I came and the quest says that if I don’t kill it before the timer runs out then there would be a much greater challenge as a result.”
“You will not make it to that quest. Claiming the node is only the first part of this quest; once you touch it and confirm you wish to claim it, you will be forced to face all of the restless dead that are imprisoned in the grounds and surrounding forest. My presence and claim on this central location has prevented them from rising so far. Unfortunately, selecting this option from the interface also prevents the habitation of normal creatures and monsters in the entire region. It was necessary to prevent the spread of the corruption to other locations since I did not have the necessary forces to defeat the scourge.” He dropped his horned head into his hands, shame apparent in his posture.
“Hang on mate. This whole situation isn’t your fault, is it? What actually happened here? I don’t think I want to claim that node if the whole forest out there is going to turn into the set of Resident Evil with hundreds of zombies getting around.” Verdant was becoming upset, once again he felt as though he was forced into a dangerous situation that he truly had no say in.
Bolva lifted his head, looking at the now standing Verdant, staring him down once more. “You have no choice. You have started this quest and if you do not complete it now then it will happen anyway when the timer runs out; only now there will be no period of rest or structure to their waves, no semblance of a fair challenge that you would otherwise be entitled to. They will simply burst from the grounds and rush this location in an attempt to kill you and take control of the central node and spread their vile corruption through the entire region. you have done this, and you will fix it or I will ensure that you will be trapped here until the creatures arrive to drag you kicking and screaming to the ground before ending your miserable existence.” He was standing now too, glowing once more and growing to more than ten metres in height before letting loose with a booming voice.
“DO I MAKE MYSELF PERFECTLY CLEAR CHILD?”
Verdant, felt the floor under his feet and the air around him shake with Bolva’s impassioned declaration. ‘Fuck me dead, I’ve never been happier to be wearing a brown skirt.’ He quickly sat back down, before looking to Bolva once more.
“I am not strong enough to face a horde of undead, in what world would this be seen as a reasonable challenge for someone of my strength?”
“The challenge will start of easy and grow increasingly difficult. There will be rest periods of 12 hours between waves of enemies where you may sleep, eat your fill and slake your thirst, or you may wish to equip an item or two should you be lucky enough to find something worthy of doing so. I must say, I am quite impressed by this armour you’re wearing currently, did you craft it yourself?” Bolva resumes his smaller size, glowing in golden light once more, before stepping from the dais to finger Verdant’s armour.
“Magnificent, the workmanship is that of a novice, but true passion and skill have gone into its making. I was unaware you could craft such materials in this way. Simply wonderful.”
Verdant stood, once more, awkwardly allowing the volatile man before him to probe the seams of his self-made armour, with a not inconsiderable amount of pride welling in his chest.
After a couple of minutes bearing the intense scrutiny of the eccentric man, Verdant cleared his throat, speaking once more. “I have been awake for over sixteen hours and I need food and sleep. The quest isn’t going anywhere and if you are right about what will happen next, I want to be at my best. If you have somewhere I may meet those needs, I would appreciate it. I would be happy to discuss your other issues once I wake.”
Bolva was startled from his investigation of Verdant’s armour. Looking to the man, he grinned sheepishly. “Forgive my intrusion, I so love the crafts and have seen naught like it for an age. I have no food to offer you, though there is a plentiful supply of frigid spring water over there by the main feasting table. Once you have drunk your fill, head back towards the furs you saw on your way in and sleep. I will wake you in exactly ten hours. I cannot delay more than that.”
“Thank you for your hospitality. I apologise for earlier if I was insensitive or uncaring It has been a very long few days and I am lost. Like a ship adrift at sea with no port to call home.” He turned and walked away from the man, going to slake his thirst and rest his aching mind.
As he left, he could have sworn he heard a light sniffle from behind him. Before Bolva spoke again, softly, coming through only too clearly to his enhanced senses “This is my only home.”
Verdant walked across the hall, past the head table to a barrel by the wall. Looking inside he noted there was clear water filling it to the brim. Placing his hands in to the frigid water, he drank… and drank… and drank. Once the water hit his tongue, something took over him and all he could think of was getting more of the sweet, bracingly cold water from the barrel in front of him.
Some time later, he lifted his head, rivulets, ran down his chin and soaked into his linen shirt. His thirst was slaked, but his stomach called for sustenance. He pulled one of his fruits from his storage and bit into the crisp flesh; savouring the fruit he eventually ate another and was at last satisfied.
Having met his most pressing needs, the only thing on his mind now was the blessed oblivion of sleep. Verdant walked back down the hall, from the direction he entered the building and eventually came upon the bed spaces he’d seen earlier. Looking around he noticed one in close proximity to a fireplace, which was conveniently lit, and crawled into the bundle of leather and furs. No sooner had he closed his eyes than he fell asleep.