There is. Goliath said in the usual whisper and moved over to the water tank. Its hand raised up and aid at the stone wall next to it before energy gathered in a dark orb, shooting out a second later. The blast completely obliterated the wall. A rune glowed near the wall and the fresh air was cut off imdiately, likely because the airflow was not to be disturbed.
Ilea nodded and spread her wings, looking down into the abyss. They were situated sowhere near the waist of the massive stone statue on whose shoulders and decapitated neck the town of Hallowfort had been built. It was still a couple hundred ters down to the water. Two of her ashen limbs moved over to the container and unhooked it from the tal piece it hung from. Goliaths golden eyes were focused on her during the whole process, Ilea just looking back and winking at the smith before she flew out, the container dragged by the ashs strength alone.
Letting herself fall, she took in the crystal light that illuminated the world below the wasteland. Stone and water mostly, little vegetation likely because the suns didnt reach down here at all. The water reached further than her eyes could see, more an underground sea than just a lake. The crystals reflected on the water surface when she reached it, glistening in their unending brilliance. Holding onto the massive bucket with all her ashen limbs, she flew it sideways and dunked it into the water, slowly lowering it afterwards.
It filled up quickly, Ilea noticing so dark shapes in the water deep below. Fishies coming to play? But the bucket was full and she didnt want to damage Goliaths tools just because of her curiosity. Later, much later if Im honest. My water trauma is too recent. Using all the strength in her ash and wings, she pulled the container up. The statue reached high towards the ceiling of the cave, a person with two arms and legs, hands held together as if praying or ditating.
Heaving the huge bucket back inside, she carefully hung it back where she had taken it from, noticing the change in temperature imdiately upon entering. So of the water already started to steam. Its already going, shouldnt I hang it outside where its cooler? She asked when the smith turned, again focused on her.
It didnt speak for a whole thirty seconds, I must ask young human. Are you a child of ash?
She was a little confused, especially because more of the water was already evaporating, Im an ash creator if that is what you an. Your water?
Do not mind the water. I thank thee for bringing it. Truly, one touched by ash. I was not sure when I saw but now. It is an honor. It said and bowed a little.
Ilea nodded and looked at the water tank again. The runes do not use liquid water alone, simply the elent around it. Be it in the air or in the tank. Once there are insufficient resources available the ice machines will stop working. The smith explained and she nodded. You would not be able to summon ash at all without first burning wood or sothing else. An enigma, to write runes with the capability to create. A mystery for another life perhaps, another ti.
Why do you think its that special, ash creation I an. I would assu many elves as well as humans can create elents through magic, ash as well. Ilea suggested.
The smith moved to pour her second set of armor, activating the ice runes exactly three minutes later to rapidly cool it down again. Ash, It started, separating the mold and putting each piece into new containers with the liquid from before. Not water but sothing that looked more sluggish. it is connected with death. Unattainable for those not close to it. Those who have experienced the dreads of magic, suffered and prevailed. It is said that they are the ones chosen by ash. Or the ones understanding the natural elent, depending on philosophy and theory applied. You will find that many like myself will co to acknowledge your mana and its ability to create.
Its explanation made sense, Ilea rembering so of the requirents that had let her class evolve into Ash Wielder initially. Co to think of it there must be religions based around certain elents or schools of magic as well. The healing orders are one thing but maybe the magic domains Elfie ntioned? Maybe theres an ash thing too with dark ones like Goliath.
Fishing out the pieces that had been finished first, the smith put them on a work bench and dried them off the strange liquid with a towel. Taking a massive two handed hamr, the smith swung down, magic dancing around the hamr head before it impacted hard on the chest plate. A ring resounded and the hamr was rebounded a little, the force traveling through the smith as it held the more weapon than tool steady in its two massive arms. Test it if you like but purely physically it holds up.
Ilea nodded before she took the breast plate and put it on the ground. Damaging the floor ok? She asked, looking up at the smith.
Please do. It replied, eyes dancing in the darkness.
Ilea smiled and crouched down with a punch, her skills flaring up and five hundred health vanishing to activate her states third tier. Her fist hit, a small shock wave sending the air around her away as the steel armor cracked into the stone below. Neither her arm nor the armor showed any damage, the stone floor losing out as the weakest link. Seems usable, wonderful work. Ilea said, grabbing the piece and ripping it out of the ground, cracks visible where it had entered. She quickly identified the pieces.
[Rose HunterArmor Helm Rare Quality]
[RoseHunter Armor Chest Piece Rare Quality]
[RoseHunter ArmorBracers Rare Quality]
[RoseHunter Armor Gauntlets Rare Quality]
[RoseHunter ArmorLegs Rare Quality]
[RoseHunter ArmorBoots Rare Quality]
Very nice. Any idea about enchantnts? My previous stuff had lightening and durability on it.
Checking one of the pieces the smith made a noise, Rare, perhaps with better tal and your mold I might be able to forge you a set of ancient quality. There is no enchanter here worthy of ntion. That dwarf who brought you here might be able to help but I suggest you look for soone more dedicated to the craft.
Ilea nodded, I doubt these sets will hold up very long so maybe quick and dirty is enough right now. Do you know if he is a bad enchanter or why would you not recomnd his work?
The smith put the third set into the forge, I do not know if he has any talent at all. They like to use their war machines, enchanting is always necessary. Yet those actually using their machines are rarely the ones best at enchanting itself.
She nodded and thought about it, Ill go ask him then. Maybe he can recomnd soone as well.
Do that young one. I will be done in three hours, the coating will take another two. It said before continuing its work.
Ilea nodded, Ill be back then. Taking back her Ashen Hunter armor, she switched to it and blinked out of the room, back into the corridor. Walking up, a feline looking humanoid with a tail nearly ran into her, vanishing before her eyes. Did he steal anything? Wait, thats racist. Nothing was amiss and she walked back up to find Teroks house again.
Finding the dwarf inside, tinkering on his machine Ilea knocked on the door and waited. Who is it?
Your new friend. Ilea said and smiled behind her helt when he opened the door.
The dwarf motioned her to sit on a worn chair in what looked like his kitchen. She had to duck a little to have space. Only the entryway was big enough for what was essentially his ch suit. Ill be with ya in a minute. He grumbled, putting on a goggle on his non chanical eye before sparks shot outwards. Fucking shit. Dreaded cursed limp son of a bitch. He grumbled before chucking his tool at the opposite wall.
Ilea folded her legs and took of her battered helt, smiling at the dwarf, Anything amiss?
Oh not particularly. He said and walked over to a box, taking out a bottle of sothing. She could tell there was a cooling rune on the crate. Want one too? I dont have anything more fancy than the ale from down the street. Not the worst Ive had.
Gladly. Ilea replied. He laughed and threw her a bottle.
Didnt strike as no lady. Back so soon, did the old mystery blob work with ye?
The question made her smile as she looked at the label on her bottle, the thing nearly coming off already. Bleakers ale She removed the cork and took a sip. He did, or she? Whatever. My armors pretty battered so I was thinking of getting it reforged. Problem is, the old smith isnt exactly an enchanter. Heard you lot do that with your machines. Any experience in the trade?
The dwarf nodded and sat down, taking a swig from his bottle of ale too. So, I would suggest soone better but there hardly is anybody here. Enchanters arent usually the best fighters and you need to be good or sneaky to survive here. He pointed at her, The smith is an exception. Fuckers been here for longer than the very statue youre standing on I wager.
Can you do lightening and durability enchantnts or sothing similar? She asked.
Setting down his bottle, he looked at her, Aye. Neither above level two but its better than nothing.
Ilea nodded, smiling at his answer, Do you take gold for your work?
I do. Would rather have so good tal if you have any to spare. Maybe you can get so from the smith. My suit is breathing its last breaths. He sighed.
Ilea thought about it for a mont and then tapped on her helt, How does Niaer steel sound? Goliath had suggested it would be better suited for sneaking than taking damage, not sothing she excelled at anyway.
The dwarf nearly choked and then laughed, I would enchant whatever you like for a lifeti at a chance of Niaer.
Is it really that good? God pretty fucked up from the monsters Ive fought.
The dwarf nodded with a smile, Its exceptionally durable for the flexibility it provides. Youve seen my rig, its not a simple breast plate. Theres a lot of moving parts, small enchantnts and runes placed in small intervals. Niaer is great for that. Elven gold Ive heard it called. Dont think they use it much anymore, not flashy enough I suppose.
Ilea thought about it for a while. Terok seed honest, not downplaying how much the tal was worth but he had offered her a drink and she liked the guy. Her Rose Hunter sets would be even better against direct damage and she had little use for the intricate designs he was in need of. Perhaps at so point in the future but the armor used up a ton of space in her necklace. Maybe not molten down.
How much would you need for your machine? Ilea asked, looking over at the thing.
The dwarf considered and then held up a finger, going over to his rig. His hands were nearly shaking when he took so asurents with a tool, his chanical eye sounding like a lens zooming in before he jotted down so numbers on a notepad that was hanging from the wall right next to the rig. Your whole set isnt enough to replace everything with it. Two legs worth might cover all the smaller parts, gears and the important enchantnts I would have to put on. Even if it would be better than my current rig I wont waste Niaer on plating no offense.
None taken. Ilea chuckled and smiled, I didnt even know it was such a special tal. Just that it took more abuse than anything else I had before.
The dwarf visibly winced at that and shook his head, Humans. You lot. It sounded like he was trying to bite down so of the curses coming to his lips but she wouldnt have minded.
Two legs worth, if you give the plans I can ask the smith to finish them for you too. Lifelong enchantnts from you, any information you can provide, connections here and beyond if necessary and you show the thing when its done. Deal? He shook her hand faster than she could blink, a big smile on his face.
You are a blessing. First you save the rookie and now this. He laughed loudly before finishing his ale. Ill get the plans, wait a mont. He added and walked to one of the back rooms, murmuring to himself. must use all this luck as long as it lasts Niaer,
Smith, check. Enchanter, half check. Dwarf, elf, dark one?, check. Cat person - ???, Ilea ntally noted down before he ca back, his beard and hair looking even more disheveled than before, a big grin on his face as he put a stack of papers down.
Those I need. asurents and proportions are noted as well as everything else needed. If the smith doesnt want to make it Ill take the steel like that. Maybe soone else will be able to lt it down at least. Terok said, Oh and if you need a machine designed or sothing I can help with that too of course. Im more an engineer than an enchanter but Ive picked so things up in my years.
Ilea took the papers and made them vanish, surprising him. Ill see what I can do. She said and got up, Thanks for the ale. It was alright.
Walter would be appalled, She thought but didnt ntion that. It was impressive that they had a brewery down in this cave at all. With ti whoever produced it might get better at it too.
Thank you Ilea. Thank you so much. You have no idea what this ans to . The dwarf said and grabbed her hand with both of his when she left, a big smile on his face.
She just nodded, a little overwheld with the treatnt. She was just giving him a little of her old armor. Being able to help people out that she liked was certainly a good feeling but she didnt like being in the spotlight. Quickly making her way back to the smith, she found that he had finished another set and was working on the fourth one. She switched back to leather armor and placed the old battered set on the work bench.
Ah, you have returned human. Have you found an enchanter.
Ilea nodded, checking the pieces of her old armor, I have. The dwarf, he also confird there are few better at it here but I dont need the best at the mont. Best I can get is enough. He agreed to do as many enchantnts as I need forever if I give him so of the Niaer steel.
Oho a deal in his favor to be sure. Yet I suppose he does not know the number of armors you will want to enchant. Its eyes danced with joy. Ilea replied with a grin.
I wanted to ask you if you could forge the two leg pieces into the things he needs. Ilea said and summoned the plans, handing them to the smith. It floated a little away from the forge not to set the paper on fire accidentally.
Looking through them he answered, The Stonehamr steel deal I consider repaid with the forging and coating of your armors. I am willing to lt down your Niaer to ingots but this, Goliath stopped talking, switching to the next page before he held two of them up against the light of the forge. Ilea saw so bits overlapping but didnt understand the designs. He was a dwarf was he not?
Ilea didnt understand what he ant, I an, short stature, big beard, uses a big machine suit to fight. Looks like the other dwarves Ive seen around here.
This might look like what a dwarf would make but the detail is astounding. In my age only those calling themselves Taleen have reached such boldness. Such ingenuity. Marvelous. I will forge his pieces.
Ilea smiled at that, Make the rest into ingots, Ill hold on to them for now. You knew Taleen? They were dwarves too right?
The smith carefully pinned the papers on a wall and activated a rune, a thin shimr coming to life before them. Protection of so sort. Once, they chose to find and destroy . Perhaps jealous of my work or simply annoyed at the competition. Even though I did not charge gold for my work and chose to serve every and all kinds of creatures.
Thats exactly why soone would want you dead. Ilea said and couldnt help but chuckle.
The smith looked at her, confusion sohow apparent in those two golden eyes. Is that so. Even after all those years it is saddening to see the strife between beings born of life and death, of fire and blood. Is it not our mortal duty to create?
The smith was not looking for an answer, rely stating how he thought. Not all life is your equal Goliath, smith of the north. I would call myself on the side of destruction. As much as I would like to share your philosophy.
It is the nature of the world. These are rely musings of an old spirit. Even in the forge, to create you must strike, bend and destroy. For steel to be reborn. The sa is true for all beings, all creation. A fact I cannot change. Now co. Let us finish your armors.
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