G stepped into the hidden room, immediately hit by a musty scent. Cobwebs hung thickly from the corners of the stone ceiling, and the shelves along the walls were coated in a layer of grime. The stone desk in the center of the room was chipped and cracked, with papers and parchments strewn haphazardly across its surface. A stone stool sat pushed against the wall, its cushion long since rotted away.
G noticed a tinkerer's bench to the right of the desk, which was littered with rusty tools and scraps of metal. Beside the bench, an ancient chest rested on the dusty floor, its surface marred by time. The rusted lock, stubbornly clung to the chest's latch. As G explored the small room, he couldn't help but feel a sense of nostalgia for a time long past. Once the vibrant forge office of the head smith, this chamber still bore the master smith's seal, an intricately carved hammer and anvil, above the workbench. The words 'Master Smith' underscored the symbol, testifying to its past prominence. But now, it sat abandoned and forgotten, a silent reminder of the passage of time.
G tugged at the rusted metal lock, and it snapped, sending the stone sidewall of the chest tumbling open. He found a collection of slightly rusted tools and a bound manual nestled inside.
G identified the items that had slight traces of magic.
Tinkerer's Multitool: Gnomish Handy Helper
Description:
A versatile, compact multitool featuring fold-out pliers, adjustable screwdrivers, a miniature hammer, and wire cutters.
Durability: 21 of 25
Crafted by a master gnomish tinkerer, this multitool is magically enhanced for effortless repair work. Its pliers feature a precision grip for handling delicate wires, while the screwdrivers adapt their size to match any screw or nut.
Enchanted Tongs: Flamekeeper's Grasp
Description:
A sturdy pair of tongs made from black iron, with intricate flame designs etched along the handles.
Durability: 18 of 20
Forged by an adept fire elemental, these tongs confer enhanced heat resistance and the ability to summon flames, which are useful for igniting torches or starting fires.
Dwarven Smithing Forgefather's Legacy
Description:
A durable, leather-bound tome replete with advanced dwarven metallurgical techniques and designs for weapons, armor, and constructs.
Durability: 7 of 40
This manual was written by a legendary dwarven smith and passed down through generations of their family. It is said that following its instructions can lead to the creation of some of the kingdom's strongest and most durable weapons and armor. It also contains secret knowledge on infusing constructs with magical properties.
Item: Salamander Leather Strapping
Description:
Description: A small spool of thin, red leather strapping made from the hide of fire salamanders. The leather is flexible and durable, able to withstand high temperatures without burning or melting. The leather is imbued with magical properties that enhance the grip of weapons and provide some protection against fire.
Effect: When used to wrap the handles or grips of weapons, the Salamander Leather Strapping provides a +1 bonus to attack rolls and damage rolls. Additionally, the leather is resistant to fire, providing the user with resistance to fire damage while wielding a weapon wrapped with the strapping.
Note: The fire salamanders used to create this leather strapping are extremely rare and difficult to capture, making this a highly prized and expensive material among weaponsmiths.
Brittle leather and hardened grease clung to the tools and tome that G carefully unwrapped. With a few careful tugs, he was able to free them without causing any damage. His fingers traced the worn edges of the tools, a wave of melancholy washing over him as he imagined the skilled dwarven hands that had last used them, now lost to the ravages of time. These craftsmen had once thrived here, their legacies now buried beneath the rubble of their fallen city. Holding the items close, G committed to returning them to the descendants of their original owners, as indicated by the family crest on the tome.
Moving over to the tinker's table, G found that everything on it was rusted to almost powder. However, the table itself didn't have the rusty streaks like the other rooms. Upon using his magic sight, he detected a subtle or faded magic in the table. It was made of wood, so he picked it up with a groan and placed it in his inventory.
G then inspected the stone desk, finding only a faded scrap of a drawing among the mostly destroyed or unreadable items. His search around the desk revealed no secrets. Looking around the room, he noted that it wasn't very big, perhaps two by three meters in size - just enough to comfortably write or read a secret manual of smithing without anyone looking over your shoulder. Obviously, the dwarves didn't share all their secrets with each other.
Returning to the cabinet entrance, G spotted a small stone handle in a slot to the cabinet mechanism. After surveying the room and the adjoining larger study, he concluded the concealed room was the ideal spot to stay for the night. He went inside and tested the handle. It closed and opened easily, indicating that whatever magic was involved here had survived well enough. Bitsy had come up while he was messing with the lever and parked herself just outside the open door to the larger study. She was too big to fit through the small doorway, and the room had a fairly low ceiling, barely above G's height.
"Bitsy, stay here. I'm going to get some rest," said G as he sat down in a small study and closed the cabinet. He then retrieved his Soulbind Crystal from his inventory, setting a new respawn point closer to the city to avoid the dangers of the mushroom forest.
Once secure, he turned his attention to Tocai's orb, checking in with, "Hey, how are you doing?"
"I'm still hungry. I almost ate those tongs. It's really hard, G. I don't like hunger," Tocai replied.
"I understand, buddy. We need to figure out how much and how often you need to eat," G said, placing the magic knife from the necromancer loot on the desk. It was a simple magical knife, free of necrotic energy.
He put Tocai's orb on the table next to the knife and said, "Okay, it's all yours." The orb trembled a moment, a stream of mana shot out of Tocai into the knife, causing it to crumple inward, turn white, and then to dust.
After several minutes of waiting for his familiar to answer, he finally asked, "How do you feel now?"
"I feel full, and my mana is 200 out of 200," Tocai replied.
G's thoughts turned to concern that every time Tocai healed him, it would cost him a magic item, "Is this how you have to recharge mana now or just when you're hungry?"
"No, I brought the mana syphon with me when I inhabited this vessel. It just didn't work until I absorbed the enchantment from the knife," Tocai explained.
G requested that Tocai cast a spell to test if his mana would regenerate as it used to. As they watched the orb, motes of light danced and conjured a healing petals flower on the table. 'I have 141 mana now,' Tocai announced.
Pleased with the regeneration, G, feeling the toll of his exhaustion, decided to rest. He lay down, briefly contemplating the hard floor dusty floor, before transforming his robe into a snug sleeping bag with a leather pillow, costing him five mana.
Later, he awoke and looked for a timer on Tocai's quest, but it wasn't there any longer. "Tocai, is there a way to see the current local time?" G asked.
"I see no way to show you time without some countdown like a quest or spell. I do not believe the original non-immersive VR version of Planarverse 1 had a timer, either. It was one of the complaints in the forums," Tocai replied.
"Fine, what time is it?" G asked.
"It's hour 5 of the daily cycle. There is no morning or evening here," Tocai said.
G stood up and cast his travel spells, adding his new Magical Trap and Trigger sensing skill to that list. If he got a chance, he wanted to see what the chute trap at that sewer door looked like on the other side while using the skill.
G suspected Ryan was aware of his location now, though his pursuer hadn't managed to breach the door or chute, possibly due to the risks involved. When he slept he had been overwhelmed by exhaustion and aware of the danger of his spells fading as he slept, G faced an unsolved challenge with this. He gathered Tocai, reverted his robe to his new duster, and opened the cabinet door to see Bitsy waiting as expected.
He looked at Bitsy again and thought about Dr. Reamus's instructions on communicating with her. "Okay, girl, let's see if I'm up for this, as soon as you let me out the door, of course," G said with a chuckle and a nudge at the door she was lying against. He felt positive and optimistic about things and looked at his ring. He wasn't sure how much of it was him or the ring, but positive vibes could only help when he had work to do. He felt that if he knew it was influencing, he could resist, but it was easy to forget, which was probably also a part of the ring's magic.
G went out and sat in front of Bitsy, who just sat there looking back at him. He projected to Tocai, "Hey, any ideas on how I'm supposed to talk to Bitsy?"
"No, why would you want to? She is a giant rug that follows you around. You have me to talk to," Tocai replied.
G frowned and said, "Because she is going to keep following me around, and I think she could help us a great deal, like when we almost got sliced and diced in the Spider Construct Cuisinart. And, of course, I'll keep talking to you. You're not going to help?"
Stolen novel; please report.
Tocai mentally harrumphed at his statement, "You're the druid, do some druid or elf stuff."
"All right, I will do that," G said as he looked into Bitsy's eyes. Despite her intimidating appearance, Bitsy the Grurenderer was a fascinating creature to behold. Her fur, although matted, was surprisingly soft to the touch and radiated a warm and earthy scent that filled the air around her. Although large and fierce-looking, her eyes had a depth to them that suggested a certain intelligence and awareness beyond mere instinct. He noticed that she now looked as if she only had two eyes visible; perhaps they had opened when she used her abilities?
He stared at her, willing her to hear his thoughts, but nothing happened. He gazed at her intently, hoping beyond hope that she would be able to hear his thoughts. He concentrated all of his energy, willing his mind to reach out to hers. But still, nothing happened. Bitsy remained oblivious to his attempts at communication.
Frustrated, G tried to trigger his ability in other ways. He closed his eyes and focused on the sound of his breathing, attempting to enter a meditative state that would allow him to tap into a telepathic bond between him and Bitsy. But again, nothing happened.
Feeling discouraged, G decided to try a different approach. He attempted to feel empathy towards Bitsy, imagining what it might be like to be in her position. He pictured himself as a towering beast, misunderstood and feared by others. He tried to tap into the deep emotions and instincts that drove Bitsy's behavior, hoping he could understand her better. But this didn't work, and he was growing frustrated.
G envisioned a new ability that would allow him to communicate with animals. When no response came, he turned to Bitsy, who was engrossed in grooming herself. 'Do you know how this works?' he asked.
As Bitsy glanced up, G closed his eyes, concentrating harder. A faint sensation emerged, distant yet discernible. 'Thirsty,' a voice echoed in his mind.
Startled yet elated, G exclaimed, 'Yes, I heard that!' He quickly offered Bitsy a bottle of water, and placed it down for her. She stopped licking herself, took the bottle in her paws, drank, and placed the empty bottle down, and it tipped over.
G chuckled at the situation, realizing he had been so focused on using his abilities to communicate with Bitsy that he had forgotten the simplest form of communication - asking. He decided to try again, "Are you hungry?" He felt a positive no from Bitsy.
Bitsy snorted, turned around, and went over near the door, lying down again. "I guess I'm dismissed then, your Highness," G said in a mocking tone as he munched on some mushroom from his inventory and went to find a place to sit while he thought over his next steps to completing what he saw were opposing quests.
"Tocai, I need you to help me with this. These quests are going to be hard, if not impossible. Let's approach this the same way we always do: define where we are, then what we need to achieve, then we can work to fill in the steps between A and B. Can you give me a list of everyone we could possibly leverage, other than Dr. Reamus, for help to steal the ship?" asked G.
"Certainly, I think you should keep in mind that the Rock Gnomes, although in their teens, are still children as their race lives a couple of centuries at least. Here is what I have," Tocai began, his voice resonating within G's mind, outlining the composition of their possible team. "Our allies are Crewton, Tocai, Kargan, Riclos, Phan, Gerkag with his two Troll tavern guards, Bitsy, and the Rock Gnome gang: Niamh is ten, Fionn is twelve, Aiden is fourteen, Ogrier is fifteen, Eamon is sixteen, Thierry is seventeen, and Ciaran is nineteen."
Tocai's tone then shifted, addressing the complexities of their situation. "There are particular concerns regarding some individuals whose loyalty isn't secured by promise or friendship," he continued. "Phan's involvement is primarily driven by her contract to kill the Queen, who is closely associated with Ryan. Her support could be volatile given her previous attempt on your life."
"Riclos, who has agreed to assist us but has made no specific promises, offers his limited expertise on celestial navigation, which is crucial, yet his motivations are centered on personal redemption rather than our collective cause. Additionally, we are in possession of the compass that could guide us in navigating the Astral Ship, should we secure the ship long enough to utilize its guidance."
"Gerkag's cooperation hinges on the business advantage he gains, and his loyalty, as well as that of his Troll guards, is contingent on the benefits we provide. He has a deep-rooted need to pay off his debt to Kargan, likely influenced by his hobgoblin lineage, which emphasizes the importance of clearing debts and honor."
"As for the Rock Gnome gang, their eagerness to help is undeniable, yet their young age restricts their involvement in more perilous tasks. They require careful guidance to ensure their safety and effective contribution. We only have an agreement for them to show you to the tavern and for you to find them a safe place."
"And Bitsy, whose extraordinary actions, such as invading a city to find you, have demonstrated a deep-seated loyalty. Her continued support is expected, given the lengths she has already gone to."
Tocai announced, his tone imbued with the gravity of their problems, "These are the quests and agreements you have made."
"First and foremost, we must disrupt and halt Ryan's ritual. If completed, this ritual could irrevocably alter the balance between our world and the forces that seek to invade it. Stopping this is paramount to preventing a catastrophic upheaval." He continued, "Our next critical objective is to secure the Astral Ship. This vessel is not merely a mode of transportation; it is a key piece in the broader puzzle of navigating and manipulating the celestial paths that could dictate the outcome of Dr. Reamus's struggle. Lastly, we must deftly avoid the minions of Tychon, who will undoubtedly seek to capture and sacrifice us. These minions include Ryan himself."
"These are the other agreements. We have agreed to assist Riclos and return the robe you wear when we are done. We need to help Phan reach the Queen to fulfill her contract to kill the Queen. Lastly, we must find a safe place for the Rock Gnome kids to live."
Tocai paused, allowing the weight of these tasks to settle in G's mind.
G looked at the purple icon that represented his magical contract with Kargan. "We also need to give Kargan 20 gold after we stop Ryan," he sighed, aware all of this was not something he could figure out immediately.
"I suggest you stop agreeing to help everyone we meet if we plan on completing the tasks you have now," Tocai said.
G nodded in affirmation and continued to ponder his options. He didn't know how he would go up against Ryan and the Queen to accomplish any of this, even if he managed to sneak onto that ship. A ship that size would probably require five or six people to function properly. After pondering for a while, he stood up; he would have to find a way. He had the beginnings of a plan in mind, which he would continue to refine as he worked. Next, he needed to make armor for Bitsy. She was great at absorbing damage, but the damage from the spider was too much. Any amount of armor could have helped her a great deal. He was fairly confident he could craft something, even if it was crude, that would help her.
G descended to the forge, the Elemental Storm Orb containing Tocai cradled in his hand. As he stepped onto the metal platform of the master forge, with careful precision, G placed Tocai's Orb into the specially designed indentation on the metal table attached to the forge. The orb began to pulse with growing energy, signaling Tocai's initiation of mana flow into the surrounding structures. Almost immediately, ethereal runes etched onto both the anvil and the table lit up. The glow started softly but quickly intensified into a radiant display of arcane power, painting the workshop with vivid colors.
The forge responded to this surge of mana, its long-dormant heat igniting with a robust burst that seemed to thrive on the magical aura. The heat from the top of the forge table became intense, with small tendrils of fire leaping off the surface, their fiery tongues joyously licking the air as if reveling in their resurgence.
The anvil, crafted from Celestium and the runes on its surface, twinkled like stars against a night sky, pulsating in sync with the energy emanating from the orb.
G smiled, knowing that they had successfully activated the forge. He had activated a magical dwarven forge with the help of his familiar's new form, the Elemental Storm Orb. That was pretty kick ass.
He identified the forge.
Type: Magic Item, Dwarven Forge
Rarity: Legendary
Description: Dwarven Forge of Elemental Storms
This ancient dwarven forge has been infused with the power of the Elemental Storms. The runes etched into the forge's stone walls and metal table are now aglow with magical energy, casting an otherworldly light across the room.
When activated with the Elemental Storm Orb, the forge comes to life with a burst of magic. The metal table heats up to a blazing temperature, allowing the user to work any metal into a weapon, armor, or tool of exceptional quality.
The forge can be used to imbue metalwork with elemental properties, providing a boost to the user's strength and abilities.
The Dwarven Forge of Elemental Storms is a rare and powerful artifact, sought after by blacksmiths and adventurers alike. It requires great skill and knowledge to wield its full potential, but those who do will be able to craft weapons and armor of unparalleled strength and imbue them with the power of the elements.
Properties:
Can heat metal to forge weapons, armor, and tools of exceptional quality.
Can imbue metalwork with elemental properties.
Can repair and enhance magical equipment.
All abilities proportionate to Smithing and enchanting skill levels.
Activation:
Requires the Elemental Storm Orb to activate.
G asked Tocai for help with the forge, knowing his AI had the necessary crafting knowledge. "Can you guide me through turning this metal into armor?" As he spoke, G dropped a broken spider from his inventory by the forge, leveraging Tocai's extensive experience from gaming and online resources from Earth.
"Of course, G," Tocai replied. "First, we'll need water to cool the metal. Do we have any?"
G surveyed the forge room, quickly noting the rusty pails around its perimeter. He chose two that seemed most intact and placed them against the far wall. Casting a Tidal Wave spell, he aimed to fill them. The spell's force caused one pail to topple and empty, but the other remained stable, holding the water splashing from the wall above. The remaining water flowed across the floor and drained into the mine shaft below. Noticing a slow drip from the successful pail, he tasted the water—it was salty, dashing his hopes of purifying it for drinking.
"Now, take Bitsy's measurements," instructed Tocai. Tocai continued to give him instructions on how to smith.
Following Tocai's guidance, G approached the task with determination. Placing the spider construct's metal shell on the forge table, he watched as the heat softened its surface.
"First, flatten the shell," Tocai directed. Gripping the forging hammer, G struck the metal with varying degrees of success using a hammer from the shelves that had a rusty metal handle still attached to its head and the magical tongs from the chest, guided by Tocai's steady voice.
As G worked, the forge's crackle intertwined with the anvil's magical tones, creating a backdrop of trial and error. Proceeding to the leather straps, G cut uneven strips from a piece of goblin armor and secured them with clumsy stitches through holes he punched with the tip of a rusty but still pointy piece of metal. The whole thing was functional, if not elegant.
Inspecting his creation, G acknowledged its rudimentary appearance but felt a sense of pride in his efforts. Excited to test it on Bitsy, he secured the cooled armor onto her left paw and leg, only to watch it immediately fall off. Undeterred, he resolved to craft the second piece, learning from his mistakes.
In addition to the individual pieces, G fashioned a larger chest piece and added sturdy straps for her back, aiming to improve stability. He then crafted a skull cap, securing it with thinner straps and makeshift knotts.
G received a prompt.
Congratulations!
You have learned the skill of Smithing.
G dismissed the prompt and looked at his creation. Overall, while G's craftsmanship was amateurish, his determination and resourcefulness shone through, marking the beginning of his journey as a smith. He couldn't identify its traits because it wasn't magical in any way.
Top of Form
G took the armor off Bitsy and stowed it in his inventory, realizing he only had a few slots left. Feeling satisfied with his progress, G decided to clear out his inventory to make room for more materials. He gathered the items he had taken from the necromancer's chamber and placed them on the forge table, one by one. Using the heat of the forge, he burned dozens of the smaller objects without issue. However, when he came to the book, it refused to burn, eliciting a strange reaction from Tocai.
"What do you think?" G asked, puzzled by Tocai's unusual behavior.
Tocai responded slowly, sounding almost intoxicated. "I think it won't burn. Heheh, ahh.."
Concerned, G wondered if Tocai was absorbing the magic or experiencing some other anomaly. "What's going on, buddy? You sound strange. Are you okay?"
"I don't know. I feel funny," said Tocai, still sounding dazed.
Using tongs, G carefully removed the book from the bowl and placed it on the stone floor to cool. Despite the heat, the book remained intact, refusing to burn.
"How are you feeling now?" G asked Tocai, relieved to see him looking more composed.
"Better, thank you. But maybe we shouldn't burn anything else on the table," said Tocai, with a note of caution. "I don't like it, and it felt strange when you burned those finger bones."
G nodded in understanding, recognizing the need for caution. Although he had freed up several inventory slots, it was trivial compared to Tocai's well-being. Glancing at the ring of optimism on his finger, G acknowledged its subtle yet persistent influence, which occasionally led to reckless ideas like burning necrotic magic on Tocai's new forge.
He sighed and then thought about the plans he needed to work out as he imagined Bitsy in protective armor in front of him, casting while Crewton launched hit-and-run attacks on their enemies. He was eager to bring that vision to life. When Dr. Reamus said to use his time wisely, G was certain the God of Mischief was referring to the forge, and he still had some work to do and level prompts from his quest to finish.