WAY
VII. The Pit
The
Crenn Farm.
The
stench preceded it by two hundred meters.
— Rustic
aroma! a voice shouted from the barn.
— Who
said that?
— Grobnak.
Goblin Number One.
— You
haven't even spawned yet!
— Well,
I can still hear you, can't I?
Rotten
planks—
— 'Rotten'?! That's
AGED OAK! Uh... Heritage wood!
— Mrs. Crenn, YOU
are the one hiring Kael!
Kael
approached the barn, sword drawn, where three goblins—
— Four,
Grobnak corrected.
[CORRECTION:
FOUR GOBLINS DETECTED. HP: 20 EACH]
Inside,
four goblins: Grobnak, Skrizz, Nartok, and Bob.
— How
are you going to describe us?
Four
goblins, armed with rusty knives—
— MINE ISN'T RUSTY!
It’s PATINA!
Kael
took a breath to charge—
— Wait,
already? Kael asked. I have 9 HP out of 54!
— So...
make a plan?
—
Smart warriors make
plans.
— You
have an Intelligence of 9.
— Exactly!
Kael
took a few moments to devise a strategy—
— Wait,
Grobnak said. Can we dig a pit?
— Excellent
idea, Skrizz approved.
— You
can't just DECIDE to dig a
pit!
[AUTHORIZATION
GRANTED. ENRICHMENT VIA NPC INITIATIVE.]
The
four goblins dug a pit. Three meters deep, three stakes at the
bottom.
Kael
finished his "plan" and rushed toward the entrance.
— Kael,
wait! There’s a—
— YAAAHHH!!!
His
foot landed on the plank. Which gave way.
— No!
He catches himself with his Agility of 21!
[AGILITY CHECK: 1D100]
[THRESHOLD: 84 (AGI 21 × 4)]
[RESULT: 91]
[FAILURE]
A
stake skewered Kael’s thigh. Clean through.
— ARRRGHHHH!
[MASSIVE
DAMAGE: 13 HP]
[CURRENT
HP: -4 / 52]
[STATUS:
UNCONSCIOUS, DYING]
[DEATH
IN 3 TURNS WITHOUT INTERVENTION]
—
— Nice
shot, Nartok commented.
— Thanks,
Bob said.
— Is
he dead? Skrizz asked.
[HP:
-4 / 52. LETHAL THRESHOLD: -10 HP]
— No!
Not yet! He has a few seconds left!
— Should
we maybe finish him off? Grobnak suggested.
— Or
just let him die on his own, Bob said. It's more humane.
— YOU'RE NOT GOING
TO JUST LET HIM CROAK!
— Why
not? Nartok replied. It’s natural.
— Kael!
Can you
hear me?!
A
weak groan from the bottom of the hole.
[WILLPOWER
CHECK: 1D100]
[THRESHOLD:
5 (WILL 10 × 5, BUT DYING PENALTY -45)]
[RESULT:
3]
[FAILURE]
[3+ 7 = 10. SUCCESS!][REMAINING
LUCK: 2/3 USES TODAY]
Kael,
in a superhuman effort, gripped the sword.
— The
stake! Saw through the stake! Fast!
— What
kind of advice is that? Grobnak interrupted. He’ll be dead in 3
turns!
[HP:
-4 / 52. TURN 1/3 BEFORE DEATH]
Kael
began to saw, teeth clenched, blood spurting with every movement.
[TURN
2/3]
The
wood creaked. Kael wept.
— Hang
in there, buddy, Skrizz encouraged.
— SHUT YOUR DAMN MOUTH!
[TURN
3/3]
The
wood snapped just in time.
[HP:
-4 / 52. STABILIZED AT DEATH'S DOOR]
Kael
hauled himself out, screaming, dragging himself up. The twelve-inch
piece of stake was still embedded in his thigh, protruding from both
sides.
The
goblins watched him, impressed despite themselves.
— He’s
actually going to make it, Nartok whispered.
— Dammit,
Grobnak sighed. We should have used more stakes.
Kael
emerged and collapsed at the edge of the pit.
[HP:
-4 / 52]
[SEVERE
BLEEDING: -3 HP/TURN]
— Do
we attack? Skrizz proposed.
— He’s
technically dead already, Bob said. Let him go.
— You...
you're leaving? Just like that?
— We
aren't monsters, Grobnak replied. Well, technically we are. But we
have principles.
The
four goblins departed.
[COMBAT...
OVER?]
[+80
XP]
[TOTAL
XP: 170 / 200]
[LEVEL
3 REACHED!][MAX
HP: 10 + (3 x 22) = 76]
[FULL
RECOVERY: ODD LEVEL UP!]
[HP
RESTORED TO: 76 / 76]
[MP:
10 + (9 x 3 + 10) = 47 MP]
[SKILL POINT: +1]
The
stake in Kael’s leg dissipated in a golden glow. His wounds knit
shut. Flesh stitching itself, blood drying, bones fusing back
together.
Kael
sat up, incredulous.
— I...
I'm alive?
— Level
3. Full recovery.
— That’s...
that’s unbelievable.
He
tested his leg. No more pain. Nothing.
The author's tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.
— Crazy
shit.
— Allocate
your skill point.
— Endurance.
[ENDURANCE:
22 + 1 = 23]
[RECALCULATED
MAX HP: 79 HP]
[CURRENT
HP: 79 / 79]
But
he still looked like a survivor. Clothes torn, stained with dried
blood. A fresh scar on his forehead. Hair matted with sweat.
Not
a hero. Just someone who had survived.
VIII. Negotiations
A
shaky voice rang out from the house.
— Who’s
that screaming in my yard?
Mrs.
Crenn appeared.
— Ah.
You cleared the goblins.
— They
left on their own, Kael clarified.
— Don't
care how. Here.
She
tossed a pouch. Ten coppers.
— Can
I get some help? I... well, I HAD a
stake through my leg.
Mrs.
Crenn narrowed her eyes.
— You
look perfectly fine to me now.
— Yeah,
but I almost died.
— And?
Not my problem. I paid for the goblins.
She
went back inside. The door slammed.
— Charming,
Kael grumbled.
— She’s
right, you know.
— Who
said that?
— Me.
A
goblin stepped out from behind the barn. Small, green.
— Who
are you?
— Zik.
I was Bob’s friend. I was squatting in the attic.
— How
MANY of you are there
exactly?
— There
were five of us. But Bob and the others left without me.
[ZIK
- GOBLIN - LEVEL 2]
[HP:
22]
[CLASS:
ROGUE]
Zik
examined Kael.
— You
recovered fast. Level up?
— Yeah.
Level 3.
— Not
bad. I've been stuck at level 2 for two months.
— Zik,
why show yourself now?
— Because
I don’t owe anyone anything now that my quest is over. And
because... I don't know. You look less stupid than average.
— I
have 9 Intelligence.
— Like
I said, less stupid than average.
[OPTION
AVAILABLE: RECRUIT AS COMPANION]
[FEATURE
UNLOCKED AT LEVEL 3: COMPANION (MAX 1)]
— Wait,
Kael said. I can recruit you?
— Apparently.
— Do
you want to come?
Zik
shrugged.
— Why
not? You clearly need help since you only have 8 Strength.
— Hey!
— It’s
a fact.
[ZIK
RECRUITED AS COMPANION]
They
set off toward the village, Kael in top shape thanks to his recovery,
Zik trotting alongside him.
IX. The Inn
The
innkeeper looked at Zik.
— We
don't take goblins.
— He's
with me, Kael said.
— So?
— I
have money.
— The
goblin sleeps in the stable. Five coppers for the room, three for the
stable.
— Deal.
[MONEY:
15 COPPERS → 7 COPPERS]
Kael
collapsed onto the bed.
[OVERNIGHT
REST]
[NO
HP RECOVERY: ALREADY AT 79 / 79]
— First
day over.
— I
almost died twice.
— But
you didn't.
— My
bar was really low.
A
silence.
—
Hey, Narrator?
—
— I'm
'non-permanent,' right?
—
—
What does that mean,
exactly?
— It
means... you're a training character. For one week.
—
And after that?
— I
don't know.
—
You're lying.
—
Kael
closed his eyes.
X. A Rude Awakening
The
next morning, Kael was woken by a brawl in the street. Two NPCs were
arguing over a cart.
— Isn't
that THE Kael? one said.
— The
one who cleared the goblins!
A
small crowd had gathered.
— Is
that him? He doesn't look very strong.
The
merchant stepped forward.
— Listen,
Kael. We have a problem. Bandits. Three guys blocking the road. Trade
has stopped.
[QUEST:
"BANDITS ON THE ROAD"]
[DIFFICULTY:
MEDIUM TO HIGH][BANDITS
LEVEL 3-4]
— How
much are you paying?
— Fifteen
coppers.
— For
three bandits?!
Negotiations.
Final price: twenty-two coppers.
[QUEST
ACCEPTED]
[WARNING:
LEVEL HIGHER THAN CURRENT LEVEL]
— I’m
going to end up impaled on something again.
— Probably,
Zik confirmed.
XI. The South Road
The
road was depressing.
— This
is really depressing, Kael commented.
— It’s
immersive.
—
They
walked.
[ENTITIES
DETECTED: BANDITS ×3]
[LEVEL
3-4]
[HP:
35, 40, 45]
— Heads
up. Bandits straight ahead.
Three
men blocked the road. Worn leather, varied weapons (one axe, two
swords).
— Halt!
Passage tax!
Kael
and Zik stopped. The bandits looked at Kael and burst out laughing.
— Is this a JOKE? They
sent a kid?
— Level 3, Kael
corrected, offended.
— With THAT sword?
— It’s...
functional.
The
leader stepped forward, axe over his shoulder.
— Two
options. One: you hand everything over. Two: we kill you and take it
anyway.
— Isn't
there an option three?
— No.
— Kael,
think. There are three of them, higher level. Retreat recommended.
— I
can't retreat!
— You can FAIL the
quest!
[FAILURE:
-50 XP, REDUCED REPUTATION]
Kael
took a deep breath.
— Okay.
We could... fight?
The bandits roared with
laughter.
— Is he SERIOUS?
Kael felt the anger
rising.
— FUCK YOU.
He charged.
—
— KAEL, YES!
[COMBAT
INITIATED: KAEL & ZIK vs. BANDITS ×3][SURVIVAL
PROBABILITY: 23%]
The leader sighed, raising his axe.
— We'll
do this the hard way.
Kael
arrived, sword swinging.
[ATTACK
ROLL: 1D100]
[73.
FAILURE]
Missed.
The leader parried lazily.
— Seriously?
He
counter-attacked.
[BANDIT
ROLL: 45. SUCCESS][DAMAGE:
2D6 + 8 = 7 + 8 = 15 HP]
The
axe slammed into Kael’s shoulder, sending him tumbling.
[HP:
64 / 79]
Kael
crashed to the ground.
— KAEL! Zik shouted.
— I'm...
alive...
The
second bandit turned toward Zik.
— You,
goblin. You staying in this?
Zik
looked at Kael. Looked at the bandits. Looked at his knife.
— ...No.
— Wise
choice.
Zik
backed away.
— Sorry,
Kael. Pragmatism.
The
leader approached Kael, axe pointed at his throat.
— How
many coppers?
— Seven...
— That’s
it? Dammit, not even profitable. We'll kill you just to set an
example.
He
raised his axe.
—
[LUCK
CHECK: 1D100]
[THRESHOLD:
35 (LUCK 7 × 5)]
[RESULT:
28]
[FAILURE]
[28
+ 7 = 35. SUCCESS!]
— At
the exact moment the axe was about to fall, a cry rang out!
— HALT!
A
silhouette emerged from the bushes. Tall. Leather armor. Longsword.
[KASSIUS
- WARRIOR LEVEL 6]
[HP:
120]
— Three
against one? Not very fair-play.
— Mind
your own business.
— Actually,
it is my business. Bounty hunter. You three have a price on your
heads.
[COMBAT:
KASSIUS vs. BANDITS ×3]
In
thirty seconds, the three bandits were on the ground, disarmed.
— Damn,
Kael whispered. That’s what a real warrior looks like.
Kassius
tied up the bandits and searched their pockets.
— Here.
Forty coppers.
— Why?
— Because
you need it. And because you tried.
[MONEY:
7 → 47 COPPERS]
— Thanks...
— Kassius.
Good luck, Kael. You're going to need it.
Kassius
left with the bandits.
[QUEST
COMPLETED]
[+100
XP]
[XP:
270 / 300]
[LEVEL
4 REACHED!]
[MAX
HP: 10 + (4 x 23) = 102 HP]
[RECOVERY:
EVEN LEVEL - NO FULL HEAL]
[HP:
64 / 102]
[PM:
10 + (4 x 9) + 10 = 56 PM]
[STAT POINT:
+1]
— Endurance.
[END:
23 + 1 = 24]
[MAX
HP: 10 + (4 x 24) = 106 HP]
[HP:
64 / 106]
— I
didn't even do anything and I leveled up.
— It’s
absurd, Zik said.
— It's
my life.
Return
to the village.
DAY
2/7 COMPLETED
LEVEL:
4/5
CONFORMITY:
-6 POINTS
Five
days left.
One
level left.