As I exit the public bath I run into Kira, looks like she got here before me but took her time. I am very surprised that men's' and women's' baths are separate. It is not like there is any emphasis on modesty in this world. Could be a safety measure. As I start morning greetings with Kira, she asks me what my plans are. I say that I am planning to go to the Guild to register for the two tournaments I am taking part in. "Ok, I will let the other girls know, we will meet you there later." Kira sees no reason to join me and leave the others behind.
Outside the main Guild building I find a number of tables with corresponding queues. Looks like I need to register at two different tables for the two different tournaments. I aim for the spear melee table first. Since the copper tournament is almost done, the queue is a lot shorter than the one for archery. As I get to the front of the queue I identify myself and confirm my level. The young lady at the counter informs me that the notice boards will contain detail on what group I am in early in the morning on the first day.
As I am queuing for the archery signup the girls arrive. I am starting to see why Kira was in no hurry to join me for signup. All I have done since we parted is stand in a queue. For the remaining wait at least I now got some company. It is almost noon by the time I register for the archery. As I finish I notice the full set of leather armor on display behind the archery stand. One of the hunters informs me that it is the first price for the archery competition.
Not that I really have a clue about what is normal in this world, but it seems like decent price, according to one of the hunters it is probably worth several small gold coins. Equipment bought with gold is usually very good. Most equipment is bought with silver. Considering that frontline fighters are the priority for armor, archers rarely wear any decent armor. No wonder so many people signed up for the archery. If nothing else there would be a lot of prestige for an archer wearing that armor.
From the conversations with other hunters near the archery booth, I can glean that archers are not viewed as highly as melee hunters. I guess you can only do so much damage to a strong beast with arrows. In a hunter party, the archers are more there to distract than to deliver the killing blow. Considering that their effective contribution to the fight will be less they will likely attract less life force. Considering the quality of the price someone at the guild might be trying to raise archery to more prominence. I don't see any other prizes on display.
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As I look around, I notice that the girls have drifted off on their own while I was talking to the other hunters about the archery prize. With no other plans for the day I follow the flow of people to another open space near the guild buildings. The sight I see reminds me of a school science fair. Stall and tables are littered around the space with groups of people demonstrating various non-combat skills and crafts. Considering how stingy some hunters can be with teaching their skills to others this is just what I have been hoping to find.
I keep an eye out for any stall that demonstrate magic, since that is the main reason for me coming to the tournament. From one of the stalls near the edge of the clearing I can hear a familiar sound. Some guild members are showing off their blacksmith skills. Analyze quickly tells me that I have little to learn from staying, and I drift off. Similarly I find stall showing off fletching and bow making. I reckon I can make better arrows and bows than the ones being made in front of me. Another stall seems to be making some strange looking items using mana stones. As I approach I feel rather than see the use of magic.
Though the items being made are very basic with mostly unidentifiable practical uses, I spend a long time studying what they are making, as I have found a magic tool maker for the first time. The only tool I recognize is a medieval magic lighter. Not very useful if you know a bit of fire magic like me and Kira, but for those without any fire magic skills, it looks useful. At least the ones he are making are selling as soon as he finishes making them. Reminiscing, I conclude that it would have been really nice to have one when I first arrived here, but now I don't need one.
I stayed at the magic toolmaker's stall until I got a good grasp of the skills he was demonstrating. By then it was late afternoon. Wonder if anyone else can learn this as easily as I am? Probably not, my analyze skill fills in the gaps and makes it easier to organize what I am learning. Though I am not in need of a magic lighter, I am sure I can adapt some of the other techniques for something else with some experimentation, but now I am starving, and I really should try to find the girls.