-Smelting allows for the melting down of ores into ingots usable by other professions. (Needed Items: Forge, Crucible, Ingot Mold.)
Mining XP: 0/200
I glanced into my inventory to try and make sure everything fit when I noticed the Unknown Rocks were glowing slightly. I took one out and looked at it closely.
Skill Check: Mining (Mineralogy) Successful! – Copper Ore Identified! You gain 50 Mining XP!
Great! I already had forty-four Copper Ore that I’d gotten from the bellies of the myconids. I had no clue why they’d be full of metal, but the developers probably had come up with some justification. I didn’t really care. To me, it was bonus money.
I wanted to dive on in and smelt it, but I really needed to get back to town and turn in my quest with the Guildmaster, maybe learn some new spells, and offload a bunch of loot.
I tried putting the Copper Ore into the Mining Kit and it dropped in without a problem. Since that worked, I grabbed the rest of the ore stacks and added them as well, cleaning out three spots in my normal bags.
I was even able to put the Mining kit into the other bag, even though physically it should have been impossible. Go, go gaming physics!
With everything sorted, I headed back towards town.
***
17
I made my way northeast, past the outlying farms and houses and headed to the town center where most of the merchants could be found. I spotted a wandering guard and asked for directions, following them to the local alchemist.
The small shop was typical for a fantasy setting, a small sign bearing the picture of two potion vials, one red and one blue hanging over the front door, below which hung a placard reading “Proper Potions.”
The inside of the shop had a very pungent odor, a mixture of the scents of the hundreds of different types of herbs filling the shelves within.
I made my way past shelves filled with a veritable cornucopia of strange and smelly substances to a counter in the back.
The woman sitting behind the counter spared me a brief glance as I approached before turning her gaze back to the small alchemical apparatus bubbling on the countertop. Her chestnut brown skin, lush green hair, and even brighter green eyes marked her as a dryad.
I watched as she added a small pinch of some substance to the mixture and cut the heat, stirring slowly as the new ingredient dissolved into the mixture. The dark brown liquid slowly transformed to a rich, vibrant red, at which point she poured the mixture into a series of vials waiting on the counter.
She turned her attention back to me and nodded a greeting. “Welcome to Proper Potions, Master Kobold. How can this humble establishment help thee today?”
“Hello, Master Alchemist. I have some components that may interest you, and would also like to learn what wares you have to sell.” I responded.
“Come then,” she said, “Show me what thou hast and wish to sell.”
I took out the Goblin Teeth, poison glands, heartmeat, myconid flesh, and spore sacks, and placed them on the table before her. I waited as she examined them, consulting a small notebook with each.
“Truly interesting specimens, Master Kobold. The teeth are uncommon in these parts, and poison cures quite popular, so I can offer thee two silver pieces per tooth.”
I agreed to the price and tucked the silver into my pouch, glad I had held onto them. Had I sold them in the starting village I would have gotten a quarter as much.
She continued, “The Myconid flesh, young kobold, has no worth to me. Thou might eat it, although it is an acquired taste. These glands are much more common due to the infestation, but because of the danger involved in obtaining them, are worth something. The paralysis poison can be quite a boon to big game hunters, so I can offer thee eight silver for it; the slow death less so, and thus worth only one silver to me.”
The poison glands were worthless to me, so I gladly sold them for the offered price and listened as she examined the spore sacks and heartmeat.
“These are something I have not seen before,” she said while paging through her notebook. “They may be of value… or may not. I could not in good conscience offer thee coin for these without first ascertaining their worth. I would very much like to study these, Master Kobold, so I would like to propose a deal.”
I was intrigued. “What did you have in mind?”
“I will take these items off of thy hands and study their usefulness. Once I have determined their use, I will pay thee a fair price appropriate to their function. Doth this arrangement suite thee, Master Kobold?” she offered.
No coin now, but the potential for profit later on. It was a gamble, but also a chance to get in good with one of the local merchants, so I decided to go with it.
“I accept your offer, Master Alchemist. The potential knowledge is worth the risk in my mind,” I said.
She flashed me a smile. “Then we have a deal. Since we are to be partners in this, thou may address me by my name, Ambree Valynwood,” she said, offering her hand.
I took her hand and shook it, “It’s nice to meet you, Ambree. I’m Kababala.”
“Thou wished to purchase something as well, Kababala?” she asked.
“Yes.” I said, and she pulled a large book from behind the counter and set it down before me.
“I have quite an extensive collection of common herbs, potions, spell components, and common recipes for those who practice my art. Please take a look through my inventory and see if there is anything that thou would like.”
The shop’s inventory was so much easier to navigate than the kobold general merchant had been. The menu was broken into broad categories that could then be expanded to reveal more specific options.
Potent Potions
-Potions
-Ingredients
-Spell Components
-Recipes
It was glorious. First things first, I needed spell components. I mentally opened that menu and my view was filled with an extensive list of items.
Abandoning the clunky interface, I decided to try a different approach. Looking up at the alchemist, I asked, “Do you have Bone Dust and Fine Sand?”
She nodded and gestured back to the book which was filtered down to the two items I had requested.
Potent Potions
-Ingredients
--Bone Dust– 2cp per dose.
--Fine Sand--1sp per dose.
The Bone Dust was pretty cheap, so I paid the eight silver for two full stacks of the component. The Fine Sand was another story. I thought the price of the component would be less than the cost of identification but no luck. At least I’d be able to do it myself though, so I bought ten doses of Fine Sand.
I searched for the Bronze Chisel, Iron Dust, and Ogre’s blood needed for the Runecrafting recipes, but she didn’t carry the first two, and the blood was out of stock.
I navigated back to the main list and then opened the Potions category. She had healing potions, mana potions, rejuvenation potions that gave a little of both health and mana, and a decent selection of buff potions, all in various strengths ranging from affordable to where-can-I-sell-a-virtual-kidney.
I filtered the list to the lesser and minor versions of the potions which were more appropriate to my level and eliminated the buff potions as well. They were luxuries I couldn’t afford.
The lesser potions cost one silver and restored ten points of their respective pools each, with the rejuvenation potions restoring five of each pool. The minor potions restored thirty points, and fifteen each for the rejuvenation and cost two silver a piece.
I bought three minor healing and three minor mana potions to cover any emergencies for twelve silver and tucked the potions into my bag.
I scanned the Recipes section. There was a decent selection, but the prices were daunting. Every item was priced in gold pieces, including the Alchemy primer that cost ten gold.
“Mistress Valynwood, would you be able to teach me how to recognize herbs and other components during my travels? The He
rbalism skill could help me find additional things that might be of use to you.”
She looked at me, considering and responded, “I could do so, but would require a service from thee in return. Should thou complete my task, I will provide thee with the knowledge ye seek.”
Flipping through her notebook, she continued, “I require the blood of forest orcs to complete an order. Bring me ten vials of their blood and I shall teach thee the skill thou seek, and gift thee a Potion of Regeneration as well.”
QUEST AVAILABLE – Blood and Sweat
Obtain ten doses of Forest Orc blood and provide them to the Master Alchemist Ambree Valynwood at the Proper Potions store.
Forest Orc Blood 0/10
Rewards: 300xp, Herbalism skill and materials, Minor Potion of Regeneration.
Accept? (Yes/No)
I accepted. “You have a deal.” I said, “Do you have any vials I can use to collect the blood?”
She reached under the counter and placed a small case of vials on the counter, pushing it across to me. I tucked them into my bag and bid her goodbye.
My next goal was the tailor which was luckily right across the street from the alchemist. Its proprietor was a human who seemed to lack any semblance of personality appropriately named John Smith. He repaired my robes with robotic efficiency and zero small talk, taking my silver and then ushering me on my way. I took a brief look through his inventory, but none of the clothes were small enough to fit me, and the charge for alteration was pretty ludicrous.
From there I returned to the Harvest Moon, entering the Necromancer’s guild as the sun began to set on Sommervale. The Guildmaster was in the same area as my last visit, sitting and reading, when I approached.
“Welcome back, Apprentice Kababala. Have you finished your quest?” he asked.
“Yes, Guildmaster. It took a bit longer than anticipated due to some cultural complexities, but I succeeded and am now an apprentice miner.” I answered.
“A Miner? Not the profession I would have sought personally, but I guess it is quite fitting for your subterranean people. Good work, Apprentice.”
QUEST COMPLETE – Supplemental Income
You have gained 50xp!
“I see you’ve gained in strength since you were here last,” he said with an approving look. “I think you’re ready for your next lesson.”
He took a scroll from his robes and handed it to me. “This spell will allow you to form a closer link with your minions, allowing you to share your knowledge, abilities, and even mana should you wish it.”
I took the scroll and opened it, selecting yes when prompted if I wanted to learn the new spell.
You have learned “Dark Blessing.”
Dark Blessing
Range: TouchType: Enhancement
Requirements: Somatic, Verbal, Material (Required): Caster’s Blood
Create a link with your bound minion, sharing your skills and mana pool with the target minion. This blessing may only be cast on a target affected by Bind Minion. Up to one minion, plus one minion for each 5 ranks of this skill (rounded up), may be affected.
The Guildmaster nodded to me and smiled. “Good. With your new skills you should be able to create a minion who can assist from afar, wielding offensive spells or mending your other minions. Be on your guard though, as it will use your mana to do so, until you become more skilled and gain the ability to grant your minions pools of their own. Come back once you have reached tenth rank and I will teach you how.”
I knew a dismissal when I heard one, so I left the guild, thinking about my new spell. I’d saved two points from my last level up but putting them in the new skill wouldn’t do anything for me right now, so I might as well put them into something that would be immediately useful. I put the points into Rot, bringing it closer to the cap.
With that done, it was time to play detective.
***
18
I took out the silver wedding band. There were no identifying markings or engravings to tell me who it belonged to so I had two options. I could either go door to door asking questions or try some magic. It was an easy choice.
I took out some of my recently acquired Fine Sand and cast Psychometry. I placed the ring in my left hand and followed the guide, sprinkling mana infused sand over the ring with my right hand while chanting the spell. “Reliqua saeculi, dicite mihi historia,” I chanted, and the ring began to glow.
The glow flowed out of the object and into the air, resolving into a floating text box.
Psychometry Check – Item Level 2 vs Psychometry Rank 1 – Bonuses/Penalties: None
Success! You have identified a
The wedding ring of Samuel Westgrove, Human Miner of Sommervale. Samuel was working in Mine Shaft 8 when the first myconids appeared in the mine. He held off the invaders while his fellow minors fled the area, buying their lives with his own.
Properties: +2 Charisma. Value: 1gp
Now I had a name at least, and the locket had a picture, so that was a start.
I headed back towards the center of town and approached the first guard I saw. After a brief discussion, the guard gave me directions to the Westgrove farm which was located on the northeast edge of town. A convenient marker appeared on my map.
I followed it to the indicated farmhouse and knocked on the door. After a minute or so, the door swung open to reveal the point of a crossbow bolt, aimed directly at my face.
“What do you want?” the wielder said, her voice tense. I looked past the bolt, seeing the face from the locket and tried my best to look non-threatening.
“Mrs. Westgrove?” I asked.
She nodded slightly, keeping the crossbow trained on me. “Yes, I’m Rebecca Westgrove. Who’s asking?”
“I have unfortunate news about your husband.” I responded, opening my hand slowly to reveal the wedding ring and golden locket.
Her eyes began to tear up, and she lowered the crossbow, a sob wracking her body. Two young children appeared from behind her skirts, hugging her.
“What’s wrong, Mommy?” the little girl asked, confusion and sadness filling her voice.
The woman gathered herself and hugged the children before sending them back into the house to clean up. She turned back to me. “How did it happen?” she asked.
“I wasn’t there when he died,” I replied, “but from what I put together your husband died a hero. The mine shaft he was in was attacked by myconids and he held off the attackers so his companions could escape.”
She smiled sadly. “That sounds just like my Samuel, putting others before himself.” Her eyes teared up again and she held out her hand.
I dropped the ring and locket into her hand and she held them to her heart, a tear flowing down her cheek.
“Would you help me recover his body?” she said between sobs. “My uncle is a High Priest in the capital and might be able to bring my Samuel back to us. If you can bring it to me, I’ll reward you.”
QUEST UPDATE – Missing Persons
You have gained 100xp!
Your reputation with the Citizens of Sommervale is now Neutral. (Was Stranger)
Update: Mrs. Westgrove has requested you recover her husband’s body from the mine so that she might have him resurrected.
Option (Accept) – Additional rewards - 100xp! Mystery Reward Upgraded to
Option (Decline) – Mystery Rewards
Accept? (Yes/No)
Considering I had the man’s bones in my bag already I accepted right away.
“Thank you so much,” she said, reaching down awkwardly to hug my reptilian form. “When you have him, please come back and I’ll have a suitable reward ready.”
I cleared my throat awkwardly and began, “Well Mrs. Westgrove, I have his body with me now. I thought you might have wanted to bury him, so I brought it with me. Unfortunately, it is only his bones, as the rest of his body was… uhm… well, eaten by a giant slime mold.”
“Oh! My poor Samuel!” she g
asped. “Please put the bones on the wagon in the back and I’ll meet you there with your reward.”
I nodded and headed around back while she went inside. I found the wagon easily and laid out Samuel’s bones on the wagon bed, adding his pickaxe and copper pieces as well. Should the resurrection succeed, he’d be needing them.
A short time later the lady of the house returned holding a small bundle in her hands. She looked down at the pile of bones and sobbed as she removed a cloth from her bag and covered the bones.
Her husband’s bones properly covered, she unwrapped another parcel, revealing a small bag.
“This belonged to my Uncle Wendel, the Dawnchaser,” she said as she offered the bag. “He was a wizard of some fame before he perished. This was one of his creations and I think it fitting that you have it.”
QUEST COMPLETE – Missing Persons (part 2)
You have gained 100xp!
Fortune check! Critical Success! Mystery Reward upgraded from
I took the bag and smiled as the messages scrolled by.
You have obtained
This item is now Soulbound.
Item Name: Dawnchaser’s Satchel
Rarity: UniqueType: Bag of HoldingCapacity: Special
Devised by the famed enchanter, Wendel the Dawnchaser, this bag of holding was engineered to facilitate his expeditions to map the unknown reaches of the continent. The capacity of this bag is directly related to the mana pool of the wielder, granting one slot for each point of mana in the caster’s mana pool.
I whistled and looked up at the widow. “I cannot begin to thank you enough for this, Mrs. Westgrove. I will use it well!”
She nodded and headed back to the house. “Safe travels! And try not to end up in the stomach of a dragon like my Uncle Wendel!”
***
19
I transferred the items from my normal bags to the satchel and then headed back to the mine. It was starting to get dark and hunting orcs in the dark was probably a bad idea. These types of games usually made things more dangerous at night, regardless of my particular ability to work without light.
Extra Credit Page 14