After the battle wounds were treated to the best of our abilities. The goblin corps were burned along with a magic red powder that gave our locacion to the adventurers guild. It told them that we needed aid but not urgently.
The loot was cataloged and we were paid back in the city. An Adventure guild functionary in the guild hall with a look that made me think that he thought that he is better than everyone. "Adventure Tarn I as assistant deputy director of the adventures guild and acting director of this branch Jorren Tive. I hereby promote you from F-rank to E-rank for exceptional skill and bravery."
"Ok…" It took me a few seconds to realize what he said. "What that can't be right Garron said that we could only get up to 300 points but I need 500 points. Are you sure that you got the right person?"
"Yes Mr Tarn I am sure. Mr Garron Vell had informed me that without you there would be far more death and he might be a commoner but the deputy director likes him so I am giving you a promotion now take it and be gone half breed." Jorren said.
The room went silent. Nil stopped me before I could hit the man. "Sir with my name as a member of the Moondrift clan I publicly denounce you."
Before anything else could happen Nil pulled me out of the guild building. We went to a nice park with a pond and bench. About a mile outside the gate to the infinite city. "I'm sorry Tarn. I should have recognized that man and asked for someone else."
"How could you have known I don't blame you. I think that I might have mentioned this to you but I used to labor on the construction of the kings road so I could afford the guild entry fee and a weapon. But when doing work like that you need to be willing to defend yourself and your reputation. You do that by fighting when insulted. But what you are doing is very kind, bankrolling me. You also probably saved my guild membership." I said.
"I should have recognized his house house crest on his belt. His house is subordinate to my cousin Arsiten Moondrirt. He has brought me to a banquet with his house of Tive. That man's uncle or maybe his cousin but whatever. But he got drunk and started talking about the high human blood and how 'half bloods' should be hunted down. Well Arsiten did not take well to that kind of talk because he has a half human son so he exercised his right as superior house to make the man leave the event or he would strip the man's title as a nobel. Well the man left but hate like that spreads through a noble house like cancer." Nil said.
"Well now that I am an E-rank and that was your father's condition for me to say a team member so what now?" I asked.
"Well for today, laundry and I need more arrows and a melee weapon by dagger was lost in the combat with the goblins so we need to go to the guild market. Also you need new armor. It is damaged too badly to be fixed effectively. That is the problem with buying previously owned armor. So I think a set of new fine quality armor that was not previously owned would do you nicely especially with the 15 steel coins that you got as a bonus. Then tomorrow or the next day I say we go back into the infinite city and just look for treasure and other magical manifestations that could make us money."
"Ok I think that would be good. I was just going to get my armor repaired but if you think that a new set would be a good idea. That is what I will do. But why the guild shop there are independent blacksmiths, armorers and fletchers that are much cheaper some even have backing or are members of the smiths guild. They might not have any masterwork quality items but that is not what we are looking for. Also with the original magic stones we have we could trade them for lower prices."
"Well I don't see a reason that we can't look around in the smith district of town." Nil said.
Walking to the smithing district we passed though some of the nicest parks on the continent of Varethwyn. For all of the dangers the infinite city poses there is a lot of money that comes out of it. Some of the local lords will send in the sons and daughters to fund projects like the parks that we are in. They also build things with the money like roads and statues to help stimulate the local economy.
Walking down the street called cindercross road. I said, "Look Orin's Smithy. He is the man that I was going to go to before I met you. He has good work and reasonable prices. He also is a member of the smiths guild so the quality of his work is monitored by the guild. Also I know him. He was an apprentice blacksmith when I was a laborer he repaired the tools. But he is a good guy"
"Ok let's go in."
Once inside someone in the back yelled, "I'll be right there."
Orin came around out of the back of the store. He was a bald human with a barrel chest and a large gut. He had an embroidered apron with his name and a hammer resting atop an anvil of the symbol of Thamir, the Quiet Forge, the god of smithing . "Tarn well I thought that you would never come boy. How the hell are you?"
"Boy really, I am 110 years older than you."
"Yea whatever, what can I get for you…(he trailed off when he saw Nil behind me in her fancy attire)...Well my lady what can I do for you?"
"Well I am with Tarn and as he knows you I will defer to him." Nil said.
"Ok then Tarn what can I do for you?" Orin asked.
"Well I need a set of fine quality armor. I also want to trade these for part of the price."
"Tarn, you know that I don't do trades."
I pulled the F and E-Rank magic stones out of my storage space and placed them on the counter between Orin and myself. "Well now magic stones are a different story now." Orin said, pulling out a magic looking glass to examine the stones
"Well Tarn as you know as a policy I don't do trades especially non magical materials because it is too much work checking the quality. But because I know that you have a looting power I already know the quality of these stones, one F and one E-ranked stones. I will be willing to give you free enchantment on the armor that you want. And I will knock a few copper pieces off the price for you and the lady."
"That is acceptable, let me see a list of your enchantments." Nil said.
"Sure." Orin said, while pulling out a binder and flipped to a page. That read.
Self-Repair (Minor): 35 cp
Light wear repairs itself slowly over time.
Edgekeeper: 40 cp
Blade stays sharp with minimal wear.
Lighten Load: 60 cp
Reduces armor weight by ~25%.
Spark Strike: 70 cp
Adds minor electric damage on hit.
Ember Vein: 65 cp
Keeps blade warm, resists cold. Small amount of fire damage.
Stamina Ease: 55 cp
Reduces user exhaustion over time.
Glowmark: 25 cp
Faint, toggleable glow for visibility.
Rustproofing: 30 cp
Prevents rust and corrosion on metal gear.
Stonebite: 100 cp
Grants the weapon the ability to pierce deeply into armored foes or tough hides
"I think that I will do a self repair on a set of fine quality leather padded chainmail." I said.
"That is what I was going to recommend for you Tarn." Nil said.
"Now what will you be wanting my lady?" Orin said.
"Well I will take as many arrows as you can make for 1 steel coin as well as that reinforced warpick that you have on the wall there with the stonebite."
"Oh that warpick already has that enchantment so I will knock 50 cp of the price. That would make your total 158 copper pieces and the 1 steel coin for the arrows. That will also be 20 arrows but since you are friends Tarn I will call out 25 arrows."
"Thank you that is very kind." Nil said. Placing the funds on the counter.
"There is a barrel of arrows over in the corner just grab 25. And here is the warpick. This is probably my best work that I have ever made so please take good care of it."
Nil nodded and walked off. Turning to me Tarn said "You did well in finding a teammate Tarn. Now to business. You owe me 65 copper pieces but let me recommend some other things. I see that you have those hand axes and a sword. You need some daggers. You want something that you can use if you are on your back. Also some breasers. I recommend these items." Orin said while putting an open box with a set of fine quality and also a set iron bracers of common quality.
Nil wandered back. "I get the daggers by why the bracers?"
"Then you put them under the chainmail. It will make the armor like a masterwork quality item. I call it poor man's masterwork. Now I am not skilled enough to make masterworks but I can say that the extra protection is worth it. Now this is between just us. The monsters of the infinity city are getting stronger on average. There is some truth to this: there are less and less adventurers coming back out of the city every year. And earlier this year my mentor who is very high in the smiths guild has told me to start to produce as many weapons and armor to help fight what is to come. He has not told me what that is but I trust him. Now take or leave my advice but this is heartfelt from a friend Tarn." Orin said.
"I believe you Orin anyways more protection is almost always a good thing. So what is my new total?" I asked.
"144 copper coins."
I handed him the money. And me and Nil left Orin's shop.