Grandma answered Werol, “Mista Smithson will be fine. He was much more injured than you, and it will likely be a few more minutes for his mind to reach consciousness again. My grandson took care of your toxins, and you both got full doses of my greater heal potion.”
Learned skill: Firefighting, F
This nascent skill could not be plussed.
“Well, I hope to not need it very often. I would rather have plussed this than Swimming, but I am happy to have it nevertheless. On the other hand, Swimming with the ability to breathe underwater should be awesome.”
I took off my mask, got up, and walked over to the person I presumed was a hydromancer, if that was the name of a class that let him make and control a lot of water at once. He was currently aiming water on top of the thatched roof, soaking it. There was a lot of runoff as well, as the excess flowed to the ground. “Hello, I am Forrest Rhodes. Your power is very impressive.”
“Yes it is, whelp. What do you want?”
Not particularly friendly. Didn’t even introduce himself.
“You probably saw I was inside the shop. The fire’s origin is in a back room. If you would like, sir, I could show you where to aim your water to reach it directly.”
I hear him mumble something about the Silverstone family. Then, “Show me.” He shut off his “hose”.
I walked over a few steps forward and to the left of the shop door. “If you stand here, and aim straight through the center of the door, your stream will have 15 yards to go to reach into the room with the fire.”
He did just that. He had great control of his skill and aimed almost perfectly as I had indicated, with the right amount of pressure. His stream started, and we could hear the sound of steam being created by the flames. He clearly knew what he was doing. Accompanying the new sounds, the density of smoke increased dramatically. But after a few moments the amount of smoke billowing out the door and window began to decrease.
Vosrin had not taken off her mask. She had only lifted up the bottom above her mouth so she could breathe easily. Now she pulled it back down to cover her mouth and went back inside the shop. She came out almost a minute later to report that the fire was mostly out and asked for some full buckets. She got them and went back in.
The hydromancer discontinued his spray. My father walked closer to us. “The town thanks you for your assistance, Sterbian Morse.” He held out his hand to shake. Sterbian simply looked momentarily in his eyes and made a sound like, “humph”. Then he walked off.
Vosrin came out of the shop. “The fire is out. I have opened a back door in the workroom. The smoke should probably clear soon.” With no flames to make more smoke, it was no longer billowing out.
“Dad,” I asked in a low voice, “was that hydromancer being rude, or did I get the wrong impression?”
He eyed all the people around. It is likely half of the village had come to assist. He said quietly that we would talk later. Others had begun organizing for an initial clean up within the shop once the smoke was not a limiting issue.
Mista Smithson had sat up by then, and spoke with Werol and Grandma. As I approached them, she pulled out two small sachets of something. She handed one to each, and instructed them to crush them under their noses and breathe deeply. They reminded me of the smelling salt packets on Earth, but she explained to them that the fumes would clean their lungs. Somehow it eliminated the smoke particles and other contaminants they may have breathed. I didn’t know what the odor was, but it was every bit as pungent as ammonia.
I guess not everything can be perfume.
After taking several breaths of clean air to clear the odor of Grandma’s sachet, Werol looked up at me. “Forrest, Rhonda tells me you dragged us out of the burning shop.”
“Visrun Loruste helped also,” I stated.
“Well, thank you for your part.” While still seated on the ground, he held out his hand, and we shook
The Human agreed with him, and added, “We have not met, young Forrest. I am Mista Smithson. You may call me Mista. Kossa has told me all about you. Now I can tell her you help in fires also.” I smiled and said he could call me Forrest. We shook hands as well.
Just then, someone came out of the shop coughing heavily. They must have breathed too much of the smoke remnants. I gave him a dose of Bless Blood and Grandma instructed him how to use her lung-cleaning sachet.
I checked my stats and saw I had 93 ki left. I had breathed in some of the smoke and saw that I had a little toxicity of my own. I cleared that easily enough with one dose. I went to the doorway of the Werol’s Jewelsmith Shop and announced that if anyone felt like they had breathed in too much smoke, I could ensure the toxins in their blood were cleared away. And that Rhonda could help clean gunk out of their lungs if they felt it necessary. Vosrin and three Covargh I did not know all approached. They had checked their stats and saw toxicity also.
Vosrin was the first of them. I analyzed and dosed her.
Vosrin Loruste – female Covargh, level 27, age 30
Tailor – · HP SP Ki |🕱| · 1,2
I’m sure Carrie must know her. Along with Werol, that is two ki-based craftsmen. Grandma and Mista use mana. I wonder what Carrie will choose. She liked Torch, so likely mana.
The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.
Immediately after dosing her, the poison gauge turned pure green just before her stats block vanished. Then another window popped up.
Achievement: Bless Blood, E
“That’s one we didn’t even mention during sixdays. Thanks.”
There is only an 11 xp bonus for it reaching rank E.
“I’ll take it!”
I didn’t say anything about the ranking aloud, and just continued cleansing the other three. I introduced myself and analyzed each one while doing so.
Werol and Mista had stood up. The former explained in a loud voice what happened. “As a lot of you know, I am not only a Ki Jewelsmith but a Ki Trapsmith also. Mista uses mana with some of his tinkered items. We were working together to build a specialized and complex trap with multiple components. We were obviously too unfamiliar with each other’s skills to accomplish our goal. We did not expect the sort of explosion which occurred, and I apologize to all the people of Cottages. If we ever try this again, it will be outside of town.” Mista echoed his apology.
An anonymous voice sounded from the crowd, “When you do, bring help!” Some light laughter erupted, then calmed.
The Mayor announced, “They do not seem to have damaged anything outside of Werrol Jorden’s shop. Does anyone wish to make financial or other claims based on this incident?” He waited about 15 seconds, but there was no response. “You have until tomorrow at 14 to report any specific concerns. If there are none, this matter will be officially closed. Werol and Mista, you are responsible for cleaning up all this glass.”
“I’ll get it,” said Mista. Then I’ll help you get your shop back to order, Werol.” Two others agreed to help as well.
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“Forrest, I believe your armbands are still ready.” Werol told me. “Come inside and let us find them.” Except for being very wet and some things being knocked over by the water, his front display room had not suffered significant damage. The bands were still in the display case where he had left them. He took them out and walked over to his counter. He reached underneath to bring up a box, and unlocked it.”
“Here you are, young wolf. Two of the finest armbands in the Fifth Duchy. When Arrjee paid me 8g 5s, we both had forgotten about the special Thirdday “two for one low, low price” discount. So I am returning to you the 1g 5s which was overpaid.”
I smiled appreciatively. “I know what you are doing, but you don’t owe me anything for helping you out of the fire. I would have done the same for anyone.”
“Yes, he even saved me,” stated Mista, who had just walked into the room. “I’ll cover your losses on this, Werol.”
“What losses?” he replied. “Just like you I have heavy markups due to low volume. Even at 7g, my children will still eat well.”
“You don’t have any children.”
“Then all the more for me!”
That banter continued a bit longer before I interrupted. “Seriously, I am fine with paying the agreed upon price. Can I put on the bands now?”
Werol pushed the bands across the counter to my side. Then the coins. “Yes, I would like to see them on you. There is nothing better than a craftsman getting the chance to see a satisfied customer. Rhonda would not take payment for the expensive potions she used on us. Now if you don’t take the money, I’ll just give it to Rhetta, and she will force you to take it.”
“She really will,” said Arrjee from behind us. He and Onre had apparently walked into the shop and heard at least part of our conversation. “Just take it. Then I had an idea for your lucky coin from Master Sendrin. I see it every day just sitting in our room, and I wondered what you might do with it. If you like the idea, perhaps you can commission one of these gentlemen to craft a belt buckle for you to show it off.”
Mista immediately stated, “For 3 silver, I would be happy to craft a fine silver buckle for you, Forrest. In addition to being a Tinker, I am a Silversmith. I would enchant it for free.”
“Wait,” interrupted Werol. “Forrest is a ki user, and will be able to boost charms on various items. Why don’t you make the buckle, and I will charm it?” Then he looked at me. “Same charms as on your armbands, young Forrest? I would charge you 2 silver.”
“That would be an effective use of our talents,” quickly responded Mista. Then to me, “Leave 5 silver here, and bring me the coin to our family shop at your convenience. We guarantee to make your lucky coin even luckier!”
“Interface, will I eventually be able to add a protective bonus to a belt buckle?”
Yes, but not to the rest of the belt. It counts as simple clothing, which you cannot boost.
I reach over and grab the gold piece, leaving the 5 silver lay. “It is a deal.”
Onre suggested that I put the armbands on so everyone could see. They went on easily, but felt snug around my upper arms without any pinching or undue squeezing. Everyone was complimenting me. “Umm, do you have a mirror, Werol? I would also like to see.”
Geez. I’ve got 9.5 charisma, and I haven’t seen myself since it was 6.5. And, with the river stone armband, my luck is 9.5 now as well.
Werol opened a door to a closet. On the inside of the door was a full length mirror. As I turned to go to it, I saw the pup Norrus Loruste standing just inside of the shop. He was holding his slightly damp shirt. “Oh, Hi Norrus! Everyone, this is the young wolf who leant me his shirt. I used it to make the mask that protected me from smoke. His Mom Vosrin was the one who helped get you out of here, Werol.”
The pup waved at everyone. “I just wanted to thank Forrest for giving me a way to help.”
I told him, “You are welcome. And thank you for helping.” Both Werol and Mista introduced themselves and thanked him.
Now over at the mirror I was taking a good look at myself. I hadn’t seen myself in armor at all. This set of leather armor looked great, and I twisted back and forth to observe both armbands. I had put the blue with green streaks river stone band on my left arm, and the green with blue streaks semi-precious stone band on my right. In all I was looking spiffy, and I imagined myself with the silver belt buckle and leather belt. Forget spiffy – pretty darn dapper! My face was looking immensely better. I don’t know that I would call myself handsome yet, but I was certainly not a below average teen any more. I noticed that my teeth had straightened.
It only took me two days to not feel ugly any more. And everyone accepted me as I was anyway.
I looked at my Human friend, “Onre, remember when Einvigi told us there was a severe charisma penalty accompanying the Ki Healer class? For me it was 4 points. Well, achieving Level 3 in two days and using some free points to help boost it has advanced it enough that I feel normal already. Don’t let your appearance at Level 1 worry you. Arrjee even chose to make friends with me almost immediately, as awkward-looking as I started out. Also the low charisma will affect your temperament, and it is easy to become grouchy. But with foreknowledge you can control it.”
Oops. I did not tell you that temperament being a derived stat is not common knowledge. Some researchers Heere suspect it, but the relationship is not formally established.
“About 5 seconds late, but good to know.”
Onre replied, “I forgot about the charisma thing. I’ll be ready for it; thank you for the reminder.” Arrjee joked that there was no way he would start out uglier than I had. No one brought up anything about temperament.
“Geez, thanks,” I muttered, not at all insulted. I wasn’t just admiring myself. I had opened my inventory, and was quickly analyzing everything in it. I spent an extra few seconds on:
River Stone Armband – A soul-bound stone set in a charmed copper band with bronze highlights. High quality, no wear. The stone allows water-breathing and boosts luck. Charmed for resizability, flexibility, toughness, and damage resistance.
Copper Armband – with bronze highlights showcasing a tourmaline stone. High quality, no wear. Charmed for resizability, flexibility, toughness, and damage resistance.
I finally spoke to Werol, “These armbands look wonderful. Thank you. They feel wonderful as well. It is like I feel them protecting me.”
“That is a normal effect of damage resistance charms,” he told me. “Your body somehow senses the benefit. The belt buckle will add another 2.5% resistance, for 7.5% total. Even small amounts add up and will prove useful.”
Arrjee stated that we needed to get to the school to begin our apprenticeship lessons. We would be about half an hour late, understandably so. Norrus asked if he could come and watch. I suggested he inform his Mom, but otherwise there should be no problem.
Vosrin was standing outside, speaking with some others. Most of the crowd had left, though. Dad and Grandma were gone. Maybe they chose to leave as a hint for everyone else to get on with their day?
Norrus got permission to go with us. I asked her, “Do you make leather belts? Mista Smithson will be making me a belt buckle, but I will also need a belt.” She said that would be happy to do so, and that she would coordinate with Mista. She would charge 20 bronze, or 4 silver if I wanted it charmed for self-cleaning and self-repair. Since just about everything else I would be wearing had those features, I asked for the charms.
She had me stand still and erect for a moment, while she seemed to measure me visually. She then asked if I was planning on using the belt with the leather armor I was wearing. I acknowledged so, and she said she would be sure that the belt matched aesthetically.
I thanked her, and she headed away, maybe to her shop. The two she had been speaking with were the ones who volunteered to help get Werol’s shop in order, and they went in.
We finally headed off to train.
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[elsewhere, late Fall]
cold. lonely. hunger. why?
not i want.
It i chose. Why?
Ahead. Village bipedal.
Me they trade?
warmth? food?
An unseen presence watched and observed eyes that shed tears were four. Even with that portion of its mind mostly dulled, the presence felt the emotion:depth would be close to overwhelming. It knew the mortal could not survive months more as winter set in. Yet the school would not be ready.
- - - - - - - - - -
1 When Forrest sees a stats block with Analyze, the letter height is reduced proportionately to how much of a given stat is left. So he sees both a color change and the appropriate letters or symbols missing from the top, like a height-gauge. But to do that within the story, I would need to generate custom images to accomplish it. That is why you see only the color change, which is easy to do within a modern word processor.
2 Just this once I’m illustrating the blue of Interface’s “blue window”. I think it would become distracting if all of Interface’s windows showed like that. Using the Comic Sans font for Interface is enough.