Moving through the woods quietly with all my gear, and the long, sturdy stick I prepared for carrying the Rock Crab I intend to capture is a lot harder. Despite my best efforts I make more noise than before. I really don't want to drop anything off though. It would mean that I have to return to pick things back up later and that is something I'm trying to avoid. I really want to get on the way back to town right away once I have that crab secured. No other stops along the way for any reason. It's simple as that. At least the additional handicap earns me a little more progress for my [Stealth] skill. That on its own already makes the additional effort worth it.

Once I reach the bank of the creek I have no other choice though. I have to leave part of my gear behind. Thus I hang my pack from a low branch. I don't exactly hide it though. That would only make finding it again afterwards a chore and besides, I don't think there is anyone around who would be tempted by a mostly empty backpack anyway.

With that weight off my shoulders, however little it may actually be, I begin my actual hunt for another Rock Crab. I leave the first one I find alone. It's the bigger one I have already come across once. Of that I'm moderately certain. I could take it on, no doubt, but I don't want to lug a huge creature like this one back to town. My prey has to be smaller and easier to handle. Thus I continue my prowl along the creek's bank until I finally spot one that looks like it's the right size.

Actually I spot two. And I don't even have to strain my eyes, as the two are facing off against each other right now, possibly in a bid for the best fishing grounds along this particular stretch of the creek. Or maybe it's something else. It doesn't matter anyway. The upside is, that I don't have to actually search. The downside on the other hand is, that my [Perception] skill doesn't make any progress like this either. Oh well, you can't have everything.

Curiously enough, I think I recognize one of the two crabs from yesterday. It seems like it recognizes me too, as I leave the cover of the undergrowth at the bank behind to get close enough to tip one of the crabs over. It quickly backs off and makes a run for it in its usual crab like scuttling gait. Clever little crustacean.

It's opponent on the other hand hasn't taken notice of me yet. It has it's back turned to me and is still busy gloating after its apparent victory, waving with its pincers menacingly. It never sees its doom coming.

This is good for more than one reason. For one I can feel my [Stealth] skill improve another little bit. And, even more important, this distraction allows me to grab it and flip it over, which takes quite some effort, without suffering retaliation through the powerful pincers. That move in turn improves my [Brawling] skill a little although I receive no notification about causing damage. Most curious.

It starts kicking its legs like mad after a moment, but it won't find any purchase out here in the open. It really is quite helpless. Wielimir, the author of the book I read at the adventurers' guild, claims in his writings that he once saw a bear flip over one of these crabs so it could get at its softer belly, which in turn inspired the process to capturing one alive which he then devised.

I stare in awe for a moment, unable to believe that this daring move actually worked. I really have no time to waste though. I slap my cheeks and get to work. Using my self made rope I start to tie the crab's legs together, to immobilize it further.

The crab of course intensifies its struggle, however futile it might be.

The guide in Wielimir's book suggests that a well aimed punch at the lower jaw can stun the creature for a moment or two, but I don't want to use that trump card just yet. I don't want to waste it. I still have to deal with the pincers too after all. There is no way around it.

I end up wet, almost from head to toe, in the end. Partially because the struggle with the crab takes place in the cold water of the creek. Partially because I get to sweat quite a bit, while I fight to properly immobilize the creature. It's not a pleasant feeling and by now I'm pretty sure that I know why the quest to bring in these crabs is not very popular.

Sure, their meat is delicious, but I wouldn't go through this all for money alone. The only reason why I put up with it is, that I expect to get an exceptionally tasty meal out of it. Would I do this for a few bronze pennies or even silver shillings? No way! This is entirely too much hassle. And I still have to carry the beast back to town too. Well, at least the struggle to tie up the Rock Crab's legs and pincers earns me another partial increase for my [Brawling] skill. There is that at least.

Finally, at long last I have the stubborn creature properly secured. I tie the rope to the sturdy stick I prepared, slipping it through the hole I drilled in the process. I just hope the knots will hold up until I'm back in town. Then I grab my pack and shoulder the stick with the tied up crab dangling from it.

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Curiously enough tying the crab up earns me a little progress for my [Survival] skill. Just as well. I don't think I need a separate skill for tying knots. It's good as it is, as far as I'm concerned.

For a moment I ponder if I should hum or whistle a happy little tune as I make my way back to town cross country, but I decide against it. This is still a wild and dangerous wood after all. I really shouldn't draw any more attention. Not if I can easily avoid it. Thus I walk in silence instead.

Or rather, I sneak through the woods, best I can with my still struggling load. I have no illusions about actually being stealthy like this, but at least I think I'm not making a spectacle of myself. Not any more than necessary anyway.

Thankfully I don't come across anything willing to fight me for my spoils or to outright make a snack out of me. And it's not because I don't keep my eyes peeled either. I do in fact earn a little progress for my [Perception] skill. I'm quite glad for it too, as I want to keep it roughly at the same level as my [Stealth] skill.

It's a pretty uncomfortable trip anyway. For one because I, to the best of my abilities, cut straight through the woods. And of course because my boots are wet once more too of course. I'll need to visit a bathhouse, maybe while the cook prepares that accursed, tasty crab? There might just be enough time to get all the brambles out of my hair and clothes and to dry my boots to boot.

I allow myself a grin. That's how I'll do it. I have my doubts that any business owner or any cook of skill worth mentioning would allow me to sit down at one of their tables in my current state. Yes, a bath it will be. I deserve as much after a wilderness trip like this!

Riverrun comes into view soon enough and I change course a little to make sure I come in on the road that passes the mill which seems to be one of Wiktor's favorite hangouts. Maybe I'll be lucky and he is actually there? Otherwise I will have to go looking for Sylwia myself. Or rather I'll have to cross the city with my struggling bounty to check in the tavern at the downriver waterfront. This approach works out in my favor, even if it doesn't work out quite according to my plan.

Someone is lazily lounging in the grass under that tree by the mill, but it isn't Wiktor. It is, in fact, Sylwia herself and she has taken note of my approach as well and gets up to greet me.

"Well, well, would you look at that! You really got one!"

I roll my eyes, but I do so while I grin.

"I sure did. Already had some crab legs the other day too. But right now I might need a bath first, before I can actually enjoy some properly cooked crab. A bath and someone laundry service."

At these words the female thug breaks into laughter.

"I guess you found out why hardly anyone ever takes the requests to bring some of these buggers in. Let's drop the crab off with the cook I know. Then we can swing by a bathhouse that can take care of your clothes too. Your clothes and the boots. Good gods and goddesses, did you wade into the water wearing them? You do know that you could have taken them off beforehand, right?"

I stop dead in my tracks for a moment and groan. That has actually not crossed my mind, even if it's painfully obvious in hindsight. My reaction prompts a fresh bout of laughter from the other woman. She pats my back too.

"Well, now you know."

I have no response. I just feel so silly right now, thus I just follow her in silence and just watch the proceedings. I can't help but get the feeling that the cook, a charming young lad going by the name of Piotr, and Sylwia know each other pretty well.

Trivial as this may seem, the little fact is enough to earn me some progress for my [Gather Information] skill. And this little bit of improvement is enough to tip the skill over to the next level too, earning me a notification delivered via divine whisper.

[*Ding!* Your skill Gather Information has leveled up to level 8!]

This one counts as progress towards my scoundrel class. More importantly though, it improves my charm and magic power too.

Never mind though. What really matters is, that he knows how to handle Rock Crabs. He doesn't ask either of us to put the creature out of its misery either. It seems he has everything well in hand all by himself. After a quick exchange of hugs in between him and Sylwia, I and her are off again.

The bathhouse at which we end up is unsurprisingly enough the same I already know. I guess there is no need to look for another though. Why would I look for another place anyway? Their pricing is fair and their service outstanding.

By the time we slink back to Pietr's eatery I feel human again. A curious phrase, considering that I'm not actually human, but never mind. I'm clean and so are my clothes. The latter are properly dried too which makes all the difference. As far as I'm concerned the penny spent at the bathhouse is a penny well spent.

My day gets even better as we finally draw close to the eatery in question and a truly mouthwatering smell greets us. Pietr in turn greets us with a friendly wave as we sit down at the counter. We don't have to say anything either, as he promptly places two bowls of hearty crab stew in front of us.

Crab meat is, of course, by far not the only ingredient that has gone into the stew, but it features prominently. I spot at least three kinds of different vegetables as well and of course the smell alone is enough to dispel any doubts about the taste. It's spicy, of that I'm sure before I eat the first mouthful and I don't end up disappointed either. It's a good thing that the stew comes with a slice of fresh bread and a mug of beer.

The best thing about this meal though? After its taste? It's free! Well, wrestling with giant crabs has to have some benefits!

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