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So, the relic thieves were priced out of Plains Junction. That itself was a fair indication of where his quarry could be heading; higher-leveled zones meant more loot, which meant larger markets for pilfered, priceless relics. But Calaf would not be able to pursue Jelena down the pilgrimage path just yet.
For one, he needed another spear. His steel +1 spear would suffice for the next few stations in a pinch. And he had the gold to simply repair the broken weapon. But while he was here in search of a weaponsmith, he might as well splurge for an upgrade. Certainly, going up against Enkidu with a merely repaired spear would end the same way as their first encounter.
For two, there was still time before the peak pilgrimage season got underway. He could use this time to prepare, then hopefully join another pilgrimage caravan as a guard.
To both ends, he poked around Plains Junction for several days. Gold obtained since leaving Riverglen more that sustained him without need for further income.
Each day, off-season pilgrims marched east past the town limits to a rocky quarry. There, adventurers with level ranges in the teens to early twenties mined with pickaxes or occasionally by hand. It was a form of leveling that didn’t involve combat. Smiths and merchants would often reach mid-levels purely via tasks like this. Iron jutted out of the very stone, as did trace bits of gold, titanium, and plainskarst – the junction’s very own signature crafting material.
Calaf arrived, sans pickaxe, of course. Though he’d assumed that the quarry would be lightly populated at this off-season, that was not to be the case. Dozens upon dozens of novice miners staked out their claims. Calaf was left with a mere three ore veins, only one of them containing steel. It would take a month to gather up enough ore to strengthen his full kit at this rate. And, of course, he had no pickaxe. Still, he managed to reserve this spot via the Menu. All would know who it belonged to for the day.
Luckily, a handy merchant awaited right at the edge of the quarry. A small stall held more than enough pickaxes, panning equipment, and even bundles of Plain Lightly Filtered Water Canteens (x6).
“Thought you’d get a bit of novice mining in, eh?” asked the merchant.
“Something like that.”
“Well, your options are either beating each ore vein individually with your fists. Might be done before sundown. Ehehe. Or, you can buy this:”
Item: Standard Pickaxe (x1) (1000 gold)
Description: A standard-durability pickaxe. Capable of mining ores of firestone quality and below.
“One thousand gold?” Calaf asked, incredulous. “A thirty-minute walk back to town and I could buy one for 100 gold.”
“Yeah. But that’s another thirty minutes back here once you’ve found and bought one. By then it’s practically lunchtime. And your possible ore drops are cut in half for the day.”
Not without some groveling, Calaf handed over the thousand gold. Far more money than he was expecting to spend today. Somehow, he couldn’t help but wonder if it was worth it just to deplete these three veins.
Calaf happened to take a gander at the Menu listing of salable ores that the merchant was offering. It ought to be slightly higher back in town. But the prices were:
Iron Ore (Forging Skill Craft Material):
5 gold/piece
Gold Ore (Forging Skill Craft Material):
50 gold/piece
Plainskarst(misc. crafting):
1 gold/piece
Two of Calaf’s three veins were plainskarst. He would never turn a profit at this rate. Still, he began with the iron ore and continued for hours. Iron came in chunks as the surface vein dwindled.
The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.
After four hours, his inventory looked like this:
Broken Steel Spear:
(x1)
Pickaxe:
(x1)
Iron Ore (Smithing Forgeable):
(x12)
Plainskarst (Misc Forgeable):
(x30)
Gold (Smithing Forgeable):
(x2)
Slow and steady wasn’t cutting it. Three iron ores had to be sacrificed for every single bit of steel. And yet, what else could he do? He could, perhaps, double this haul by the end of the day. Not at all enough to turn a profit. But perhaps a start.
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It was another hour (and another 3 iron ores and 12 plainskarst) when Calaf noticed a figure two plots over from his own. A younger fellow in basic unclassed initiate rags. This figure beat at the ore veins with fists, the Menu-approved way of harvesting without the proper tools.
“Almost got one…” the low-level initiate said.
“How long have you been doing this?” Calaf asked.
“All day…”
The initiate was beating on a simple vein of Plainskarst. Just wailing with his fist for minor chip damage every dozen punches or so.
Calaf frowned. “What requires you to try so hard for such a paltry sum of materials?”
“I… I need to fund my way to Riverglen!” said the initiate. “Need to get enough karst before the last pilgrimage convoy heads out.”
“Can you truly make any money off pure plainskarst? And at that pace?”
Calaf put his pickaxe down. It was time for a break anyway.
“Not here. Going to use my life savings to buy a place in a caravan. I need this…” The initiate finally pried a bit of plainskarst out of the stone. “… to sell in Riverglen.”
Of course. Riverglen didn’t have plainskarst. Meaning this common stone worth flakes on the gold coin here in the junction was likely more valuable in literally any other settlement.
“That’s quite clever,” Calaf said. I should have thought of bringing some river clay up the route.
Calaf was a Stalwart, yes. His skills specced for endurance and defense. But he was also aiming to be a Paladin – an exemplar of knightly chivalry. He looked at this initiate, ever-so-slowly trying to pry even a single bit of ore off the vein.
“Wait right here,” Calaf said.
He returned once more to the merchant who’d set up a price-gouging shop at the edge of the mining quarry.
“Another pickaxe, please.”
“Oh? Did the old one break?” The merchant laughed. “Eh, that was even quicker than usual.”
“Another one, please.” Calaf motioned towards the initiate beating on ore veins with their fists. “For him, please.”
The merchant nodded, then gladly handed one over… for 1500 gold.
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Back in town, Calaf was approached by a messenger in church robes, short of breath.
“Calaf, of Riverglen?” asked the messenger.
“It is I.” Calaf eyed the messenger warily. “How did you find me?”
The courier presented a note. It was sealed, but not with any of the official church seals of the various pilgrimage stations.
Calaf opened it:
Item: Sealed Letter from Vault
Description: A Sealed Letter From Vault.
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Dear Calaf:
The conversion of Vault continues apace. The beginnings of a church is being built at the top of the pit this town is built around. There is still much work to be done by me here. There is certainly need of a Deacon in these lands. One who can convert the local beasts into submission under the Menu.
I hear word that there is no need for an alternative pilgrimage route, as the path from Riverglen through to Deepwood is now clear. I also hear tell that you’ve put the warning out to the other stations. Good work. That should put a stop to future thefts.
Should you ever need compensation for this good deed, go back and visit the priory south of Riverglen. My order will initiate you into the church’s secret innermost echelons.
Regards,
Deacon Deacon
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“Glad he’s doing well,” Calaf said. “Did you come here all the way from Vault?”
But the messenger had already run off towards the church district. No doubt trying to receive some water before heading back to his destination.
Whatever kind of initiation did Deacon wish to perform for Calaf? He couldn’t help but feel a little undeserving while the relic thieves remained free. Whatever the reason, any initiation would have to wait until he was done with his journey along the route.
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On the second day of mining, Calaf showed up two hours earlier than the day before. He cordoned off a plot three times the size of the last one, and this time received this bounty by the end of the day:
Broken Steel Spear:
(x1)
Pickaxe:
(x1)
Iron Ore (Smithing Forgeable):
(x67)
Plainskarst (Misc Forgeable):
(x123)
Gold Ore (Smithing Forgeable):
(x7)
Strange Bone (Misc):
(x1)
Orichalium Ore (Smithing Forgeable):
(x1)
On the third day, Calaf cordoned off an even larger plot and allowed lower levels to mine the parts he’d never have time to pick clean. The only fee was a pittance of plainskarst. Even pickaxes were provided – bought for much cheaper back in town. He hoped this charity would help perfect his sense of chivalry when it came time to class up to the level of Paladin.
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