The Kartoss Gambit (The Way of the Shaman: Book #2) by Vasily Mahanenko Read Free Book Online

in gold! The devs have gone batshit crazy setting such prices! In Farstead I got a quest to deliver a package to the Headman. I spent two days on a cart, that's just nuts! I even logged out for that time. Right, so I got there and delivered it. I decided to have a look around at night, and it was bad enough that you can put your eye out it's so dark here, the village is being roamed by a Vagren. A level hundred one! And I'm only at thirty! I couldn't even hit him. He dodged all my attacks, the bastard! My advice to you: it's a waste of time. I had a look around the village by day and there wasn't one quest to be had! What's the point of villages like that if there's nothing to do here for real players? One good thing is that I've done the quest and got some rep with the Province.
    BTW, the Headman has a cute daughter! But she won't fall for flowers or presents. Daft NPC!"
     
    A new search, this time in the manual:
     
    Vagren. A type of Werewolf that keeps its consciousness after a shape-change. A Vagren can change his appearance any time at will, independent of the phases of the Moon. It is one of the few races that cannot be chosen by players. Race characteristics: faster movement when in Vagren form, ability to cause fits of panic in dogs, + (Level) to armour due to thick hide. The appearance of a Vagren is provided in the illustration.
     
    I was looking at a tall humanoid dog, or rather, a wolf. The paw-like hands ended in four great claws that looked the same as those I saw last night. So there's a Vagren roaming Beatwick, is there? Then Tiny Tim's reaction was understandable. A panic attack is no laughing matter, especially if you're looking at a hundred-level werebeast. It's a pity that I can't go straight to the priest and share the information I just obtained. He would simply be unable to hear me, even if I was shouting in his ear: the quest hasn't been completed, so you can't hand it in. Never mind. I have a week to think of some way to catch this fleabag. My revenge for the respawn will be terrible.
    As I left the house I glanced at Tiny Tim. He had now recovered and was rampaging around with Clouter. Having allowed himself to be mounted, Tiny Tim ran around the enclosure like a veteran racing horse and Clouter was laughing at the top of his lungs, grabbing his ears like reigns.
    "What to do with him!" a stout woman that came out of the house threw her hands up in resignation. Judging by the kitchen apron she was the local cook. "He's making a horse out of the dog again! Marianna! Go calm your brother down, before he breaks his neck," she shouted inside the house. I didn't stay to see how it all ended and quickly headed out of the village.
    If I understood the Headman correctly, the wolves appeared in the forest not far from the grazing herds. That's where I needed to go.
    My initial wolf-hunting impulse petered out after about three hours. I haven't come across a single wolf, even of the mangy, sickly kind. Finding nothing better to do I started killing anything that moved. A level two grasshopper? A Lightning Spirit on you! A three-level toad? Got one for you as well! There was no experience at all or even loot to be had from this and these animals didn't even count towards the 'Bane of the Animal World' achievement. But to stave off boredom I continued to repeatedly terrorise the surrounding insects. Oh, there's a mouse running there. Just hold on, I'll get you now!
     
    Damage taken. Hit Points reduced by 220: 450 (Arrow hit) — 230 (Physical defence). Total Hit Points: 420 of 680.
     
    Despite the excruciating pain in my shoulder, I dropped to the ground and rolled sideways. The place where I initially fell was immediately hit by another arrow. What the hell?
    I kept tumbling, without even looking where I headed, and hit a small tree. Ignoring the fact that I lost some Hit Points from the collision, I rolled behind the tree and caught my breath. Phew! Now I could breathe and look about. Nice wolves roam