When Cain first entered the camp, he had high hopes of obtaining a quest, yet after asking each of the bandits if they had any on offer he did not receive any direct answers or a new quest interface.

Damn Marowit pushing me into another situation when he has no idea what is going on, I should never have trusted him. Or maybe I’m going about this wrong. Marowit didn’t say he asked for quests but talked to the NPCs, I guess he just didn’t shut up until he received something.

Cain started some small talk with the NPCs about the forest and the gods of darkness in attempt to build up some trust. Due to Cain’s lack of social intelligence the only topic of conversation he could come up with was the bleak forest they were standing in, the conversation evolved from talking about the trees, shrubberies and gathering resources in the area to the issues the camp was facing.

“We face many difficulties as outcasts from society, the main being not having a constant food source as well as our supplies are constantly being pillaged. Are you a gatherer or hunter Cain?

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*Quest: Assistant to the unassisted

Clear the surrounding lands of pillaging beasts OR gather enough supplies to satisfy the camp.

Reward:

Greater knowledge of the forest

300 Experience

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QUEST EXCEPTED

“I’m no gatherer, I guess I’ll be killing beasts for you…” Cain said as he walked out of the camp and into the forest to find his new targets and more importantly get some much needed experience.

If they’re anything like the imps I’ll be able to handle them solo, but if I get stuck in a group I don’t think I’ll last long without Marowit.

After searching the forest around the camp Cain was unable to find another living creature, let alone a beast capable of pillaging a camp. He decided he must have missed something and went back to the camp to talk to the bandits once again.

“I searched for hours and couldn’t find anything! The forest is empty! Is there something you’re not telling me?”

“I apologise Cain, but you left before I could provide any guidance. Please take a seat and help yourself to the stew as I tell you the story of the beasts and why we have yet been able to hunt it.”

Cain suddenly noticed the hunger he felt and helped himself to a large portion of the stew, gathering dirty looks from the other bandits, though Cain couldn’t care less.

This. Is. Amazing! Even the poor and unwanted eat this well? What world do I live in!

As Cain devoured his food, the bandits story began

“This forest here is unlike any other in these lands. The forest belongs to the Porewit. A god of the old ages who used to project lost voyagers and punish those who mistreated the forest, though as time went on and humans evolved he grew angry, the followers of light started to hunt the creatures of the forest and cut down its trees to create villages and temples. During the nights Porewit would possess the creatures of the forest and hunt the villages and destroy their towns in retaliation to the pain they caused him. This started the great feud between the men of light and as they called him the ‘first god of darkness’. The men continued to hunt the creatures of the forest in hopes of slaying them all, they believed this would prevent the pillages during the nights. This was successful to an extent, as the pillages stopped and the forest was quiet and empty during the days. Yet if a man got lost in the forest or decided to explore it at night, the few remaining possessed creatures of Porewits past set out to finish them. To this day, no man of light would be silly enough to steal from, or even enter this forest.”

“That’s quite the interesting tale. Though if it were true, how can you live here and only occasionally be pillaged. Surely the two events are unrelated and you’re just wasting my time telling me this folklore.”

“The story I told you explains the origins of this forests unusual behaviour, maybe things have changed since then. Porewits was the first god of darkness in this area, but now we have many. He is generous to our kind and allows us to stay here projected from the men of light. But as we are restricted to this forest we must scavenge for food and cut trees for housing and firewood, on these days he punishes us by unleashing the beasts on our camp.”

Can stood up and knew exactly what he had to do.

“How long till nightfall?”

“In the forest night comes early and the sun rises late. I expect you have an hour.”

“Good, when I return I expect more stew!”

As Cain grabbed the axe out of the wood pile as he walked out of the camp with new determination.

I spend hours trying to find these stupid beasts only to find they don’t even exist!

Cain swung his axe in fury against the trees chopping down one after another!

Experience wasting quest! I could have gotten up 10 levels from killing rabbits! What kind of forest has nothing to hunt?

As the sun began to set Cain trampled the remaining mushrooms and flowers, until he had cleared a full fifteen square meters in the forest. He started off towards the camp, towing behind him the trees he had just cut down.

If these possessed beasts really do exist, they better provide some good experience. Hopefully I can get something for this wood as well.

Cain arrived back to camp just before night set, only to find the bandits in a frenzy.

“What have you done? The wood can be used and we are grateful, yet why would you anger him by destroying his flowers and the mushrooms? We make our stew out of those mushrooms! Are you trying to provoke him? Do you want the beasts to come and destroy our camp?!”

What have I done! If I had known the mushrooms were for the stew I would have kept them all for myself!

“Well, yes, that was kind of the point. You asked me to get rid of the beasts and now they will come to me so I can defeat them…”

“You left before I could finish my story! You could have avoided this! Now we are all in danger!”

“Well next time skip the boring bits and just tell me what I need to know.”

“Talk to Ruff, he was an experienced hunter before he joined us. He doesn’t talk much but you’ll find him in that hut.” A bandit told Cain pointing to a hut in the corner of the camp.

“Hi, are you Ruff? I need help killing the beasts that have been pillaging this camp.”

“Beast.”

“Huh?”

“There is only one beast that pillages this camp, and you cannot kill it.”

“Well I have to try, I destroyed Porewits forests and its coming tonight. Will you help me?”

“ughhh, you stupid child… There is no way to kill the beast; I have tried many times yet it is just a shadow that leaves debris in its wake. The tales they tell you about possessed monsters are wrong, it is the spirit of Porewits himself doing this.”

“If what you say is true, then we are all doomed and should abandon this camp immediately, but if the beast were a real creature, how would you fight it? Or at least weaken it?”

“If the beast were to be a creature of the forest, I would say it’s either a bear or boar, and you better pray it’s the latter. The only way to tackle these creatures is to trap them.”

“Can you show me how?”

“I will help you, but it will only be temporary hold on the beast. We don’t have much time till it arrives.”

Ruff lead Cain into the woodshed and taught him how to tie a simple snare trap, though made out of thick metal wire and secured to the ground with whole tree trunk instead using rope and a large rock.

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*Common Production Skill unlocked: Trapping

You have reached level 1

Ability:

You can now trap small game

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I don’t know how useful this skill will be but if it helps me catch tasty animals then I’ll level it!

After the trap was set Ruff explained to Cain that the beast would have to be lured to the woodshed if it didn’t target it initially. Cain noted this but was more interested in helping himself to more stew.

***

Five servings of stew later Cain noticed sounds coming from the forest, low growls and foliage crunching under foot. The beasts were here.

Cain slipped off into the a nearby hut, one he specifically chose earlier as he had perfect view of the food hut and woodshed from the doorway. He pulled his cloak low to hide his presence as much as possible and waited.

A shadow of black and green crashed though the perimeter of the camp and chaotically destroyed everything in its path! It stopped for a second, Cain noticed it was not a shadow but a wild boar cloaked in a green gas, its tusks shining in the moonlight. It once again charged forward breaking a massive hole into the side of the food hut!

Its time to kill this thing! Are any of these bandits going to help or just cower away where they think they’re safe?

Cain approached the food hut hoping he would go unnoticed as it ate all the supplies. He opened his pack interface hoping to find something useful, though he hadn’t had much change to acquire any loot. He chose the iron sword.

If I’m a thief I have no need for crudely made swords, I can use this to gage its power.

Cain had his back to the food hut besides the hole made by the boar, gripping the sword with both hands he launched the sword inside! He heard a ear-splitting squeal!

It hit!

The boar frantically bulldozed itself out of the hut now with a sword sticking out its side, Cain could see he’d done 6 damage to it, leaving another 44 to go!

I have to lure it to the woodshed and get it snared!

Cain took a few stones from ground and threw them at the woodshed hoping to trick the boar into charging it but instead the boar turned to him. Its low growl was the only thing Cain could hear, it lowered its head and raced towards him!

Cain had only seconds to think, just before the boar crushed every bone in his body he rolled to the side and held out his dagger! The dagger connected with the boars shin and ripped it from his hand! He didn’t have time to recover it so he ran towards to wood shed, the boar in pursuit. I hope I’ve done enough damage to make sure it gets stuck! He leaped as he entered the woodshed grabbing one of the low rafters and pull himself clear of the boars attack! Looking down he could see it struggling in the snare!

Yes! Its stuck by its injured leg, I might have a chance!

Cain dropped from the rafters and saddling the boar, with his second dagger he crushed it into the boar’s skull until it finally collapsed behind him!

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*Level up!

You have reached level 3

Stat Bonus:

12 (+2) speed 11 (+1) attack speed 11 (+1) Agility 11 (+1) Dexterity 11 (+1) Stamina

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Cain inspected the boar’s remains and acquired some loot!

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*3 Boar Meat

*2 Boar Hide (enchanted)

*2 War-scarred tusks has been added to your pack

*Pack weight capacity 35/50

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Cain went back to the campfire where the rest of the bandits were now waiting.

“Thank you Cain! We are now rid of the beast that terrorised our camp, please accept your rewards!”

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*Quest: Assistant to the unassisted - Completed

The camp has been saved from the pillaging beast and can now live in peace.

Reward:

Greater knowledge of the forest

300 Experience

*Level up!

You have reached level 4

Stat Bonus:

14 (+2) speed 12 (+1) attack speed 12 (+1) Agility 12 (+1) Dexterity 12 (+1) Stamina

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I’ll have to talk to the bandits about the greater knowledge of the forest but I want to eat this boar meat and find out what these tusks are for!

Inspect all!

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*Boar Meat

A tough game meat.

*War-scarred Tusk

If given to the right enchanter/enchantress the skull can add the spirit of Parowits to weapons and armour

*Boar hide (enchanted)

The hide of a boar enchanted with Parowits spirit.

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