11. A New Level And A New Companion

Red Scale, Level 6 Drakeling

Monster, Microboss, Drake, ExplicitExperience to level up – 20/600AttributesStrength 23 > 26 Dexterity 17 > 18 Endurance 25 > 28Charisma 32 > 36 Manipulation 32 > 37 Appearance 32 > 36Perception 27 > 29 Intelligence 25 >27 +2 Wits 23 > 25SkillsBrawling 25 > 27Athleticism 25 > 27Presence 20Lore 25Occult 20 > 23Stealth 10Dodge 10Crafting (Stoneworking) 5 > 7FeatsFire Breath –Invite – Micro-Boss –Monstrous Appearance –Natural Weapons –Winglets –Wisdom of the Ages –

You have 5 attribute points and 10 skill points available

You quickly assign your points, raising your dexterity to 20 and your intelligence to 30, and then your brawling and occult both to 30. You don't notice any vast change, but a quick breath shows that your flame does now shoot vastly further than before.

You look at the hyena, who is looking slightly lost.

“You coming?” you ask it, and begin the walk down the path, avoiding flying so it could follow you. You hear its footfalls, soft and heavy, behind you.

You hit accept and feel another small rush of experience. Before long, you're back at your lair, and your latest addition is wandering around and sniffing things. You walk to the archway halfway down the entrance corridor and set up a new room, after a moment's consideration of your latest guest choosing the 'natural' decoration. You lose far less stone than before, and after a few strikes the progress bar also seems far smaller. After an hour or so of work, during which the hyena at first looks at your curiously and then wanders off, the room fizzes into existence.

It's roughly circular, around eight foot across, with a few stalagmites towards the rear. You consider it for a few seconds, then move to the rear wall, select 'natural corridor', and keep working. By the time Sapphire returns some hours later, your lair has extended significantly, with a large, two level cavern on the far end of a T junction of tunnels, and you are nearly out of stone once more.

Sapphire finds you staring at the other exit of the t junction, browsing possibilities. You're hovering over an option labelled “Workshop”. She quietly disgorges a pile of furs, bones and a few bits of wood, which you absorb into the stockpile with a word of thanks, leaving enough furs for Sapphire's bed.

“There's a weird dog outside,” she eventually whispers, breaking you out of your revery.

“It's a hyena.”

“Its character sheet says its a companion.”

“Does it now?” you ask, frowning. It's status should have reverted to creature or monster when it broke out of its last bond.You take a moment to open Sapphire's sheet.

She nods. “It's very big.” she whispers again.

“It's yours.”

“What?” she looks aghast, “No!”

“Did you perhaps give it some food when you passed by?”

She nods, slowly, “Yes.”

“It chose you. Treat it better than its last master and it will serve you well.”

She was silent for some time longer, as you selected the workshop and began to hit it into existence, wincing at how little the progress bar advanced with each strike. Sapphire sat next to you and joined you in working. You were pleased to note that her strikes filled the bar slightly more than yours did, but even with the two of you it was clear this would take you several hours. You make a snap decision, based mostly on the fact you'd already been hitting walls for some time.

“Let's continue this tomorrow. Did you get much meat on your hunt?”

“Yes sir, several days worth I thought. Less now we have another mouth to feed. Some of it is cooking outside.”

You lead the way out of your lair and see a small spit with two rabbits roasting over them. It smells divine and you say so, causing Sapphire to blush once again. As you eat, you notice a distinct absence.

“Where's your new pet?”

Sapphire concentrates for a moment, and then gestures down the path vaguely. “Over there. He's coming back now I think.”

Sure enough, a minute or two later, the Hyena trots into view. You notice a small sack dangling from its... his? His mouth. He drops it next to you and it vanishes as you touch it.

“What's that?” Sapphire asks as you poke through the small pile of items.

“Player loot, probably from your pet's old master.” you reply, examining the objects

There was a small pouch of gold, a shortbow, and a white crystal that looked somewhat like quartz, although it possessed a slight glow.

The shortbow is sized for a human, so is longer than Sapphire is tall and therefore useless. You vanish all three into your stockpile. The rest of your evening is enjoyable, spent relaxing in the slowly diminishing sunlight with Sapphire, before you call it a night.

You move your pile of stones to the higher level of your new cavern, a slightly L shaped level against the rear left wall, connected to the ground by rough stone steps. Sapphire places her furs in a large pile on the bottom floor and convinces her hyena to lie down as you flame your bed, for the first time consciously limiting your flame to prevent it from spilling out with your new, increased range.

As you settle down, you're surprised to see Sapphire climb up to you.

“Would I be able to join you again tonight? I slept well last night for... maybe the first time,” she whispers.

You raise a wing and she huddles against you, back against your chest and crossed arms. When you curl your neck around her again, you're pleasantly surprised to see her strip nude, using her kilt as a pillow. This leaves you with an excellent view of her tight slit, and you quickly look away before she notices you stare. You feel her stroke your arm.

“Thank you. Good night, sir.”

“Goodnight, Sapphire.”