Helen stood at the altar as the boats of the Dragon Clan landed. She wore a pearl dress that she’d configured with an ability into a wedding dress. Most of the arriving soldiers ignored the other two armies making a separate camp but a contingent of elite warriors broke off heading straight towards them.
“Which of you is the Princess?” a thick massive man at the front said.
“I am,” Helen said raising her chin proudly.
The man stepped to the side revealing a much younger man in gold trimmed breastplate, greeves and bracers. He had long black hair tied back revealing a row of scales along his spine. A stripped animal pelt hung over his shoulders like a cape. He bowed to Helen taking her hand in his and kissing the back with courtly mannerisms.
“I am pleased to meet you Princess,” the man said. “I am Prince Atrel, son of the Dragon King.”
“I am Princess Helen of the Lunara Kingdom,” Helen said curtsying as her years of court training kicked in.
The barrel-chested man behind the prince grunted. “Enough pleasantries, I know your father insisted you learn the outsider’s customs, but we are here to seal an alliance.”
“This is Gustran,” Atrel said. “My father assigned him as my bodyguard, he is rough as sand but loyal as a dog.”
“And mean as one too,” Gustran said baring his teeth. “I’ve been sent to assure this alliance is forged before we give you any aid. Are you ready for the wedding?”
“I would have liked to have time to bring my mother here,” Helen said.
“By that time this battle will be over,” Gustran said. “My king wants your kingdom to recognize these forests as ours, with your backing giving us legitimacy we will stop the raids on you and your allies.”
“How nice of you to put an end to the threat you yourselves created,” Helen snapped.
“I’m sorry if you feel backed into a corner,” Atrel said. “This isn’t the way I’d like for us to form a relationship, but I am only a servant of my father.”
“You agreed to the terms Princess,” Gustran snorted. “If you back out now, we’ll head back to our ships and leave you to face the Warlord on your own.”
Helen took a deep breath. “No, my duty is to my kingdom and my goddess. I will do whatever it takes to see this threat eliminated.”
---
Remara left and I stood up and stretched. I began removing all my equipment, laying it out and inspecting it. I set down my weapons that I regularly used. My spearheads didn’t need examination and there were too many to even work on them all in the time I had before my battle.
My two clubs had served me well, but they weren’t magical although the claws did retain the laceration ability from the nemean lion.
Nemean Club: Type: Club, Rarity: Rare. Hardness: 8. A savage implement fashioned from a stone ability and the claws and bone of a nemean lion. This weapon retains the hardness and indestructible nature of the creature it was made from and the effect of one of its abilities has transferred over. The claws of this club will inflict the Laceration condition on any creature they puncture.
*Laceration: Targets wounds do not close when healed and will continue to bleed until the bleeding is staunched or the effect removed.
Durability:
15-15
I hadn’t done much to improve them in awhile and it was probably time to change that. Enchanting took time so I’d probably only have time to do one. Setting down my helmet I examined it as well.
Juggernaut Helm: Type: Helmet, Rarity: Epic. Hardness: 9 Made of dragon-steel and enchanted by master enchanter this helmet is stylized after the face of the legendary Siege Beast Galgemet. At the cost of thirty mana, you double your size for thirty seconds, your physical stats are increased by thirty for the duration and all your damage is increased by a minor amount. You suffer backlash at the end of this as your body recovers from the rapid increase and decrease to your Attributes.
Durability:
15-40
I hadn’t been checked it in awhile and I saw its durability had gone down by over half from where it had started. I have to fix that and hopefully upgrade it somewhat. I took off my rings and gauntlets to examine as well. I’d upgraded my gauntlets before to repair them, but I hadn’t had my title Divine Smith when I had done that.
Gauntlet of the Soldier (Left hand): Type: Armor, Rarity: Uncommon. Hardness: 14, Increases damage with one handed weapons by a minor amount, when paired with another gauntlet of the same type on the opposite hand will increase damage with two handed weapons by a moderate amount.
Made from a compressed metal alloy and empowered by a novice enchanter.
Durability:
22-30.
Its durability had only gone down a few points. That was a good sign that my gear would grow a lot stronger and would need less maintenance in the future. Examining my other gauntlet, I looked to see how much damage it had taken.
Gauntlet of the Soldier (Right hand): Type: Armor, Rarity: Uncommon, Hardness: 14, Increases damage with one handed weapons by a minor amount when paired with another gauntlet of the same type on the opposite hand will increase damage with two handed weapons by a moderate amount.
Made from a compressed metal alloy and empowered by a novice enchanter.
Durability:
24-30.
This gauntlet had taken a bit more damage, but it was my dominant hand so that made sense. Setting it down on the bench I examined my two magical rings.
Ring of Stoneskin: Type: Jewelry, Rarity: Rare. Hardness: 10 For the cost of forty mana, you can infuse your skin with granite like qualities. For the next three minutes you will take half damage from physical attacks and your skin’s hardness is increased by 6. Can only be used once per hour.
Made of pure granite and carved by a master Mason and enchanted by Journeyman enchanter.
Durability:
8-15
Ring of Auroch Strength: Type: Jewelry, Rarity: Rare, Hardness: 8, While wearing this ring your Might Attribute is increased by +3.
Made from the horn of an ancient Auroch and empowered by a journeyman enchanter.
Durability:
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11-20.
Both rings durability had gone down so I’d need to repair them as well. I pulled out an item I’d rarely used.
Mask of Winter’s Breath: Type: Scarf, Rarity: Rare. While wearing this scarf over your face you can breathe normally in heavy smoke, poisonous vapors or underwater.
Made from the fibers of lunar silk-worm and empowered by a journeyman enchanter.
Durability:
10-15
Its durability had only gone down a little but that was mostly because I hadn’t used it much. I’d tried using it in the cursed prairie but it hadn’t been able to filter out the pollen, probably because it was some ability rather than a natural effect. Unlike my other gear I had no way of repairing this since it wasn’t made of an earth element.
Cloak of the Forest Lord; Type: Cape, Rarity: Very Rare, Hardness 8, Crafted from the hide of one the Beast Lords of the past this cloak fills its wearer with bestial power and fury. When you kill an enemy while wearing this cloak you gain an instance of Blood Frenzy which lasts for three minutes and stacks with other instances of Blood Frenzy.
*Blood Frenzy; your damage is increased by a minor amount however your Perception Attribute is hampered as your vision turns red making it hard to tell friend from foe and you are filled with the singular desire to kill.
Durability:
7-40.
I’d been able to tell my cloak was getting damaged even without having to inspect it. It had always looked ragged but now it was less an aesthetic direction like ripped jeans and more torn and worn like used pair of socks. Unlike my mask I wore this all the time so it had taken a lot more damage in my fights, also like my mask I didn’t have a way to repair it. Considering how this fight was likely to go this might be my last battle wearing it one way or the other.
My pauldrons were indestructible, and I didn’t think I could even alter them. I’d just gotten the spirit cannon attached to it so it didn’t need any repairs. I laid out another piece of equipment, the first magical item I’d gotten but one I’d rarely used.
Shield of the Vengeful: Type: Shield, Rarity: Rare, Whenever struck with a melee attack on your shield a moderate amount of the damage taken is reflected back through the weapon to the arm of the attacker.
Made from a shadow steel alloy and enchanted by a journeyman enchanter.
Durability:
10 -15
It was a good item, but I had lacked the weight and strength to use it properly. I had those now but I wondered if I had the skill to use it effectively. Shrugging I decided to repair it, I’d find out tomorrow how useful it would be to me.
I decided to fix my helmet first, I planned on only using it my upcoming fight if absolutely necessary, the backlash was too severe to try and use like some ultimate and could easily get me killed instead of clinching a victory. Taking out a compressed ingot of rare metals, closing my eyes and focusing, I worked on fixing any cracks, dents or imperfections in the metal as I fused the ten pound ingot in with the rest of the helmet increasing its durability and hardness score. Opening my eyes, I examined it to see what changes I had made.
Juggernaut Helm: Type: Helmet, Rarity: Epic. Hardness: 16. This helmet is stylized after the face of the legendary Siege Beast Galgemet. At the cost of thirty mana, you double your size for thirty seconds your physical stats are increased by thirty for the duration and all your damage is increased by a minor amount. You suffer backlash at the end of this as your body recovers from the rapid increase and decrease to your Attributes.
Made of a compressed metal/stone alloy and enchanted by master enchanter
Durability:
45-45
It had gone from a metallic iron color to the same glossy black as my pauldrons thanks to some compressed obsidian I’d added into the mix. The helmet’s rarity hadn’t changed even with Divine Smith, I guess my work hadn’t been extensive enough for the system to qualify what I’d done as creating anything. It had really just been some maintenance, so I wasn’t upset although slightly disappointed. Setting it down I picked up my Ring of Stoneskin.
I got so lost in my fights I forgot to use this as often as I should. I resolved to be more diligent in its usage. I wouldn’t need a full ingot for this. Taking a nugget of compressed rare metal, I began working it through the ring. It didn’t take nearly as long and soon I held up the restored ring.
Ring of Stoneskin: Type: Jewelry, Rarity: Rare. Hardness: 16 For the cost of forty mana, you can infuse your skin with granite like qualities. For the next three minutes you will take half damage from physical attacks and your skin’s hardness is increased by 6. Can only be used once per hour.
Made of compressed metal and stone and enchanted by a master enchanter.
Durability:
25-25.
The rarity hadn’t gone up again although its hardness and durability had significantly increased which would hopefully mean it wouldn’t receive as much damage in the future. Just this one ring weighed almost an entire pound. I barely felt its weight with my super strength, but I imagined the extra weight behind any punches I made would be pretty effective. Slipping it on.
Doing the same my other ring I held up the hefty piece of jewelry.
Ring of Auroch Strength: Type: Jewelry, Rarity: Rare, Hardness: 16, While wearing this ring your Might Attribute is increased by +3.
Made from the horn of an ancient Auroch and empowered by a journeyman enchanter.
Durability:
25-25.
I slipped on the ring and moved onto my gauntlets. I’d already put a bunch of metal into them before so I just added some compressed obsidian. The dark smokey metal turned a glossy black like looking at midnight waters. Doing the same to both gauntlets I held them up to examine the changes even though I didn’t expect much.
Gauntlet of the Soldier (Left hand): Type: Armor, Rarity: Uncommon. Hardness: 16, Increases damage with one handed weapons by a minor amount, when paired with another gauntlet of the same type on the opposite hand will increase damage with two handed weapons by a moderate amount.
Made from a compressed metal/stone alloy and empowered by a novice enchanter.
Durability:
35-35.
Gauntlet of the Soldier (Right hand): Type: Armor, Rarity: Uncommon, Hardness: 16, Increases damage with one handed weapons by a minor amount when paired with another gauntlet of the same type on the opposite hand will increase damage with two handed weapons by a moderate amount.
Made from a compressed metal/stone alloy and empowered by a novice enchanter.
Durability:
35-35
The changes had been as expected so I moved on to the last piece of gear I could repair. Picking up my shield in both hands I grabbed two ingots of compressed metal with my telekinesis. I slowly infused the mana as I felt the imperfections and damage in the metal and merged the materials together. When I was done, I held up a shield the same glossy black color as my gauntlets, helm and pauldrons. Slipping all my gear back on I sat cross legged.
Levitating my preferred club into my hands I took a few nuggets from my inventory and made a pair of engraving tools. Normally I didn’t need to rely on tools since I could etch designs in directly with Compress Earth but this was bone not stone or metal so I’d have to do things the old fashioned way.
Slowly and painstakingly I began working on adding the fire-enchantment to each of my clubs claws. I could have added the bleeding enchantment, but the claws already had a similar effect. Rather than doubling down on one effect I wanted to broaden its usefulness. If something was resistant to bleeding I hoped the added fire damage would be effective and vice versa. It took five hours to finish the engraving. Finally, I ground the gemstone in my pedestal, holding my hand over the power I focused on adding my mana. When the crystals were glowing, I mixed in some water and brushed the mixture over the engraving. Wiping away the excess I let the mixture dry then held it up to examine. The runes along the claws glowed red and there was a heat haze around them.
Nemean Club: Type: Club, Rarity: Very Rare. Hardness: 8. A savage implement fashioned from a stone ability and the claws and bone of a nemean lion then enchanted by an apprentice enchanter. This weapon retains the hardness and indestructible nature of the creature it was made from and the effect of one of its abilities has transferred over. The claws of this club will inflict the Laceration condition on any creature they puncture. Deals a moderate amount of fire damage with each hit.
*Laceration: Targets wounds do not close when healed and will continue to bleed until the bleeding is staunched or the effect removed.
Durability:
15-15
My weapon had gone up in rarity, its hardness and durability hadn’t changed although it hadn’t taken damage in my entire time using it. Only another weapon made from nemean lion could damage it and I hadn’t seen another one of those yet.
Setting my club across my knees I began my meditation exercises. I didn’t need to be calm for this fight, I needed to be angry but I needed that anger tempered into a weapon rather than a wildfire. Breathing in and out heavily I felt the storm boil inside me. My nails dug into my palms drawing blood as my rage called for me to destroy something, anything, everything. All the injustice ever done to me fueled that rage and it was only amplified by my equipment, abilities and mutations.