I lay on the ground, my Dragonkin body was no longer suffering from involuntary convulsions. The agonizing pain of being electrocuted was starting to subside. My breathing was returning to normal, but my mouth was still incredibly dry. I looked up at the small Faerykin standing above me, with two crude arrows protruding from the back of his Silveritemail. One broken arrow fell splintered to the ground, having missed the opening for his wings. Stephin now turned to see two HobGoblins, riding Wolven mounts and nocking more crude arrows. The third arrow must have came from the thick brush behind them. He turned and cast the spell he had intended to use on me, at the darker skinned HobGoblin... sending both rider and mount sprawling into the dirt. The lighter skinned HobGoblin loosed his arrow, and the Faerykin easily dodged it. The Mounted Hob was just under 4 foot tall, and had a muscular yet small frame. The other was slender with short horns, mostly covered by black hair in long braids. They both dressed in ragged leathers and course hide and brandished un maintained, adventurer quality bows with crude arrows. I surmised the weapon's were scavenged from previous victims. The smaller Goblins were dressed in tattered furs or clothes woven from plant fibers, if dressed at all. They mostly used crude clubs and spears, though some had chosen to imitate the better equipped Hob's with makeshift bows of their own. I used the diversion to scramble to my feet. while struggling to stand, I picked up my 1h axe and bladed shield. I staggered toward the downed Hob.

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"Fucking Goblin's!" Keith screamed.

He used Bash, slamming his staff against the small green creatures, swearing with every strike. The Wisp type Fairykin didn't even want to be here in the first place. He didn't even care about the people in this rag-tag party. Keith was just frustrated the Lizardman had been rude to his friend this morning, even if it may have been warranted. Now there's PvP and Goblin's about, this situation had gone too far.

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Stephin had now turned his bow on the lighter skinned HobGoblin. The poisoned arrow hit the wolf with a muted thwack, followed by a pained yelp. The large white Wolf fell limp, and the Hob tumbled head over ass. Mostly composed now, I was sprinting to the darker Hob with weapons ready. Arriving at the Wolf first I finished the monster off with a strong chop from my 1h axe. I then focused until the corpse disappeared into my inventory a second later. I carefully approached the dark skinned Hob, wishing I had one of my throwing knives. I took a step closer and the Hob swung her bow at my knees. Prepared for an attack, I raised my foot to kick her wrist sending her weapon flying. I then brought my axe down to a crunching blow to her throat. The monsters low HP allowed the fatal blow to sink in and not be repelled out. I placed my foot on her dead chest and pried the axe loose. I accepted the Loot prompt, choosing to look at the spoils later. I then noticed movement in the bulging leather satchel strapped to her Wolf. Axe at the ready, I tapped it with my foot and was startled to hear a whine followed by soft growling. A small Hob baby was nestled in furs and fiber linings. I removed the satchel and placed it on my own back, afterward my PAC notified me:

You have acquired a pet (HobGoblin). Name your new pet?

Stephin had struck the lighter Hob with a poisoned arrow, but had failed to hit his target a second time. The nimble creature had broken his bow during the fall and had to resort to its dagger. Stephen was having trouble remaining in the air, due to his low ST and tattered wings. The Hob seemed to notice this fact and searched for an opportunity to strike. Stephin was drawing another arrow, when Keith had finally made his way through the Goblin's. Before Stephin could nock the arrow, his stamina reached zero and he dropped to the ground. The Hob took his chance and sprinted for the downed Faery, only to find the end of a wooden staff wielded by Keith. The staff bashed the Hob's head, and it let out a shrill cry. Keith then scooped his friend in his arms, and took flight while carrying Stephin princess style.

"What are you doing?! I'm not leaving this fight!" Stephin protested.

"I'm out of MP and you're out of ST. I'm a healer... I can't fight on two fronts, especially in this condition." Keith pandered.

"Fine. If you can't handle it, I guess we'll withdraw. Temporarily." Steph conceded.

At that moment three more notifications went to my PAC.

Challenger: Stephin Roth has left the Dueling grounds. You have Won the Duel!

You have reached Level 4!

Your HP/ST/MP have increased. Gained one stat point.

You have reached Level 5!

Your HP/ST/MP have increased. Gained one stat point.

"Well, Looks like PvP gives EXP as a reward." I spoke to the pet on my back, "Guess we should find your dad huh?."

-----

On my way back to were the party was currently finishing off the Goblin's, I found the second Wolf without Its rider. I raised my shield and took a deep breath, 'Once more into the fray' I thought to myself. Our eye's met, and the wolf charged. It threw its body against my shield, and I activated Guard. The wolf ricocheted off my shield and hit the ground with a loud Thud. I stomped my foot down on its ribs, and brought my axe down on its shoulder. I had aimed for the neck, trying for a merciful swift kill. At the last moment the animal thrashed, and my weapon bit into it's shoulder. Blood gushed from the yelping monster. It snapped wildly, hoping to reach my legs but my axe found it's throat first. With a hushed whimper the creature died. I was concentrating on putting the Wolf remains in my inventory, when a twig snapped behind me. I spun on my heels in time to see the lighter Hob lunge. In mid air an arrow ripped into the creatures eye and green fluid spurted from the wound. Less than a second later a dark figure was standing behind the HobGoblin, shoving her dagger in the monsters back. It died instantly, without a sound. I saw the light, or 'mana', leave its only remaining eye.

"What-cha got there, Fathead?" called a familiar voice.

I turned away from Casey cleaning her dagger on the Hob's clothes, to see Randy pointing with his bow, at the satchel across my back. Ned was beside him.

"Oh this? well that's my new pet Hobo. Short for HobGoblin. Say hello, Hobo." I said, removing the leather satchel.

I presented the bundled infant and he grunted, then shit himself.

"Aw.. Just like the Hobo's back home." I chuckled.

-----

Before leaving the forest, I quickly gathered a ton of firewood and strong branches. I then bundled them as best as I could, and put them in my inventory. Also I put the second Wolf's remains in there as well. Remembering the blacksmith's guide, (Common) Wolf leather was the second best material available at Greenthorn. With these new materials, including the iron ore and bear bones, I was ready to craft my new armor. Well... right after I clean up Hobo's satchel, skin and tan the Wolves hides, then build a furnace for smelting ore. I was on my way to the river to check number one off the list. When we got there, it was starting to get dark outside.

"You guys wanna camp out here?" I asked, spawning my small tent and blanket. "I've gotta make that furnace outside of town, so why go to town just to come back?."

"Really? You're just gonna sleep out here. What if a monster attacks?" Ned exclaimed.

"One of us just stands watch. No biggie dude." Casey spawned a large padded bedroll made of Wolf hide.

Randy was already setting up his tent, "You wanna get a fire started, I'll grab a few fish from the river."

"Word. You think they got catfish here? Or something like it?" I asked.

"We fittin' to find out, lil brother." He replied.

Ned was looking around the forming camp, anxiously, "But I don't have a blanket."

"Here, take mine." I tossed my blanket over. "I got you guys in that mess back there, so I'll take watch."

"Oh well thanks." Ned smiled.

I began to make a circle of stones, and a small pyre of wood. When that was done, I took a piece of flint and scraped my axe blade against it.

"Don't you breathe fire?" Casey asked over the striking noises.

"I'm saving my MP for running the furnace." I informed.

"Why don't you just use the Smiths furnace, in the market?" Ned wondered.

"What just say, 'Hey can I use your shop so I don't have to buy your stuff anymore.'" I laughed.

"I see your point." Ned conceded.

"Besides, his furnace can only hit like 700 degrees Celsius. I'm gonna need 1200-1500." I added.

"Hey so if we get the materials, would you make us stuff?" Casey asked.

"Yeah sure. You guys mostly use leather, Me and Randy have that down... Well as soon as we adjust to using monsters anyway. Smithing is gonna take some practice." I grinned.

After starting the fire, I went to the river bank with my shovel and dug out some clay. Walking a short distance from the river, I then dug a pit for the fire and a channel for the air. I made a circle of clay, then layered in some flat stones. The river bed provided everything I needed to make a furnace. After an hour or two, I had two tier furnace smelting iron in the bottom, and making bone coal on top.

Ned inspected my work, "So how does it work?" he asked.

"The hot gasses in the fuel bed are more buoyant than the cold air outside the furnace causing them to rise. Fresh combustion air then enters the base of the furnace to replace the rising combustion gasses, keeping the fuel bed burning. It's called a 'Draft furnace'. The furnace was filled with wood and lit from the top, to make the bone coal. The fire burnt down the furnace producing charcoal. On reaching the tuyere the fire then started burning the charcoal. This smelts the iron on bottom." I explained. "Basically I used physics, 'n stuff."

"Oh. Ok, I'll go see if Randy needs help cooking." Ned chuckled nervously.

While Ned was gone, I decided to skin the Wolves and soak them overnight. I pulled the Wolves from my inventory, and my Fine skinning knives and the washtub. I made a series of small cuts under the first wolf's jaw. prodding to discover the skins thickness stopping before I reached muscle tissue. I carefully cut a line down the monsters belly, and separated the hide from the glossy tissue and fat. The magic blasts had caused some trauma but almost all of the pelt was salvageable. I wanted the bones for coal and the fat for oil, so I decided to butcher it even though I had no intention of eating it. I Separated the fat and bones, and buried the rest. I basically repeated the process for Wolf number two. I then soaked the hide in the washtub. After washing up in the river, I went to camp to find Ned and Casey asleep and Randy waiting for me.

"Here. This fish is awesome, It tastes like Red Snapper." He handed me a warm plate.

I gladly accepted it, and said. "These wolves are way bigger than the ones back home, I can make you a jacket with some strategically placed steel plates. It will still be light enough, but protect better than that Calcitor jerkin. It would be less comfortable, unless you buy a nice liner from town."

"Yeah, word. I'll head there tomorrow and get some silk or sumthin' for both of us." He replied.

"Ok, cool. You catch some sleep bro. I got watch." I said. "I think tomorrow will be a pretty good fuckin' day!"