CLA.S.S NEUTRAL: Stranger Is Coming

Werewolf in sheep's clothing. Deductive method. Downhill village.

In Oblivion, they had told me that it took three days to get to the nearest village, but we had driven for only half a day. Of course, I understood that the horses galloped quickly, but it wasn't enough to overcome such a long distance in such a short time.

"Well, my carriage is rather unusual." The gatekeeper grinned and then returned to normal. "Though it's decrepit like an old nag, it's enchanted by a special spell that allows you to reduce the distance.

Don't ask me how it works as I still don't understand myself. Unfortunately, fate deprived me of a magical talent, so I envy strangers very much. I agree that it was a werewolf; the footprints are too obvious."

"What footprints, boss? Except for us, nobody has traveled along this road for a very long time," the guard adjusted his long moustache.

"You're absolutely right, but we are talking about slightly different footprints. You shouldn't listen to our conversation, otherwise you'll get a headache."

"The hint is clear, boss. I'm leaving and keeping silent," the guard disappeared.

"How could I work with them? I didn't threaten him with violence, but I blamed him for his ignorance," Kurbakht rubbed his temples and closed his eyes. "So, you're an observant pathfinder, able to see the werewolf's footprints?"

Wow! It meant the skill 'Pathfinder' allows me not only to get on a trail, but I also am able to find different types of footprints, after reaching a certain level. Most likely, Disguise and Secrecy reduce this skill, and 'Good Eye', 'Knowing the Essence' and Observation increase it. Interestingly, it means that in the game, even skills and abilities have interrelation. Probably, I am too out of date, as I'm very surprised by all this.

"Let's find out who is a werewolf in the village then." The gatekeeper grinned, and his large front teeth seemed to be nothing more than a part of his makeup. Hmm... it's suspicious.

Kurbakht offers you the Quest 'Werewolf in sheep's clothing'.

Description: On the way to the village of Downhill, one of the guards found a mutilated corpse. Studying the evidence, you were able to determine that it was a werewolf who had killed the man. The royal gatekeeper agreed with your arguments and supposed that the killer lived in the nearby village.

Terms: Help Kurbakht solve this incident and find the killer.

Class: rare

Reward:

+4000 to the Experience

+5 gold coins

+200 to the Reputation with Kurbakht

+1000 to the Reputation with the Downhill residents

Accept the Quest: Yes / No?

"Okay. Something tells me that I'll even be able to determine the werewolf's house." I grinned, glancing at the chain of the footprints.

"Wonderful! Not a moment to lose. Hey, guard, why is the body still not in the bag?"

"Okay. Something tells me that I'll even be able to determine the werewolf's house." I grinned, glancing at the chain of the footprints.

"Wonderful! Not a moment to lose. Hey, guard, why is the body still not in the bag?"

You have learned the skill 'Deductive method'.

Description: Pondering for a long time, you managed to solve riddles and unravel tangle of many actions, seeking for the truth.

The first encounter with a real crime only accelerated your mind, allowing you to quickly analyze all the details around you, using your skills and abilities to the maximum to get the information you are interested in.

Even a professional appreciated your talent. Now you can analyze anything with much greater efficiency.

Don't forget to think about everything carefully and remember that the more different skills you have, the more accurate your analysis will be.

Skill Class: very rare

Skill level: 1

Your intellect increases by 1 point.

If I had had a hat and a pipe, I would have looked like Sherlock Holmes. We continued our journey. This gatekeeper was terribly interested in everything unusual and magical. However, I understood him since I was the same.

I told him about railguns and laser guns as simply as I could. He pretended to start shooting from them, imagining these weapons in his hands. Such a reaction caused a smile and a d.e.s.i.r.e to tell him more about scientific achievements.

***

We arrived in the village a little after midnight. It was already very dark, and so we lit torches. However, I assumed that there were at least two hundred houses here.

Hmm, I may have been a little hasty to say I'll quickly find the killer. The footprints were blurred before my eyes, and I simply didn't see them. The 'Search for Death' showed nothing. I was very tired as I hadn't slept now for such a long time.

"I see you're a little tired. I am also. Therefore, I suggest going to the 'Steel Horseshoe' tavern. I've stayed there before, and I was completely satisfied with the service," the gatekeeper said, and I saw no reason to refuse. Frankly speaking, I saw almost nothing, except for a small space, which the light of the torches beat off from the all-consuming darkness.

It was a good two-story house. Although the innkeeper looked sleepy, he was neatly dressed and happy to have the night guests.

"Oh, it's you, Rikt Kurbakht. Come in, don't stand in the doorway," the thin little man of about forty in a leather jacket opened the door wide for us. "Will you have a bite, drink excellent beer, or go straight to your rooms?"

"I wouldn't mind having some supper," the gatekeeper smiled. "After all, your cooking is worthy of being served at the royal dinner. Unfortunately, I'll have to refuse your offer of drinks."

"Wait about fifteen minutes," the innkeeper scratched his head and went to the kitchen, and so we sat down at the table.

"I don't think you'll refuse to have a late supper. You strangers like to eat a lot, but you never get fat. How do you do it?" the cunning bastard tried to get information again.

"We move a lot," I replied with the most trivial answer. "Everything is much simpler than you think. We are very different, but we are still not as unusual as you believe."

"However, you sometimes surprise me." Kurbakht propped up his head with his fist. "I've met some very interesting strangers. They seemed quite old, but they were like children; they often made mistakes and behaved childishly.

However, sometimes these weird strangers said something clever, as if they were wise old men, so I can't figure out how to perceive you."

This NPC had gotten interested in school children, playing this game. He'd noted quite interesting differences. So, this Kurbakht was a detective or a spy.

"Transition injuries manifest themselves differently." I shrugged my shoulders. "Sometimes it happens this way. But why are we talking only about strangers? Tell me about the kingdom and the king that rules it."

"With great p.l.e.a.s.u.r.e," he replied. "The Mernor kingdom was founded over a thousand years ago and has increased in size greatly since then. Kavarnak is the capital of our kingdom, and the palace, where we are going, is located in the center of the city.

The high walls have protected us from many enemies over the centuries, and no enemy has ever been able to overcome them. People who live there might squabble with each other. However, as soon as an enemy dares to attack us, the former opponents immediately become friends in order to defeat these newcomers.

The mage guild supports several barriers that can withstand siege techniques and enemy spells. Also the old men often help the residents.

The peasants work in the field and raise cattle. The miners mine ore and precious stones. Masters make their masterpieces and so on. On the one hand, everything seems good, but this story also has sad moments that I don't want to talk about."

So, I need to pump up the Reputation. Otherwise, I won't hear about the kingdom's dark secrets. I guess that the king is to blame for everything.

"Here, in independent lands, everything is quiet, calm, and good," Kurbakht sighed. "Even despite werewolves and other monsters, the inhabitants of the surrounding villages aren't often attacked.

Werewolves attack people only during the full moon, when they can't control their animalistic nature. There are, of course, more interesting cases, but, as a rule, they are connected with mages who are researching lycanthropy or with the ordinary people."

"Very interesting." However, he didn't tell me any specifics: neither names, nor history, nor anything really important, except… the other side of the beautiful appearance of Mernor.

"Gentlemen, please, your supper," the innkeeper brought us a lot of food. "I've warmed up some meat, buckwheat, and gravy."

"Oh, thanks. Your gravy is especially tasty." The gatekeeper thanked the man and pulled out a fork from his inside pocket.

"Rikt Nolg," I respectfully turned to the innkeeper, and judging by the smile on his face, he hadn't been addressed this way before. "Could you bring me a fork?"

"With p.l.e.a.s.u.r.e."

"You needn't worry," Kurbakht stopped him. "I have one more, so I'll give it to my friend."