~Emerald Ring~ Grade: Rare Quality: Masterwork (Deteriorated)
A Silver Ring embedded with a distinctly green Gemstone called 'Emerald'. This Ring once belonged to a Great Lord who ruled over the surrounding lands. It was made by an expert in the field of jewelry crafting, a Master Lapidarist who ought to have been famed across the Continent. However, after the Lord passed away, this Ring was left to deteriorate in the River, reducing the overall allure of the Item to a measly Rare Grade.
~Jotnarmade Magical Item~
The Dragonet grinned as he looked over the Item Description for the Emerald Ring...
Deteriorated as it was, it was still a verifiable Rare Item of Masterwork Quality, a unique one-of-a-kind treasure worthy of a Great Dragon of his mighty stature.
Though he still felt a bit confused about the terminologies present in the Identification Screen. He lacked the proper knowledge of what a Lapidarist was, but due to the wording in the article, he could deduce that a Lapidarist was a sort of creature who specialized in Jewelry Crafting. But he was also quite ignorant about what 'Jewelry' was... Though it was obvious that the Emerald Ring could be considered one.
He was also pretty confused about the 'Great Lord who ruled over the lands'. What is a Lord and why do they use a ruler to measure the distance between dirt and air?
Actually, he also did not know what a ruler was... It just popped up in his Ancestral Memory, which he was quite used to since it both granted him wisdom beyond the savage beasts and peculiar knowledge at random times.
And the knowledge it bestowed him tended to be surface-level. Most of the time, it only gave him the name of a certain item or an unknowable term and not what it actually was...
Nevertheless, He felt truly satisfied with this new addition to his Hoard. Speaking of his Hoard...
He gently laid down the Ring on the most secure side of the burrow which he had stolen from a Hare.
When he got there it was already abandoned by the parent, likely eaten by some predator (Lynx), and the only thing that remained in the burrow were the three mewling Leverets who had innocently thought that their parent had returned once he arrived.
Sadly, he knew very well that these infants could now be called True Orphans... So he did as his stature demanded, that is to ensure that these Orphans are adopted into the most secure and loving foster household willing to take them in.
And he did, he knew he had made the right decision as there haven't been any complaints ever since.
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He hoped the little Hares have a bright future inside his tummy. It was actually quite convenient since he was far too preoccupied with his scuffle against Blue-scales to pursue a quarry. Though some could say that She was his latest Quarry, he did, After all, use his favorite method of hunting against her; stalking.
The Ring by itself could not be called a genuine Hoard. A Hoard had to have more than one item that when combined, makes up more than 15 Hoard Value.
He unfortunately lacked the ability to gauge Hoard Value. To see Hoard Value, you simply had to have a Hoard and then store the Item inside, then the Construct will appraise the Item and Notify you about its actual Value.
If you are not contracted with Dementia, apparently some kind of memory-altering condition that certain mortal races are ailed with, then you must have remembered that the Little Red Dragonet was quite literally penniless and could be considered less than destitute.
Even so, the Emerald Ring ought to have a Value above and beyond fifteen... Right?
This was his personal appraisal, though it could be wrong since he was very biased and the Construct could not care less about his feelings.
At least he thought so.
But even if the Ring constituted a Hoard Value of 15 or more, it still could not form a proper Hoard as the definition of a Hoard is, according to Dragonkind (and the Construct), a Pile of Valued Objects and or Valued Currency secured in an enclosed area whilst being closely guarded by a Mighty Custodian of Draconic Origins.
The point is, it was required of him to possess multiple objects of value to have an actual genuine 'Hoard' as it is called. It was pretty unlikely that he would encounter some other abandoned treasure like the Emerald Ring anytime soon... It was called a Rare Item for a reason, after all.
The most reliable source of wealth for a Dragon's Hoard were the Humans and the myriad Races that cohabitated alongside them. They produced various luxury goods that even a Mighty Dragon ought to desire and as such is the reason why Dragons don't have a 'good' reputation in their eyes.
It wasn't exactly our fault that their kind made such nice palaces, that's just free real estate. Oh, what's that? I stole your Monarch's Family Heirloom? How exactly is it your National Treasure if it's in my Hoard? Checkmate, Mortals.
The Little Red Dragonet was obviously still lacking in terms of Might to even hope of attempting to plunder the Mortals, a well-armed Halfling brood would already be too much for him.
At least, he thought so, perhaps Halflings were weaker than how the Ancestral Memory portrayed them as... But he doubted such an assumption.
He could also go for the various natural resources that were available in the surrounding area, such as precious metals and gemstones. Though he couldn't exactly go with the mining route as... Well, he didn't really have the necessary appendage for excavation; Hands.
Extraordinary Creture Materials could also work but unfortunately, such treasures tended to attach themselves to the corresponding Magical Beasts and Monstrosities. Mystic Plants were roughly the same as anything edible that had potent magic inside of them would be naturally desirable, so these Magical Flora tended to have extremely esoteric self-defense mechanisms that he'd rather stay away from... At least for now.
He wanted a Hoard, but he still valued his life above such goals. Besides, he was still a Dragonet, a Hoard wasn't truly a necessity.
With Hoard Creation going down on his priority list, the Dragonet considered what he ought to do next...
Level - 4 Experience: 470/500 Points
Tough Hide Lunging Burst Phantom Fear (II)
Ah, yes! He only needed 30 more Points to Ascend and acquire another Perk, he might as well start hunting for more Exp now that he had the time.
And so, the Red-scaled Dragonet departed his new lair as he went out to go plunder some Experience Points.
A Horse-sized Wyvern stalked his lesser brethren from the treetops, silently observing the Dragonet...