B01DCAV4W2 (S) (6 page)

Congratulations!  You have crafted a Legendary Object: The Forge of Heavens.  You have learned two new skills.

Congratulations!  You have learned the skill: Crafting.  It is not only weapons and armor that will serve you well in The Land.  Rings, belts, bracelets and other items have their own value.  If enchanted, these items can easily be the difference between life and death.  You now have the ability to take base components and create something greater than the sum of its parts.

Congratulations!  You have learned the skill: Smithing.  You may now take raw materials and unlock their potential to help or harm.   It may be shining silver or gleaming gold that capture a woman’s eye, but it is sharp steel and mighty mithril that can cut out a man’s heart!

In light of this amazing achievement, you may choose to drastically increase your skill level in either of your two new skills or your existing skill of enchanting.  Which do you choose?  Smithing skill, Enchanting skill or Crafting skill?

Richter blinked and minimized the prompts.  He took in his surroundings.  Everyone around him was walking around entranced by their surroundings.  The creation of the Forge of Heavens had attracted many more villagers and they were all walking through it amazed.  Even the dwarves were walking around with expressions of quiet glee, and sometimes they weren’t even that quiet.  Richter didn’t know how long the detente between the territorial smiths and the other villagers would last, but he planned to take advantage of the peace and silence as long as he could. 

Crafting, Smithing or Enchanting, he asked himself.   When he had planted the Seed Core, he hadn’t been given an option.  His Herb Lore skill had just skyrocketed.  He hadn’t been able to make too much use of that yet, but he was sure it would come in handy in the future.  So now Richter had a decision to make.  With his Limitless ability, it wasn’t really a question of which skill he should learn.   Given enough time, he should theoretically be able to learn everything.  The real question was, what would give him the best bonus right now?  It would be great to make his own weapons.  He could just see himself wielding his own katana, fighting off ninjas and then moving his mouth dramatically to form Japanese words while waiting for English words to come out on a delay.  Shogun Assassin style!

On the other hand, it probably took a good while to make a good sword, let alone a great one.  It also meant that he could only level his Smithing skill when he was physically at a forge.  He had A LOT to do, and couldn’t waste time just leveling up his Smithing skill when there were bugbears and eaters to kill.

Another thing to consider was that he had a second Magic Core.   Hopefully he would get another skill boost to either Crafting or Enchanting once he used it.  Since he wasn’t planning on making another Magic Forge, he probably wouldn’t get to jump levels in Smithing.  He knocked swinging a hammer out of the running.  After that is just came down to Enchanting or Crafting.  Unlike smithing, rings and bracelets could probably be made on the go. 

His musings were interrupted by a shout.  The dwarves were starting to get annoyed at the men and women wandering around their domain, so Richter knew he only had a bit of time left before total pandemonium broke out.  It ultimately wasn’t a hard choice.  Even if he maxed his Crafting skill, without being a solid enchanter he would just be making baubles to sell.  He chose Enchanting.

Congratulations!  You have reached skill level 2 in Enchanting.  All enchantments 1% more effective and increased chance of enchantments taking hold.

Congratulations!  You have reached skill level 3 in Enchanting.  All enchantments 1% more effective and increased chance of enchantment taking hold.

…

Congratulations!  You have reached skill level 29 in Enchanting.  All enchantments 1% more effective and increased chance of enchantment taking hold.

You have received 2,500 (base 2,000) bonus experience for reaching level 10 in the skill: Enchanting.

You have received 5,000 (base 4,000) bonus experience for reaching level 20 in the skill: Enchanting.

Congratulations!  You have advanced from Novice to Initiate in: Enchanting.  You now will gain more charges when recharging with a soul stone.  Items you enchant now have their enchantment potential increased by +2.  For each new rank in Enchanting that you achieve, enchantment potential will increase by another two points.  You can now add enchantments to already created items, albeit with an 80% penalty to effectiveness. 

Congratulations!  You have advanced from Initiate to Apprentice in: Enchanting.  You can now enchant scrolls based on spells that you already know.  Items that you enchant with a finite number of charges will now have +10 charges.  For each new rank you obtain in Enchanting, you will get another +10 charges.  You can now add enchantments to already created items, albeit with an 60% penalty to effectiveness. 

Know This!  Every enchantment has an assigned enchant cost.  The quality of an item determines its maximum enchantment potential.  The breakdown based on quality is as follows:

Average Quality = 1 point, 10 charges
Above Average Quality = 5 points, 50 charges
Superb Quality = 10 points, 100 charges
Exquisite Quality = 15 points, 150 charges
Masterwork Quality = 20 points, 200 charges

You have completed the Quest: The Right Tool for the Right Job.  You have created a Magic Forge created with elementum.   You may now enjoy the weapons and armor created in the Forge of Heavens. 

Reward: 12,500 (base 10,000) experience points. 

Bonus Reward:  Increased relationship with all smiths in the village. 

Bonus Reward: Your people are impressed by the creation of a Legendary Object.  Morale increased by +50. 

Bonus Reward: Your relationship with Krom has improved from trusted to loyal. 

Congratulations! You have won +1,000 fame points!  You have created a Legendary Object!

Know This!  You have built a fully functional forge.  Your settlement will now enjoy the Building Bonus of increased chance of higher quality weapons and armor.

Know This!  As you have built a Magic Forge, you have maxed out the Building Bonus of having a forge.  +10% chance of an item of a given quality being automatically upgraded a higher quality once completed.

Know This!  You are intrinsically linked to your Place of Power.  By creating a Legendary Object within its boundaries, you have been Marked.  Your choice to use elementum to create the Forge of Heavens will manifest in your own abilities.  Your attacks will have +10% damage to spell barriers.  This bonus will increase as the level of your Forge increases. 

You have received a Mark: Forge of Heavens.

Richter was delighted at the cascade of prompts.  The experience took him a fair way to level 19!  It reminded him that he still had to allocate the characteristic points and skill percentage points from reaching level 17 and 18.  He couldn’t spare the brain power to deal with that right now, though.  He had a new toy to play with!

One thing did capture his attention.  An intense tingling sensation covered his body and then localized in his burned hand.  Holding up his right palm, he saw the red angry skin becomes its normal light brown and then a symbol appeared.  It was a pentagon with a hammer in the middle, the exact color and lucency of elementum.  As with all of his Marks, it soon faded from view. 

Krom had walked over, “You did it!  You really did it ya beautiful bastard!  Sorry, sorry, yer Lordship, but this is amazing!”  The smith looked around again with barely concealed glee.  From the way his hands were shaking slightly, it seemed like he didn’t know what he wanted to touch first.

Richter made the decision for him, “Come on Krom.  It’s time to load an enchantment or two!  Everyone else!  Clear out!  I’m not sure how this is going to work and unless you want to risk being burned,” he waved his hand around in the air, “I suggest you go on about your day.”

Everyone filed out at his instruction, though a few children had to be physically carried away by their parents, protesting loudly.  Richter walked over to the central anvil and took out the first item he intended to deconstruct, the battered and beaten Life dagger.

He looked at Krom, “So how does this work?  And how can we improve our chances that the Forge learns the enchantment?”

Krom raised both hands in a shrug, “Your guess be as good as mine, yer Lordship.  I do believe that it be a matter of luck.  Most likely when the Forge levels up we will have a better chance, but if there be a knack to this, I do na know it.”

Sigh, things could never be easy, Richter thought.  Nonetheless, there was only one way forward.  He placed one hand on the anvil and with the other, held the Life dagger to the green metal.  A prompt appeared:

You have brought an enchanted weapon in contact with the Forge of Heavens: Steel Dagger of Life.  Do you want to deconstruct this weapon for a chance to have the enchantment stored for future use?  Yes or No?

Richter chose ‘Yes.’

Sparkles of white light began to surround the dagger.  The light began orbiting the weapon in Richter’s hand and grew bright enough to be uncomfortable to look at.  After a few seconds, the light stopped swirling and leeched into the anvil.  The dagger itself fell to dust.  The luminous dots could be seen swirling in the heart of the anvil before coalescing into a solitary point of golden light.  It hung fixed in one place, though the intensity of the light slowly waxed and waned.  Richter could faintly hear the sound of a bell chiming. 

Your Forge of Heavens has learned the enchantment: Life Damage.  Using the Forge of Heavens now provides the chance to learn this enchantment.

Home run right out of the gate, Richter thought excitedly.  He pulled out the next item, the Minor Ring of Stealth.  Once again, he placed one hand on the Forge and pressed the ring down on the Forge with the other.  He received a different prompt this time, however.

You have brought an enchanted item in contact with the Forge of Heavens, but this category of item cannot be deconstructed by the Forge.

Richter grimaced, but supposed it made sense.  A ring wasn’t exactly arms or armor.  He drew a sprite arrow from his quiver.  He didn’t know if the +1 was due to an enchantment or was intrinsic to how the arrows were made, but it didn’t hurt to try. 

This time, he didn’t even receive a prompt.  He put the sprite arrow away in frustration and removed another arrow from his Bag of Holding.  Richter’s heart beat faster in anticipation as motes of white light began to swirl around it.  The bright twinkles drained into the Forge and this time a blue light was kindled within the central anvil.

Your Forge of Heavens has learned the enchantment: Freeze Damage.  Using the Forge of Heavens now provides the chance to learn this enchantment.

Yea boy!  Richter gave a double fist pump and Krom clapped him on the back.  Randolphus spoke up asking for a report on what was happening.  Richter told him about the successful enchantments and also about how the ring wouldn’t work.  It all triggered the chamberlain scratching more notes down. 

Not all of Richter’s attempts were successful.  The next two magic arrows, Flame and Poison, failed to be absorbed.  They still faded to ash, but the swirling light just cascaded along the outside of the anvil and did not kindle a light within it.  Regretful over the waste, he brought something out of his Bag that he hadn’t wanted to use.  He was about to drink the potion when someone called out, “Stop!”

Beyan had apparently not heeded Richter’s instruction to leave the Forge.   “My Lord!  If that potion is what I think it is, then it is very valuable!  May I see it?”

Richter was starting to get annoyed with the gnome, but he still handed it over.  Beyan oohed and aahed over the silvery potion for a full minute before Richter lost his patience, “Well?!  What about it.  How much is it worth?”

Beyan looked up at Richter, startled.  The irritating man had forgotten Richter was even there!  “What?  Oh yes, I was right!  This is extremely valuable.  It’s an elixir,” Beyan’s words trailed off as he got distracted by the silvery liquid again.

Richter had had enough.  He took the potion back and rapped his knuckles twice against the gnome’s head, “Earth to McFly!  If you don’t give me a reason not to, I’m going to be drinking this potion in about two seconds!  Why does it matter that it’s an elixir?”  Krom stood in the background with a shit eating grin on his face. 

Beyan glared at Richter, but caught himself before he said something crass to the Master of his new village.  “An
elixir
is a higher level of alchemy.  I’m guessing that this is the first elixir you have seen?”  Richter nodded.  “That’s not surprising.  They are far harder to create and far more expensive than brews or tinctures, therefore they are also far more rare.  That’s why I stopped you.  An elixir shouldn’t be wantonly used.  I can’t promise anything, but if you let me examine it further, then I might be able to figure out its constituent parts.  Then I should be able to recreate it.  If you had made a Philosopher’s Cauldron instead of this,” Beyan waved his hand dismissively around, “I could tell you EVERY possible combination of ingredients that could make the elixir.”

Richter stilled his irritation again.  As prickly as the gnome was, Beyan had information that Richter needed.  He knew he had a lot to learn, and he wouldn’t turn his back on any opportunity to gain knowledge.  “So that’s what the Cauldron does?  It lets you know what’s in a potion so you can make more?”

Beyan rolled his eyes, “I said that I would be able to know
every
recipe.  Given enough time that is.  Each time the potion is made, there would be a chance to learn another recipe.  Many of the widely known recipes for higher level potions contain ingredients which are nearly impossible to find.  Invisibility potions for instance require several petals of a moon glass flower.  The problem is that the only place that they grow is under the Crimson Spectre’s alchemy guild.  Since they have a monopoly on a key component, they can charge whatever they wish.”