*

Ghoul

Level: 4

Life: 5000

Description: In places of large burials or battles often acc.u.mulate a huge amount of destructive energy for living creatures. Fresh and buried body in such land has a chance to become a disgusting form of life, Ghoul. Ghoul eats a dead body, paying special attention to decaying internal organs, allowing him to be in lethargic sleep with no food. Unlike other undead species, the Ghoul has the rudiments of the mind. Ghoul keeps some memories of his past life and can even talk, but does not think that it made him more peaceful. In front of you a tricky creature that can attract a stronger opponent to you, to then taste your remains. The Ghoul is clever but weak. If you meet with this opponent, you should be wary of physical contact, as the Ghoul is the carrier of many diseases, and such creatures like to keep a herd. Killing the Ghoul, in no case leave the corpse to fate. Destroy it, so that other Ghouls do not get so coveted food. A Ghoul can eat his brother's internal organs and turn into an Alghoul.

*

Fortunately, the scouts noticed two creatures that were digging in an open grave before the monsters noticed the players. The scouts used a mixture of fire. Michael brought with him a small supply of fuel oil for a small lamp. And now this oil, spilled over small clay jars, with oily rags in their necks, has gone into action.

John and Nick sneaked to the grave and dropped simple fiery grenades on the heads of creatures who were not expecting an attack. A wild squeal rose, and two bursting figures went deep into the cemetery, dragging the undead with them. In five minutes, all the players got the experience, the scouts got the achievement 'Pyromancer' and 15 points of 'Glory'. By the agreement, they did not throw points in the common bank, and both developed their skills. Battles with skeletons continued, skeletons of warriors and zombies were rarer. Players tried to avoid Ghouls.

By evening, all hardly kept on their feet.

Players destroyed fifty-three skeletons, five ghouls, four zombies, two warrior skeletons. They did not meet any new creatures. But this is not surprising because they kept to the edge all the time, trying not to climb deep into the cemetery.

The group had no problem getting to the shelter where the players. .h.i.t the floor.

Alexander and Michael decided to throw a morning run to the village to stock up on new clay pitchers and b.u.t.ter. As for the ghouls, the fire helped well.

Nick and John had volunteered as messengers for the village, and it was decided to send a scout to get them back before dark.

Michael accompanied them and returned. One pitcher of b.u.t.ter was still left, and soon the room lit a small light. Jim settled in the corner and took out a small table of tools from his inventory. Jim went through the trophies, most of which had been taken by the scouts. Nick got a chance to start developing his trade skills. The guest house in the village had the opportunity to rent a chest for storage. Michael said that this chest had to be tied to a creature like a zombie to chase away a local tricky bloodsucker.

Players didn't get seriously injured and were able to take a lot of trophies. It was mostly armor, some even with boost characteristics. Armor, sometimes new, but more often with reduced durability, rings, amulets, gold jewelry, gems, a couple of things that did not have enough scrolls of identification. They collected some money from monsters, very little silver and a lot of copper. Gandalf and Jim were the only ones who wanted to deal with trophies. The rest of the group lay down on the floor and shared their impressions of the past day.

Players discussed skills and tried tactics against monsters. Dan talked about what he learned from the skill of 'Cognition'.

By the end of the day, the monster identification skill had evolved into a four. And now in the description, in addition to information about the origin and basic information, began to appear initial information about the cla.s.s skills of monsters and their strengths and weaknesses. Very interesting skill, the higher the rank, and the more information could be obtained about the opponents. But being a simple observer did not work for Dan. The skill required a fight with monsters, and the inquisitor changed his bracelets on the club, the new club was longer and thicker than the basic one.

So, it took a couple of hours until the door was knocked on a conventional signal. Michael let the scouts in and locked the door again.

The scouts brought news, and good news, and bad news.

The bad news was that a level 21 werewolf, elite, was wandering by the road to the village. If it wasn't for Invisibility and camouflage, the guys could have died. They checked the quest mark, it was near the village on the other side. There were two more werewolves, possibly more! If the others are under 20, that's too bad.

And the good news was that there were two new players in the village!

A man of thirty and a woman with him about the same age.

Gandalf rushed to praise the G.o.ds who heard him. Players began asking for details.

The man's name was Alan, 28, he worked as a teacher at school. Level 4.

The woman's name was Valerie, 25. She worked as a fitness trainer. Same level 4.

The guys briefly told them about this world, gave them twenty silver Rials and asked them to wait for the group in the village.

Strange players are not free to make a binding to the point of rebirth. Now to make the binding, one of the members of the clan has to obtain permission. Fearing for their reputation, the scouts did not allow the binding, leaving the decision to the group. The new people were a little outraged and argued, but it was the right thing to do. Let them sit in the village, they will be safer in it.

The chest for trophies was rented, the key was taken with them. Turin was also indicated in the chest when Nick saw the dwarf, he would give him a temporary key.

The scouts brought 4 gallons (15.14 l) of oil and many empty bottles of fragile vials and jars. They didn't buy much oil, the stock of the villagers wasn't endless.

The players filled up the lamp and poured oil from the large jugs into small bottles. Each player was given five fire grenades.

They didn't want to go to sleep yet, and the conversations started again.

"Is she pretty?"

"I don't know, cute."

"Does she look like? Does she sound nice? What are your eyes like? Are your b.r.e.a.s.t.s big?"

"Gandalf, I tell you again, leave me alone. Come to the village, you'll look at it yourself and you'll know everything."

Nick was trying to fight Gandalf off. John was telling Alexander something with an important face. He could hardly hide his smile, and he was in no hurry to help his friend.

"Hold the paper, Dan."

Michael put a stack of clean pages in front of the players, a rough thread with a thick needle and a pen with an inkwell. And he explained his thoughts:

"Write everything the system showed you about monsters."

"And why is that, because of two new people?" asked Dan. "I can't draw."

"Gandalf can do it, now he's going to make Nick totally mad. Then, he'll run off and help you. Our new clan members have nothing to do with your a.s.signment. I talked to the locals, Dan. This world is huge and very poorly populated. The locals know through the news from the caravans that there are only ten towns in the entire mainland where we are, with thousands of thirty and many small villages. And each region has its own kinds of monsters. I've seen a rough map at the head of the village.

There are four continents in this world, each the size of Australia. Can you imagine the size of this world? And that's the world where the players come in. We're few, very few. And what would seem to be the reason for our coming here?"

"Somewhere else, people are coming. They form groups like ours?"

"Yes, and someday we'll meet big clans and groups. The information that we gather will help them, and what they learn will help us. Jim will tell you about the craft, the rest of us will tell you about our cla.s.ses and features. Gandalf will tell you everything he learns about magic. We'll create our own guide to this game."

"Have you decided to establish a new outpost of civilization here?"

"You know, I don't believe we can go home. I hope, but I don't believe," said Michael in a sad smile. "You said right then in the hall, every death will change us. So, I don't think we can go back to our past lives. No reasonable man will let go of people who are used to dying and killing so often and calmly."

"Let's hope we're wrong."

"Let's hope so. Will you take the job?"

"Yes, I'll do it. Go save Nick, I'll need Gandalf more today."

That's what this world does to a man. Men have only been living here 12 days, and he's already a pessimist. He thinks in the right direction. Killers must be kept under control, and abnormal killers must be kept in prison.

I don't agree with another important moment! This is my knowledge! I paid for it with my efforts, my fear, and my pain. I'd be against it if our clan gave our valuable knowledge to others.

I don't mind sharing my values, I don't mind getting rewarded for my work. The words of the leader sounded a little pathos and exalted.

Dan took one of the pages. The paper is thick and a little grayish.

"Jim, do you have treated leather?"

"Yes, I did, I took it to armor repair."

"Do you have a piece of leather on the covers?"

"I'll find a piece for you in a minute."

Dan opened the inkwell and put a feather in the ink. When he tried to get a few words out, he immediately put a few blots on it. The process with the pen will be slow.

*

[Attention! Would you like to get the 'Librarian' subcla.s.s? Yes / No.

Warning! The number of subcla.s.ses is limited to three specializations]

*

That's interesting. I'll have to think about it. It's only three specialties. That's not enough. But my ability to get information about monsters is important. And it's necessary to formalize my knowledge.

Dan mentally pressed 'yes'.

In case of danger, I'll tell the monster fairy tales, and maybe I can surprise my opponent and hide quietly.

As soon as he put the pen to the paper, the hand independently of him brought out the word 'Bestiary' in calligraphic handwriting. Now the process did not seem muddy and tiresome to him.

Dan gave some of the pieces of paper to Gandalf and asked him to draw creatures on one side of the paper, but to leave room for the t.i.tle. On the backside, Dan would later write a description of the monster.

Dan watched as the magician pencils the drawings of familiar creatures and was amazed. The guy had a real talent as a painter.

"I have a subcla.s.s painter now," proudly said Gandalf. "Do you think girls like romantic painters?"

Girls love famous painters, thought Dan. But he a.s.sured the magician that girls love the humble and romantic like Gandalf.

Dan got curious and opened up a description of the subcla.s.s:

*

Subcla.s.s: Librarian.

Attention! One transformation of this subcla.s.s is possible.

Life is short and dangerous. Every living sentient being sought to leave a mark on the history of its species. And as a rule, this trace is most often found in books and scrolls. In order not to lose the acc.u.mulated knowledge, special vaults are created in which such traces are collected. For a smart man, this collection will be a great experience or source of knowledge that will give him power. But for someone, the Library will remain a dusty depository filled with strange stories of long-dead generations.

You have chosen one of the ways of the mind, and you must preserve and multiply your personal vault.

Improved skills:

'Calligraphy', this skill affects the speed of your writing and the overall appearance of the scroll you write. [1/10]

It opens up skills:

'The Reader'. When you read new books or scrolls, you train your mind to memorize information literally. This skill increases your intelligence, for one skill unit your intelligence will increase by 1%. [0/10]

'Keeper of knowledge'. If you find a broken letter or a damaged book, you can recover the damaged information. [0/10]

Cla.s.s skills:

'Ancient languages'. You'll explore ruins and abandoned structures, carefully painting symbols you don't know. Explore them in more detail and you will be able to learn their meaning. [0/10]

'Master of puzzles'. Very often the knowledge written down in books can be quite dangerous or valuable, and sometimes both together. This skill will allow you to understand what its creators wanted to hide in the text.

Attention! This skill allows you to get rare quests from books and scrolls after decryption. [0/10]

*

This life annoys me with its complexity! Why is it so complicated? This specialty allows me to get new quests and attracts me with its ability to learn the secrets and mysteries of this world. But increasing intellect is not what the Inquisitor needs! He needs to boost his spirit.

Dan asked Gandalf about his specialty as a painter and loudly scolded. It was the painter who was a subcla.s.s in the way of the spirit.

Now there's no way to change it! It doesn't make sense. Gandalf is unable to learn information about monsters. But Dan can tell with words, and Gandalf can record!

What a lack of reference on this world and this game. Okay, I'll have to accept my choice. I can't paint it anyway! Who do I rea.s.sure? The system will teach anyone how to draw neatly. In an instant, I began to paint in ink neatly and beautifully.

Maybe, I should take the Painter specialty? I can increase the Spirit.

Stop! The clan doesn't need new painters. There will be useful new specialties in this world.

Gandalf finished drawing a regular zombie and started a new job. In a couple of hours, they finished the work, and Gandalf went to bed. Many monsters had a humble description. Dan specifically left the room to add new information to the description later. They decided to take cla.s.ses for the next night.

Dan couldn't sleep. Everyone else was asleep. He took a blank sheet and wrote:

"Start of the game. The generation of the character is blocked by the system.

The newcomer pa.s.ses the first quest, it's a test of survival in this world."