The party returned to the manor with a full sack of orc meat. Kraxith was meditating outside as they approached. Hunter ended up carrying the bag. Anath was silent on the way back. That worried Hunter, but he understood. She was being hit with the realities of staying with a party of monsters on top of her identity issues. He wished he could help her, somehow.
"Hello, new friends," Kraxith called as they approached. "Good hunting?"
"Kraxith." Daggat greeted. "Nah, there was a band of orcs. Had to make sure they weren't a problem. They won't be."
"Oh! Orcs, this far inland? That's odd." Kraxith said as he stood.
"Do, um, you have a problem with eating orc meat?" Hunter asked. With Anath's reaction, he couldn't be sure. "I'm going to cook some up. There is plenty if you and Skiz would like to join us."
"I'd be delighted!" He responded. Hunter smiled in relief. "Would you like help? I quite enjoy cooking myself."
"Oh, that sounds fun!" Hunter said.
"Hey, hunter, get the fire started first. I wanna sleep off this blood loss." Klaw said.
"Just… how much blood have you lost by now?" Zuss asked.
"Eh, you get used to it," Klaw said. Hunter was going to need to find some sugar for him soon.
Hunter spent some time cleaning out Klaw's wound. It was an unnerving sensation. Like trying to brush a tiger's teeth. But, Klaw grit his teeth and let him work. The cut wasn't too bad, so a bandage was all that was needed. Klaw and Hunter had developed a trick for him. He would bleed slowly, just enough for Hunter's healing flame to allow the wound to clot cleanly.
Hunter and Kraxith made their way to the kitchen afterward. The drakyn tutted over the meat, then he noticed the hearth.
"Oh, are you a hearth tender?" Kraxith asked. "I recognize that warmth."
"I am. Are you familiar with them?"
"Not as such, no. I am a Mystic, then Mountain Hermit."
"Mountain Hermit? What is that?"
"My advanced class. I had to spend ten years in isolation for it."
"Wow, that must have been lonely."
"Sometimes, but it gave me time to hone my skills. So, what is the plan? With the meat?" Kraxith laid out the various cuts of meat on the table.
"Orc is tough. So, we need to slow-cook it. Really break it down." Hunter said. Kraxith nodded.
"Yes, yes. What about the flavor? It can be quite… strong."
"I don't have much to cover it, sorry."
"Do you have any vinegar?"
"Yes. Oh! That will work, but then it will be too tart. Right?"
"It's like cooking liver. If we soak the meat in vinegar for a couple of hours, it will cut back on the iron flavor and soften it further."
"Great idea! Anything else we can do?" Hunter began chopping the meat. Kraxith joined him.
"Well, do you have anything sweet?"
Hunter thought for a while. He considered the flavors in his head.
"If we can cut back on the iron, what if we sear the meat and then pour over some wine or whiskey? We have some left." Hunter said.
Kraxith chuckled.
"Sounds delicious. Where did you learn to cook?"
"My mother taught me. Well, I watched her. She always let me help cook, whenever one of my siblings didn't beat me to it."
"She sounds like a lovely woman."
Hunter smiled sadly. "Yes, she was." The unsaid revelation was left to hang in the air for a while.
"Do you mind if I ask you a personal question?" Kraxith said, breaking the silence.
"I don't mind."
"What's an ogre like you doing with… well, with goblins. Forgive me if I overstep, but you and they seem cut from a different cloth." Kraxith scraped meat cubes into a bowl. Orc meat was dark. As it oxidized, it blackened to almost coal-black.
"I fell into them, I suppose. Things happened and I saved Anath's life. We stumbled into the goblins and decided to form a party."
"I see. Circumstances can make strange pairings. But, is it not distasteful?"
"They are my friends," Hunter said a tad too quickly.
"I meant no offense! It's just, they seem a bit more rough than you do. Goblins tend to fall on the other side of society if you know what I mean."
"No offense taken," Hunter said. He gathered a few bottles of vinegar and emptied them over the meat. He had to add some water to cover them. "It's complicated."
"We have time. The meat needs to be soaked. If you want to talk about it, that is. My sageness comes through sometimes. I can't help but be curious about the world's oddities. I can trade you, knowledge for knowledge."
Hunter lowered himself onto a bench. He had briefly thought about leaving the crew. But the idea seemed wrong. Even worse than killing someone. He still felt guilty for attacking the orc earlier. Intellectually, he knew it was the right thing to do. But, he didn't want to let the shadows blur if he could help it.
"I don't mind. It's just… I am not blind. I can see what Daggat, Klaw, Zuss, and Elyndris are. The worm is a monster through and through, just tiny. The others are predators and bullies. But, I love them, in a way. I want to make sure they don't… ruin themselves if that makes sense."
"I think I understand. The best place to hold a torch is in the dark." Kraxith said. Hunter beamed at him.
"Something like that." Hunter sighed. "Truthfully, I don't even know why I belong here. I just do. The idea of leaving them seems… immoral."
"Perhaps it is simply where you are meant to be."
"Maybe. What about you? You and Skiz argue a lot."
"Ah, our relationship is academic. Same with Calion. I don't dislike them, quite the opposite. But, it's quite different from your situation." Kraxith stirred the meat, making sure every piece touched vinegar. "I am satisfied. Is there anything you'd like to know?"
Hunter thought for a moment. He wasn't particularly curious. Daggat was, though, so he might as well take this opportunity to ask something Daggat would ask.
"Do you know of any feats that would suit our group?"
"Perhaps. Give me some time to think about it. I can give you each something to work towards during tomorrow's feast."
Hunter and Kraxith continued to talk into the night. The sage told Hunter of his adventures and his home.
Once the meat had soaked long enough, they let it dry. Then they seared it alongside some wild garlic, wild peppercorn, and other herbs. They stewed the meat in venison bone broth Hunter had made a few days earlier. They snacked on venison jerky while awaiting the next day's stew.
—
"Can we eat NOW?" Daggat asked. Hunter hadn't let him taste the stew until everyone was all together. Everyone had done the morning exercises that Skiz ran them through. The gremlin had swindled twenty gold pieces from Daggat. Likely an outrageous sum for tutoring, based on his reaction. But, they needed to learn how to fight sooner or later.
"Yes. Everyone's here. I'll get the bowls!" Hunter moved to the kitchen. "Oh, um, Anath, we have some jerky left over," Hunter said carefully. She scowled at him. "I'll just… get you some of that." Hunter sheepishly went into the kitchen.
Somehow Hunter convinced the crew to sit at the great table to wait for the meal. Daggat knew enough not to argue with your cook. He eyed the drakyn.
"So, Kraxith. Hunter said you have some goals for us. What are they?"
"I do. I think I've come up with a feat or two for you all to chase after. Though, I warn you, some will be difficult. Hunter told me about each of you, so hopefully what I have suits you. Just to check, do any of you have monster cores?"
"… No? What are those?" Daggat said.
"Monster cores are a special organ. They hold magic. We might not… actually. No, we should work towards them." Elyndris said. Daggat lifted an eyebrow at her. He was going to have to ask about that slip later. "Generally, they form naturally in most high-level, non-sapient monsters."
"Indeed. Most monsters gain them with environmental factors. They open up a whole new slew of biotraits for you. Zuss, I have one in mind for you. There is a feat called Shadow Born. Though, it can be grueling. You must remain in near pitch black for a full week, but, you might be able to get a shadow core."
Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.
"That doesn't sound so bad… wait, might?" Zuss said.
"Oh, it will be. Cause, I'm going in there with you." Skiz said. His head was barely poking over the table.
"What? Why?" Zuss asked.
"I was paid to teach you to fight. You keep disappearing on me." He said. Daggat chuckled. "Oh, don't you start. I need to work you down to the nub, too."
Kraxith coughed politely. "Now, let's see. Klaw, I think I have a good one for you. Life Eater. One must eat fifty hearts. It can take a while. You end up with the beast core."
"I do like a nice heart. Can they be from an animal?" Klaw asked.
"Yes. I don't recommend trying to eat fifty mortal hearts, though. It is easy to get a bad reputation." Kraxith confirmed.
Hunter returned with a tray full of bowls. He started handing them out. The stew was brown with black cubes of meat. But, it smelled delicious. Daggat began eating, heedless of the temperature.
[You have devoured four - orcs, level 10. Experience Gained. You have gained one monster level. One Biotrait point awarded.]
"Ha ha! About time." Daggat said.
"What? Did I miss something?" Skiz asked.
"We just got a level. Brings us to nine." Daggat answered. Skiz grunted.
"You waited a while before eating them. Scavenger is useful. You usually have to devour a kill within an hour. I once knew a goblin who came upon a chimera that had starved to death. Bastard gained six levels when he chewed its leather." Skiz said. Daggat mused that for a bit. That's a good idea. He would need to keep a lookout for any abandoned meals.
"I didn't get a level," Hunter said, a tad disappointed.
"Yeah, me neither! This is orc shit." Added Klaw.
"You two were already level nine. I wonder if Alfred leveled up as well." Daggat said. Alfred wasn't interested in food or social interaction, so he was in the library. Kraxith didn't have anything for him, anyway. "For those of us that did level, let's wait until Kraxith tells us the rest. Then we can buy new stuff if we want."
"Very sensible," Kraxith said. "Now, Anath. Yours is one I don't have a lot of experience with. It will be easier with your class. One way I track down feats is through stories. Heroes that perform great feats of heroism are often rewarded with that feat being etched into the system. That is why they are called feats.
There is a tale of a berserker of old who went to war. He entered his rage and did not leave it until the battle was done. It is said he grew a fury core. In theory, that has translated to this: Spend a full hour in a berserk rage. If you do so, you will gain the core."
Anath looked around at the rest of her companions happily eating orc. "How could I be mad for a full hour? Oh, I can't imagine what would do that." She said, voice heavy with sarcasm.
"What do you have for me?" Elyndris asked. Her muzzle was covered in stew juices.
"Before that, I want to point something out." Said Skiz. "So, at level ten you should get a biotrait specific to your geneseed. No clue what it is. I've never even heard of a larva past level four. So, you have that to look forward to."
"That isn't a core." She said.
"I'm getting to it!" Skiz snapped. "There is a… ritual of sorts monsters can do only once. You must sacrifice a mortal or monster at an altar of Sahrzuel and offer its heart to the angel. The next trait you choose will get a free mutation. I suggest you use it on the new trait, whatever it is." Elyndris cackled under her breath and ate a cube of orc.
"Does that work for everyone?" Daggat asked.
"Should. But, think hard about what you want to use it on. You also need an altar to Sahrzuel." Kraxith added.
"I will find a worthy victim," Elyndris said. She cackled softly to herself.
"As for your core," Kraxith said, "I believe a storm core could suit you. You can fly, so you are the only one who can perform it. All you must do is enter a storm cloud and survive. For how long, I am unsure. Sorry, it could be hours or a full day, depending on the storm."
"No worries. It will take more than a mere storm to strike me down." Said the worm.
"Let's see…" Kraxith looked at a piece of paper he scrawled info on. "Hunter. Do you like to eat?"
"Yes," Daggat answered for him. The ogre would eat all of their food if he hadn't put himself in charge of it. Hunter blushed and nodded.
"Well, you can always try for a hunger core. You need to eat ten full meals in a day. My advice, just eat as much as possible until you get it."
"That's a lot of food…" Hunter mused. "But my Mum had that core. So do a few cousins. Didn't know how they got it though." He smiled warmly.
"What about my core? What do you got?" Daggat cut in.
"Oh, sorry. Hunter told me how you were experimenting with bombs, yes?" Kraxith asked.
Daggat grinned. "In a sense."
"Well, if you want to skip the inconvenience of finding flame, I understand you are fire-resistant?"
"And more."
"Then, Reborn by Fire might be of interest to you. It requires you to spend 24 hours on fire." Kraxith said casually. Daggat almost laughed.
"ON fire? That's impossible. My clothes would burn away. Again."
"Oh, you can also just sit in a fire large enough. That works. It's a difficult feat, normally. It's common among monsters who live in realms infused with flame. I have yet to do it myself, so I do not know the specific results. But, I knew a golem who did it. He received a fire core."
Useful indeed. Daggat didn't want to rely on Elyndris to light his alchemical bombs. It was only 24 hours. He had books to read. How hard could it be?
Daggat
True Name: Daggat Soul: Monster Genseed: gremlin [ 3 Str, 4 Dex, 3 Con, 2 Int, 3 Wil, 3 Cha; Regenerating Teeth, Rot Resistance; Tiny Size] Genbloom: goblin [ +2 Str, +2 Dex, +2 Con, +1 Int, +1 Wil; Scavenger; Small Size]
Monster Level: 9
Attributes (0/6): Strength: 11 Dexterity: 11 Constitution: 11 Intelligence: 20 Will: 10 Charm: 12
Feats: Encounter: True Angel Ability: Mighty Intellect Act: Fledgling Alchemist Knowledge: System Knowledge Act: Devotion [Layered feats] Act: Usurper Act: Touch of Death
Skills(0/4): Alchemy: 1 [Source: Fledgling Alchemist] System Aptitude: 1 [Source: System Knowledge] System Assistant: 2 [Perk: Semi-sentience] Mind Codex: 1 [Synergy: Mental notes + Copy Tome] Party Leader: 1 [Source: Usurper]
Notable Natural Skills: Literacy: Apprentice
Biotraits (1/9): Base size: Small [Source: Goblin] Regenerating Teeth [Source: Gremlin] Enhanced Night Vision [Source: Gremlin] Disease Resistance [Mutations: Rot Resistance; Source: Gremlin] Hypnotic Gaze [Mutations: Dominating Gaze, Mesmerizing Gaze] Temperature Resistant Skin [Synergy: Fire Resistant Skin + Cold Resistant Skin] Scavenger [Source: goblin] Death Sight [Source: Touch of Death] Increased Pain Tolerance Hypervocal chords
Transformations: Drakeheart Form: +2 strength +2 charm Extreme Temperature Resistant Scales [Synergy: Fireproof scales + Temperature resistant Skin] Fire breath
Night Stalker form: +2 strength +2 dexterity Dark vision [Night Vision Enhanced] Deepen Shadow
Other: Variant: +10 Intelligence Skill potions used: 1/5
Notable Gear: Strange pure-white sword shard Spear of Bracing 3 Mihr Contracts
Klaw
True Name: Klaw Soul: Mortal/Monster Genseed: gremlin [ 3 Str, 4 Dex, 3 Con, 2 Int, 3 Wil, 3 Cha; Regenerating Teeth, Rot Resistance; Tiny Size] Genbloom: Bugbear [ +3 Str, +1 Dex, +2 Con, +1 Int, +1 Wil; Rough Fur; Small Size]
Monster Level: 8 Paladin Level: 1 [+2 Str, +2 Con, +2 Wil; Smite, Righteous Aura]
Attributes (0/6): Strength: 21 (22, +1 belt) Dexterity: 10 Constitution: 13 (14, +1 belt) Intelligence: 8 Will: 11 Charm: 8
Feats: Knowledge: System Knowledge Act: Devotion [Layered feats] Ability: Mighty Strength Act: Arsonist
Skills(0/2): System Aptitude: 1 Burst of Strength: 1 Attribute Boost: Strength (+2) Flame Affinity: 1 [Source: Arsonist] Smite: 1
Notable Natural Skills: Savagery: Apprentice
Biotraits (0/8): Base size: Standard [Source: Gremlin] Regenerating Teeth [Source: Gremlin] Enhanced Night Vision [Source: Gremlin] Disease Resistance [Mutations: Rot Resistance; Source: Gremlin] Claws [Mutations: Forged, Retractable] Dense Muscle Fibers Rough Fur [Mutations: Insulating Fur; Source: Bugbear] Dense Bone Cardiovascular Control
Transformations: Drakeheart Form: +2 strength +2 constitution Fire-proof Scales Claws [Mutation added: Burning]
Night Stalker form: +2 strength +2 dexterity +2 constitution Dark Vision
Notable Gear: Mountain Heart Armor Belt of Last Stand
Elyndris
True Name: Elyndris Soul: Monster Genseed: Larva [ 1 Str, 1 Dex, 1 Con, 1 Int, 1 Wil, 1 Cha; miniscule Size]
Monster Level:
9
Attributes (0/12):
Strength:
10
Dexterity:
8
Constitution:
8
Intelligence:
15
Will:
7
Charm:
7
Feats:
Encounter: True Angel
Knowledge: System Knowledge
Act: Devotion
[layered feats]
Act: Blasphemy
Ability: Mighty Intellect
Act: Vile Concoction
Act:
Fledgling Mage
Skills (0/3):
Burst of Strength: 1
Pounce: 1
Construct Capacity: 1
Spellcraft: 1
Biotraits (1/9):
Base size: Miniscule
Jaws
Thaumic Sense
[Synergy: Tremor Sense + Magic Sense; Mutations:
Refined Sense
]
Complex organs
Limbs [Mutation:
Lesser Wings
]
Disease Resistance
[Source: Vile Concoction]
Force Distributing Flesh
Transformations:
Night Stalker form:
+2 strength
+2 dexterity
+2 constitution
Jaws [Mutation: Powerful Jaws]
Known Magical Components:
Engines
: Force, Energy, Beam
Drives
: Focus
Notable Gear:
5 Refresh Pills
Hero Scroll
Other:
Curse: Ungenesis
Zuss
True Name: Zuss Soul: Monster Genseed: gremlin [ 3 Str, 4 Dex, 3 Con, 2 Int, 3 Wil, 3 Cha; Regenerating Teeth, Rot Resistance; Tiny Size] Genbloom: hobgoblin [ +1 Str, +3 Dex, +2 Con, +1 Int, +1 Wil; Nimble Fingers; Small Size]
Monster Level: 9
Attributes (0/6): Strength: 10 Dexterity: 16 Constitution: 8 Intelligence: 8 Will: 10 Charm: 9
Feats: Knowledge: System Knowledge Act: Devotion [Layered feats] Ability: Mighty Alacrity
Skills(0/2): System Aptitude: 1 [Source: System Knowledge] Deep Shadows: 1 Path Finding [Type: Climbing]
Notable Natural Skills: Stealth: Apprentice Climb: Apprentice
Biotraits (1/9): Base size: Small [Source: Hobgoblin] Regenerating Teeth [Source: Gremlin] Enhanced Night Vision [Mutations: Dark Vision; Source: Gremlin] Disease Resistance [Mutations: Rot Resistance; Source: Gremlin] Improved Body Control [Synergy: Improved Balance + Improved Nerve Conduction + Improved flexibility; Mutations: Autonomous Reflex] Nimble Hands and Feet [Synergy: Nimble hands + Prehensile Feet; Mutations: Mighty Grip] Cold Resistant Skin Enhanced Visual Acuity
Transformations: Drakeheart Form: +2 strength +2 dexterity Smoke Aura Lesser Wings
Night Stalker form: +2 strength +2 dexterity Enhanced Scent Deepen Shadow+, Widen Shadows
Notable Gear: Blade of a Thousand Screams Knife of the Traveler Mana Crystal Set Tiara
Pet: Name: Birdy Genseed: Cat
Attributes: Strength: 2 Dexterity: 4 Constitution: 2 Intelligence: 2 Will: 2 Charm: 3
Biotraits: Lesser Wings
Hunter
True Name: Hunter Soul: Mortal/Monster Genseed: Ogre [ 8 Str, 2 Dex, 6 Con, 2 Int, 3 Wil, 3 Cha; Ogre's curse; Large Size]
Hearth Tender Level: 8 [+1 Str, +1 Con, +4 Wil; Invoke Torch, Hearth Fire] Monster Level: 1 [Source: Ichor of the Beast]
Attributes (0/6): Strength: 14 Dexterity: 7 Constitution: 13 Intelligence: 9 Will: 15 Charm: 8
Feats: Knowledge: System Knowledge Act: Vile Concoction Act: Devotion [layered feats] Act: Slayer Ability: Unshakable Will
Skills (0/9): System Aptitude: 1 [Source: System Knowledge] Invoke Torch: 2 [Perks: Mighty Torch] Hearth Fire: 2 [Perks: Healing Warmth] Sacred Flame: 2 [Perks: Debilitating Warmth] Encompassing Warmth: 1 Brilliant Bash: 2 [Perks: Hearth Flame] Bounty Hunter: 1 [Source: Slayer] Seek: 1 Fearless: 1 Peaceful Presence: 1 Condense Aura: 1
Notable Natural Skills: Healing: Apprentice
Biotraits (0/1): Base Size: Large Disease Resistance [Mutations: Rot Resistance; Source: Vile Concoction]
Other: Curse: Ogre Curse Boot of Rashail
Anath
True Name: Anathema Soul: Monster/Mortal Genseed: Human [ 3 Str, 3 Dex, 3 Con, 3 Int, 3 Wil, 3 Cha; Standard Size]
Monster Level: 5 Berserker Level: 5 [+3 Str, Dex Con, -1 Int, Wil, Cha; Berserker's rage, Great Vitality]
Attributes [0/7]: Strength: 12 Dexterity: 11 Constitution: 13 Intelligence: 10 Will: 8 Charm: 7
Feats: Encounter: True Angel Knowledge: System Knowledge Act: Vile Concoction Act: Devotion [layered feats]
Skills(0/8): System Aptitude: 1 [Source: System Knowledge] System Assistant: 1 Skill Boosts: Survival (1) Savage Legs: 1 Berserker's Spirit: 1 [Synergy: Warrior's Spirit (Burst of Strength + Burst of Alacrity + Burst of Vitality) + Berserker's Rage] Purge Poison: 1 Great Vitality: 1 Blood Rhythm: 1
Notable Natural Skills: Survival: Apprentice Savagery: Apprentice
Biotraits [1/5]: Disease Resistance [Mutations: Rot Resistance; Source: Vile Concoction] Extra Limb (Arachnid), x4 [Source: Variant] Venomous Mandibles [Source: Variant] Multi-eye [Mutations: Magnified, Night Vision; Source: Variant] Hardened Chitin
Transformations: Night Stalker form: +2 strength +2 dexterity Claws Dark Vision
Notable Gear: Blade of the Dessert Flower 5 Tokens
Other: Variant: Arachnid Traits
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