In the Pit

I move quickly while the goblins are still hesitating, I target the far right goblin and stab it in the chest.

Objective: Kill Goblins 21/50

I swing my shield at the next goblin.

'Shield Bash!'

MP: 70/100

*DING*

Congratulations! Skill Shield Bash has progressed to level 2!

Shield Bash

Level 2

MP Cost 5

When you bash an enemy with your shield you have a 30% chance to stun them.

My shield bash hits the next goblin and knocks it back stunned. As the last three goblins move to attack I jump backwards and land back in the hallway. As the three goblins recover and pursue me the spider takes the stunned one.

Objective: Kill Goblins 22/50

As the three goblins rush me I again target the right one and let it run right into the spear as I push the shield at the other two.

Objective: Kill Goblins 23/50

They try to reach over the shield to stab me but their arms are too short. I swing the spear over their heads to make them duck and while they are blinded I swing the spear back around and below the shield and cut them off at the ankles. As they fall to the ground I easily finish them off.

*STAB* *STAB*

Objective: Kill Goblins 25/50

*DING*

Congratulations! Skill Spear Basics has progressed to level 3!

Spear Basics

Level 3

Str +3 Agi +3

You do 15% extra damage with spears.

I look at the giant spider and say "Thanks for your help but I was really hoping they would hurt you and make this easier."

'Okay let's try this out. Firebolt!'

MP: 40/100

A small ball of fire forms just above the palm of my hand, I look directly into the multiple eyes of the spider and throw the ball of fire at them.

*SHRIEK*

'And again. Firebolt!'

MP: 10/100

Throwing the second firebolt I hit the spider, while it is screaming and thrashing about, I charge it with my spear. After seeing how the goblin's daggers didn't scratch the spider's exoskeleton I aim the spear at one of the junctions and thrust with all my strength.

The spear sinks into the spider but is yanked out of my hands as it rears back. I react quickly and grab the mace off my belt and swing at the joint of the spider's leg.

*CRACK*

With one of it's legs broken the spider tilts off balance but doesn't fall, and because I am close enough to use the mace I can't dodge the spider's bite.

You have suffered a bite attack! Damage 35 HP!

*DING*

You have been poisoned! Damage 43 HP!

HP: 147/225

Even as I shout in pain I bring the mace down on the spider's head.

*SMACK*

*DING*

Congratulations! Skill Blunt Basics has progressed to level 3!

Blunt Basics

Level 3

Str +3

You do 15% extra damage with blunt weapons.

The spider backs off but doesn't go down, I can see green ichor coming from its head and from where the spear is still lodged in its body. Seeing the spear I get an idea and jump closer to the spider. Shield Bash!

MP: 5/100

I am not aiming at the spider, instead I bash the base of the spear and throw all my weight behind it to drive it deeper into the spider's body. As I am driving the spear deeper the spider at the same time lunges and bites into my leg.

You have suffered a bite attack! Damage 30 HP!

*DING*

You have been poisoned! Damage 43 HP!

HP: 74/225

*DING*

Congratulations! Skill Poison Resist has progressed to level 4!

Poison Resist

Level 4

End +4

You take 20% less damage from poison.

I am about to move in for another attack when the spider falls over. It twitches a few times then the legs curl inward, all but the broken one. I wait a minute then step closer and kick the spider to make sure it is dead.

When it doesn't twitch again I grab the spear and try to pull it free. I have to climb up and stand on the spider with my feet on either side of the spear and use my whole body before I am finally able to pull it free. Just out of curiosity I try stabbing the spider's body with the spear, but it just hits and then skids along without even leaving a scratch.

'Oh! I'm going to have to try and make stuff out of you!'

The first thing I have to do is figure out how to get it back to my room. But before that I go over to the goblin shaman and cut open its chest. Ah ha! I lift the beast core out of the shaman with a smile on my face. I stare at it intently.

*ITEM*

Beast Core

Quality: Minor

Next I check the shaman's "staff".

*ITEM*

A stick

"Ha ha ha!"

I toss the stick aside, I check but find nothing else of value. I start dragging the goblins back to the well room and tossing them on the bone pile after taking the daggers and ropes off them. I leave the shaman till last and prop it up facing the passageway where the goblin lair is.

Then I take all the daggers and ropes back to my room, where I come across the first two goblins I killed that I had forgotten about. I strip them of their daggers and ropes as well before dragging them to the bone pile. I also remember the two in the mushroom area and do the same with them.

Then I go back for the spider, first to get it through the doorways I cut off all its legs. After that I start slowly dragging it out into the hallway, but something odd catches my eye, the torch is still burning. I go over and pick it up and look at it, it doesn't seem to have burnt down at all so I stare intently at it.

*MAGIC ITEM*

Everburning Torch

"Ooooh! I wonder if all those torches are like this?"

I stick the torch in the ground and leave it there for the time being and go back to dragging the spider body. It takes me a lot of effort and quite a bit of time to get the spider body back to my room. After I catch my breath for a minute I head back for the torch, once I pick it up I decide to double check before leaving.

So I use it to burn all the webbing, but all I find is a few more daggers. So I head back to my room with the torch, now between the two light stones and the torch my room is very bright. I have a bowl of soup and then meditate for eight hours.

HP: 194/226

MP: 100/100

*DING*

Congratulations! Skill Meditation has progressed to level 6!

Meditation

Level 6

Wis +6 Int +2 Cha +2

A skill for recovery. HP 20/hour MP 20/hour

Now that I am rested I pull out the shaman's beast core and stare at it intently.

*ITEM*

Beast Core

Quality: Minor

Would you like to absorb it? Y/N

"Yes!"

You have absorbed a minor beast core!

HP +10 MP +10

'Hmm so little? Is that because it's a minor?'

So the higher the grade the better the stats, that makes sense I guess. So let's see what you have.

I start cutting along the joints of the spider carapace, and remove it piece by piece and set the pieces aside for now. Once the carapace is stripped I cut into the chest and dig out the beast core, then I stare at it.

*ITEM*

Beast Core

Quality: Inferior

Would you like to absorb it? Y/N

"Yes!"

You have absorbed an inferior beast core!

HP +25 MP +25 Str +2 Agi +2 End +2

*DING*

Congratulations! Skill Observe has progressed to level 3!

Observe

Level 3

Int +3

You can identify items with intense study.

Alright, not bad, not bad at all. Now I wonder if you are edible? I quickly cook up a piece of spider meat and try it. It isn't poisonous but it tastes fairly awful. So I drag what's left of the corpse and throw it on the bone pile. Then I sit down, clean my weapons and clothes, and clean and sharpen all the daggers.

*DING*

Congratulations! Skill Repair has progressed to level 4!

Repair

Level 4

Str +4 Int +4

You can repair common items without damaging them.

I now have almost twenty daggers, I pick the best two to keep on my belt and leave the others for use with crafting. I try making armor pieces with the spider carapace but none of my weapons can scratch it, so I settle for scraping and cleaning it then pile it in the corner until I find something that will cut it. I sit down and meditate for another two hours.

HP: 271/271

MP: 135/135

Alright full HP, now it's time to finish this. I gather my weapons and head to the well room, after checking for enemies I move into the passageway outside the goblin lair and carefully take a look inside. I count eight goblins remaining besides the chief, I don't want to fight all of them at once so I come up with a plan. I quickly return to my room for some extra daggers then go and set things up.

I step into the doorway of the goblin's lair and grin at the chief. The goblins notice me almost immediately and the chief jumps up and points at me and starts roaring at the other goblins. The eight remaining goblins draw their weapons and charge towards me. I step back a bit and kneel down while setting the spear down, then I grab the first of the daggers I left there waiting.

'Dagger Throw! Dagger Throw! Dagger Throw! Dagger Throw!'

MP: 115/135

*THUD* *THUD* *THUD* *THUD*

Objective: Kill Goblins 29/50

*DING*

Congratulations! Skill Dagger Throw has progressed to level 5!

Dagger Throw

Level 5

MP Cost 5

You can throw a dagger with speed and accuracy. Hit +5 Damage +10

I quickly throw the four daggers I left ready and just like that half the goblins go down. Then I target the next goblin.

'Firebolt!'

MP: 85/135

*FWOOSH!*

Objective: Kill Goblins 30/50

*DING*

Congratulations! Skill Firebolt has progressed to level 2!

Firebolt

Level 2

MP Cost 30

You throw a bolt of fire that deals 35 fire damage.

As the goblin falls screaming and burning I grab my spear and get ready to meet the last three goblins. The fastest of the three leaps into the air from about five feet away and comes flying at me until it suddenly stops in mid air as it meets the spear I am holding up.

*STAB*

Objective: Kill Goblins 31/50

*CRACK*

The goblin suddenly drops to the ground with half the spear still stuck in it. While I am left with just a broken piece of wood as the last two goblins charged me. I throw it at one of the goblins to slow it down as I raise my shield to intercept the other goblin while reaching for the mace on my belt. I intended to attack the goblin behind my shield but as I am about to swing I see the second goblin getting close and change my target and swing at the goblin's head.

*SMASH*

Objective: Kill Goblins 32/50

As I am killing the second goblin the first darts around my shield and manages to stab me in the side.

You have suffered a stab attack! Damage 10 HP!

HP: 261/271

*DING*

You have been poisoned! Damage 18 HP!

HP: 243/271

With a growl I turn on the last goblin and bring the mace down on its head.

*SQUISH*

Objective: Kill Goblins 33/50

With the last goblin dead I step back into the goblin lair and glare at the chief. The chief unsheathes its sword and starts walking towards me, it is wielding a longsword but using it two-handed. I move forward to meet the chief, as we close the chief goes for a powerful overhead swing. I raise my shield to block and at the same time swing the mace at the chief's side.

*THUD* *CRUNCH*

*DING*

Congratulations! Skill Shield Basics has progressed to level 2!

Shield Basics

Level 2

Str +2 End +2

You gain Defense +2 when using a shield.

I grin as I hear the chief's ribs break, but am surprised when it doesn't seem to affect the chief. The chief immediately goes for another big attack and again I raise my shield to block it.

*THUD* *CRACK*

My grin fades as my shield breaks under the powerful blow of the chief. Before the chief can swing again I swing my mace at the chief's elbow.

*CRACK!!*

The chief now down to one arm launches a horizontal swing at me but I am able to dance back out of range.

*DING*

Congratulations! Skill Dodge has progressed to level 2!

Dodge

Level 2

Defense +2

Your nimbleness allows you to evade attacks.

The chief moves after me and goes for another big swing, this time I move in closer instead of backing away and catch the chief's wrist with my left hand to stop the swing. I then bring the mace down on the chief's head, and again, and again!

*THUD* *THUD* *CRACK*

With this the light finally leaves the chief's eyes and he slumps to the floor.

Objective: Kill Goblins 34/50

*DING* *DING*

Congratulations! You have completed a quest!

Kill the Chief

Objective: Kill the Goblin Chieftain 1/1

Reward: Black Razor

As the message fades away a dagger suddenly appears floating in the air in front of me. I eagerly reach out and grab it.

*MAGIC ITEM*

Black Razor

+10 Dark damage.

A dagger forged of darkness.

I slowly draw the dagger, it has a beautiful black blade, longer than an average dagger, slightly curved with a single edge, and as I hold it up the blade seems to be coated in black fire.

'What a nice reward! This was definitely worth it!'