In the heart of the Verdant Hollow, the morning light filtered through the dense canopy, casting intricate patterns on the ground. The air was alive with the hum of activity, from the buzzing of bees to the rustling of leaves.
I found Regina Apis near the entrance to her hive, her regal form shimmering in the soft light. Her wings glistened like stained glass, catching the sunlight in a dazzling display. She was surrounded by her diligent workers, each bee meticulously attending to their tasks.
“Good morning, Regina,” I greeted, approaching her with a smile.
“Good morning, Gavrin,” she replied, her voice resonant with a harmonious buzz. “What brings you to my hive this fine day?”
“I wanted to discuss the potential of using the pollen and magical plants Queen Seraphina grows for potion making. You mentioned you could use the honeycomb cells as mixing vats.”
Regina Apis nodded, her antennae twitching thoughtfully. “Indeed, the honeycomb cells are excellent for that purpose. Their structure allows for precise mixing and fermentation, enhancing the potency of the potions.”
“Could you also brew alcohol and other beverages?” I inquired, curious about the extent of her capabilities.
Regina Apis made a face, her expression of mild distaste. “Alcohol? It’s not our usual fare, but yes, we can brew it if necessary.”
“Excellent,” I said, satisfied with her response. “I’ll leave you and your workers to it, then. I have other matters to attend to.”
As I made my way through the grove, I decided to check in on Fernando. The green revenant squirrel had been invaluable in ensuring the safety of the villagers on their quests. I found him perched on a branch, his emerald eyes sharp and alert.
“Fernando,” I called up to him. “How’s everything going? Any issues with the quests?”
Fernando scampered down the tree, his small form agile and quick. “All is well, Gavrin. No fatalities so far, but it’s a lot of ground to cover.”
I nodded, understanding his predicament. “That makes sense. Thor and Loki mentioned they could help find more, but they need a way to carry them back.”
Just then, Thor and Loki bounded into the clearing, their eyes bright with enthusiasm. Thor, the larger of the two, wagged his tail furiously. “We can find the squirrels, but carrying them is a problem. They’re small, but we can’t carry many at once.”
Loki, more reserved but equally eager, added, “Maybe we could find or make some sort of carrier. Something that lets us transport more at once.”
I considered their suggestion, my mind already working on a solution. “That’s a good idea. We could fashion some kind of satchel or carrier for you. Perhaps using the same principles as the bags Queen Seraphina makes. Lightweight, durable and easy to carry.”
Thor barked in agreement. “That would be great! We can cover more ground and bring back more revenants that way.”
“Alright, I’ll start working on a design.” I said, feeling a surge of excitement at the prospect. “In the meantime, just put a quest up for a carrier. Make it low level and the only goal is to carry stuff for Thor and Loki.” I told Fernando.
Fernando nodded, his tail flicking with determination. “I’ll keep everyone safe, Gavrin. You can count on me.”
I smiled and ruffled the ferns around his ears. “I know you can, little buddy.”
With that, I turned my attention to crafting solutions for Thor and Loki, my mind already buzzing with ideas. The day was just beginning and there was much to be done.
As I worked, an idea occurred to me. “What about opening a portal to them each time they need it?” I mused aloud. “I’ve been to most points inside the forest, so it shouldn’t be a problem.”
Fernando chittered thoughtfully. “Why not use a focus instead? Since I am spread over the forest, I do know something about being in more than one place at the same time.”
I looked at him curiously. “What do you mean?”
He scurried closer, his emerald eyes glinting with insight. “The dimensional shard is clinging to the outside of the reality barrier around us. I am at once in the dimensional shard and outside in the forest simultaneously. The apple grove outside and the apple tree inside are entangled somehow, and when I rest in the tree, my range outside increases. Maybe the wood is special.”
I pondered his words, my mind racing with possibilities. “Interesting. Let’s experiment with this wood and see what we can uncover.”
Together, we gathered some of the wood from the apple tree, its fibers shimmering with a faint magical glow. I could feel the latent energy with it, a connection to both the shard and the outside world.
I began to shape the wood, using my magic to coax its fibers into a new form. As I worked, I channeled my mana into the wood, binding it with the essence of the shard. The wood responded, its glow intensifying as the connection deepened.
Finally, I held up a small, intricately carved amulet, its surface etched with runes that pulsed with a soft light. “This should serve as a focus,” I said, handing it to Fernando. “With this, you should be able to extend your range even further.”
Fernando took the amulet, his eyes wide with awe. “Thank you, Pops. This will make a huge difference.”
“Pops?” I asked. “Since when?”
“Since you got old, Pops.” Fernando replied.
My eyes narrowed in a squint. “I regret making that whisperroot amulet immensely.”
Fernando smiled at me with a big toothy grin.
I sighed. “Let’s test it out and see how it works. If it’s successful, we can make more for Thor and Loki, and any others who might need them.”
I put testing the new amulet down for later in the week. There wasn’t a rush and I wanted to complete all my action items for the day.
The short sword for Scott was crossed off the list. The combination of ceramic and a thorn had turned out to be a successful experiment. I placed the finished product on the rack, admiring its unique design and the faint glow of embedded mana.
I went back to making a list of the items I needed to work on.
“Daniel wanted a war hammer and shield,” I muttered to myself, jotting it down. “Emily needed an apron and something for gardening.” I decided to delegate the apron request to Mayara. Turning it into a quest for her would give her experience, and Emily would get a custom-made apron. Perfect solution.
This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.
I wrote down the request for gardening shears and placed it in Jillian’s stack of items. It seemed like something she could handle, and if she couldn’t, I’d just make it a general request and let someone else figure it out.
Then I moved on to a more delightful task. “Oliver and Sophie wanted toys,” I said, a smile forming on my lips. Making toys would be fun. I also added a request for Mayara to make some plushie animals. After all, it was likely we’d have more children in the village soon.
As I was organizing the tasks, Regina Apis approached, her wings glistening as she flew down to meet me. “Gavrin, I’ve started the preparations for the potions and brews. The honeycomb cells are proving to be excellent mixing vats. The first batches should be ready soon.”
“Great news, Regina,” I replied, nodding in approval. “Your efficiency is commendable. Just remember to keep the production steady so we don’t overwhelm the village’s economy. I don’t want to smother any budding alchemists out there.”
Regina Apis made a face, her distaste for the task of brewing alcohol still apparent. “We’ll manage. Though I must say, the idea of using our sacred honey for alcohol is unconventional.”
I chuckled. “I understand. But it might be needed for trade or even morale. Thank you for accommodating the request. If it helps, you could try to make it so strong it poisons them. People like the floaty feeling they get.” I laughed at a sudden idea. “You could make it into a training tool for increasing poison resistance. And then they have to come back to us for more.”
Regina Apis paused. “That seems to be the opposite of what you talked about before.”
I smiled. “Drugs get different rules. Just don’t kill your customers.”
Regina Apis nodded. “I will endeavor to follow your wisdom.”
“Not too much though.” I said. “Welp, back to work, have fun Regina.”
I sat down to work on the hammer and shield for Daniel. It really bugged me I was having difficulty with metal. It didn’t make sense to me. Metal came from the earth and I should be able to manipulate it as easily as the earth. I sighed. Things like this couldn’t be rushed.
I began with the war hammer, envisioning a weapon that combined both durability and power. For the handle, I chose a piece of ironwood, for its incredible strength and resilience. The wood was dense and heavy, perfect for withstanding the force of impact.
Placing the ironwood on my work bench, I channeled my mana into it, feeling the natural fibers respond to my touch. With careful precision, I used a chisel and a mallet to shape the handle, smoothing out the surface and ensuring a comfortable grip. The ironwood was tough, but my magic it pliable, allowing me to mold it to perfection.
Next, I turned my attention to the hammerhead. I had found a resonating crystal deep underground, its core pulsing with a vibrant energy. This crystal would provide the extra “boom” needed for the war hammer. I carefully embedded the crystal into a cavity at the top of the handle, using a combination of earth and plant magic to secure it in place. The crystal seemed to hum with anticipation, resonating with the energy around it.
With the hammerhead complete, I moved on to the shield. I wanted it to be both sturdy and capable of absorbing vibrations from powerful blows. For the core of the shield, I selected a special type of wood known for its vibration absorbing properties. This wood, called silvershade, had a natural elasticity that made it ideal for dampening impacts.
I shaped the silvershade into a circular shield, its surface smooth and even. To enhance its protective qualities, I decided to incorporate ceramic shatter plates into the design. These plates would absorb and distribute the force of any blow, preventing the shield from breaking. Also, it would create another income stream as the plates required replacement.
Using my magic, I carefully placed the ceramic plates on the surface of the silvershade, arranging them in a honeycomb pattern for maximum coverage. Each plate was bonded to the wood with a combination of earth and plant magic, ensuring a seamless integration. The plates shimmered faintly, their surfaces infused with mana.
Once the plates were securely in place, I added a final layer of silvershade over the top, creating a smooth and durable surface. The shield now had a layered structure, with the vibration-absorbing core and the ceramic shatter plates working together to provide superior protection.
With both the war hammer and shield complete, I took a step back to admire my work. The war hammer, with its ironwood handle and resonating crystal head, radiated power and strength. The shield with its silvershade core and ceramic plates, promised unparalleled protection.
War Hammer: Thunderous Ironwood
Type: Two-Handed Hammer
Required Level: 10
Damage: 75-90
Attributes:
+25 Strength
+20 Vitality
+10% Attack Speed
Unique Property: Embeds a Resonating Crystal that releases a shockwave on critical hits, dealing 50% weapon damage as Lightning in a 5-yard radius.
Lore: Forged from the unyielding ironwood of the Verdant Hollow and imbued with the resonant power of a mystical crystal, this hammer strikes with the force of a thunderstorm. Each blow carries the strength of nature's fury, ensuring no enemy stands unscathed.
Shield: Earthshatter Bulwark
Type: Shield
Required Level: 10
Block Amount: 350-450
Attributes:
+30 Vitality
+20 Dexterity
+15% Block Chance
Unique Property: Absorbs vibrations and converts them into a protective aura, reducing incoming damage by 20% for 5 seconds after blocking an attack.
Lore: Crafted from silvershade wood and reinforced with ceramic shatter plates, this shield absorbs the brunt of any attack and converts it into a protective force. The resilient craftsmanship of the Verdant Hollow ensures its bearer stands firm in the face of adversity.
Set Bonuses: Nature's Fury
2 Set Items:
Nature’s Guardian: When both Thunderous Ironwood and Earthshatter Bulwark are equipped, the wielder gains +50 to all resistances and 15% increased movement speed.
Nature’s Wrath: Successfully blocking an attack has a 20% chance to trigger a retaliatory burst of energy, dealing 100% weapon damage as Nature damage to all enemies within 10 yards.
I was pleasantly surprised with the results. It seemed my crafting received an upgrade somewhere along the way. This was the first item set I had created. I was excited for what this meant for the future. There was a ding and new system prompt forced its way into my vision.
SYSTEM ALERT!
Congratulations, Gavrin! You have successfully crafted your first item set: Nature's Fury. Your skill and creativity have combined to create a powerful synergy between items. The bond between the Thunderous Ironwood War Hammer and the Earthshatter Bulwark Shield has unlocked unique bonuses and abilities, enhancing your prowess in combat and your connection to the natural elements.
Nature's Fury Set:
Thunderous Ironwood War Hammer: Unleashes a shockwave on critical hits, dealing Lightning damage.
Earthshatter Bulwark Shield: Converts absorbed vibrations into a protective aura, reducing incoming damage.
Set Bonuses:
Nature’s Guardian (2 Set Items): Gain +50 to all resistances and 15% increased movement speed.
Nature’s Wrath (2 Set Items): Successfully blocking an attack has a 20% chance to trigger a retaliatory burst of energy, dealing Nature damage to nearby enemies.
New Title Unlocked: Master Crafter
Title Benefits: +10% to all crafting abilities, +5% chance to create rare items.
Your dedication to the craft has not gone unnoticed. Keep up the exceptional work and continue to push the boundaries of your creativity and skill!
System Note:
Crafting sets increases your overall proficiency and unlocks potential hidden abilities within your crafted items. Experiment with different materials and techniques to discover new set combinations.
Your journey as a Master Crafter has only just begun!