Chapter 3 - Hunting, Learning, Surviving

Once the Shaman left us, the others mumble amongst themselves before heading out of the cave. Including my group, there were 5 groups; with 3 goblins in each. I inspect the third goblin. He is taller than me by about a head and is much more muscular than the other males.

Name: Unnamed

Species: Goblin (Goblinoid)(Common)

Gender: Male

HP: 50/50

MP: 5/5

SP: 45/45

Attack: 15

Armor: 20

M.Attack: 3

M.Armor: 20

Speed: 10

STR: 15

CON: 13

INT: 3

WIL: 13

DEX: 8

Skills:

Language Comprehension: Goblin (Normal)  - Teamwork (Lesser)

Condition Resistance: Poison (Lesser)  -   Condition Resistance: Disease (Lesser)

Hardy Digestion (Normal)

Social Titles:

Bully   -    Stubborn

His Int is so low! He seems to embody the brawn over brains archetype perfectly. His teamwork skill is grayed (~represented to the reader as text in italics ~AN~) out, why? Is he too dumb to use it? Or is it incompatible with his Bully and Stubborn titles?

*Most likely both, he seems to be the kind of Goblin it is easier to work around rather than with.*

Great, this is going to be interesting... I'll nickname him Brutus for now. Moving towards the exit of the cave, Blue and Brutus follow me, I guess my Big Sister title causes them to follow my lead more easily.

I shield my eyes as we step into the daylight. I wish I could then shield my mind from the onslaught of messages I then received.

*Enable Time Display?*

Yes - No

*Enable Mind Map?*

Yes - No

*Once Mind Map is enabled, enable Auto-Mapping?*

Yes - No

I reel at the information in my head and hurriedly select yes to all prompts. My head spins as my field of vision gets obstructed by a large mini-map and a clock like display. In my confusion I walk into a tree.

*5 damage taken*

I fall over onto my back. Blue hurriedly rushes over to me, Brutus is snickering at my misfortune.

I take the opportunity to modify and move the displays around so they don't disrupt my vision as much. I also lock the map to always face north. This is a thing I'd always have to do in any games I played. I'd just get so confused otherwise.

I rub my forehead as I get back up.

The map displays a predicted topography with minimal details in the areas I haven't been to yet (which would be everything except right outside the cave I was born in). I look for some sort of water source,  logic dictates there should be one close to the cave.

I spot a band of blue a distance away from our current location, and I head in that direction. Blue and Brutus follow me, Brutus somewhat hesitantly, perhaps me blundering into a tree didn't leave the best impression of me upon him.

After about 10 minutes of walking, I start hearing the roar of the river. It is a wide, very fast-flowing river, a natural barrier to whatever is on the other side. I have the feeling that even if we managed to cross, only death waits for us on the other side. Regardless, I slowly make my way down the rocky bank. Blue and Brutus wait behind me, unsure if they dare follow.

Once I get to the edge of the water, I sit down and reach my hands into it. Its cold, and I feel the current tugging at me, even when having just my hands underwater.

I swish my hands back and forth before cupping them and splashing water in my face. It didn't get much grime off, but it was better than nothing. I have to try making a small pool here where I can get a good wash without being carried off by the current.

I then bring more water to my mouth to drink. Refreshing! We weren't served water in the cave, only berries and some sort of thick leaves that would spill water everywhere if you tried to eat them the wrong way. I should see if I can find some of those leaves. I beckon the others to me, but neither seemed willing to clamber down the rocky slope just for a sip of water. Oh well, it's their loss.

I make my way back up the bank and rejoin them. Time to find something to eat.

So, from what I remember of my old life, mushrooms are to be avoided, berries are usually safe, and I guess if you're unlucky you could eat insects. From the look of the greenery I think it's currently spring. Then the best guess will have to be to forage for insects? Unless this worlds insects are some sort of Radroach-esque nightmares.

Hmm. Dead fallen trees usually harbor all sorts of bugs. Looking around I spot a big fallen tree in a clearing. Dotted around the clearing is bush after bush of berries. About the size of a thumbnail, glossy black with a strong floral scent. I inspect them.

*Foolsbane berries*

*A pseudo-carnivoric plant that attracts prey (medium sized monsters and humanoids) with their bountiful display of berries. These berries contain one of the most potent poisons in the natural world, and inflicts the Toxic (Lesser) status upon eating just a single berry. The plants strong fragrance hides the smell of decomposing remains tucked away beneath its foliage. Scavengers often steal the plants' catch, as the poison has a short lifetime before being broken down in the tissues of the victim, taking less than 15 minutes before they're safe for consumption. The Foolsbane is outlawed in all kingdoms and countries due to their potent poison, and even wild growing specimens are not allowed to grow other than in the most inaccessible forests of the world.*

Okay so we're not touching those, but maybe bringing a few along for hunting. I might be able to make poisoned spears or something with these... but before that, lets prevent my friends from suffering a sad fate.

I point to the bushes and inform: "Berries bad. No eat."

Brutus huffs, and starts picking berries anyway. Blue merely looks on, unsure about what to do. I suspected as much, but I had hoped he'd be more willing to listen to me.

I slap the berries out of Brutus's hands. "Berries bad! Goblin eat, goblin die!" I reiterate my warning.

His face twists into a scowl. He pushes me to the ground, and before I can react, he has picked and eaten a berry. The fool looks quite smug, as if saying "see, you were wrong". Then his eyes roll into the back of his head and he falls backwards. I check his status.

Name: Unnamed (Brutus)

Species: Goblin (Goblinoid) (Common)

Gender: Male

Current Status: Toxic (Lesser)

HP: 45/50

MP: 5/5

SP:40/45

Oh shit, his HP is dropping FAST. Foam has started forming around his mouth, and he is convulsing on the forest floor.

*You cast Heal (Lesser)*

*You cast Cure (Lesser)*

*You cast Cure (Lesser)*

*You cast Heal (Lesser)*

*Heal (Lesser) became Heal (Normal)!*

*The spell can now heal up to 25% of targets maximum HP per cast!*

His status changed to Poisoned (Normal) and Paralyzed (Normal). Okay, I got six more casts before I'm out of MP. I glance over to Blue, he is crying and shaking Brutus to try to wake him from his paralysis. Brutus's HP is still dropping, but not at the rapid pace it was before.

*You cast Heal (Normal)*

*You cast Cure (Lesser)*

*You cast Cure (Lesser)*

*Social Title Earned: Lifesaver*

*Having saved several lives from ending, you're starting to get the hang of the basics of heroics. Your standing within your community is improved.*

*This Social Title affects future Evolution options*

H-hah! Take that, nature! I look Brutus over, he has stopped convulsing, and is slowly returning to the world of the living it seems. He has also obtained a fitting Social Title: Fool.

Additionally, his poison resistance went up to Normal, I'd honestly be surprised if it didn't. He looks at me with a confounded stare. "Listen to goblin next time."

He slowly nods. I don't think it's sunk in yet how close he was to dying, but he certainly has a much more obedient air about him now.

Remembering what World Knowledge told me about carcasses beneath the bushes, I bend over and brush aside the branches, taking care not to squish any berries in doing so. a foul scent overcomes me, and I hurriedly turn away from the putrid scene under the bush. To think something so vile could be masked by a nice perfume!

Beneath the bush lies the decomposing remains of some sort of humanoid. I inspect it just in case.

Name: Berkey Hargenbough

Species: Human (Humanoid) (Common)

Gender: Male

HP: 0/0 (DEAD) (Cause of death: Blunt force trauma to the head)

*Inheritance possible*

Whoah! Hold up! This guy didn't die to poisoning? He was beaten to death??? Huuuuuh???

So we've stumbled upon a murder mystery! Or he got his face beaten in by a monster that just left him near the Foolsbane bush.

Also, whats this about Inheritance?

*A hidden aspect of your Skill, Power Osmosis (True - Fated - Unique). This human had been blessed with an unique skill; Hidden Space (True - Unique). Put simply, it allows the user to store and retrieve any nonliving item within a portable pocket-dimension.*

So it's like a video-game inventory? Is there any limits to the amounts of items it can store?

*The space is limitless, but devoid of air. Any organic matter does not decay, but it cannot support life. As such, you are forbidden by the World to store still living entities within the Skill. To start the Inheritance process, partake of the body of the original Skill holder. Any items stored in the Skill by the original Skill Holder will also transfer to you.*

Whoah hold up, I gotta eat this very dead and very rotten man to get the skill? I suppose you can't get something for nothing...

I hesitantly reach out to the corpse and pull on its hand. With a wet plop the wrist-bones detach from the lower arm. I then remember there's no meat on the hand, only sinew and fat. I toss it aside. Brutus investigates the hand, wrinkles his nose and returns his gaze to what I'm doing. I'm now tugging on the lower arm. I just hope I'm not gonna get haunted for this, for all I know ghosts are very much real in this world.

*Undead can only rise from corpses with an intact head. As this ones head is currently quite dented, there is no danger.*

Oh that's very good to know. A horrid sound of "shlorp" announces my success in removing an arm from the body. I close my eyes and bring it to my mouth. This isn't cannibalism, as I'm not a human anymore, but I cant help but feel like I'm doing something taboo. I bite down on the putrid flesh, a disgusting mix of sour and bitter fills my mouth, and I have to fight the gagging reflex. I quickly chew and swallow.

*Skill successfully inherited*

*Skill obtained: Hidden Space (True - Unique)*

I chuck the arm back under the bush. "No tasty" I explain. Neither Blue nor Brutus seem keen on disproving my statement. I will just file this under "shit I will never repeat, ever." Seems my disease resistance helped me not get violently sick, or I'm just not feeling the consequences yet. Now then...

I turn towards the thing that started this whole series of events; the dead tree laying in the middle of the clearing. Walking over to it, I inspect it for spots of rot. Missing bark and flaking wood is good indicators of it. As I walk behind it, I notice large holes in the log, near the ground. They're big enough for me to stick my hand into them! I sit down by the tree and try to look into one of the holes. The boys have followed me, Blue seems especially curious about what I'm doing, observing my every movement.

I can see something moving in the hole. I inspect it.

Name: Unnamed

Species: Great Logbore Larva (Insectoid) (Common)

Gender: Male

HP: 2/2

MP: 1/1

SP: 3/3

Attack: 1

Armor: 2

M.Attack: 1

M.Armor: 2

Speed: 1

STR: 1

CON: 2

INT: 1

WIL: 1

DEX: 1

Skills:

Cellulose Digestion (Great)   -   Strong Bite (Lesser)

*Great Logbore Larva*

*The larval stage of the Great Logbore Beetle. Its adult form is considered a pest, and is hunted ruthlessly to keep the adult population in check. At this stage of development however, it is considered a nutritious meal, and many monsters enjoy eating them when able to. The issue is in obtaining them, as most monsters are unable to reach into their tunnels without destroying the larva in the process.*

Oh! Food! Now, how to extract them. Did the human have anything useful in the Hidden Space skill? I check the current inventory.

*Items Currently Stored:

- 1 x Shortbow (Common) (+20 Atc. +0 M.Atc.)

- 20 x Arrows (Common) (+5 Atc. +0 M.Atc.)

- 1 x Sleeping Bag

- 1 x Dagger (Uncommon) (+25 Atc. +5 M.Atc.)

- 1 x Sapphire Amulet (Legendary - Unique) (Inspection required)*

Arrows? Could be useful. The larva isn't too far in and the tunnel is fairly straight. Although the other stuff is interesting, especially the amulet. I think I'll check that out later.

I retrieve an arrow from the skill. Blue and Brutus gasp in surprise when I reach into nothing and pull back my hand with an arrow in it. "OH! Magic!" "Wah!" Blue is clapping and Brutus seems very impressed. I bet they're gonna like my next trick too.

I take aim, and skewer a larva with the arrow. With a bit of wiggling I manage to extract it. As I look it over, it stops wiggling, and I'm filled with a warmth that radiates from my chest.

*Power Osmosis Activated*

*Osmosis successful, displaying results*

*+1 STR, +2 CON, +1 INT, +1 WIL, +1 DEX*

*Skills obtained:

- Cellulose Digestion (Great) - Allows the digestion of wood

- Strong Bite (Lesser) - Increases the Attack power of bites by 5% before Attack Vs Armor Calculation.*

*Updating stats - Successful*

So this is what Power Osmosis does! It lets me gain the Core Stats and Skills of a creature I kill. Seems I can now eat wood? I don't want to try it right now though, when I got a perfectly appetizing meal right in front of me.

I carefully remove the larva from the arrow. I then take off the head, as it is hard and inedible. The larva is so big I have to take multiple bites, and it becomes a mess as its innards spill all over my hands. But its good! I can practically feel the nutrition entering my body, or is that just the lingering feeling of Power Osmosis?

Both Brutus and Blue look at me with their heads tilted, I have apparently been appointed to the position of taste tester. "Tasty!" I inform between mouthfuls.

They look relieved, finally something edible! I drag out two more arrows and teach them how to do it. Not long after, all three of us have hands covered in larva guts, our bellies full. I noticed I only got Power Osmosis alerts every other larva after the first one. I guess their stats being so low meant it took multiple kills to even make one point. If I wanted to get strong, this is definitely the slowest way to go about it.

There is still some time before sunset, more than we'd spend going back to the cave. As such, I decide to spend that time mapping out more of the surrounding forest.

Our cave faces west, towards the big river. To the north is the Foolsbane bushes, and we haven't been east or south yet. I head towards east, diagonally so that moving west again would take us back to the cave.

Along the way we spot monsters, but they all run before I get to inspect them. One was a deer looking thing with what looked like crystals for antlers. There were also several groups of what looked like bird-headed snakes peeking out of the ground like garden eels. They vanished below ground the moment we approached, not even leaving a hole behind.

As sunset is getting closer, we turn and head home.

Suddenly a large shadow passes overhead. I look up to see a large bird soar soundlessly over the canopy of the forest. I got the feeling that if it had spotted us, we'd be dead. I shiver involuntarily, and hasten our pace back to the cave.

Once we get back, I sit by the cave entrance to sort out my mind. I pull out the Sapphire amulet, making sure it didn't catch the attention of the others. Both Blue and Brutus were really tired, and had gone to sleep the moment we got back. There were still adults out and about, but they would soon retire to the cave as well.

I inspect the amulet. It is made up of a very large sapphire, teardrop-shaped, held in place with gold filaments wrapped around it in a spiral fashion. It looks very expensive.

*Tear of Ashala*

*An amulet made of a tear felled by the Elder Dragon of Water, Ashala. Is said to bestow the bounty of Water upon the owner. Wars have been waged over this amulet, as it lets its owner emulate the awesome power of Ashala, who can freely manipulate the very weather to bring rain where she sees fit.

It also blesses the owner with the bounties of the sea, any catches they make will be tenfold the size of regular hauls.

It prevents floods and droughts, and ensures the prosperity of the one who owns it. Usually held by Monarchs or Leaders to bring the blessings of the Amulet upon the people of their kingdom or country.

It has recently been stolen from the kingdom of Parshura, and no-one knows of its current location.*

*Grants +50 Atc. +100 Arm. +50 M.Atc. +100 M.Arm. +25 Spe. on equipping*

*Grants temporary Skills: Weather Control: Rain (Grand - Unique(Ashala)), Oceans Bounty (Grand - Unique(Ashala)) and Elemental Mastery: Water (True - Unique(Ashala)) on equipping*

I sit and stare at the marvel in front of me. This is a Legendary item indeed! To think this thing grants powers held by what I assume is the element of Water incarnate. I hurriedly place it back in the Hidden Space, don't want this thing falling into the wrong hands, nope!

So the dead person, he was the thief? And someone found out and killed him for the Amulet, not knowing it was stored in a separate dimension only he could access? Hmm...

Before I head to bed, I pull out the dagger as well. It seems to be made of a bone-like material. Is it made of monster parts?

*Razorback Dagger*

*Made out of a single Razorback quill, this dagger is said to never get dulled with use. Can pierce even tough monster hides, making it useful as a tool for dressing and skinning low star monsters.*

*Grants +25 Atc., +5 M.Atc. on equipping*

Oh sweet, I can use this to make other stuff. Still, it's incredibly convenient that he got killed where he did and that I have the Skill that I do. Is this the Gods way of ensuring the amulet wasn't lost forever?

As I head to bed, I decide that if and when I can, I will seek out the kingdom of Parshura to return the amulet to them.