Lowlife, Scoundrel, Bandit Queen

The work isn't exactly easy. Not in a physical sense anyway. Sure ,I don't have to do a lot of thinking digging up clay or shaping bricks. Hauling the burnt bricks onto the river boats doesn't exactly require a lot of thought either. Not from me anyway, as I'm not the one who stacks the bricks on the boats in exactly such a way that they don't capsize. It's still exhausting though. In fact I'm pretty certain that I haven't worked this hard in a while, certainly not since I got here.

That's only one aspect of the day though. More important is that I have to keep my eyes open and on the river shore or treeline, depending on where exactly I perform my backbreaking work at the exact moment. To be honest, I'm pretty sure I won't be doing this again tomorrow, and not just because I have other plans with Matylda and Sylwia. Good gods and goddesses, doing backbreaking work like this every day really isn't for me.

I'd really rather do something else tomorrow, even if I'm not sure yet at all what this something else will be. I might just take a day off from honest work altogether to find out what exactly the town need this many bricks for. Considering there are no signs that this operation will stop anytime soon I'm pretty convinced by now that it's not just for a generously sized new granary.

At least my [Perception] skill benefits once again. It's almost a little curious that I don't get a heavy lifting or backbreaking labor skill or anything like that. Or maybe it's for the best. If I were to receive a skill like that I might just be tempted to actually level it, which would mean doing more actual hard work. Thanks, but no thanks.

The day is progressing smoothly for the better part. Quiet and without any hitches. It's already getting pretty late when this finally changes. I'm close to the riverbank, digging up clay once more when I finally spot some suspicious movement in the water. I clear my throat the get the attention of the others working nearby.

"We might be getting some company soon. Something is moving in the water."

The half dozen other workers look at each other only for the briefest of moments before they retreat from the waterline, taking the clay we have dug up on this run so far with them.

I in turn drive the wooden shovel I have been using deep into the ground and draw my sword instead, as I turn back to the water to take a closer look. And I actually have to look much closer. It's not just one creature. It's several and all except the one that initially drew my attention are moving pretty stealthy. A grin threatens to split my face. Oh! What a sneaky little bugger! A distraction! This is already promising to be on a whole different level than my brief fights against the Rock Crabs.

This gives me an idea. An idea on how to prompt the Water Rats into action. I focus my attention on the one swimming rodent so keen on capturing my attention and trigger my [Identify] skill. A little of my Mana drains away and of course the skill improves ever so slightly too. And as expected the results of my skill used are provided per divine whisper once more.

[Water Rat (Water, Uncommon, Level 9), Master of the Currents (Water, Rare, Level 8)]

Well, I'll be. It looks like this one is a little tougher than most creatures I have seen in the forest so far, except for the ones under the control of the King Boletus anyway. I really hope this one is a special case and that the others aren't quite on that level.

Never mind though, what is more important is that the swimming rodent is, as expected aware of my use of the skill. It emits a whistling sound, that sounds funny but really isn't. It's the signal for the others to attack, as the boss seems to presume that I'm sufficiently distracted now. It seems the other rodents, some hidden in the greenery by the riverside and yet more bursting straight from the water, have been waiting for the signal too.

Well, I guess I have been asking for it. At least the day will not end without some excitement. It's time to bloody some rodent noses. Rats are rats after all, even if these ones are slightly impressive, especially given their apparent ability to plan ahead. I just hope they'll learn their lessons before I have to spill too much of their blood, or any of mine for that matter. Yes, that just about sums it up.

Anyway, there is really only one way to teach them a lesson. First I have to burst their bubble of assumed superior planning. And while I'm at that, I might as well make an example of the most brave or foolhardy Water Rat, the one leading the charge against me. Oh, yes, at least one rat will have to find out that today was a bad day to be heroic. It can't be helped. There just is no way around it. Thus I launch myself into action.

It's hard to believe that I'm enjoying the moment, but it's actually true. This is a very nice change of pace when compared to all the other work I have been doing today already.

Not even the fact that each individual rat is almost as large as me and possibly a little more massive can discourage me. Their number on the other hand is a little more troublesome. There are eight of them trying to crowd me. The latter is something I really need to avoid. I really can't let them dog pile me.

My decision to go for the front most of the attacking rodents with brutal efficiency actually starts to pay off before I can even land a hit, as a whispered notification lets me know.

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[*Ding!* Your skill Tactics has leveled up to level 5!]

This level up counts towards the progress of my masked mediator class. Even better though, the skills is an uncommon one which means my spirit attribute immediately improves as well. Indirectly the same is true for my Mana reserves.

It's a welcome development, but not directly relevant right now. What matters now is that I aim for a deadly thrust on the first of the big and entirely too smart rats. Not only do I aim for a critical hit, I aim to bypass whatever protection the thick, wet fur might provide too. The effect is devastating, to the over sized rodent that is. I in turn have to restrain myself from crying out in triumph as the notifications start to come in.

[*Ding!* Critical hit! Water Rat's Health reduced by 115!]

[*Ding!* You have defeated a Water Rat!]

[*Ding!* Your skill Threading the Steel has leveled up to level 2!]

That one counts towards the progress of my scoundrel class. On top of this my good old [Melee Weapons] and [Blades] skills improve a little too. Even better, my agility and attack power benefit indirectly as well. Just one enemy down and I'm already more deadly than before this little surprise attack.

I can't rest on my laurels yet though. I pull my sword free from where I have thrust it through the creature's eye directly into its brain and retreat a few steps even as the other rats come to surprised stop. Judging by their reaction this certainly isn't how they imagined this would go.

I bang my sword against my shield once and holler a challenge, trying for the most condescending tone I can muster. They are surprisingly smart after all. Maybe they'll understand?

"See that? One strike! One down! So, who wants to be next? Come on! Don't be shy! There is plenty more where this came from! Enough for everyone in fact!"

It may not be the best trash talk ever, not by far, but it's good enough to earn my some progress for my [Intimidate] skill. My words certainly have an effect on the band of rodents. Several of the Water Rats break and run right then and there in fact, despite the angry bluster of their apparent leader coming from the other river bank. And even the rest, the ones not fleeing outright, look rather torn about continuing the fight.

That too is valuable information, as evidenced by my [Gather Information] skill improving ever so slightly. It seems the master of the currents prefers to lead from the back.

Alright, I might as well put that little piece of fresh knowledge to good use right away. I flash the big angry rat on the other bank a toothy grin, ignoring the closer ones for a moment. Even if my teeth are not as impressive as the rat's the intent is clear.

"Well? Won't the big bad master of the currents come and test his mettle with me? Or will I have to go through all the others first? Just so you know, you aren't safe from me over there."

I, of course, do not actually plan to swim over there, as the not so little monster might actually have the upper hand in the water, but I don't have to let the rats know. As a result it's no big surprise that my big mouth earns my [Bluff] skill some progress. I'm sure the skill is getting pretty close to the next level up, just like some of the others.

For a moment it looks like the boss of this little raiding party is willing to take me on after I issued my challenge, except he is a sneaky bastard. The next attack comes from another rodent on my side of the river. It's not a physical attack though. No, one of the Water Rats rears up on its hind legs, standing almost as tall as me like that. In between the paws of it's front legs water gathers only to launch right at me before I can react.

I barely have time to blink before it hits me center mass.

[*Ding!* You have been wounded! Health reduced by 0!]

I'm mildly impressed. The attack was stronger than the ones launched by the Rock Crabs. It still was nowhere strong enough to actually hurt me though. Even better, I'm pretty sure that my [Spell Resistance] and [Clothes] skill both benefited from it. In fact the letter actually levels up this time around as a notification lets me know before the first drops of water can hit the ground.

[*Ding!* Your skill Clothes has leveled up to level 7!]

I decide to make the most of the situation and grin a cocky grin. I level my sword at the rodent that launched the spell at me for additional emphasis too.

"Was that it? Is that the best you can do? You better scurry back off to your holes to hide before I get really mad at you."

That does the trick. The rats are really panicking now and of course their brave leader is the first to make a run for it. Why am I not surprised. I glower at them some more as they scurry off back into the water where they retreat swimming upstream surprisingly fast afterwards.

Yes, it's a good thing that I didn't get into the water with them. They could have gotten me bad there.

Someone claps behind me. It's the druid who approaches, now accompanied by the bravest of the laborers. While the latter look a little uncertain, even with their usually not exactly small knives out, the former flashes me a genuine smile.

"That was a pretty good showing. After spooking them like that we might just have a little peace of mind. At least for a few days. Say, do you have plans for the one you killed? With a clean kill like that the pelt is sure to be worth a few pennies."

At this point one of the workers speaks up.

"The meat is pretty good too. Very fatty, in a good way."

I just shrug.

"I'm not exactly an expert on skinning and butchering anything, so, help yourself. Wouldn't want it to go to waste."

I don't need to say anything else. The two grab the massive dead rodent and make off with it, while the others get back to work. I in turn take a moment to properly care for my sword. It has proven once again after all, that I can trust it with my life.