Book 2: Chapter 1: A Jaunt Through the Woods.

Book 2: Chapter 1: A Jaunt Through the Woods.

Within the Sain forest, a myriad of flora and fauna flourishes, captivating the attention of those who delve into the alchemic arts. But to journey beneath the darkened canopy of the forest is to be tested and to come to a deeper understanding of one's place within the natural world. It is an experience of profound humility.

- The Fanciful Travels by Beron de Laney 376 AC.

Elwin died, then Kidu soon after, slain by my own hand. The wavy form of my dagger was bloody with their life essence, as a testament to my sin.

Faltering for a moment, I snapped out of a vision that seemed far too real to be an idle thought or daydream. It was nearing noon, with the glorious sun high in the sky. A stark contrast to the earlier darkness I had experienced. Like pilgrims, my companions and I walked our first steps along the path of legend. And, like the heroes of old, I felt that we were answering the call to adventure.

As we journeyed further away from Ansan, the Jewel of the Grieving Lands, the road eventually turned into a simple track of dirt, then finally into an animal trail as we came closer to the great Sainba forest proper. Under the newfound leaves of my optimism lurked thoughts of my encounter with the wailing woman in Ansan.

I focused my mind and made a mental list. Essentially, we had four objectives, three of which were to find River Root and Moon Moss for the Guild and to gather some Broomhead mushrooms for the eccentric alchemist Hamsa. Finally, we had to slay some fearsome River Lurkers to harvest their hides. A romantic part of me that followed me from adolescence forgot about the rather pedestrian request to gather herbs and envisaged us accomplishing awesome deeds and vanquishing terrible foes.

I wasn’t particularly looking forward to engaging the terrifying lizards in close quarters so I would probably rely on my magic and Kidu’s longbow to do most of the damage. The throwing knives at my waist probably wouldn’t even irritate the beasts and I resolved to buy myself a more powerful ranged weapon. Sighing, I wish I could have afforded the exotic crossbow from the market.

Just before we entered the Sainba proper we paused for Kidu to string his massive longbow. Even for the giant, it proved a difficult task and he was red in the face when he finished. The poundage on the bow must have been phenomenal and the string tougher than wired steel. The merchant did, after all, describe the string as spider silk from this very forest and I prayed in my heart that they were not of the giant variety.

Once more under the dense boughs of the giant trees, I could feel some sort of energy, or electricity, in the air, like the portentous pressure before a wild storm. Kidu led us now, the wild calls of the animals and birds banishing the last echoes of civilization, as we ventured deep into the dark forest. Elwin was constantly scanning the greenery, his keen eyes looking for the moss that apparently grew on the bark of the giant trees as he took a position at our rear. I led our new donkey, Patches, gently at the center of our small formation. So affectionate was the intelligent donkey that I doubted I truly needed the new leather harness. In all honesty, I felt a little useless as I had almost no knowledge of any applicable bushcraft skills.

Tapping the large man on the shoulder and raising my hand for Elwin, I called for a pause as I checked my status. I knew well from experience that the great Sainba forest was as wild and as dangerous as it was both beautiful and mysterious.

Health230/230 Stamina49/55 Mana6/15

Even as heavily armored as I was, my Stamina was in a good place and I didn’t feel overly encumbered in my gear. I surmised that this was probably due to my higher Constitution, Strength, and Heavy Armor skill. However, with my Mana at just over a third, I was sorely tempted to drink my expensive Mana potion when a flash of inspiration hit me. If my Drain spell worked on living things, then it stood to reason that it would work also on the giant trees that surrounded us.

Elwin, as always, was glad for the short rest and gratefully flopped down onto the forest floor. Kidu continued to look around, remembering to search upwards as well for threats among the viridian vegetation. I locked eyes with Kidu and a silent communication passed between us. Nodding to me, he unslung his bow and drew an arrow fletched in black feathers from the quiver at his side.

Focusing on the dark energy that had grown in the depths of my soul, I silently drew upon the power of the vampiric spell Drain and targeted the nearest giant of a tree. Dark tendrils and threads of midnight latched hungrily across its mighty trunk, passing through the bark and searching for life energies.

Instantly I felt invigorated as the black threads began to pump vital energy into me, and I delighted in the sensation. My Mana steadily rose and, wishing to accelerate the process, I began to cast another Drain spell on a different tree, whose mighty branches reached up into the heavens.

I exulted in the heady feeling of power that was flowing through me. My Mana rose steadily, then accelerated as the spell siphoned even more vital energy to me. Like a conductor orchestrating a symphony, I waved the thin threads of darkness this way and that, latching them onto new trees before I cast Entropic Aura as an experiment.

A pulse of entropic darkness all but exploded from me, causing the vegetation to wilt and droop slightly as the dark waves pulsed. Out of the corner of one eye, I could see that the dark energies passed harmlessly through my companions and their possessions and I reveled in my mastery.

Sure enough, the threads that were attached to the trees within the Aura pulsed thicker. Within the bounds of the spell, the rate of energy pumping into me was increased and the sibilant dark whispers grew more jubilant.

Kidu remained at a guard position to protect me, keeping watch for anything that could disturb my arcane ritual. Within minutes, instead of hours, my Mana had risen to thirteen points, so I reined in my magic as if it were an unruly hound. I gave Kidu a nod, and we recommenced our journey. I was surrounded by living batteries of delectable power. I was rewarded for this new discovery with a new level in my Drain spell and ten points of experience that put me tantalizingly close to level eleven. I itched to kill something, just to get that last bit of experience.

I joined my companions in scanning the forest, although for a much different reason - looking for something to kill.

*

In a valiant show of martial skill, Kidu shot another arrow that scored a light furrow along its snout, bloodying its nose and the animal shook its head in pain and confusion. Showing bravery I never knew I had, I charged the creature and launched a Power Strike at the lizard’s scaly head. That I was flying into danger was forgotten in the heat of the moment, as the dark whispers urged me on to greater heights of violence.

Half-stunned by the impact, the Karilla was unable to dodge the next attack. The blow drew a dark arc before the “mace” part of my flail squarely hit the side of its skull in an explosion of loose scales and blood. The striking head of the flail wrapped under its snout and struck its lower jaw with the deadly spiked head.

The terrifying beast was tough, however, and simply refused to die as it reflexively turned around to swish its long supple tail in my direction, sweeping me clean off my feet as it impacted my kite shield. I felt no pain but I still took minor damage to my health. The psychological impact was, however, immense, and I suddenly grew fearful. The last vestiges of my earlier confidence left me as I desperately scrambled up to my feet, forced to pit myself against the raw strength of the scaled monster.

The creature, however, in its stupidity, did not press the advantage and, instead, charged after Kidu, who shouldered his bow, drew his boar spear and braced himself to receive its charge. Surely enough, the creature impaled itself upon Kidu’s spear, the winged lugs of the weapon preventing the Karilla from running up the shaft and reaching the massive Hunter. Its struggles to rend and tear the large man only served to widen its own wounds.

In a whirl of motion, from a significant distance away, Elwin let loose a volley of four knives that fanned out and impacted all along the Karilla’s flanks and sides, but they did not penetrate deeply. Inspired by this, I hooked my flail back to my belt and drew two throwing knives with my gauntleted left hand.

I held both knives in the same hand, the handles of both weapons touching each other, the blades at the opposite ends of my hand. I then threw the knives in quick succession, first with an overhand throw and the next with a flick of the wrist, underhand, at the center mass of the large creature. After initiating the skill in my mind my Stamina was drained suddenly by five points. Although my blades embedded themselves into the natural armor across its back, I doubted they did any noticeable damage.

The Karilla was beginning to weaken now with the accumulation of all the minor wounds and the damage it was inflicting on itself by trying to reach the wildman as he slowly retreated.

My magic, too, was taking its toll. Bolstered by my Entropic Aura, the tendrils of my Decay spell grew thicker as they attacked the areas around its open wounds, causing the faint smell of rot to cloud the air. All the while, my Drain spell continued to energize me as it leached away at its life and restored my Health

Despite this, Kidu was getting pushed back by the raw strength and weight of the animal. His face was a picture of desperate exhaustion as he grudgingly gave ground, playing for time and forcing the creature to expend even more of its Strength in the contest.

It was all too much for the monster. After a few more seconds, Kidu, with impressive innate skill, sensed that the monster had been weakened enough, ripped out his spear with a splurt of arterial blood, and stabbed it cleanly through one of its eyes. The maw of the great lizard gave out a muffled sigh as the rest of its body finally realized that it was dead, though its tail still twitched in denial.

I quickly dispelled all of my magic, not wanting to damage the remains of the creature, as I was met with more notifications from my UI.

You have slain a Karilla 30 experience gained.

You have gained 1 Strength

You have learned Medium Armor (lvl.2)

You have learned Heavy Armor (lvl.3)

You have learned Maces (lvl.2)

You have learned Silent Casting (lvl.2)

You have learned Double Throw (lvl.1)

You have reached level 11.

3 unassigned attribute points.

1 unassigned skill point.