After breakfast and a bit of help closing Blake’s armor right so he was comfortable. the four of them made their way to Rowin’s, and while Blake didn't know who they were talking about he found them going to a blacksmith as they stepped in, the sounds of the clanging of hammers rang a bit while Claira rang a bell on the counter.
The store side itself wasn’t too much to brag about, most of the equipment was useable, it was mostly weapons, and a few sets of armor, not too much more than what Blake had expected. His feet auto guided him to a row of halberds kept in a rack a bit deeper in. His eyes started looking over the halberd, they were all different styles and seemed like they were old but sharpened and polished. However, their shafts were unattended to, showing the old and stained leather that was wrapped around the handling area.
“See one you like?” Jessica asked from beside him.
Blake had to blink a bit as he had spaced out, “Oh, well they are all useable, but they are old, look, see the leather, it is worn and old, I would have to have the shaft replaced before I could use it to the fullest.” he said with a point at the wrappings and wood, before pointing at one halberd in particular, “but if I had to pick I would one this one.”
The one he picked looked like a mid-sixteen hundred one, but the blade of its axe head was a crescent that made a nice pit on the front, while the back end hook was more of a pike point jetting straight out for the most part, the spear point on the top was about an arm long and reach a good four inches past the top on the axe head over all, a good one for his fighting style.
Jessica looked at the head of the weapon for a second, “I think I can see why you like it, it is intimidating but is really great for protecting yourself, wish I could use a weapon.” she said as she gripped her staff a bit tighter.
“But you can, so can Claira, you just can’t use any skill-specific for that weapon, but you can apply your staff skills to it if you get proper training.” Blake said as he picked up the halberd and tested the weight in his hand.
“What?” Jessica said a bit stunned, “But I am a priestess, I am not meant to have a weapon, I am meant to not be violent.”
Blake lifted the halberd up and gave it a gentle test swing. “Yeah, you have never been in a war, there is a difference between violent and defenseless. Maybe a light mace or hammer, that way if someone gets too rowdy you can knock some sense into them, and not killing them. That way you have the weapon as a last resort, as you are easily pinned by your staff.” Blake said before shouldering the weapon and sighing as he places the weapon back.
“But I don’t know anyone that will train me. It takes years to learn too.” she said back.
“Well, I don’t think it will take too long if you find a good teacher, and I’ll join you too, that way we can have practice spars when we have downtime.” He said as he started to walk over to a collection of light hammers and maces. “Besides I don’t think you would want to learn anything i know aside from maybe a shield.”
Jessica follows behind him and looked at the weapons.
Then a tall Humanoid stepped out of the curtain from the back, and Blake looked up in a bit of surprise as it was a minotaur, the creature was a head taller than Block and took up almost the whole space between the floor and ceiling, his body had a thick and partly singed course fur with some braids of flowers and trinkets. His massive body was ripped, to say the least, but he leaned down and let a hard exhale out into Claira’s face through his nose before he spoke.
“Claira, are you here to sell more junk or are you going to buy something for a change?” He said in a low grumble.
“Rowin, you look great, I see that Milly has been visiting, and …” Claira started but was cut off by a second gust of air as he breathed out again. “Right, skip the small talk.” She waved over to Blake for him to join her, which he did. “This is Blake, he is the newest member of The Raven’s Wing, and he told us he needed a new weapon, and we realized that you, the greatest Blacksmith of this town would be best equipped to help him.”
The towering Blacksmith looked over and took a deep inhale. “Goblins and lots, lose your gear in a bloodbath, eh?” he asked then took a second inhale, “And a troll, impressive. What are you looking for?” His tone had shifted a bit from annoyed to curious.
Blake smiled “Yeah, you have a good nose, sorry if this is rude but I am still learning a lot, but you are a minotaur, right?” He asked with a genuine desire to learn.
The blacksmith let out a hearty chuckle. “We aren’t called that anymore, we are called bull-kin now, but yes, I take it this is your first meeting with one, well that is nice to know. I am Rowin Huialhorn, Blacksmith, and former adventurer.” the giant said with an outstretched hand.
Blake let his hand be enclosed in the hand of the giant, “I am Blake Winters, Paladin of Juad, Jal, and Geie, B-rank adventurer, it is a pleasure to meet you, Master Blacksmith.” he said back with a smile and then straightened out a bit. “Now to business, yes?”
“Yes, a weapon, what are you looking for?” The Blacksmith asked with a toothy grin.
“I am a halberd user, but the quality of the hefts on the halberds you have out here are poor, would it be possible to get them replaced now?” Blake asked and noticed the Blacksmith eye him with a bit more focus.
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[shit I pissed him off…] Blake thought to himself as the giant watched him for a few more seconds, [should I apologize…]
Blake’s fears were cut short, and the Blacksmith started a low laugh that grew every second, finally getting to a loud bellow of humor for a good three seconds than he settles down slowly. “You are something else, we normally get idiots that don’t understand how to use their weapons or treat them badly, so I keep my good stuff away from the public eye. Which Halberd over there got your eye?” the Blacksmith asked as he walked around the counter.
“This one,” said Blake with a point at the one he tested. “The head design works with my fighting style and the weight isn’t too much.”
“Wait here.” the Blacksmith said as he walked back through the curtain.
Blake watches him go with a smile, then looked to his team.
“What the hell did you do?” Claira asked as she seemed at a loss about the interaction, but Blake just cocked his brow.
“Rowin has never let us buy anything aside from what he has out here, so why is he getting you something from the back? Is what she means to say.” Jessica added.
“Well, I did point out the shafts to you, take a good look around, and tell me what you see.” Blake said back.
Block walked over to where the large battle axes were and started looking at them a bit more closely. “They are not good for a long time, wood looks funny, and leather looks dry?”
“Good job Block, tell me do you take care of your axe?” Blake asks back.
Block stood up and pulled out his axe and looked it over before shaking his head.
“That is alright, I can teach you, a good fighter needs to treat his weapons with care, my teacher always said that weapons have souls, and like people you need to treat them right so they will support you when you need them.” Blake said as the Blacksmith walked back out.
“I am glad to see this team finally has someone with a head for weapons on his shoulders,” the blacksmith said as he held out a halberd for Blake, it had the same design for the head, but the wood was well treated and the leather was new, moreover it had a pommel in the bottom that help with the weight a bit more. “Here, try this one out.”
Blake took the halberd and gave a gentle swing testing the weight before going into a thrust followed by a flourish into an upward swing at full force, making a loud woosh to follow the blade, then Blake turned back to the smith, with a smile. “It's great and the balance is better, the reach is a bit more than I am used to, but I’ll pay for the damage.” Blake said and looked down at a groove he had cut into the wooden floor.
Getting the blacksmith to burst into a fit of laughter slamming his feet a bit before straightening up and wiping a teardrop away. “Yeah, don’t worry about that, now that Halberd would normally go for twelve silvers, but I'll sell it to you for ten.” The smith said as he walked back around the counter.
Blake glanced at the team and noticed their faces show a bit of hesitation at the amount. “I’ll pay for it myself,” he said as he walked to the counter, then locked his eyes on the smith’s eyes. “But I want a new axe for Block, a long sword for Claira, and a light Hammer for Jessica, that is not the stuff you have out here.” Blake’s tone was clear and stern.
The smith leaned down and watched Blake for a second, then sucked his teeth, “Why would I waste good metal on them?” asked the smith with an indignant tone.
“Because if you do this then I’ll make you my exclusive shop for metal wares, which includes the selling of materials that can be worked into armor and weapons.” Blake said back calmly, “Or would you prefer we sell to your competition?”
The smith glared at Blake for a few seconds before nodding his head, “I see, you are an astute man, Blake Winters. Ladies, please find a design you like from among those gathered here, Block, I know the kind you like so I’ll get the replacement now. Blake, this will cost you seventy silvers.” he said but was a bit stumped as Blake pulled one of his last two gold coins. “I see, it was not a matter of price but balance.” the giant turned to Claira, “Hold on to him, he will carve you a path to your goals.” he added before going back through the curtain.
Blake looked away as Claira glanced his way, but she turned back to the long swords, and after a few seconds of browsing the two women found weapons they liked, Claira had chosen to go with a hand-and-a-half sword that looked like a straight-forward arming sword, with a cross guard that was shaped a bit forward and was capped by ice flakes. While Jessica settled on a simple-looking hammer about as long as her arm, with a flat face on one side and a curved beak on the other.
“I see you found good ones.” Blake said as he leaned down a bit to take a closer look.
“Why are you getting me a longsword?” Claira asked.
“Because your staff can’t kill unless you beat your opponent to death with it and that will take a while. This way if we are stuck in a long battle, you can take this out and keep fighting.” Blake said back as he reached down and lifted the light hammer in Jessica’s hands, testing it with a small swing and then handing it back. “Besides, I can teach you how to use the sword and we can find Jessica a teacher to get her started.”
The smith came back through the curtain carrying an axe similar to the one Block already had but with a better shaft and noticeable pommel on the bottom end. Then he looked at the two weapons the ladies pick and headed back behind the curtain.
“I get the idea behind it but why use your money on this?” Claira asked.
Blake thought it over and turned back to her. “Because I am part of the team, if I am the only one with a strong weapon it isn’t fair. And if I know that you can all handle something on your own, I will have a bit of an easier time when we are fighting, as I can take my time to reach you, over risk it to break through.” He said with a smile, “Besides I care about you guys, I don’t want to see you hurt.”
Claira and Jessica both looked away with a sudden blush.
“I don’t need you to protect me…” Claira muttered as she walked off to place the weapon back.
“The Paladin cares about me, I can’t tell the sisterhood, they will be so upset and..., oh and the oracle, she will know what to do, but her too...” Jessica mumbled to herself.
Blake let out a sigh and turned around to Block, who was swinging his new axe about a bit. “How does it feel buddy?” Blake asked after a second of watching the big man.
Block gave the axe one more swing and then smiled at Blake, “It's great feels easier to swing, and feels nice in hands, like not poky or itchy.” he said with a tone Blake could only call a child on Christmas.
Blake frowned a bit though at the information, “Block let me see your hand?” he said, and the big man followed, Blake took a good look, and saw the small cuts all over his hand from splinter shards that had poked out the leather. Blake looked back up to the big guy and smiled. “Ok, put down the axe and give me your other hand.” the big man again did as told, and Blake cupped both the man’s hands “Heal, quick recovery” Blake cast quickly then let go as he watch the man’s hands heal up enough to be un-damaged. “There, new weapon new hands. If you are hurt come tell me, yeah big buddy.”
Block looked at his hands for a bit then beamed a big smile, “Yeah buddy.” he said before grabbing Blake and bear-hugging him.
[ a simple-minded oaf, but you are just big but not mean or scary, are you Block.] Blake thought but then realized that it was getting hard to breathe, so he tapped on Block's belly, getting him to put him down.
The smith came back out with a sword in the scabbard and the light hammer and handed them to the ladies, while Blake pulled the gold coin back out. Getting his change, they headed out and went about the rest of their shopping trip, getting enough food for the five-day expedition according to Jessica, who had luckily managed to get a hold of a magic bag, but they were told that if it is damaged or destroyed, they would owe the Guild about fifteen gold. So, they chose not to use it for anything but the boss heads, not that Blake minded. And finally, an hour or two before midday they headed out the east gate and headed off to the distant forest, the first true mission for Blake, and questions for Blake to think of from last night.