Happy and Scared

Teyo had realized a critical piece of information. As far as he could tell everyone other than he and Rob had entered the level with basic gear. When Teyo and Reilly joined with the siblings, they had a lot of gear on them, increasing their possibilities. Not only that but Teyo and Reilly had leveled up. Reilly to level three, Teyo still at level two, barely. Teyo couldn't tell if the ornate looking sledgehammer was a drop or perhaps just associated to his class, either way the demeanor of the old man and the fact that he pointed out that there were spiders ahead proved he had done this before. Teyo summized that the group's gear and level came in to account in conjunction to the difficulty they played on. Normally a swarm of spider amounting above twenty would overwhelm any group. Teyo didn't have a way to deal AOE style damage, and who knew the actual skills of the rest of the teammates. However, Rob had the ability to fight them unscathed, allowing the team to pick spider's off slowly, while using their weakness of fire against them. His abilities mattered as well. Making everything come to a head. The levels difficulty came from a combination of factors, but it's difficulty focused on one specific aspect. Teamwork. It seemed that going into a level with a team, capable of cohesive teamwork, ability, gear, and level of it's members, created the therein scope of hardships. In a way going into a level blindly to fight was risky because some factors would be skewed based on what you're capable of. " Does that mean I have to be friends with every random but strong person I meet? It would screw things if they are just some asshole or self-centered to the point where I wouldn't give a rats ass about them. The game is asking so much of everyone. What about those whom are sinister? Doesn't this play people into their hands?" Teyo's mind raced a bit as he gathered the moss. He looked around and found the pond mushrooms as well.

" Sac how do you know it's safe?" Rob said as he approached, still clad in beetles.

" It's because the pond is still. Look this water is stagnant. There's no sign of life." Teyo pointed at the wall where a crack was. The same crack in the wall had been here each time just in different locations around the pond, but each of them flowed loudly enough to hinder the hearing of any group that would approach. On top of that no fish were in the pond. No footprint's at the waters edge. No webbing above, not bat droppings. This area was void of any cave life Teyo had encountered. Even a troll couldn't hide behind any rocks nearby. All of those things Teyo looked for, and with his understanding of the party make up there wasn't much else the level could throw at them. This was still level one after all, Teyo reminded himself of that.

"Interesting deduction. Well. Then how about we take a quick rest. Show us the meal." Rob recalled his bugs back into his clothing. The girls stepped forward and sat down at the waters edge. Everyone sat down as Teyo went and grabbed his webbing roll and webbed torch.

Teyo grabbed a few handfuls of the webbing and flipped it in the dirt until it became a sheet of sand. Once it was sufficiently covered on the surfaces Teyo began to shape it into a large bowl. He then took a section of it and rolled it flat and attached it to one side. He picked up his child 'dough' like creation and approached a stone spire. Holding it against the stone he tried something he had thought about earlier when doing his homework.

" Enstone!"

The rock of the spire cracked, small pieces of the stone began to tumble end over end coating the entire surface of the sand web sheets shaped form. The cracking continued for a while as the stones clung like magnets to the object rolling end over end until it was completely covered. A moment later the crack began to smooth as if the broken pieces of stone came together like a perfect puzzle. Teyo recieved a notification.

" Item Created - Stone Pan"

"Stone Pan"

Created by: Sammich

Shame Tier

Description: Created though the intricate weaving of spider silk and stone.

Value: N/A

" Achievement unlocked - Craftsmanship -

Create your first crafted item. -

Reward : +1 stat point available.

" Holy shit yes! It worked!!" Teyo yelled in his head in excitement, trying to keep calm on the surface. During doing his homework he came across a section about ancient civilizations and their earliest craft's and technology. Similar to what Teyo did they would take pieces of clay and mold them in straw and then fire the materials to create simple objects like plates and pans. Teyo thought about making some thing's and although his first attempt was crude it seemed to work. He walked back to the group and placed his pan down. He threw in the spider eyes and cracked open some of the legs for a bit of meat. Teyo went and washed the cooking ingredients and his knife in the pond. Tossing it all in together he then chopped it up finely. The scent of it all began to combine and the fine mincing made it all the more aromatic.

Rob and the girls could smell the hint of spice. The girls had a rather scrunched in disgust look on their face. From what the could tell Teyo seemed to be a kid playing with bugs, dirt, moss and fungus. They couldn't deny that somehow the food looked rather decent, and smelled good considering the ingredients. After tossed the ingredients around a bit Teyo finally had a large mound of Cave Spider Salad.

Cave Spider Salad

Grade: Novice Chef

+2 Health + 2 Hours of Dark Vision

Description: A crunchy and hearty spider bite filled salad with the sprinkle of Cave Weed spice. The natural juices of the moss and spider eyes combine to create an aromatic brine, accompanied by the Pond film Mushroom's that give a nutty undertone, the combination creates a wet coating of dressing over the salad in a fine dining cave dwellers taste.

Value: 1 Dull Exp gem

Before anyone else could say otherwise Teyo grabbed a nice handful and began to eat. The three of them watched him eat it. The ladies could see in the torchlight Teyo shoved a mouthful of spider bits Angela gagged. Claire turned a bit green and when Teyo bit into an eye and the juices sprayed out she began to dry heave next to the group. The ladies stood up and looked away grumbling obscenities under their gagging. Rob looked at Teyo who just kept eating seemingly happy to do so. After believing that it at least served a purpose he grabbed a small pinch between his fingers and gave it a chance. For a moment the texture and the image in his head threw him for a loop. Then the flavor came through and he opened his eyes and looked at Teyo. He began to chew more vigorously and gave Teyo an Italian like pinch of the fingers and wave of his hand. All Rob could think was

"Damn. That's good"

The girls eventually stopped gagging while Teyo and Rob ate. Teyo let out a loud burp and then sat back and stretched. He could certainly eat more but he took it upon himself to invite the girls to eat their portions.

" You guys gonna eat or what? That torch is getting low." He said pointing to the torch next to the group.

" Uhm I think Claire and I are gonna pass. Sorry we're not that desperate." Angela said keeping from looking on at the two guys and the food.

" I promise ladies. This is actually some of the best salad I have ever had." Rob said reaching behind him to rinse his finger tips. " I've yet to see any effects but it's amazing."

The girls both looked at him. Something about the way he has carried himself had earned their respect. Perhaps it was his age, he seemed wise. He was a fit old man, many would believe him to be a very attractive person. They looked at him inquisitively, puzzled that he would agree with Teyo on the food. Rob then made a suggestion that pushed them further into temptation.

" Why don't we put out the torch. You can eat without looking at it. I believe you are in for a surprise. And we can wait for the effects in the darkness." He then looked at Teyo and gave him a wink. Teyo nodded in agreement.

The two ladies looked at one another and sighed. The torch was getting low, and unless they wanted to get off the game they would have to continue in the darkness, Teyo was the bearer of the last torch. Hesitantly they paused and then rolled the torch in the dirt. After a few seconds of silence the girls grabbed a small pinch of the salad and pinched their noses. They then took a bite in their mouth and for a second they held it there waiting for the foulness to permeate their mouth. Soon after all they could taste was the hot mustard like spice of the weed followed by the nutty mushroom flavor. Then the spider meat and moss combined into a wonder crunch full of umame. Their mouths began to salivate and they swallowed. They both began. to dig in unhindered forgetting their complexes. Rob and Teyo we're now both done eating. They looked on at the girls who had began to eat ravenously. Teyo wanted to laugh very hard but held back. Rob watched on with raised brows. The seemingly princess like valley girls turned into hungry hogs stuffing their cheeks and coating their faces in salad "dressing".

As the last bit of food was clawed from the pan the ladies eyes began to adjust and then they looked at one another and to the guys. By this point Teyo couldn't hold back laughter, Rob chuckled a bit as well. The ladies looked at one another and grew bashfully aware of their appearance. Neither of them wanted to think back to what they ate but looking at the results they were both happy.

" Well I'm glad you ended up trying it, I hope my food made you happy. Its hard to imagine raw ingredients can be this good right?" Teyo said standing up. He looked at his timer noticing it had been about an hour. They had made amazing progress considering. By him pushing the group to move without fear of the darkness, being out front, he shaved off a good portion of time. The next bit was the struggle. Just like his previous attempts there was a wall to climb to reach the first checkpoint. He truly wanted to use this attempt to clear the dungeon, and much as he wanted to looking at the groups current situation, Angela was the weakest link. She hadn't a real grasp on how to use her yoyo and he hadn't seen her use any skills. Claire either for that matter.

The two ladies both looked at him waving their hands in his face. He didn't realize he completely disregarded their response and fell into thought.

" We saaaid thank you? Hello? Sac?" Claire said bending down into his gaze.

" Oh sorry I spaced out my bad haha. Well Ahem* Hey how come you guys haven't used any skills? "

The looked at each other and then to the two gentlemen.

" I don't know how. " They said in unison.

Teyo palmed his forehead. " Okay. So look at your class menu, read them and then activate them when you think it would work. Simply say the ability. Also have you guys talked to your Legacy Space keeper? They can help you, learn. Just conversate with them, ask lots of questions." Teyo coughed coursely He felt the strings of the cursed sac on his head tighten. He bent over and then fell to his knees next to the water. He started scooping water into his mouth quickly to try and swallow.

Rob and the girls looked at him in confusion. Rob patted Teyo's back who then waved his hand like he was good. Rob paused but then continued to explain how to use their menu to the girls. After the water calmed Teyo stared into his reflection. His sac face had pulled tighter his eye glowing a bit more bright and the torn mouth portion was sharp with fangs.

" Just kill her! She's just gonna drag you down! Give me her soul!" The sac on his head deafenes his surroundings. With a sinister expression he saw himself as pure terror. His ears began to ring and he put his hands to his head.

" ac.. Sac!... SAC!" Teyo was pulled from a huddled position by the water by Rob. Now looking at him his hearing came back fully. " Are you okay kid? Maybe you ought to log off?"

" What? What happened?" Teyo asked looking at everyone.

" You been huddled by the waters edge for a few minutes now. Mumbling.." Rob said now standing up. " Well if you're not getting off let's get moving."

Everyone began to move towards the rock wall. Angela staying a few places back. From her perspective Teyos head was on a swivel even as they began to walk his eyes stared at her with a sinister grin. As they got further it became to the point that his head seemed unnaturally backwards on his torso. She wanted to scream but felt it hard to speak Claire and Rob were talking while pointing to the wall in front of them. Staring at everyone's from behind she quickly logged off.

"Damnit!" Teyo yelled. He didn't even know why. He just blurted it out. At that same moment everyone got a notification.

" Player has left - There will be Zero penalty for leaving the instance."