Chapter 10

It turned out that I didn't meet the level requirement to enter the Dragonpit Ruins Dungeon, not being level 20 and all. I could try doing dungeons and trying to grind out three levels in the two days I had left before Stannis required me to leave with him for Dragonstone, but that seemed like an improbable challenge, as the only Dungeon that I might be able to get three levels off of was the Siege of King's Landing Dungeon, which I had not completed yet and apparently had multiple levels to it, which I discovered by using the Help Menu. I had only entered the first level of the Dungeon, which was about breaching the walls, but apparently there were two more levels after that, one for taking the city, which I could just about do at my current level, and another for the Reach Counterattack, which would likely destroy me.

Since I couldn't do the Dragonpit Ruins, I resolved to see how far I could get on the Siege before I had to leave. Using ID Create to enter the Dungeon, I prepared myself to face the gauntlet. I was easily able to cut my way through the Crownlands Levies and Mountain Clan Grunts. Interestingly, more crafting recipes dropped from the Mountain Clan Grunts, Mountain Clan Fauld, Mountain Clan Bracers, Mountain Clan Helm, Mountain Clan Boots, and Mountain Clan Gauntlets all of which I learned and got crafting materials to make, alongside roughly 8 Silver Stags apiece, though I did not require more money at this time, having just won 20,000 golden dragons on top of my betting winnings and Dungeon Loot. Ironically the mountain clan stuff would be good gear to equip some minions with once I get the Whispers off the Ground.

From there I managed to easily carve my way through the Mountain Clan Beastmaster and his Mountain Lions, who apparently respawned so I could farm them for pelts and other drops. I did so. Ironically on the 5th respawn the Beastmaster dropped a Skill book. Using Observe I found that it was labeled Bygone Beastiary: A Guide to Caring for Animal Companions it would apparently give me the beastmaster skill, which I could use to charm beasts to be my animal companions, I thought of Dany's Dragons who she had mostly let run wild by the time ADWD came out and smiled. . .I would get great use out of this, assuming I ever was in a position to tame her Dragons.

Moving past the Beastmaster spawn point and into uncharted territory now, I found a group of axe wielding Mountain Clansmen wearing noticably better quality gear than the Grunts and Beastmasters I had thus far run up against. A Quick Observe Showed me that they were Stone Crow Veterans and all around level 12 with stats to match. Interesting, I must be getting closer to a boss.

I used Stealth to sneak up to a pair of them and hit the Rightmost one with a Sneak Attack which wound up critting and going through the back of it's neck and out the other side. This alerted the other veteran who attempted a Power Strike on me with it's axe. I dodged aside and hit it with a Power Strike of my own which bit deep into it's side and cut it's HP down by half. Unfortunately it started glowing red at that point. A Quick Observe Showed that this was the result of a Status effect Called Battle Frenzy which apparently doubled all physical stats and halved all mental ones. I attempted to parry the next strike, but it smashed aside my guard with the howling primal fury of the First Men and managed to inflict -143 HP worth of damage on me. I was dodging from that point on, staying just ahead of the axe until an opening presented itself with which a Power Strike could be slipped through. Fortuitously the Battle Precognition skill I had gained from Thoros helped me dodge just fast enough to stay ahead of the guy with the physical stats of a level 24 enemy. A further power strike finished him off.

Note to self, stealth kill these fuckers. The Two Veterans dropped 20 Silver Stags Each, 2 Soul Stones Each, 2 Steel Scraps Each, and one dropped a Stone Crow Fighting Hatchet which an Observe told me had +2 STR, +2 DEX, +2 VIT, and did 14 DMG which was better than the Hatchet I had now, so I eagerly Equipped it.

I managed to use Stealth and Sneak Attack to stealth kill several more Stone Crow Veterans, one of which dropped a Skill Book, which Observe told me was The Rage of Achilles: How To Unlock Your Primal Fury Which apparently would teach me Battle Frenzy I was dubious at first, but figured that at higher levels the mental stat penalty had to be mitigated somehow or there wouldn't be a reason to make it a loot drop. Hopefully I could train the skill into something resembling the Kaio-Ken at some point. . .that would be neat.

I was making my way closer to the city walls from the shore now, Stealth Killing Stone Crow Veterans as I went, managing to level up both my Stealth and Sneak Attack skills, until I heard a shout.

An Enemy Officer has entered the Fray!

"I'll cut off your manhood and feed it to the goats!"

"Observe."

Shagga, Son of Dolf

Level 17

HP: 3000

STR: 40

DEX: 40

VIT: 50

INT: 20

WIS: 25

LUK: 30

The Leader of the Mountain Clans Sworn to Tyrion Lannister, A Master of Axes, Dual Wielding, and Battle Frenzy.

The Fight was soon on, as he charged into the fray slashing at me with his axes, I constantly dodged trying to time my dodges to put me in a position to use Sneak Attack which could be used outside of stealth if you were able to get off to the side or back of your opponent at the level I had it. I managed only once to hit him with Sneak attack and it dropped his HP gauge by a third. Then Shagga changed strategies. Using his whirling axes to pull off feints. If it weren't for my Battle Precognition skill I would have been hit more than the two times I had been hit thus far for -230 HP a pop. As far as I could tell, he wasn't even using power attack, those were just regular attacks boosted by feints. I dodged and weaved, trying not to get hit, relying on my Battle Precognition boosted abilities to not be where the axe was. I managed to level up Battle Precognition twice in this phase of the battle, only getting hit one more time for -230 HP before I managed to shoulder roll behind an upthrust stake and use the blocked line of Sight to Enter Stealth and Sneak Attack Shagga, dropping his HP bar by another third.

It was at this point that he howled in rage and began to glow bright red and I knew that this was going to hurt. Shagga charged in, his axes a blur and I barely managed to get out of the way of one of them before the other clipped me in the side for a whopping -460 HP dropping me below half health. by about 350 HP. I immediately created space, dodging behind the upthrust stake and preparing to use a Meisterhau the second Shagga Came in Range. He charged around the stake swinging both axes and I fired off a Meisterhau thinking my deadliest technique would be able to finish off the Berserker. It caught Shagga full on in the chest and the Chieftain of the Storm Crows fell to one knee. Unfortunately his HP Gauge Depleted down to zero but then immediately refilled to 1/4th HP.

"Bullshit!" I shouted Immediately placing the stake between me and Shagga as he got up from one knee and charged around the stake again only to be hit by another Meisterhau. He fell to one knee again, his HP depleting to zero before refilling again, this time to 1/8th HP. "Sonofamotherlesswhore!" I shouted once again placing the stake between me and Shagga, once again Firing off a Meisterhau as he charged around it. Once again he fell to one knee, his HP gauge depleting then refilling to 1/16th full. "Fuckfuckfuck!" I cursed, placing the Stake between me and Shagga one last time. This Time, Shagga sliced through the Stake and I knew if he got up again, I'd be a dead man. One last Meisterhau caught him just before his offhand axe reached me and he stumbled to a knee. His Hp Gauge depleted, and didn't refill as he failed to rise again and collapsed. I noticed that I had leveled up Battle Precognition and Meisterhau in this fight.

Silently thanking the Drowned God, Old Gods, the Seven, and Even R'hollor for good measure I checked out the Loot. 2 Golden Dragons, 2 Large Soul Stones, 2 Steel Scraps, 2 Boiled Leathers, a Sabre Bear Hide, a Crafting Recipe, an Amulet, and a Skill Book.

"Observe." I whispered.

Crafting Recipe-Berserker's Cloak-+4 STR, +2 DEX, +4 VIT, 8 DEF

2x Boiled Leather

1x Large Soul Stone

1x Sabre Bear Hide

This Cloak is Worn by the Berserkers of the Mountain Clans of the Vale, it is imbued with the ferocity of the Great Sabre Bears that Roam the Mountains

Amulet of Leadership-+2 Int, +4 WIS, +3 LUK

This Amulet was worn by many leaders in the past, it was worn by Sygfryd Hoare who took it into Battle in the Riverlands and lost it to Godfryd Durrandon, who lost it to Argyll Arryn, who lost it to Balgruf, son of Erk of the Burned Men, before winding up in the hands of the Storm Crows. It is infused with the leadership qualities of it's past bearers.

Skill Book: Real Men Fight With Courage: A Guide to Unlock Your Burning Blood

This Book Teaches the Skill: Guts

Do You wish to Learn this Skill?

Y/N

"Nice Haul." I said as I immediately burned up the skill book and devoured it's knowledge.

Guts (Passive) Lv 1 Exp 0-This Skill allows you to keep fighting even after taking an incapacitating wound. 5% Chance of returning to the fray at 1/4th HP after your HP has been depleted to 0 per level.

That would be incredibly useful. I also put on the amulet and, since I had the materials to make the cloak, made the cloak and put it on. I then set about healing myself with potions until I was at full health, and regaining MP with Soul Stones until I was at full MP.

I could see a breach in the walls up ahead, with men clad in yellow streaming towards it only to be hacked down by. . .dear god is that the Hound? He's the Boss I have to beat to get into the next stage of the Dungeon?

"Well, this is going to suck." I muttered to myself as I prepared for another boss fight. . .