“Are you sure you haven’t forgotten anything?” Asked Wystan as he saw Artanis walk down the stair, with naught but the clothes on her body and a large empty looking backpack.
“Is that so? Well, I don’t really have anything else; so...” She answered while walking towards the door, and leaving Wystan’s store.
“Seems like we have some shopping to do, come on lass; the sooner we leave the better.” While saying so, Wystan closed the door to his house; locking it with a key. Done so, he walked away without uttering another word; sure, that Artanis would follow his regardless. A few moments later, he pushed the door of a nearby store; causing a bell to ring alerting whoever was inside of his arrival.
“Oh my, what do I owe the pleasure of your visit; my dear?” Asked an old lady, while she looked at Wystan’s eyes, she was by no means ugly, but her choice of clothing did not suit her body. Giving the impression of an old beauty, whose clothes haven't changed along with her age.
“Fiona, I need to buy a few things for my apprentice here; go on Artanis introduce yourself.” Said Wystan, while he shoved Artanis towards the old lady, he however took a step back as if trying to run away from the old woman before him.
“Hello, Mrs. Fiona, it's a pleasure to meet you.” Said Artanis, straining her back and looking at the old lady’s eyes, done so, no answer came from Fiona’s lips; all she did was keep staring at Artanis.
“...Hello.” Answered Fiona, failing miserably to hide her displeasure towards Artanis, after all her efforts to catch Wystan’s attention, he suddenly appears with another woman by his side, one far younger, and beautiful than her, far more beautiful than she ever was.
“We will need a lamp and some oil, as well as a bedroll and a sturdy change of clothes for her.” Said Wystan, not noticing or ignoring the old lady’s expression, he wanted to finish his business and leave as soon as possible.
“It will be 10 gold, or a dinner with me.” Said Fiona, whose demeanor changed completely when dealing with Wystan, whit not saying a word Wystan reached for his money pouch.
“Please excuse me, but we will pay 6 gold; and not a copper coin more.” Said Artanis as she blocked Wystan’s hand, even if they were high-quality goods, the price of such items wouldn’t surpass 7 gold.
“9 gold...” Answered Fiona, annoyed at the elven bimbo before her. At any other time, she would have told Artanis exactly what she should use her mouth for; and it certainly was not haggling.
“5 gold, and 25 silver if you add another set of clothes.” Spoke Artanis, smiling. Not only she had ignored Fiona’s offer, she also added another set of clothes for half the price; to her request.
The anger in Fiona’s face was obvious, even more thanks to the wrinkles of her face. Seeing the exchange between her and his apprentice, Wystan did his best to hold back his laughter; amused with Artanis’s actions.
“8 gold coins, and your promise to never return here!” Said Fiona nearly screaming, had she been a few years younger, she would have jumped at the arrogant elf and ripped out her mouth.
“5 gold and 25 silver coins; and the promise to not return here, if you also add the extra set of clothes, and two sets of underwear.” Spoke Artanis triumphantly, as either way; there was no need for her to return to this particular store. As everything Fiona sold, could be found, or made by players with manufacturing skills.
“...Fine.” Fiona answered as if her energy had been drained. After coins and goods were exchanged, Artanis immediately changed her clothes; trading her robe for the sturdy clothes she had just bought, by equipping them through the inventory window.
You have completed an advantageous negotiation.
Fame has increased by 5.
Charisma has been permanently increased by 2
Wisdom has been permanently increased by 1
“Now lass, I gotta say that was quite amusing.” Said Wystan grinning, after they had left the store, beside him, Artanis inspected the clothes she had bought; seeming interested in the denim-like material, they were made of.
“I can say the same, especially about how she looked at you.” Answered Artanis smirking, and hearing her words, Wystan’s face complexion seemed change.
“Not that desperate or drunk yet, and won’t ever be.” Responded Wystan, while increasing his walking pace, and so both he, and Artanis started their journey towards the walls encircling the city of Rockheim.
This time, such trip were significantly less taxing for Artanis, thanks to her augmented stats. That advantage however was nullified thanks to Wystan’s pace, which forced her keep going on without rest at nearly a running pace.
Vitality has been permanently increased by 1
Agility has been permanently increased by 1
“Well then, good luck lass, take this and give it to a man named Ornvand, I expect you to follow his orders; make me proud.” Said Wystan, handing over the large rucksack he was carrying to her. Artanis had thought they would travel together, but apparently, that was not the case.
“Where can I find such person, and how do I get there?” Asked Artanis, confused with Wystan’s orders. Was this an errand, or was there something else to it? As she asked herself that, Wystan’s response came.
“Just wait here; a wagon will arrive soon to take you there.” Answered Wystan, and true to his word; a small caravan soon arrived from within the city. From within one of its wagons a man came, and spoke with Wystan.
“Is she it? Your apprentice I mean.” Asked the sturdy looking man, as he looked down to Artanis, he had heard Wystan had gotten himself a female apprentice, but in his mind; he had imagined her to be an existence close to an orc. Short as a dwarf, fat as a pig; and ugly enough to make children cry.
“Yes she is, go on lass; introduce yourself to your co-worker.” Spoke Wystan as the man before him sent him a glare. He knew the reason behind it very well, the man before him worked surrounded by naught, but men for weeks in a closed space.
“I am Artanis, it’s a pleasure to meet you sir.” She said, wondering exactly what Wystan meant when he called him, her co-worker.
“Pleasure’s mine, the name’s Aaron. Now go on and hop aboard the wagon; the sooner we return the better.” Spoke the man as he grabbed Artanis’s baggage. Placing it inside the wagon and sitting on the rider’s seat.
Following his words, Artanis sat inside the wagon and observed the city walls slowly disappear as the wagon moved further and further from Rockheim. From forests to plains, until finally they reached the mountains, during the voyage, Artanis observed the fauna and flora around the outskirts of Rockheim, vegetation that she had never seen before served as home to the most varied creatures; from the kind one could only see inside Zoos to ones found only inside a person’s mind.
“Stop daydreaming, you wanted to meet Ornvand; didn’t you?” Said Aaron taking off one of the many supply boxes Artanis had traveled with; boxes, which she now helped him, unload. Done so, he pointed the way to Ornvand’s office. Finding it was not difficult, since it was the larger cabin beside the mountain.
“Excuse me, I have something to deliver to a man called Ornvand; is that you?” Spoke Artanis after she had opened the door and entered the cabin, on the receiving end of her question was an incredibly short man spouting a small goatee on his chin.
“Ya, ya; that’d be me, what’d ya want elf?” Spoke the diminutive man, as if annoyed by Artanis’s presence. In front of him at his table, was a large amount of documents laid in no particular order; which he seemed to have been reading.
“I was told by Wystan to deliver you this.” Said Artanis handing over the rucksack Wystan had entrusted to her.
“Why didn’t ya say so before, not everyone has so much time on their hands as you kind, that aside, it's good to know that old fart finally finished the pickaxes.” Said Ornvand as he opened the rucksack, searching through its contents; from within it he took a letter and read it with an annoyed expression.
“That old fart... Fine, Take this.” He spoke before handing Artanis a steel pickaxe taken from within the rucksack, “Go and speak with Aaron, he will teach you what to do.”
Finding Aaron was not difficult for her, as he remained nearby the caravan helping a few other workers carry boxes full of ore into the wagons. Approaching him, Artanis told Aaron exactly what had happened inside Ornvand’s cabin.
“I see, welcome to the Ulta Mountains mines; the place where dreams come to die. The work is hard, the food seems to be made of the same stuff we excavate and the pay awful. Plus, there aren’t any other women working inside the mine, you must have pissed off your teacher.” Said Aaron before laughing, when Wystan approached him asking for his help bringing his apprentice into the mines, he agreed immediately as new workers are always in demand; only learning of her gender and race later.
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Done with his speech, Aaron walked into the mines signaling for her to follow. Artanis could feel the eyes of all the mineworkers on her, as she was led into the mine’s tunnels. To them, she was a nice piece of eye candy, which ended increasing her attractiveness stat once again. The reason behind a certain guard’s stare, was however different; one filled with hate.
‘That damn elf again, bet she didn’t even recognize me. How would I know she were in friendly terms with the rest of the guards.’ Thought Yedlar, as he squeezed the shaft of his spear as hard as he could, after his meeting with Artanis, he was deemed too unstable to deal with the citizens of Rockheim; and was relocated to the mines. In other words, he had been demoted.
In a moment, his comfortable life on the city had changed completely; gone are the days of being pampered by women thanks to his position of power. The delectable feasts served in gratitude for his efforts defending the citizens, had changed into meals even a famished dog wouldn’t touch.
Unaware of the hatred directed towards her, Artanis was being lectured on how to do her new job; including the hours, which meals would be served. The job itself was simple, to harvest all the ores she could; and placing them inside the mining cart. Emptying it was someone else’s job, all Artanis was supposed to do was mine for as long; and as hard, she could.
“As for the payment, each cart is assigned to a miner; so the move you excavate the higher it will be. I got to go now, good luck.” Said Aaron, who finishing his speech, bowed before heading off towards his own work.
‘So Wystan wanted me to learn how to gather my own materials...’ Thought Artanis, finally Wystan sudden actions made sense for her. It was no mere errand forced unto her as part of an apprentice's obligation; her master wanted her to be independent; able to acquire everything she needed as a smith.
Facing the cave wall, Artanis eased herself into one of the longsword stances taught by her father, raising the pickaxe above her head. The next moment she swung it down with all her strength, the pickaxe tip collided against the stone; creating sparks at the point of collision. The impact sounds echoed within the cave while the pickaxe vibrated on her hands, returning the full force of the impact to her.
Unable to withstand it, the pickaxe handle slipped from her hands, as she feels backwards into her butt. Before her a window appeared informing Artanis of the damage she had suffered, annoyed with the appearance of the message; which seemed to mock her failure. As if she needs to be told she had hurt herself, the pain itself was already informative enough.
‘At least nobody saw that.’ She thought as she stood and cleaned off the dust from her clothes. Done so, she walked towards her pickaxe; now firmly lodged into the stone.
Holding its handle firmly, Artanis pushed it with all her might; it didn’t budge. She was however not ready to let a stupid wall of stone bet her, and so she placed her feet against the stone; and once again tried to dislodge the pickaxe from within the wall.
Health lowered by 5 (215 / 220)
‘Damn it.’ Thought Artanis as she once again rose from the floor, this time however she had her pickaxe on her hands. Cleaning her pant once again, she shifted her focus to the wall before her. She was determined not to repeat the fiasco of her first strike, so this time Artanis stuck the wall with far less strength.
Strike after strike, made small cracks form into the wall, until eventually a small chunk of the wall feel. She had done, Artanis finally managed to mine her first chunk of ore, which she now inspected.
You have obtained a small chunk of iron.
Iron ChunkType:MineralDurability:80 / 120A small chunk of iron of unknown quality.
‘Better than nothing I guess.’ Thought Artanis as she placed the small ore chunk inside her mining cart, done so she returned to the wall and activated her focus skill. She had now become a mining machine, striking the wall before her relentlessly; bringing down various stone chunks. Her concentration was impressive, enough to make any Chinese gold farmer bow down before her; thanks to her impressive skills in completing repetitive tasks.
Strength has been permanently increased by 1
Focus skill level increased to basic level 10
Your skill Focus has changed to: Intermediate Focus
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:FocusIntermediate10%Can be toggled on and off, at no cost.
Increase the effectivity of other skills by 11%.
Decrease the chance of having a skill interrupted by 22%.
Increase the use of stamina by 88%.
While activated lowers spell casting time to a 3/4 of its original value.
You have learned the skill: Mining.
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:MiningBasic10%A miner’s livelihood depends on this skill, by excavating the ground. Trough strength and perseverance one may gather various ores, minerals; gems and stones. Those who find high quality minerals consider themselves lucky, and end becoming famous.
Increases the effectiveness of pickaxes and shovels by 10% per level.
“Nice!” Exclaimed Artanis, breaking off her focus, after much effort, she had achieved Wystan’s objective and learned the mining skill. Now smiling she returned to work, noticing the benefits of her new skill; which made handling the pickaxe much easier.
And so, Artanis journey as a miner started. Filling cart, after cart of recently mined ore. Enough to make a dwarf proud, that is until he saw the miner was an elf. Unaware of the troubles waiting for her, she continued mining happily; increasing her mining and focus skills without a care in the world.
Within the mine, however, a certain conversation occurred away from her hearing range, one between two players, an ironclad dwarven guard; and a suspicious looking human.
“Do we have a deal?” Yedlar asked while he held a small bag in his hand, while he looked in the eyes of the man in front of him, with a grin on his bearded face.
“No clue why you hate that chick, bro. But if you’re willing to go that far, I will gladly take the money.” Spoke the man as he took the bag out of Yedlar’s hand. Who now smiled broadly, satisfied for being able to get his revenge, the damned elf who ruined his life, would rue the day she ever crossed his path; no matter what that would cost him.
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