Thank God there are no hangovers here, Jack thought upon waking. His accelerated healing in this world cured all of his minor ailments. There was no such thing as diabetes or cancer when the body healed at such a quick rate. Although, wouldn’t accelerated healing speed up a cancerous growth? If I get cancer here, I would die within hours? Jack shuddered at the thought and quickly headed upstairs for a distraction.

“Good morning Islar.”

“Why it is a good morning, yes it is.” Islar croaked.

Jack sat to talk with his gracious host while eating her vegetables. You know, I don’t even know if she has any family. He then realized that he had been so focused on himself that he hadn’t really thought of others.

“Islar, I’m curious, do you have any family here?”

“Why yes I do. I’ve got my two strong sons, their wives, and 5 grandchildren. My sons keep me stocked full of food to sell, yes they do.”

“What about their father?”

“He was killed by them orcs not 10 summers ago.” Islar spat.

“I am sorry to hear that.”

“I told them councilmen we need to show those orcs what happens when you mess with us. But did they listen to me, no they didn’t. They went on about peaceful coexistence or some such.” she mimed. “If you ask me, they are scared, yes they are. They don’t want to risk their hide over my Herbert, not they don’t.” she finished, her voice breaking up.

Sensing the conversation was over, Jack gave an awkward goodbye and left for the woods.

Now it's time to train. He had wanted to train up his strength in town where it was safe, but he also didn’t want to look stupid. He had had enough stares directed at him already. Instead, he went a short ways into the woods, just out of view.

Let’s see, where’s something heavy, he wondered scanning the trees. He spotted a heavy log on the ground and grunted while hefting it onto his back. With all of his strength, he started walking. He slowly but safely circled the town outside of view, close enough to run if needed.

Maximum Effort!

Oh my God this sucks. Jack complained mid-afternoon. He had spent hours dragging a log back and forth with no end in sight. The worst part was, he didn’t even know if he was wasting his time. One more break, he thought as he dropped the log and collapsed to the ground. Sweat dripped profusely off his head and drenched his clothes.

Tilting his head back, he drank deeply from his water bladder to quench his thirst. How much longer can I do this? Steeling his resolve, Jack rose to his feet and picked up his burden. I can do this, I can do this, he repeated his mantra.

Jack had quit his training before it had gotten dark, and headed toward town. Oh my God I stink! He thought as he caught a whiff of himself. He stopped by the small river on the way and stripped off his clothes.

I’m a polar bear, he grinned as he jumped into the frigid water. Water cascaded down his body as he emerged, his legs already going numb. He scrambled out to shore, glad for the warm air. I am clean enough, he decided as he picked up his soiled clothes on the river’s shore.

I’m so lonely, he thought as he washed his clothes. He wanted to relax with his friends. He had been alone by himself all day and needed company, a distraction from the monotony. His decision made, he headed toward the pub to hang out with Hem, Makir, and Leb.

They won’t talk me into buying ale again though, he promised himself. He only had 7 silver and was not making any money while he trained. Luckily, his frugality meant that he would go through less than 10 coppers a day. As long as I don’t buy ale, he thought while washing his clothes. After a second, he added, or if I don’t have to replace my armor.

There were a few tears in his tunic and a great hole in his pants where he was savaged by the wolf. He marvelled at the unscarred skin of his leg, inspecting the smooth skin. It’s hard to believe my leg was almost gnawed in half yesterday.

After donning his cold wet clothes, he met up with Hem at the pub.

“Hey Jack, grab an ale and a seat.” Hem said as he gestured toward his table.

“Thanks Hem, but no ale for me today, just stew.”

“What! Why?” Makir asked.

“I need to save my money. I mean, I can’t believe I let you talk me into having all that ale last night!”

“You need to lighten up and enjoy yourself,” said Leb, taking another swig.

“Well, I definitely enjoyed the lack of a hangover this morning.”

“Whats a hangover?” asked Makir in confusion, scratching the back of his head.

“Uh… It is when you drink so much that you feel sick afterwards.” Jack stammered.

“Oh, I see! I remember a few years back, I drank almost a gallon of spirits in stonehold and felt a little dizzy.” said Hem, “Was that a hangover?”

“No, where I come from, they call that a buzz.”

The conversation continued on until Jack bowed out early, letting them know how exhausted he was from training.

“Hello again Jack”, said Elantarr gracefully upon her throne.

Finally, I can get some answers, he thought, relieved. Jack opened his eyes and found himself on a sofa instead of the hard cellar floor. This feels so much better, he thought relaxing into the soft cushion.

“How are you enjoying life on Nessag?” asked Elantarr.

“This place is amazing.”

“I am glad you are enjoying yourself.” she said and then paused. “Did you forget the goal of the competition?” She added almost nonchalantly.

“Of course not… I am leveling up, I’m level 4 already!” Jack proudly revealed.

“I’m level 4 already,” she mocked in a high pitch voice. Her friendly face turned harsh.

A cold chill swept into him, this power slammed him against the sofa. Her anger seemed to be visible, blotting out the diffuse light in the room. “You are dead is what you are.” she growled, seeming to grow in stature. “The entire reason I am holding this competition is to find the boldest, most ambitious champion, and what do YOU do? You walk around town all day and drink with peasants. If you weren’t gallivanting around town, you wouldn’t be so weak. It has been five full days and you are not even level 5.”

“But...” he squeaked, suddenly scared. “I almost died…”

“You didn’t die though did you?” she said as her pointed finger seemed to almost pierce his soul, “You WILL die however if you don’t put in your full effort. Carrying logs in the forest is not the path to power Jack, battle is. You must defeat your foes in combat and absorb their experience.”

“So, the person with the highest level at the end of 30 days will win the contest? You don’t care about money?”

“Money is not true power. Now, I have said what I came here to say to you. Remember this Jack, you either kill, or you will be killed.”

Then the room went dark.

Jack sat up with a start. Well, that sucked. He hated being chastised for his lack of progress. The fear quickly faded as his surroundings had changed. She wasn’t very helpful, he thought and added, and it looks like I'm not in first place. The plan to raise his strength before going back out was not going to happen.

After buying his morning vegetables from Islar, he dashed to the forest. I need to level fast, he thought as he moved through the trees, on the lookout for any prey. If I want to level up quickly, I can’t head back to town after every kill, it takes too long. He would have to leave the kills where they lay.

Such a waste. Not only would the body rot where it lay, but he wouldn’t be making any money either. His 7 silver would have to last him as long as it could while he leveled. Hopefully my spear doesn’t break. He checked the durability, and it was still full. Totally worth it, he grinned in satisfaction.

Jack crept along an animal trail until he paused at the sound of rustling leaves. Slowly and quietly, he stepped off the trail to investigate the noise. As he rounded a bush, there shuffled a strange animal he did not recognize.

Brown Borstach

Level 5

Health 80/80

So it’s called a brown borstach, so weird, he thought. It’s only a level above me too, I got this! The creature stood 3 feet tall and 4 feet long. It was similar to a bear, but with weird mange. Facing away from Jack, the borstach moved on sharp dagger-like claws and used its shovel shaped head to strip the greenery away.

Placing each foot down gingerly as not to alert his prey, Jack slowly closed the distance. When he was within ten feet of the borstach, he paused, not trusting in stealth to get him closer.

He coiled his muscles in tension. Now! Jack sprinted forward. Jumping in fright, the borstach turned to meet its attacker. It was too late. Jack’s spear slid deep into the borstach’s neck. Momentum carried him past the beast, dragging his weapon along with him. Blood squirted through the air as the spear ripped out of the borstach’s neck.

The creature stumbled on its feet, blood pulsing to the ground. Jack got his spear in position, ready to meet its charge. Their eyes met, its gaze betraying its shock.

Unsteadily, the borstach turned and fled. Jack pursued the waddling animal now slowed by its gruesome wound. Overtaking the creature, he thrust his spear into it from behind. He heard one last gurgle and then it lay on its side, lifeless.

You have dealt a crippling blow to a Brown Borstach for 48 damage.

A Brown Borstach has taken 5 damage from bleeding.

A Brown Borstach has taken 5 damage from bleeding.

A Brown Borstach has taken 5 damage from bleeding.

A Brown Borstach has taken 5 damage from bleeding.

A Brown Borstach has taken 5 damage from bleeding.

You have dealt 9 piercing damage to a Brown Borstach.

A Brown Borstach has died.

You receive 160 experience.

Jack reviewed the combat log and saw that the bleeding from his initial stab did a large portion of the damage. I didn’t even need to chase it down, he realized. After a few more seconds, it would have bled out.

Morning the loss of silver, Jack left the meat to find new prey.

*Thud*

Jack stumbled and looked down at the arrow sticking out of his shoulder. I’ve been shot, he thinks in disbelief. Bracing himself for the coming pain, he wrenched the arrow from his shoulder. Grabbing his shoulder, he dropped to the ground to avoid being shot a second time.

Who shot me! he gasped, as he desperately searched for his attacker.

Intense burning flooded his shoulder as his tunic turned red. There’s the pain, he groaned. Doing his best to push it aside, Jack crawled to the cover of a tree. He rose to his feet as he peered around the thick trunk.

There he is! He spied the orc in the distance. Do I run? Jack thought as he inspected him.

Ghular Stonehand

Level 6

Health 140/140

Jack ducked behind the tree as the level 6 orc let his next arrow fly. The arrow passed mere inches from his face. It’s now or never! Jack raced forward trusting his increased agility against the orc’s next draw.

His spear led the charge, thrusting forward into Ghular’s chest. The force of the blow slammed the orc backward, yet his leather armor prevented the tip from piercing.

I have to aim for the face or the arms! Jack desperately thought as he sent a flurry of stabs the orc’s way. He kept the pressure up, not allowing Ghular the option of returning a blow. Jack tired as stab after stab was dodged. A lucky strike punctured the orc’s arm.

“Screw you!” the orc screamed in a beastial fury.

What? Jack thought, stunned at the orcs words as he paused his rapid attacks. Pressing its advantage, the orc lunged at him with a knife. Jack dodged left as fire burned down his right bicep from the graze.

Ghular overextended and Jack thrust his spear into the opening. The barbed tip pierced both cheeks of the orc’s face. Jack ripped the spear out causing the orc to scream with hysteria. Strips of skin were stuck to the tip as rivers of blood fell to the ground.

Jack paused, desperate to understand why he had been attacked.

“Can you understand me?” Jack bellowed.

The orc’s eyes met Jack’s, incredulously.

He can understand me! Jack thought eagerly.

“Why did you attack me?” he yelled at the screaming orc, frustrated at his lack of answers.

“DIIIIEE!” Ghular screamed as he desperately lunged to stab Jack.

Jack met his lunge with a spear to the neck. The spear sank deep into the muscles and stuck. With all of his strength, Jack shook left and right, causing as much internal damage as possible. His arms became heavier with each pull of the spear. When his arms could take no more, he yanked back with all of his strength, pulling out the orc's throat with his spear.

Jack watched the orc fall to the ground, dead.

The orc’s blood in his mouth caused Jack to heave. Bile from his stomach hit the ground as he spat to rid himself of the nasty metallic taste. He grabbed his water bladder and upended it into his mouth to clear out the taste.

So nasty.