The Basics of Artifice

The tall shopkeeper went behind the counter and pulled out a leather-bound book. Setting it down, he said, "You have two options for learning artifice. Option one, you find a mentor – someone who can show you the craft, teach you the specifics, and help you learn from the very beginning."

Alexander listened to the man, seemingly uninterested in the thought of a lengthy mentorship.

"Option two," the man continued, "is this." He lifted the book and handed it to Alexander.

Arcane Interface Prompt

You have found:

Skill book: Basic Artifice

Rarity: Rare

Description: A tome of artifice knowledge. Delve into the basics of magical engineering and discover the wonders of imbuing materials with mana. Master the art of crafting complex machines with the aid of arcane magic. Learn to harness the power of steam and electricity, and explore the limits of the natural world through the fusion of science and magic. Within the pages of this book lies the foundation of your journey in artifice. Upon use, gain the knowledge to craft simple machines and bring your ideas to life.

"This skill book will give you what you need to start," the shopkeeper said. "And seeing as I don't have any time to teach anyone, it's your best choice."

"How much is it going to set me back?" Alexander asked, waiting to hear the shopkeeper's answer.

"Skill books are rare and often very costly," the shopkeeper said regretfully. "However, I sense that you'll be coming back quite often, so I'll make you a deal. Two gold and the book is yours."

Alexander hesitated for a moment, mentally counting the coins in his purse. After selling the scales and teeth, he had four gold, but he had no idea what their buying power was.

"I know this might seem like an odd question, but what is one gold worth?" he finally asked. "I've been asked about silver and copper, but haven't paid anything with gold."

The shopkeeper nodded, understanding Alexander's confusion. "Copper is the lowest form of currency and the most commonly used, with 20 coppers making one silver, and 20 silvers making one gold." Seeing the understanding on Alexander's face, the shopkeeper continued. "Most things like food and drinks are priced in coppers, while bigger, more costly items are measured in silver. This is why I said a skill book can be a costly thing."

Alexander's mind raced with the realization of how much his scales and teeth must have been worth. "They must have been incredibly rare," he thought to himself.

After a moment of consideration, he made up his mind. "Alright, I'll take the book," he said, handing over the two gold coins. "I have a feeling it'll be worth it."

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The shopkeeper smiled, handing over the skill book. "A wise investment, my friend! With this knowledge, there'll be no limit to what you can accomplish!"

With a smile, Alexander walked out of the store. "Now, let's head back to the inn and see what this book says," he said to Aurum. "But first, something to eat!"

As Alexander and Aurum made their way back to the inn, they passed a street merchant selling meat on a stick. Although it didn't look very appetizing, the aroma was mouth-watering. Aurum, in his six-legged lizard form, seemed very interested in the meat.

As they approached the cart, they saw it was run by a sweet-looking old woman.

"Hello, dearie!" the old woman greeted them with a warm smile. "What can I do for you today?"

"Hi," Alexander replied, intrigued by the variety of meat on display. "What are you selling exactly?"

"Oh, I have a fine selection of meats from various creatures," the old woman said proudly. "We have Fardows, which I've smoked myself. Then there are Hufflepigs, they're a bit less flavorful, but they make the juiciest meat! And over here, we have Clucklehens, birds with beautiful, iridescent feathers and a melodic song. Their meat is tender and quite popular."

Alexander considered his options and decided on the Fardow meat, drawn to its resemblance to steak and Aurum showed interest in the bird's meat. As he reached into his satchel, he asked the old lady, "Could you break a gold coin, by the way? It's the last of my money."

"Oh dear," the old lady replied, "I'm afraid not, but this one is on me, dearie. Get that little guy on your shoulder fed up!"

With a laugh, Alexander took the meat and gave small pieces to Aurum, who was happily biting it in his green hopper form.

Alexander chuckled as he accepted the meat, breaking it into small pieces for Aurum. The little dragon eagerly nibbled on the skewers, clearly enjoying his meal. "Excuse me," Alexander asked the kind vendor with a sheepish grin, "could you point me in the direction of the bank? I'm still finding my way around."

The elderly lady smiled warmly, directing him to the unmistakable structure of the bank just down the street. Alexander expressed his gratitude with a friendly wave before venturing down the bustling road, immersed in the lively throng of carts and townspeople.

As he walked, Alexander's thoughts drifted to his old colleague, Simmons. "Simmons would've been in his element here," he mused, recalling his friend's fondness for fantasy novels often read in stolen moments at the office. A tinge of melancholy crept in, overshadowed by a mix of hope and determination. "You'd better be safe, Simmons, or I swear…"

Lost in his thoughts, Alexander barely noticed Aurum's playful struggle with the meat, reminiscent of a kitten at play. The small creature's antics coaxed a smile from Alexander, lightening the weight of his somber thoughts.

Arriving at the bank, a grand building that radiated affluence, Alexander stepped inside. The cool interior, accentuated by what he assumed to be marble counters, offered a stark contrast to the lively street outside. The bank was surprisingly quiet, with only a single attendant behind the counter, making Alexander the sole customer in the expansive room.

"Welcome!" said the burly gray-haired man behind the counter, "How can I help you today?"

Following a brief and unexpectedly straightforward interaction at the bank, Alexander emerged with a humbly small fortune in coins. His earlier scavenging had proven to be remarkably lucrative. The hopper scales and saber tooth fangs, traded for two gold coins, had turned out to be a windfall. At the bank, he exchanged these for 10 silver coins and 100 copper coins, with an exchange rate of ten to one. The teller had mentioned something about copper bits as well, smaller denominations where ten bits made a single copper coin. However, he had indicated that these smaller units were probably superfluous for Alexander’s needs in the city.

Stepping back onto the street, Alexander made his way toward the inn, Aurum nestled comfortably in his grasp. His foot was poised for the next step when an earth-shaking boom thundered through the air. In an instant, and for the second time in as many days, darkness enveloped him, plunging his world into an abrupt, unsettling blackness.