Master Angler
((28 April 2008))
Calsh was rusty.
To be certain, this wasn't the first time he'd competed in the Stranglethorn Fishing Extravaganza. Nor could he claim that he hadn't been fishing recently; the unusual fishing missions from the strange old man on the shores of Slimyr lake had kept his skills honed. But it had been a while since he'd competed, and fishing with a time limit required an entirely different mentality.
Thus, he did not expect to win today. No, this week's competition was more to get himself back into practice for speed-fishing; a side benefit was that even those that did not win the contest could come away with some cash, and perhaps even a prize if they caught one of the rare fish. And, as always, fishing was its own reward for Calsh. Everything else was a bonus.
"Let the fishing tournament begin!"
Well, just because he didn't expect to win didn't mean he wouldn't put his full effort into trying. He rode Jona down the coast, his trained eye on the lookout for schools of tastyfish.
As he cast his line, he couldn't help but think how much better today was than the first Sunday he'd participated in the contest. Although Calsh didn't mind a little rain, the downpour that day was anything but little, and it had only taken a few minutes outside for him to become completely drenched. He'd also made the assumption that taking his time for good technique would net him more fish than trying to rush, and thus had been completely surprised when he'd only had twenty-two of the required forty tastyfish when the contest winner was announced.
Well, technique was important, but speed was the ticket, as he'd learned. The fishing he was doing now wasn't his typical relaxing fishing outing; in a way, it was almost frantic, with Calsh recasting as quickly as he possibly could while still remaining reasonably certain that he was fishing correctly. Techniques could be abbreviated, and the key to winning the contest was knowing just how many shortcuts to take.
Ten minutes after the start of the contest, he noticed that the fish on the end of his line was one he'd never caught before!
Reeling it in, he recognized it from the contest fliers as a [Keefer's Angelfish]. He cast his line again into the pool of tastyfish, lamenting how much he would have liked to get his hands on this fish even a few weeks earlier. The reward for catching the angelfish was a [Lucky Fishing Hat] — a fine hat, to be certain, but he had better. Only a week ago he'd managed to get himself a [Weather-Beaten Fishing Hat], which not only afforded a convenient place to store lures, but also, in his opinion, looked better. Still, catching the rare fish was an ego boost for him; not many anglers ever managed to get one. Maybe he was a better — or at least luckier — fisherman than he thought?
A quick comparison of his pocket watch and the number of tastyfish revealed that he was doing better than he usually did, even with as out of practice as he was. Did he actually have a chance at winning this week?
Luck certainly did seem to be on his side, as he approached another tastyfish pool with thirty-seven [Speckled Tastyfish] in his pack and without having heard an announcement of a contest winner. A pool was usually good for three to four tastyfish, and he only needed three more! He could feel his heart beating faster as he cast.
He caught a tastyfish. Two more to go.
Calsh excitedly reeled in his next bite... only to discover that he'd caught a [Stonescale Eel]. He swore under his breath, and felt the pounding of his heartbeat diminish slightly, but only slightly.
His next cast resulted in a tastyfish. Just one more to go! He prayed that he hadn't over-fished this pool — it would be close.
He nearly stopped breathing as he felt something tug at his line, and nearly choked as he reeled in his fortieth tastyfish! And no winner had yet been announced! Panting with excitement, he reached for his [Hearthstone], which he'd dutifully set to Booty Bay just before the contest.
Ten seconds later, he found himself in The Salty Sailor Tavern. A few steps out the door, and he was at Riggle Bassbait, Fishmaster, with his fourty contest fish. He was the first one there!
"We have a winner!" yelled Riggle Bassbait. "Calsh is the Master Angler!"
Calsh could barely speak as he accepted his prize.
