I am seriously out of luck today I muse as the tree shakes beneath me. Holding tightly onto the branch I peer down below to see a group of 8 wolves circling round my tree. One jumps at the trunk and claws at it ineffectively but still causing the tree to shake.
Well, at least it's only morning so they shouldn't be able to topple the tree until nighttime.
With nothing else to do but hang on the shaking tree with hungry wolves below, I look longingly at the pile of somewhat delicatetly cut wood: it lay there sliced into 4 almost straight planks stacked on one another.
It had taken around 3 hours to cut down the tree and cut the wood into planks and of course the wolves had come just as I finished forcing me to leave it below among the wolves.
That's also the reason why I haven't jumped from tree to tree to get back to town as no way was I going to let my second pile of wood be lost to those damn wolves again. However there did not seem to be any way for me to get the wood, except for of course going down there and picking it up, which would result in a quick death. So not an option.
With no immediate plan coming to my head I decided to latch an arm around the branch and spawn a piece of bread. Then immobilising the hand holding the bread by tying it around with my other arm around the branch, I proceeded to munch on it slowly.
I almost choked on it as the shaking accidentally moved my head too much forward placing the rest of the bread down my throat forcing me to swallow the rest of it in one go. Well that was one way to eat but not a comfortable one.
After regaining my breath I try to use my newly energised brain to figure a method of collecting my wood safely but none came to mind.
Giving up on the idea of ever being able to get that wood I tuck myself around the branch. I didn't leave because I didn't know if the whole exercising after eating affected me in game and sure as hell did not want to find out at the cost of my life.
I started to wonder where everyone is due to the meeting we had last night. Kane had broken the news to everyone and really Gwynevith was the only one who was still a bit unsure about it. Ross and Scarlet were pretty much cool with it after a few seconds of twin mental talk and although Charlesming was seriously not cool with it at first he was convinced by our other member who decided to grace us with his presence.
Gastalf had come out of his room the first time in the week (well as far as most of us knew anyways, he told us that he had actually been making contacts at night around the village. How we don't know but apparently he's made quite a few of them.) He backed up. Kane's plan as it was mostly his own and after that Charlesming was pretty much all right with it.
All in all we decided to meet back at the inn in 1 week and then we all headed to do whatever we were doing. I had been pretty tired even though it wasn't that late and because of that I had woken up at about 3 in the morning. Unable to sleep I had to find something to do.
Seeing as though I had a couple of hours to spend before I could hope to meet my party members I decided to go train my woodcutting skill. Seemed like a good idea, according to the situation I am in right now maybe it wasn't that good. At least I had encountered the wolves in daylight.
I wondered whether to use my second skill slot because staying up here all day is not how I would like my day to go.
While weighing up the pros and cons of having to use us my second skill slot and what it should be, a hail from over to the right took hold of my attention. I glanced round to see the one hailing me was none other than Kane with Gwynevith following behind
He sauntered over towards me with a chuckle and a smile on his face at seeing me stuck in the tree but becomes serious as the wolves turn towards them. They draw their weapons and ready themselves for the wolves as they howl and charge towards them.
The wolves, tongues lolling pounce towards Kane and Gwynevith but the foremost three shatter into polygons as the glowing red blades slice through their targets,Gwynevith's axe had sliced through 2 of them with one stroke.
The sword skills having a short delay left them immobilised as the 2 of the group pounced onto them.
I expected the worst for a moment there as the wolves collided with my fellow companions but was relieved as the wolves did not have a big enough Strength parameter compared to Kane and Gwynevith to knock them over and pin them.
Those 2 wolves were the next to die this time sliced in half by purple glowing weapons.
Although those 2 wolves did not do much themselves they had still opened their enemy up to attacks from the other wolves lowering both Kane's and Gwynevith's bar to a low yellow caused by the multiple claws from each side.
The A.I repeating it's attack pattern once again jumped on Kane and Gwynevith and another 2 were halved. The last 2 wolves uncaring about their companions and showing no fear from the killers of 6 of their brethren swipe their claws lowering the bars to red but pay for it with their lives.
Noticing their too close for comfort encounter with death they let out deep sighs of relief. Upon looking up at me, I must've been making a face or something because they laughed when they looked at me.
"You guys got a death wish?" I comment as I try to make my way down the tree.
"Well don't know about us but those wolves surely had one or they would've run the other way at seeing this baby in action" Gwynevith exclaims as she pats her axe.
"Maybe they were too distracted with you"
"What do you...Drake!"
"What!?"
"They're wolves!"
"Well who am I to say if wolves find you delicious, I'm just making a wild guess that is all"
"Ah we doing a why the wolves attack whoever again? Well surely they'd never attack you unless there is nothing better"
"And why is that?" I planted my feet firmly on the ground and started walking towards them
"My guess is that you taste funny" Interrupts Kane to which we both turned round eyebrows raised to see him grinning almost childishly.
"You've been waiting to use that one for a long time haven't you"
"Well we've been attacked by wolves and boars and I was hoping that the subject of eating would come up...anyways, we better be off."
I reach them, giving Kane a handshake and hugging Gwynevith who took it with mock horror. With that they walk deeper into the forest and collecting my wood I return back to the village.
-page break-
As I walk through the fields I check my woodcutting skill to see it had risen to 9/1000 which was not bad and. I had the wood this time so I was feeling quite proud. Although, I check my inventory space to see that 92% of it is filled up, I can only really cut 1 tree for I couldn't carry any more.
Apart from that the day was looking up and I made my way to the front gate. The universe against me decided it was not a good day for me as I tripped over nothing falling flat on my face inches, literally inches away from the safe zone.
Grumbling and trying to ignore the guffaws of onlookers upon seeing my fall, I pick myself up and walk ,a bit more cautious of nothing, into town.
Making my way to Mr. Bones's place of work (can't really call it a shop) but of course being about half past 6 only a few of the early risers, so about a quarter of the town were up. mentally face palming I travel over to the park a few metres away where they have some comfortable wood benches. Unsurprisingly most of them were empty, the exception being an Npc couple lounging and flirting, jeesh it was barely 6 in the morning.
Rolling my eyes at the loving couple I pop myself on a bench and spread my legs across it stifling a yawn in the process.
Man, i'd forgotten how boring mornings are. No one is up so theres no town atmosphere, I can't go grinding because I lack a sword skill and I don't want to unnecessarily get a skill that I didn't want to use really.
Literally the only thing there is to do is to listen in on what those lovers are talking about, as they had progressed to actually talking. Doing just that I inclined an ear that way hoping to cure the boredom.
"So my dear princess, how about me and you head out of town"
"Head out of town?" the npc female laughs "And where would my chivalrous knight carry me off to?" She giggles
"I would whisk you away to the forest where we could be free together"
"Oh my, aren't you brave, to so willingly go into the forest"
"It is just a forest, my love the trees cannot do us harm"
"But the wolves can"
"...Ah yes...the wolves"
"You seriously didn't know about them?" She sounded a lot less flirtatious and quite concerned along with a tone of surprise.
"Ye...No, its the first I heard of them" he too had lost his flirtatious tone and sounded disappointed at the news.
"Well according to my Pa wolves have been crowding the forests nowadays."
"Your Pa?" He sounded almost elated
"Yes, he said some of the people he knew were attacked by a pack of wolves a while back"
"And who were these people he knew?" Sounded like he was grinning by the way he spoke
"Well...he said they all died"
"Ha, well sounds to me your Pa likes to tell stories, but that's all they are, stories."
"You, you think so?"
"I know so. Lets go, we only have some time before the rest of the village wakes up."
"Well...ok then"
The creaking of the bench and their hurried footsteps sounded their exit as they left.
"Oh young love, such a beautiful thing..."
Having a this is not at all like me moment, I stare blankly into the sky before shaking myself out of it and standing up.
Yawning loudly I stroll bored along town: the streets are dead except for a few npc's waking up gradually and setting up their shops. A few of them are walking around buying things from the shops and generally starting up the village morning.
I head off towards the goods store to restock on some bread and water. I found it pretty easily and opening the door, I walked into the store.
It was cosy and warm which was very comforting after having spent hours in the cool outside. Inside with me was the owner, a veteran man with thin black hair and an equally thinning beard, however his stomach was rounded and large. He nodded at my entrance and leaned drowsily on the counter.
There were also 2 others in the room: 2 npc women, both wearing long brown stitches and carrying a basket which they filled with items around the shop. I would usually have ignored them but I was bored and also the fact that they were filling their baskets without looking as they were busy talking to each other roused my attention.
"Oh did you hear about Susie?"
"Miller's girl?"
"Thats the one, rumour has it she's got a guy"
"Ooh and with all the precautions that Old Miller took"
"Well love just can't be stopped"
"I wish it was like that with-"
Jerking me ears away so as to not actively listen to their gossip, which was surprisingly accurate, I move up to the counter. Opening a trade window with the store keeper I rack up the amount of bread to another 30 pieces and get the same amount of water. I pay for the items and inspired reopen the trade and check how much my planks sell for.
...I was disappointed, only 10 col per plank. I thought about it for a few minutes thinking whether it was worth keeping the wood but feeling that it wasn't I sole 3 out of the 4 pieces as I need the last piece to play around with.
Feeling a bit cheated I turn round to leave and find the women leaving also. They are still talking about something but I was too far to hear the words properly.
Once outside I turn to go towards the inn and of course the ladies had turned the same way and of course they were walking side by side with baskets on tue outer side of their hips filling up the entire street.
Deciding that the universe does not like me I accept that I have to listen to them all the way back. They seemed to be talking animatedly about something so mildly interested I moved a bit closer to hear them properly.
"They say there is a horde of wolves around in the forest, and they prey on travellers. It is rumoured that this horde is of a hundred wolves at least "
"Y'know how people are when the are scared, they tend to over exaggerate"
"It was my cousin who told me this and he's known to not exaggerate over anything."
"But a hundred wolves, at least?"
"He described it as a sea of grey fur charging towards them"
"How did he survive?"
"He climbed a tree obviously, those who ran died and my cousin was the only one to think of climbing the tree, the only one to live to tell the tale."
"You sure your cousin isn't just crying wolf? I mean he is at that age where he needs attention"
"My cousin would never lie to me. Yes he's got an imagination but a seventeen year old would not think of something like that"
"So what about the other people who were with him?"
"Well I don't know never asked him"
"Ask him then and see him tell you he don't know cause he made it all up"
"I will and I'm telling you, you're wrong my cousin wouldn't make up such a fantastical story"
Without waring the both split towards a house on either side of the road and did it with such force that it made me jump a little. Raising my eyebrows at the two women I continued walking along finally reaching the inn.
I check the time to find it to be only a little past 7. Groaning at how slowly time is moving i set off towards the meeting place which was at the back of the inn.
I moved round the inn but stopped halfway as the way was blocked by 2 men standing by an open door in the inn talking. One was standing at the door wearing an apron and the other was dumping what I guess was trash into a large container.
I moved up towards them and leaned on the side of the inn's wall waiting for then to move on and while I waited I listened in on their conversation.
"Blood red eyes along with two giant canines. But that's not the most distinctive thing. That, is it's black fur with white streaks in it. Some say it is a mongrel while others a hybrid from two great beasts. Either way the general consensus is that it's scary." Said the man at the door
"Hmm I hope no one goes into the forest while that thing is running around." Comments the other
Ah but here's the interesting part. According to someone I know, the beast itself did not hunt but sent packs of wolves to capture its meals for it."
"It's an alpha? Well no surprise there, I'd think that all the other wolves are scared of it, I know I would be"
"It's not just an alpha, it's the alpha. A guy at the bar was talking about it a while back. he said that one day wolves had stopped fighting themselves and the different territories seemed to become one. The whole forest is under it's control according to him"
"Sounds terrifying, thankfully I'm not going anywhere near there for a while and I pity anyone that goes there"
The man at the door waved the other off and shut the door behind himself.
Shaking my head at the wolf rumour obsessed town I continue towards the meeting point.
The meeting point was a single tree in a small patch of grass situated behind the inn. Gastalf had been using that as his own nighttime meeting spot according to him so he had asked us to adopt it as our own as well.
Yawning, I plop down by the tree and relax by it closing my eyes.
I contemplated over the mildly interesting morning in town as I had learnt a bit of lore? well more like town rumours which is a pretty nice system. It gives the town a sort of, life that would have been missing if the npc's did not have these preset daily lives.
The rumours had a very delicate touch to it as it included in things that as a player we would know about as in the case of the wolves in the forest. I know it to be true and that there are packs hunting people. I also know that climbing up a tree helps you run away from the wolves which was a nice piece of information if you did not know by now. The sea of wolves was explainable as it was quite possible when the starting 300 went into the forest and one group decided to run or many decided to run causing lots and lots of wolves to gather and follow.
The Alpha was a new tidbit of info that I did not know of. It was interesting that there was rumours of such as thing but it had credit to it as the whole wolves are territorial thing is true and a single pack of wolves followed us throughout most of the forest meaning that it was all the same territory. But to have a single alpha for am entire forest, that's pretty rare...
...
...
...
"ARGHH I'M AN IDIOT!" I roar out
Why didn't I see it before, my god. Well one thing is for sure, the system does give you many chances to try pick up a quest. It makes sense for it to be a quest, well an unofficial one, more like a personal quest. It had all the telltale signs that are normally shown when finding this type of quest: firstly you would hear a rumour about something happening. Normally at that point you would have noticed it was a quest and followed the gossipers and get the whole story out of them. However I did not and had instead left it. The second sign is that if not collected the first time another chance is given or if players go looking round for more information they will meet another gossiper with other details about the same rumour. Those were the women and also the two men from just before. The last sign of this quest is the introduction of a boss of some kind, the alpha wolf in this case or an event such as the whole forest becoming one territory. In this case both came in one which in itself is quite rare as normally events change the environment and cannot be change back easily. However in this case if the alpha is killed then the territories will be split up due to inner conflicts and the forest will go back to normal.
It's weird as no quest window had popped up any time during hearing this...therefore this is not a quest as I had first suspected it of being. If it was a quest it would be something that only a certain number could do, in this case it would be one. So I can believe it is not a quest but an environmental event which changes a certain environment for a period of time. In many cases it is permanently. In this case however it is only until the alpha is killed. The biggest thing about events is that they change something when it starts and when resolved something is changed also...the only thing I can think of that would change would be the wolves territory...which would make a drastic change.
Jumping to my feet with a growing headache I rush to the front entrance of the inn and barge inside. It is dead empty inside but that doesn't matter as I sprint upstairs and bang furiously on Gastalf's and Charlesming's door.
No reply from either of them and their doors remained solidly shut. The idea popping into my head and thankful for it I send a quick 'WAKE UP, COME OUT' message to the both of them.
A few minutes later Gastalf's door opens and he groggily walks put still equipping stuff. He nods towards me with a questioning face. I signal him to wait and wait he does for about another 30 seconds as Charlesming's door opens. He too walks out but in just his boxers and obviously regretting it,
"Woah its cold out here" he shivers and starts to equip stuff
Well revenge is a dish best served cold.
