by Troy Osgood
QUICKDRAW BRACER
OF SHARP TEETH
Protection +2
Attack Power +2
Agility +4
Durability: 20/20
Weight: 1 lb.
Contains two Throwing Knives (1d2 +2 DMG, +4 Lightning DMG, 25% chance of Critical Strike bonus of +6 DMG).
Once thrown, a knife will reappear in the bracer after ten minutes. Cooldown of twenty seconds between throwing knives.
Hall stared at the item, really surprised there wasn’t some kind of restriction. There should have at least been a level restriction or a minimum required Agility. Instead, he could use this at his low level. The stats were really good but the throwing knives were a true bonus, giving him additional ranged capabilities. Especially good now that his javelin did not return. Each knife did a maximum of two damage, with the two additional bonus points and lightning damage and with the critical strike chance that could add another four damage. A maximum of fourteen damage for a throwing knife was crazy.
Pulling off his current left bracer, Hall fit the new Epic one around his wrist. It was larger but shrink for a snug fit. He held his arm up, flexing, to make sure it was not too tight. Pulling up his stats, he was a little disappointed to see that he had lost the bonuses given by the old set of bracers. He still got the Protection bonus so kept the one on.
“Next,” Idita said with a hint of excitement. The first item was Epic. What else would this odd group have?
Sabine handed her the cloth belt, laying it across the table.
It was made of a thin material, shinier than silk. Hall wasn’t sure what it was, but the weaving was of excellent quality. Only an inch thick, it was a dark blue with a lighter blue edging along the entire length. The buckle was a single large smooth red jewel, a ruby, as wide as the belt set in an iron clasp.
“Satin,” Idita said running her fingers along the belt.
She held her hand over it, palm down, and repeated the spell. They all looked down to see the belt was identified. A blue item, Rare quality.
BELT OF SHINING STARS
Protection +2
Spell DMG +4
Durability: 15/15
Weight: .5 lbs.
Sabine took the belt back, fitting it around her slim waist. Idita’s eyes followed, no doubt wondering if it would be for sale. Sabine shook her head, and Idita smiled, shrugging.
Pulling the shoulder pad out of his pouch, Roxhard set it down on the table. Idita repeated the procedure over the single pad. The leather was a dark color, stained, with the iron plate attached by studs. She lifted her hand, and Roxhard smiled. Another blue, Rare item.
ARMORED SHOULDER OF STRENGTH
Protection +2
Strength +2
Durability: 15/15
Weight: 1 lb.
“Too bad it wasn’t part of a set,” he said as he set the shoulder pad over his left shoulder. Leigh reached over and helped him set the buckles and attach it to his chain shirt.
Once the pad was in place, he pulled out the hand axe. It turned out to be another Rare item.
AXE OF QUICK STRIKES
DMG: 2d4 +1
Agility: +1
Durability: 15/15
Weight: 3 lbs.
“That will come in handy,” he said, slipping the axe through his belt.
Roxhard stepped back and motioned Leigh forward.
Nervously, almost afraid, she laid the cudgel down on the table. Hall wondered if she had ever owned a magical item before. Her gnarled staff had no magical properties of its own, just serving as a conduit for her Splinter Storm spell.
Once Idita was done, Leigh looked nervously at Hall as if she expected him to take it back. The cudgel was orange, an Epic quality item.
“Congratulations,” he said.
IRONWOOD SHILLELAGH
OF THUNDER
DMG: 4d6 +2
Strength: +1
Durability: 20/20
Weight: 3 lbs.
A successful hit has 25% chance of casting Thunderclap. Effect of dealing additional +10 physical damage and stunning opponent for 15 seconds.
Leigh held the weapon carefully, tenderly, running her fingers down the two-foot length.
Hall pulled the last item out, the short sword. He placed it on the table, making sure the etched symbol was hidden. There was a chance that Idita could recognize it, and that could lead to questions they couldn’t answer. The Redcaps had stolen it from somewhere. Like the Redcaps leather helmet, he felt the symbol was something he should keep quiet about. At least until he learned what it meant.
The sword turned out to be another blue Rare item.
Exceptional Short Sword Of Fighting
Attack Power +1
Damage 2d4 +3
Agility: +2
Strength: +1
Durability 20/20
Weight: 5 lbs.
Hall pulled up his Inventory Screen and the stats for his currently equipped short sword.
Grayhold Short Sword
Damage 2D4 (+2)
Durability 12/12
Weight 5 lbs.
Both were short swords so they had the same basic damage. That stat never changed for a weapon type as it was based on weapon size, weight and standard material. Craftmanship, which created a stronger or sharper edge, or different materials would add additional damage along with any magical additions. The bonuses to the Exceptional Short Sword of Fighting would grant it higher damage on a successful hit. In Sky Realms Online, damage from a hit was based on a relatively simple formula. Weapon damage versus the Target’s Protection value. A short sword did 2D4 damage, a minimum of 2 points and a maximum of 8 points. That value was adjusted based on Attack Power and any damage bonus, which was +3 in the case of the new short sword versus +2 for the old. The new short sword would do a minimum damage of 6 without factoring Hall’s own Attack Power value into the equation or any buffs. The Exceptional marker meant the weapon had been forged by a high-level blacksmith before being enchanted. Any crafter could make an item that could be enchanted, turned magical, but items made by a max level crafter could gain a quality marker. This gave them additional slots for enchanting and increased the durability.
The new sword was a big upgrade on his current weapon. Hopefully there will be a spear upgrade soon, he thought sliding the sword into the sheath at his waist, replacing the one he had gotten as a quest reward at Grayhold, which went into the pouch to be sold later.
Idita leaned back in her chair, eyeing Hall.
“Interesting collection of equipment,” she said. “Where did you find them all?”
Hall shrugged and stood up.
“I only ask for professional interest,” Idita hastily added.
“Thank you for your time,” Hall told her as the group headed for the door.
He thought she might say more, try to buy some of the items, but instead she stayed sitting. Hall felt like she was studying him. It made him feel uncomfortable. Magic items were very common. Or at least they used to be. How common were they now? Aside from the Epic bracer, he didn’t think their haul to be anything that special. The equipment was a boon for them at such a low level, but still nothing that game-breaking.
So why the interest from Idita?
Were magical items really that rare that this many at once was odd?
He thought to ask Leigh but couldn’t think of a way without coming across as stupid. How common magical items were in this world would be common knowledge.
No matter what, he thought, we need to find some more treasure maps.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
Unlike the rest of Land’s Edge Port, the Guildhall was just as Hall had remembered it. A different location, but it looked the same. In the original game, it had been located just off the market ring along with the Vault and Auction House. Now it was on the city’s edge near the western wall. A large three-story building, the first built of stone with wood above, it was surrounded by a high wooden fence running from the edge of the
city wall to a hundred feet past the building and back toward the island’s edge, the front wall breaking the fence.
Large gray square stones, stacked tightly together, framed a wide wooden door. Made of a dark wood and banded with metal, the large doors were open but not inviting. Two armed guards stood on either side at the top of the steps that led up.
The developers had changed Sky Realms Online so that training Class Abilities was no longer needed. Now it appeared that aspect was back and after leaving the Witch, they had headed to the Guildhall so Hall could train.
They walked up the steps, and the guards let them through.
Inside the first floor was one large open space. Stairs ran up to the upper levels on both sides, the floor sunken with wooden steps that served as seats. At the bottom was a dirt floor, stained with blood. Weapons racks lined the walls of the room. There was barely enough space to walk around the edges, the sparring pit being the main feature of the floor. Large doors were against the far wall. Along with the racks were numerous suits of armor and trophies of war. Tattered banners hung from the ceiling over the pit, mounted heads of dragons were set in the four corners. Old weapons hung in places of honor.
There was no one about, the place empty.
Hall led them to the righthand staircase. They walked up into a long room, coming up on the outside wall. The room spanned the whole length with benches filing the entire space. Across, the far wall was lined with doors. At the far end was another set of stairs leading up. It was empty.
“Barracks,” Hall said as he led them toward the far stairs.
He looked into the rooms as they passed, some doors opened, and saw the rows of beds. Before, there had always been NPCs roaming the halls. Not trainers but filler, there for immersion. Now there was no one.
They emerged onto the third level and into a long hallway, farther down they could see another stair that led back down. Hall led them through the halls, following a path he had not walked in years.
“Need to talk to the Guildmaster,” he said, wondering why he was bothering to say anything.
The others, maybe even Leigh, should have known how it had worked. When it came time to train the first Class Ability, a quest would be given to seek out the Class Guildmaster in that Class’ Guildhall. Wardens, Duelists, and Skirmishers shared the same Guildhall, the other Classes having their own. The Guildmaster would determine if the character was worthy, they always were, and then send the character to a trainer. After that first time, the character could go straight to the trainer.
Many players had complained about the extra step. To Hall, it had just added another level of immersion, of realism.
He led them to the office of the Skirmisher Guildmaster, but it was also empty.
Confused, Hall led them back down the other way, coming into the fighting pit from the other set of stairs. The other barracks, identical to the first, was also empty. They headed for the doors at the end of the pit, opening them and stepping outside.
Wooden stairs led down to a grassy area, about two hundred feet between the building and the edge of the island. They could see the blue sky, clouds, and the black dots of the other islands. Dozens of dirt circles ringed with wood were scattered about, extending to both sides around the building. They could finally hear the sounds of activity to the right side.
Walking around the Guildhall, they came to another series of fighting circles and saw a half dozen men standing around one circle. Two people, both Human, could be seen sparring with wooden practice swords. One of the spectators saw them and headed their way.
A large man, bald with long gray beard, a scar cut across his left eye, the orb milky white. He wore leather pants with metal plates on the legs, leather boots, and a sleeveless leather vest. He had a broadsword strapped to his waist and a two-handed bastard sword in a scabbard over his shoulder. Two daggers were sheathed at his waist opposite the sword.
There was a saying that no true Warden was ever without a weapon.
“Ho, visitors,” he said. “Don’t get many nowadays. Garick is the name. What can I do for you?”
“Where is everyone?” Hall asked, waving his hands to indicate the emptiness.
Garick looked down at him strangely, the man having eight inches in height and easily a hundred pounds on Hall, all hard muscle.
“New to Land’s Edge, I take it,” Garick rumbled, the man’s voice as strong as he was physically.
Hall nodded.
“Ain’t much call for adventurers anymore,” Garick said with a sad shake of his head. “All the able-bodied folks rather get regular jobs with the Guards and the Watch, or guarding a merchant’s caravan. Some become mercenaries,” he finished, spitting on the ground. “Ain’t much call for our specialized Abilities anymore.”
That makes some sense, Hall thought. If there weren’t that many players anymore, then there wouldn’t be that many people needing training. There had been very few NPCs with Class skills, like Leigh. Most had just been more common professions such as Guard or Soldier. Even the Smugglers they had fought had the same skills as guards. Those could receive combat training anywhere and had no need for the specialized Class ability training. And no need of the Guildhalls.
“I have need of Training,” Hall told him.
“Can see you’re a Skirmisher,” Garick said, motioning to the spear and javelin on Hall’s back as well as Pike sitting on his shoulder. “Your dragonhawk is a young one, freshly bonded, I’d say. Reckon you’re level three?”
Hall nodded.
Garick turned and looked among the spectators, finding the man he sought.
“Brandiff,” he yelled.
A man turned and stepped away from the others, annoyance clearly visible on his face. He was as tall as Hall, athletic build, and finely muscled. Fiery red hair and beard, streaks of gray. He had the fair skin of the Gael, green tattoos snaked up the exposed skin of his arms. He was dressed similarly to Garick in leather, armed with short sword and dirk.
“What is it?” he said, walking toward them. “Corbin is going to finish off Harlan in three moves.”
“No way,” Garick said, looking past Brandiff and at the fighters. “Harlan has this match.”
“Use your eyes man,” Brandiff growled, stopping alongside Garick.
From the sparring pit they heard the clap of wood on wood and something hitting the sand, one of the men yelping in pain. The spectators all gasped.
“Match to Corbin,” someone yelled out.
Brandiff looked up at Garick with a smile. The other rolled his eyes.
“This here Skirmisher is in need of some Training,” Garick said and pointed at Hall.
Hall felt naked as Brandiff looked him up and down, side to side, and every other way. Sizing him up, looking at the wear and tear on his weapons and armor. Even studying Pike.
“What’s your name?” he finally said.
“Hall.”
“Level three and Leaping Stab,” Brandiff stated.
“Yes, sir.”
Garick laughed. Brandiff glared.
“Don’t call me sir. I fight things for a living,” Brandiff growled and walked off toward one of the fighting circles, a rack of spears and javelins near it. “Come on,” he muttered.
QUEST COMPLETE!
Brandiff has agreed to train you in your new Class Ability.
THE FIRST TRAINER I
Reward: +20 Experience
THE FIRST TRAINER II
Learn the Ability, Leaping Stab, from the Skirmisher Trainer.
Reward: +20 Experience
ACCEPT QUEST?
Hall hurried after the trainer, accepting the next stage of the quest, the others along with Garick following. Brandiff noticed.
“Don’t you have anything better to be doing?” he muttered.
“Nope,” Garick replied with a laugh.
Brandiff muttered something under his breath. Hall was surprised to hear a couple Arashi swear words, along with a mix of Gael and Nord with some Firbol
g mixed in. He had never heard an NPC swear before.
They got to the pit, and Brandiff pulled a spear from the rack.
“Come on then,” he said and stepped into the circle. “Show me what you got.”
Hall landed in the compacted dirt hard. He had only fallen ten feet this time, not fifteen like before. The five feet made a lot of difference in how much it hurt when he crashed.
“You’re leaning forward when you stab,” Brandiff said from the edge of the pit. “You keep pushing yourself off-balance.”
Brandiff came across as hard, muttering and glowering at first, but was proving himself to be an able teacher. They had been at it for an hour now, Hall sweating and aching. They had also drawn a large crowd. The spectators from the earlier sparring match, the fighters themselves, and another half dozen men and women that had wandered in earlier. All stood around the small circle, some sitting down and lounging. All enjoying the entertainment.
Level Twelve, Brandiff had shown Hall to do the Leaping Stab a couple of times. The Ability was at the heart of what the Skirmisher could do. Using Leap, they would jump over an enemy and land on the other side or jump closer. Landing gave them an attack of opportunity, one that lowered the target’s Protection which meant the Skirmisher did more damage. Adding an attack to the Leap was difficult but gave the Skirmisher a big advantage in battle. They got an extra attack while in mid leap that the enemy could not defend against. The problem, Hall was discovering, was that using the Ability caused the leaping Skirmisher to push forward with their arms and muscles, which changed the trajectory of the flight. The trick, Brandiff had said and shown, was in not doing just that. Put all the force and strength behind the attack but not change the leaping motion so the Skirmisher would land exactly where they wanted to.