7 Chapter 7: The plains of Azeroth
Prior to the collapse of the Azeroth Empire, it covered an expanse which now comprises the fractured lands. Within this area lie the plains of Azeroth, so named after the former kingdom which spread out from them. Characterised by the head height grass an unexperienced individual can easily become lost within this veritable sea of grass. However for those who know how to navigate, these grasslands provide both wonder and opportunity. Plenty of game calls them home, one only needs to find it in order to benefit.
Volume one of a History of Pangea, His Valor Enzyme
Recovery complete Jacob decides that he should begin his journey to civilisation. After checking his provisions and the state of his equipment he removes all traces of his time in the clearing, scattering the remains of his fire pit and scours the area for anything he may have dropped. Preparations complete with a last look around his home for the past two weeks, Jacob squares his shoulders turns and leaves for the river without a look back. He is ready to move form surviving to living.
Upon reaching the edge of the clearing he for the first time comes face to face with the head height grass, which sways in the wind producing a gentle thrumming. Presenting a challenge Jacob was unsure of how to respond to, that of keeping his direction. With little choice Jacob climbed the nearest tree and made note of the sun's position in the sky relative to where the river was.
What little preparation he could do undertaken he headed into the grasslands, on high alert in this new environment. The constant noise provided by the swaying grass provided both a boon by hiding his movements but also reduced his awareness of his surroundings. Over the course of the day Jacob's vigilance wavered as the lack of danger enabled him to let his guard down. As the day heated up Jacob began to feel drowsier further depleting his awareness, a nearly fatal mistake as he stumbled directly into a small green creature.
Freezing Jacob noticed a small, roughly 4 foot tall green humanoid. It's face was covered in warts and distinctly ugly, with vicious incisors peeping out its mouth. Noticing Jacob it spun around to face him, hissing and bearing its teeth at him swinging a pointed stick at him. This afforded Jacob a good view of the creature and a chance to properly assess it. He noticed it appeared much like a goblin described in many of the fantasy books of Earth, with long pointed ears, unkempt hair and four long delicate looking fingers with sharp nails on them.
The shock of the vicious façade caused Jacob to jump back in fright, drawing his sword as fighting proficiency kicked in, helping him to calm down. With a more focussed mind Jacob, noticed the blood dripping from its mouth and the deer carcass on the ground before it, with its throat ripped out. Along with a portion of the deer's antlers sticking out of the goblins shoulder, clearly a wound hurting it and hampering its ability to manoeuvre.
Without warning the goblin, as Jacob was now referring to the creature in his mind, charged at him trying to jab him with its spear. Instinctively Jacob jumped to the side batting the spear away with his sword, then resetting himself with the sword on guard in front of him warding off any further attacks.
He managed this not a moment too soon as the goblin with nary a pause for breath seemingly emboldened by Jacobs lack of aggressiveness launched itself at him, in a vicious attack. This time instead of backing away Jacob caught the goblin off guard by stepping into its attack, closing the distance between the two. This brought Jacob to close for the goblin to effectively use its spear, Jacob wanting to retaliate had to settle with a kick to the goblins side, as his sword was out of position due to his inexperience, eliciting a grunt from both of them and sending the Goblin back a few steps.
More wary of Jacob the goblin slowly approached, as they each circled each other before the goblin dropped its spear and launched itself at him. Unable to get his sword up in time Jacob was forced to drop it and bring his arms up in an effort to ward off the goblin. Both of the went tumbling as the goblin impacted Jacob, they fought to get on top of each other, with Jacob coming out the loser.
He could feel the goblins long nails scrapping across his skin, cutting through his clothes and into the muscles along his back. Jacob reached down to his waist pulling a dagger out of his sheath with his right hand while trying to minimise the goblins movement with his left, before ramming the dagger into it's side, prompting a flood of green blood to flow from this wound.
This damaging blow dealt by Jacob weakened the goblin greatly, as Jacob began to plunge his dagger into it repeatably, managing to push the goblin off of him and getting on top of it in turn. Its resistance weakened as it lost more and more blood, eventually it fell still leaving a Jacob panting and covered in green blood.
Collapsing to the side Jacob fell onto his back, taking a moment to revel in being alive as the adrenaline from the fight wore off. He began to feel the cuts along his skin as he became more aware of his bodily sensations, to distract himself from these pains he looked at his gains from the fight:
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Congratulations for killing Goblin level 4. No class found, class xp lost.
Sword Mastery Novice (1/10) upgraded to (3/10)
Dagger Mastery Novice (1/10) upgraded to (2/10)
Tough Body Weak (1/10) trait upgrade to (2/10) due to copious amounts of damage received. Constitution stat efficiency now boosted by 2%.
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While helpful for measuring the growth of his skills these did not represent a substantial power up. The increase in his tough body trait was welcome but slightly daunting as it suggested that before it became particularly powerful he would be required to go through a lot of pain and injuries.
This incident knocked complacency out of Jacob, who now realized that he was not alone on this plain and needed to be more careful in the future. Regretfully looking at the deer Jacob decides not to take it's carcass as the recent fight highlighted his need for mobility, and so he continued his journey on to the river in a much more careful fashion.
While walking Jacob focused on moving carefully and quietly, watching his footsteps to minimize the noise he makes while maintaining a constant awareness of his surroundings. A state of mind greatly helped by his meditation practice. Through out the rest of the day he came across several other lone goblins, sneaking around all but one of them.
As the sun started to dip Jacob kept an eye out for a safe camping spot, eventually settling on a dried up stream which had a slight overhang providing a minimal level of cover, even if it was fairly exposed. Settling in for the night after scouting the surroundings for any nearby goblins, of which there were none, Jacob proceeded to check his notifications.
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Congratulations, your skill Sword Mastery Novice (3/10) has levelled up to (4/10)
Congratulations, your successful attempts to sneak around enemies and constant efforts to minimize the noises you make while moving have earnt you the skill Stealth Novice (1/10). This skill represents your ability at moving unnoticed.
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As usual he began his daily meditation practice by settling into the space around him, softly making note of the noises of the plain, before tuning into the physical sensations of the ground against his legs and the ache from the scratches from his fight with the first goblin.
Moving onto a focus on his breath, in and out through the nose drawing in the air deep into his lungs, pushing his diaphragm down. While this session started as any other, he made a breakthrough as he reached a sense of peace beyond any he had previously managed. Along with this came of feeling of being at one with the world, a neutral bystander to his own body.
As this feeling spread his could feel a warmth seeping out from his navel, an ethereal feeling of something that he had yet to feel but was a key part of his being. Reveling in this new-found sense of self, he passed many hours just enjoying the trance before slowly exiting his meditation to the most exiting notification he had yet to receive.
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Congratulations, your skill Meditation Apprentice (1/10) has levelled up to (4/10).
Congratulations you have gained the skill Mana Sense Novice (1/10). As your first magic related skill learnt you gain +1 Magic Power.
Congratulations you have gained the achievement, The First Step. You have begun the first step of many to becoming a true mage, a wielder of the arcane. 50 race xp awarded.
Congratulations you race has levelled up to level 5, you have been granted 3 free stat points. For reaching Human lvl your first class spot has been unlocked. Please proceed to the class selection window to view your available classes. Please be aware this choice must be made within 3 days, or your class will be automatically assigned out of the classes available for you.
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Jacob's status:
Titles: Otherworlder
Name: Jacob Lockerby
Race: Human lvl 5 (4) (0/1600)
Class (lvl): unlocked
Second Class* (lvl): n/a/ (unlocked at race lvl 10)
Health: 100% Health Regen: 2.3% per day
Mana Points: 180 Mana Regen: 12% per hr
Stats: unallocated - 3
Strength: 13 (12) Dexterity: 14 (13) Perception: 11 Constitution: 13 Agility: 13 (11) Endurance: 14 (13) Intelligence: 18 (15) Control: 8 Magic Power: 21 (18)
Skills: Forestry Novice (3/10), Trapmaking (3/10), Fighting Proficiency, Climbing Novice (5/10), Free Running Novice (1/10), Dagger Mastery Novice (2/10), Dual Wield Mastery Novice (1/10), Sword Mastery (4/10), Meditation Apprentice (1/10), Stealth Novice (1/10), Mana Sense (1/10)
Traits: High Grade Mana Affinity, Enhanced Health Regen Weak (2/10), Enhanced Mana Regen Weak (1/10), Tough Body Weak (2/10)
