Jack remembered from the videos he had watched that an awl was usually used for making holes in the hide. Jack figured his tusk knife could serve the same purpose here. Of course, first he had to actually cut it. Using his knife, Jack began cutting the hide into the desired shapes, taking care to follow the natural contours of the animal's skin. Once he had all the pieces cut out, he used his knife to punch holes along the edges of each piece.
Now he needed a needle. Jack had been thinking about what he could use to thread the fibers and, as it happened, he had just what he needed. Taking out the antler fragments that had broken off, Jack carefully examined them for a suitable shape. He needed something with a sharp point to pierce through the hide and an opening large enough to thread the fibers through.
After some searching, Jack found a small antler fragment that seemed to fit the bill. It had a tapered end that he could sharpen to a point, and a natural groove along its length that could serve as the eye of the needle.
Using his knife, Jack carefully sharpened one end of the antler fragment to a fine point. He then used the tip of his knife to widen the groove along the length of the fragment, creating a small opening that would allow him to thread the fibers through.
Once the makeshift needle was ready, Jack threaded the Spinegrass fibers through the eye of the antler fragment. It took some patience and careful maneuvering, but eventually he managed to get the fibers through.
With his needle and thread prepared, Jack set to work stitching the pieces of hide together. He carefully overlapped the edges of each piece and used the improvised needle to sew them in place, ensuring a secure and sturdy fit.
It was slow and meticulous work, but Jack was determined to do it right. As he stitched, he couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction at seeing the armor take shape under his hands. He had enough material to cover his chest, shoulders, and legs. When each piece was finally ready the sun was already past its midpoint, casting a warm glow over the landscape as it began its slow descent towards the horizon. Jack wiped the sweat from his brow and surveyed his handiwork with a sense of pride. Jack paused to examine his notifications before Identifying the completed pieces of hide armor laid out before him.
[Congratulations! For successfully crafting 3 pieces of armor on your first attempt you have gained the skill Armor Crafting]
[Armor Crafting
Rarity: Uncommon
Type: Passive
Level: 1
Description: Increases efficiency when crafting Armor of all kinds. Chance to improve armor rarity and quality increases with skill level.
Note: Skill level can be increased through use.]
[Congratulations! You have gained the Skill Leatherworking]
[Leatherworking
Rarity: Common
Type: Passive
Level: 1
Description: Increases efficiency when working with leather. Chance to improve product rarity and quality increases with skill level.
Note: Skill level can be increased through use.]
[Congratulations! Leatherworking has gained a level]
[Congratulations! Leatherworking has gained a level]
[Congratulations! Armor Crafting has gained a level]
[Crude Hide Chestguard
Type: Light Armor
Rarity: Common
Quality: Average
Material: Starlight Stag Hide, Spinegrass Fibers
Properties: None
Description: A basic chest piece crafted from the sturdy hide of a Starlight Stag. Despite its simple design, this armor provides essential protection for the wearer's torso, offering defense against slashing and piercing attacks. Crafted by Jack, a Novice Leatherworker, this chest piece represents his first attempt at creating armor. While not the most advanced or ornate piece of equipment, it serves as a solid foundation for future works.
Attributes:
Defense: +5
Durability: 50/50
Weight: Moderate
Stat Boosts: None
Resistances: None
Special Effect: None
Requirements: None]
[Crude Hide Shoulder Guards
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Type: Light Armor
Rarity: Common
Quality: Below Average
Material: Starlight Stag Hide, Spinegrass Fibers
Properties: Retains a small amount of Starlight Stags innate speed
Description: Simple shoulder guards crafted from the durable hide of the Starlight Stag. These guards provide additional protection for the wearer's shoulders and upper arms, deflecting blows and reducing the impact of incoming attacks. They give a small boost to the wearers speed.
Attributes:
Defense: +3
Durability: 40/40
Weight: Light
Stat Boosts: + 1 Agility
Resistances: None
Special Effect: None
Requirements: None]
[Crude Hide Greaves
Type: Light Armor
Rarity: Uncommon
Quality: Average
Material: Starlight Stag Hide, Spinegrass Fibers
Properties: Retains a small amount of Starlight Stags innate magic resistance
Description: Sturdy leg guards crafted from the durable hide of a Starlight Stag. These greaves offer protection for the wearer's lower legs and shins, shielding them from cuts, bruises, and other forms of injury. Gives a small amount of magical protection.
Attributes:
Defense: +4
Durability: 45/45
Weight: Moderate
Stat Boosts: None
Resistances: + 3% Light Resistance
Special Effect: None
Requirements: None]
[Crude Hide Boots
Type: Light Armor
Rarity: Uncommon
Quality: Average
Material: Starlight Stag Hide, Spinegrass Fibers
Properties: None
Description: Sturdy boots crafted from the hide of a Starlight Stag. These boots offer protection for the wearer's feet.
Attributes:
Defense: +4
Durability: 45/45
Weight: Moderate
Stat Boosts: None
Resistances: None
Special Effect: None
Requirements: None]
The skills and level ups were nice but the armor itself was the real prize even if the System deemed his efforts Crude. Jack carefully donned the armor, securing each piece to his body with laces made from tough strands of Spinegrass. When the armor was fully equipped, Jack couldn't help but feel a sense of accomplishment. Sure, the armor wasn't the most advanced or ornate, but it was his creation, crafted from the hide of an animal he had hunted down himself.
He checked what his status looked like with the armor equipped.
[Name: Jack
Race: Direborn
Exp: 442/700
Level: 7
Class: N/A
Profession: N/A
Path: N/A
Strength: 27
Agility: 25(+1)
Dexterity: 18
Wisdom: 6
Intelligence: 5
Charisma: 2
Constitution: 15
Endurance: 15
Health pool: 150/150
Mana pool: 30/30
Stamina: 150/150
Attunements: N/A
Skills: Identify (Level 5), Awareness (Level 1), Skinning (Level 3), Woodcarving (Level 1), Weapon Crafting (Level 1), Alchemy (Level 2), Tracking (Level 5), Water Magic (Level 2), Swimming (Level 3), Leatherworking (Level 3), Armor Crafting(Level 2)
Spells: Fluid Grace, Ice Dagger, Conjure Water
Titles: Favored of the Alpha
Resistances: Water (12%), Light (3%))
Abilities: Savage Roar, One with the Elements, Empathic Shielding, Mental Link]
Jack had intended to use the antlers to craft a sort of helmet or crown, but seeing the results of his handiwork made him pause. The armor was functional but not amazing. Perhaps he should wait until his crafting Skills improved before working on that.
Goldeyes padded over, his eyes gleaming with curiosity as he inspected Jack's new armor. The wolf's mental presence conveyed his interest in Jack's craftsmanship and the practicality of the armor.
“Jack harder to hurt now?” he projected. Jack grinned at Goldeyes' inquiry, nodding in affirmation. "Yes, Goldeyes," he replied mentally, "with this armor, I'll be better protected against dangers out there." He patted the sturdy chestguard, feeling a surge of confidence in his newly crafted gear.
Goldeyes' tail wagged in approval, his mental presence radiating pride. "Good," he projected, " Feel safer with Jack stronger."
Jack chuckled softly at his companion's sentiment. "This is only the beginning, buddy," he said, his voice filled with gratitude. "Together, we'll conquer whatever challenges come our way."
Now that he was finally properly armed and armored, Jack decided it was time to do some more exploration. He had a fairly good map in his head of the area they were in, where the pool was in relation to the Edible Glowleaves etc. He asked Goldeyes to stay with the pup since he wasn’t sure how long he would be gone. The wolf protested but, in the end, Jack managed to persuade him that the pup needed him more right now.
Heading east, Jack set off. After about two hours of walking Jack began to realize that armor had a downside to it. It got HOT! As sweat began to trickle down his back, Jack felt the discomfort of the heat accumulating beneath the layers of his hide armor. The midday sun beat down relentlessly, intensifying the heat trapped within the protective layers.
Despite the discomfort, Jack pressed on, determined to make the most of his exploration. He adjusted the straps of his armor, trying to alleviate some of the pressure points where the heat seemed to concentrate. But as time passed, the discomfort only seemed to grow.
After another hour of walking, Jack found himself panting from the exertion and the oppressive heat. The once sturdy armor now felt like a furnace, radiating heat onto his skin. Sweat soaked through his clothes, making them cling uncomfortably to his body.
With each step, Jack weighed the benefits of protection against the drawbacks of heat exhaustion. He knew he couldn't continue like this indefinitely. Eventually, the heat would take its toll on his energy and focus, putting him at risk of making mistakes or overlooking potential dangers.
He stopped for a few moments to quench his thirst. He had found, with a bit of experimentation, that he could use his Conjure Water spell to pour water directly into his mouth. It was just a matter of focusing his mind on the point in space where he wanted the water to emerge from.He considered pouring it over his body to cool down, but he didn’t want to risk damaging his armor. He also didn’t want to risk taking it off in an unknown environment. So, he kept using the spell whenever he got thirsty which, after several hours of use, earned him another level in Water Magic.
As he trudged onward, Jack resolved to find a shaded spot to rest and cool down. After scanning the horizon for signs of relief from the blistering heat, Jack's eyes landed on a peculiar sight. In the distance, nestled among the surrounding foliage, stood a tree unlike any he had seen before. Its trunk twisted and contorted; its branches adorned with vibrant leaves that seemed to shimmer in the sunlight.
Lured by the promise of shade, Jack quickened his pace, eager to reach the unusual tree. As he drew closer, he noticed a curious pattern etched into the bark, resembling intricate runes that glowed softly with an otherworldly light.
With each step, the temperature seemed to drop, offering a welcome reprieve from the sweltering heat. When he finally reached the tree, Jack collapsed onto the cool, shaded ground beneath its canopy, sighing in relief as the oppressive heat began to dissipate.
Taking a moment to catch his breath, Jack marveled at the strange aura emanating from the tree. He reached out to touch the bark, feeling a faint pulse of energy beneath his fingertips. It was as if the tree itself was alive, its presence offering comfort and solace to weary travelers like himself.
Grateful for the respite, Jack decided to take advantage of the shade and rest for a while before continuing his exploration. He didn’t mean to fall asleep, but the combination of physical exhaustion and the tranquil atmosphere of the shaded grove lulled him into a deep slumber.
A slumber that was soon to be interrupted by the strangest dream Jack had ever had.