B.F.HUUPS
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8. Training
🕑 Added 2023-10-07 23:00:03 +0000 UTCPerhaps it might have been better to start in a more controlled setting, but the band, being as broke as they were, could hardly afford that. And without delay, sent Earon off to complete easy contracts.
He was given a few pointers, the basics of how to handle a spear, timing, and general distance control, but the reality was none of them had skills in polearms and weren't about to hire a trainer for Earon.
Then it was time to head off. First was clearing a section of sewer from oversized rats for Master Dobangle, whilst Iliana and Fane went off to complete another easy contract.
Dordan’s job was to watch and help if necessary. But most of it was spent laughing whilst Earon wildly swung his spear around, missing far more often than he hit anything. Unfortunately, the thirty-copper reward was less than the two lesser healing salves he required between battles, and the expedition sent the group another ten coppers into debt.
However, it did unlock a new resistance ability, simply called resistance. Which worked to reduce the effectiveness of diseases, poisons, and a few other things. Whilst he did have his magic resistance rune, it didn’t do much for mundane attacks and was pretty happy to gain something that would back him up against them. Dordan also explained that there were also elemental resistances and physical resistance skills.
“You have a long way to go, but you show resilience. Beyond the gate, and in the Clain barren beyond we respect this as much as strength. Without it, you are nothing. Here people can train and get stronger behind their walls. But out there, you need resilience and without it, you will die long before you get strong.”
Earon smiled. The large man carried himself with a stern veil, and Earon had struggled to learn much about him. It was nice to hear him opening up, saying something that came from the heart. Even if it wasn’t the kinds of words he was used to in the Rye.
“Maybe you can show me around, one day.”
“Show you around the Clain? Have you gone mad? It is a barren landscape where monsters and cutthroats roam. You don’t show people around the Clain, you survive it. Perhaps my words have been too soft. I’ll take note of that.” Dordan grunted.
Earon flashed a curt smile. That wasn’t the reaction he had hoped for.
Hoping to go somewhere with less stale, putrid air, Earon was more than a little disappointed to learn his next contract would be clearing a different section of sewers from giant mosquitoes.
As it turned out, there were quite a lot of easy contracts with relatively good pay in the sewers, since no one really wanted to go down there.
Following Earon on his second adventure beneath Caedstad, Fane was a little less impressed than Dordan, and tied his cowl tightly around his face and refused to speak until they resurfaced.
Unfortunately for Earon, the mosquitoes proved slightly more challenging opponents. After being stabbed by their oversized needles multiple times, and having his blood drained until his face went a deathly pallor of white, Fane was forced to step in – dispatching the flying pests with a whirlwind of stabbing daggers.
After another salve and weak potion, Earon was walking again but needed a good night’s rest.
On the plus side, Earon had used his shield for the first time to block an attack. It hadn't been very artful, but between the stabbing stingers and Earon's flailing movements, he had managed to raise his shield in time on a handful of occasions. It had been mostly thanks to the flying beasts essentially flying in a straight line once they chose a vector of attack. But regardless, this unlocked the skill, block, and even raised it to level 2.
Despite the larger bounty for the contract, Earon’s need for a potion as well as the cheaper salve, put them back another 15 coppers.
Causing further difficulty, was the other contracts being fulfilled on the side, which barely managed to pay the bills. The only reprieve to their finances came from moving to the stables since Innkeeper Korgan had considerably reduced their bills. Likely due to them essentially paying what they consumed and only taking up walkways, where they didn’t even hold horses anyway. However, with every day passed, their debt continued to increase, and with Dotty taking up her own stall, it didn't help.
Whilst Fane was never shy to share his displeasure with the current arrangement and their ever-increasing debt, he ultimately submitted to Iliana’s insistence that it would be worth it, since he didn't really have any better ideas.
On the second week, Earon fought his way through slimes, kobolds, and more rats, a lot more rats. In fact, Earon only ventured away from the sewers once during the first two weeks of training for a short visit to take out some cat-sized scorpions on the outskirts of town.
Even after potions and salves, long rests, and healing words from Arks priests (incurring more debt with the priesthood as well) Earon still felt like every inch of his body had been stabbed, prodded, and bashed.
It did come with further gain though, and Earon unlocked physical resistance, and another point in polearms, block, and resistance.
It had been a tough two weeks, but Earon had finally gotten to another level, and at a speed most people would be beyond ecstatic to achieve. However, most people hadn’t already had all their levels stolen.
***
Warlock – Level 5
***Skills & Abilities***
Polearms (6)
Navigator (4)
Arcane knowledge (1)
Rune Crafting (Body Transmutation) (2)
Mana Sense (1)
Riding(2)
Survivalist(1)
Block(2)
Resistance(2)
Physical Resistance(1)
***Spells***
Magic resistance (5)
***
Looking at his status screen, Earon was almost pleased. At this rate, he might even catch up within a couple of years to where he had been.
Leveling up came with a few benefits, not only did it increase your skill cap, which went up by 10, with every 10 levels, but it also increased your physical traits. Unlike skills, abilities, and spells, which provided their own levels, physical traits weren't as clearly defined. However, no one doubted how levels made you stronger, smarter, and faster as you achieved them.
There were a few major milestones, the first was level 10, the point at which you went from the Foundling stage to Apprentice. Then at 20, you moved onto the Journeyman stage. At 30, Adept, 40 Expert, 50 Master, and 60, Grandmaster. There were likely levels and stages beyond that, Earon figured, but he at least hadn't heard of them.
The third week of training started with sign-ups for the Lord’s Hunt. It was a biannual event designed mostly to reduce the number of hostile monsters near the gate, in which the Lord of Caedstad gave generous bounties to participants. These were collected by retrieving the left ear of any monster named on the roster. Not only that, but the top ten ranked groups would receive a reward, usually ranging from 100 gold coins, down to 10 silvers. With either sum being more than enough to pay off the group’s debt.
Since they had only ever had a caster for a very short while, it was the first time the group was able to enter. And now they needed a name.
Names for adventuring parties were a serious matter. Whilst a famous enough adventurer could bring with them their own name and reputation, it was often the party’s name that earned fame, and more importantly, better contracts.
Usually, it wasn’t until a party managed to earn an adventurer's badge that they bothered to name themselves. Since this was the point at which fame started to matter. However, there were some exceptions, and the hunt was one of them since it required you to have one.
Anyone could take the standard contracts available at inns, after all. It was the badge and rank that allowed parties to take on quests ordained by the king, and quests were what any self-respecting nobility would use if they needed something done. And this was when your reputation started to matter.
This basically meant that if you wanted to earn decent coin, you needed an adventurer’s badge. There were alternatives of course, but it usually meant something like guarding a caravan across the Clain, and these harrowing tasks, unlike normal contracts, were usually given as a group contract, meaning that multiple parties could join up together. The only problem was that if you were a nobody, you would most likely end up as a subservient group, expected to follow the commands of another if you wanted to get paid; a raw deal if they decided to use you as bait or as a meat shield in battle.
And so, even though it was more than a little premature, selecting a good name could have long-term ramifications.
“Think of anything yet?” Dordan whined. “Why can’t we just be the Slaughtering Savages?”
“Because we don’t want people to think we’re maniacs,” Fane replied, lying across a cushioned booth, bouncing a ball against the wall.
“Juggling Juggernauts,” Iliana mused as she twirled a spoon in a cup. “Raving Reavers, Manic Titanic Tanks.”
“Bad, horrendous, and even worse, somehow,” Fane replied.
“How long have you three been together, and how did this topic never come up?” Earon questioned.
“Oh, it did.” Fane sighed. “We just never had any luck deciding on something. I blame these two.”
“Well, maybe it should be something that represents us, you know?”
“If you’ve got any ideas, we’re all ears.”
Earon hummed and scratched his chin. “I can’t believe I didn’t ask this earlier, but what are your classes?”
“Knife fighter, ranger, and berserker,” Fane said without pause. “I’m sure you can figure out who’s who.”
“And you’re our little warlock!” Iliana added, pointing at Earon with a smile. “The witch-hunting warlock.”
“Witch hunting?” Dordan asked.
“Yeah. Remember how our little friend doesn’t really know how he works? Well, he thinks it might have something to do with witches since the only thing we know about himself is that he might be a male witch.”
“And so, you’re hunting them?”
“Well-”
“We were going to find out about the witches,” Iliana continued. “But ran out of time and haven’t been able to get the money for another donation to the temple yet. So, no more library.”
“Yeah, that’s basically it.” Earon slumped into his chair. “And I still want that ring back.”
“Don’t worry, Earon. We’ll get your ring back.”
“What about Witch Hunters, then?” Fane, piped up, bouncing upright in the process. “You’re on the hunt for a witch, and we’re a team now. So, how about it? The Witch Hunters, sounds kind of badass, doesn’t it?”
Iliana went quiet, her gaze chilling.
"So, you're accepting him then, are you?" Dordan asked with a wry smile.
“Well, it doesn’t look like he’s going anywhere anytime soon.” Fane pouted. “Besides, like you said. If the kid gets himself killed, it ain’t on my back.”
“Witch Hunters then?” Dordan shouted, thumping down on the table and making the glasses raddle. “I like it.”
Earon eyed Iliana who retreated into her seat. "What about you, Iliana, is that a name you're okay with?"
Iliana shrugged and flashed a smile at Earon. “I guess we’re Witch Hunters now.”
******
Filling the streets to a crawl, Caedstad had brought in hundreds of adventurers over the last few days, preparing for registration.
The towering gate that separated the town and kingdom from the barrens and the Clain beyond them had been nearly constantly open over the last week. Usually, you paid to have it open, and it would only do so whilst you passed through, promptly closing afterward. However, with the Lord’s Hunt upon the town, exceptions were made.
It helped that the constant stream of adventurers had killed anything dumb enough to stay in the area. Resulting in the immediate barrens nearby Caedstad being as safe as they ever were. Of course, this wouldn’t last, and there were no doubt powerful monsters monitoring the situation, eyeing any possible advantage that might be left open due to overconfidence.
This also resulted in the Witch Hunters, as they were now known, being relegated to just outside of town. Between Earon’s endless injuries, feeding everyone, feeding and housing Dotty and Curly, and mead, of course, their debt had been rising at an alarming rate.
Fane seemed to be constantly muttering under his breath the last couple of days, but he had calmed a little as sleeping under the stars had helped them pay off a little of their debt.
Looking up at the stars, with a resurgent grimace coming and going as nagging pains stabbed at him, Earon couldn’t help but feel a tinge of excitement. Compared to his farmer's life, he could be considered an adventurer already, but the thought of signing up for the hunt and officially confirming their party’s name, made it feel all that much more real.
Every day he had been busy since arriving at Caedstad, and every evening he had collapsed in exhaustion. It had left no time to think, something he was glad for. But now, looking up at the stars, he felt a degree of acceptance. The world worked the way it did, and there wasn’t a lot of reason to get caught up trying to fight the inevitable.
“Ye watching me ma? I guess I couldn’t do it without you. Couldn’t stay in Ryewood. Ralli Tad will make sure the house is looked after.” Earon nodded to the stars. “I know you didn’t want me chasing silly dreams. Sometimes I wonder though, had I left with Alyssia, would I’ve been able to keep her alive? Would we be adventuring across the land together? I can’t sit back and wonder no more, ma. I’ve got to see for myself. See everything this world has to offer, both good and bad. I do hope you understand.” Earon whispered into the cool night breeze with a sigh. “Rest well. You were the best, ma, love you.”
Earon rolled over, glancing over his new companions with a smile.
The next day was met by standing in line. Iliana’s elbow seemed to be near constantly digging into Earon’s side as he struggled to stop him from gawking at all the different adventurers standing around.
Dordan had been one of the largest men Earon had ever seen, his shoulder muscles more impressive than most Ryeman’s biceps – and both a full foot taller and considerably wider than Ralli Tad, impressive considering the stout, muscular blacksmith had been one of the strongest men Earon had ever met. But now, some of the mountainous warriors lining the streets of Caedstad made even Dordan look kind of average.
There were all kinds though, with robed wizards from across the Clain, shadowy rogues, and boisterous bards strumming lutes and singing about their impressive deeds – a rather common means of advertisement for more established groups.
“Make way for the illustrious party of Lucian Flandermore.” Came a voice from further back in the line.
Earon turned to see a group of four wading through the line, handing out handfuls of coins to other groups as they passed them. It was led by a young man with flowing blond hair, dressed in a marvelous suit of full plate in the charcoal, gothic style of Omian blacksmithing.
When they reached Earon’s group, a man as big as Dordan, whose face was almost entirely masked by his thick black beard, handed Fane a pouch and the group proceeded past them.
Dordan stood to the side as if to block their path, but a quick flurry from Fane had Dordan take a step back.
“There’s enough in here to settle our last week of debt,” Fane said with a broad grin.
Dordan muttered something under his breath, but backed down, nonetheless.
Earon ducked to the side, spotting a familiar sight as he looked past the noble group.
"What's wrong?" Iliana asked as Earon pulled his robe's cowl over his head.
"Mages, the ones I told you about."
Iliana turned. Two young men in blue robes embroidered with the spiral emblem of the Spiral Tower walked through the crowd. "A little young for mages."
"Apprentices, and they are nothing to look down on."
Iliana slowly nodded, eyeing the pair. "Think they are looking for you?"
"No idea, but I don't particularly want to find out."
Iliana's hand grabbed Earon's head and pushed it down.
"What are you doing?"
"Hiding you, shhh."
"Don't you think this is a bit much?"
Iliana smiled and bobbed her head as the two apprentices passed - the two passing peculiar glances between themselves as they caught Iliana's eyes.
"What's going on up there?"
SHHH!
"They're gone. But they were looking around, suspiciously."
"Great," Earon said, picking Iliana's hand up off his head and dragging it off as he rose back up.
Another full hour went by as they waited in line before they finally reached a foyer in one of the barracks of the Lord’s Keep. Several tables were scattered about as a dozen or so guardsmen signed up different groups, whilst priests of Arks performed mana examinations.
A gloomy-faced man with dark, sunken eyes greeted them. “Who will be taking the exam?” The priest said, barely taking his eyes off a scroll he scribbled across it.
Iliana pushed Earon forward.
“Alright then, hold your palm out.”
Earon did as was requested.
The priest then hovered his own hand above Earon’s, whilst holding a statue of Arks in his other, likely as a channeling tool. Seconds later, a hazy, golden hue emanated from both of their hands.
“Hmm, interesting.” The priest said, raising his head to meet Earon's eyes. “An unusual bond you have. Not a class I’m familiar with.”
“Not many are, it seems,” Earon replied with a shrug.
“The Priests of Arks are always looking to expand our halls of knowledge. You might be able to earn some coin for yourself, if you were interested in coming in for some tests.”
“Ah, I’ll think about it.” Earon sheepishly replied, whilst Fane eagerly nodded beside him.
“Do." The priest nodded suggestively. "Anyway, all is in order. The bonds of mana are there, that much is clear. Continue, to the next line," he pointed. "You will be called for registration shortly.”
“They seem like a decent lot,” Fane commented as passed the priest.
“Get your mind off of the coin, Fane. We’re not letting those creeps experiment on little Earon!” Iliana hissed.
“Next,” droned another tired-looking guardsman from behind a desk covered in weighted scrolls. “Name, rank, affiliation, roster, and caster class.”
“Witch Hunters,” Dordan proudly boomed.
“Huh?” The guardsman looked up momentarily before burrowing his face back into his scroll. “Never heard of you. Rank?”
Earon looked at the others as a short pause enveloped them.
“None,” Fane said, uncharacteristically coy.
“Right.” The guardsmen nodded as if he should’ve known. “And affiliation?”
“Caedstad, I guess.” Fane shrugged.
“Fane, Dordan, Iliana and Earon!” Iliana jumped in.
The guardsmen grunted.
“And warlock, for our cater.”
“Right.” He replied, scribbling something. “Sign, here, here, here, and here.”
“Marvelous,” the guardsman said rather sarcastically and pulled the signed document back.
“We’re done?”
The guardsman’s eyes lazily drifted up. “Yes.” Before turning toward the queue. “Next!”
“I guess that’s it,” Fane said as they exited the keep’s grounds. “A little anticlimactic.”
“We’ve still over a month to get you up to scratch,” Iliana said, her eyes turning to Earon with a devilish grin.
