The owner of the village forge is a Dwarf. There aren't many items available, as he mainly repairs tools, but he does pride himself on a few quality pieces he's crafted in his spare ti. He is also willing to buy your inferior weapons and lt them down.
As you browse his wares, a young Dwarf (likely under a hundred years old) calls out to you. He's the blacksmith's apprentice and, having completed his training, wishes to join a party of adventurers. You can recruit him as a companion for 30 Coins (unless you're a male Dwarf thief (codes A2, B3, and AA), because “No beard, no honor!”).
YOUNG DWARF BLACKSMITH (Role: Assistant) [Special Ability: Resourceful; when present, increases all your Coin and Copper finds by 1 Coin (but not for Gold), repairs broken weapons after combat, and reduces the cost of items outside this forge by 1 Coin (cannot reach 0).]
Once you have finished shopping, return to paragraph 328.
Items (Max for Sale)
Purchase Price of Goods
Selling Price to the Store
diocre Weapons (0)
-
1
Weapons (Normal) (0)
-
5
Master Axe [ 1 Power] (1)
200
-
Finely Chiseled Axe [ 1 Dexterity] (1)
200
-
Dwarven Iron Armor [ 2 Armor] (2)
200
-
Masterwork Shield [ 2 Armor] (1)
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200
-
chanical Bow [Ranged Weapon; Power 3] (1)
300
-
*
Hanging on the forge's mantelpiece, a peculiar shield catches your eye. With a strange black color tending towards red, this shield appears bristling with spikes and is particularly bulky. You have no idea what it's made of, and the blacksmith refuses to reveal its nature.
“She's Fire-Eater,” he tells you, “my masterpiece. I imbued th’material wi’ Elven Gas, bou’ from the Airfolk. She l’terally d’vours flas!”
You raise an eyebrow at the word “she”: so blacksmiths and warriors speak of their swords as a Lady, sailors of their ships as well, but you've never heard anyone speak of a shield like that. This craftsman seems truly proud of his work... But he can sell it to you for 100 Gold Pieces and the promise to slay the dragon, and even that's an exaggeratedly low price, according to him. (Note that if you made this promise and don't kill the dragon at the end of the adventure, you will lose 1 Honor point…)
Shield “Fire-Eater” [ 2 Armor; Fire-Eater: All fire damage is halved (rounded down) while wielding this shield, and the shield's armor bonus further reduces this damage; Cumberso: All tests requiring a certain amount of balance (jumping, running, balancing…) or strength (climbing, swimming…) are increased by 1 point while this shield is equipped.]
*
This shield could be essential when facing a fire-breathing creature like the dragon. You can try to convince the blacksmith that you are a great hero on your way to destroy the beast and beco a legend: the shield could beco one too if you carry it…
Make a Charm Test with a difficulty of 14. On a failure, he refuses to lower his price. A moderate success leads him to agree to reduce the price to 10 Gold Coins. A complete success convinces him entirely that you are the great hero of this era and that the na Fire-Eater will be known throughout the ages thanks to your exploits, leading him to give it to you (but it will only truly be yours once you have slain the dragon).
In any case, you cannot repeat this test.
BUT…
You could also steal it (this option is not available if you have recruited the young dwarven blacksmith) … If you make this choice and you are NOT a Thief or a Barbarian (codes A2 and A5), then lose 1 Honor point. If you are a Knight (code A4), this penalty becos a loss of 2 Honor points.
In ALL cases, you must leave the village imdiately after the attempt and NEVER return (as you will almost certainly be suspected). Then go to 162. You will also get code P5, UNLESS you wait for a suitable mont and add 1d6 divided by 2 (rounded up) to the Ti before making the Check; to avoid this penalty.
Make a Dexterity Check with a difficulty of 14 AND an Evasion Check with a difficulty of 14. [Reduce the difficulty of these tests by 1 if you are a Thief (code A2)]
If either fails, you are surprised and the Dwarves of the village surround you, weapons drawn. Although rather pathetic compared to the average of their people, they manage to overpower you, beat you severely, and throw you out of the village after taking ALL your money as moral compensation (and causing you to lose half of your current Endurance). Furthermore, any Dwarf companions you may have are shocked to discover your misdeeds and abandon you (but continue to occupy an available slot).
Otherwise, if one of the two is only a moderate success, you'll be spotted during your theft: flee the village, lose 1 Endurancepoint to lose your pursuers, and obtain the P5 code… but at least you have the shield. (Here too, any Dwarf companions you might have will abandon you).
Otherwise, if both are great successes, simply leave with the shield.
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