13, Broka, 10,391
He spent the next day building an oven and overhang for Min. Six wanted bread as soon as possible and didn’t mind gifting the baker the Stone Wall oven.He began by clearing a spot on Min’s plot of all brush and dead fall. Working quickly in the crisp morning air. Denny had explained a calendar very similar to earth’s and he informed Six that the seasonal rotation was in the equivalent of spring.
He wasn’t going to get fancy, this was free after all. He began lifting the oven out of the foundation with successive casts of Stone Wall. creating the overall form of the oven. Ravna would still have to forge the hinges and doors to the thing. His mana pool was small and his regen, when ignoring Blood Casting, was slow. Instead of meditation he went about and cleared the area a bit more, Jebbedo had moved the pot and Six thought it prudent to create a space for their eventual patrons to congregate.
Six picked up a rotten log revealing the skittering bugs underneath. He saw his favourite bug, woodbugs, otherwise known as isopods, pillbugs, or rollie pollies. A few were pretty big, perfect specimens, not that Six was one of those bug scientists, an etymologist? Whatever, Six just thought they were neat so he took out one of the bigger jars he bought at the apothecary and made a little terrarium for his new pet bugs. He added a few dead leaves and sticks and sealed it, putting the new little home to the side.
Skill Increase: Taming - Initiate - 9
Neat. Alright.
Six took a bit more time to plant some cedars around the oven and then used Plant Growth to make sure they were established. These would eventually be grown into a cover for the oven and if not they could be removed later. Plant Growth used alot of mana when it was focused and Six didn’t want to invest too much time. He had better uses for his mana right now.
The baker loved his new oven proclaiming it “a true sign of civilization.” The people were just as excited to have bread, even if their flour wouldn’t last until the next harvest. It took Six just over half the day to finish that project, he could have done it faster but he was still trying to keep his bloodcasting a secret so after having a bowl and some flatbread, Six mosied on home, talking to Nibbler and his woodbugs on the way.
Tomorrow he would begin his search of the ‘Ley Node’, he wasn’t exactly sure how he would go about doing that but was seriously considering just following his gut and spelunking at any chance. Six had a Luck stat and according to Denny that was something special. Luck was always something that would create opportunities for someone, Six wasn’t sure if it would lead him to the Ley Node but thought it was better than doing a spiral or totally random wandering. He reviewed his maps within his cave and tried to get a good mental picture of the positions of his camp and the village in relation to the mountain. There was a lot, it was a big mountain.
Six would have to be careful about how he went about his search, so took stock of all his options. He could make some truly hidden traps around his home to give himself a defended fall back position but that was dangerous, some village hunters could get hurt.
So he went through all his abilities and thought about his fighting style. He would have his armor and his weapons. He only had a few mana potions remaining and he wished to save those for as long as he could so blood casting would help, it was something he had to hide and therefore couldn’t train in public but tomorrow he would see how far he could push the skill.
He curled up and read his masonry book, gaining another level before sleep.
On the Fourteenth of Broka and just lay there, breathing. He closed his eyes and rode the dissipating clouds of dream as he visualized. It was time to grind.
He visualized himself setting up traps and enjoying their success. He visualized doing battle with boars and trolls, standing triumphant. He saw himself moving his glaive, his hammer, his sword, his fist, his boot. He was perceptive and focused. Aware and detailed, meticulous.
He focused on his breathing and relaxed his body. He shook it out and stood. He put Matt’s ragged clothes on, and began a morning routine, stretching and moving through the weapon forms that Keegan and Narhurin had taught him.
After the morning training he ate some flatbread and left his home, pausing to pump all his mana into Plant Growth and accelerating his smokeweed plants. All the raised beds were showing life sprouting and five green shoots had already popped up in the smokeweed bed. Six brought them all up by a foot, watching as leaves budded from the lifting stems.
“Aw yea.”
He checked his traps and discovered two rabbits this time. He tossed them in his ring, reset the traps and mosied.
Six enjoyed the walk to the village, it was two kilometers down the mountain and he had become somewhat familiar with his usual route, he changed it up a bit and found a slightly harder way down. Enjoying the movement for what it was.
He returned the wave of the guards as he entered the village and dropped off the rabbits at Jebbedo’s cauldron as he made his way to the smithy. Standing at the smithy door he knocked.
“Come in!” Ravna’s voice sang through the door.
Six entered to a warm interior and the warm smile of Ravna.
She spoke with the enthusiasm of a sleep deprived artist and gesticulated wildly.“Six! Perfect! Everything is done! I worked hard to get your armor done in a timely manner and I suppose you could have come and received it yesterday but now I get real bread instead of whatever those flat things the baker usually makes. And now you get fresh new clothes instead of those torn crunchy things you constantly wear. Come see!”
She went over to a table in the corner and indicated her work. Upon the table was his armor, helm, breastplate, vambraces, greaves, gauntlets. Each piece gleamed in the light and was smooth and whole. There were some dark brown and green sets of clothing folded on the table aswell. It was simple and unadorned but SIx didn’t care overmuch for fanciness, performance was king.
Six inspected it all and although he could see the repair work, the durability was reading full and undiminished. The clothing was nice, well made, and in the style of the locals. He took a minute to appreciate the work and inclined his head at Ravna. “Thank you, I really needed all this. You rest much?”
This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
She waved the notion away. “I got some sleep, here and there and I’m about to take a nap before I work on the doors for the oven. Don’t worry about me. That’s job one, but let me help some other people before you damage my work too badly. I can’t be working for just you now.”
Six made an offended face. “I’ll block all incoming strikes with my face.”
“Don’t do that!”
“Why not? Do I need my face?”
“No. But you don’t need to make it worse.”
Six held his heart. “Ack.”
Ravna laughed and tried to push him. He let her.
“You need anything?” Six asked.
Ravna thought about it for a moment. “Do you have any metal or know of any mines? I have very little material and even though I should be able to do repairs for a while, I do need material to work with. Alison has some but it won’t last forever.”
Six shook his head no, he gave what ore he had to Alison. “Sorry but I do not.”
“That’s ok. Ok, let me know if you need anything. I’m going to get some rest.”
Six left Ravna’s smithy and went to go find a quiet spot to enchant his armor. He knew that natural enchanting was the weakest enchantment and he wasn’t sure if he could overwrite an enchantment. If he wanted a new enchantment set he may have to have another armor set and he was also not confident about how easily he could get new armor. If the weapon enchantments had not been so effective Six may have waited but no. That was not who he was today. He would be at his most dangerous. This may be his first set of armor but it would not be the last.
He had two choices. The earth mana or the force mana, earth mana seemed to be focused around durability and had higher overall numbers than the force mana which seemed half as potent. Six didn’t know exactly why this was the case but he felt like it had to do with mana attunements and their relationships. Force was probably more versatile than earth mana, but earth and perhaps other more specialized mana had a higher magnitude of power.
He shrugged. Earth had the higher numbers and everyone loved big numbers.
Six found an empty spot behind one of the longhouses and sat down. He pulled his helm and a mana core from his ring.
You are attempting to enchant a Common Iron Heavy Half Helm with a Minor Aura of Earth. This will require 100 mana and one Mundane Common Mana Core to complete. No suitable reagent detected. Would you like to begin this enchantment now? Yes/No?
He began his work and fell into an easy flow and the success prompts began to appear.
Enchantment Successful!
Enchantment Successful!
Enchant-
Enchanting all eight pieces of armor took the whole morning but when Six stood and stretched he was smiling. He inspected his new armor.
- Heavy Iron Breastplate of Earth -
Rank:Average
Rarity:Unusual
Defense - 10+(2)
Weight - 2.5 KG
Durability 160/160
Traits: Protects the wearers Chest from physical damage.
- Heavy Iron Gauntlets of Earth -
Rank:Average
Rarity:Unusual
Defense - 7+(1)
Weight - 2.5 KG
Durability 100/100
Traits: Protects the wearer's Hands from physical damage.
11% chance to apply +2 Earth damage, 20/20 charges, one charge expended when effect activated.
- Heavy Iron Half Greaves of Earth-
Rank:Average
Rarity:Unusual
Defense - 10+(2)
Weight - 2.5 KG
Durability 110/110
Traits: Protects the wearer’s lower Legs from damage.
- Heavy Iron Vambraces of Earth-
Rank:Average
Rarity:Unusual
Defense - 10+(2)
Weight - 2.5 KG
Durability 110/110
Traits: Protects the wearer’s Forearms from damage.
- Heavy Iron Half Helm of Earth-
Rank:Average
Rarity:Unusual
Defense - 8+(2)
Weight - 2.5 KG
Durability 90/90
Traits: Protects the wearer’s cranium from damage. Increases headbutt damage.
11% chance to apply +2 Earth damage, 20/20 charges, one charge expended when effect activated.
Skill increase: Enchantment - Initiate - 9
Six reveled in the increases. Durability went up, defense had increased by almost a quarter and the armor's rarity had risen to unusual across the board. Also his gauntlets and helm had a chance to increase his damage which was super cool.
He donned the repaired and enchanted armor and while he didn’t physically feel anything different he knew it wasn’t the same set. There was no more preparation he could do, grinding skills not the best use of his time. He needed levels and a class. Classes were always broken and powerful so gaining one was of the utmost importance… right after lunch.
Six was approaching Jebbedo’s pot when he saw a pretty large crowd of villagers nearby. The villagers were crowding around the imperial soldiers. Oh no, that can’t be good. Mobs were never good and the soldiers would cut through the villagers like a chainsaw through butter.
He increased his pace but quickly slowed as he got a better read on the situation. There was a mob but it wasn’t angry. The people seemed worried and guilty, a little ashamed?
“What's going on?” Six asked one of the villagers.
“Soldiers are leaving,” a woman provided.
“Oh.” If the soldiers were leaving, Six wanted to at least wave them goodbye so he cut through the crowd and made his way to the front. He came to see the soldiers arrayed with packs and bags slowly making their way to the new wooden gate, Keegan was talking with a villager, the big man was gently refusing the insistent resident.
Six approached. “Howdy guys.”
The soldiers all greeted him, except for Irduth who just grasped his book tighter which Six considered an improvement.
“Leaving?” Six asked.
Keegan nodded.
Kali smiled at Six. “We must, the world moves and even though we are weak, we still must do our part.” She stared at Six with heavy intent.
“We move to investigate the Imperial Army, last we heard Grand General Marcus was marching the Imperial legions into the Salazharian deserts. The legions are the weapon most likely capable of deposing Juthe-Wei. We must know of the Grand General Marcus' disposition. We shall return in a month, more likely two, perhaps three.”
Six whistled. “Two months? Holy, big trip.”
“Indeed.”
“You’re all going?”
Keegan shook his head, no. “Jebbedo, Gatbark, Celine, and Tavi will remain. They and others like yourself will be sufficient defense while we are away.”
“Aight.” Six held his hand out and Keegan eyed it in surprise before grasping it. Six pulled him in and gave him a pat on the back, their armors clanking. “Good luck.”
Six gave Narhurin and Kali Kik hugs too, everyone else got finger guns. The soldiers left and Six could see the immediate morale drop. The soldiers, despite representing everything they were trying to escape, were a source of stable protection that was now leaving. That could not feel good. It is what it is, Six thought.
But it was lunch time! He sat on the ground and shared his stew and flatbreads with Nibbler. Min had slipped him two extra breads and winked, Six wasn’t about to complain about extra food so he just went with it. Six thought about the next few weeks. This would probably be the least stressed he would be for a while so he took a minute to appreciate it and relax. He finished his food and let out a satisfied sigh. Six looked at Jebbedo stirring the pot. “Why you staying?”
Jebbedo was almost startled from his stirring. “Huh? Oh, I’m tired of the fight and don’t tell Irduth this but the empire threw us away.”
“Oh? How you figure?”
Jebbedo nodded. “The fort we were sent to was one of those places where nothing ever happened, it’s an open secret that failures are assigned to such places.”
“That seems a little harsh. You guys seem competent enough.”
“We are, the fort commander was savvy enough to put competent officers in charge. But most everyone else there were somewhat bumbling. I don’t appreciate the lack of appreciation. But cooking? Everyone loves the cook.”
“Fair.”
There was a pause for a moment.
“So,” Six started again. “Do you have people under you? Or like?”
“There are others, if that's what you're asking. You don’t need to worry about where or how many.”
“What happened to not working for the empire anymore?”
“I don’t give a shit about the empire anymore, but those soldiers are still my friends and I’m not gonna reveal sensitive information, not even to my best customer.”
“I’m your best customer?”
“Nah I just want to butter you up for when you make my tavern.”
“Transitioning into tavern owner?”
“Yup, Alison has been paying out coinage to the workforce and we have nothing to spend it on.”
“There’s a smithy… and bread.”
Jebbedo nodded. “And soon a Tavern.” He smiled, “I think I should get a tavern before Min gets an entire bakery. He already has the oven.”
“What?” Min nearly yelled. “I need a warm room for the dough to rise properly, you savage!”
“I can’t prepare proper meals without the proper space!” Jebbedo whined with a grin on his face.
Six stood and brushed himself off as the two went off good-naturedly at each other. “Aight. Imma head out.” He walked into the forest, Nibbler at his heels. “Time to go kill some shit.”