Apologies for the delay to reward distribution...
For defeating, Mimic, mini boss you are awarded the Uncommon Semi-active skill, Reminiscence Lvl. 1...
Reminiscence- Find solutions to the present by connecting to past experiences. Small improvement of short and long term memory per level of the skill. Small improvement to memory recall per level of the skill. Connect to the past experiences of skills. Slight increase to Time affinity per level of the skill. +5 Int, Wis, and Spirit for each level of the skill...
Dante felt the door in the back of his mind open but something was different this time. Light flowed from the door but began to assemble itself immediately, not giving the door a chance to shut. The light flowed into a hoop, a circle hanging there in the "air" just beyond the door. When the outer circle was complete light flowed inwards. The light forming rings within rings, slowly more details emerged. Runes that etched themselves upon the air within the circles. There where what appeared to be stars evenly distributed around the formation. It was as if an intricate diagram was being drawn in his mind. Finally the light ceased flowing from the door allowing it to close as the fully assembled skill activated itself. Then he got a headache, feeling sick he bent over and threw up.
You have gained the affinity, Time Lvl. 1...
+8 Luck, Per, and Spirit for each level of Time affinity...
You have leveled up! [Rank 1] bonus: +1 to all stats...
You are [Rank 1] Lvl. 11...
It was a real shame to, he thought as he looked at the remains of his lunch now covering the grass. Those had been some good ribs.
As he slowly straightened up he heard a man call down from on top of the walls. "Are you alright? Your not poisoned or anything like that? If you need a healer one will be provided for a nominal fee." Spoke someone 50 feet ahead of him and 30 feet in the air.
"No, I think its just skill backlash or something. I think I'll be fine in a minute or two." He spoke as he waved up to the men on the wall.
"Right then, please make sure that your...goblin minds its manors." Spoke the guard again, Dante giving a simple thumb up in response.
Taking a few seconds to catch his breath the nausea began to fade and they continued on their walk. The large open gate stood behind an open portcullis, flanked on either side by a guard. To the left side in the short tunnel beyond was an opening in the wall, a window, into a room where a guard beckoned him to approach.
"Alright first things first young man, name and age?"
"Dante Stone, 21 years old." He said noticing a small flat stone that seemed to be glowing green off to the guards right, his left.
The guard wrote something on a piece of paper for a few seconds but as he peeked at it he didn't know the language.
"Next what level are you?"
"I'm level 11." He spoke, the man taking a second to write down the information. The guard had yet to raise his face to look at him.
'Wow never thought I would be going through magical customs.' Dante thought finding it just a touch funny.
"Name your tower and the floor you just cleared."
"Normal, the first tower, I just cleared floor one."
The guard interviewer glanced first to the goblin then to the small glowing stone to his right before scribbling down something on his piece of paper.
"You reached level 11 on the first floor? Not bad, I've heard through the grapevine that some crazy guy got to level 15 on the first floor. Your just above the average of 10." Came a gruff voice from one of the guards watching the gate.
"Explain the goblin please." spoke the guard, his voice firm. It was then that Dante noticed the gate guards had shifted position to stand by the interior walls of the tunnel, hands on their weapons.
"Am I in trouble?" Dante asked hesitantly, fearing the answer. The guard interviewing him finally raised his head to look at him revealing a pair of Steele gray eyes.
"That depends on how and why the goblin was allowed to leave the first floor and is following you.
Giving the guard a brief run down of what had transpired his face slowly eased, even allowing himself to crack a smile.
"I've heard of similar things happening, mainly you hear it from wizards who torch goblin nests having one or a few pledge themselves to the wizard in order to live. Occasionally you hear about a warrior picking up a goblin after fighting them because they think might have a talent for combat. I apologize for the hostilities. There have been several instances in the past of situations like yours occurring except those goblins were under no compulsion to not kill the person in their sleep." The guard paused allowing the weight of those words to sink in.
Several seconds of silence passed before the interviewer spoke again.
"Seeing as you gained the Goblin language skill from the pact it is the advice of all us more experienced players that you talk to him every day and be kind but firm with him. Teach him things and when he has questions answer them to the best of your ability. Because the more he understands and the less he feels he's being fucked over, the better an ally he will be to you in the long run. Also as you have given him a name its best we inform you that when you and him go to sleep your mana pool will be drained and transferred to him. He will not become a player but the bond between you two will deepen and his stats will increase based on the amount of mana transferred to him. This process only occurs in dire situations, or in a relatively safe place. But It would seem we've gotten a bit side tracked."
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"Have you or anyone you know had any contagious diseases, viruses, or infections in the last 2 weeks?"
"No, are you screening me for Covid?" Dante asked having forgotten the virus that turned the world upside down till now.
"Yes, and any other possible diseases you could be bringing in here. Had you been afflicted with anything you would have been healed by a provided healer. More than likely a teacher from one of the churches in town that would use you as a teaching aid for their students." The guard said smiling as if this were a common occurrence, which it likely was.
"Please say "skills" and present the resulting blue box to me." He said maintaining his air of professionalism. So he did.
Skills Mana Bolt (C) Lvl. 7 Running (C) Lvl. 3 Purify (C) Lvl. 2 Refrigerate (C) Lvl. 2 Dodge (C) Lv. 2 Command Vermin (R) Lvl. 1 Guide [Rank 1]
"Want to explain to me how you got Command Vermin?" Ask the interviewer with a tired expression.
After a minute of explaining the guard nodded, referring him to the adventure's guild, and then the guard produced a large crystal ball about the size of a soft ball resting on a plush purple pillow.
"Please place your hand on the orb."
Dante did so without question not seeing a reason, or option, to refuse. As he placed his hand on the cold orb he felt about 100 points of his mana being pulled from him and into the orb.
You have leveled up! [Rank 1] bonus: +1 to all stats...
You are [Rank 1] Lvl. 12...
For reaching 1000 points of stamina you are awarded, Stone of Nourishing Broth (Unc)...
Stone of Nourishing Broth (Unc)- This small enchanted stone fits in the palm of your hand. Enhances the flavor of any soup it is placed into while said soup is cooking. Placing this stone into a pot of pure boiling water, minimum of 1 gallon of water, with at least one edible ingredient, for 10 minutes will create a broth nourishing to creatures that consume it. This stone can be charged with up to 1000 mana. For each gallon of water converted to soup 250 mana is expended. When the stone is depleted it becomes buoyant floating to the surface for easy retrieval. Can be recharged with a touch, will remain buoyant until charged with at least 250 mana ...
Eat well to keep up your strength...
Item added to inventory...
"Thank you, as I must inform you. You have just provided a mana signature that at the discretion of the guard can be used to track you within this zone. Additionally It has provided us with a snapshot of your current stats. Now before we let you go please list any items you have obtained while on the first floor of the tower."
"I'll just show you if that's alright."
"Very well sir. Please step into the center of the tunnel and begin."
Dante pulled the longsword from his inventory resting it gently on the ground. Pulling the bag of holding he explained he had bought this but then pulled the suit of armor out of the bag.
"I killed this animated armor and took the armor as loot. Know anywhere I could get it repaired?" He asked clearly displaying the crumpled helmet of the armor.
"Try the mages college. Not a bad idea to have a tireless construct to watch your back." He spoke giving a nod of approval before motioning for him to continue.
For a long few seconds he debated which item he should show next but decided that the divine jar would likely help him out to be seen before the jar of baby mimics.
Pulling out the Heavenly glass jar he presented it to the guard interviewer who looked at it with great interest.
"How the fuck did you get this?" He asked his eyes wide with amazement.
"Got it while I was fulfilling a gods quest. Got a healing miracle from the store, as an advance. She asked for collateral and a quest. I got the jar to contain part of one of the corpses I offered to her. The "corpse" in question being a gray ooze." Dante explained calmly to the guard who was greedily inspecting the jar.
The man opened his mouth to speak but Dante beat him to the punch. "No I won't sell the jar, but I will sell the contents if I like the offer. Not a good idea to sell a gods gift to you, you understand."
*Sigh* "Of course sir. If you want somewhere to sell the specimen then I would suggest either the Alchemist's guild or the Mages college." Said the guard trying to regain his professional demeaner as Dante replaced the item in his inventory.
Pulling the stirring rod he walked over and handed it to the guard who after careful examination of it concluded, "A fairly common but useful magic item. If you want to sell it find a wizard or an alchemist."
Dante stored the rod away and pulled out the rusty Dagger that was missing its tip he showed it to the guard who dismissed it at a glance.
"See a smith of you want to buy a new dagger or get that one repaired, next."
Reaching down he gave slide the dagger back into the sheath at Bobbies hip and asked to borrow the club for a second. Reluctantly Bobby obliged.
"This is a bone club of minor stunning. It came in with Bobby." The guard inspected it a moment before returning it to Dante who then returned it to Bobby.
And finally he produced the jar of baby mimics.
"Why do you have coins in a jar just put them in...Oh I see. Put them back in your inventory. You will be given an escort to the Tamer's guild where a proper examination of them can take place." Said the guard as he motioned and a door Dante hadn't seen before opened up in the wall allowing two guardsmen to step out before the door shut appearing as if it had never been there in the first place.
"Neat security measure." Dante spoke absent mindedly.
"Before you go here is some basic information. A room has been paid for you to stay in at the Crystal foot Inn. After you go to the Tamer's guild they will escort you there. You are given 3 meals for the duration of your current stay. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Its a little past lunch time so you might still be able to get some lunch in. This doesn't include food for the goblin mind you so you will have to pay for him out of your own pocket. Also to reiterate you will be held responsible and liable for his actions so keep him out of trouble.
"That's about everything. Any questions before you are on your way?" asked the guard with a small but warming smile.
Dante extended out his hand gesturing for a hand shake to which the guard accepted.
"Dante."
"Apologies I forgot to introduce myself. Fredrick, have a good day sir and please be sure to bath that goblin." said the guard as they parted ways. Dante escorted of to the Tamer's guild.
+1 Cha...