Yendys and Crunchy left the Petty Dispute and headed over to the market street. The town of Hayden’s Knoll kept growing and had transformed from a tiny village into a large town. The number of shops had exploded from one seller working out of a cart to a half dozen permanent structures and two dozen stalls. Yendys was happy to see the growth and felt she had a part in it. She and her friends had kept the town safe, helping to defeat several threats.
The town was lacking a few important things. Sure, there were the usual shops for adventurers and townsfolk and stuff, but nothing even closely resembling a pet store. Yendys really wanted more pets. Crunchy was the best, but she wouldn’t mind a few kittens or maybe a squirrel or two that would hang out with them. She had even paid that weirdo Phineas a premium finder’s fee if he ran across anything that might interest her.
Slowly walking down the open merchant stalls, Yendys didn’t find much to excite her. The gear was generally under-leveled for her and mirrored the dungeon level, which was the largest customer base for the merchants. The Foul Spore Pit was currently rated at levels 5–7 and her friend Drake, who ran the dungeon, said it was nearly ready to upgrade to a higher-level range.
Drake was her schoolmate and initially had joined her and their other schoolmate, Quimby, as a halfling ranger. When the dungeon chose Drake as its master, Yendys was angry. Once she thought about it, though, she realized that Drake shouldn’t be forced to play the game the way she wanted him to, reminding herself that he should have the freedom to pursue what was the most fun for him.
“Ahhh, here we are, Crunchy. Let’s see if that pirate goblin guy has some new bows and ribbons for you. It’s time to level up your cuteness skill!” Yendys said excitedly. The pair walked into the still somewhat rickety door to Phineas T. Moore’s Emporium, the edges of Crunchy’s shell scraping the door frame with a squeal.
The place had been rearranged since the last time Yendys was here. The main counter, manned by Phineas, was at the far wall. The merchant was haggling with a group of players over the mound of gear and supplies they had selected. The displays of armor and weapons had improved, holding more choices for those seeking to delve into the dungeon.
“Yendys halfling and the honored insect Crackles, greetings!” a voice called out from the side.
Yendys turned and saw the weird pirate goblin waving at them. He . . . had a new hand. The hand was formed from metal and leather, creaking and clicking as it waved. The goblin still wore his signature eyepatch, but he looked like less of a pirate without the hook, Yendys thought.
“Hey, Eyeball! It’s just Yendys, and his name is Crunchy, not Crackles . . . Good name, though, if I ever find another unicorn beetle. Congrats on the new hand. Where did you find that?” Yendys asked.
“Oh, my apologies for the mistake, Crunchy. As for my new hand, the great Phineas T. Moore gave it to me as a gift! Eyeball can now work much better and doesn’t cut himself or the merchandise on accident anymore. What can I show you today?” the little goblin asked.
“Ummm, I was hoping you might have something for Crunchy. He hasn’t had anything new in a while. Also, I could use some new armor. This stuff I’m wearing was cool for level 7, but I’m level 11 now and need to upgrade,” Yendys asked. At the word “upgrade,” Yendys thought she saw something in the pirate goblin’s eye sparkle.
***
Eyeball was excited. Here, back in the store, was his first mark! The halfling was easy pickings for his new and improved class of shady merchant. Wisely avoiding rubbing his hands together in greed, Eyeball waved Yendys toward the display holding clothing accessories and trinkets. Eyeball silently cursed himself for failing his Identify Customer roll, flubbing their names.
Unlike the last time, Eyeball didn’t have to pluck any price tags off the merchandise. He had prepared a small counter just in case this particular customer came in again. Adventurers had fat coin purses, and it was his duty to lighten the weight of their purses to help the poor adventurers not be overburdened in their journeys. At least that was what Phineas had taught him.
“I had hoped you and Crunchy would come back. I have set aside some perfect items for him and yourself. Phineas went through great trouble to bring these here for you. These items hail from the faraway lands of the Imix,” Eyeball said, walking to a small glass case in the corner of the shop.
With a flourish, he pulled a key from inside his shirt pocket and made a show of unlocking the case. The key didn’t actually do anything, and the case wasn’t really locked. Still, the customers were paying for the show as much as the product, Phineas taught him, and an entertained customer spent much more coin than a bored one. He grinned as he passed his Sleight of Hand check, placing a placard atop the case before Yendys got there.
Reserved for Yendys and Crunchy.
Inside the case were several sets of ribbons and matching bows. Eyeball had also acquired some magical dyes that could be used to stain the shell of the beetle, changing its color for several days before fading. Well, the dyes were actually permanent, but Phineas had told him to take them to the enchanter to have them fade over time. You could only sell them to a customer once if they were permanent, but a sucker would pay over and over again if it faded or was used up.
“Ohhhhh, those are pretty . . . What’s in the vials?” Yendys asked. Eyeball smiled, mentally picturing himself reeling in the fish . . . He had a live one once again.
“Allow me to perform a complimentary demonstration. What is Crunchy’s favorite color?”
“Ummm, I think he really likes blue, but I think he’ll be very cute in pink with sparkles,” Yendys said. Eyeball tried to read the situation. Best to go with Crunchy’s choice first, he felt. Pulling a vial full of blue liquid from the container, he looked at Yendys for permission. He didn’t want to get his new hand chopped off by the giant beetle. Yendys nodded and clapped excitedly.
“This mysterious elixir was created from a process long thought lost to time. Only the intervention of super-smart humans and well . . . magic . . . and some other stuff . . . gives us the neat stuff again,” Eyeball sputtered, critically failing his Smooth Talk check. Despite the small hiccup, Eyeball could see Yendys was excited. He poured the small vial over Crunchy’s shell and waited to see what would happen.
Eyeball really didn’t know what the effect would be. Phineas had assured him it would work, but you never knew. The blue liquid glowed for a moment, the glow slowly spreading across the beetle’s shell. The glow extended across the insect’s body and head, but not the mandibles, horn, or legs. It wasn’t working right!
Eyeball had to think quick. The effect was splotchy and uneven. Some parts of the shell were dark blue, and some were pastel. That good-for-nothing enchanter! How dare he sell Eyeball goods deficient in ways other than he had ordered? There had to be something Eyeball could do to fix this!
Salvage Sale skill check passed.
With a sigh of relief, Eyeball knew exactly what to do. He quickly plucked a vial of pink from the small rack of colors and applied drops to the horn, mandible, and legs of Crunchy. The pastel pink color soon covered the bits not already blue. The insect looked ridiculous and he held his breath in anticipation.
“He’s! So! Cute! I can’t stand it!” Yendys yelled.
You have salvaged a potential disaster. +1 to Salesmanship, +1 to Salvage Sale, +1 to Upsell.
“The two-tone is brilliant, Eyeball. How long will it last? How many other colors are there? How did you think to do both blue and pink? Can I do the tips of his feet in another color? What about stripes, sparkles, patterns? How about calligraphy?” Eyeball was dizzy from the unending barrage of questions coming from Yendys. He held up his hand to stop her. The small halfling panted, trying to catch her breath as Eyeball responded.
“This magical elixir will last for several hours. As far as patterns and stuff, you’ll just have to experiment on your own. The remaining vials here in the case are five gold, but considering the complimentary first application we just did
, adding installation, shipping and handling, destination charge, and documentation fee . . . I’ll only charge you seven gold since you’re my best customer,” Eyeball advised, watching to see if he landed the increased price.
“Take my money!” Yendys said as she paid the asking price. “How much for the bows and ribbons, too?” she asked. Eyeball was going to throw the cheap items in on the deal if she balked, but now, he used another technique Phineas had taught him. Turning his head in an exaggerated manner, he motioned Yendys close.
“Don’t tell anyone, but I’m going to cut you a deal I wouldn’t do for anyone else. There are a dozen bows and matching ribbons in the case, and I’ll throw them in—all of them—for the low, low price of one measly gold piece. Remember, you can’t tell anyone I’m doing this,” Eyeball offered. Yendys looked shocked and slowly nodded her head.
“No way. That’s an awesome deal. I’m not going to tell anyone,” Yendys whispered back, totally under Eyeball’s spell. Eyeball smiled a friendly smile. Who needed magic when solid sales skills applied by a skilled sales goblin could put people under the ether? Eyeball waved the coins away; Phineas made the customers pay him directly. Eyeball didn’t care. A healthy suspicion was the hallmark of a great merchant . . . At least that was what Phineas told him. He led Yendys up to the counter to pay for her purchases.
“Ahh, always a to pleasure to see you and Crunchy once again. I take it that Eyeball treated you well this day?” Phineas asked. Yendys nodded and got out her purse.
“Here’s the seven gold for the color stuff and the extra gold for the ribbons and bows. Ohhh, I’m sorry, Eyeball. I wasn’t supposed to tell anyone,” Yendys said, chagrined at her flub.
“No worries. Eyeball here did the right thing in giving a valued customer a special deal,” Phineas added, smiling at Eyeball. The goblin had figured the kid would spill the beans and he knew Phineas would be impressed with how much he had swindled out of his mark today.
“She also wanted to check if you had any armor upgrades for her, boss,” Eyeball added.
“Yes, I have just the thing in mind for her.”
“I hope it’s a new pet like you were supposed to find for me,” Yendys said excitedly. She looked crestfallen when all he placed on the counter were some varying pieces of leather armor.
Eyeball stood back and watched Phineas work. The man was a master. Phineas placed several sets of leather armor on the counter; the armor wasn’t much better than she had already, but the customer bought it. Good gear upgrades were hard to find, Eyeball knew, and adventurers were always willing to pay for even a small improvement. Once the transaction for the armor was complete and Yendys was still moping a bit and about to leave, Phineas held up his hand. “Hold one moment, if you would be so kind as to wait for a bit. I think I have something in the back that seems like it was made for you and Crunchy,” Phineas said, turning to enter the back of the store. Eyeball was excited.
He knew Phineas had taken in these items from one of the Stonefinder dwarves in exchange for some potions. The items were unusual and something the boss would sell off quick and cheap to get rid of. Instead, Eyeball reminded him about Yendys. Knowing how much profit he could potentially make, Phineas had held onto the gear that he was now bringing up for Yendys to see.
“Please take a look at this amazing item. It seems to have been custom-crafted for you personally. It is very rare and hard to find, but once I heard of your continued patronage to our humble shop, I knew I had to acquire them for you. I spare no expense for my best clients,” Phineas said as he dropped a strangely shaped set of armor made from hardened leather and bearing six-inch-long metal spikes. Along with the armor, he dropped a riding bridle on the counter. Eyeball hadn’t seen the item directly yet, so he also took the time to examine them.
Reins of the Swarm Lord: The Swarm Lord Samnul the Despised crafted these riding reins and imbued them with all the magic his skill could provide. Samnul needed to rapidly move about the Lands, wasting as little time as possible in his travels to the various dungeons of the world.
The reins allow a Swarm Lord to transform her animal companion into a convenient mount. While insect mounts are only slightly faster than a walking human, they have incredible endurance, never tiring in their journeys. A Swarm Lord may even learn to fight from the saddle, guiding her companion in combat.
This epic item becomes soulbound on use and cannot be traded or sold once activated.
Class Restriction: Swarm Lord prestige class.
Level Restriction: Level 15+ mount speed starts the same as walking speed but increases as the player levels.
Swarm Lord’s Barding: This armor was devised by Samnul to better protect his mount. Eventually, he crafted multiple sets to equip his favorite companions in their battles, protecting them and keeping them in the fight for longer periods of time.
Defense: +5. When hit by an opponent’s melee attack, the armor has a small chance to impale the attacker on the spikes, dealing minor damage.
Level Restriction: 10+
Class Restriction: Swarm Lord
“I know the class requirements are steep, but I also have faith that possessing these items may grant you a quest to become a swarm lord. The choice is yours, as the class may not be for everyone. Are you interested in these items?” Phineas asked, but Eyeball could tell the silly girl wasn’t listening. For once, her eyes were larger than her mouth. She stared at the items in silence, unblinking, and Eyeball felt himself smiling.
Truly, his master was the finest merchant in the world!
Chapter 8
Yendys walked from Phineas’s shop with a skip in her step. She had so wanted to have a mount in-game, and the mount being her animal companion was a dream come true. The fact that she had to take the swarm lord prestige class bothered her at first, but she had already given up fluffy critters as her companions when she bonded with Crunchy.
Crunchy looked resplendent, his multicolored body festooned with various ribbons and bows. He looked so good that she didn’t mind the snickers from the other players inside the shop. They were obviously jealous of her pet and his fashionable decorations. The quest for obtaining her prestige class wasn’t going to be easy; she would have to convince her friends to delve into the Foul Spore Pit once more.
Quest Received: Swarm Lord’s Legacy. This quest will unlock the Swarm Lord prestige class for summoner druids. The following items must be gathered to unlock the new class.
1. The Heart of Tessel: The corrupted heart of the dryad Tessel, who inhabits the Foul Spore Pit, is necessary to control the creatures summoned by a swarm lord. The heart makes the swarm lord immune to the smells, toxins, diseases, and any damage their insect, arachnid, and verminous pets would normally cause. The heart also grants immunity to all friendly and neutral players or npc’s. Note that this immunity only applies to the druid’s animal companions and summoned creatures, not any other creatures encountered. The stench of companions and summoned creatures is not reduced; only the penalty is removed.
2. Shell of the Honored Companion: Deep inside an ancient forest stand the ruins of an abandoned temple that was once the entrance to a small dungeon. The dungeon is long since gone, but it is rumored that this is where Samnul the Despised met his end. Samnul’s animal companions gave their lives trying in vain to defeat their ethereal foes. The spirits once haunting these woods have moved on, but other, deadlier defenders have taken their place.
The quest sounded like it might be super long, which would be boring if her friends didn’t play with her. Still, there was no way she would pass up a chance for a prestige class for her and her cuddly little Crunchy. Yendys hustled to the Petty Dispute, acutely aware that she was now the one late for the meeting, having spent too much time shopping. It was really Phineas and the pirate guy’s fault; they had too much stuff for her to buy this time. The crowd in the inn had thinned out and she could see all her friends at their usual table in the back. With a wave, Yendys and Crunchy made their way over.
“What is that!? What happened to Crunchy? Was he cursed or something?” Quimby asked. Yendys glared before responding.
“No! He’s just been fashionably upgraded, obviously! Don’t listen to the mean halfling, Crunchy. He’s just jealous over how good you look.” Yendys sat at the empty table, the others trying to hold in laughter.
“I think my friend Crunchy looks good. Colorful and stuff,” Smashem said, trying to be supportive while at the same time trying to suppress a giggle.
“Thank you, Smashem . . . I think,” Yendys said, giving the half orc the stink eye. Crunchy ignored the rest and skittered about the group, looking for any dropped bits of food. Smashem dropped a few tidbits to the beetle; the two had long since resolved their differences and were becoming fast friends.
Yendys was glad to see both Quimby and Drake were here. Quimby had finally been released from no-gaming restrictions by his parents, but he was now on a strict time limit with his gaming. Drake was usually busy with the dungeon stuff, but he tried to join them at the Dispute for a meal and a chat when he could. They talked in school, but it wasn’t the same as playing together.
“Everyone leave the, uhh . . . colorful Crunchy alone. Are we still up for the lake party?” Jacoby asked.
“Yes, thank you all for being willing to visit my grandma. It means a lot to her to have company over. Oh, before I forget, some weird dude left a package for you, Smashem,” Yendys said while digging in her pack for the package. Yendys had informed the group about her grandma being in her own instanced envrionment and they all volunteered to visit, wanting to support their friend as well as meet Raytak’s real-world wife.
“What’s this?” Smashem asked as the paper-wrapped package was slid across the table to him. The package was wrapped by a very neat hand; the paper itself revealed nothing about its contents or who it was from. Yendys just wished that Smashem would open the thing. She hated those birthday parties when the kid took sooo long to open the present.
Limitless Lands Book 4: Opposition (A LitRPG Adventure) Page 8