025 – The Green Wood – Part 2 –

Uriel felt the fangs of the snake pierce the skin of his neck before his knife cleaved it in half.

"Ssssssssh!" the snaked hissed and its thin little tongue made a strange wave-like motion and its fangs seemed to pop out of its mouth.

The bottom half of its body started to thrash and simultaneously the top half thrashed on the ground next to Uriel for several seconds, its yellow eyes looked at Uriel venomously before it went dull.

Uriel scampered back, getting away from the pit of sand with a horrific look in his eyes, as the seconds passed his body started to shake and tremble and every vein in his body started to burn like a fire was inside him.

Uriel looked at the bite on his leg and could see the veins, all around the wound, bulging to thrice their size with an odd mix of red and green giving it a very sickly appearance.

Snake bites were lethal he knew that well, even Granny Morries couldn't save one of the men in the village when he was poisoned by a snake and she was a real doctor with training.

As he looked down at the wound he wondered if this was it, if this was going to be the end of him.

There was no one to help, no doctor to draw out the poison or even give him false hope of making it out of this alive.

He couldn't believe that this was how he was going to die after surviving the past week, but at the same time, a part of him felt at peace, that he wouldn't have to suffer anymore and that he could go be with his family in the next life.

But as if some divine being was conspiring against his death he noticed a rapid flashing of light in the corner of his eyes and looked up at the 'Mandate of the gods', to see it blinking erratically.

---

[You have killed a Tyrant Snake]

Name: Uriel

Level 2

Focuses: None

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Strength: 15

Dexterity: 11

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Physical Fortitude: 13

Mental Fortitude: 12

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Charisma: 20

Faith: 1

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Available State Points: 2

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Skills:

Eldrin – you are a holder of the mystical power that pervades the realms of existence, capable of changing and giving shape to most things in existence.

Farming – you possess the knowledge to sow the land and grow crops.

Animal Handling – you are good with animals and know how to win their loyalty.

---

Each of the stats represented one important aspect of ability, he heard that humans generally had stats between 8 and 12 for all their stats, but that once someone crossed the human threshold in anything they would become much greater in that aspect.

For instance, a person with 12 strength was the pique of human strength, and crossing that threshold to thirteen was equivalent to doubling one's strength, and each time a human increased the stat by 1 point it would double yet again.

If a man increased his strength enough he would be able to lift boulders and kettle with ease, at least that's what he heard.

But currently, he wasn't interested in strength, he looked at the only stat that he felt would be able to save him from his poisoned state, Physical Fortitude.

There were two stat points available and without hesitation, he placed them both into Physical Fortitude.

[Physical Fortitude: 13 --> 15]

The effect of the change was near instant as Uriel felt a biting chill fill his entire body, between the poison and the upgrade it was like a battle of fire and ice was waged inside his body and filled him with a sensation of blinding pain.

Uriel lost count of the time when the pain faded away and he saw the Mandate blinking in his eyes once more.

[You have obtained a feat]

Uriel blinked curiously and reopened the panel to find a new section beneath his skills.

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Feats:

Minor Poison resistance – you have immunity against most basic poisons and a degree of resistance against intermediate poisons, REQ: 14 Physical Fortitude. Increase your physical fortitude for upgrades.

---

Uriel breathed out with shaking breath as he read the line, feeling a wave of relief, and checked up on the wound.

It seemed to have changed shade to mossy green, and it still hurt like hell, but for the most part, the severe burning in his veins had stopped.

He pulled his waterskin and poured some water on the wound to clean it as much as possible, but he had limited supplies and next to nothing to dress the wound, the only thing he had was some salt to keep it from getting infected.

"Ahhhh," he howled in pain as the salt burned all the way down to the bottom of the wound and when he was done he realized just how thirsty he had become.

He grabbed the waterskin and started to guzzle down its contents not stopping until it was empty, yet he was still plagued by thirst.

When he looked up he only just realized that it was already night time and by his side was Zeresha looking at him with teary eyes.

"Don't worry girl I'll be fine," he gave her a weak grin and let himself fall flat on the earth, he was far too exhausted to move an inch.

---

Uriel's eyes snapped open and for the first time in a week there was daylight when he awoke, he climbed up feeling a heavy weakness throughout his body, and took a step in the direction of the forest.

At once his left leg seemed to buckle underneath his weight, that was the leg that suffered from the snake, the weakness in his leg forced him to walk with a limp.

Zeresha was already awake and came next to him dutifully putting her head under his hand to allow him to balance himself against her.

This time they took it slow and walked along the edge of the forest for a while before they found an entry into the forest that looked safe.

Entering the forest felt like entering a new world altogether, with tall trees that rose up 40 feet high and with a seemingly orderly arrangement allowing room for the sun rays to drop between the gaps onto the numerous shrubbery of the forest.

Zeresha seemed to forget all about Uriel the moment the first bush of berries came into sight and started to hungrily gulp down the berries and the leaves of the bush leaving nothing behind.

Uriel chuckled as he leaned against a thick tree trunk and took in the sight of orderly paths that existed inside the forest, the trees had their own space then around the trees the shrubs had their own place then there was open space where nothing grew but that was filled with numerous forms of life.

Ants formed trails along the forest floor and in one spot he could see a flood of ants gathering up against a fat and mean-looking lizard it's two large eyes protruded from its head looking at the swarm of ants without any fear in its eyes.

The ants charged against the large massive beast, but the lizard showed no fear as it extended its tongue and took in ants by the dozen making sure to chew on the little creature's crunchy bodies.

But as time passed its fat belly started to bloat and the lizard decided that it had had enough to eat and started to retreat but just a moment later from out of the trees a bird swopped down and grasped the lizard in its talons, taking care of the enemy, the ants failed to conquer in a single swoop.

Uriel could only marvel at how alive the forest was and took slow and careful steps to reach a tree that had large purple fruit hanging from its branches.

Uriel had never eaten such a fruit but even from a distance he could smell the sweetness and fragrant scent of the fruit and all around its leaves dozens of bees buzzed about rapidly.

Uriel reached up and plucked one of the fruits effortlessly from the tree not minding the bees, it was a huge fruit almost as large as his head.

Without waiting another second he sunk his teeth into the fruit and was met with an explosion of sweet juice that poured into his mouth.

The juice dripped down his hands and onto the forest floor, as he dived in for bite after bite, it was so soft almost as if he was biting into cotton and the flavor was heavenly.

---

Perhaps I was a little biased at the time after all I hadn't had a proper meal in a long while.

However, the Zepra fruit is one of the unique fruit of the Green Wood, and every time I visit my druidic friends I can't leave without eating at least one of those fruit, each time I eat it I can't help but recall that day, and the joy that simple fruit gave me.

It had taken a lot for me to make it that far, but how little did I know...

Entering the forest was the true beginning of my journey.

- An extract from the Journals of Cardinal Uriel Lightblade

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