by Tao Wong
Grumbling to himself, Daniel casts a beseeching look to Asin who hands over her portion too before they receive confirmation that they are now assigned to the requests with a 3-day completion requirement.
“This is rather nice isn’t it?” Daniel makes conversation the next morning as they head out of the North gate. Asin provides unspoken agreement by running ahead of him and then squatting down to grab a handful of newly bloomed flowers in her hands, the yellow and pink flowers contrasting with her black fur. She sniffs them and then slides one into her brooch before offering the other to Daniel.
A shake of his head makes her wrinkle her nose, her whiskers bouncing around at the motion before she drops the flower and joins Daniel as he walks.
“So, we got to find a Shadow Cat and an Owlbear that have come too close to town and are threatening the farmers in the area,” Daniel muses before glancing at his companion. “Do you have any tracking skills?”
Asin pauses, tilting her head up and then sniffs disdainfully at Daniel and continues on.
“Is that a yes?” Daniel queries, and not getting an answer, hurries up to catch up with her. He’s hoping that’s a yes. It is a 40 silver deposit they’ve put down already and while he has some minor experience in the woods himself, he would not call himself a tracker. When he asks again, all he gets is silence so he lets the topic drop. The rest of the walk is finished in companionable silence, both parties enjoying the nice change of pace as the Spring sun shines down on them with the just the barest hint of cold in the air from the night before.
The pair have walked for hours, taking them from the outskirts of the city where farmers work towards the edge of the settled lands that border Karlak. Here, gentle rolling hills dotted with large farms worked by dedicated farmers have transformed into smaller farms where pioneers work to build their lives. Many of the farms in this part of the world are small, the space between each farm large, and most are threadbare in their fittings with a single building. Many of these farmers would have stabled their animals in their houses themselves, both as a safety precaution and to add additional heat to their dwellings. Now, with snow gone, they are hard at work felling new trees for fences, wood and just to extent their plots.
“This is where the quest says the Cat was last seen,” Daniel gestures around the forest which just gets another disdainful sniff from Asin. Using the map provided by Liev at the Guild and his Mapping proficiency, Daniel has been able to guide them to the appropriate spot unerringly.
Asin prowls away from Daniel, walking in a slow circle as she stares at the ground and occasionally sniffs at the air, taking over now that they are close to the monster. Daniel sighs and falls silent, letting her get to work as he pulls his shield off his back.
It’s a few minutes later when she gestures for him to follow. The two begin walking into the woods, Daniel following after Asin when she turns and points to his feet and then her ears, hissing at him in disapproval. Daniel grimaces and tries to walk quieter, though the glare he gets from absolutely silent Catkin tells him how well he is doing.
After a few hours, Daniel realises there is a reason why these quests paid so well - spending hours tramping through the woods not killing anything was significantly less interesting than the Dungeon itself. For Adventurers who craved excitement and adventure, tramping through the undergrowth was less than rewarding. Thankfully, Asin seems to know what she is doing, or at least she seems confident extremely confident to Daniel as she follows a trail that only she is able to see.
Unfortunately for them, a certain city dweller’s heavy feet has given their prey more than sufficient warning. The Shadow Cat has doubled back, crawling up a large oak tree and crouched on it, waiting for its prey to arrive. Watching the two cross below it, the Cat makes the decision to attack the larger of the two and launches itself from its perch, smashing into Daniel with its claws. One claw catches on Daniel’s shield, the other on his armour as the beast knocks him to the ground. Claws rip into him and a paw rises to finish the foolish Adventurer.
The paw never completes its journey, a thrown knife slamming into the fast moving limb. Hurt and angered, the Cat shifts to snarl at its new assailant which gives Daniel enough time and leverage to throw it off his body with a heave. Rolling back onto his knees, Daniel throws a clumsy and hasty swipe of his mace to force the Cat to back off. The Cat lands on its injured paw, hissing in pain as the blade drives deeper and Daniel is able to stand fully and bring his shield up on guard, bloodied but alive.
The Cat lets out a low rumbling growl, assessing the two creatures before it, taking careful steps backward into the shadows that surround the trees above it. A second knife tumbles through the air, but the Cat is gone, fading into the shadows before their eyes. Daniel moves to place a nearby tree to his back, shield held up to guard himself and Asin moves to join him, both Adventurers awaiting the next attack. No attacks come and after a time, Daniel squats to begin healing the deep cuts in his back and across the back of his head as Asin moves around the clearing carefully to see if she can pick up traces of the creature. When Daniel has finished healing himself, she beckons him over, pointing to the trail of blood that she has found.
Together, the two follow the trail, eyes peeled for danger. After an hour of careful navigation, they come across a slow-moving river where the trail stops. Snarling in anger, Asin moves up and down the river and even crosses it, attempting to pick up the trail again but is unable to do so. The Cat is gone and hours of further searching yields no further result. Disappointed, they make camp for the evening and realising that they no longer have a lead, decide to switch targets to the Owlbear. Perhaps the Cat will make itself know while they deal with the Owlbear.
Chapter 20
The Owlbear’s lair is a simple cave hidden in a depression surrounded by trees, the perfect place for the creature to have found. Outside, there are scattered bones from its recent meals of stolen sheep and larger bones of a bear - the cave’s former occupant. For a time, the pair of Adventurers watch the Owlbear’s cave to ensure the monster is alone before ascertaining their plan. Of course, since neither are tactical geniuses, their plan is simplistic in the utmost.
Daniel moves to the depression, shield and mace at the ready. Once he’s set, he strikes the mace against his shield boss, drawing the creature out. The strikes are loud in the forest, drawing the ire of the monster. When the Owlbear lumbers out, Daniel pales at the sight of the 9-foot-tall feathered monstrosity whose front limbs end in paws instead of eagle claws. Yet, the humanoid body structure and face itself is that of a bear, with only vestigial wings at its back.
As the Owlbear roars, daggers flash forward one after the other to sink into the creature’s flesh. The blades are targeted to the creature’s softer underbelly, the Owlbear’s tiny inset eyes too difficult a throw for the hidden Asin. Instead, she goes for quantity over quality, injuring the creature and distracting it as Daniel rushes forward.
Ducking beneath the first paw strike, Daniel targets a knife that is stuck in the creature’s body and drives it deeper with his blow. He keeps moving, getting out of range of the return attack, forcing the Owlbear to turn to chase him. Another knife flashes out, taking the creature in the back but failing to draw its attention away from Daniel.
Daniel ducks the first lurching strike and blocks the second on his shield, using the opening to smash against the claw. The Owlbear hisses, ducking forwards with its head to bite Daniel. Fetid breath from rotting flesh stuck in its teeth miss Daniel by inches as Daniel ducks to the side, swinging a backhand strike to the creature’s muzzles. The combatants are too close for thrown weapons now, so Asin instead rushes forwards on silent feet and launches herself with daggers extended, landing on the monster’s back and allowing her own clawed feet and daggers to dig into the monster.
The creature roars in anger and rears back, the Owlbear’s claws unable to reach its new assailant as it attempts to reach back. Daniel matches the roar, raising his mace high to smash down
with all his strength on the creatures exposed chest. The Owlbear’s bones are surprisingly brittle, and Daniels mace sinks deep into the creature’s chest. The unexpected lack of resistance forces Daniel off-balance for a brief moment and a rotating claw catches him high up on his shoulder, ripping muscles and tendons apart as Daniel loses grip of his weapon.
Daniel stumbles away, catching the next strike by reflex on his shield but is sent sprawling to the ground. Behind, Asin uses the dagger to repeatedly stab the monster in its neck, who gurgles as blood rushes into its throat. In a desperate attempt to kill at least one of its assailants, it stomps down at Daniel who rolls away, the attack tearing his back open. Strength finally gone, the Owlbear collapses forwards, forcing Asin to throw herself into a roll to escape harm.
Daniel groans, lying on his back and focusing on healing his wounds with his mana. The monster’s claws were sharp and the creature strong, shredding the hardened leather armour on his back as if it was paper. “Why am I the one who always gets hit?”
Asin does her version of a laugh, chuffing as she takes the loot from the monster. She points to herself as she finishes pocketing the mana stone and claws, “Fast. Smart,” her hands come up to point at Daniel and she finishes, “Strong. Slow.”
Daniel snorts, rotating his shoulder as he finishes healing and stands up, “You’re just using me as a meat shield.”
She chuffs more and then points back into the woods before continuing, “Cat?”
Daniel nods, heading back to their backpacks, “Yeah. Though I think we need a new plan.”
She nods in agreement, jade eyes narrowing as she remembers the Shadow Cat had counter stalked them and managed to run away even with one of her daggers in its paw. She really liked that dagger too.
A couple of days later, the two are standing in the Guild Hall, handing in the claws of the Owlbeast as proof of their success. They are dejected however, their various plans to deal with the Shadow Cat from using bait to laying crudely built traps a failure. It is only on the last day, when they are headed back do they hear of a good lead but by then, it is too late. Only once more did they come across a pair of tracks, but Asin had waved them off, fearing that the creature was likely luring them to a trap again.
“Cat got the better of you?” Liev chuckles softly, handing them their pay and half their deposit back. The glum nods makes Liev chuckle. “It’s okay, those things are tough. Really, Rangers are the only ones who stand a chance finding those Cats.”
“You could have told us that earlier,” Daniel mentally groans but when he takes the coins, he has to smile at the new pop-up.
Quest Completed
Hunt the Owlbear (1/1)
2,000 XP Received
Level Up!
Adventurer Level 5
You have gained 5 attribute points
At the happy purr from Asin attests, she probably received the same quest completion. Well, Daniel thinks, there might be at least one other reason to complete quests.
With a little bit of time on his hands, Daniel walks into the training grounds for the first time in months, marvelling at how little the grounds had changed in the intervening period. The same old smell of sweating bodies, oil and metal fill the air and the same grunts and occasional groans of pain or frustration.
He waves to Litzburn who breaks out into a wide smile before making a last few comments to his current students before walking to Daniel. They share a quick handclasp, Litzburn eyeing his old student with practised eye. Daniel had put on even more muscles than before, though the way he held himself spoke of a better sense of his own body as well. The slight tilt of his body to where the combatants were told of a new wariness the novice youngster had lacked. Overall, Litzburn was satisfied – the young man was coming along well. Of course, he couldn’t let the youngster know that. “You need a haircut.”
Chuckling, Daniel runs a hand through his brown mop of hair and nods, “Yeah, got to get that done.”
“Well, go get ready then,” Litzburn pushes him to the walls where the training weapons are. “Floor 3”
Daniel nods happily, hurrying off to get the training gear. When he arrives back on the floor, he’s surprised to see Litzburn casually stretching, light glinting off his oiled bald head. For a moment Daniel feels trepidation, before he grins, realising this was a great chance to see how far he had come.
The moment Litzburn nods his readiness, Daniel launches an attack, stepping forwards and using Double Strike. Litzburn blocks the first, dodges the second and has to skip backwards slightly to avoid the Shield Bash that comes his way next. Daniel does not let up, pushing the tempo of the fight to keep the more experienced fighter off-balance. Litzburn continues to block each strike with the minimal of motion, batting Daniel’s mace aside and forcing wider and wider strike before he lunges, having created the opening he was looking for. Struck full in the chest, Daniel stumbles back, breath forced from his body.
“Hold!”
Daniel nods in thanks, getting his breath back as Litzburn walks forward. “Good. You’re faster and stronger and you kept up the training yourself didn’t you? Your basics are solid.”
Daniel grumbles, “Didn’t hit you though.”
“No. You’re too direct, no real feints. That’s fine against dumb monsters but against smarter opponents, you need to create the openings you need,” watching Daniel he continues. “There are two major kinds of feints – movement and attack feints. You can feint by committing to a movement and then shifting,” Litzburn showcases it, shifting his weight to the front foot, his entire body angling to the right before bouncing to the left.
“Or you can feint an attack, forcing the opponent to create an opening. Feints are all about making the opponent move, but they don’t work if you aren’t seen to commit. A feinted attack should look, should feel, like a real attack,” Litzburn lips twist in wry amusement, “Or you can just attack and change it mid-way like Mary.”
Daniel absorbs the information in silence, before raising his mace. Litzburn steps back, and they begin. Almost bored, Litzburn adds as they fight, “Don’t fall into a pattern either, especially of using your special attacks. A smart opponent will see it and do something like THIS.”
Litzburn blocks the Shield Bash and then wraps Daniel’s shield and arm with his own before Daniel can pull back. A quick step puts Litzburn inside Daniel’s defence even as he begins to pull Daniel downwards, stretching the shorter Adventurer over his knee. Free hand raised, it flashes towards Daniel’s neck and stops at the last moment, completing the demonstration.
“Now, let’s begin again.”
Chapter 21
“This way!” Khy’ra pulls on Daniel’s arm, dragging him down the pathway, blonde hair flowing in the wind. He smiles, enjoying the view as the elf in the light summer dress hurries along, wind pushing the dress against her body, hugging her full curves. It is a touch chilly, a last minute frost the night before slowly thawing in the Spring sun.
“Come on Khy’ra,” Daniel laughs, shaking his head, “You told me to take a day off and now you’re dragging me around. It’s not like I don’t mind taking a day-off, but couldn’t we spend some time actually resting?”
She snorts, turning around and waiting for him to catch up before kissing him on his nose, “Sex later.”
Daniel blushes slightly, still uncomfortable by the frank way Khy’ra deals with certain topics, “I didn’t mean that!”
“Of course you didn’t,” she grins, pulling him on. “Anyway, the only reason you agreed to come was because Asin refused to work again today. I believe she eloquently put it as you being work stupid.”
Looking ahead, all that Daniel can see as a potential destination is a small hut at the end of the curved pathway, the only structure among the rolling green hills that they traverse. He ignores hers and Asin’s pointed comments, knowing they were correct and that he could get a touch focused at time. However, they just needed to level up and then maybe they’d be able to deal with the
next floor. Just a little bit more. “Are you really not going to tell me what this is about?”
“Patience!”
As they near the hut, Daniel notes that the clothing line outside seems to be built on a small pulley to raise and lower it. The hut itself looks to be relatively well kept, no obvious holes and the thatched roof recently redone. Khy’ra does not wait to knock on the door, instead pushing in directly. The inside of the hut is a contrast to the neat external and is a complete mess, tables filling up every inch of space and laden down with a wide array of items - shields, swords, maces, jewellery and more. In a rare clear space on the table in the centre of the room a series of etching tools and a small beaker sit, containers filled with copper, silver and gold dust next to it.
“Khy’ra lass, you made it!” A low voice rumbles from the kitchen, soon followed by its owner. The dwarf whose residence this is comes out from the kitchen holding a frying pan wearing an apron, full brown beard braided to remove itself from danger. Brown eyes twinkle as he hefts the pan, slabs of heavenly smelling bacon roasting on it, setting Daniel’s starving stomach clenching.
“Tharuk boy, I told you I’d be here today,” Khy’ra says, stepping into the hut and pointing behind to Daniel. “This is Daniel, he’s a friend.”
“Tharuk. That smells amazing,” Daniel greets and then angles for an invitation.
Tharuk laughs, leading the way into the kitchen, “Come. There’s more than enough for everybody!”
A short 30 minutes later, Daniel is patting his stomach having stuffed himself. Tharuk was definitely a very good cook, better he would say then even Elise, though he knew better to ever say that! “That was wonderful Tharuk. Thank you. I’m now glad Khy’ra dragged me out here.”