by R. A. Mejia
You’d learned the skill [Mining].
Mining
You’ve learned to pick something besides your nose. You’ve learned how to swing a pick and break up rocks to find valuable materials.
Novice Level 1
Bonus: You’re 1% more likely to find precious metals and stones while mining.
While I expected to get the skill from all the work I’ve been doing, it’s still nice to be rewarded with it. I take a break from my work to drink some water. While I’m cupping my hand to the stream coming down from the ceiling I also dunk my sweaty head into the water to cool it off. I hear a shriek from next to me, and when I pull my head out from under the stream, I see that I’ve splashed Mary with some of the water. Her hair is all wet and matted to her head. I can’t help but laugh at the sight of the sputtering fairy glaring at me. She looks like she got caught in a sudden shower without an umbrella. Mary doesn’t take kindly to my laughter, and she flies into the air to hit me with her tiny fists. I dodge out of the way and run back towards the wall with the copper but before I can take more than a few steps I feel something wrap around my feet and I fall to the ground. Having left the pick leaning next to the stone wall, my hands are thankfully empty, and I’m able to catch myself before I fall flat on my face. When I look down, I see that a mass of vines has grown out of the ground and wrapped itself around my feet. I look up to see a dark green glow fading from Mary’s hands and an angry look on her face. I recognize the spell now as [Nature’s Grasp] a spell she can use to trip up an opponent.
From my positioning on the ground, I raise my hands in surrender and tell her, “Look Mary, don’t be angry. It was an accident. I didn’t mean to splash you.” However, my pleading does me no good, and I have to lay there and suffer the many tiny blows of an angry fairy. I imagine the scene is rather funny to watch. At least that’s what I gather from the giggles I hear from Kitsune and Vrax. However, I can assure you that it’s not nearly as funny when you’re the one being pummeled. While Mary’s punches don’t hurt much, she knows where to hurt a guy, and she’s not afraid to strike there.
After a while, Mary cools off and stops her tantrum. She releases the spell that’s binding my legs with vines, and I’m able to crawl away. Mary just sniffs disdainfully and flies away, wringing out her hair and clothes as she goes. Kitsune is nice enough not to laugh as she heals me of the small bruises. Vrax isn’t as kind and advises laughingly, “Maybe we get Mary to train you to defend against fairy attacks sometime.”
Once I’m back up to full strength, I go back to mining and am able to mine out the rest of the copper in the stone wall after only a couple hours work. I raise my [Mining] skill up two levels and get ten fist size chunks of copper. Now I just have to figure what to do next.
I hear my stomach growl as I sit on the stone floor and think of the problem. Maybe it’s better to problem solve on a full stomach? So, I get up and walk over to the side of the room with the mushrooms and water. Vrax and Mary have already picked and cleaned the mushrooms, so all I have to do is cook them and the meat left as loot from the giant mole creature the dungeon master left us. I use Vrax’s stone knife to cut the breadbox-sized chunk of meat into thin strips and then lay them onto each of the broad Grey Feet mushrooms. The mushrooms heads are large enough that they can act as a type of tortilla and I curl the pungent mushroom around the meat, making an odd looking wrap. I cook the mushroom and the raw meat at the same time by spellwriting the ‘fire’ symbol and using directional symbols to send the heat to all the mushroom wraps at once. It eats up a bit of mana, but my [Cooking] skill doesn’t seem to care about the technical details since it goes up a level. By the time the mushroom wraps are fully cooked, they’ve taken on a crisp golden color, and the meat on the inside smells wonderful. There’s enough food that everyone is able to get four mushroom wraps each. My first bite into the wrap is interesting, my mind expected the mushroom to be crispy like a tortilla, but the texture is chewier. The meat on the inside has a bit of a gamey taste but it is still juicy and flavorful.
While I bite into my second mushroom wrap, I consider the problem of the copper. Even though I have the metal to work with, I lack any of the tools or know how to turn it into something useful. I mean, sure, I’ve seen those YouTube videos where those guys make weapons from popular video games and anime. But that doesn’t mean I actually know how they did it. That would be like seeing a chef make a gourmet dinner once and thinking you could do the same now. I wonder if the dungeon can teach me how to be a blacksmith? Maybe it can give me a skill book or something as a reward for beating a boss? I guess that’ll be something I can ask it tomorrow.
In the meantime, while everyone is enjoying the meal, we can talk about how that boss fight went. I start the conversation off the way all great speakers do. By nervously coughing into my fist to get everyone’s attention, “Well, now that everyone has had a chance to eat and relax a little, I’d like to talk about that last fight.” Everyone’s eyes are on me now. Vrax is still eating while he listens, but Kitsune has politely put down her food to give me her full attention. Mary’s mouth is full, and her cheeks are puffed out as she watches me. I have to stop myself from laughing out loud since she reminds me of a winged chipmunk preparing for winter. I continue, “Anyone have any comments or questions about the fight?”
Vrax raises his mushroom wrap in the air. I smile and nod at him. He asks, “Why shadow monster’s attacks make me hit less hard?”
I shrug since I don’t have any idea why that happened and tell him, “I noticed the same thing. Each time I got hit with a shadow claw, a feeling of icy coldness spread through my body and my punches seem to do a little less damage.”
Through a mouth full of food Mary tells us, “He probably debuffed you. There are lots of spells and abilities that lessen the effectiveness of attackers. Spellcasters use them a lot to take away some of the power from melee fighters.” Pointing at me directly she continues, “Your ice spell does something like that. It slows an attacker down.”
“Ok. Thanks for the info Mary. Anyone else have any other comments?”
Kitsune tentatively raises her hand in the air. I nod to her, and she says, “I’d like to thank Mary for saving me. Mr. Snuggle Butt came just in time to stop that shadow creature from killing me.”
I nod in agreement, “Yeah Mary, great work summoning your pet wolf in time to save Kitsune. I should have known smarter monsters would try to kill our healer. Maybe we should have the wolf summoned for every battle to guard you two?”
Mary gives Kitsune a thumbs up while she continues to stuff her face with food.
I look at each group member to see if anyone else wants to say anything, “If there are no other comments, then I’d like to congratulate everyone on not dying. Stevie Shadows was a surprisingly challenging monster to fight. Kitsune, you did a good job of keeping us all alive but don’t be afraid to yell out orders if you think we need to change tactics. Speaking of tactics, I think we need to have some call signs designated when we need to change battle strategies. Maybe something like yelling ‘Turtle defense’ to tell Vrax and I that we need to pull back and focus on defending Kitsune and Mary. Or ‘Hammer time’ to tell everyone to switch to blunt weapons. Any other suggestions?”
Kitsune raises her hand politely, and I tell her, “You don’t have to raise your hand Kitsune. Just say what you need to.”
She nods once acknowledging my comment, then turns to the rest of the group, “We need to talk more during a fight. I watched my father’s troops when I was growing up. They were always talking and telling each other things during a fight. Not only that but they taunted their enemies to distract them or draw their attention. I like the..,” she turns to me with a questioning look, “what did you call them again?” Then remembering the phrase, she goes on, “Oh, yes. ‘Call signs.' They’re useful, but we should also be calling out our own observations during the fight so that the others in the group can use the information.”
I scratch t
he back of my head and grin sheepishly, “Kitsune’s right. I figured out after the first couple strikes that the skeletal rats took less damage from my spear. I should have told you during the fight so we could have changed tactics.”
Kitsune claps her hand excitedly, making the sleeves of her kimono rustle, “Yes, that’s something my father used to say all the time to his soldiers. ‘Communication is the key to victory.’” After mentioning her father again, Kitsune’s clapping stops and her expression changes to one of muted sadness. Her eyes have a far off look, as if she’s remembering something. “He used to say a lot of things like that. I really didn’t understand it all before,” her eyes regain their focus, she glances at each of us and gives us a small smile before continuing, “but I think I’m starting to now.”
Mary flies to Kitsune’s shoulder and puts a comforting arm around her. I can tell Kitsune is a little sad, but I don’t have any idea what to do in this situation. Do I hug Kitsune? Do I tell a joke to try and lighten the mood? These emotional moments are so confusing to me. So, I just do what I know how to do, ignore it.
I raise my arms into the air and give a loud, badly faked, yawn and declare, “Oh, boy am I tired. Let’s work on this in the morning.” Then I scurry to the other side of the room and lay down with my back to Kitsune and Mary. I’m joined shortly by Vrax who curls up next to me without comment. While I lay there, I hear Mary and Kitsune talking softly. I can’t make out what they’re saying, but I hear an occasional sniffle. The soft sounds of their voices puts me to sleep before I know it.
Chapter 4.8
The next morning finds me waking up last. I yawn loudly, and genuinely, as I sit up from my place on the stone floor. I see that the other members of my group have already gathered together near the mushrooms and water. I get up and make my way over to the stream. I quickly rinse my face and hair. Then cup my hand to the water to try to rinse out some of the funk that seems to be sticking to my teeth.
After getting cleaned up, I make my way to the rest of the group, who are politely waiting for me. As I sit down, I see that they’ve already done all the prep work for breakfast. There’s no more meat, but the destemmed and cleaned mushrooms are already laid out, ready for me to cook. I spellwrite the arcane symbol for ‘fire’ and the symbols that will direct the heat to each mushroom. As I send my mana through the symbols, my mind wanders, and I wonder if magical cooking is a skill here. Maybe I could open a restaurant and have a kitchen full of magical cooks. Wind mages could mix up the batter and stir dishes with their wind spells. Earth mages could harvest fresh vegetables every day and chop them up with magical stone blades. Fire mages could do the baking and frying.
I’m pulled out of my revelry by Mary who yells, “Hey, you’re burning the food. Pay attention!”
I look down and see that the edges of the mushrooms are turning black and I cut off the mana I’m sending to the spell. I grin sheepishly and apologize to everyone. We eat in silence and try to ignore the char on my Cajun style mushrooms.
Shortly after finishing breakfast, the voice of the dungeon master echoes through the room, “YoHoHoHoHo! Good morning adventurers. I hope you slept well, because I have a much more challenging dungeon level for you to explore today.”
The room seems to vibrate slightly and the sound of grinding stone echoes in our closed room. When I turn around, I see that a square opening has appeared near the far wall. I get up to inspect the area and see that while dark, stone stairs lead down. No doubt taking us to the next level of the dungeon.
Well, we might as well get going. But before I forget, I look up and address the disembodied voice, “Pardon me, dungeon master.”
“Yes?” the voice asks.
Unsure of how to start, I figure it would be best to show my gratitude before I ask for a favor. “I’d first like to thank you for keeping your word and providing us with some nice crafting resources. From what I’m told you gave us some nice copper, already smelted and ready to be crafted into something.” Here’s hoping the dungeon master doesn’t get mad if I ask him for a favor, “However, I was wondering if you had the ability to give us a skill book on blacksmithing or something if we beat the next level boss? We just don’t have the technical knowledge to really do anything with the copper right now.”
There’s a pause, and I hope the dungeon master is considering my request and not powering up some life destroying spell, “Hmm, I see how that would be a problem for you. Tell you what. I have loads of skill and magic books just lying around gathering dust. If you’re extra entertaining today, I’ll grant your request.”
Surprised at his answer, I tell him honestly, “Thanks. You’re a pretty awesome dungeon master.”
“YoHoHoHoHo! Oh, don’t try to flatter me. You still have to clear the next level of the dungeon.”
That settled, Mary casts [Light], conjuring a globe of illumination and our group descends the stairs to the second level of the dungeon. Once the last of us leaves the stairs, they disappear, and the hole up to the first floor closes. The tunnels on the second level of the dungeon look almost identical to those of the first level.
I equip the weapon I have the highest skill at, the spear, and address the team, “Ok, team. We’ll take it slow while we explore and once we run into the first monsters, we’ll test out what weapons and magic work best on them. Remember what we talked about last night. Communicate what you find out, so the rest of us don’t repeat the work.”
I get nods from everyone, and I see Vrax take out the shortsword sheathed at his waist.
We walk down the tunnels of the second level and come to the first junction after only a few minutes. We can go left, right, or continue straight. We take the right path and find it turns right two more times before it dead ends. We retrace our steps back to the junction and take the left path this time. That tunnel only goes for another thirty feet before ending at a wall with a red jewel set into it and a large metal ring below it.
Puzzled by what we’ve found I ask, “Is it me, or does this look weird?”
From above me, I hear Mary agree, “No, something isn’t right. Be careful.”
I signal for the group to stay where they are, about ten feet back from the wall and move forward. I carefully examine the floor, walls, and ceiling as I slowly walk towards the jewel and ring. I examine the ruby red jewel and large metal ring set in the center of the door but don’t see any hidden triggers or traps. I have the uneasy feeling I’ve missed something but put my hand forward to grasp the ring. Nothing happens, so I pull hard on the ring and find that it pulls back with me away from the door. The red jewel lights up, and I hear a grinding sound from above. I look up and see an opening appear above us. Two figures drop from the ceiling, landing between my team and me. The figures land with a clatter and I see that they’re two human skeletons clothed in bits of rotting leather armor. Each of them has a sword in its hands, and their eyeless heads bob back and forth between the rest of the group and me, likely trying to decide who to attack first.
Instead of letting the skeletons decide, I yell out, “Don’t wait for me. Attack!”
I take my own advice and activate my spear ability [Thrust]. The spear in my hands suddenly accelerates and the spear tip slams into the nearest skeleton with an audible crack.
Damage dealt: 5 (Thrust)
My special attack pushes one of the skeletons back a pace but doesn’t do nearly as much damage as it should. I call out, “Darn it. These guys are resistant to piercing damage.”
Vrax does damage: 4
“They’re resistant to Vrax’s slashing too,” Mary shouts, then she giggles and yells out, “Hammer Time!”
I smile at hearing the phrase and drop my spear. I can hear the clang from where the rest of my group is fighting, but the skeletons between us prevent me from seeing anything else. I have to duck under an awkward horizontal slash from the skeleton in front of me as I move in to attack. I strike with a combination of punches to the torso of the skeleton.