Chapter 4: The Labyrinth and Stat Points

"You are in the Labyrinth," Rial said in a simple tone after confirming that he had Max's attention.

The two hunter/gatherers that had led Max here had left after organizing the herbs they collected and left shortly after Rial and Max began to speak. They didn't seem weary of Max hurting their Elder which did give Max some comfort.

"The Labyrinth is the home to my people and many other species of Vita. We know little about the Labyrinth's creation but we do know that our people are older than it to some degree,"

"We have been in this stone realm for around 2 years now but our tribe has existed for around 20,"

"Are you following so far?"

Max nodded slightly and tried his best to absorb as much information as possible.

"Yeah, I think so,"

"The Labyrinth is a new place for your people and probably the other beings in it. How did your people get here and where were you before?"

"I can't remember much..." The disgruntled Shaman mumbled.

"I am the only one here who remembers anything at all from before the Labyrinth actually,"

"Everyone else just forgot,"

"I remember a forest like the one we are in now, but the one we came from was much bigger and had a larger variety of plants and creatures in it,"

"Not all of our people awoke here either,"

"Only about a fifth of our original tribe ended up within the Labyrinth,"

"And I can't really recall how we ended up here... I think we just awoke after we went to sleep,"

Max frowned and studied Rial's words.

"I woke up here as well,"

"In a small cave that led into the forest,"

Rial nodded with intrigue in his eyes.

"Hmm... I don't know how the other species got here but it might be that there is a trend,"

"But that isn't something I hope to learn anytime soon,"

"My tribe has been closed off from the other areas of the Labyrinth for around a year and a half and I would like to keep it that way if possible,"

"Why? You would rather be trapped here than be around the other people in the Labyrinth?" Max asked in surprise.

Rial nodded and cleared his throat before responding.

"It's safer that way. We are just goblins after all... this place has plenty of food and resources for our tribe to survive and leaving would leave us open to the terrors beyond the stone walls,"

"Before the walls closed we were struggling to survive... Not all beings in the Labyrinth are as friendly as our tribe,"

"Not even other goblins," He says with a hint of warning.

Max closed his eyes and imagined what would have happened had he entered one of the other goblin tribes. The grim thoughts that flooded his mind put out any leftover hope that this place would be any degree of safety.

"Understood," Max nodded in response.

"I get why you don't want me to tell anyone else where your tribe is now. If they fought any goblins before I'm sure they would be hesitant to trust some random tribe,"

Rial nodded while busying his hands with crushing down some dry herbs in a bowl.

"Exactly,"

"There is much to learn about the Labyrinth but nothing that is worth risking the lives of my people,"

"Any other questions?"

"I have plenty, but I'm not sure if you could answer them," Max responded.

"I'm sorry if my information is lacking. What I have told you is most of what we know about the Labyrinth. I would place my bets that finding more of your kind could yield more information. Humans have always been a risk-taking adventurous bunch,"

"But information about the Labyrinth isn't all I promised you,"

"I promised our support. And anything you need, within reason, will be yours,"

"Whether that be our knowledge on survival, basic supplies, or a place to rest while you learn more about the world. We will support you as best we can as long as you remember our kindness and that we aren't bad creatures,"

"I hope that is enough for you, Max," Rial said with a light smile and a light bow.

"Yeah... It's perfect, Rial,"

"But are you sure you don't want anything else in return?"

"You are offering me a lot for what seems like nothing,"

"I'm certain that there is nothing else we wish for,"

"If you ever feel the need to repay our kindness then feel free to help however you wish, but we will not ask for anything more of you," Rial said with a shake of his head.

"Is there anything else you wish to know about? It is getting late and my old bones need some rest,"

"No, I don't need anything right now and I'm getting tired as well. It's been a bit of a stressful day,"

"Then I will have Drynn, the shorter goblin that helped lead you to our tribe, help you get settled down,"

"I hope you sleep well and tomorrow I will teach you anything that you wish, though I am quite busy so I might not be able to teach you personally for as long as you or I would like,"

"Just the fact that you are offering to teach me at all is enough," Max smiled.

"I'm grateful for you and your people's help,"

"Without it... I'm afraid I might be shelterless and alone, or worse..."

Rial nodded in agreement before getting the shorter goblin, Drynn, to help him settle in.

The short goblin was respectful and kind. He tried his best to explain things to Max despite the language barrier and eventually Max found himself resting on a small hide bed roll that was placed near a large bonfire where other goblins slept soundly.

Max looked at the peaceful goblins that rested around him and felt a sense of relief fill him.

'I'm safe for now at least,'

"Just as long as they don't eat me," He chuckled lightly before passing out as soon as he hit the mat.

-

Max awoke to a savory smell that made his stomach rumble in protest. He fumbled awake and found no goblins still remained asleep, and instead were busying themselves with various tasks around the tribe.

Some weaved baskets and others sharpened flint arrowheads. Some hauled wood and other supplies to people who were diligently carving various tools and refining the wood for building.

And the most important of all were the goblins roasting meat and preparing various vegetables and fruits for the workers and children wandering about.

Max gave a silly smile at the peaceful scene before remembering the grim reality of what was to come.

'I better spend the stat points I got yesterday from finding this place,' He thought as he quickly opened the green panel to spend his precious points.

-

~{Stats}:~

{Strength}: 5

{Speed}: 8

{Control}: 12

{Endurance}: 8

{Intelligence}: 10

{Perception}: 12 + 2

{Insight}: 7

{Willpower}: 5

{Current Stat Points}: 4

-

The stat page shined in an ominous green light as Max pondered his options.

'4 points to spend. 4 points to get stronger,'

'Making the wrong decision here could be a big mistake so I better be careful,'

'So what to choose?'

'Upgrading my physical stats would be great, maybe I could get back that 6 pack from high school,' He pondered as he let out a chuckle.

'I doubt I'll be gaining too much weight here seeing as there isn't all the junk food I'm used to,' He thought while giving a glance at the food the Goblins were making from scratch.

'Upgrading my mental stats doesn't seem like the highest priority right now since survival is kinda a must,'

'So how about Putting 1 point into strength and speed to increase my overall physical ability and 2 points into Endurance to hopefully let me run longer and let me endure an extra hit or two,' Max thought as he allocated his points.

{Stat Points have been allocated}

A wave of warm energy filled Max once more and he felt his body being refined into a better shape than it had been since he was at the peak of his health.

Max reveled in the energy and smiled in satisfaction as his joints popped gently in response to the modification.

'I wonder if the goblins have something similar? I suppose it should have been one of the first things I asked Rial,'

After spending his stat points Max was served a plate of food that tasted much different than the food he was used to at home. It wasn't a bad difference, but just a difference.

He was led by Dyrnn into a small garden filled with a large variety of plants that looked familiar and exotic at the same time.

They all smelled different and the large number of scents that were mixed into the air was slightly overwhelming.

He found Rial gently tending to a few smaller plants with a flint knife as he hummed an unfamiliar tune with a springy beat.

"Good morning, Max," Rial said with a gentle smile as he looked up and greeted the 19-year-old human happily.

"Where was it that you wanted to start in our lessons?"

"If it's something more physical, like hunting and crafting, then some of the other goblins in the tribe would be better off teaching you,"

"But if you wish to learn something more mystical then I am the best suited for the task,"

"Mystical sounds interesting," Max said with a smile.

"It would be nice to be able to speak with your people in a language that we both understand,"

Rial nodded with a smile before gently placing his knife into a gentle holster on his side.

"Then if it's magic you want to learn then it is magic I shall teach,"

"If you have the aptitude that is,"

'Shouldn't be too hard, right?' Max thought naively as he put his full attention on Rial.