Arn and Deon met by horses’ drinking trough outside the stables. Arn greeted Deon with a hug. “Your starting to look small for real now bud. Thanks for coming.” Deon pushed Arn away exclaiming, “back off man, I can still imagine the slarn guts all over ya. Besides, you aren’t leaving for days so the no-man-hugs rule still applies. So what are we doing here?”

Arn explained “I need to test something out. Just hang out here a second.” Arn lifted his shirt over his head to remove it. Deon shouted, “STOP! I agreed to help you with something, not hang out with you while you take off your damn clothes in the middle of town!”

Arn lowered his shirt. “Ah, ok fair enough. I didn’t want to get it wet, but it will dry.” Deon looked baffled. “Please tell me your not going for a swim in the horses’ drinking trough.” Arn smiled. “Kind of. I need to test if my scream-skill will work while underwater.”

Deon shook his head in amazement. “Any child knows you can’t scream underwater! And the horses’ drinking trough??? We could have gone to the swimming hole!” Arn chuckled. “At this point I’m enjoying everyone thinking I’m nuts. Just pretend you don’t know me, this will only take a second. I think it could work. Skills don’t follow normal rules. And I need to know, before I do try something crazier than normal.” With that, Arn knelt down, took a breath, and stuck his head sideways into the trough. With his mouth underwater, Arn tried his Scream and felt it activate. Arn came up sputtering, spit out some water and wiped his eyes. And found Deon staring at nothing, with one pants leg wet.

Ooops! I guess I didn’t think about how the Scream might affect a level 0.

* * *

Later that morning at the Snake, Arn noticed a boat in the water with three local fishermen. Arn was surprised; the slarn wouldn’t bother a boat, but lately there were too many Slarn around for fishing to be productive.

I guess word got around that I’ve thinned them out. Well, let word get around about this! Arn waved, shouted a hello . . . and took off all of his clothes. No sense getting anything else ripped up. Arn checked to make sure his two daggers were securely attached to his arm and . . . remembered that he had not yet allocated his stat points gained from reaching level five. Meant to ask Dannis what he thought, but screw it. Arn quickly added two to strength and dexterity and dove into the water.

Not seeing the grey-scaled slarn, Arn shouted “come on old girl, I’m naked and ready, lets have some fun!” Arn heard some blathering from the fishing boat but ignored it. Getting bored, he drew both daggers, made narrow slashes on both thighs, and dove into the water to look around.

Turning around slowly in the murky water, Arn finally saw the face of the grey-scaled slarn staring at him from a distance. There you are love! Nothing in my pocket but I’m oh so happy to see you! Lets danc…” Arn’s musings were interrupted as slarn ripped into him from both sides. Its on!

Arn slashed with the daggers, but was relatively slow underwater even with 14 dexterity, and the slarn were graceful and swift in their element. Arn gathered himself and Screamed at the closest slarn. The slarn froze, and Arn was able to cut deeply into its side before it swam off.

After a brief pause, the slarn resumed their attacks, darting in and out, attacking his backside and legs and avoiding his daggers. Frustrated, and knowing his air wasn’t infinite, Arn slammed one of his daggers into his stomach and, ignoring the white hot pain, twisted the dagger until Kicking and Screaming triggered. As a rush of power flooded into him, Arn lunged straight at one of the slarn, which dodged slightly and bit into his wrist. Sheathing the second dagger, Arn grabbed the slarn by the mouth and pulled it to him. As the slarn released his wrist, Arn shoved his dagger and arm down its throat with his enhanced strength.

Slarn Slain!

Twisting around, Arn spotted two other Slarn nearby and Screamed twice, once at each.

Congratulations! Death’s Scream is now level 2! Damage, chance of stun and duration increased.

Finally! Arn kicked his legs together with his enhanced strength and was able to reach one of the slarn before it recovered. Redrawing the second dagger and with one now in each hand, Arn sliced in from both directions and nearly ripped the slarn’s head off.

Slarn Slain!

Congratulations! You have unlocked Dagger Mastery! Dagger Mastery is now level one!

Exhaustion slammed into Arn like a hammer as Kicking and Screaming faded. Note to self – you don’t have the stamina to scream three times while swimming, holding your breath and fighting. Lets get out of… The grey-scaled slarn slammed into Arn’s neck, biting deeply. As Kicking and Screaming triggered again and the rush of strength returned, Arn dropped his daggers and wrapped both hands around the grey-scaled huntress and **squeezed**.

Slarn Slain!

CONGRATULATIONS! YOU HAVE REACHED LEVEL 6! +4 Constitution and +4 Attribute Points (4). Would you like to go to the Attribute distribution screen?

Arn started for the surface. My daggers! I’ll never find them if I surface. Arn dove and searched the bottom, quickly finding one dagger. The second was nowhere to be found, and after a time, Arn’s lungs’ felt like they were being squeezed in a vice. Just as he was about to head to the surface, he spotted the grey-scaled slarn’s corpse and grabbed it. Worth it!

Gasping naked on the lakeshore holding the dead slarn like a lover, Arn was content. “I’ll make you into a belt sweetling. That way you can always be close to my pride and joy, just like you wanted.” Arn cackled madly and loudly.

* * *

“That’s a sight I can’t un-see Vern. That boy has completely lost it, going to start throwing feces around any minute.” Vern nodded sagely. “I’m hungry, but think I’d prefer a different view while we eat.” The three fishermen turned the boat into the river proper leaving the large naked boy cuddling a dead slarn behind.

Arn: Level Six Revenant

Attributes:

Constitution: 28 (+4)

Dexterity 14 (+2)

Strength: 18 (+2)

Intelligence: 10

Will: 10

Charisma: 8

Unallocated: 4 (+4)

Skills:

Block (5)

Dagger Mastery (1) (+1)

Death’s Scream (2) (+1)

Dodge (5)

Head Butt (1)

Focus (1)

Mana Manipulation (1)

Mana Sight (2)

Pain Resistance (6)

Poison Resistance (2)

Shield Bash (1)

Sword Mastery (3)

Achievements:

Fearless

Hapless Zoologist

Survivor

Tasty!

Masochist