Name: Juvenile Sand Crab
Level: 2
Lore: A common creature found on the coasts of the Western Continent. Typically weak and an excellent source of protein.
It was small, but it regarded me fearlessly. It snapped both its pincers in rapid succession and slowly crept its way sideways, its eyestalks following me as I slowly stood and backed away.
“I know I’ve eaten my share of your kind little friend, but you will forgive me if I don’t care to return the favor.” I turned and ran. I had no desire to fight the sand crab, though I could have easily equipped my Warden’s Staff and dealt with it. I was still not fully recovered from my ordeal at sea, despite the Heat Exhaustion debuff being gone. The Dehydration debuff had increased, I was dismayed to see.
Dehydration Level II -25% to Stamina and Health Regeneration
I desperately needed to find fresh water. Well, I desperately needed a lot of things, but the water would have to come first. The beach was mostly sand, but when I reached the edge sand became rock, then dirt and then I reached the line of trees, and I no longer had a starry sky to see by. I slowed my pace.
“When I return to Saint Caradan’s, I will compose a series of illuminated prayers of remembrance for Brother Bernabo and the others.” I nodded as a considered my long term goals. While doing so, I would inquire into a new ship to take me to Port Tyren. I would have to break the tragic news to the rest of the monks about Brother Bernabo and the others perishing to the Abyssal Wyrm, but perhaps a group of adventurers or the Royal Navy could be induced to hunt the beast? Father would help with that, I was sure. That would make for a safer passage as well if I might hitch a ride with them. On second thought, a separate ship to take me on a safer route would be preferable to meeting that Abyssal Wyrm again.
“Wait a moment!” I stopped dead in my tracks. “When the Eagle’s Talon fails to dock in Port Tyren, they will conclude that the ship was lost at sea. My family will think I’m dead! Mir’s Mercy, what will my Mother do?” I grit my teeth. I needed to find a way to get word home immediately. I couldn’t waste a moment longer feeling sorry for my predicament. I needed to solve each problem a step at a time and not dither. Gaining more power had just become a top priority. I needed to locate help and not let little Sand Crabs or anything else stop me. I looked up and down the stretch of beach I was on.
“Alright, which way should I go?” The beach was deserted except for a few more scuttling Sand Crabs, none stronger than Level 2, but remaining here waiting for rescue wasn’t an option. I supposed killing a few of the crustaceans might gain me a few points of experience, but I could always come back later and try farming them until I hit Level 6. However, I couldn’t imagine such low level creatures would net me much in the way of experience points. Still, it should be safe enough.
“That can be Plan B after I find some clean water.”
There was a path through the trees threading deeper into the interior, so without waiting for my doubts to try and talk me out of it I set off. After nearly an hour of walking through the forest I was in near total darkness and had no desire to continue, but I was desperate for a drink and didn’t think I would make it to morning without water. Despite the gains I had made with my Constitution attribute, it would only take me so far. Come to think of it, without those gains I would likely already be dead!
When one is thrust into situations beyond their control, it is easy to look for reasons to assign blame to any but yourself. I had the blasphemous notion that the Gods were reminding their mortal servant that I was ultimately just that-a servant- and bound unto their whims and desires over all else. Surely others have thought the same as I? My youth and inexperience are weaknesses I have to purge. Besides, my moment out in the ocean where I had challenged them all had actually netted me a few Faction points. The Gods wanted action, not excuses or pleading. The Gods want us to be proactive, not reactive.
This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it
I stumbled onto an animal path. It was a gamble to follow, but I had nothing better to go on as far as choosing a direction. I know nothing of woodcraft or tracking, but common sense dictated that if there were animals in this forest they had to have a source of clean water somewhere.
The path meandered in such a way that with the trees blocking the sky above I quickly lost any sense of my direction. I stayed focused on my surroundings and hoped that if anything was nearby I would notice it before it knew I was there. I didn’t think I’d be able to run too far and the only thing behind me was the ocean.
I walked for about two hours before I heard the sound I had been searching for. I increased my pace until I caught sight of a brook pathing its way through the woods being fed by a small waterfall. I wanted to throw myself into the water, but instead lowered myself slowly to the edge of the brook and took a slow sip.
“Oh, Ord’s Mercy, thank you!” I drank more deeply my second time and stayed there for almost a minute forcing myself to only take sips and not give my stomach more than it could handle.
That’s one crisis averted, now I just need to-
I wasn’t alone.
Slowly raising my head, water dripping from my chin, two figures on the other side of the brook watched me. Their sudden appearance did not immediately register in my brain and a ripple of confusion and fear caused me to jerk backward. Both figures were disturbingly still. One of them, the larger, wore what looked like a grain sack over his head with holes poked in the cloth for a pair of bloodshot eyes to peer out. The shorter, wider figure was devoid of any hair and had a face as pale as bone. Both were dressed in peasant clothing that identified them as being local farmers. They were staring at me unblinking.
My gaze took in the both of them while my brain worked to process what to say. I was further unsettled with the way the two of them held bared weapons. Examining the weapons, both had dried blood stains upon them. The larger one, Sack Head, gripped a chipped scythe blade that must have weighed a ton, so thick was the rusted blade. I swallowed and turned my gaze to Pale Face. Just looking at that bulbous, grotesque face made me want to turn and run back the way I had come.
You really want to turn your back on these two? Plus, that big one looks like he could just plow over any tree in his way to catch me. What would Brother Bernabo do?
“Ord Bless you, my friends,” I stammered. “I am Brother Kenric of Ordheim and I would implore both you gentlemen to indicate how one might navigate to the nearest town.” I waited while the two continued to stare. Just as I was about to finally give in to my instinct to flee, Pale Face spoke.
“We are blessed already, young Brother!” Pale Face said in a high-pitched voice. His eyes were unsettling, the black orbs contrasted greatly with his white skin making them seem like two empty pits. “You stand upon the border between ignorance and salvation!” Pale Face’s smile instantly shifted to a frown. “A shame you utter the name of one of the False Ones!”
“F…Forgive my ignorance, friends,” I stammered. Gods, don’t offend two armed men! The smile returned to Pale Face’s visage, but it seemed to be more sinister than friendly. Sack Head took a step forward, gripping his scythe blade. “My ship was wrecked off of your coast and I am in a strange place. I am ashamed to have offended your sensibilities and local customs.”
“There now, Leif,” Pale Face placed a hand on Sack Head’s elbow drawing him back. “You heard the boy; he isn’t with those heretic monks from the Abbey.”
Abbey?
Leif growled and allowed himself to be drawn back, but something told me that Pale Face would not be able to stop his menacing companion should he become too angry, so I nodded my head quickly.
“Indeed, I know of no Abbey, gentle sirs. I am merely looking for a way out of this forest to the closest town that I might find passage back to Ordheim. Might you know how far it is to Kore?”
“Ah, Lord Xat’s breath draws all, you see Leif?” Pale Face clapped his hands together and cackled, ignoring my question. “Our own town, Goodlabor, is not far from here and we are in need of a new Chaplain to preach the Holy Creed of Xat. The former Chaplain
Leif made an unintelligible gargle, bobbed his head and lowered his scythe. Looking closer at Sneed, I noticed the small axe he carried was forged from some greenish metal that I didn’t recognize. Looking at it made my stomach churn and I had to look away immediately. I was well and truly at their mercy, and they knew it. Then there was that name I recognized.
Xat. That was the false God the Hellblade mentioned. What connection does that long ago memory have to this place?
Sneed never lost his smile, nor did he put away his axe and I knew that Leif would quickly catch me with his long, well-muscled legs if I tried to flee. I was their prisoner and all of us knew it. I would have to play along and await my chance to escape, but they had inadvertently given me the means to find help. I needed to learn more about this mysterious Abbey and its ‘heretic’ monks.
“Gentlemen, would you be so kind as to escort me to Goodlabor and introduce me to your fellow townsfolk? I should be honored to meet them.” I hoped my gentle tone and calm demeanor might disarm my captors and put them at ease, but Sneed’s grin only grew more impossibly wide while a choking sound echoed from within Leif’s bag mask. Was he laughing?
“Good Brother Kenric…” Sneed high voice was now much quieter than before and I almost missed his next words, “…the honor shall be all theirs. Lord Xat awaits!”