# Patent Pending
*Finally made it back to town.*
Well, "finally" might not be the right word. After the tough battle, the town was actually surprisingly easy to find once I got out of the glade, which makes me wonder how I managed to get lost back there.
*I got some good returns from that fight. Bow Bash and Lunge will definitely prove to be useful. I even managed to get my repair skill up to Intermediate level 1 in the end. The loots, on the other hand...*
Truth be told, it's not that the loot was bad, but rather they were useless. Not only was there no equipment dropped, but bones that dropped were useless to an Archer. They were too big (and of the wrong shape) to make a bow out of, and armor made from them would be of the "Plate Armor" type, which I couldn't use. The pelt, however, could be used to make some clothing in the future, and the teeth and claws can be used for arrows.
"BUYING RABBIT PELTS HERE!"
"BEST BEGINNER EQUIPMENT YOU'LL FIND IN TOWN!"
"GOING ON AN ADVENTURE? BUY SOME POTIONS TO KEEP YOU ALIVE!"
The marketplace was as crowded as ever. Player merchants and craftsmen were all over the place selling their wares. Not only were they allowed to set up a stall at any part of the marketplace, they didn't even need a get a liscense. As such, there were even newbies around trying to sell off their old, out-leveled equipment to other newbies. The only limitation, if it could be considered one, is that only NPCs could own a storehouse (as opposed to simply selling things on the street).
It was one of these NPC blacksmiths that I went to to sell my loot. Even though players, in general, offered better prices, NPCs were able to do something that no player could.
Klank! Klank!
"HElloO!! HELLO!!"
Seems like he can't hear me.
"HEY!" I walked closer to tap the young blacksmith on the shoulder.
"Huh?"
"WOAH!"
The blacksmith suddenly turned around while still holding a red-hot sword in his tongs, nearly disemboweling me.
"Woaahh... Careful there. I don't want to have to close down because of that."
*YOU BE CAREFUL!*
"So what can I do for you? Is there something you're looking for? Want something made."
"No, actually I was wondering if you wanted to buy some crafting materials I just found."
"Eeehhhhh... I guess I can. Probably time to start making higher leveled equipment."
Before he even finished his sentece, I began to take the bones out of my inventory and arranged them on the floor of his shop. Which was not easy, by the way, since the skull itself took up a sizable portion of his shop.
"Amazing! These are huge!" The blacksmith exclaimed as he examined a leg bone. "Just this bone alone is enough to for me to craft a lance out of!"
"Hehe... So, you want them?"
"Yes! But..." (sigh) "I can't afford them. All my gold would probably only pay for half of these."
"Tell you what, I'll sell these to you for half price. But in return, you teach me Blacksmithing, and give me that portable furnace I see over there."
That last bit was on the spur of the moment. Those things were expensive, but would definitely come in handy in my journey.
"Hrm.... Alright, you have a deal."
Skill Learned!
Blacksmithing:
Depending on the skill level, the requirements on equips go down by 2 percent or more. If you have mastered the skill of a blacksmith to master level, you can wear the items of other professions despite limitations.
Getting those bones off my hands was a big relief. Those things were seriously heavy! Even though I put most of my points into strength, they were a pain to carry around.
???
You're asking why I, as an Archer, am putting most of my points into strength?
Well, for one, if there's anything that I learned with my run-in with the Wolf Queen, it was that I'm going to need a heavier bow with a more powerful draw if I'm going to have to pierce the armor of other bosses. And the loss of the speed that would be granted by the DEX stat wouldn't really affect me too much, since I was more of a "Aim and Shoot" kind of Archer, as opposed to a "Shoot like Crazy" type.
For two, I was going to need strength if I'm going to use the weapon that I'm going to make in my little project.
No, not a Science project.
An Engineering project.
The difference.
Well, take for example the following statement:
"We can't throw this huge rock over that huge wall to hit the people inside that huge town."
The response that Science would give is: "Because Gravity will prevent you from lifting that rock." And hence discover Gravity.
But the response that Engineering would give is: "CATAPULT, BITCHES!" And hence invent a badass catapult.
It is the difference between asking "Why?" and "Why not?"
So take the following thought I had, not long after I learned the "Bow Bash" skill.
*Too bad the Bow isn't really an efficient melee weapon.*
I looked at it as an Engineer and said: "Sword-Bow(Patent Pending)".
That's right.
Sword-freaking-Bow(Patent Pending).
What's a Sword-Bow(Patent Pending)?
Well, it's a Bow... That is like a Sword.
Or is it a Sword that's like a Bow?
No, definitely a Sword-like Bow. Otherwise it would be called Bow-Sword. Not Sword-Bow(Patent Pending).
Probably be easier for you to understand once I make the thing
And what the heck's with those "(Patent Pending)" that keeps appearing every time I say "Sword-Bow(Patent Pending)"?
GAH! There it is again!
The system better have a good reason for that.
...
...
Back to the story.
After selling off the bones, I went to purchase some crafting materials from player merchants. Metal ores, pre-refined metal bars, wood, feathers (to make arrows), some screws and some strips of spring steel (which I would make myself, but they require a higher Blacksmithing level to make).
When I was done, I found an empty corner of town to set-up my furnace and started making myself some copper arrows.
Not for any actual need to make arrows, since it would probably be cheaper to just buy the damn things, but to increase my Blacksmithing level and to get used to blacksmithing.
I spent hours while logged off (shortly after killing the Wolf Queen) working on the design for this weapon. It would be silly to fail because of insufficient experience. (I'm not kidding here, I actually had to spend some time considering how to make this)
By the time I was confident enough, my Blacksmithing level had reached Beginner level 2.
*Okay, here goes nothing.*
First, I need to create the center part of the bow, the "core". This is where all of the power in the bow is going to come from. Not only that, I have to make sure that it doesn't prevent the "sword" part of the wepaon from working properly. For that, I need to make it strong enough so that only the upper limits of my strength will be able to draw the bow.
To create the core, I first took two 17-inch long 2-inch thick strips of the strongest wood I could get and glue them together with a strip of spring steel in between. After this, I carefully carved the block into a cylindrical shape. The glue is strong, but it probably won't be able to hold the wood together under stress. Which was one of the reasons I bought the screws.
Next up was the "hilt" which was going to hold the core and the lower limb together. I heated up a piece of copper and hammered it into a circular plate and punched a hole in the center. After which, I took a 7-inch hollow bronze pipe and stuck it through the hole, with most of it sticking out of the bottom side of the hilt, and only 2-and-a-half-inches sticking out the top. When the copper plate cooled down, it contracted and fused permanently with the bronze pipe.
I punched two small holes at the protruding part of the top half of the hilt, and, with screws, attached it to the core I just made. The lower limb, or the "handle" of the weapon was attached in a similar manner to the bottom half of the hilt.
The lower limb was, quite simply, a almost straight, slightly curved sword handle. Carved from a length of hard wood, this 25-inch handle is what I will be holding as I fire the bow. A small hole was drilled into the lower end of the handle for the bowstring.
The final part of the weapon was the blade that will be the upper limb of the bow. Hammered from a single piece of bronze, this 30-inch handspan-wide curved blade will be the first in what will probably be a long line of blade designs for the Sword-Bow(Patent Pending)". At the bottom of the blade was a short pole that was part of the original bronze bar that I had left unhammered, and near the top was a small hole I punched for the bowstring.
Attaching the blade to the core was a different story than attaching the hilt. But it was similar to how I had fused the hilt to the bronze pipe.
Carefully heating a length of bronze pipe until it expended juuuust enough, I quickly stuck one end onto the pole of the blade and the other onto the upper end of the core.
The finished product looks like an oddly shaped bronze scimitar, with a much longer handle than the usual one-handed grip.
I sighed in relief when the attached bowstring just barely touched the hilt, which was the reason I had to the handle with a slight curve.
Your Blacksmithing Level has increased!
The author's content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.
Bronze Sword-Bow(Patent Pending):
Durability: 79/79
Damage: 9-11
The brainchild of an ambitious Archer, this weapon was designed to be both a sword and a bow at the same time. While the odd shape makes it harder to use than a regular bow or sword, it's nothing a little skill won't fix.
Equip:
+12 DEX
+12 STR
+5 CHA
Slightly lowered accuracy
The following bonuses can only be seen by players who have the "Bow Bash ability":
+20% Increased damage with the "Bow Bash" skill.
+10% chance to knockback/stun with the "Bow Bash" skill.
Slower durability loss when using the "Bow Bash" skill.
Damage type for "Bow Bash" is changed from blunt to slicing.
Limits:
Level 10
DEX 40+
STR 50+
(Do these stats look right to you? I'm not sure. Also note that this is meant to be a heavy bow, hence STR req > DEX req)
*I'm probably going to make one with iron in a few levels, but I'm so glad that the prototype turned out well... Hrm??*
*New Quest:
Patent Pending
You have created a new kind of weapon. To protect your intellectual rights, it is recomended that you register this weapon at the patenting office in Rhesta.
Quest Objective:
Register your weapon at the patenting office in Rhesta.
Quest Failure:
None
Quest Difficulty: F
Quest Requirement:
Must have invented an object.
Quest Reward:
Commision will be given everytime someone produces a similar product.
+ Fame
"Accept Quest."
Quest Accepted!
*Guess that explains the whole "(Patent Pending)" stuff.*
Now to test out the weapon.
And what better place to test out a bow than the Archer's Guild?
"Welco- Oh it's you again." It was the same receptionist as before. "Weren't you supposed to jump into a river and die?"
"YOU WERE SERIOUS?!?"
"Of course! A weirdo like you has no reason to be alive."
"I don't want to be called a weirdo by a "Dere-Tsun" girl."
"What the heck's a "Dere-Tsun"?"
"It's a person who acts all "Dere-dere" to most people, but acts all "Tsun-tsun" to the one she likes."
"WHAT THE FUCK! You saying I like you?!?!?! You're not even wearing a shirt right now! Besides aren't you supposed to be a pervert who's uncomfortable around women."
"Ah... I don't have a problem around you since I don't find you attractive anymore."
"WHAT THE HELL! I'm plenty attractive! If I wasn't working right now I'd be bashing you up!"
"Such an unrefined delinquent... How could you possibly be attractive... I must have been blind. Furthermore, you can't even afford to pay for the lessons and exams. Need this big bro to help you pay for your tuition?"
"WHO'S MY BIG BRO! Besides, I already managed to save up enough money! In fact my lessons will start later today!"
"Oh-hoh... My little sister's all grown up."
"FUCK YOU! What the heck are you doing back here anyway! Didn't you already finish your quest!?"
"Yes yes.. I just wanted to use the the practice targets to test out a few things."
"Tch... Go through that door over there and go to the door at the end of the corridor."
"Thanks..."
"Hope you get shot by an arrow and die."
...
...
...
Looks like we just don't get along.
**********************************************************
The practice area was a lush green field with targets placed at varying distances and heights. Despite it's large size, it wasn't nearly as crowded as the Training Hall was, since only Archers visited this place, and most of them were groups of trainees accompanied by an instructor.
After drawing some practice arrows from a pile, I went to stand in front of one of the closer targets.
Creeaak!
*As expected, this bow is harder to draw.*
Not only did it require more strength, but the grip had to be placed at an awkward position since the upper limb was much longer than the lower limb.
When I fired a shot, it went way off target, and the second shot landed in pretty much the same area as the first.
*So it's not that the bow is inaccurate, but rather it's a calibration issue.*
Changing the angle of my wrist, I tried firing again, and the arrow landed much closer to the target.
After that I kept trying different things to hit the target. From twisting my wrist, to changing the position of my hand, to changing the spot I nock my arrow on, until I could consistantly hit the target.
Soon I found myself shooting targets that were farther away and/or at a higher position.
When I was satisfied, I went to collect the arrows I fired in order to return them.
*Now, it's time to test the weapon out in the field.*
"Huuuh? What are you still doing here?"
That voice...
It's her again...
I turned around to see the receptionist wearing a long leather tunic and carrying a practice bow. Next to her was the instructor I had borrowed the practice arrows from.
"Yes, yes. I'm just about to leave. I won't interupt your lesson."
"Actually..." The instructor interupted me as I was about to leave. "I was wondering if you could give Milia here a few pointers."
""HUUUUUUUH!!!""
"Why must I learn anything from this mustache-otaku pervert!"
"Why must I teach anything to this rude unattractive delinquent woman!"
"Milia.... Listen, Notrem here just killed a boss-level monster. Not only did he do it with beginner level equipment, but it was the very first monster he fought."
"Meh, must have been some weak-ass boss then."
"Actually it was over ten times his level."
...
...
...
She had nothing to say.
"And Notrem, Milia might not look it, but personally I see great potential in her."
"... Well, it's not that I'm unwilling to teach her, but it's just that the two of us are completely incompatible."
"WE'RE NOT TRYING TO GET MARRIED HERE! What are you talking about compatibility!"
"No, I mean, just from our personalities alone, I can tell that we will have completely different fighting styles."
"Don't worry about that. It's not like I'm asking you to go in detail. I juust want you to teach her the basics."
"... I guess I could give her a quick lesson on how to shoot."
"ARE YOU LOOKING DOWN ON ME! Of course I know how to shoot!"
"Have you ever held a bow before in your life before Royal Road?"
"... No... but-"
"Then you wouldn't know the proper form required to shoot accurately. This is something I learned recently as well. I just want to teach you this. You won't use it much in actual combat since it takes too long, but it'll be useful to at least know it."
"Alright... Fine."
I borrowed a practice bow from the instructor.
"Now follow me. Stand with your side facing the target. Your feet should be slightly angled and spread to around shoulder-width. The tip of your two big toes should be aligned with the target."
Both of us took our positions in front of our target.
"From this point on, try to blink as little as possible as you keep an eye on your target. Nock your arrow, but don't draw your bow yet... Raise your bow just above your head, facing forwards, and slowly draw as you bring it down. Draw mostly with your front arm, your back arm is meant for aiming, not for power. Your arrow should stop at just about the height of your nose."
"By now the enemy would have killed us."
"Like I said, this is just the basic form. Now shut up and listen. I want you to take a deep breath in.. Don't worry about your chest, it's not that big."
"HEY!"
"What did I say about shutting up. Now hold your breath... Take as long as you want to aim... And when you're ready, release your arrow. But try not to break eye contact until your arrow hits. Now, whenever you're ready."
Ten seconds later, Milia released her arrow. And with a "Thud" sound, it hit dead center.
"BULLSEYE!!! HahA! I'm a GENIUS!"
She's not wrong. Although the target was one of the closer ones, it was still much farther than the one I fired at at the Training Hall.
But...
You're still a noob compared to me.
"Ish-i"
Almost a full half-minute after Milia fired her arrow, I let mine loose.
THUD!
It hit the farthest target in there was in the practice area.
Skill Learned!
Vision:
Increases the distance a player can see.
At high levels, the player will be able to zoom in on far away targets. Especially useful for ranged characters.
**************************************************************
Author's Notes:
Hello people or Royal Road.
Thanks once again for reading my fanfic.
(bow)
I was worried for a moment when my file was corrupted, but it took less time than expected to re-write what was lost :)
For those of you who read my submission thread, here's the promised chapter where Notrem finally invents a weapon.
As always, any and all comments are welcome.