The Butcher of Gadobhra

Chapter 237: These go to 11!

Chapter 237: These go to 11!

Ozzy always enjoyed his morning walk to his charnel pit. It was always nice to see the town waking up. Betty was making farmer's cheese, and the earthy smell of the fresh cheese had the ratkin lining up coins in their hands! Colored smoke was coming from the alchemist's shop. Zephyr and PHZero could barely keep up with orders from all the adventurers heading to the dungeons.He stepped to the side as two couriers rode by. They were always in a hurry these days, taking the Baron's messages back and forth to the Duke. Lots of arguing going on about taxes and trade deals. Two complicated for him to think about. Ozzy stepped out of the way to avoid colliding with the Banker. That gnome was always late to open up, but he paused to tip his hat and wish Ozzy a good morning. They'd shared a table for breakfast at the tavern a few mornings.He waved to Jenny Greenteeth as he walked by the Hag Hollow. Granny was outside handing out cookies to the local children and telling them stories about wicked knights and evil paladins. He paused to talk, and she handed him some freshly baked cookies. Granny made the best cookies in town, and he always had a good night's sleep after eating one! Jenn gave him her shopping list. Pork chops and rabbit again were usual, but she also wanted three sheep. He'd have to see if that new batch of Carnivorous Hell-Sheep had come back again. They got worse every time he cleared them out, but he had to admit they tasted sweet. Jenny invited him and Suzette for mutton chops. He'd get right to work finding those sheep to fill her order first thing he got to the dungeon. Jenny knew how to roast a sheep! Old Joe was already up, and so was Makken. They'd been drinking and making whiskey all night. Makken was trying to teach the old whirlwind how to cast the cantrips that aged the whiskey. The last batch hadn't gone well, and Makken had lost most of his beard to the explosion. Ozzy was always happy to turn the latch and walk into the Charnel Pit. Ah, the smell of freshly charred meat, there was nothing like it. It was hotter than hell inside, just like he liked it. Ozzy pulled some of the smoke and heat into himself and got to work. He had a couple of tons of Ostrich wings to smoke up and was using enchanted maple twigs with a hint of sassafras. Getting the wood smoke coming out of the pit just right was what really gave the wings their flavor.He was going to need a lot more wings, and Suzette had told him that the Spiced Snake Sausage had been a big hit. He set up several quests that would send adventuring parties into the Beast Woods and Menagerie to get him the meat they needed. Ozzy had several types of Magical Smoked meats that he wouldn't sell and only gave out as quest rewards. The three local guilds competed heavily for those prizes. Someone banged on the door as soon as he was done offering the quests. A customer? No, it was his friend Rolly, the shepherd. Rolly came rushing in. "Ozzy! You have to help! Squirmie got lost in the Dungeon again! "Again? You have to keep that pet on a leash, Rolly; every time she goes hunting in the dungeon, she 'gets lost.' You know she hates leaving as long as she's still hungry." "I promise I will, Ozzy, but what will we do now? She's always hungry these days! "Don't worry, Rolly; I know just what to do. I'll put up a quest, and adventurers will find Squirmie. They're always so helpful. Do you want to offer a reward?" "Sure, Ozzy. Tell them I'll pay ten shiny gold coins if they find my girl and get her to come home. I'll pay up even if she eats most of them by accident. Thanks, Ozzy, you always know what to do." Rolly ran out again, heading to the pasture and his cows. "Boy, it's a busy day already. Guess I'll head up to the dungeon and get to work; no telling what might happen on a busy day."

Congratulations on reaching Tier 3!

Your characteristics, skills, and core skills gained in Tier 2 become the base to build your character in Tier 3. Tiers 1 to 3 are considered the base for your character. Choose your advances wisely.

-You have received a bonus to your stats for selecting the class Contract Worker: Butcher (Seasoned Pitmaster). A bonus of +3 CHR has been added. You must choose where the +4 unassigned points go.

-At the end of Tier 1, you gained bonuses for attaining Benchmarks with the following stats: STR, CON, CHR, COR. You will gain upgrades to those abilities that have reached Benchmarks again.

(This is calculated after increases for class have been added.)

-Skills may advance to Rank 15. The current rank in skills and their experience total is kept, and you will build upon that.

-Characteristic skill ranks are reset to 0, similar to the start of tier 2. All permanent stat gains are now part of your tier 2 base. (Excludes magical items not permanently bound to you.)

-You may earn five ranks in each stat, similar to Tier 2. (10 if you raise the cap for each skill.) The experience cost to gain those points is, of course, increased. The caps on your skill ranks may be raised to 10 through the expenditure of Core Skill Points earned in Tier 3, similar to how you increase skill caps in Tier 2.

-When fighting creatures of Tier 2, you increase your avoidance by +20%. (30% for Tier 1)

-When fighting creatures of Tier 2, you increase your chance to hit with an attack by +20%. (30% for Tier 1)

-Attacking creatures over Tier 3 will likewise be more difficult.

-You will only receive experience for Tier 1 creatures in special cases such as massive hordes or specific events. They can still kill you. (And won't that be embarrassing.) Tier 2 creatures will give far less experience than they used to, from 0% to 50%.

-Points of INT, CHR, or WIS will add 50 mana.

-Points of STR will add 50 stamina and 30 health.

-Points of CON will add 50 health and 30 stamina.

-The cost of some T1 and T2 Core Skills you did not earn will be increased to reflect the increased amount of CSP you will receive in Tier 3. Some of these skills may be removed from your list. Others will be added.

You will continue the role: Butcher of Sedgewick.

-As the Butcher of Sedgewick, you have the following normal quests to give out:

Fetch ten fat rabbits for the butcher.

Fetch 10 pigs for the butcher.

Find the lost pet!

You also have Harder Quests:

Something stirs in the Darkness: Bring the Butcher information about a strange dungeon filled with Gristle Daemons.

Reward: 10 silver pennies, a sack of magical sedge jerky, and another quest.

A new Sausage Grinder: Look for a Sausage Grinder in The Pitt of the Butcher and bring it back to Ozzy.

Reward: Tasty magical sausage and another quest!

Meat for Muspelheim!: A wandering Firewalker clan is stopping by to pick up a shipment of meat. They want the succulent taste of Gristle Daemon. Kill 20 GristleDaemons, and stuff their carcasses into the provided Meat Gathering Bag.

Reward: Meat Gathering Bag, information on Muspelheim, a shot of Strawberry Surprise, and another quest.

Have a taste of this!: Survive a shot of Strawberry Surprise.

Reward: Gain the skill: Fire Eating

Rewards for these quests are set, and the money will not come from your personal account.

-You will provide information for the quest Rats in the Cellar part 2.

-You haven't seen any Blight, ever. This is part of the quest: Looking for Blight.

-You may train players who have a STR 5 or greater in the skill: Caber Tossing.

-Because you have assumed a Role, anyone trying to use an identification skill on your character will only receive general information about your role in the village. Creatures or Players of Tier 4 or higher with the Identification skill may be able to gain more information about you.

Contract Worker: Butcher (Pitmaster) evolves into Contract Worker: Butcher (Seasoned Pitmaster)

(Gain +3 CHA, and receive 4 points to add to other characteristics.)

The Seasoned Pitmaster class allows you to keep all of the skills of the Butcher Class along with the skills and perks of a Pittmaster. You are the master of your Smoke House and Charnel Pit. You must retain these specialized buildings to progress in your new class. They answer only to you, and by extension, your smoke golem.

-Your Charnel Pit uses mana to process the meat and gristle you feed into it. It counts as a Mana Storage Building in the town of Sedgewick. The current storage limit is 1,000,000 mana points. A full days work processing meat can use upwards of 50,000 mana. It may be recharged by the donation of Mana or Stamina. (Or both, in the case of foolish sentients who walk inside without permission!)

-You may give your Charnel Pit simple instructions. It is about as intelligent as a dog. (Probably a Pit Bull.) Your Charnel Pit is loyal to you as long as you give it some attention and feed it meat (or souls) to process. But it is easily confused by the distinction between the residents of the town, and the animals you wish processed into smoked meat. (Minions, Butchers in your employ, and Smoke Golems don't have this problem.)

-Pit Alchemy is your major class skill. You must advance Pit Alchemy to Rank 15 to advance to Tier 4.

-The requirement for a Tier 4 Charnel Pit has been met.

-You are still affected by the rules for contract workers, and retain the skills: Sleepless in Seattle, Dig4, Haul5, Endure4, Push Onward2, and Tastes like Chicken.

You will be given a list of recipes using Pit Alchemy. You may select two of these recipes for free, and buy more with CSP.