Chapter 16

Name: James Moken Level: 4 Health: 10 Experience: 17%

Strength: 4

Dexterity: 2

Constitution: 7

Wisdom: 7

Intelligence: 10

Abilities:

[Faster Learner] : It takes less to level up all things

[Extra] :50% more skill points when leveling

[Gift of Intelligence] : Gives a living creature a template of this abilities owner

[Baby] all starting physical stats drop to one

Skills:

Beginner Rank

[Intimidation] Level 1

[Sneak Attack] Level 2

[Power Attack] Level 4

[Two Weapon Fighting] level 2

[Leatherworking] Level 6

[Perception] Level 1

[Sneaking] Level 1

[Fear Resistance] Level 4

[Poison Resistance] 7

[Pain Resistance] Level 2

[First Aid] Level 1

[Swim] Level 1

[Digging] Level 3

James greatly admired his now long list of skills but worried about how they all came to be.

Everything is related to those dam rats

It started with an attack or what seemed like one in his own crib then he encountered more sometime later. After that was the clear revenge attack which he and Tom fought off. Going into the sewers led them to the discovery of an almost town of rats of what James guessed was more than one clan on the way out to find Tom’s dad. That horrible failure lead him outside to a broken ship and dead crew that could be linked to the rats.

Okay maybe the rats did not create those holes but it’s pretty unlikely that they had nothing to do with this. After all, this would may be crazy with magic but animals still seem to be overall as dumb as before. If that’s true then why make tons of rat smart? Why attack babies and who is doing all of this?

Being almost annoyed about stumbling onto this little plot James needed to focus on the plan for today: Real food. Stepping out of his home (cave) he made his way to the earth ramp that lead to down below after deciding that one night of eating bugs was enough to risk his life for meat.

In the good hand was James’s remaining shank and strapped to his other arm since the hand was no longer useable a make shift shield. [Leatherworking] leveled as he used the dirty section of cape he ripped off the night before and tied it to a section of bark the fell off last night when whatever creatures attacked. Sadly he could not figure out how to get the [Appraise] to figure out the extract stats but one day it would appear.

Touching the ground at the top of the ramp with his bare feet he noticed how easy it would be to slide and the smart thing would be to carefully work his way down the dozens of feet to the bottom.

Today is not the day to take thing slow, today is a one of fun. In order to do that I have to find something to sit on

James walked around his home tree until he found another large piece of bark only half on. With the grace of a fish out of water he was able to jump and hold onto it then started shaking his whole body until it broke off and he landed with a thud. Thankfully the piece was big enough to sit on so he dragged it over to the edge and got ready.

Fun day begins now!

Pushing with his good hand and the heels of his feet James quickly gained speed, more then he planned to. His mouth resembled a dogs when its face is out the car window. The distance to the bottom was covered in seconds and right before he hit a large group of rock James pulled the front of the sled up. It was as successful as one would hope without being foolish: James did not die on impact, rather the sleds short like exploded and he was sent flying through the air.

Out of all the emotions James was feeling when he started flying the air the sinking one of being afraid of heights was the at the top. Being almost impressed with himself at how fast his thoughts were flying about how to land there was one that stuck out the most.

I bet I can stick the landing

James was completely wrong in the guess of his own abilities, when he tried the only thing that “stick the landing” was his face.

[1 Damage]

Wanting to breathe again so he would not die from lack of air of all things James popped his head out of the ground and rolled over onto his back. His damaged arm with the bark shield throbbed while he gasped for air. Deciding that any future sled trips need to be better thought James sat up to view his surroundings.

Off in the distance in front of him his hill top could just barely be seen while his surrounds showed off tress many times taller and wider than he was with unknown species of plants growing all around. Using [Perception] once again but this time during the day James spotted a creature off into the distance

[Perception] has leveled

What a cute bunny

It was indeed cute, fluffy, flowing white hair with green and blue eyes with small feet sticking out as it ate one of the plants nearby it. It is the ideal first pet of any small child but things were different in this world. Shank and shield were out as James made his way over to the fluff ball and by the time the distance between them was cut in half its face turned to face him while still eating. James stopped moving and waited for a time to see what it would do but it just sat there eating and watching.

Fair is fair, let’s do this!

Doing a 180, James went into a full sprint as he waddled with determination to his next opponent. The white rabbit shoved the rest of the plant into his smallmouth and darted forward. Speeding that fast was a shock leaving himself unprepared resulting in James getting slammed at high speed

[2 Damage]

Running over James and going past him into the forest the first charge was won by the white rabbit leaving him dazed but able to go on. Now on steady on his feet James tried to predict where it would strike from next but it ended it just being guesses. All his efforts were laughed at when the white rabbit suddenly appeared from behind a tree then came charging at him with the same intense speed.

[1 Damage]

This time James was able to move his shield to take the hit but all that resulted in was the bark shield breaking in half and taking more damage. Getting hit like that happened another two times making his health drop to just three. Bloody and sweating things were looking pretty grim for him causing the white rabbit to grow bolder after each hit. Last time it opened its mouth slicing a good cut into his good arm leaving just one idea left and it would only work by making things worse

I think rats look better then you!

Screaming with his mind James hoped that those not given the [Gift of Intelligence] would still be able to hear him. Quickly a response could be seen jumped out from its hiding place and seemed to growl at him then moved it’s fastest yet into another charge. James braced his body and act the last second threw forward the jagged remains of the shield right into its open mouth.

The lower jaw separated from the rest of skull and mostly what was its neck killing it almost instantly leaving the lifeless body on the ground next to him.

[Level up]

Not so cute now it seems, ego kills another fool

After what happened James quickly put all three points into Dexterity making sure next time he fought one there would be at least a chance. Dragging the body of the now mostly white rabbit slowly this time up the earth ramp going slowly. He spent the rest of the day recovering, bashing a rock on the metal chest lock and separating the white rabbit, gaining the [Dismantling] skill in the process. There was even some time left to further expand his cave making it a few inches wider and deeper using his new rabbit fur as a blanket.

His mind drifted once again to what had happened with the rats, something was going on and it had effected his life to much to not look into it anymore.

They may be capable of thought but rats will always be rats the question is who gave them the ability to think in the first place. There was also that rat who lead the others in the large attack who may know more. For now enough progress has been made, it’s time to be a builder.