There were a number of options available to Max to choose from, either for [Brewer], [Sailor], [Proto-Troll] or even generic options available in general. There was only one, though, that served his plans.
[Industrial Brewing]
Why brew on a small scale when you can brew on a large scale?
Effect: When crafting brews, produce INTELLECT/2 units per batch rather than 1 per batch.
With the INTELLECT he had gained from levelling, that was now three drinks he could make at a time, all while only using the ingredients that were needed for one. It would speed up the whole process no end, cutting the time needed to get places.
But to make it happen, he would not only need the ingredients but also the brewing formulas, and the best place to get them was, of course, the inn, so he went to get a drink or five.
The Troll Inn was much like any other fantasy tavern anywhere else in the many multiverses; wooden beams were on display supporting the walls and roof, there were torches mounted around to provide lighting, and the ambient sounds of a tavern filled the room; jaunty tavern music playing quietly away in the background, and the hubbub of patrons talking and laughing and clinking glasses.
That there were no patrons inside seemed to make no difference; the place was a tavern so it had to sound like a tavern. Max figured there was some secret society behind the whole thing. Given it was best not to get on the wrong side of them, he ignored it and instead concentrated on the sole person in the room.
A Proto-Troll stood patiently behind the bar, a female one, and the information box above her head said that her name was Typ’sai. She smiled at Max as he entered the room.
“Hellow, [Brewer], boy are we glad to see you. We are experiencing a shortage of drinks, and need a skilled [Brewer] to help us refill our stocks.”
A class quest; Max had not been expecting that. Proto-Trolls had been around long since before the [Brewer] class had come on the scene. Had they in fact considered the Proto-Troll when making the [Brewer] class, rendering all his plans moot? Or had this just been a generic change to all taverns across the world with no real forethought?
No, he was certain he was right. [Stone Stomach] appeared to be working as he had expected, meaning that he was still on track for ULTIMATE POWER. And a harem.
“Yeah, no worries,” he told Typ’sai. “What do you need?”
“We need five units of [Basic Grog], [Basic Beer] and [Basic Wine]. That should cover us for now.”
That would be easy, a simple starting quest to get to handle the basics of brewing.
“I can do that,” he told her. “I just need access to a [Brewers Workbench.]”
Typ’sai gestured to the back of the inn with a thumb. “We have one here that you can use. Thank you, [Brewer.]”
“I’d also like to see what you have on offer.”
Typ’sai displayed her wares to Max, and he admired them closely, inspecting them in detail. She had all of the basics, of course, one for each of the other stats; gin, vodka, ale and more. Two drinks stood out, two drinks to rule them all. For now.
[Basic Rum]
Favoured of sailors everywhere.
Effects: +1 Endurance, -1 Grace, 3 Drunkenness
Cost: 10 Copper
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[Basic Whisky]
The nectar of the gods.
Effects: +1 All Stats, 8 Drunkenness
Cost: 1 silver
Max was certain now that it would all work out, having seen what was on offer. The numbers all added up
There were two other drinks of interest that Typ’sai had, ones that did not boost stats but provided interesting effects that were of use.
[Basic Firewater]
A potent brew that burns all that it touches
Effect: Converts all PHYSICAL damage to FIRE damage for the next INTELLECT attacks. 4 DRUNKENNESS.
Cost: 10 coppers
[Basic Quicksilver Liquor]
Brings swiftness to the steps of the [Brewer]
Effect: Increases the [Brewers] speed by NIMBLENESS/5 for INTELLECT minutes. 4 DRUNKENNESS.
Cost: 10 coppers
The whisky was beyond his current limited budget, but he bought the rum straight away, along with the two special drinks and a couple of the other boosting drinks. He chugged them all down, then and there, to unlock the ability to craft them.
For that, he would have to start gathering the ingredients that he needed. The farms and fields close by to the town were a perfect place to start. No one ever seemed to mind an adventurer helping themselves to crops. He would find all the basic ingredients there and there were rarely any troubles to hand either. And if there were, well the town guard could easily deal with them.
Then he headed out again, whistling once more. The tune was stuck in his head and he couldn’t stop it; normally that would have bugged him but right then he was beyond caring about it. He was that close to his ultimate power, immortality, (and a harem); he had most of the tools now, and just needed to start putting it together.
As he had expected, the farms were the place to go, with nothing more threatening to be seen than a rabbit showing up and they weren’t even vorpal, killer or mutant. Just plain little bundles of hopping fur. Various ingredients were available for the taking, not many, but in a wide variety; hops, grapes, sugarcane, berries, potatoes and more. Once more System logic came into play - crops weren’t restricted by climate, as would be expected, but by the needs of the [Brewer]. If he needed them for early progress in his class, then they would be available, whether in the deserts or valleys encircled by snowy heights.
He began picking, plucking, harvesting and digging, storing them away in pockets in his apron, until he could store no more. With no other [Brewers] to compete with, he had no trouble collecting what he needed.
Then it was back to the Troll Inn, and out the back, where he found a perfectly acceptable, if basic, [Brewer’s Workbench].
It was the work of moments, literally, to whip up the brews that Typ’sai had requested - just feed in the ingredients and out popped the booze. No wonder economies run by a System made no sense when you could mass-produce items so quickly and with almost no effort.
With the ones Typ’sai wanted, he went to work on more for his own needs, feeding them into his keg as he went. It was a most marvellous piece of interdimensional storage, able to hold more than it appeared it should have, and also keep the drinks from mixing as well.
When all the brewing was done, total time elapsed all of a couple of minutes, he returned to Typ’sai and handed over the drinks that she had requested.
“Oh thank you, [Brewer],” she gushed. “You have saved us. “Take this as thanks for your aid.”
YOU RECEIVE 1 SILVER
YOU RECEIVE 250 XP.
YOU LEARN TRAIT: ADVANCED BREWING
[Advanced Brewing]
While simple brews are enough to satiate the thirst of most, there are those with more refined palates, and for those, the [Brewer] has to devise more exquisite brews.
Effect: Advanced Brews Unlocked, Access to Research Brews
He had fully expected that he would have to travel elsewhere to learn Advanced Brewing, but no, he hadn’t needed to. And among the new brews unlocked was this beauty;
[Spiced Rum]
For when [Basic Rum] won’t cut it, this fine brew is treasured by sailors everywhere.
Effects: +1 BRAWN, +1 ENDURANCE, -1 GRACE, 3 DRUNKENNESS
Did they know what they had handed him? No, it appeared not. But they would soon find out.