24 Forest Clean-Up 1 (1/2)
”Hey Mister, this is already your fourth day questing,” says the attendant in front of you. ”Shouldn't you be resting or spending your money?”
You just smile and shake your head.
”I want this herb gathering quest, this venom gathering quest, and I want information on this bounty.”
The attendant looks at the poster intently.
”Jorick the Stygian, he leads a band of outlaws that waylays caravans in the south,” she explains. ”They started with just extortion, then robbery, now they're killing people.”
”How many?”
”They were around 60 — but the kingdom had the knights deal with them,” she riffles through a bunch of papers. ”Around 15 or 20. They fled to the forest to escape the kni-” she stops clearly alarmed. ”You're going after them?”
”There's no more than eight of them,” you reassure her. ”Some of them even got poisoning from eating mushrooms.”
”Bandits are still bandits,” she shakes her head. ”Don't go alone — take someone with you.”
”I will.”
She nods relieved.
”Any updates on the bounty?”
”Still 200 gold for the Stygian,” she says shaking her head. ”20 more for each bandit — 30 if you can bring them back alive.”
You nod, noting that the Stygian's bounty didn't increase whether he was alive or dead. Authorities probably preferred him dead.
”By the way, how much do I have now?” you ask.
”You earned 180 gold the past three days — so 280 in the bank. Do you want to take out some of it?”
”No, not at the moment.”
You say goodbye to the guild attendant and head out to find Thomas.
Arriving at his house, you see Thomas already geared up in leather armor. His bow and quivers are packed behind his back and his baselard, Silver, is at his waist.
”You said we were heading out,” he says with a questioning look.
”Some gathering quests in the forests — maybe a bandit or two.”
”Should we get Eomer and the others?”
”No. Let them have a bit of family time.”
”And Dune?” he asks, a bit nervous.
”I tried looking for him, but he's nowhere to be found.”
”Bru-” he cuts his question short with a downcast look.
”So bandits, huh,” Thomas starts, ”anyone in particular?”
”Jorick the Stygian — and five to seven others.”
”Are you sure we can handle that many?”
”They're bandits — in a forest,” you reply, ”and we are hunters.”
The two of you wave to the guards as you leave the town — passing through the path you walked when you first met with the hunters.
”That sword of yours… and that obelisk from before?” you start, ”Bruce couldn't take it down — but you did, with just one strike.”
Thomas shrugs before answering, ”Silver is a sword of the sun — bane to all things dark and cold.”
”That's no demon sword.”
”It's not,” he sighs. ”Torm can bind more than just demons.”
”I see.”
Thomas seems uncomfortable so you decide to change the topic.
”Did you get to see Bruce?”
He shakes his head. ”Dune got to see him a couple of times — but he wouldn't open the door for me.”
”Trent seems worried about Horizon — that it might be bad for Bruce, especially with how he is now,” he finishes.
”The smith said the weapons only used a bound entity's life force,” you recall. ”I don't think they can take over once they're bound.”
Thomas nods but the worry in his face lingers.
”We need to go deep into the forest to get these herbs,” you indicate. ”I've seen where most of them are in my extended stay in the forest.”
”What of the bandits?”
”I've seen them once or twice during the past few days,” you reply. ”I did a few forest quests and I saw a few people. I just wanted to confirm who they were — and I recognized one from the bounty boards.
The two of you continue your trek to the forest — eventually reaching the bear cave at mid-afternoon.
”So we're back in your lair,” Thomas chides. ”How long did it take to build these fortifications?”
”A couple of days.”
”Your run-in with the bear sure made you paranoid — but a good one at that.”
”Let me get the herbs and the venom,” you say as you pack the flasks and herb satchels in a smaller pack. ”I know where they're located and I can travel faster alone.”
”Do what you want — I'll just stay here and guard the fort.”
”Be wary of wolves,” you remind him
”Wolves? Didn't we take care of them last time?”
”We did,” you answer. ”But some residual energy or magic was released when you broke the obelisk.”
Thomas nods in understanding.
You leave the camp and sprint through the forest as you find herbs and venomous snakes for the quest.
It takes you close to two hours to gather enough materials to make the quest worthwhile and you finally head back to camp.
You see smoke rising from the camp and see Thomas already busy with the fire.
”Good harvest?” he asks as he puts more wood to the fire.
”Good enough.”
”It's not the same without the others,” he says gloomily.
You nod in agreement.
You take most of the watch — only waking Thomas a few hours before dawn so you could catch a couple of hours of sleep.
You wake up to the sound of hurried footsteps and you see Thomas approaching you.
He makes a gesture to stay quiet.
”I think they're here,” he says in a low voice. ”I spotted three — maybe four people — heading towards us.”
”They must have seen the fire.”
Thomas nods. ”Plans?”
”If they're bandits, we kill them,” you reply as you ready your shield and grab Skybreaker.