Frae was the first through the gate and into the courtyard. When he saw Jazmel, he pulled him into a hug, a bear hug and crushed him. Even now with a tempered body, he still heard his bones grind against each other.
“Good to see you!” Frae said, before nodding at the others, Mary and Baek had come out to stand with Jazmel and Frae welcomed them. He seemed stronger to Jazmel, he felt sturdier. His Mana was more vibrant too.
The dwarves he had come with were all close to strength. Clad in thick dwarven armour, they wore shields and mallets, axes, and some swords. A Kings guard in full regalia, they were serious about their duty. But they weren’t using their Mana to pressure and Jazmel was glad for it.
“I come bearing gifts! For all!” Frae said and made sure everyone could hear him. Jazmel was curious as to why he was making such an ordeal of it, but he shook it off. Frae was his friend after all.
“Come, come into the tower.” He led the way, the dwarves following their charge, while Frae and Jazmel simply walked and talked. When they entered the first floor of the tower and into the central node and seat of power. An array appeared on the floor, a line darted through the floor and spun out to form the symbol of Orevalor beneath the feet of Frae.
“Well that’s new.” Jazmel commented and Frae nodded.
“I have such a thing too, in my king’s court. When we tiered up the pyramid it was one of the features, it shows you all your allies and factions.” He explained and Jazmel nodded, before grinning and clasping hands with Frae.
“You tiered up the pyramid? How does it look?” he said and Frae grinned and nodded with acknowledgement.
“Yes, the pyramid is no longer, the tier up made us into a mountain. The dwarves of Orevalor reside within a mountain, we mine and train again. A domain was created beneath the mountain; the ‘undermount’ we delve and train.” He said and Jazmel told him about the astral domain and Frae stroked his long beard with admiration.
“I would have my dwarves evaluate their mettle in your domain.” He said and Jazmel welcomed it.
“What brings you here?” Jazmel asked and Frae nodded, growing serious.
“We bring trade, because I come and ask of you something.” He said and Jazmel beckoned him to the first step from his seat, which had become a sort of lounge for him. Mary and the dwarves gave them space. Baek simply stood beside the seat but made himself look busy meditating.
“I am ready for my tier tribulation. I am to break into ranker tier, I just do not have what I need.” He offered, explaining an Jazmel waited to see where he could help.
“I have a plot; it will embolden my tier tribulation. But I do not have the means, I need tier III items of a particular quality, none which can be found in the mountain. I have brought coin, ores, and other wares alike. I will not take without giving back.” Frae explained but Jazmel waved him away.
“We are friends, allies even. We fought and bled together, whatever is mine. Is yours, I will show you to the storage now.” He got up and Frae rose too, shaking Jazmel’s hand reverently.
“You are truly the greatest of friends. The dwarves of Orevalor owe you greatly, I owe you. Anything you need but ask and we will provide it.” Frae told him and Jazmel nodded, he felt the same.
“Come, let’s go.” Jazmel beckoned, Frae turned to his dwarves and spoke.
“I will undergo a tier tribulation here, but you do not have to wait it out. There is a domain here, five of you stay with me. The others may go and delve, assess your strength.” He told them and the dwarves divided, splitting away and five guards stayed with their king and the other readied for battle.
“Mary, could you show them to the astral domain? Let them have a run at it?” she led the way and they followed, the din of their armour atop stone could be heard.
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Jazmel led the way to the storage warehouse followed by Baek, Frae and his five guards.
The warehouse was tucked into the corner of the courtyard, it was large from the outside and even greater inside. Its walls expanded from within and when he stepped through the doors, it felt like a domain. It was much larger inside and he could never tell even when he was about to step through the doorway.
The storage was always packed, hunting was good in the region, the domain also provided wares and items. Also when anyone delved into the labyrinth, they always returned and offered items. So right now the storage was huge, filled with all types of items.
Jazmel looked around in wonder and Frae whistled with amazement.
“Things have been good for the Black Wing Faction.” Frae complimented and Jazmel inclined his head.
“In truth, I have not even been in here before. Whenever I enter the labyrinth I either buy or find what I need.” Jazmel confessed and Frae nodded.
“They rarely let me delve. But when they do, the wares are shared.” He thumbed over his back and beckoned to his guard who stood stone still and studied the area, looking for any danger.
“What do you need?” Jazmel asked and Frae grew serious.
“Something for mind and Body, I have the spirit covered.” From one of the rings he wore, Frae pulled a single flame from it and it flickered and ebbed in the palm of his hand.
DING!
TIER III FORGEFIRE EMBER! The forge fire ember is the first flame that ignites under a mountain. It carries with it, the memory of the mountain!
Jazmel blinked at the notification, which was a serious item. Frae had a strong item there and he needed something of the same quality.
“You look down that way, I will start here.” he bid and Frae broke off and headed down a different aisle.
So it began, Jazmel perused the storage facility and found himself stunned at the items he saw. Tier I and II items were all around, sometimes grouped together and others simply cast around. Only the seeker tier retainers would need these. He moved further down the aisle, coming to where the Mana was richer, denser even.
Tier III items were in abundance it would seem. He found himself immersed he was trudging along, nothing seemed to fit his friend Frae. Until he stumbled over a rock, a shard of stone that thumped to a rhythm. He looked at it curiously and when his eyes scanned it and unravelled the Mana it weaved about itself, Jazmel almost laughed aloud.
DING!
TIER III HEART OF THE MOUNTAIN! Found deep in the belly of a mountain, the core, the very beating heart of the mountain. Within is the essence of the strength of a mountain!
Jazmel almost leapt up, he picked it up. Grunting under the pressure and weight of the shard of stone, it was beating. Even in his hands and it felt uncanny and weird, but he moved out of the aisle to where Frae was standing and beckoned for him.
“Here you go!” he said and Frae took it from him, bearing the weight easier than Jazmel.
“By the mountain! The heart of a mountain? Tier III! Who found this?!” he exclaimed and all Jazmel could do was shrug.
“I cannot take it from you, what if someone else needed it?” Frae declined and made to put the shard down.
“I already told you, anything I have. Is freely given, all members of my faction have the right to enter and take from the storage. The fact that it is still there just means nobody needed it.” Jazmel pointed out and Frae looked at the piece of a mountain longingly.
“The stronger you are, the better you can protect your people. Take it.” Jazmel persuaded him and Frae succumbed, he took the heart of the mountain reverently and then placing it in his ring. He turned to Jazmel and hugged him again.
“I have everything I need.” Frae told him and he smiled, happy for his friend.
“What will you do?”
“I will return home, undergo the tier tribulation, and then delve into the labyrinth. We dwarves need to strengthen are ties, it has been far too long since I and my dwarves have been craving battle. We will delve and raise our names and banners!” Jazmel clapped him on the back, and they walked out of the warehouse together.
“Where is your pretty elf?” Frae asked, looking around. Jazmel felt the heat on his ears rise, but he simply grinned and bore it down.
“She is at her mother’s coronation; I will bring the faction there when the invitation comes.” He explained and Frae stroked his beard.
“I will come with you; she is part of you your faction and one of our allies.” Frae said and Jazmel shrugged but agreed.
“I will send her a missive, have her send you an invitation. I will meet you there.” He explained and Frae clasped his forearm, like a friend a brother.
“I thank you Jazmel of the black wing faction. You have helped us once again; that reminds me. Take this and do not refuse me, I will be embarrassed if you do.” He handed Jazmel a ring, he took it and pressing his Mana and will into it. He peered into it.
X1000 TIER II GOLD ORES
X1000 TIER II SILVER ORES
X500 TIER II IMPURE ORICHALCUM ORES
X500 TIER III PURE ORICHALCUM ORES
X1000 TIER I MITHRIL ORES
X350 TIER II COLD IRON ORES
This would keep the forge running for months and months. Jazmel hugged his dwarven friend and accepted the ring, Baek simply watched on and smiled.
“Come now, let me see this domain of yours before I leave. Should we face enemies again?” Frae said and to answer him, Jazmel pulled his swords from his rings and placed them on his belt.
They left for the astral domain.