Gabriel left the guild. He had until the church bells chimed three times before he had to begin his hunt for the Ironstingers.
"Hanitz talks too much," he sighed.
He began thinking about his preparations.
First, I'll visit the apothecary to see if she has anything lethal against the Ironstingers, and then I'll conduct some research on the monsters. I'll find out their strengths and weaknesses. Finally, clean my blade and double-check all my equipment.
I haven't hunted an Ironstinger before, so I'll proceed cautiously.
Gabriel mentally mapped out his preparations.
Most adventurers wouldn't bother preparing for F-rank beasts, but Gabriel treated every contract like an A-rank one.
Having made up his mind on the plan, Gabriel set off towards the Apothecary.
The Apothecary was situated on the outskirts of town. To get there, Gabriel had to go through the town markets.
The frost was biting at his face. It was 'Summer' in the Northern Kingdom. This didn't mean warmth, this meant less snow.
There were peasant stalls all through the centre of Eldenreach. Selling anything from concocted Aphrodisiacs to fish caught in the rivers to the West.
Gabriel began to walk through the bustling market at pace.
His hood was up, and his head was down, making no eye contact with anyone.
"Fresh fish, 1 copper coin. Caught fresh this morning".
"Make every woman want you and make every man want to be you".
"Bread, 2 loaves for a single copper. Just out of the oven".
"Amulets created from the fangs of Direwolves, 1 Silver coin".
"Cooked venison, 2 coppers".
Gabriel glanced over at the amulets. Whilst not slowing his walk.
They are wild dog fangs. Direwolves fangs are the size of a finger.
…
The stall merchants competed to grab the attention of the rushing pedestrians in the market. Some of them would stop to grab fish for tonight's dinner or the bread that was expected to last them a few days until they scrimped another cooper coin.
Gabriel took a whiff of air that mixed the various aromas. He pulled his hood down a little more and continued walking through the market at the same pace.
The former Paladin proceeded forward until he reached the stables next to the potato farm. He breathed a sigh of relief as he made it through the crowd.
His head raised to look down the path, past the potato farm, he saw the Apothecary slightly obscured by some trees.
Opposite the potato farm and the stables lay a grassy bank leading to a wooded area within the walls of Eldenreach.
On the treeline, there were bedrolls strewn all down it. Some were covered by cloth, others were left open, exposed to the elements. Small firepits were spread all over the bank.
Peasant children ran about, playing with not a single care in the world. Their laughter echoed around.
Parents and other vagrants were trying to keep the fire lit or trying to cook the food they had hunted. Doing all the menial work to keep their campsite livable.
Gabriel slowed his pace.
As he watched the children playing, his lip started to curl up just slightly.
"It's that demon!"
A child began pointing and shouting towards Gabriel.
"Mum! I looked into his eyes." The child screamed whilst turning and running off at some speed towards where his mother was camped.
The exiled Paladin lowered his head and kept walking.
…
As he got past the farm, the Apothecary came into view. It was a wooden house just slightly larger than most houses in Elednreach. It had a big front garden overflowing with neatly arranged herbs ready for harvesting.
The faint scent cut through the Northern weather.
An arch of ivory and dried herbs framed the door, giving the place an oddly inviting presence.
Gabriel approached the Apothecary door and knocked three times, sharp and loud.
Almost instantly, the door opened.
A beautiful woman stood there in the doorway. She had long blond hair and Greyish-blue eyes. She smiled at Gabriel with a slight sadness in them. She wore a long black dress and was holding a book. Although she was ageing, she still radiated beauty.
"Hello, Gabriel", She smiled.
"I need", before Gabriel could finish his sentence, Mera brushed past him and walked into her garden.
She turned her head and looked at him with a smile, "Follow me".
She walked to the edge of the garden, where a bench was situated.
Mera sat down at the bench. She looked at Gabriel with a faint smile, then glanced at the seat next to her, patting it with her left hand.
He was still standing at the door watching.
Gabriel sighed and began walking over to the bench.
"It's a beautiful morning today, I thought I'd enjoy it outside".
The air was frosty, and mist faintly covered the sky, but the sun pierced through, giving the perception of warmth.
After a few seconds soaking in the beauty, Mera turned towards Gabriel "How can I help our handsome adventurer today?" She spoke softly
"I need some information", Gabriel's tone was unyielding
He continued looking straight ahead as he spoke.
"I need to hunt two Ironstingers. I need to know if you have anything that can do it".
Mera turned to him, smiling.
"I have something that could weaken them, make them sluggish for a while. Wolfsbane mixed with nightshade".
"That will work. What's the price?" He retorted.
"For you, 2 copper coins… Or"
Gabriel turned towards Mera, a stoic look on his face.
Why does this woman always have an or to her prices? he sighed.
"Don't look so glum, Gabriel. Or some venom from the stingers".
"Half of a potion's bottle will do".
He thought for a second.
The stinger venom would be a better trade, however, Gabriel could not guarantee he would have enough time with the monster to milk its venom.
"I'll pay the 2 coppers".
Mera's smile didn't fade. "Always the coins, never the favours", she said softly.
She stood up "Follow me, I'll go and mix it"
As the Apothecary went to walk away.
Gabriel mustered his voice. "I also have a bottle of Dunefox poison for sale".
Mera continued walking without turning back. "I'll trade it for the poison you're requesting"
Gabriel got up and followed a few steps behind. His boots crunching softly against the frozen grass.
The inside of the Apothecary was bright. Sunlight slipped through the open windows. The air smelled of lavender and burning alcohol radiating around. A patient bed stood in the centre, behind it, a small alchemical setup hissed as its contents were bubbling.
To the right was an open fire pit with burning logs spitting embers out.
"Place the poison down and have a seat," Mera pointed to the table and chairs in the corner of the room.
She began tinkering with glass bottles by the alchemy station. She added some herbs and liquid to a bottle, shook it well and put the glass bottle on a stand under a small flame at the station.
Gabriel placed the Dunefox poison on the table and sat in the chair, monitoring Mera closely.
"You make your own potions, right?"
"Yes", he replied.
"Why didn't you create this?" she asked.
"I didn't have the ingredients," Gabriel said.
Mera chuckled. "I can give you ingredients. I grow most of mine".
He watched the purple liquid spit from the glass as it boiled, the scent of the poison choked the air
"So does the forest".
Mera's chuckle turned into laughter.
She placed a sieve over an empty potions bottle and poured the contents she just concocted into it.
"There you go, it's all done. Mera turned and handed Gabriel the glass bottle. The purple liquid inside was still hot enough to penetrate through the glass
"Be careful out there," Mera's smile softened.
Gabriel looked at her with his piercing red eyes and nodded. He turned and left.
After a small distance walk, he arrived back at the tavern, walked up the stairs and to his room without muttering a word to anyone
…
Back in his room, Gabriel took all his equipment off and remained in his trousers and Tunic.
He walked over to his bed. Picked up the book **.
He meticulously searched through it until he found the section he needed.
Ironstinger Scorpion
Classification - Venomous Beast Tier 5
Average Height: 2 meters
Habitat: Northern Kingdom
Danger Level: 5 Low
Description: A Northern kingdom scorpion, Black as midnight. It has layers of dense armour like scales overlapping on its body, providing protective armour. Its stinger is thick and uneven, curved backwards like a hooked blade
When disturbed, it realises a low hiss that vibrates across the ground. Its venom is a heavy green fluid that burns flesh on contact. The toxin is slow acting but fatal without treatment.
The overlapping plates separate on the top of its body just below the head. This is the most reliable point of entry for a blade. Loud noise disorients the creature. Forcing it to nestle back underground
Notes – The venom must be harvested within minutes of death, or the built-up pressure will rupture the glands. Unless the stingers are removed.
Gabriel read over the same page a few times. He wanted to be able to recite it verbatim.
He placed the book back on his desk and began inspecting his equipment.
He tapped his breastplate, listening for any signs of weakness. He checked all his potions: one healing potion, one Dunefox poison, and one wolfsbane and nightshade mixture.
He checked his swords, made sure his hilts were not loose, and the sharpness of the blade hadn't dulled. Even though he sharpened it this morning, he still needed to go through this cycle.
Gabriel took the medallion from his neck, clasped it between both hands, got down on his knees and began to pray.
Ding, Ding, Ding, the church bells chimed.
Gabriel stood up. His ruby red eyes were piercing through the wall he was looking at, The colour looked a shade brighter.
His face was still and stoic
"Righteousness begets cruelty," he said quietly, as if the words themselves were a blade he pressed against his tongue.
He put on his equipment and left the tavern.
…
Gabriel stared at the wooden gates. Waiting for the guard on the wooden ramparts to pull the lever to open them.
The Northern wind was slashing at his face.
Howling.
The gate began to creak.
The guard looked down. "Be Careful o…" He noticed Gabriel's ruby red eyes. They were brighter than usual.
Gabriel continued to stand there motionless. His robe flapping in the wind.
A mantra running through his head. Righteousness begets cruelty, Righteousness begets cruelty.
The Gate finally opened.