Name: Erebrom Golliher

Race: Human

Classes: Skirmisher lvl 10, Marksman lvl 2

XP: 458

Size: 179

Faction: Donegal, Tritannia

Armor: 12

HP: 144

Strength: 12/Speed: 16/Endurance: 12/Magic: 6/Plasticity: 10/Luck 14

Senses: Vision 5, hearing 3, smell 3, taste 2, touch 2

Skills: Powerful archery 6, leadership 1, strike 1, grapple1, throw 1, block 1, dodge 2, deflection 2, focus 1, graceful blades 6, tracking 2, identify beast 4

Class abilities: Phalanx, volley, steady aim

I leaned my weight into my elbows, knowing full well that my drink had long since gone warm, but I had yet to even touch the mug. I’d spent the last hour sitting, thinking, worrying about my plans for the future. As soon as I’ve gotten to level twenty, I’ll be going to try to get accepted into the monastery. With ten levels of skirmisher and ten in marksman, they will surely have to accept me. It’s not every day that a fully realized soldier walks into your waiting palms. Though that was the luck of being from Donegal. The dungeoneer’s town.

Being where it is, nestled into a safe little nook of the world, and blessed with the resource that is a low level dungeon. Many young men have grown up to be fully realized dungeoneers all stemming from this one little offshoot. It was no Burfell, or Oda, but Donegal was probably the best source of dungeoneers in all Tritannia. So to have someone set to be a successful dungeoneer and join the monastery, it would be unheard of for them to turn me away.

I sat up straighter, resting my head against the back of the chair as I ran my finger around the rim of the mug. Contemplating the idea that as soon as I was done here, gained those levels over the course of the year, I’d be splitting off from my friends. My team. Sure they all have plans of their own, but I can’t help but feel just a bit of dread in the pit of my stomach leaving them all to their own paths. I suppose that is just inevitable though. I grabbed the mug and started to lift it, when I heard the commotion outside.

I got up, walking over to the door to the public house, hearing people in the street gathered and shouting. What could be causing people to get so excited so late in the day? I can’t imagine there would be a goblin attack on the gates since we haven’t had any sightings of goblins in weeks. Maybe something new spawned recently? But even then, it should just get stopped at the wall. I pulled open the door, and the people were all gathered in the middle of the road, speaking loudly and gesturing wildly. I couldn’t get much of it from a distance, but they did say that someone broke someone’s window, and caused an accident.

I didn’t want to get involved in the arguing, but I did want to see what had happened, so I jogged down to the end of the road to see the aftermath. I saw the overturned cart, the crates overturned and all the garlic, onions, carrots were spilled out into the street. The horse didn’t seem hurt but the front porch of someone’s house was pretty well wrecked. I quickly traced the cart’s path over to the window, and saw the hole in the shutters. The wood was thin, but whoever did this must have been throwing a stone with some intent to actually break it.

I stepped back, trying to judge where the stone could have been thrown from when a knight from the chantry came running up the road, wearing his full set of plate armor. With the accident, I assumed there would be no need for someone like a knight to be getting involved. I’m still missing part of this story. So I waved him down, though he seemed reluctant to slow at first, he did stop.

“Brother Marcus, you seem off in a hurry. What’s the problem?” I asked, and if I hadn’t still had my sword on my back, he probably would have dismissed me.

“A monster has been spotted inside the walls. We were called to go search the area for it.” He said, making no small inference towards the urgency. A monster is one thing, but inside the walls? How?

“Then I will not keep you long. What kind of monster is it? Perhaps I can aid in the search.” I offered, taking out my bow and pulling the string from my hip to ready for a potential fight.

“It is a beast of some sort, black fur, red and blue face. It was climbing on a tree.” He answered curtly, and I immediately knew what it was. A mandrill. Those monkeys that live deep in the vale. We passed by them often on the way to the dungeon.

“I will see what I can do. I won’t hold you up any longer.” I offered and he gave me a quick nod of the head before continuing his run up the road. I paused, looking back at the window and narrowed my gaze slightly. This can’t be a coincidence. I knelt down, using my tracking skill to see if I could find any traces of the culprit. Luckily I found something. It was a piece of fruit sitting on an adjacent porch. This wasn’t one of the fruits from the cart. In fact it wasn’t a fruit we would normally find outside of the vale either. Gathering them requires you to go too deep for most foragers. They usually would require posting a quest for adventurers or explorers to gather them.

I tried to judge then, from where a monkey might be hiding if he’d thrown one of these. One look around and the only obvious answer I could judge would be from a rooftop. I start pushing forward, looking for signs of a monkey anywhere nearby, where I spot the displaced thatch that looked half ripped from one of the roofs. I didn’t climb, but instead just followed the line of displaced thatch from roof to roof until I came to the end, next to the chantry itself. There’s no way a monster would set foot in there, so another sweep around the building and I saw the trail again. It didn’t take long to circle the quarter, and I heard the commotion of other men having spotted the beast.

I saw them shouting and looking over the rooftop, so I didn’t waste time asking where it had gone, simply running to the next street over, bow in hand where I saw the monkey standing there on a roof. The bright red and blue face, black fur, the size of a medium sized dog, definitely a mandrill, but why was it running around the middle of town. Better yet, how did it even get in? Though I can ask myself these questions later. Right now I have to kill that thing before it hurts someone.

I drew my arrow from my hip, bowstring pulled back in a flash as my shoulder tensed and aimed down the way. I was a little far away, but I needed to keep the element of surprise if I didn't want it to just run. I loosed the arrow, letting it fly, but even before it landed I knew it would miss as the wind picked up shortly after I let it go. The arrow landed, sinking into the thatch, and the monkey jumped, head swiveling around quickly and spotting me. Blast. There goes my surprise. I quickly drew again, now having to lead the shot as the monkey shot up and started to run across the roof.

The second shot missed too, landing in the center beam of the roof. I quickly ran after the monkey, down the way but it hopped over the summit to hide behind the opposite side of the roof. Monkeys are surprisingly clever. I ran up to the building I’d seen the monkey on last and jumped up, grabbing onto the edge of the roof and hoisting myself up on top of it with a huff. Once there, I ran up to the peak and looked around, spotting the monkey all the way at the end of the block. I drew my arrow again, grinding my teeth slightly. I’d fired eighteen arrows today, and I only keep thirty on me at all times. I just fired two. So there are only ten arrows left.

I loosed the next arrow, and it was headed for the monkey’s back but at the last moment, he jumped to the side and half off of the roof. Did this monkey just dodge my arrow? Maybe it was just a well timed dash. I shook my head, breaking into a full run directly towards where it hung itself off. I watched it jump a large gap to the next roof and effortlessly climb on. I fired again, this time certain I would hit, but again the monkey jumped to the side, onto the center beam of the roof. That time I knew it was intentional. I charged after the monkey and jumped over to the next roof and slightly gained on him.

I got closer, seeing him slow down as he reached a shingled roof. Clearly needing a better grip to keep from falling. I drew another arrow, and this time noticed something I hadn’t before. Around the hips, the dark colored scales of a lizard are worn like some kind of skirt or a belt. Monkeys were clever, but clothes? Someone must have brought this monkey into town like some sort of pet and it got loose. That changed things slightly, but I still needed to stop it before it hurt anyone.

I released the arrow, but this time I was the one who missed, trying to run and shoot at the same time. A wasted opportunity. As soon as he was off the tile, he was snaking back and forth now very clearly avoiding my arrows. The gap between us was only about six meters now, and an arrow loosed again, this time however I watched the monkey short his own jump and fall into an alleyway, the arrow sticking into the opposite roof.

I leapt over to the next roof, looking down at the alleyway just as the monkey broke out into a sprint in the center of the road. Luckily for me, all the other people ran as soon as they saw I was shooting so he can’t hurt anyone here. I grabbed the next arrow with only five left, and pulled back, tension pulling at my shoulder as I tried once again to pin this monkey down. He dashed again, coming up to the opposite building and starting to climb. Even as fast as he was, climbing slowed him down, giving me just about as close to a free shot as I could hope. I didn’t hesitate, pulling back and firing in one smooth pull. This arrow was aimed dead center for his chest. This one was going to-

I watched as the monkey looked at the arrow, almost as if time had slowed to a crawl, taking a sharp inhale, a gust of wind bellowed out of his mouth, shaking the frame of the building it clung to. The arrow was thrown off wildly, landing several meters away and sinking itself into the dirt road. Now I wasn’t simply curious. This wasn’t just some monkey that had happened its way into the city looking around for food. I grabbed the next arrow between my middle and ring finger as I watched the monkey shoot up onto the rooftop to continue its flight from me. I decided this beast needed identifying, because it clearly was more than what it seemed to be. Almost instinctively the screen popped up in front of me as the identify beast skill activated.

Name: Natasha

Race: Mandrill lvl 5

Size: 70

Type: Beast

Faction: Unaligned

Natasha? A mandrill with a name? Why? It can’t be a boss, it can’t even be a mini-boss. It’s not level 10. How does it use magic? Is it the pet of some magic class or something? I’ll need to go and consult the others with this when I’m done here. I raised the next arrow, firing it just ahead of where she was running, but she stopped suddenly, and the arrow sailed past. I ran forward, leaping off the roof I was on, and rolled on my shoulder to break the fall. In what was probably the fastest I’d ever moved, I sprung up, running up to the pillar she had climbed and placed my foot against it. Without a second thought I jumped off it, crabbed the roof and practically threw myself over the ledge.

The monkey had tried to run, but clearly was expecting me to have been slowed by the climb. I swung the bow around and clung it to the back of my belt, drawing my longsword from my back and swinging it down in one swift, practiced move. The monkey didn’t see the blade come down, but had jumped to the next roof over in time to avoid the swing. I ran and jumped after her, thrusting downwards, but she dodged, my blade sinking into the thatch. She swiveled around to face me in something like a stare down. She looked me in the eye and I could see her sizing me up.

There was a monstrous intelligence in her bright yellow eyes. I could see it. She wasn’t just looking at something scary and bigger than her. She was trying to figure me out. It was unnerving. I pulled my blade from the thatch in a quick upwards slice and she hopped backwards, exactly like I’d expected. Thrusting the blade forwards, I watched her dodge and roll off to the valley. I followed up with a slash, but she slid down the roof, falling off the side and landing in the road again. I slid down after her, and jumped down, watching her scramble to climb back up the support beam to the eave. I thrust upwards, both to try to hit her or prevent her from climbing further. She circled the beam, using it for cover as I slashed downward at her foot only for her to pull it away at the last moment.

I slashed from overhead several times in this stupid little dance, until she gave up climbing and jumped off, knocking into a shelf and sending several pots tumbling and bouncing off the ground. I tried to capitalize, but she grabbed one pot, throwing it squarely into my chin. It sent my legs wobbling for a moment, but I regained my balance after a few seconds. The monkey was scrambling off the shelf, grabbing one of the pots to drag behind it. I ran forward, both hands on my blade and slashed downward when my sword bounced away. She had stopped, now wielding the pot at me. The monkey parried me?

I grit my teeth again, thrusting at her, but with such a small frame she could easily guard her whole body with just that, batting the blade away as she backed up. I lunged forward, but instead of thrusting, went for a push cut, trying to slash at her fingers. The cut wasn’t a good one, but even the little nick on her knuckle was enough to overreact and wildly bat away the sword. I smirked, one hand letting go of the blade to draw a knife from my sleeve, and throwing it towards her.

The bright yellow eyes flashed wide as the knife stuck into her chest. The pot dropped from her hand and my main hand still on my blade curled down, swinging back upwards, watching the right arm sever at the elbow and falling in the center of the road. She screeched and fell backwards, clutching at the stump of an arm. I cringed from the pain in my ears but she couldn’t be far from dead now with how badly she’s bleeding.

Stepping up, I raised the sword for a thrust to put her out of her misery, but my legs suddenly swept out from under me, tumbling backwards and landing on my shoulders. I groaned over the sound of whipping wind before my legs hit the ground again. It took a good few seconds before I lifted myself up, seeing the now three limbed monkey scampering away at surprising speed. It took me a moment to pull myself up, feeling discombobulated but as soon as my feet were under me, I sprinted after her. I was gaining quickly, it shouldn’t take more than ten seconds before I was close enough to finish this.

I got closer, and closer, how had she not bled out yet? Or at least slowed down? I wheeled my sword over my head, ready to rake it across her back, but she stopped on a dime, wheeling around and another rush of wind whirled, but I didn’t go flying. She dashed towards me. My blade sailed over as she pushed into my legs.

-4 hp -4 hp -4 hp -4 hp -4 hp -4 hp

I felt the sting at the back of my knee first and each one trailed up the thigh. I let out a soundless breath as I fell backwards, thrown off my feet. I didn’t even aim, just swinging my sword in front of me, but she had already jumped back, and I saw it. My throwing knife, she was holding it. She had pulled it from her chest to stab me with. I reached down to the back of my leg and touched it, the stinging pain running up my spine. Though to my surprise she didn’t try to go for my throat, she just turned and ran as soon as she confirmed I wasn’t chasing.

-1 hp

I practically growled, pushing myself up onto my good knee and pulling out my bow. I pulled one arrow, nocking it, drawing, and my aim was more than a little wobbly, half my attention was on my leg. I chewed my lip, trying to focus as I loosed again, but it missed, sailing wide to her left. She jumped, surprised and looked back as I was grabbing the next arrow. She broke to the side, dashing towards the building as I drew, and loosed, no time to aim. The arrow would have hit too, had she not burst through the shutters of a window. I silently cursed under my breath, dragging my feet under me, and hobbling after her.

-1 hp

I panted loudly, it took forever to travel from where I was stabbed, to the window, seeing the mess they’d left, and the hole out the back window. I hammered a fist into the wall, having failed to catch her, but they’ll find her body after she bleeds out in a few minutes. Though I should really be more focused on not bleeding out myself. I reached into my bag, pulling out the bandages and wrapping them tightly around the leg to stem the bleeding at least until I can see a healer.

I unstrung my bow, tucking away the string and lifted myself up, leaning on the bow like a walking stick as I dragged myself over towards the library. I’m sure Aislee will be there with that old stick in the mud, and I can get this healed up. Though dragging yourself along when you have several puncture wounds in your leg is not exactly a fast process. I must have taken the better part of an hour, the sky going from that pinkish orange to deep purple and black, and the white speckles of stars coming into view. Then finally I leaned myself up against the door, and pushed it with my shoulder. Met with the musty smell of old paper and leather.

“Aislee.” I called out into the open air. “I need some help here.” I said through labored breath. The weight was almost all on my left leg, which was starting to burn but was still faring better than the right leg, almost dragging now. I pushed myself forward, every second feeling like a whole minute as I brought myself to the nearest table, and just lay down across it. I laid on my back, looking up to the ceiling when I heard the voice of an old man.

“Eren, why are you here so late? Aislee has already gone home.” He said, rounding the corner, and one of the only times I’ve seen any emotions on the old man’s face as those bushy eyebrows raised, seeing my bloodied leg. “My word, what have you gotten yourself into?” He said shuffling forward and checking the bandages. Before I could even answer, he was already moving his hands, casting the spell to start the healing process.

+1 hp

“There was a monkey that got into town somehow.” I said as he took a seat in the chair, looking up at me curiously.

“A monkey? In the city? How strange.” He started, pushing out that bottom lip past his white mustache. “And the wounds?”

“It grabbed my knife and stabbed me with it.” I said, preparing myself for the inevitable criticism from the old explorer.

“How did it get ahold of your knife?” The look on his face told me I was right to expect it.

+1 hp

“I threw the knife as a distraction, it hit in the chest, and I cut its arm off with the sword.” His brow furrowed as I finished, and his other hand stroked the horseshoe mustache in thought.

“That is… surprising. Quite the clever monkey.” Though as he said it, I could see the disquiet as the wrinkles in his forehead doubled.

“Very clever. It was no ordinary monkey. There was something weird about it. It had a name.” I could see the gears turning in his head.

“A mini-boss? Inside the walls?” He seemed incredulous.

+1 hp

“No, not a mini-boss, it was only level five. I’ve never seen a normal monster with a name before.” I answered, and he seemed to pale slightly.

“You are sure of this?” He asked the question as if I was admitting to a crime.

“I have the inspect beast skill. Why? What do you know?” I raised my chin and he contemplated for a moment

“The only thing it could be is a proto-boss.” He said, shaking his head. “A proto boss is a rare named creature. It’s an odd phenomenon that happens seldomly. A monster spawns one day with a name and a keen mind. It starts weak but unlike other monsters, they are smart enough to continue to grow. They will eventually become a mini-boss, and then a boss, and if not defeated quickly will simply continue to grow until it reaches level one hundred.”