After wandering around the city, Artanis had found a shop in which she could to trade the parcel for leather. She were now ready to finish Aramis quest, as she had other plans instead of continuing to gather leather and with that in mind she walked towards the merchant guild.
When Artanis reached the black marble mansion her strength, vitality, and agility had increased one point each. Smiling for the stats increase, she walked towards the guild’s reception desk and at the desk, instead of that rude man, was someone Artanis had never seen before whom after seeing her ring greeted her.
“Good morning miss, what can I help you with?” Said the smiling chubby man, after he saw she wore an advanced guild member ring.
“I need to speak with Aramis.” She said, smiling. She finally remembered that the rude man, Gaylle, was expelled from the guild.
“Do you have an appointment?” Asked the chubby man who was working as a receptionist, whose cheeks blushed after seeing her smile.
“No, but he is expecting me.” Hearing so, the receptionist left for the top floor. After a few minutes, he returned and escorted her to his office. Once they reached inside Aramis beckoned for the man to leave.
“Mi’lady Artanis, it is good to see you again. Are you here to end our game?” Asked the guild elder, smiling.
She took out the leather from her backpack and the sheer volume caused his eyes to widen. Sitting before him was eight hundred-fourteen pieces of leather. But, even after unloading such high volume from her backpack, it remained the same. Such are the wonders of an enchanted high quality backpack.
“How did you… No, I suppose it does not matter, such leather is difficult product to get nowadays; I guess you really are a fellow apprentice of Hywel.” Said Aramis grinning as she had acquired almost enough leather to complete the merchant’s guild test, which lasted a whole week three times.
Quest Complete!
Increased your familiarity with Aramis, he now respects you.
You have earned the respect of one out twelve merchant guild elders.
Fame increased by 150.
Contribution to the Order of Andvari increased by 1628.
You have earned merchant’s guild elder necklace.
Level Up!
Level Up!
Level Up!
You have earned the title: Respected Merchant.
Charisma has permanently been increased by 10
You will be informed once during the bargaining process, if they are unpleased with your current offer.
Bargaining skill receives a 10% exp bonus till intermediate level 1.
“You can use the contribution points with other guild elders, as nearly all of us are in the Andvari order.” Aramis explained, before she even had the time to ask.
“Thank you, will that be all?” Said Artanis smiling as she inspected the necklace, deciding to wear it immediately.
Elder Gold SealType:RingDurability:50 / 50Defense:2A necklace composed of a solid gold chain on it, a single adorned gold coin is attached. It is the symbol of a guild elder approval’s.
Twelve seals are required to be promoted to a guild elder.Effects: Charisma +10. Cannot be dropped during death.
Bound to Artanis.
“Yes, at least for today. Try to visit me later and I may have something for you.” Said Aramis, before Artanis left the guild. She then proceeded towards Wystan’s shop. On the way she remembered his request, and bought the milk and eggs he had asked for from a nearby general store. Now at Wystan's store door, she opened it being greeted by the old man inside. She decided it was time for her to learn blacksmithing.
“Welcome!” Wystan said, as he always did whenever his store’s door was opened. But seeing who had done so, he sighed.
“Oh, it’s just you lass. I was wondering if you were coming back.” Wystan said, with his voice filled with worry, since he had gone looking for her. During his search, he heard she left with a priest, and had not been seen since.
“Sorry I took so long, Wystan. But I got the milk and eggs.” Artanis said smiling, the old man seeing his apprentice show off a grocery bag, sighed.
“You took so long I already bought some! But I guess I should give you some credit, at least you did remember to buy them.” Said the old man smirking as he took the bag out of her hands. Taking them to the second floor of the workshop, where he resided. After following him, she left her backpack there, since she would not need it inside the store.
“Master Wystan, I have good news.” Artanis said, as she walked down the stairs to the first floor of the shop. Following Wystan, who had already gone back to tending the shop’s counter.
“Oh, and what is it?” He asked, as he stroked his white beard.
“I have reached intermediate level in the repair skill.” She said, as if bragging.
“That is great lass. I can finally start to teach you.” He said smiling.
“And that is not all. I also met your teacher.” She said, as she approached him.
“You met Hugnir? Did he…” Wystan said, as worry once again filled his wrinkled face. But his words were interrupted by Artanis answer.
“Offend me? No, frankly he is the nicest dwarf I met.” Artanis said smiling, what she said was indeed true. Both because he had been polite to her, despite her race and because he was the only dwarf she ever met.
“So you did not mention my name?” He said, leaving the store counters and pushing a barrel to the anvil. He thought that perhaps his mentor thought she were just a hard working smith in training, something he found admirable no matter one’s race.
“Of course I did, how do you think I know he is your teacher?” Said Artanis, not noticing how her answer surprised the old man before her.
“You mean that he, a dwarf. Approved an elf such as you, as my apprentice?” Said Wystan who could not believe her words, not that anyone could blame him. As the mutual dislike of dwarfs and elves was well, know.
“Yeah, it surprised me too.” She said smiling. Although not as much as Curtana’s actions, it made no sense to her, that they let a madwoman guard sharp objects.
“If you say so, anyway let’s start your lesson.” Saying that, he took a key and closed the store’s only entrance, and then he did the same to each and every window in the first floor. Done with that, he opened the barrel he had put next to the anvil, and from inside he took many chunks of tin and copper. He then put them into a thick fire clay bucket, and using a tong, he put it into the furnace.
“I ask you to never tell anyone about what you will learn.” Said Wystan, with an expression that clearly showed how serious he was about it, and seeing it Artanis nodded.
“Good, the first step is to melt the metal. And in this particular case, we are going to make bronze, a mixture of tin and copper.” He said, although pretty much anyone knew about bronze being a mix of cooper and tin. Wystan pumped air into the furnace to feed the flames. Sometime later, the metal inside the bucket had melted and became a hot, liquid metal.
“The second step is to refine it. Some idiots use unrefined metal but like I said, they are idiots.” Said Wystan smirking, mixing coke into the molten metal as he pumped even more air into the furnace. The flame glowed brighter and brighter, till sometime later a dark material started to float on the surface of the molten metal.
“So you add carbon, which fuses with the impurities and become slag?” Asked Artanis, who had been listening to Wystan’s explanation, with utmost attention.
Wystan laughed, “You’re not dumb as my last apprentice, and I see you have been reading.” He said, as he scooped the floating dark material out of the molten metal. And after he had done so, what was left on the clay bucket was purer metal of higher quality.
“The last step of the refining process is to mold the metal into something usable.” He explained, as he the dispersed the metal into a mold to create two bronze rods, leaving the metal to harden in the mold. He explained the secrets of his trade, such as the proper temperature for the metal quenching.
“Well lass, we now have two bronze rods.” Wystan said, as he took the bronze rods he had just created. Holding them with a tong, he took the rods and placed them into the furnace. Involved in the dancing flames, the metal soon achieved what the state called forging heat. Done so, Wystan took the now glowing hot, malleable metal into the nearby anvil.
“There are many different techniques, but this was the one I was taught.” Wystan said, as he twisted the two metal rods together into a single piece.
“Let’s start with something simple.” He said as he hammered the twisted metal rod, which after each hammer blow slightly changed in form. Before Artanis’s eyes, a shape started to form; one anyone could recognize. He was making a knife.
“Remember, to pay attention when forging the blade’s tang¹ as a good blade needs to be attached into a hilt for proper use.” Wystan said, as he explained the difference between each kind of tang. But all he said was already known to her, as she had already been lectured about that once, by her father.
She had brought him a sword as a birthday gift. The sword in question had, what some called a rat-tail tang, a thin part that connected the blade to the hilt. And was unsuited for anything but decoration swords, or so she was told.
“Now we quench it and then temper.” He said, immersing the knife into a water bucket, soon after he took it out. Now he held an unsharpened metal blade which he once again put inside the furnace to achieved the glowing red, cherry color. Leaving it to cool naturally, they both went to the second floor to eat a snack.
After a while, they returned to the workshop. The now hardened blade was taken to the whetstone to be polished and sharpened. After he had finished doing so, the now sharp blade could be used as a mirror, thanks to his high level polishing skill. Assembling the blade into one of the many premade guards and hilts, he finished crafting the knife.
The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.
“And that’s it, lass. Got any questions?” He said, giving her the knife so she could inspect it.
High Quality Bronze KnifeType:KnifeQuality:FineDurability:138/138Creator:Wystan AgrildokAttack:23 ~ 32Crafted by the hands of a very skilled smith, who used advanced skills during its creation, this bronze knife sharpness, durability and balance is extraordinary. And would be of use for both fighters and crafters.Restriction:Strenght 10
Vitality 10
Agility 10Effects:Strength +5
Vitality +5
Agility +5
Capable Of Both Piercing And Slashing Damage.
Causes Medium Bleeding Damage.
Increases The Effect Of Related Craft Skills By 35%.
“Yes, about the guard and handles. Aren’t they too simple compared to the ones sold in the store?” She asked, curious. As the hilt used on the knife did not compare to the beautiful one used on the silver rose dagger.
“I don’t make them; since I am not good with artsy stuff. I buy them, from a nearby sculptor. They are so cheap; it hardly makes a difference in my profits.” Said the old man, before he sat on the store counter’s chair, however created this game had made perfect NPCs, as they were no different from humans in most aspects, including laziness.
“Well lass, I will tend the store. Go, and practice your skills as much as you can, so you make something good enough, to make me proud. You have till the store closes, so get to work!” His words caused a message window to appear before her eyes.
Blacksmithing Test
Having taught you his craft, Wystan wishes to see how well you have absorbed his teachings, as well how talented you are. Create something ,to showcase your skill. You have until sunrise to do so.Quest Rank:ERequisites:Being Wystan’s Apprentice. Learning Blacksmithing.Reward:Unknown. This quest cannot be refused.
“Okay.” Was the single word she uttered, before activating her focus skill. She then started to fill the fireclay bucket, with tin and copper ores. The amount inside was not as large as Wystan’s, because of her rather low strength. Artanis repeated the actions of her teacher, melting the ore, and refining it the best she could. After she had done so, Artanis dispersed the molten metal into a mold. It was then, that she heard the famous bell, before a transparent window appeared.
You have learned the skill: Metallurgy.
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:MetallurgyBasic10%By refining brute ores, cleansing them of their impurities, a higher quality metal can be created. By using it, is also possible to mix various metal ores, creating different metal alloys. The quality of the final product is affected by many factors, including the level of this skill.
She decided not to wait for the metal to harden, and started refining another batch of bronze, since was more than just one mold in the workshop. Many hours had passed before her had finally created, what she considered a decent amount of bronze rods. Thanks for her hard work, coupled with the exp bonus from being Wystan’s apprentice, her metallurgy skill level increased four times.
“Now I really can start working.” She said, wiping the sweat from her forehead and smiling. As Artanis looked at the large stacks of bronze rods, she had just created.
Looking at the large stack bronze rods she had made, Artanis took a pair of them and using the same tongs Wystan had, tried to hold them. Being the first time, she tried to hold two objects at the same time using such tool; it ended in a failure with one of the rods falling directly on her feet.
Holding back the urge to scream in pain, as the solid bronze rod struck her feet Artanis received a system message; the second of its kind she had ever received.
Health lowered by 5 (110/115)
‘No one saw it, right?’ She thought, before attempting to hold the rods again; that attempt ended in failure, as did a few others after it. When she finally managed to hold them firmly, Artanis pushed the rods into the furnace.
Inside it, the flames danced as if inviting one to join their dance, but no sane person would ever accept such invitation. So they would have to content themselves, with the two metallic guests forced inside their ballroom by an elven smith.
That was not the end of Artanis’s actions, since any good party needs a buffet; she gladly provided it. Using all her strength on the bellows, Artanis pumped delicious air into their party; now properly feed the flames increased in size. Done so, she patiently observed the bronze inside, waiting for it to reach her desired state.
‘Now!’ Though Artanis, as the bronze rods inside the furnace glowed in reddish-orange color, dragging them outside the flames, directly into a nearby anvil.
Trying to mimic what Wystan had done before, she slowly twisted each rod into the other until they became a single object. Now that she had shaped the bronze into a twisted rod, Artanis started to hammer it into her desired shape; slowly hammer blow, after hammer blow it started to take the form she intended to make. It took her some time, but Artanis finally managed to shape it as she wanted, quenching it soon after.
The hot metal forced inside a water bucket, made the water inside evaporate, causing steam to rise from within, it took but a moment for the steam to stop rising. Noticing it, Artanis took the now hardened bronze outside the bucket. Held on the tongs, the form of a simple knife could be seen; that is if you ignored the lack of an edge.
‘There’s still one last thing to do.’ Thought Artanis, before taking the bronze knife again to the dancing flames of the furnace, reheating it to the same reddish-orange state as before; but this time, instead of quenching it Artanis left the blade cooling naturally.
Satisfied with the result of her work, Artanis used her hand to wipe out the sweat on her fore head. As she did so, Artanis finally noticed the messages she had received during the creation of the knife.
Strength has permanently been increased by 1 point. (+1 STR)
You have learned the skill: Dwarvenic Blacksmithing.
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:Dwarvenic BlacksmithingBasic10%An ancient skill is passed by dwarven clans in secrecy. Renowned for their unmatched skill with metal, legends tell of weapons created by dwarven smiths, which are used by the gods. This skill allows you to create weapons, armors and other metal products of higher quality; compared to those created by regular smiths.
Deciding to leave the unshaped and unpolished knife aside, Artanis started to forge another one, this time of a different design. Experimenting with her new skill, she smiled, as any beginner crafter would; as there is, a certain joy involved in creating things with your own hands. Soon Artanis became completely immersed in her own world, as if she were a child playing with modeling dough.
Artanis had already created dozens of knifes before her favorite bell rung once again, bringing her the information she had been waiting for.
Dwarvenic Blacksmithing skill level increased to basic level 2.
‘Finally some progress.’ She thought before once again, starting to forge another knife. Artanis was not aware that the Dwarvenic blacksmithing skill, while superior to the regular one was harder to learn, and required a higher amount of experience to increase in level.
Artanis was left at the locked workshop by Wystan, who had errands he needed done. Normally such errands would have been given her, since she was his apprentice, but today he preferred to leave his focused apprentice alone practicing her skills.
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