Gryff Boxset

by Sloss, Marcus

  “Ah, no combat makes sense. Else they need to be an orb. You have given us much to think about. Now... how about we try to make you a boot.” I said while checking out Nicole’s leg. She had a knee and her tibia went halfway down to where her ankle should be. “You want to try?”

  Barq nodded and then pointed to his chest.

  “Pulled my water orb out this morning after ensuring we were good to go for a few days. Got the stone tool in. I can make something like a tall boot with a sleeve. Just need a decent rock to consume,” Barq said and we stood. I scooped Nicole up and she thanked me. When we were outside the cabin shrank as the magic caused it to dive into Barq’s core. “Ah bring her over here. Ensure she is stabilized as if she had two full legs.”

  I did as requested and watched as Barq put one hand to the stone and another to the nub of Nicole’s leg. He cast his spell and an odd boot formed from the ground to her stub. The stone tightened around her half calf and the skin went an angry red.

  “Ouch. There is a pain but it is manageable. Thank you Barq,” Nicole said while taking a few awkward steps while I supported her. She slapped my hands away after finding a good stride. “About time, excellent. Now if only I had my bow and sword.”

  “I said sorry,” Mysti pouted. I handed off my sword to Nicole. “See? The gentlemen saves the day.”

  “I won’t use it if I have this spear. Alright Barq, take us to the fun!” I said with a grin.

  Zoey ensured the horses were bound tightly to the trees and we stepped deeper into the tall white trees. Our footsteps were fairly quiet over the mushy forest floor, except for the thud from Nicole’s stone boot. The wildlife we encountered skittered away and after a few minutes of walking, we saw our first war boar.

  The creature was as tall as the elvath at nearly six feet with wide bulging muscles. Now, this is something I remembered as being scary. We huddled in a loose circle while Barq waited for Nicole to join us.

  “Different strategy here. We have two snares and an ice freeze. You will run out of mana quickly if you cast lightning to kill these. The team will lock the target in place and you Gryff, will kill it with the spear. Also, shoot to kill Mysti. The hide of these animals is worth the effort to peel it off the dead if we have the time. If you see a dying target zap it to get the experience,” Barq said and we all nodded. “Okay, they are more sporadic and we exit the way we came in. Ready when you are Mysti.”

  I stepped forward in front of the group feeling naked in my thin armor. A single tusk to an artery and I was dead. The feeling was odd. I was without a superpower or an ally to save the day. For now, I would have to use wise judgment and run faster than the gnome if the situation went bad. I rotated my neck to pop it and gave my legs a few jumps. I had no idea how fast my energy would burn with the physical superiority orb and should have tested it on the level fours. There was no time to complain as Mysti shot the momma war boar in the neck.

  I heard her curse and the next arrow landed over the eye and slid across her skull. The war boar was fully enraged when it was halted a dozen feet in front of me. I pumped my legs and used a tiny bit of energy to smash my spear into an eye socket. The war boar died from the tip of my weapon and tilted trying to fall over; only to be held up by the snares. When they were released she toppled in death and I yanked my spear out.

  “Okay, that used only a tiny fraction of a lightning bolt. Zoey, run back and get the hand cart please,” I said and Zoey ran back the way we came.

  “Wait, never mind. Go ahead,” Barq said while yanking out a skinning knife. “We will need the cart eventually. Normally I race through and kill rapidly and then plop the hearts. If there is time at the end we skin them and here is why.”

  The gnome dove into the chest of the animal and freed the heart. The organ transition into a green orb with an angry boar snorting inside. Then I figured out why he did it this way. So did Nicole.

  “A rare drop is infinitely worth more than a skin. Hence you kill and skin later. The meat worth anything?” Nicole asked while resting against a tree. She looked fine and the first animal went down smoothly. “That was some nice experience.”

  “Ten silver for this orb. Archers love distraction pets and these can take a beating. Decent tanks, not the best but worth ten silvers,” Barq said with an added eh sound. Zoey came running back with the hand cart. “Okay, we tow the cart in case someone gets hurt or we find something worth hauling. Not Gryff or the archer on pulling detail. So we can take turns, Zoey. Oh… darn, I am too short to reach the handles.”

  “I can pick up your slack old gnome,” Zoey said with a snicker as she jogged past the carcass and then stopped. “What dropped?”

  “A pet boar. You want it?” I asked and she eagerly nodded. I tossed the orb to her that she quickly ingested. A waist-high boar with black fur spawned at her side. She then tucked him away. “Fabulous. Emergency distraction tool Zoey, or if I get in trouble spawn it to let me get space.”

  “Sharky is too small for these,” Mysti muttered and I agreed. “Would like something bigger and meaner than a boar when we finally do level up.”

  “One thing at a time lass. There is still so much to experience before you get all the best orbs and such. Ah, shoot that one please,” Barq said while pointing at a male war boar that was slightly bigger.

  Mysti’s first arrow sunk into the big brute’s side and the fight was on. This animal was faster and he dodged to avoid arrow shots as he charged at me. The ice blocks at his hooves slowed him but did not stop him. The first set of snaring roots brought him to a sliver of movement and the second set locked him down. I lunged forward and he twisted his head as I attacked. My spear dove deep into his neck. I yanked the weapon out and ran away as he broke free. I heard a wolf snarl off to my side that distracted the war boar.

  When the animal broke off from chasing me for a new easier target I spun. The war boar was already slowing from blood loss and an arrow sunk into his eye with a slurping sound. I saw a spray of fluid from the exploding eye and winced.

  “Probably a nine, that one was stronger, faster, and more agile,” Barq said while jumping onto the boar’s chest. His knife made rapid incision work and a minute later he pried the heart free. The purple muscle that ceased to beat also ceased to transform. “Ugh, you have shit luck demigod. There is only a ten percent chance or so these drop nothing.”

  “Enough demigod talk, even from you. Since this is such a back stabbing brutal realm. I am and always will be simply Gryff.”

  “Yes your grace,” Barq said with a teasing laughter.

  I checked my level. I was twenty percent to level six. Which meant the last two were decent experience. Since I was a point man I started to jog to find the next animal. The thud of a boot behind me caused me to slow my pace. I was so used to a go, go, and then going faster mentality that I outpaced Nicole only to stop for her to catch up. I saw the ground split as it went up an incline to my right or down towards a creek on my left. At the top of the incline was a juvenile war boar.

  Mysti let an arrow soar and the animal thundered down the hill. With the momentum of gravity, it broke all three crowd control effects. They did cause the animal to tumble and I heard a loud snap of a bone. When the young war boar struggled to stand I lunged forward with an empowered strike and ended its life. I pulled my spear out of its chest and Barq went to work.

  “A green skill…” Barq paused while wiping the blood off the orb in his hand. “While I clean this let me go into the next lesson. A skill is a specific spell. You cannot become a master swordsman with an orb. You can have increased strength. If you lack coordination or the actual fundamental skill you will still be sloppy as you swing harder. Does that make sense?”

  “Sure. There has to be work actually input into your foundation. The orbs build on you,” Nicole said with raised eyebrows wondering if she was correct.

  “Indeed my lady, indeed. This is a cheap healing orb, at least on Yariw. Maybe because the youngster w
as trying to heal a broken bone from fall damage. Or it could be random.”

  Nicole stiff-legged walked over to him and held her hand out for the orb. The moment the ball touched her hand she ingested it. She smiled and then turned to me as I trekked up the hill to see the surrounding area.

  “A hand touching a hurt goblin and an image of a stab wound knitting back together. I guess I am the healer,” Nicole said with a chipper attitude. She closed the distance and kissed me deeply. A cough from Barq made her roaming hands stop. “Yeah, yeah. I am showing my dream mate affection. He is everything I could want from a warrior husband. So being a healer will be different than being a surgeon, but should be rewarding. Just need a better offensive spell and a bow.”

  “Healer orbs are rare to find but commonly for sale. You can get a circle healing and all sorts of spells really. Best talk to an adventuring guild healer. Bribe them with a drink to go over some pointers or buy a guide. Oh, Gryff here wants to make a booklet for your faction,” Barq said while pointing a thumb over his shoulder at me.

  I had made it to the top of the hill and observed my surroundings. The Aspen Woods stretched for miles and miles. In the far distance, to the east, I saw the faint outline of Vredin. The city was just a blip on the horizon. I saw the road cutting north-south and a few rivers cutting at odd angles. An inn building had cleared the trees around it and was spewing chimney smoke. A few wagons littered the road. Closer to me I saw far more war boars. They were in an open field grazing on wild oats and tall grass.

  I glanced back down at our group and saw our horses bolting in panic. Shit. A short white bear was closing the distance on our animals as the horses were tied down. The horses snapped the reins bound to the tree and the white bear pushed them our way.

  “How do I kill the white bear!?” I shouted as I ran down the hill. “Barq!”

  He jolted when I yelled at him. “Stab it. It is level thirty five, please tell me you don’t see…”

  “Here he comes! Zoey stop the wagon!” I yelled out as I passed my team all standing flat footed. Nicole looked to see which way I was watching and hid behind a tree. She got it at least. “Zoey!”

  “I am confused but ready,” the raven-haired assassin said.

  The thundering sound of the horses racing our way split the air as they clomped in fright. The horses were in a full bolt as the bear swiped at their hindquarters. That little demon bear was insanely fast as it darted in to try to lame the horses.

  I planted my feet, yanked a javelin out, poured physical superiority into my arms and unleashed. My small spear cracked the air in a thunderous boom and the weapon passed mere inches over the white bear.

  A red line erupted over the fur of the boss as he spun to address the threat that I was. The next javelin was in my hand and out before he could start his charge. I held my throw as Sharky the wolf darted forward to save the horses. The battle between the wolf and bear of the same height started around a few tall trees.

  Every time they rotated I would tense ready to unleash my javelin. Part of me was… The bear pounced on Sharky with lightning quickness and literally ate his face off. The snout of the wolf tore free and next the boss bear pulled in tight to the pet. He sent torn chunks of flesh cascading and bit ferociously until the pet died horrifically. The remaining gore and parts not attached to his body arced for Mysti’s core as the pet returned with its death.

  The boss stood panting in his glorious victory; a perfect stilled target. I hurled the slender wood so hard it snapped the air around us with a crack as the javelin soared for its target. The javelin embedded into the bear and ripped the front left leg off in a bursting mess. The weapon had hit a shoulder joint and exploded into splintered bits of wood. The bear collapsed and his eyes momentarily glazed over in a stun. He shook his head and refused to quit as he furiously crawled my direction. I would have to thank Sharky for making it so easy. The pet died for me to get that lucky shot lined up.

  “Hurry try to stun it or whatever before it dies!” I shouted as I ran to end the beast. I saw vines erupt and ice try to coat the boss. A magical shield defied the attempts.

  I ran, jumped, and drove my spear into the face of the bear ending its life. There were a few twitches and then the bear stilled. The team consolidated around me as I felt my core tingle.

  “So... let me start with hot damn. There is a bounty on this guy. Killed some Lord Ling’s son, and no he will not respawn. Eventually, a new boss will roam the area. You did mangle his face but there is no disputing who this is,” Barq said as he looked over his shoulder. “Zoey is impressive, turned the horses before they ran into the main clump of boars. If they had run into that mess we would be out here for days to get the wagon back. You have some impressive friends Gryff.”

  “Well said. Impressive they all are. Will you do the honors since you are so proficient and already covered in gore? What are you expecting to drop?” I asked with a raised brow. There was a curiosity to what the big bad guy drops.

  “A boss always drops a few things but this is my first. I am…” the gnome inspected his level. He was eighteen now. I glanced at mine and saw nineteen. Guess the killing blow does matter. A few long loud whistles were let out. “Eighteen. How about you ladies?”

  “Wahoo. Mine counted, I am sixteen!” Zoey said as she walked the nickering horses. She was leading them around the dead boss while trying to calm them. “I cast it from so far.”

  “Sixteen myself and Sharky is now a twelve. He is bigger in his orb, not much bigger. Huh, it won’t let me summon him,” Mysti said in frustration. I was about to say something when she figured it out. “Ah he has a few hours of cooldown before I can bring him back and gratefully scruff his ears. Forgot about death down timers.”

  “I reached nineteen,” Nicole said with a grin. The other girls tossed hands in the air but she did have four levels on them before the kill. “How about you Gryff?”

  “Physical superiority orb is seventeen and core is nineteen. I am unimpressed with the gains. The amount of extra energy from level one to two was bigger than gains later.” I grumbled because I wanted godlike powers. “Let me guess as we level we gain infinitely less per increase?”

  “Correct. They are harder to get with less reward also. Hence why it becomes so confounding to many. They taste the power but most die chasing the end result,” Barq said while giving me a questioning look while standing over the boss’s body. I gave him a head tilt in approval and he cut from the gut up. “I saw a wanted poster for this guy for years. No adventuring crew thought it worth the time to go hunting into a low-level area I guess. Or those who did venture out here, never found him. I think the reward was up to five durca.”

  I gasped. “Five hundred silver for this body?”

  “Yup and we out floored the area now too. No reason to keep farming here, so it will be a hard ride to Aeva unless something stops us?” The gnome said with his elbow deep inside the bear. When he pulled the heart out it vanished and five orbs spilled forth to roll across the ground. “Damn, that is a first.”

  I bent down and picked up the first orb. I spun the container around as I laughed. The image was a goblin riding a little white bear. The duo were gleefully slaughtering rabbits. The little cartoon was hilarious and I was given side eye as I looked for the color. Purple. Oh…

  “Purple boss mount. For small creatures or for wealthy young children if I had to guess,” I said and Barq moaned. “What is the matter?”

  “That is only the best mount a gnome could ask for on Yariw. We gnomes are a mighty race. Short though. Mighty…” The gnome danced and did a jig as he inspected the orb he held. “Two! There are two. Let me buy this one!”

  I watched him jump up and down. His happiness was infectious as a smiling Mysti handed me two orbs. A sharpening spell which was blue and an image of a bear roaring. Huh, I wondered what that was. Nicole hobbled over the last item. I realized it was a square instead of an orb. This must be a familiar. Inside th
e box was a one-man dinghy or maybe a canoe. It would be fantastic for a retired fisherman. I would love to have this but would never use the boat until I made it home. Even then I would make something better to fish in.

  “So can I buy one?” Barq asked with pleading eyes.

  “We came out for coin and levels. How about we sell this small boat and extra mount first. See where the coffers are and then figure out what is next. Maybe I can extend your contract with that as a reward or we part ways and you buy it,” I said without a commitment. I figured keeping the options open was the best course of action. If we could get far more selling it to some noble than Barq would pay, then I may do that. “Hey, you mentioned if the inn here was rough and something may distract us on the way to Aeva. I would really like to finish this trip without a hassle.”

  “I know the perfect places to skip. Mostly bridges and intersections. You are right to worry. We now have something worth stealing,” the gnome said with a frown. His grey robes were thoroughly soaked in blood. “If we rush day and night we can make it in a day and a half. We can swap night crews. The bandits aren’t active at night and most monsters stay away from the road.”

  I thought about this and handed Mysti the orbs and familiar box. A quick scan for the best way to clasp the body and I hoisted the dead boss in an ironic bear hug. As I walked for the cart guts and blood sloshed out of the body and fell between my feet. The bear, while only three feet tall, had a lot of mass to it. I was exhausted by the short trip. I started walking toward the juvenile boar and Barq interrupted me.