One month had passed since the dwarves had left, they had traded ores of quality and purity. Jazmel almost felt bad with only responding with cores and other items. But Frae had told him they were necessary for his people and their tier tribulations. He had even led a few of his dwarves into the domain beneath the tower to evaluate it out. They had earned stats and even a level or two.
Jazmel was happy with the daily tasks, of the faction. Mary had made sure to divvy up the needs and wants of all faction. Splitting it between training and labyrinth diving, they didn’t shy away from it. instead they almost rushed forward, eager to level up and grow strong within the faction.
DING!
CONGRATULATIONS ANOTHER ONE OF YOUR FACTION HAVE UNDERGONE A TIER TRIBULATION!
TANGO IS MASTER TIER I
Jazmel guffawed at the notification and smiled. He would reward him with anything in the storage space. Though he was sure he didn’t have anything for a master, he had seen two tier IV creatures in his life. They had been so powerful that he and his friends had almost died. But the loot from the drops and the rewards from the system had almost been worth it, almost.
He would have to enter the labyrinth again, he needed to delve, and he was close to his own tier tribulation too. It was a matter of just a few more levels.
He was sitting at the lowest step from his seat and central node, alone. Happy for the peace of solitude. But it wasn’t to be for a long time, instead he was set upon by Mary who entered the room and shouted his name.
“Jaz!” she called; she had started shortening his name now. He didn’t know when it started but now she rarely called him his full name.
“What’s up?” he asked, and she smiled, a toothy grin.
“Gorin has finished our sets.” She said almost bouncing on her feet. He hopped up, suddenly excited too and followed her lead.
Gorin, the forge master of the faction had been working on armour for almost two months. Since Jazmel and the others had returned from the Braddon hills, he had been working on his craft and creating for almost everyone. The black smiths he worked with had been supporting him, while working on lesser items for retainers too.
Gorin had banned Jazmel and Mary from the forge, telling them they were only allowed to return once he had completed their works and now he had called for both of them.
The forge was obscenely hot, the doors were open to let cool air enter. But the forge burned like a fire pit and Jazmel felt sweat wet his forehead and neck in an instant.
Gorin was standing before two chests, one under his left hand and the other his right. He smiled, grinned even and Jazmel felt excited that Gorin had made something amazing.
“This is my finest work, two of my greatest creations. I honestly do not believe I have made anything this great with my hammer and I will not until I become master tier.” Gorin explained, but Mary hurried him along.
“What do you have for me? Show me already!” she was excited, and it was the first time Jazmel had ever seen her like this, it was quite funny to see.
“So you will be going first then, don’t worry. Have a look in your case.” He offered, turning his left-hand palm up and offering his hand. Gorin waited for Mary to pull her armour out and she opened her chest open.
“Whoa, Gorin… I don’t have words for how this makes me feel. Thank you so much for this.” She took out the armour, the breastplate with its shoulder guards. But Gorin waved her away.
“Put the greaves on first.” He motioned with a sneaky smile. She did and nothing happened and Gorin looked at her, waiting.
“Gorin?”
“Cross your arms, knock the vambraces together.” He conceded and she did, the metal clanged together, but for Jazmel. Whose eyes were keenly attuned to Mana, he was surprised; shocked even. When he saw the Mana burn a brilliant light and then it disappeared from the chest and appeared on Mary’s body. Strapped and secured correctly, her greaves appeared on her shins and strapped onto her boots, her armour had a tasset,
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a sort of cowl or miniskirt that covered her lower half well.
The armour featured intricate and ornamental designs with swirling patterns and angular shapes, particularly around the chest, shoulders, and arms. It might have been considered bulky, but it moved with fluidity and Jazmel couldn’t help but look at it with wonder.
“I used enchantments to connect to your mana, it will use some of your dexterity and an agility for mobility. The more you wear it the more attuned to you, it will grow.” Gorin explained to her, and she used her bare knuckle and knocked the plate armour and it panged with the din of metal.
“What is it made of?” Mary asked and Gorin rumbled and stroked his beard.
“I used the tier III raucous rhino bone you gave me; I had some orichalcum ore left over too. But I also used some serpentine a fine ore that combines others well. The rhino bone and the orichalcum were easier to join then.” He explained and Mary nodded, enjoying her item, and thanking Gorin profusely.
“How far is the range of the vambraces?” she asked and Jazmel realised that that was a good question.
“I haven’t checked how far, but the Mana enchantment to make it appear on you. Is based on your own Mana, the further away. Maybe the more it will cost. I tried it from the forge to the lake and it still came, in a matter of seconds.” Gorin explained and Jazmel nodded, that sounded like a true benefit. He wouldn’t have to carry it in his ring.
“Will you be able to upgrade this?” Mary asked, motioning to her armour that she still wore. Gorin stroked his beard and nodded.
“I got it up to tier III, I don’t think I can make tier IV yet. There are still kinks in the works that I don’t understand, I feel like once I make it to master tier, I will be able to upgrade them. But they are high tier III, they will support you before anything. Even a tier IV beast or monster too. Mary smiled, thanked him, and pulled the chest into her ring, when Gorin looked at her she shrugged.
“No point leaving it here and later on finding out that I cannot make it come to me when I need it.” she explained and made to leave.
“Where are you going?” Jazmel called after her.
“To the astral domain to train with it.” she said over her shoulder. Jazmel shook his head and turned back to Gorin who was looking at him expectantly.
“If it pleases you.” Gorin said, beckoning to his own chest. Jazmel stepped forward, leaning down he made for it, opening the chest and he inhaled sharply.
DING!
ARMOUR SET!
TIER III ARMOUR OF THE NIGHT WING SET!
FORGED BY GORIN TIER III FORGEMASTER OF THE BLACK WING FACTION
MADE FOR JAZMEL OF THE BLACK WING FACTION!!
NIGHT WING ARMOUR SET!
THIS ARMOUR SET WAS IMBUED WITH ENCHANTMENTS THAT ENABLE STRENGTH
DURABILITY!
FLEXIBILITY!
DEXTERITY!
THE ARMOUR FORMS HARMONY WITH ITS OWNER
TIER III MANA REPAIR – ARMOUR SET WILL USE AMBIENT MANA TO REPAIR SMALL WEAR AND TEAR
IT WILL TAKE FROM THE OWNER FOR LARGER REPAIRS
TIER III MANA CIRCUITRY – ARMOUR SET WILL SMOOTHEN MANA FLOW OF THE WEARER
TIER III DRACONIC HARMONY – ARMOUR SET WILL AMPLIFY ANY DRACONIC SKILL
“Gorin…” Jazmel uttered, staring at the notification screen before him.
“Yes my lord.”
“You have created a true masterpiece here. The enchantments alone are immense.” Jazmel stuttered, he added the left vambrace, it fit him and was cool to the touch. It was pitch black, the colour of ink. But as he turned it onto his wrist, he saw blue colours, it was a myriad of blue and black.
“Yes I saw your dragonet and thought the item should support him.” Gorin said, almost reading his mind. He pulled the right vambrace on and noticed it had three sharp ridges along its length, like the ridges that ran up the length of Paldane’s back.
Jazmel did the same as Mary, knocking the vambraces together. He watched as before his eyes, the armour melded onto his form. It was plate armour too, but the segments were like dragon scales. Layered atop one another like perfect leaves made of metal fashioned into scales.
He twisted and the armour moved with him, he had all his mobility, and it was so darkened that unless inspected. Nobody would be able to see the different segments of scales. He was utterly amazed, in wonder of the armour that had been made for him.
“So you like it then my lord?” Gorin asked and Jazmel nodded repeatedly.
“I love it!” Jazmel said with a wide grin and Gorin immediately grunted and dropped down into a crossed leg seat.
DING!
GORIN TIER III FORGEMASTER HAS COMPLETED A TASK!
GORIN HAS CREATED A MASTERPIECE!
…
FORGE MASTER WILL UNDERGO A TIER TRIBULATION
Jazmel almost stayed to watch, but the forge alit. In tune with its master’s tier tribulation. Jazmel backed out of the forge, pulling the armour into his ring, but keeping the vambraces on. They fit snuggly and he was comfortable wearing them still.
He closed the forge door and the wards flared to life, locking from within. Gorin was tiering up and it seemed like the forge would too.
DING!
FORGE UNDERGOING TIER UP AS THE FORGEMASTER IS UNDERGOING A TIER TRIBULATION
He nodded at that and patting the forge doors appreciatively. He left, leaving Gorin to grow.