[Goblin Killed. Exp gained.]
[Level up. 2 Ability Points Available. 2 Skill Points Available.]
The final goblin collapsed, and I leaned against the stone, smearing it with blood and sucking down cold, musty air. The halls had been quiet long enough for me to lower my guard, and it had almost gotten me killed. A group of four goblins had ambushed me as I explored the winding halls and irregular rooms. Two attacked me as I entered a supply room and a third had hidden in some rubble I passed without thinking. The most dangerous, however, had been the fourth sitting atop a rafter. It had waited until I was engaged in combat with the others, then dropped with a wicked kukri, gashing me across the back.
I brushed my fingers against the wound, trying to estimate its size, and hissed in pain. My fingers glistened, wet and red.
"Little shits…"
I raised my staff, letting the light shine into the room, and did my best to ignore the ache in my back. They packed the small side room with detritus. Smashed wooden crates, sacks torn and spilling their contents, and assorted trash thrown into hasty piles with no semblance of organization. There was a small pile of objects in the center of the room. Much like the first two goblins I had encountered, these had been splitting up their takings. Though there was no sign of the unfortunate souls who had provided them.
There was no sign of pursuit from the direction I had just come, so I took the risk and sifted through the pile. Sure enough, most of it was worthless or so damaged as to be rendered so. Broken vials, torn armor, swords with broken blades. Filthy bandages, food rations with experimental bites from jagged mouths. Still, there were a few notable things in the pile. Two pouches had yet to be dug through and vandalized, one with a hard casing within the supple leather, and one that held a few books, stitched with initials in simple gold embroidery.
The hard case had belonged to an alchemist, and they had meticulously organized the contents. They separated unidentifiable samples of countless plants and animals into small pouches, glass vials, or fine boxes. There was a single vial, small enough to fit in my palm, filled with a red liquid and labelled 'Healing Potion'. I knew better than to just drink anything I couldn't recognize, but the pain in my back was a constant fire and the temptation was strong.
What was the worst that could happen? I die?
I popped the cork and sniffed, but it had no odor that I could discern. With a shrug, I downed the contents in a single swallow, somewhat relieved at the lack of flavor. The effect was instantaneous. It replaced the pain in my back with a maddening itch, as though the skin was crawling across the muscle. It only lasted for a few seconds, and when I reached back to feel the skin, I only felt cool blood on unmarred flesh.
Incredible.
The books in the other pouch were an odd collection. One was a journal belonging to the owner, the same initials stitched into the cover. I flipped through a few of the first, then last pages. The entries detailed the owner's journey through the maze of hallways. I set it aside for now, but I intended to read through it when I returned to camp. I found a hand-drawn map folded and tucked into the front of the book, and I was careful to keep that safe. It could be helpful.
The other book was a different beast. Just looking at it was difficult. The binding was quite unlike leather, with mottled discolorations. Touching it made my fingers tremble and skin crawl. A lick of icy fear coiled deep in my stomach. My eyes slid across the spine like oiled glass, and I had to focus in order to even read the title.
True Secrets of the Mortal Flesh. There was no author accreditation. I couldn't imagine a person would be proud to have created such a thing.
[Unique Spell Book found. +4 Mind. +4 Spirit. Spells: Unknown. Requirements: Unknown.]
[Mind too low to identify.]
[Spirit too low to identify.]
[Arcane Secrets skill unlocked: True Secrets of the Mortal Flesh]
Well, that was interesting. I had consumed the dead man's spell book. So what made this one so different? The book was heavy in my hand. Far heavier than its size would imply, and the leather binding felt wrong under my hand. Like shaking hands with a dead man. But my mind rushed as I lifted it, and I felt a strange resolve. A stronger conviction, greater confidence, than I had ever felt. Or remembered feeling, at least. Holding it still felt wrong somehow, and the skin on my neck tingled like I was being watched, but the discomfort was worth it if this book made me more likely to survive my next encounter.
I let the book dissolve into that other place, the one I used to store things, and the two packs with it. Most of the pile was useless, but I packed up what I could. I even salvaged half of the contents of a torn sack. Some kind of long grain. Rice, perhaps? Maybe Teija could do something with it or the alchemist's pack.
"Slag, Vudlac, where are you, you worms?"
The voice came from the corridor behind me. A goblin perhaps, but older than any I had heard so far. It was a dry rasp, and I could hear shuffling footsteps accompanied by the thump of a staff on stone. It was coming towards me, trapping me inside the dead end. There was no way to hide the dead bodies littering the room and hall.
Good thing I had used that potion.
I refreshed the [Mage Armor] and [Shield] that had expired while I was looting the pile and pressed myself against the corner, preparing to ambush the newcomer. It sounded like it was alone, which was odd. Every goblin I had seen so far had come in at least pairs. I gripped my staff.
The footsteps stopped, and I heard a loud sniffing.
"I know you are there, human; I can smell your stink from here. And the blood coating you. I can smell the magic that surrounds you. Come out and we will talk, you and I. We are both devotees of the arcane, and so should be above the base instincts of our kind. Come."
I hesitated, expecting a trap. The creature was better spoken than the others I had met, but so far they'd all tried to kill me on sight. And if this one could use magic, it could be even more dangerous than others of its kind. I knew that well. There was another shuffling sound, and a groan of discomfort, then the clacking of wood on stone. Had the creature sat down?
"There. I am unarmed. You have no way out but this corridor and I have all the patience in the world. You will need to leave that room at some point. It might as well be now before more of my kind arrives. They will not be as hospitable as I."
He had a point there. I summoned the book and stepped around the corner, ready to dive for cover should an attack come my way. But none came.
A knobbed creature sat cross-legged in the middle of the hallway, its staff just out of arm's reach. It was like the goblins I had killed, but even in its advanced age, it was much taller than any other I had seen. Even the one wearing the cooking pot. It held something small, slimy, and squirming in its clawed hand.
"Please, join me. We have some time."
It bit the head off of the squirming thing and chewed with relish, its bulbous eyes rolling in its sockets. Then it dug into a pouch with its free hand and offered me one. I tried to hide my revulsion, but the creatures' cackling laugh made it clear I had failed. It bit the head off of that one as well.
"I am Wulthark, hobgoblin and sorcerer of the Deepdark tribe."
It waited a moment for me to offer my name, unconcerned that I had yet to take a seat. And that I still had my staff in my hand. When I didn't offer one, it shrugged.
"Rude it is, then. I take it, Rude, that you are the manling who has been killing my tribesmen? Quite the path of destruction you have wreaked. It has the others quite concerned. They are meeting right now, in fact, discussing what is to be done about this mad dog human."
It chewed another squirming thing, a grub, then slurped on its filthy fingers with an unnaturally long tongue. The thing wrapped all the way around each digit, wriggling in the air like the grubs the creature had just been eating.
"I have no patience for their squabbles, not at my age. And killing another student of the arcane would be a waste. I will speak plainly, then. You have something I want."
Wulthark's eyes slid over to the book in my hand, rapturous greed clear on its inhuman features. I held it tight against my chest.
"That book means more to me than the lives of my lesser kin. Give it to me. In return, I will do everything in my power to call back my tribesmen. They will not pursue you or attack you so long as you, or your kind, stay out of our territory. You may already have noticed, but these halls go on for quite a distance. Plenty of room for both of our kind. For a time at least."
It said that as though the dozen goblins I had already killed single-handedly were nothing in the greater scheme of things. As though it were offering me life when the only alternative was inevitable death. Its certainty, its confidence in that fact, was distressing.
"What makes you think I am interested in peace? I have already driven off your attackers before. Why should I be afraid of them now?"
Wulthark didn't take offence at my question, he simply waved it away.
"You have killed the least of my kind. Little more than animals themselves, imbeciles and cowards. They scrounge in the dirt like worms." The hobgoblin cocked its head, assessing me. "And you haven't been as lucky as you would like me to believe. You have already died twice."
My blood ran cold at that, and the strength drained from my legs. My knuckles ached as they squeezed the staff.
"How could you know that?"
"Ah. So you are newer to this than I thought. You will learn, in time. There is much we can offer each other, manling. Give me the book and we can discuss many things, more equal than our kinds have ever been. I can tell you why you die and reawaken. How to be free of the cycle. Together, we could work to be free of this wretched place. Is a single book not worth that?"
"Why is this book so important to you?"
"It is a curiosity, nothing more." A lie. I knew it for a fact. Its eyes darted, and it licked one of its eyeballs in a nervous twitch, like a lizard. "I knew the manling that belonged to, before his death. I would like to know more about him."
Its tone became hungry, and there was an undertone of impatience. One clawed hand twitched toward the gnarled staff, and I tensed in preparation. Wulthark noticed, however, and his demeanor relaxed again, the picture of self-control. The air between us was thick with tension, though. The peaceful conversation was ending.
More voices came from deeper into the tunnel, and Wulthark scowled at the interruption. He pushed himself to all fours, then to his clawed feet.
"You don't have to make your decision now. As a parting gift, I will distract my kin so you can leave this place unaccosted. Take whatever you like from this place." He scowled a little harder. "You've already taken the only thing that matters, after all. Return to this place and ask for me by name if you decide to make this deal with me, and you will be open arms as a friend to my tribe."
[Wulthark's Offer]
Wulthark turned away from me and hobbled away on his staff, unconcerned that I may him from behind.
"And if I don't?" I called after him. The hobgoblin didn't hesitate.
"Then come prepared. For I will show you how to die properly this time."
True to his word, I heard Wulthark bark insults and orders to the newcomers in equal measure, and the group of them left in a different direction. There was always a chance it was a ruse to lure me into an ambush, but I felt myself trusting the old hobgoblin. For now, at least. As for his offer? I would have to be a fool to believe him. The moment the book was out of my possession, he wouldn't hesitate to kill me. The only question is, why would he let me walk away?
I finished packing whatever I deemed of value and hurried back to my camp, avoiding any goblins I heard along the way. No sense spilling more blood until I decided what to do.
[Find medicinal supplies: Complete]
[Find food supplies: Complete]
[Level up. 4 Ability Points Available. 3 Skill Points Available.]
Teija welcomed me back, almost eagerly. She had unpacked her belongings and organized what few she had. Pots and pans, some alchemy supplies, her limited food stores. The fire continue to burn, and I welcomed the delicious warmth as it drove out the bone-deep chill. I delighted her when I offered her the pouch of alchemical supplies and busied herself with sorting, identifying, documenting, and organizing everything within it. She chatted as she did so, explaining each item and step. I welcomed the chatter, though I didn't listen to the words.
[Alchemist skill unlocked: Teija's Teachings]
All of her previous fear and hesitation disappeared as she separated the supplies and ingredients, moving with quick, precise actions. She smiled when she saw the grain, but she obviously saw cooking as a necessary evil, while alchemy was her true calling. Still, I would happily allow her complete control over them to do with as she saw fit. I didn't know the first thing about alchemy, and as long as she could provide the occasional healing potion, I would bring her whatever I found.
I placed the rest of the salvage I brought with me in a few piles along one wall. Leather scraps, burnable wood, pieces of weapons or armor I thought I could use. The magic of this place allowed me to carry far more than I should have been able to, both in weight and bulk, and I had taken full advantage of it. I took some of the cleaner cloth and leather scraps to make something close to a sleeping pallet against a wall close to the fire, but far enough away to give Teija her space.
While the rice bubbled away in the pot and Teija busied herself with her new ingredients, I settled against the wall on my pallet and pulled out the journal. The initials were illegible, but the handwriting inside was precise. It detailed their journey through the maze of underground hallways we found ourselves in, similar to my experience. A section would sometimes reference the painstakingly drawn map, and I took to keeping it open beside me, referencing it with the journal entries, following the author's journey.
I stayed at the camp well after the meal, and long after Teija had fallen asleep, reading through that frayed book. All the while wondering what could have befallen this person. How that book could have ended up in his possession.
Why the hobgoblin had wanted it enough to offer peace. Assuming, of course, it had any intention of honoring the deal.
I don't know when I fell asleep, but I dreamt of disturbing images and nightmares. I saw an emaciated figure, covered in a dark cloak. It held a staff made of bones, capped by a skull, in one hand, and True Secrets of the Mortal Flesh in the other. Green and black magic leapt from the staff, striking down humans and goblins alike, and pulled something dark and screaming from the bodies. The figure seemed to drink it in, like dry soil after a summer rain, and laughed as it did. With a wave of the staff, more energy flew from it and struck the bodies, each of which contorted themselves, standing up with weapons in hand. The last thing I saw was the figure turning to look me in the eye, a flash of a pale and skeletal face under the hood.
I woke in a cold sweat, unable to fall back asleep. Or to look at the book wrapped in cloth and tucked under the pack I used as a pillow.
[New Skill Available]
[4 Ability Points Available]
[3 Skill Point Available.]
I welcomed the distraction. I had levelled up twice yesterday, but had been too busy to spend the points between fights. As I considered my options, I found my hand straying toward the book under my pack as one might reach to stroke a cat. I pulled it back, but the thought remained. I needed Mind and Spirit to understand its contents. And both would help my magic, anyway. I traced along my back where the injury had been the day before. Ignoring my health would be foolish, though…
I rounded my Body out to an even ten, bowing to the human thirst for round numbers, before focusing on my magical abilities. If those three extra points kept me alive, it would be worth the investment.
[Body improved to 10.]
[Maximum health has improved.]
[Maximum stamina has improved.]
[Endurance skill unlocked: Improved Body.]
[Spirit improved to 6.]
[Focus recovery has improved.]
[Resilience has improved.]
[Stubborn skill unlocked: Improved Spirit]
The familiar rush of power swept through me, and I drank it in. I felt stronger, healthier than ever before, and my confidence swelled a bit. Things had not been easy since my awakening. Hell, I had already died twice. I had survived so far, and I would continue to do so, overcoming whatever obstacles necessary in order to escape this place.
I felt good.
It was time to spend the skill points I had been neglecting. I was getting a feel for what skills were available and how I could learn new ones. Improving my Body, Mind, and Spirit would give me access to some at certain milestones, though I wasn't sure how many they would continue to provide. In addition, it seemed like coming across specific objects or situations would also give me some. Plus, I could learn some from other people, judging by the alchemist skill Teija had taught me the night before, if inadvertently.
Would it be possible to unlock it by having her teach me? If so, it would be foolish not to learn anything I could from my… follower. The system, as I had taken to referring to it as, was insistent that camp followers were important. How many were there, out there in the dungeon?
How many needed my help?
I focused on just the Skills portion of that odd place, and the thoughts flooded my mind.
SKILLS
3 Skill Points Available
Novice Mage: Improved Focus. Learn Novice spells.
(+) Alchemist: Identify magical properties of flora and fauna. Gather ingredients. Learn potion recipes.
(+) Arcane Secrets: Study magical tomes. Identify magical items.
(+) Arcane Sight: Detect magical signatures.
(+) Endurance: Improved stamina. Improved recovery. Decreased negative physical effects.
(+) Healthy: Improved health. Improved recovery. Improved disease resistance.
(+) Investigate: Gather useful information from nearby sources.
(+) Leadership: Support and influence camp followers.
(+) Stubborn: Improved conviction. Decrease negative mental effects.
(+) Thick Skinned: Improved physical resistance.
So many options, so few points. Some would just keep me alive, while others would help me thrive. The memory of pain in my back still lingered in my mind, though softened now by passing time. I couldn't put everything into staying alive. Being injured wouldn't help anyone. I needed to win. Or better yet, avoid fighting at all when possible.
I glanced over at where Teija slept, shifting beside the fire. What would the leadership skill do for her. She was staying here, at the camp, where it was safe. Or had been so far, at least. What more would it allow me to do for her I wasn't already doing by driving away the goblin creatures and bringing back supplies? I would hold off on purchasing that skill, at least until I had found and recruited the Smith she'd mentioned.
Even as my thoughts raced, the tome sat at the back of my mind, drawing my attention like a broken tooth. I had to know more about it. The hobgoblin, Wulthark, had craved it. What did he know I didn't? Could it be useful in helping escape this place? Even if it didn't, my curiosity wouldn't let me ignore it anymore. The distraction was too great.
[Arcane Secrets skill acquired.]
[True Secrets of the Mortal Flesh tome identified.]
New knowledge of the book in my inventory flooded my mind, and I summoned it from that other place, its weight settling into my hand.
[Unique Tome identified: True Secrets of the Mortal Flesh.]
[Details: Written by an ancient necromancer detailing his journey beyond death. Bound in human flesh and inked in blood.]
[Effect: +4 Mind, +4 Sprit. Improve Necromancy spells. Increase abilities of nearby undead allies.]
[Spells: (Novice) Cause Fear, Drain Life. Grave Words. (Apprentice) Unknown. (Mage) Unknown. (Archmage) Unknown. (Master) Unknown.]
[New spells available to learn from Spell Book.]
[Cannot learn spells. Highest level spells unavailable with current ability.]
Necromancy. In hindsight, it was pretty obvious. The spells already available seemed useful, but it was the others that intrigued me. Even with the new skill, I couldn't understand the higher complexity spells in the book. When I turned to those pages, the words were gibberish, accompanied by grotesque illustrations of bodies and organs that I couldn't understand. All of them inked in a dark red ink. Blood.
I would have to improve my magical abilities and come back to it to see what new secrets I had uncovered. I regretted increasing my Body when I could have been progressing towards more powerful magic. Then again, I imagined that would only last until the next time a goblin stabbed me.
I snapped the book shut and let it dissolve. The sudden sound must have startled Teija awake, as she sat up with a jerk and looked around, blinking blearily and reaching for her short sword.
"What's wrong?" She asked. "Goblins?"
"No, you're safe. Go back to sleep, Teija. I'll be leaving before long."
My words seemed to wake her up, and her expression became frantic.
"No!" She flushed and looked down at the cloak she'd been using as a blanket. "I mean… don't leave yet. Not while I'm asleep. Please?"
The idea of being alone terrified the woman. Leaving her here had been harder on her than I'd thought.
"Don't worry, I'll be here when you wake up, so go back to sleep."
She made herself comfortable, as much as was possible, on scrap cloth and stone at least, but took a while to get back to sleep. I could tell by how still she was. Still, with her trying to go back to sleep, it gave me the opportunity to decide what to do with my last two skill points. Most of the remaining options were defensive, but between my magic and Teija's alchemical substances, I felt confident in my ability to survive the hardships to come. That left a few interesting options. Teija was already proficient with alchemy, and could teach me. I wouldn't pick up leadership until I had brought more people back to the camp. Arcane sight and investigation stood out to me the most.
I didn't have time to pick up and identify every piece of equipment and detritus that I came across to see if it was useful. Well, correction. I had the time, just lacked the patience. Between the two of them, I could scout at a much faster pace without fearing I would miss anything. Right now, exploration was my most important goal. Especially if I were to find the Smith before Wulthark tired of my offer and had his tribe hunt me down for the book.
[Arcane Sight skill acquired. Magic will now emit a soft blue aura.]
[Investigate skill acquired. Notable details in your surroundings will be more obvious.]
Various objects around the camp started vying for my attention as soon as I selected the skills. Teija's improvised alchemical lab had half a dozen soft glows around it, as I recognized ingredients and tools as magical. Broken pieces of armor and weapons offered information about what they used to be before their current state, along with observations about what purpose they could serve in the future. I could craft into a forge or weapons, and wood and cloth into beds and barracks.
With the last of my points spent, I settled into my pallet to wait for Teija to wake up on her own. In the meantime, I allowed myself to become absorbed with the journal and map, hoping to piece together what the author had discovered in his time here. And if their map overlapped with any area I had already discovered.
