“Well done, kid,” Josh said walking out of the sawmill. “Have you decided yet, what you want to make together?”
“Yep, I want to build a wagon,” Thaddeus replied.
“Oh, do you plan to specialize as a cartwright? That’s a highly profitable specialty, especially in the capital. Nobles love competing against each other with newer, bigger, and more ornate carriages,” Josh smiled.
“No, I plan to be a generalist. But I need a wagon to haul my tools and goods with me when I go to Pinewood City,” Thaddeus explained.
“Do you have any design ideas?” Josh asked.
Thaddeus had given it a lot of thought. Yesterday, at work he looked up different wagon designs. The design he liked most was the schooner-style covered wagon from the old west. But he wanted to update the wagon with a combination of his toolsmith and tanning skills. For example, he wanted to put a fifth-wheel running gear, spring suspension, hydraulic brakes, leather bench seating, and stairs on the tailgate of the wagon to make entry and exiting easier. He explained his design ideas to Josh.
“Hmm, interesting. How about we add a belly box under the body for your camping gear? We can also have it flair, just enough to sit barrel. Under the driver’s seat, we’ll add a jockey and glove box for any personal supplies. Wait, are you right-hand or left-handed?” Josh asked.
“Why?” Thaddeus asked curiously.
“It matters because we must add the mounted locking, hydraulic brake to your dominant hand side,” Josh explained.
“Left-handed,” Thaddeus explained as Josh erased and redrew the mounted brake to the left-hand side.
“How does it look?” Josh asked showing Josh the blueprint.
“It looks good, but I’d like it to be a little wider. How about we make the diver seat a walk around, that way I don’t have to climb up the tires, and I can get enter from the rear,” Thaddeus explained.
“Increasing the width is going to increase weight. How many horses do you plan to pull this wagon?” Josh asked.
“One, I’m hoping to buy the miller’s Clydesdale,” Thaddeus explained.
“I’ll talk to him, but it’s going to be costly. Even though ol’Betsy is old, she’s still got some years left on her,” Josh explained.
“But do you think she could pull the wagon?” Thaddeus asked.
“Oh, she could pull it all right, but ultimately it depends on the load you’re carrying,” Josh explained. “But for now, let’s concentrate on building the wagon box. We’ll use the pine lumber you cut for the wagon box and oak for the wheels. I’ll also teach you to make a mortise and tenon joint. It’s a durable joinery used in most cartwright construction.”
“Great let’s get started!” Thaddeus said excitedly.
Josh showed Thaddeus how to joint the excellent-quality pinewood for the wagon. Thaddeus started with the base of the wagon and slowly built up the sides of the wagon. Each step was done in careful detail. Working together they built the wagon box in a single day.
Just as they were finishing for the day, a system message popped up on Thaddeus’ display screen. The announcement repeated three times.
System Message: Global Announcement
Congratulations to Odin for being the first player to reach a city! Plus 10 gold and +5 fame
10 gold was a veritable fortune this early in-game. Power leveling certainly had its benefits.
System Message: Regional Announcement
Congratulations to Odin for being the first player to reach a city! Plus 10 gold and +5 fame
After getting rid of the notifications, Thaddeus was motivated to move on as well.
System Message: Local Announcement
Congratulations to Odin for being the first player to reach a city! Plus 10 gold and +5 fame
The next day, they started on the wheels and crates. Josh showed Thaddeus how to bend wood into wooden wheels and staves. Josh also instructed Thaddeus on how to make wooden spokes and axles from oak beams. The experience and instruction Thaddeus were invaluable.
On Wednesday, Roy held Thaddeus with metal fifth-wheel running gear, spring suspension, hydraulic brakes, metal frame for the leather bench seating, and link chains to hitch the horses and connected the tailgate to the wagon box. Thaddeus was able to make the rivets himself, but Roy had to help him forge a horse collar for the harness.
However, the leather harness was made with Alice’s help. She was all too happy to lend her support to his wagon. She helped Thaddeus make two durable harnesses, as well as soft leather bench seating inside the wagon box. After looking at the wagon, she suggested they also add a leather patted backrest and leather buckle to use as a rail for the tailgate. The black leather stood out beautifully against the tan pine.
The wagon itself didn’t have any flourish. The wagon was built for practical use and long-distance traveling. But the wagon itself was anything but normal. Most wagons didn’t have a fifth-wheel gear, spring suspension, hydraulic brakes, mounted locking shaft, or leather benches. The wagon was definitely one of a kind and showed up Thaddeus’ apprentice crafting abilities.
In real life, it would take six months to build a 4.5-foot wide by 12-foot long by 8 feet tall wagon. But with the time dilation, in-game Thaddeus was able to complete the wagon in two weeks. That put him two weeks behind Odin, a variable lifetime of combat and farming experience in the game. But Thaddeus wasn’t here to rush, he gamed to enjoy the slow life.
Before the wagon was even finished, he managed to level up to 10 and reached the apprentice level in woodworking, leatherworking, and toolsmith. He evened leveled woodworking up to adept. When he and Josh finally fastened the belly box to the undercarriage of the wagon, they celebrated with Roy and Alice.
“Hurry up laddie,” said Roy encouraging Thaddeus to tap a barrel filled with Dwarven Amber Ale. And Thaddeus happily obliged since he made the barrel and the spigot.
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“Cheers,” they yelled happily clinking their cups together.
Thaddeus noticed a notification had popped up after he’d finished the wagon.
System Message: Word’s First Bonus
Congratulations you are the first person to reach Apprentice in 3 Crafts: Woodworker, Leatherworker, and Toolsmith. Plus 10 gold, +5 fame, +1 hidden class
A hidden class, Thaddeus was thrilled. Hidden classes were unique, meaning only one person in the entire game could have the Artisan class.
System Message
New Active Skill: Artisan. At higher levels can imbue crafts with enchantments. The class level will reset to 1.
Stat Increase: +1 to INT, +1 WILL, +500 EXP
Level 1: Novice Level 1
Effect: Increased speed and accuracy to all craft classes, can learn craft skills at higher rates.
Cost: 10 WILL/second
The problem with hidden classes meant, Thaddeus went from Level 10 back to Level 1.
“It looks like we got another thing to celebrate. Congratulations on your new class! What can I say, I know how to pick apprentices,” Josh bragged.
Relationship Update: Josh the Carpenter
With your promotion to artisan, your favorability with Josh has increased from neutral to friendly.
+50 Favorably to White Pines Town NPCs
“Did you pick him, or did he choose us? We are all fortunate we go know our lad, here. Thaddeus, we know you’re leaving tomorrow, know you’ll be missed laddie,” Roy said.
Relationship Update: Roy the Blacksmith
With your promotion to artisan, your favorability with Roy has increased from neutral to friendly.
+50 Favorably to White Pines Town NPCs
And to Thaddeus’ surprise, the messages kept coming.
System Message:
Your favorability in White Pines Town has reached 150. You have met the Arcadia Empire residency requirement. Please see the nearest city administrator to register.
“Do you all know where the closest city administrator is?” Thaddeus asked.
“Sure, Pinewood City Hall. Why? Do you want to join our lovely town? Trying to run me out of business already?” Josh joked.
“No, I want a homestead,” Thaddeus explained.
“Now you want me to be a farmer? That explains you’re interested in crafting. You’re going to build a home and barn in some remote place, aren’t cha?” Roy asked.
Thaddeus nodded.
“Then you’ll need more than a wagon, you’ll need a plowshare, sickle, and an actual weapon, that axe is only good for cutting lumber, not beast,” Roy added.
“I’ve already killed wolves with this axe,” Thaddeus defended.
“Yeah, Level 1 to Level 5 wolves. You probably killed them through brute strength alone. You’ll need a battle axe where you're going,” Roy explained.
“And a set of leather armor, that Level 1 won’t protect you from beast nor a cold breeze,” Alice laughed.
Thaddeus looked at his inventory, he was still wearing the newbie clothing every new arrival had. Since he wasn’t interested in combat, he figured there wasn’t a need to chase after higher-quality gear. But looking at his ragged vest and beat-up boots, he was certainly in need of some new gear.
His inventory showed he was wearing:
Beige Cotton Shirt Sleeve Shirt
Level 1
+0 Defense Bonus
Beige Cotton Long Pants
Level 1
+0 Defense Bonus
Beige Cotton Long Pants
Level 1
+0 Defense Bonus
White Stockings
Level 1
+0 Defense Bonus
Leather Boots
Level 1
+0 Defense Bonus
Durability 2/10
Leather Vest
Level 1
+0 Defense Bonus
Durability 4/10
Thaddeus realized for the first time how pathetic his clothing truly was, he was certainly due for a new set of boots and a vest. Now that he had 10 gold, he also planned to buy that brown bear-skin cloak Alice had in her shop’s window.
“It’s settled. Why don’t you spend the next few days with Alice and Roy making the clothes and tools you need before you leave? I’ll talk to Mr. McGregor at the grain mill about selling Ol’Betsy. I’ll also talk to Mr. Jost at the general store. I’ll see about getting you some seeds and livestock for a good price. Just give me a couple of gold coins and I’ll take care of everything,” Josh said patting Thaddeus on the back. He had a wide, warm smile on his face that stretched from ear to ear.
Thaddeus split the next two in-game days between Roy and Alice’s shops. Alice gifted him some durable boar hide to use for his boots and vest. She also taught him how to bevel leather to create artistic patterns. Roy taught him how to forge and etch metal. The more he learned the faster the leveled his class.
System Message:
Congratulations to you’ve reached Level 2. You have 5 stat points to allocate
Messages kept coming, but Thaddeus ignored them as the concentrated on finishing his plowshare, armor, and battle axe.
System Message:
Congratulations to you’ve reached Level 3. You have 5 stat points to allocate
The plowshare was nothing special. It was a standard 10 feet plowshare, with an attached 6-foot steel spade. But the leather armor and battle axe he made were special. The heavy leather armor was brown suede that matched the color of his hair, with a wool lining, and had two front patch pockets, and copper buttons down the middle. And the heavy boots matched the vest. He also made a brown belt, with a copper buckle that had a grizzly bear walking in the woods etched on it. The detail and craftsmanship increased the level and defensive bonus to the apprentice rank:
Leather Boots
Level 63
+15 Defense Bonus
Durability 63/63
Leather Vest
Level 63
+15 Defense Bonus
Durability 63/63
The battle axe Roy helped him forge was Dwarvish design, but much larger. Instead of the two-head logger axe, he forged a one-side steel axe head. The axe head was attached to the handle in two places, allowing for Thaddeus’ bear frame to swing the axe securely. On the other side of the axe was a steel pic. This made the axe functional for battle, felling, or mining. He also forged a steel, round, Viking shield, with a bear etched on the cover. The concave shield had a leather lining with straps, which made it durable and comfortable. He could carry the shied like a backpack and comfortably rest the axe between himself and his shield.
Battle Axe
Level 65
+15 Damage Bonus
Durability 65/65
Steel Shield
Level 65
+15 Damage Bonus
Durability 65/65
After he finished crafting his vest, boots, axe, and shield he got a notification he leveled up.
System Message:
Congratulations to you’ve reached Level 5. You have 5 stat points to allocate