The Grey Druidess, page 6
I took a closer look at the first goblin, trying to get an idea of how strong it was, and was able to get some information from it, as well as a new skill.
Goblin Scout, Level 3, Health 40/75. By itself, this would present little threat to you, especially in its wounded condition.
DING: You have learned a new skill, Appraisal. This skill allows you to determine strength of living things (and unliving things, as well), giving you more information with as your skill increases.
There were five of them, and with a quick appraisal, I saw they were all in roughly the same condition and of the same level as the scout. With only Shadow and I on our side, it would be difficult, but I think, with the element of surprise, and with the raiding party already wounded (I could see the wounds on them, including one with a broken arm), I thought it was not only possible, but probable. And, more importantly, although I probably wouldn’t admit this to anyone or anything, I needed to show the world that I. WAS. NOT. CUTE!
Whew. With that little mental outburst out of the way, I prepared myself. Which in this case was silently casting Earth Infusion on my staff, and then preparing to cast Nature’s Seed at the lead goblin, while motioning to Shadow to attack when I did.
As the saying goes, the best laid plans of mice, men, and cute little half-orc/halflings often go awry, as when I cast Nature’s Seed, it backfired, again.
Magical Backfire: Your low skill level, and your attempt to cast a difficult spell resulted in a backfire. You are unable to cast any magic for the next six hours, and once again, have a big headache.
Fortunately, I wasn’t stunned this time, but the surge of magic did alert the lead goblin. Shadow took care of that, though, as she howled, and pounced, almost cat-like, on the lead goblin and bit a huge gouge in its neck, tearing it almost completely through. One goblin down, four to go.
I, for my part, waded in with my staff, and with my new found skill in Staves, as well as my Power Attack ability, did not use it like a trusty Louisville Slugger, but instead like a proper staff. I managed to parry a few blows, dodge another few, took some hits, and dished out more, and with Shadow’s help, we managed to take care of the goblins with only minor injuries. I ended up exhausted, though, with my stamina almost drained, from my use of Power Attack, but that definitely made a big difference in the force of the hits. This was partially due to luck, and partially due to skill, but I’ll take it any day of the week.
Also fortunate in that I was stuck, magic-less, for the next six hours, and unable to heal any injuries we received. Fortunate in that we did not receive any major injuries, that is.
I gained two ranks in Staves, learned a new skill, Dodge, and another new skill, Parry, and thanked my lucky stars that I had Shadow with me. Between the goblins, we also managed to gather 15 gold coins, 23 silver coins, and 153 copper. That was in addition to various bits and pieces that made it look like they had just raided some sort of village, including what looked to be a mayoral scepter of office. I pocketed that, it would likely come in useful later.
And, of course, some experience; between the five goblins, I netted 375 XP. Still a long way from another level, but every journey begins with a single step, or some sort of hokey words of ‘wisdom’ like that.
More importantly, though, I proved to myself that I was not cute.
Shadow and I moved away from the site of the battle, certain that the bodies of the goblins would attract predators, so we went a further three miles down the river, and while I was on the lookout, and listen-out for any further raiding parties, we didn’t run into any trouble. With the sun setting, and only a single moon rising, it was time to stop for the night.
I found a secluded spot not far from the river, but hidden enough in the brush and by the terrain that I felt would make a somewhat safe campsite. I laid out my bedroll, ate some of the cooked rabbit meat we still had, fed some to Shadow, washed myself with the cold river water, and settled in for the night. With only Shadow and I, there was no way to set a watch, but I trusted in Shadow to alert me if anything came near our campsite. Shadow curled up beside me, again keeping me warm with her body heat, and this time, I passed out into a dreamless lumber, only waking slightly to read and dismiss the single notification I had left.
DING: Your bond with your animal companion has increased by two steps from Tenuous, through Weak, to Growing, as a result of becoming battle companions, and continued feeding and care as well as giving your companion a name she approves of. Your bond is still subject to being broken with enough negative actions, but it is significantly more secure than it was before. You have gained the ability to better communicate your requests and directions with your companion.
I smiled dreamily and with that happy thought, I fell back asleep. Nothing else disturbed Shadow and I, and this made the second night in a row of good, solid sleep. Things were looking up.
Chapter 10: Ho, The Village!
The next morning, I broke our fast with some rabbit meat and trail rations. Note to self: going to need some veggies and fruits, or risk a case of Scurvy. Scurvy, there’s something that doesn’t come up in conversation all that often. Sometimes I thought this game was too realistic, and then I remember that it might not be a game, it just might be real.
Shadow and I continued marching along the river, trying to stay near it, but not too close, to avoid any broken ground or swampy terrain. We were mostly successful, and by mid-morn, I could see smoke rising in the distance. At first, I thought it might be smoke from chimneys, but as we ventured closer and closer, it looked to be far too much smoke for that.
Soon, I could see what looked like a village rising in the distance, but parts of the village were on fire. It looked to me like someone, or something had just attacked this village, and with the goblin raiding party I had just ran into the previous day, I was pretty sure I knew exactly what.
When I got close enough to be noticed, I saw a small wall, perhaps six feet high, surrounding the village, with many gaps, and broken parts of it visible on this side of the village, and no telling what the rest of the wall I couldn’t see looked like. There were fires still burning, but the chain of villagers bringing water via buckets from the river told me they had it mostly under control.
Of more immediate concern, at least to me, was the small force of four guardsmen, armed with spears and wearing chainmail armor (albeit partially torn and bloody) who approached me, and in a cliché in almost every fantasy novel I had ever heard, yelled at me from perhaps fifty yards away, “Halt! Who goes there?”
“Hello, the village” I said, “I am but a traveler and my companion, looking for a place to rest and recover from some battles. I see, though, that you have suffered as well. Might I ask, was it goblins?”
The lead guardsman advanced towards me, his spear no longer pointed directly at me, but still ready should he need it. “We just suffered a goblin raid, yes, so you can understand our caution. Who are you, and what do you know of the goblins?” he directed his question at me, with but a glance at Shadow, who, true to her name, was right by my side.
“As I said, a traveler, but as for the goblins, I escaped from their lair not too many days ago, and recently had a small battle with one of their raiding parties. I think I might have something that belongs to your village, as well,” I said, as I took out the mayoral scepter I had recovered from one of the goblins.
“Aye, that is ours. Come with me, you can tell your story to our acting Mayor. The previous one, well, you look like you recovered his badge of office. He didn’t give it up willingly.” And with that, the lead guardsman led me through the rubble of what remained of the village. Some buildings were burnt, some destroyed, and some still standing, although even those showed signs of damage.
We arrived near what had been the center of the village, from the looks of it, and also what looked to be some sort of town hall. In ruins now, with red embers still glowing amidst the rubble. I had encountered the raiding party, or at least one of the raiding parties, late afternoon yesterday, so the battle had to have taken place early in the day yesterday. That they were still trying to put out fires from the aftermath was truly a statement as to how fierce the fighting must have been.
The guardsman walked me up to a tall human with dusky skin, and a full mop of hair, still dressed in his leather armor, and still with bloodstains on his armor, as well as a gash upon his arm that had been hastily bandaged, from the looks of it. “Ragnar”, he said, “this young lady has something of ours, and perhaps some information.”
With that, the guardsman stepped aside, and Ragnar, apparently the leader of the village, looked at me questioningly and said “What is it you need, as you can see it is…. hectic here?”
I pulled out the scepter, and explained that I had found it on a raiding party of goblins, which I had killed when I came upon them. His eyebrows went up, in almost a surprised manner, and he took a better look at me, the tall staff I carried, and the dried bloodstains on my clothing that I had not been able to remove.
“Huh. You seem to be more than you look at first glance. I’ll take that, though, if you’re offering?” he said as he looked me over. I handed over the scepter, as it was rightfully theirs (and since an earlier Appraisal had led me to believe it was not worth much, other than as a symbol of office).
HIDDEN QUEST COMPLETION: Defend the Village of River’s Edge from The Goblins, Part I: By returning the mayoral scepter to the acting leader of the Village of River’s Edge, you have completed the first part of this quest. You gain 500 XP from this. New EXP: 1875/3000
“Interesting,” I thought to myself, “that implies there are more parts to this.” And sure enough, with his next words, Ragnar offered me the second part of this quest
“Perhaps, as you have clearly proven yourself in battle against these goblins, you would be willing to help us cull the local goblin tribe?” he offered. “We would be willing to pay a silver piece per goblin ear you brought back, as proof of your deeds. I’d offer more, but they raided our treasury, as well”
As I heard that, I guiltily thought of the coins I had taken from the goblins. Should I give those back, I wondered?
QUEST ALERT: Defend the Village of River’s Edge from The Goblins, Part II: Kill at least 50% of the goblins in the goblin tribe that raided River’s Edge. Reward for Success: 1000 XP, Increased reputation with the Village of River’s Edge, and payment for each goblin ear recovered. Penalty for Failure: Decreased reputation with River’s Edge.
I mentally accepted the quest, and then looked at Ragnar, and said “I do have a solution for your treasury problem. I gathered these coins from the goblins I slayed, and it appears they are yours.” With that, I handed all the coins from the goblins I killed.
DING: By returning the coins to River’s Edge, you have greatly increased your reputation with the village and the villagers. River’s Edge Reputation +500
The look on his face was one of shock, as I don’t suspect he expected anyone to return those, and certainly not what most would consider rightfully theirs, as the spoils of battle. Or as many people would say, Finders Keepers, Losers Weepers. I felt it was worth it, though, especially as I saw the devastation throughout the village.
“Thank you, thank, I cannot thank you enough” Ragnar exclaimed, and handed me five of the gold coins back. “This is not much, but we can spare at least something for someone who has done such for us, and I will make word of your deeds known.”
“Also,” he continued, “ask Algero for what little information he can give you of the lair where the goblins hide when not making raids on the countryside. Tell him I sent you.” He then directed one of the guardsmen standing nearby to show me where Algero was, and I followed him through the village.
As we walked, I asked the guardsman, whose name I learned was Corin, how often the goblins raided. He answered that normally, perhaps once a year, but that the attacks had been increasing in the past six months. I also asked him if there was anywhere in the village I could acquire some basic equipment. He looked at me and said, “Normally, I’d direct you to Delfor’s, he runs the general store, but we all got hit pretty hard yesterday, I don’t know what he has left. Might as well try there anyhow.”
I left it at that, as we arrived to our destination, and after a quick introduction, I started talking with Algero, who turned out to be a dwarf. I had thought this was a mostly human village, and as it turned out, I was right, but he, and his family were the sole exception.
“Ayup, I used to live in the hills wit’ me family and fellow dwarves. The goblins,” he spit as he said that, “drove us out, and me family settled here. I gots ta hand it to the humans, dey took me in, and been nothing but kind ta me an’ me kin.”
“Been told ya gonna to hunt down the goblins, them rat bastards” he continued. “If that’s true, I kin give ya a decent map o’ wut I know o’ their lair, and mebbe something else.” He looked me up and down, and then peered even more closely at me. “Ayup, I think ya might be the one,” he said as he handed me an amulet.
I took it, of course, but asked him “What do you mean? The one? And what is this?”
“Welp, I had me some dreams the past few weeks, and sumtin’ came ta me in those dreams, telling me dat someone would come to take care o’ dem rat bastards. Normally, I jest ignore me dreams, but these, well, these were a bit more, if’n ya know wot I mean. Plus, me missus had the same dreams, and both of us pictured some little thing, more or less jess like you, bringing fire and death down ‘pon the goblins. Can’t be no coincidence. Plus, the dreams always had a big shaggy dog in them, jess like ya got there.” He stopped speaking, as if he realized how much he said, and he looked as if he was not used to saying more than one or two words at a time.
I thanked him, and he left with a “Jess be careful” as he wandered off to help with restoring the village. Shadow gave him a short chuff, as well, as a means of thanks.
Time to take a look at the amulet he gave me, I thought to myself, as I studied it more closely.
Goblin Slayer’s Token: This amulet gives a 10% bonus to damage for any attacks on goblins and their kin. Additionally, it provides 10% damage reduction for attacks from goblins and their kin. Maybe we could start calling you Andrea, the Goblin Slayer. That has a nice ring to it!
Used to the snark from the notifications by now, it still made me wonder if this was a game, or was it real. There was plenty of evidence that this was real, but that snark, it seemed like, well, like something that some game designer or coder would put in, rather than something in a real world.
I scratched Shadow on the back, as she walked next to me, and we headed towards where the guardsman had said I might find Delfor’s store. Again, I noticed that the village was not doing well, although the people seemed to be taking it in stride. Hardworking common folk used to this, would be my best guess, although Corin the guardsman did say that the attacks had been increasing lately. I’ll have to see if I can put a stop to that, I suppose.
Surprisingly, Delfor’s General Store did not seem to be too worse for the wear. The eponymous owner was in there, and as I walked in, he introduced himself to me, and I, him. It was a fruitful visit, and I came out of there with better equipment than I started, mostly in the way of armor, along with a warm cloak, and, of course, more trail rations, which I was able to supplement with some dried fruits and nuts, as well. Didn’t want to have to worry about scurvy, as I mentioned earlier.
Nothing magical, sadly, as that seemed to be in short supply, and when I asked him about learning magic, or spell scrolls, or anything along those lines, he just chuckled and said that a small village like River’s Edge would never have anything like that. The closest they had to magic was the village priest, who had been killed in yesterday’s raid, so they were even lacking that, now. One thing I did take from the conversation is that it seemed like spell casters, and other magical types were in short supply in the world, and thinking back to my Arcane Mage ability, made me wonder again exactly what had happened when I came to this world, or got stuck in the game, or whatever had happened to bring me here.
Reinforced Leather Doublet: This armored shirt is made of thick leather, reinforced with metal studs in some spots, resulting in a set of upper body armor that is not too constricting and provides some level of protection. It also provides a level of warmth equivalent to a heavy shirt. Armor +10, 3 points Damage reduction, +1 level of protection versus cold.
Soft Leather Tassets and Greaves: Made of soft leather to ensure no restriction of movement, this is better than wearing a chainmail bikini. Armor +5, 1 point damage reduction.
Reinforced Leather Boots: Made with a strong but flexible sole, and no metal, these boots do not interfere with quiet movements, but provide protection from treacherous terrain, as well as spike traps. Armor +2.
Woodlands Cloak: A heavy, but comfortable cloak made of wool, designed to protect from the elements, this cloak, with its mixture of gray, brown and green coloration, also blends into any wooded or stone environment. +3 levels of protection against cold, +1 to stealth when in appropriate terrain.
I didn’t end up spending much coin, either, as prices seemed to be based on the silver system, rather than the gold system. That is, what would cost one gold in most games seemed to cost one silver here. It definitely gave me solid perspective on the coins I had returned for the village’s treasury, as well as the reward Ragnar had given to me.
I thought about finding an inn or tavern for the night, but as it was still just after noon, and given the current state of the village, I thought that would be fruitless, and instead decided to begin my journey to the goblin lair. No time like the present, I suppose.
I bid my farewells to Ragnar, letting him know what I had planned to accomplish, and passed through the gate of the village (or what had used to be the gate, but was now broken, and laying on the ground). Word of what I had returned to River’s Edge must have made its way to the guardsman, as they all honored me with a respectful salute. After refilling my waterskins at the river, I moved away from it, not wanting to follow the same tracks as I had earlier, but going in the same direction, based on what I knew of the goblin’s location, as well as what the map told me.
