The first thing I notice upon awakening is the sound of rain striking the ground outside. And the distinct lack of hunger and thirst. Quickly checking my character sheet, I see that they are still not showing a value. One less thing to worry about.

Climbing to my feet I notice the faintly glowing lines in the back of the cave. Being distracted the day before, I had forgotten to check it out.

Scratching between the bricks with a small pebble I am unable to scrape any of the glowing mortar from the wall. Giving up until I have some tools. I head to the front of the cave and prepare to climb outside.

Peering between the vines I don’t see any sign of monsters, beetles or otherwise. Crouching down I try to be as stealthy as I can while exiting the cave.

Looking around the clearing I see no sign of any giant insects. In fact, I don’t see anything alive, looking around I don’t see any creatures or even tiny insects. Straining my ears, I don’t hear any of the associated buzzing or noises one would expect in a forest or nature.

Peering up into the morning light I look through the lightly drizzling rain searching my memory. I don’t recollect any sign of life from the day before.

Tentatively I place my left hand into the rain. Feeling nothing but cool water. Eyeing my health bar, I don’t seem to take any damage or gain a status effect.

Damn did the developers cheap out on ambiance and the small stuff or is there a reason for this… Shrugging my shoulders I head out into the rain, being as stealthy as possible.

Keeping my eyes peeled, I climb down the flowery hillside into the tree line below. Taking special care with the rain-slick growth. The climb isn’t too bad only about a 70% incline with lots of hand and foot holds thanks to the vines.

Reaching the bottom of the hill after about half an hour I find myself in a sun-dappled clearing with small shrubs underneath massive trees. Looking up I realize they are easily as large as the famed ancient redwoods that used to be on the old North American west coast before the San Andreas quake of 2142.

Not having to worry about food or water and already having a place to spend the night I decide the first order of business is a weapon. As much fun as kicking shit to death is, bleeding my own blood is not. As I search the sparse undergrowth for branches I collect a few throwing rocks. Coming upon a Large fallen tree I manage to break off a few of the smaller branches. Testing them, I end up tossing all but one away after they snap on one swing. Smacking my head, I remember my inventory inspect function. Quickly bringing up my inventory I check the branch and rocks I collected.

Dry Adder Branch

Rarity: Uncommon

Durability:16/20

-

-

Granite Rock

Rarity: Common

Durability:200/200

-

Looking over the rocks it seems their overall durability is based on their size and they don’t stack. And neither the branch or rocks have a damage value. Hopefully, it is just hidden as I expect the pig skin is, as they are shown as crafting material and not a weapon. And if not hopefully it much less painful than punching something to death. Seeing as how my character sheet doesn’t show any damage values either I have high hopes. Picking up one of the broken branches I check its status in my inventory to find out the difference.

Rotten Adder Branch

Rarity: Uncommon

Durability:1/5

-

Getting all the information, I need I toss it back on the ground.

Thinking about my only source of food and shelter I mark the occasional tree with a rock as well as creating a few piles of loose branches to point my way back.

As I make my way what seems to be the 50th big ass tree in the past hour. As I swipe the tree with my handy branch I suddenly hear a loud *Ding* sound. Checking the notification while keeping an eye out for beasties I see I gained a new skill.

New Skill Unlocked!

Pathfinding (Novice rank 1, 0%)

(Passive)

Rarity: Common

You gain the inherent ability to find your way.

Looking around I don’t notice anything different right away. But as I pass around the back side of the tree I see a giant bush at least ten meters tall with arm length jagged thorns covered in fist sized red fruit. As I walk towards the bush I feel a tingle between my shoulder blades. Quickly crouching down, I check the vicinity. As I turn to look behind me I feel the tingle move across my side to my chest. Twisting my body, I feel It always on the side of the direction facing the bush. Checking my skill list, I look at the new pathfinding tool tip.

Hmm, so it seems to be giving me a direction, assuming its north I should be able to use this.

As I test the direction by twisting my body. *Craack!!* Suddenly I hear a loud snapping sound coming from the fruit bush. Swinging towards it I Ready my makeshift club and begin quietly sneaking back to the large tree behind me. Closing the distance, I strain my eyes for the slightest movement. Hoping for a small fuzzy animal, not something matching the size of everything in this forest.

Suddenly a beetle half again as large as my first encounter comes charging out at me. Almost stumbling over a root poking from the ground, I quickly look around and see that I am less than a meter from the trunk. Crouching as close as I can to the trunk I prepare to jump to the side as the beetle rampages towards me. As it gets within a few meters from me suddenly it horn gains a reddish glow as it accelerates even faster towards me! *Hugh* With a gasp I leap to the side just in time. Feeling a rush of air just centimeters from my leg. Hearing a loud *Bang!* I jump to my feet and face the flailing beetle. Thinking about my first fight I couldn’t help but wonder how it would have turned out if it had used a similar ability. Rushing closer, I swing my branch down onto its side with a loud *Thump* not leaving a scratch on its tough shell. Taking a step back I see that it has gotten half its length of horn stuck in the side of the tree. Not passing up such a good opportunity for testing I begin pounding its leg joints over and over. Leaving its legs a pulpy mess. All while the insect is thrashing and screaming in agony. Keeping an eye on my surroundings I bring up my character sheet to check my hunger and thirst meter to test a theory.

Michael Black Title: THE TORTOISE

Bloodline: N/A Age: Immortal Race: Hollow Level: 1 Class: N/A Profession: N/A Health:90 Stamina:102(175) Mana:75 Armor: 2 Thirst: 98/100 Hunger: 97/100 Fame:1000 Infamy:0 Constitution: 9 Intelligence:7 Strength:6 Wisdom:6 Agility:5 Charisma:3 Dexterity:7 Luck:3 Unused Attribute Points:0 Resistances: N/A

Seeing that my hunger and thirst had gone down slightly I prepared Mana Leech and placed my hand on the back of the insect’s shell. In all my earlier tests, I couldn’t get the ability to go beyond making my hand glow, so I guessed that it had to have a target with a mana pool. Activating the skill my hand suddenly glows with a violent light sucking beads of bluish water from the back of the bugs shell like water collecting on a plate. Feeling a jolt of energy beginning to enter my hand it lasts for the five-second duration before fading away. Leaving me feeling slightly refreshed I check my character sheet to see the values for thirst and hunger returned to full. Excellent if I can hunt something with a mana pool sustenance is taken care of.

Looking down at the feebly struggling beetle I put it out of its misery with a few good strikes to its head.

Checking over my blinking notification it shows.

Level 3 Forest Beetle Defeated!

Looking down at the body, I place my hand on its shell and say “Loot” not having anything happen or windows pop open I begin going through past game Loot commands “Loot all, Plunder, pillage, items, seize, scrilla, cash, creds, DAMNIT!” Losing my composure, I end up screaming and kicking the corpse. All the stress and worry that I have been locking inside bubbling out all at once. “GIVE ME THE LOOT!!!”

Taking a breath, I relax my shoulders and picture the first time I saw Lizzy. Her hair a reddish golden halo framing her petite nose and lips, her eyes a beautiful Grey like the eye of a storm. Mesmerizing, like the best drug trip without the washout after.

Thinking about her face always calmed me down without fail. Before her, I ended up in more fights than I care to remember, the term my better half was never more apt for us. I still don’t understand what she sees in me….

Shaking my head, I focus once more on the body, thinking it over I take a hint from the mana leech ability. Placing my hand on the body I bring the beetle to my mind’s eye, focusing on the corpse I begin by superimposing a blank inventory screen over the body *Ting*. Opening my eyes, I see a blue screen floating in front of my face. Huh, that was easy...

Carapace x1

Beetle meat x3

Placing my hand against the loot screen suddenly both items disappear. Bringing up my inventory I see them listed next to my rocks. “Hmmm”. Thinking it over I concentrate for a moment and visualize my character sheet then menu quickly bringing them both up. Hmm seems the best way in to just visualize everything not the verbal, good to know.

Looking around one last time, I head towards the giant thorn-studded Bush, time to get a better weapon. I’m sure there is more than just big ass bugs here…….

***

Michael Black Title: THE TORTOISE

Bloodline: N/A Age: Immortal Race: Hollow Level: 1, 30%

Class: N/A Profession: N/A Health:90 Stamina:175 Mana:75 Armor: 2 Thirst: 98/100 Hunger: 97/100 Fame:1000 Infamy:0 Constitution: 9 Intelligence:7 Strength:6 Wisdom:6 Agility:5 Charisma:3 Dexterity:7 Luck:3 Unused Attribute Points:0 Resistances: N/A Skills And Magic Mana Leech

Pathfinding (Novice rank 1, 0%)