Ah! Where am I? Last thing I remember was jugging that concoction that I made. Maybe I should have listened when they said not to mix those drinks together. It looks like I’m in some house lying in some kind of bedding between Matt and John.
They both look exhausted, but the real problem is… They are snoring too damned loud. I slowly got up and looked around.
I saw Holly and Lydia sharing a bed in the room we’re in. I got up and looked in the other room to see Elizabeth on some similar bedding to us next to Iroh and Eleanor’s bed. But, I couldn’t see where Brenner was. Also why were we still logged in? Brenner should have logged out when we all went to bed.
Well I mean when he was going to bed I had already passed out at the very beginning to much my dismay. But, still, he should be here so where is he?
I exit the house to see if he went outside to relieve himself. He should be around here. If he wasn’t we’d probably receive some sort of penalty if when was outside of the 5 km radius from us like that guy said at the beginning. Taking a look around outdoors in the morning twilight gave me no sign of him, but I did see the townspeople getting to work with some wielding some ridiculous weapons and forming up into some kind of hunting party.
‘Growl’
Ah I guess I should get something to eat myself I didn't have that long last night to eat. It was quite the shame to I swear I could have eaten another two plates of food at the least.
I start walking around looking for food as I didn’t want to wake up our hosts just yet and found a small clearing on the outskirts of the town that held what looked to be a forge. Next to the forge a young man was tending to a small flame that burned under a steaming pot. He must be making something to eat while his forge warms up. Don’t mind if I join in! I made my way down to the boy and gave him a warm hello.
(T) “Hey boy warming up the forge for a hard day's work?”
“Ahhh, ah yes sir!”
(T) “Calm down boy I just came by to see what was cooking around here. When I saw you cooking next to your forge I decided to join and see what you were making. I’ve never seen an actual forge before, but I’ve always wanted to use one to forge my own armaments.”
“Wait? A dwarf like you has never been around a forge before?”
(T) “Yeah I’ve always been stuck in an academic setting. They weren’t real into weapon and armor manufacturing.”
“Sounds like your home was really peaceful. I envy you.”
(T) “Don’t kid it just leads to backstabbing and pent up frustrations that got me into trouble. Anyways what you cooking?”
“Just a simple porridge I make in the morning while the forge heats up. You wish to join me when it heats up to forge some orders I have?”
(T) “Sure not like I got anything else to do this morning.”
“Great it’ll be a pleasure to work with you. My name is Jerome nice to meet you.”
(T) “Name’s Teage and it’ll be a pleasure to work besides you.”
After the meal warmed up and eaten (which was quite delicious). He went inside the forge and added some more fuel to his hearth and then proceed to pump the bellows for a few minutes before adding some ingots to the fire before proceeding to pump the bellows a bit more before turning to me and asking.
“Could you pump the bellows for me while I get my tools ready.”
(T) “Sure thing.”
I pumped the bellows up and down and before I knew it I fell into a rhythmic pattern that felt natural. Which felt weird but oddly satisfying since this was my first time using a forge that I could remember. Jerome had gotten his hammer and tongs after putting on some heavy leather gloves.
Using the tongs he retrieved a ingot from the hearth and proceeded to hammer it into the shape he wanted. Using strong heavy movements he hammered it until it cooled off too much for him to work with and proceeded to put it back in the hearth to heat back up. He repeated this process with the other ingots he had set in the hearth. Before I knew it we had fallen into a rhythmic pattern of hammering, and reheating that was only interrupted by the occasional need to add more fuel to the flames. When he was finally happy with what we had gotten done so far he stopped and said we were going to take a break.
We went outside and to my amazement the sun was already halfway up in the sky. With everyone about doing their work. Jerome poured two cups of water from a barrel that stood just outside the forge and offered me a drink.
I accepted his generosity gladly parching my throat after working under the heat of the forge greedily drinking another cup after guzzling down the first in quick succession.
“You were a great help Teage usually it takes me about two days to do that much work.”
(T) “Why are you the only blacksmith? Surely there is enough work around here to require more than one.”
“Nah most of the warriors use their fists or bodily features instead of weapons. I mostly just make knives and farming implements. Occasionally I’ll make the odd jewelry on request, but for the most part I don’t really make weapons and armor.
The monsters here have stronger hides than what I can forge with the metal I use. They usually break or shatter and it’ll take me a couple of days to fix and when there became more weapon repairs then I could keep up with and people became stronger then the weapons I could make. I got relegated to simple tool making and the odd sharpening. We’ve managed to find some magical weapons that have held up so far and I’ll occasionally be asked to sharpen and maintain them.”
(T) “You can’t make strong enough weapons and armor?”
“No. No one here has enough knowledge in metallurgy or mining to make anything better. Most of the metal I’m working with came from an old treasure trove. There were tons of rusted weapons stashed there and I smelted the old decrepit weapons into the iron ore that we use.”
(T) “So you haven’t actually mined for any ore?”
“Nope. I don’t know where to begin to look for ore and we don’t have the facilities to utilize better ores. Also I’m usually kept busy enough that I haven’t had much free time to even explore for ore.”
(T) “I see. That’s a real shame. A good weapon and set of armor are more than worth their weight in gold if done right.”
(T) “Yeah it’s just that I never did finish my apprenticeship and so I’ve just been improvising all these years.”
“Do you somehow know any secret techniques or process and knowledge of metallurgy?”
(T)“It’s weird I feel like I have some knowledge but I can’t remember where I learned or what I know.”
“So kind of like reflexive muscle memory?”
(T) “I guess but I’m not sure.”
“Want to try forging something then.”
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(T) “I’d be willing to try. Maybe it will trigger some kind of memory relapse.”
“First let's go get some lunch I’m starving then while I sharpen and polish the blades you can try making your own weapon and we’ll see how you do and go from there.”
As we made our way towards town to get some stuff for lunch I saw John come towards us carrying a basket of food. He waved to us and approached us with his large smile like he usually approached things.
I wondered what he has been up to to receive all that food he now has. What was weird was how Jerome suddenly tensed up upon seeing him. He just went a little stiff like he’d seen a ghost before instantly correcting himself and returning back to his usual pace and posture. I’ll ask him about it later but first let's see what John has for us to eat.
(J) “Hello Teage what a wonderful day today is it not! I was wandering about town and decided to help out these fine people with their household aliments to the best of my abilities and after helping reroof someone's home they rewarded me with this most divine lunch to feast upon. Would you care to join me in enjoying this fine meal she prepared for me.”
Of course he helped out a woman in need he’d always stop whatever he was doing to help out someone in need (especially women). Luckily for me they appeared to have at least rewarded him for his efforts instead of leaving him without even thanking him.
That was a vast improvement I’d have to say. Maybe it’s just because he’s a new face around here and they wanted to hit on him though.
(T) “Sure if you can spare enough for a third”
I pointed to Jerome who was besides me.
(J) “The more the merrier nice to meet you my name is John.”
“Jerome. Nice to meet you.”
He did it again to my surprise. Wincing as he shook hands with John after exchanging names.
“I’m sorry I forgot that I needed to deliver an order real quick. I’ll be back right after though and we can work on that weapon afterwards. But I’ll have to miss your lunch sorry John.”
(J) “It's perfectly okay. It's important to keep your priorities straight so I guess I'll See you around Jerome.”
Jerome then made his way back to the forge while I was left with John and some lunch to keep me company. We made our way to the edge of the forest looking for some shade to escape from the sun as it rose high into the sky.
(T) “That was weird why did he act like that when you came by?”
(J) “I don’t know. A bunch of people have been like that to me. The only ones who haven’t been weird around me are the stern older people and the younger kids around here. It's weird but not that big of a deal. Anyways have you seen Brenner. He wasn’t with us when we woke up. I was coming by the forge to see if you were following the stereotype and trying to make some dwarven armaments. Since we didn’t know were you were.”
(T) “No I haven’t seen the kid he wasn’t there when I woke up either. He should be around here though so I guess we'll see him around eventually.”
(J) “Yeah I guess you’re right. So how was the forge?”
(T) “It was a good experience. What was weird was how natural all the movements came and how it felt like I’d done the movements many times before. I can’t remember ever have stepping in a forge or even Brenner stepping into one. The only time he has even seen a forge was that one time at a trappers rendezvous.”
(J) “That is strange … did you make anything?”
(T) “No I just worked the bellows while he made some knives. I’m going to be the one forging this afternoon. So I hope his errand doesn’t take to long.So what are Matt and Elizabeth up to?”
(J) “Elizabeth went with Eleanor to help babysit some kids while Matt went with Holly to go see their resident mage who teaches the older kids magic and basic reading, writing, and arithmetic.”
(T) “Sounds like they're having fun.”
(J) “Huh why do say that? It sounds quite boring and tedious to me.”
(T) “Elizabeth likes taking care of kids, and Matt always liked learning new things so he should be occupied for a while. So what do you plan on doing next?”
(J) “I don’t know maybe I’ll practice using those weapons we found yesterday so that when you make some good weapons I’ll be able to wield them properly. We’ll need to talk to Brenner though tonight and figure out what's going on. Because we should have been automatically logged out once the user falls asleep.”
(T) “So you think he pulled an all nighter.”
(J) “I don’t know that’s why we need to have a talk with him and figure out what's going on.”
(T) “I guess I’ll see you later then. Thanks for the lunch by the way. If you see Brenner around get someone to come by and let me know.
(J) “Alright see you later.”
This is disconcerting. What could have happened to Brenner? I know he’s fine and nearby but not where or why. He hasn’t been seen around and from what we know we shouldn’t be in the game still.
All players are logged out if they fall asleep in the game, and he’s not one to stay up all night long. I don’t like this and what the implications could be, but until he’s found there isn’t much we can do. I guess I’ll go back and see if Jerome is back yet.
As I make my way back I hear a sweet song flowing across the wind that felt reinvigorating. I couldn’t make out the words, but the song seemed to flow over me and I felt entranced by its beauty. Unconsciously I made my way to its source and to my surprise I found myself looking at Elizabeth. Who was singing to a kid who had fallen over and hurt himself near the edge of the forest. The weird thing was the kid’s skin was slowly growing back and after a minute the wound was just gone.
The kid had fallen asleep as a result of her singing and was resting against her blissfully asleep. Elizabeth then looked up to me and seemed quite embarrassed that she had been overheard. Not like I cared. If she had that nice of a voice she should have song for us. I’m actually a tad bit irritated that this kid got to hear her sing first.
(T) “Nice voice you got there Elizabeth.”
(E) “Thanks.”
(T) “So you can use magic?”
(E) “No! Why do you say that?”
(T) “Well that kid’s wound is already gone.”
(E) “What!”
She then looked at the kid’s body and saw that his wound was gone without so much as a scar. She seemed surprised at this fact more than anything.
I guess when she started singing she unconsciously weaved magic into her voice creating a healing aura. I didn’t know much about magic to guess the details, but I could bet that this is a very rare thing and very good for us. Having a healing bard who can sing well is an awesome improvement now whenever we get hurt we’ll get to hear her sweet voice. SCORE!!!
(E) “Anyways. What are you doing right now?”
(T) “Me I’m currently helping the blacksmith make tools for the village.”
(E) “So what are doing over here.”
(T) “I was taking a lunch break as he had to deliver an order. I’m headed back to the forge now to try my hand at making weapons.”
(E) “Why would we need weapons.”
(T) “What do you mean Elizabeth you saw what's out there we need to prepare ourselves for them.”
(E) “Why though why must we kill things inside this game. I finally have my own body now and I don’t want to risk it fighting monsters. I wish I could take this body out of the game and have fun in the real world!”
(T) “You know that's not possible Elizabeth we don’t exist outside Brenner’s head and as such we should help him however we can. Whether it be fighting or otherwise.”
(E) “Why though? Why are we stuck inside of his head.”
(T) “Already questioning your life?”
(E) “Yes. I just want to know why are we there and how did we all come about. We are all so different yet share the same body and if the game is right we also share the same soul. I … I don’t know what to think of this.”
(T) “Then don't think about it just enjoy yourself. That's what I plan on doing. I’m going forge the best weapons and armor and drink good alcohol around people I enjoy being around. I'm not going to worry about the small things and enjoy live as it comes by. So get that kid back to the others and make sure you don't waste another second worrying about that stuff we'll deal with it as it comes together.”
She stays silent and slowly nods as she gets up holding the kid in her arms. Making her way back towards the other kids I smile. She's a good lass but she needs to learn to relax a bit more.
This is a new experience for all of us and for better or worse it has many implications for the future. I just hope they aren’t to big.
As I make my way back to the forge I see Jerome making his way there as well. Having finished his delivery he seemed deep in thought of what I couldn’t tell, but I’m guessing it has something to do with John.
(T) “Ready to get to work Jerome.”
“Yeah just give me a second to get some water.”
Now it’s time to see if I can make anything decent from this forge I can’t wait to get to work.
‘Enter super awesome forging montage here’