15 A Henchman (1)

Setting up a plan was Connor's priority, and for now, his plan was not too complicated.

Get enough Gold Coins to learn how to dismember prey properly. He knew that Gold will be the only thing that will be difficult to get at the beginning. With his 0GC he can't learn a thing. Plus he needed to get the Tools from Doug. They were the Wing shears and the Jaw chisel. If Connor wanted to get what he needed from a corpse without damaging it, these would be his life savers. He remembered the tough wings of the Moth-like creature and knew how true that was.

So, the plan was simple. Earn Gold coins by doing a few jobs around the camp, while at the same time earn himself some trust. Learn how to Hunt and dismember from a Trainer and buy the Tools while maybe increasing, what Connor will call from now on, his stats.

"Alright. This is gonna be one long ass night!" He muttered to himself.

Connor moved to the bridge again. He wanted to start from the outskirts of the camp. He wanted to speak with the few people that hung around that area.. other than the guard.

Ignoring the guard Connor spoke with when he first came here. He looked at the man sitting near the campfire. He sat next to him and greeted, receiving a nod.

"What do you want?" The man said with little aggression.

"I'm new here. I'm just getting to know people" Connor said.

"What do you think this is? kindergarten?" The man frowned before continuing. "And if you don't already know who I am then you ain't been here long enough for me to care!"

"You do look geared to the teeth. Someone like you must have seen some action" Connor spoke, trying to touch the man's ego.. this always works.

"Well, you know. I don't like to boast but I've crushed a few heads" The man puffed his chest. "If you want to eat here, you have to work.. You want a free ride, try those white robes at the monastery. They'll give you a free ride all the way to their excavation camps" The man then turned back to his meat and said without looking at Connor. "Go now and stop bothering me. Have you got nothing better to do?"

"Alright, nice chat" With a sigh, Connor left, walking towards the next person he saw. There was a man wearing light leather armor standing in front of a log.

"Hey" Connor greeted.

"Hmm.. I've not seen you here before. Who are ya? A fresh-faced young man, eager to experience the thrill of an outlaw's life"

"Ehh.. Maybe"

"I can't think why else you'd be here. There are warm alehouses and welcoming brothers in the Town, food and indoctrination of the Monastery" The man said. He looked simple, with a beard, short head of brown hair and rough eyes. He had a scar on his neck, as if something got a hold of him before.

"Are you a woodcutter for the camp?" Connor asked.

"Just because I'm cutting wood doesn't mean I'm a woodcutter. Actually, I'm a Hunter!" The man said proudly. "My lads and i provide meat for the camp"

"You're a Hunter?" Connor asked. He looked at the beard Doug told him about and asked the question he wanted. "Do you teach?" If he was right he wanted to see how much Gold was needed and what exactly he could learn from this man.

"Sure you wouldn't rather chop wood?"

"I was thinking more of Hunting"

"Then you're talking to the right man!" Sam reached to his Crystal and grabbed a stone tablet, it emanated a purple glow with runes and texts going all around it. He tapped a certain area and the text on the front suddenly changed.

[Dexterity +1] 100GC

[Dexterity +5] 500GC

[Bow +1] 500GC

[Sneak] 100GC

[Gut Animals] 200GC

"I don't have enough Gold on me at the moment but I'll come back later" Connor said. He was surprised by the high prices. He barely managed to earn 65GC by selling everything he had to Doug. He needed to do some tasks, and quickly. "You said you're the head of the Hunters? Shouldn't you get someone else to cut the wood?" Connor wanted to change the topic quickly as Sam, the man, returned the Void Tablet to his bag with some annoyance.

"I'd love to, believe me" He said. "But Brog would nail me to a tree if i left his wood unsawn"

"Brog?" Connor asked.

"One of the Don's lieutenants. The leader of the Fighters. A.. shall we say, powerful, single minded man"

"And you're his personal wood-cutter?" Connor asked. "Why does he want you to do it?"

"I tangled with him. And now I have to pay. We live by Brog's laws out here"

"Brog's laws?" Connor asked. This seemed to be some useful information for his investigation.

"The Don wants me to hunt. Brog wants his fire stocked… you guess who's really in charge"

"Why not stand up to Brog?"

"Him and all his Fighters you mean?" Sam asked.

"So everyone's afraid of him?"

"You clearly haven't met him yet. Go talk to the man, then you'd understand. He's over there! Go and introduce yourself! Then you can tell me whether you'd stand up to him or not" Sam pointed at another burly man. He wore thick armor with a giant Axe and a shield on his back… How the hell is he able to carry that with one hand?

Connor quickly shook his head, continuing his conversation. "So you lead the Hunters?" He asked.

"Normally, yeah. But as I told you, I've got vital woodcutting work to do" Sam sighed. "So right now my Hunters are running around like some free spirits.. Or they think they are"

"I have to go, but thanks for the information" Said Connor.

"No worries, not like i got something better to do"

Connor nodded and walked away, deep in thought. 'So Sam is the lieutenant of the Hunters, while Brog is the lieutenant of the Fighters… From what Sam just told me, the one that has been stealing from the Don should be Brog, but I can't just accuse him without evidence…' Connor sighed. 'If I do that, I'll be eaten alive by his people.. I'm new and no one really trusts me, so it's my word against his.. I should go talk to him, maybe get close enough to get my hands on something!'

A man sat in front of a house that faces the main walkway. He had a rough look with a buzz cut. Connor approached him reluctantly and greeted.

"Hey!"

"Did I look like I wanted to talk to you?" Brog instantly said. Not a very good first impression.

"Woah there. Someone shoot your dog?" Connor said playfully. He wanted to get close to him.. No. He needed to. But using the word "shoot" might have confused the big oaf.

"Stupid and mouthy don't wash well around here. Especially not from workers!" Said Brog.

"Do I 'look' like a worker?"

"Maybe not.. You ain't coated in shit!" Grog continued. "Now enough questions. I'm hungry! Bring me a haunch of fried meat from Rachel, the cook up by the smithy. Bit snooty, but a looker. The Don's a lucky man. Course with him in that Temple all the time she might need a bit of... company"

Connor sighed. 'How intolerable!' He thought before going to Rachel. He wouldn't refuse doing this if he ever wanted to get close to him.. And keep his jaw in place.

"Brog wants a haunch of fried meat" Connor said.

"And he sent you to get it for him? Ha! Lazy devil!" Rachel continued. "Well.. I've already given you some meat. So you can sort Brog out yourself. Sorry rookie, but I don't have much left!"

Connor walked back, handing Brog his own meat. He thought. 'I don't have that much food left, why the hell should I give it to you?' But those words stayed where they belong.. In his head. "Here! A haunch of fried meat"

"Good! You wouldn't want to see me when I ain't been fed"

'I don't want to see you either way' Connor thought. "Got any proper work for me?"

"Are you actually good for something? Little pup" Grog laughed.

"Easy to be cocky with that weapon and fancy armor of yours!" Connor spoke, but his face froze.. 'I didn't say that out loud did i?'

"Brave little pup i see! Nah.. It's all the bodies I've buried that make me cocky. Two of my boys are supposed to be guarding the eastern Swamp Farm. But Clay's been lazing around the campfire. Go and see him. Make sure he takes over from Phil, before Phil rots up there! Simple! I'm not losing another man to this fucking swamp" Grog smiled menacingly.

'Thank god! I thought I was about to die!' Connor took a deep breath. "Do your boys do anything other than stand around all day?" Connor asked. If he was gonna put on the brave little pup act, he might as well go with it, since it seemed that Grog was a little impressed by it.

"They're guarding. What do you expect? When it comes to standing around all day. These guards are the best. Trained killers though, the lot of'em. And if those creatures from the Temples or Ruins march in here, you'll be damn glad of them.. So, show a little respect!"

"Get Clay to take over from Phil.. Sounds simple enough" Connor quickly tried to change the subject. "The Fighters answer to you right?"

"Yeah! Most of'em owe their lives to me. One way or another. They know not to mess with a big fish"

"So you know where they are at all times?" Connor asked. He wanted to confirm something with this question, and hopefully it works out.

"Course! Well, usually. One of them has gone missing! Dorgan was on an errand for me down in the swamp. The bastard probably got himself lost.. Or eaten.. Or he's chasing wenches again. Never could keep his mind on the task in hand!"

"I'll look for him!"

"Good! you do that. When I get my hands on him, he's going to be emptying pisspots for the next month!"

Connor had two tasks from Grog now, and if he ever wishes to become someone trusted by him, he'll have to get them done.