I was about 20 feet out of the door and down the street when I remembered I forgot to get the rewards for the bounties. So I sheepishly re-entered the guildhall.
Janet already had the pouch filled with the money. “Here is 115 gold for the bunnies 50 gold for the regular wolves and 25 gold for the alpha for a total of 190 gold.”
And with that, I headed back out and towards where Janet said that the blacksmith was.
The Valiant arms seemed to be a new structure just a few doors down from the guildhall. The paint on the window was still wet. Entering the shop I saw that a few gnomes were still in the process of getting the shop set up. After asking for Merryn I was sent around the back to the forge.
When I turned the corner I saw a peculiar sight. While most of the forge looked pretty standard, against the back wall I saw what looked like the body of a mechanical wolf lying on the table. Its head and legs detached and mounted to some brackets on the wall.
Being distracted I didn't notice the gnome moving up beside me. And in a voice much deeper than any gnome you have met so far. “She a beauty ain't she. It's my daughters' project. I’m Merryn I heard you were looking for me.”
Looking towards him I saw a gnome about a foot taller than the gnomes inside. What looked at first glance like gloves seemed to be claws and scales going up both arms.
Seeing you notice “Grandmother was a kobold. Comes in really handy working at the forge as these things give me some fire protection. Now, what can I do for you.”
Not wanting to seem like I would take advantage I figured id deal with business first. So I ordered 5 short swords and 5 shields.
“That will come to 100 gold total, but as you can see we are still setting up and getting inventory sorted, I can have your order ready by tomorrow morning”
“You must be pretty new here, I didn't know there was a blacksmith so close to the guildhall,” I asked.
“Well, we only made it to the town last week. Took us this long to get the shop and forge built up.” Opening up his arms inviting me to take it all in, with a proud look on his face “You probably know Janet at the guildhall, in my youth before I was a blacksmith we used to adventure together. I quit after my wife died giving birth to my daughter. Janet was able to convince me to move and set up shop here.”
“Speaking of your daughter, I would love to meet her. Janet told me that Aura recently became an adventurer. I also just recently became one, and my group is looking for more members.” I saw Merryns face light up.
“I'll send one of the boys to go get her.” Calling over one of the other gnomes, who then rushed out the back. “If Janet sent you, I know you can be trusted, but even so. You hurt her in any way.” And with that, you could see his eyes light up and turn to fire.
“Oh shush dad I'm not a little girl anymore I can't take care of myself.” Hearing the voice come from behind me, I turned around and saw a strange but beautiful creature before me.
She looked like a 5-foot tall catkin but instead of fur, she had small fish-like scales all over her body which seemed to change color depending on how the light hit the scales. Being immediately speechless at how gorgeous she looked.
She took my silence as a bad sign and gave me a catlike growl. “Yeah I know I'm hideous, so just go ahead and tell me that you don't want a monster like me in your party like the rest of them.”
“Hideous?” I croaked, then swallowed and tried again. “You get that notion out of your head right now.” My protective streak rearing its head. “Your one of the beautiful things I have seen in my life. And I will punch anyone who says anything like that about my party members.”
It took her a moment to figure out what I meant and then her eyes grew big. “You mean you will take me, you don't even know my class yet? And won't the rest of your party need a say as well?”
“It doesn't matter what your class is, Janet recommended you, and thats all that matters to me. Besides, it's technically just me and my buddy Grim at the moment. And he's the ugliest half-orc that I've ever seen.” Pausing slightly for effect. “He's also the only half-orc I've ever seen so that doesn't say much. But he's my blood brother, I've known him for over twelve years now and I know that he would agree with me.” At that, she had a good chuckle.
“Now it's getting close to dinner time, would you like to join us. We had a good day hunting rabbits so knowing Grim he will have some good things for us to eat back at the guildhall.”
At that Merryn who had been looking back and forth at this exchange with a small glint in his eye, started to push both of us out of his shop. “You two get out of here then your getting in the way of the final touches to the forge. I'll have your things ready first thing in the morning.”
At that, we made our way back to the guildhall. As soon as we entered Aura ran up to Janet and gave her a big hug. “Hello, aunt Janet.” And then whispered in her ear, just loud enough that I could still overhear. “Did you send tall dark and handsome there over to the shop?”
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“Yes I did, he's a good guy and I think you will fit in with him and his group.” She winked at Aura “Plus he knows that I can still easily put him over my knee and spank him if he misbehaves.”
“Oooh, I would love to see that.” Aura replied half laughing half purring, and somehow the scales on her cheeks got slightly crimson. Janet then said, “Grim told me to ask you to come up to his room when you got back, dinner was ready and he had a surprise for you and Moira.”
As we made our way to the stairs Aura asked “Who is Moira, I thought you said your party was just you and Grim?”
“I'll explain a bit more over dinner, but Moira is one of my summoned companions granted by my class. She's a Valkyrie in charge of my troops?”
“Troops? You're a lord class then.” She replied raising an eyebrow.
“Yes but like I said dinner first, I'm starving.” And with that, we entered Grim’s suite. It seemed it had gone through another small transformation during the day. Now instead of directly entering the bedroom, there was a combined living and dining room, with a hallway leading off of it.
Grim was already setting up for dinner when we entered having set up four spaces around the table. Looking over at us he chuckled “I owe Janet a gold piece, she bet me that you would bring someone for dinner. As you don't have any game with the ladies I thought it was an easy bet.”
Blushing myself I replied, “This isn't a date.” Adding the word “yet” to that statement under my breath. “This is the newest member of our party. Let me introduce you. That big ugly green guy there is Grim. This lovely creature here is Aura Rankin.” Just at that moment, my stomach growled. “What's for dinner?”
“Well, you can have rabbit stew or rabbit stew. I'll go grab Moira, she wanted some of this as well.” Laughing at his own bad joke he quickly left and came back with Moira and with a big pot of stew.
Going through the introductions again and started the conversation during dinner. Me and Grim first explained about our classes, with Grim adding that he was able to easily pick up a few points of leather-working after using up a path point for it. Moira then gave a quick explanation about the skeleton unit and gave a quick demonstration of her Valkyrie form. Aura was about to start her explanation about her class when we finished dinner. Grim stood up with a glint in his eye.
“Let's do that in a minute, I cant wait to show Drakon something that I have been working on. You being the daughter of a crafter might like this as well.” And he dragged us over to the hallway. Through one of the doors was what now looked to be a leather-workers workshop complete with a place to tan hides. A few items looked to be hidden under a cloth on a table in the middle of the room.
“First I have a present for Moira, or at least for Moira’s chosen.” And he lifted part of the sheet of the table revealing 5 helms made out of what looked like the wolf heads but with the lower jaw removed and some wolf pelt cloaks. “I’m thinking that Moira’s wolves would be a better name for the unit and I made 5 helms for the original 5 skeletons. I'm hoping to get them enchanted and they can be used to denote corporals in the unit once it grows”
Moira rushed up and gave Grim a hug. “We are not done yet. I'm guessing that being a Valkyrie you are a follower of Odin correct?” and Moira nodded “Quick question, your armor in Valkyrie for can it be enhanced or changed, or is it fixed?”
“Just like the skeletons any armor I have can be changed and will just appear and disappear when I get changed or get summoned.” Moira looking a bit giddy at getting even more presents.
“Well too bad for you the Drakon as you or her getting it depended on that answer.” He then lifted the rest of the sheet, and what appeared to be a hooded cloak with one spaulder attached. The spaulder was made from the alpha's head. “Moira’s wolves aren’t complete without the alpha right. Let's try it on.”
Moira changed into her valkyrie form and feeling like It was my duty I picked up the cloak and fixed it to her back. Even in the pocket dimension that the room was in a thunderclap sounded and with a bright light her Valkyrie form seemed to have changed. Instead of the shining plate of her old form she now was covered in thick leather and furs. The leather breastplate now sporting Odin's symbol of a snarling wolf with an eye patch over one eye. The cloak was transformed as well instead of only one shoulder being a wolf-head, now both sported one. She also seemed to have grown now towering over 8 feet.
With another flash of lightning, a small scroll appeared on the table. Moira felled compelled to pick up the scroll and started to read it out loud.
“Drakon I heard what you told Moira when you took her oath, that combined with the reverence shown by Grim’s gift I've decided to give her my blessing. From now every few levels I will send you on a quest where if you fulfill it will give Moira extra powers or upgrade her current ones. The first power that I’m giving her is a third form. Moira, you can now turn into a regular wolf. This form is one that will get more powerful with the quests involved. Drakon you and Grim are not forgotten. Drakon your unit of Moira’s wolves will now have the perk Odin’s blessing. The 5 wolf-heads will now give the skeletons that have them the power of speech and will make excellent sub-commanders for your unit. Grim by doing me this honor I’m giving you a quest. Find the den these wolves came from. The pack was enraged because other adventurers had attacked it and the den mother was hurt and will perish in a few days' time. If you can get to her before she expires and are able to heal her, she and her remaining pack will be yours to command. I will make it so that you and your compatriots will not be attacked by the pack unless you get there too late.” And it was signed by Odin.
Letting out the breath we were holding, we were again startled by a small thunder-strike, and another slightly smaller letter appearing. “P.s. at the request of Geri and Freki my pet wolves I'm giving your newest party member quest as well. Aura if you are able to build a second wolf iron golem and are willing to name them Geri and Freki, they will give them their blessing and the power of speech.” Again signed Odin, but this time also having two paw prints on the bottom of the letter.
We all looked at each other in stunned silence for a bit. With aura finally breaking the tension “well if even a god and its pets say so, it seems I'm officially part of the group now.” And we all broke out in laughter. And Moira changed back into her normal human form. Her green dress now also having the same wolf head design on the front as her breastplate had.
With that, we all made our way back to the living room and sat back down at the table to hear Aura’s story.