High quality luxurious food was hard to find anywhere that wasn’t a neutral trading city.
Erik and the rest of the special team came back from Sages Keep.
The Alvan army had been rotating around, getting time off in Alva, or spending time back in the barracks and training in the academy.
Training programs were being set up for those who wanted to join the army under Rugrat’s supervision. The newest round of weapon upgrades were being created: new heavy repeaters and bolt action rifles. Rugrat was focusing on ammunition, which had led him to working on semi-automatic weapons as a testbed for fully automatic weapons with easier to manufacture but still lethal rounds.
Mortars were being improved, with a few formations added and new shell types being tested.
Erik and the group looked around the city that had grown since they had been gone and wandered to the castle.
Erik stood in one of the recovered castle windows, looking out at the city while drinking some coffee when Hiao Xen came in with reports on the new crafter dungeons.
“Erik, if we were to reduce the price, give newcomers better prices and incentives… We have done it with the people already around here, what about the others? With these new crafter dungeons, it will be hard to attract people other than fighters,” Hiao Xen pondered.
Erik turned from the window. “Compared to other capitals’ prices, are our costs higher or lower for those wishing to come over?”
“They are less. But they are capitals—we are just a regular city, barely that in terms of population,” Hiao Xen said.
“Agreed. But we have the land available; we have the location. Advertise the different creatures that are outside of the city—that is also another resource. We have three dungeons and a valley that will allow alchemists to create Expert-level ingredients. We have smithies already available; we have workshops up to the Journeyman level within the city. Now is the time that we start recruiting. Send out people to different cities as ambassadors. We are a neutral city, looking to raise crafters from all walks of life. If they want to learn join, they only need to be an Apprentice and pay, or pass our screening and become a sworn citizen of Vuzgal. We just need to see from them dedication to the job. We will offer materials and information. I want to turn Vuzgal into a city that builds people up.”
Hiao Xen nodded.
“Make sure we hire quality, not quantity. We need people who are interested in growing and will be loyal to Vuzgal. It would be better to get those interested in the craft instead of monetary needs. Tell them that we will take care of their monetary issues towards perfecting their craft and they only need to worry about mastering their crafting techniques.”
“It will be easier to do that.”
“Even if the numbers are low, we will not reduce our standards,” Erik warned.
Hiao Xen sighed. “It is sometimes better to bend rather than break,” he warned.
“It is better to stand tall in the sun and grow while we can than bend in the sun and try to grow when it’s not sunny.” Erik smiled before putting his hand infront of his mouth. “Did that make any damn sense?”
“Kind of,” Haio Xen tilted his hand back and forth. “Might want to work on the sayings.”
“I’ll add it to the list. Also, there will be a group coming in the future. They’re part of the treasury bank. They can offer loans, investments, and the like. I have talked to them about giving people loans for houses, mainly for the people you have hired to run and maintain the city. It is also an opportunity for the traders to get a loan to increase their buying capacity. I will leave the lenders placement up to you. Twenty percent of all our revenue will be placed in to investments with them. There, it will give a shot of money to Vuzgal’s economy and it will also gain interest for us over time.”
“Are they really capable of handling such funds?” Hiao Xen asked. Banks weren’t uncommon and the different associations had their own versions but they were only used in the higher realms due to the higher profits that they could earn. Sects and kingdoms also had their own types of banks that they would use to grow people and create investment and loan systems.
“They are,” Erik confirmed. “Did the Alchemist Association drop off the stones?”
“Yes, they have paid for the first year, three Sky grade mana stones. They have begun constructing their gardens and erecting walls.”
“Announce that today the dungeons will be opened. Make sure you tell the Alchemist Association first so there aren’t any bad feelings. When the treasury comes, pass them the Sky stones, see what they can do with it.”
“I will have a meeting with them personally before I let the rest of the city know. You know with those kinds of funds we could tempt a lot of people to join Vuzgal.” Hiao Xen said.
“Keep one of them to recruit talents and support Vuzgal’s finances,” Erik said.
“That should be more than enough.”
“Good. To a prosperous Vuzgal,” Erik passed him a cup and poured some booze into it they tapped their cups and drank.
“Well I’ll leave you to it, some of us have work to do,” Hiao Xen ribbed.
“Go forth minion and impress my rule upon the fourth realm!” Erik said as if a drunk tyrant.
“Night,” Hiao Xen said with a smile, stopping himself from bowing as he left the room.
Erik smiled. Hiao Xen had been working hard, but he had dealt with it and was in his element, handling everything with panache.
But it’s just the calm before the storm.
Gilly who was lying in the corner got up and stretched letting out a noise.
“Sorry I’m not as interesting and George, you can play with him when he returns,” Erik sighed.
She let out a snort refuting his words as Erik hid his smirk in his drink. Scratching her back as she pushed into his hand, her one leg hovering and kicking in mid-air.
***
Galaan stepped forward through the south gate. He and his team had combined their funds to pay the Mana stone fee, getting a token that the Alchemist Association guards checked before letting them pass. Beyond the gate was the domain of the Alchemist Association. Walls were being hurriedly built; there were more guards in the valley than they had brought into Vuzgal. They were rebuilding the defenses around the valley on the mountains and they were guarding the paths that had been made through the valley to the three dungeons.
Plants were being harvested and the ground was being designated for different ingredients to be grown there.
He hefted his heavy broadsword onto his back and waved his group forward. They were all from the Fighter’s Association. They wore a mix of mid and high Journeyman gear. Hearing about the dungeon that would allow one to get up to Expert-level gear, they had been interested. They had arrived at the Fighters Association building, finding people looking for information on the dungeon. There weren’t any complete maps and the association was paying for people to fill in the blanks. Other groups had made requests for different materials that reportedly could be found in the dungeons.
There were plenty of useful ingredients that could be found inside that would make it useful for even high-level groups to clear the dungeons, the items recovered worth much more than a single Earth Mana stone entry fee.
“I hope we can get a new pair of boots. These ones are getting worn out,” Yellow Rabbit said.
“Probably from your stinky feet.” Erin stretched and rolled her shoulders.
“Hopefully we get some high Journeyman-level gear. Be good to get new stuff. I heard that not only do our levels and numbers count, but the speed we clear the dungeon will change our rewards,” Brian said, walking with his staff.
“What about you, boss? Is there anything you want?”
“Hoping we can get some of that Malcite ore to repair my sword,” Galaan said.
It wasn’t long until they reached the five floor dungeon. They cleared out the first floor and took the time to look around and search out every nook and cranny to make sure t
hat they didn’t leave anything behind.
“Well, we should be able to get at least a full map out of this,” Brian said.
They had been able to get a pair of low Journeyman boots from the first floor, but searching the dungeon took time.
“We agreed that the first time would be to learn about the dungeon; the second to get gear,” Erin reminded him.
They passed through the first three floors with ease. Then they reached the floor boss of the fourth level.
Yellow Rabbit fired an arrow into the water. It cut through and hit the hidden creature.
It rose out of the water and shot water out of its mouth. Yellow Rabbit dodged the attack as the water hit the wall behind him, leaving a perfect hole.
A domain settled over everyone, increasing the effect of Water-based magical attacks and reducing the power of all other kinds of magic.
“Use the binding scroll!” Galaan shouted.
Yellow Rabbit ran around as Erin charged forward. Her fists glowed with power; a tendril of power wrapped around her body. As her fist hit the creature, the tendril of energy was released. Scales were cut and a bloody gash was left on the creature’s face as Galaan came in from the other side. His feet were glowing as he seemed to stand on the air, using a technique to get extra power and double jump before his sword turned a dazzling gold. He stabbed forward as five more golden sword images appeared around his blade. He struck out, stabbing into the beast.
The creature looked back at him with a sense of satisfaction. The air moved as the beast’s tail, which had been hiding under the surface, struck out at Erin. She fell back from the attack. She didn’t have a technique to move in the air like Galaan; she could only brace herself, being tossed back and hitting the wall.
Around Brian’s staff, a magical circle appeared. Light shot out of the magical circles and struck the beast. It didn’t cause much damage but it weakened its defense and decreased its Strength. The water domain started to weaken as Yellow Rabbit finished with the spell scroll he had been activating.
Black chains shot out of the ground, wrapping around the beast, pinning it in its pool as Galaan attacked it again and again. Quickly dropping the creatures health and leaving deep wounds. Erin charged forward; she had some wounds but her armor had protected her vitals. She kicked and punched. The confident beast now struggled against the chains restraining and binding it.
Yellow Rabbit pulled out his bow and started shooting arrow after arrow into the beast. A green glow covered them all as Brian gave them a group buff.
The beast activated its berserker skills. Its power grew and it broke through the chains. But the team was well practiced; their attacks had been laced with poisons, curses, and debuffs, decreasing its Strength.
The scaled creature charged toward Yellow Rabbit, who ran off while squeaking in minor panic. The others attacked from distance, with Galaan running in and cutting at its back.
The creature turned and hit Galaan with a Water attack, his armor left ringing by the impact of the water.
He dropped to the ground, stopping the blood from rising up in his throat. He threw a healing potion back.
Brian waved his staff, activating its attack. “Meteor’s Light!”
Dozens of small formations appeared around him, turning the dark dungeon into day. They condensed and light beams shot out, tearing off scales and hitting the beast, leaving severe injuries.
It dropped to the ground as its health hit zero and a tombstone appeared.
Galaan walked over to the beast, nudging it with his foot as he undid the latches on his armor. The fresh dents made it hard to breathe and he could feel the bruises on his chest were fighting to form as the healing potion ran through his body.
Erin came over, grunting. She started to apply a cream to her arms, loosening up her joints.
“Damn, that one is strong,” Yellow Rabbit said.
Erin grunted and spat out a tooth.
“That’s going to itch regrowing,” Galaan said.
She flipped him the bird as Brian sent them both ranged heals, making their bodies relax as they recovered.
“Tough beastie,” Galaan said with approval.
Yellow Rabbit went over to the tombstone. “Good loot as well. Worth a few Mana stones at least.”
The altar shone as a piece of chest armor was revealed.
It was copper colored, with runes down and around the sides.
“Well, easy replacement.” Yellow Rabbit grabbed it and headed over to Galaan, passing it to him.
“Brian?” Galaan passed it to him.
Brian pulled out a monocle and put it over his eye. Runes along the rim activated as he inspected the goods.
An inspection skill or item was necessary for the Fighter’s Association teams. When getting a piece of equipment, there were a lot of variables that most people wouldn’t notice. Having someone who could find out the value and the abilities of the different gear or materials was invaluable. It also helped them to root out traps or cursed objects.
No trained Fighter’s Association member would freely take a weapon or piece of gear in a dungeon and wear it without first checking just what its ability was. Otherwise, they could put on a piece of equipment and it might be a trap, or a mimic.
A blacksmith could also inspect smithed items in their ability level, but one usually needed to pay them to appraise the gear. It was worth it if the item was powerful, but if it wasn’t that powerful, then they would just be throwing gold away.
Brian looked over the information on the armor and then passed it back. “High Journeyman, I would say. Has the ability to increase sneak and the power of sneak attacks. Decent defense and durability, better than your current gear. It also adds a wind element to attacks—should work with your sword. Though it is better when used with a bow. After we’re done here, we can trade it.”
“Okay.” Galaan pulled off his armor and stored it and pulled the new armor on. He had replacement armor in his storage ring, but they were all weaker than the armor he had before and weaker than this new breastplate. Even if it was meant for a different class and weapon user.
They headed down to the next level.
There was a large boar waiting for them. It controlled metal. Its skin was so hard that it took two hits from Galaan in the same spot to pierce its hide.
They advanced and entered the different rooms. There was a snake that hid in the roof and released poison into the room and then sneak-attacked in the low-lighting marsh land-like room. Then a water elemental that could compete with Erin for Strength and was much stronger than Brian’s spell casting ability. Then an Earth elemental that would move through the ground like a person could move above it.
Then they came to the final room. The floors above had been tough, but the fifth floor had been a real challenge for their team. They took their time to heal up and prepare after each fight.
They reached a room with a tree that looked like the one above the dungeon. There were other trees in the room, but they were much smaller.
They didn’t advance into the room as others had gone before them through this dungeon and they had learned the secret of this floor.
Erin and Galaan covered Yellow Rabbit and Brian as they pulled out powerful spell scrolls that had red runes carved into them. The runes seemed as if they would set fire to the page as they started calling out the activation phrase.
Nothing happened until they finished activating the spell scrolls.
Spell formations appeared and two fire domains overlapped each other, creating a sea of fire.
The small trees started to wail, coming alive as they were being burned by the flames.
The main tree shook in anger but it was unable to move, instead smacking the ground with its branches that extended, nearing the attackers. But with the distance, they jumped away from the impact and used their long-range attacks, such as darts, spells, and arrows to fight back. They had to watch their feet as roots shot up out of the ground, trying to impale them
or trip them up.
They used another spell scroll and continued attacking, wearing down the grove and its main tree.
“Good idea with the fire scrolls, Erin,” Brian commented as they stepped across the ground. There were tombstones all over the place, but Yellow Rabbit was directly bagging up the tree corpses. There was a bounty out on them, after all, and they could sell them through the Fighter’s Association to those who were interested. Being burnt might reduce their price, but they should still get a fair price.
They reached the final altar; it was a set of boots. They stored it away, learning its stats wouldn’t be of any use to them right now as the boots were too small to fit any of their feet.
They exited the dungeon, riding the platform to the surface being greeted by they sky once again. They stepped off of the platform now in the valley.
The Alchemist Association guards watched them as they took the path from the platform exit and circled to the entrance of the dungeon, presenting their second pass. They’d paid two Earth Mana stones to enter the dungeon, one time after another. It was a larger cost and they needed more gear for it, but then they would get twice the payoff.
They limbered up before heading back in.
“All right, one more time and we’re free for the day. Let’s see just how fast we can get through it this time,” Galaan said.
“With the complete map, we won’t need to wander around aimlessly!” Yellow Rabbit chirped.
“Who was complaining about it taking too long?” Erin asked.
Yellow Rabbit grumbled but he didn’t say anything else as they headed down into the dungeon again.
“This is different.” Galaan cautioned, they were halfway down the as he looked around at the new floor. There were still the stairs leading down, but now the corridors had symbols above them.
“Don’t tell me it is one of those Crafter’s Trial dungeons as well,” Brian whined.
They had all heard about the new Crafter’s Trial Dungeons.
The Fourth Realm (The Ten Realms Book 4) Page 69