Morning training was held in the communal training yard. As Smeška was taking me through my Small blade drills I saw Branik talking with another group. When she came back She said that for unarmed Combat she had arranged a match for me with one of their trainees. Winner either by knockout or best of three by tapping out. My opponent had Unarmed Combat in the low apprentice Levels but she had put a wager on me so I had better step up even with my Novice level skill.

We moved to the sparring area. My opponent was a solidly built girl who seemed to have a real anger problem. Her anger seemed to be directed at me. We entered the ring and I could see others gathering to watch as well. After getting the command to spar, we circled each other then in the first exchange it became obvious I was out skilled. I came out of the gasping for breath from a hit in the solar plexus. She came back in fast and I missed a block and took a knee to the groin and tapped out. One thing with the Mercenary Guild is that no fighting is fair and you use whatever strike works. The second round started too soon as far as I was concerned, but I was able to surprise her by locking my arm joint and then getting her into a hold, so she had to tap out. I think this increased her anger. The next round we had two exchanges before I took a kick to the head that really dazed me and she really laid into me before I went down and stayed down.

I came round with Smeška throwing water on my face. I couldn’t really tell from behind his helmet but I got the impression he was grinning. When I checked and Unarmed Combat had broken through to Level 5, the Apprentice Level, but the only extra bonus I got was bruises. Not extra attributes or anything for getting beaten up. Again. Actually, I looked closer and Granite Bones had levelled as well. That kick may have well broken something without Granite Bones. I guess it saved me an expensive potion.

I had breakfast with Branik and Smeška in Branik’s room as she outlined the day. After breakfast we would hit the Guild Traders for our supplies. We were looking at a two week run through the wilderness until the fortified border town of Kirsk. Then two weeks to get to Hrothgar. We weren’t counting on being able to resupply in Kirsk. Once the shopping was done I was free until the interviews.

I wasn’t going to get a better opportunity so I outlined the events of the evening as they pertained to the Carter siblings. I figured it was best to come out straight with it to Branik. She was silent for a long time when I finished.

Eventually she said, “Adrian Longstrider is known to me by his reputation. It may appear to have no consequences if we do not take these siblings, but there definitely will be. Longstrider will be playing multiple angles here. It is interesting he seems unaware we are the Mothers Tusks, but he probably knows this by now. He won’t oppose us directly, as it is not his way and our clan is too strong, but he can make life difficult.” She looked at Smeška. “Smeška will go and investigate and find out more about what trouble the Carter siblings are in and whether that might cause us more trouble than Longstrider. You and I will get the supplies.”

The Guild Traders had a huge range of supplies and equipment. Usually they were a branch of a Merchant organisation, or an office connected to a local business. Most of our supplies would be delivered to the wagons. As we went around I was looking for what I personally would need. There were many things I could upgrade from my armour, no offence Branik, to my knives and bow, to training equipment. I didn’t have enough to be looking at enchanted equipment. I would have to be very careful about what I purchased or I would be broke very quickly.

It was late morning when Branik released me, so I had about four hours before the interviews. I figured my biggest need was to upskill with the bow and there was no one to train me in the caravan. I booked an hour's training with the archery instructor. It was more expensive than expected as I was not entitled to the Guild discount.

The first thing the instructor did was get me to shoot a quiver of arrows at a stationary target. Her first comment after that was that my strength was significantly more than my Agility and that was unbalancing the skill. The standard Imperial Army bow was adequate (yes, she recognised where the bow came from) but I would be better with a more advanced recurve bow. Then she started to alter my stance and technique to help me compensate for the imbalance. We had a short time on moving targets after that, and she recommended a training device which was a modified Spiritual Trap that would throw objects so I could practice with moving targets. It was a very worthwhile hour and set me up very well. Bow levelled as well.

I went from there to the Guild Traders and purchased the training device, but there was no way I could afford a new bow. I bought some trap supplies, and especially some for spiritual traps. I was excited to be able to learn spiritual traps, finally, There were so many uses for them I had not thought of. The big expense I was saving most of my coin for was some better leather body armour. I could only afford a chest piece, but it had full arms and extended below my waist with a specific groin protector. Branik’s vest would be my backup and her trousers and bracers were still the best I had.

Access to proper trainers was doing me a world of good.

Class

Hunt

QW

Spy

Total

Type

Attribute

Level

5

9

5

Constitution

Physical

Strength (PS)

9

10

2

18

1

40

86.0

Agility (PA)

12

3

5

4

24

Poison R +4

Perception (PP)

11

0

10

1

22

Crush R +13

Mental

Strength (MS)

9

11

2

22

58.0

Agility (MA)

12

1

2

5

20

Pain R +9

Perception (MP)

11

0

0

5

16

Spiritual

Strength (SS)

10

1

0

9

20

50.0

Agility (SA)

8

0

4

3

15

Perception (SP)

10

0

0

5

15

Totals

92

26

25 27

24

194 Free points 0 1

Bond: Pip, Desert Viper. Skills: Venom Bite, Quick Strike, Granite Bones, Crushing Resistance +13

Skills:

Novice: Cooking 2, Fishing 3, Spear 1, Lock Pick 4, Camouflage 2, Truth Sensing 2, Butchering 1, Granite Bones 3, Throwing Weapons 2, Manipulate Staus 1.

Apprentice: Small Blades 6, Tracking 6, Skinning 5, Identify 8, Deceive 7, Animal Bond 7, Bow 7, Far Sight 5, Trapping 8, Unarmed Combat 5

Journeyman: Stealth 14, Hammer 12, Hearing Aid 10.

Affinity: Granite