Zalin wandered off the safety of the main path the lead away from the Citadel and into the forest that surrounded it. The forest was dark, even with the first light of the sun rising in the east, and the fog thick. He had a bad feeling about this, but he needed those orchids and he couldn't waste any time. He kept low, pushing through the underbrush silently, and drifting like a shadow in between trees. Coming across a particularly thick cover of bushes Zalin pushed until he could see just passed the foliage.
He saw a clearing, and in that clearing a panther like monsters prowled back and forth, all of them level 75 or above, and one very large one in the very center of the clearing that boasted two heads and three tails. It's name read King of the Shadowpride, it's level read "???", which meant he was a boss monster, and death to him if even came within the monster range of sight. And there, to far back right of the clearing sat the beginning of a long path lined with Death Orchids. Well, he thought to himself, so much for this being an easy quest. Now if I can only find a way around them without raising their ire.
A thought occured to him. Shadowform. Zalin closed his eyes and focused, moments later he became a living, breathing shadow. He took off, moving swiftly into the clearing and turning so he kept to the perimeter of the clearing. Better to be safe than sorry, shadow form had a time limit attached to it and he didn't want to get caught up in the aggression range of any of these beasts.
Within moments he had reached the death orchids. He still had to be quick so as not to get noticed. Even the slightest step into the clearing would alarm that great beast. And this wasn't a monster he wanted to contend with just yet. Releasing Shadowform, he began gathering the orchids the best he could. Gathering was a minor skill in and of itself, and needed to be raised in order to survive in this world.
Gathering Failed...the message flashed across his vision, indicating his success rate.
Success Rate: 5%...continue Gathering to increase success rate of Gathering Skill
Experience Acquired: 15xp
Gathering Skill Experience Acquired: 20xp
At least he was getting experience, he shrugged. It was better than nothing, and the gradual increase of the success rate for gather Death Orchids was an unexpected bonus. After about twenty minutes of gathering, and 10 Death Orchids later, a new message flashed across his view.
Success Rate: 100%...you will now gather Death Orchids without fail
Gathering Skill has reached Level 2...you can now acquire Pristine Death Orchids by gathering Death Orchids
New Ability Learned: Harvesting
Harvesting? What kind of an ability was this, thought Zalin as he opened his abilities window, searching. He clicked on the icon for harvesting and read it's ability information. Cool down time of 20 minutes is required between uses.
Harvesting is a Gathering ability, it allows the user to Gather materials at twice the normal speed, with a higher chance of a better grade item.
Well, Zalin smiled, this should prove useful.
An hour later and new system messages flashed across his view:
100 experience gained
100 Gold obtained
Zalin has gained a level
Zalin is now level 3
900 experience needed to level up
+10 to Intelligence
+5 to Charisma
+10 to Speed
Gathering Skill Experience acquired: 100xp
Gathering Skill has reached level 3
He smiled, satisfied with how work and summoned Shadowform to silently move past enemies on his trek back to the main road that led to the Citadel. He needed to report back to the quest giver before the city gates closed for the night.