“Wake up, you're going to sleep through lunch again and you have to take a bath. When's the last time you took one, a week ago? You smell like a wet dog” a voice said above him.
Franco slowly opened his eyes to see the roof of their room awashed in sunlight and a bill with the hair face of Oaken attached to it just inches away from his.
“Well that's unpleasant to wake up to” Franco said as he tried to roll over in his cot.
A firm hand stopped him from rolling over.
“I’m surprised to see you sleeping so long. You haven't slept for more than a few hours the last couple weeks weeks” Oaken said as he shook him.
Suddenly the memory of last night hit him. Of that spell page turning to dust and blowing away in a Mana infused cloud as Soul Lance imprinted itself fully into his mind. He had learned it. Franco jumped up out of his cot, sending Oaken stumbling back as Franco did a little dance in their not so cramped room.
“Ha, I learned the spell last night. Fifteen days Oaken, I learned it in fifteen days”
“What that can't be possible,” Oaken said, going stiff in anger.
“There is no way you learned it that fast”
“Where did I put that book?” Franco mumbled to himself as he turned to slowly look around the messy room.
“What, what. Don’t tell me you lost it” Oaken said as he tired to push past him
Franco saw the corner of the Legendary Artifact sticking out of some of his blankets. Apparently he had slept on it.
“Here it is,” Franco said as he pulled it free of his blankets and dusted the cover off as he handed it to Oaken.
It looked like his eyes were going to bug out of his face but snatched the book from Franco with his third and right hand while he pushed Franco back with his left.
“No respect” Oaken mumbled as he sat down on his cot and started to flip through the Grimnoir.
Franco noticed that Maph and Frazier's stuff was gone. They hadn't slept here last night. He rubbed at his head as he sat on his cot. In fact they hadn't slept here the last few nights if he remembered correctly. He had really focused on learning that spell and only ate because his teammates made him. Where had those two gone?
He rubbed his eyes and then he remembered. They had moved back into their first place a few days ago so they wouldn't lose it to all the new people.
“Its gone. You really did learn it in fifteen days” Oaken said.
Franco looked up from the floor and saw Oaken just staring at him. His Kimber face was hard to read at times but this was shock and anger.
“Fifteen” Oaken accursed, pointing both right arms at him.
Franco just hesitated a second “Yes” he said questionably.
“Get out and take a bath” Oaken said as he threw his pillow at him.
Franco caught it and put it next to him. “I was thinking we could get back to the dungeon soon. I want to test it out and see this first level before everyone else does.”
Oaken snapped his bill closed for a second and then shook his head. “I hate you. fifteen days, really? I am not going back down until I know another spell so get out. Maybe Frazier and Maph will go but I think they are enjoying each others time to much right now”
“You're boring,” Franco said jokingly.
He finally grabbed his things and left after Oaken had thrown most of his bedding at him.
An hour later Franco felt like a new man. A bath and a shave did wonders as well as clean clothes. He was in his full kit, new dark blue Sea Dreamer armor over a black gambeson and mail under armor. Clean shaven and with a hair cut. His dirty blond hair was almost to his ears now but he had the sides cut short. It made his deep and noticeable scar on the side of his head less prominent somehow and he was glad the barber had recommended it.
The town had doubled in size again and Franco was a little uncomfortable with how many people were pointing him out. The streets were full as he walked to the mess hall where lunch was being served. It was another beautiful late summer day high in these mountains. It had been raining hard a few days ago but now the sun was out and the warmth felt good to him.
He noticed that only a fourth of the people on the street were adventurers but that made sense to him. A good portion of them would be down in the dungeon for the day already.
As he got closer to the entrance of the mess hall he saw Maph and Frazier walking hand in hand on their way out. They had their adventurer belts on but no armor. Just their normal clothes.
“Good morning,” Franco said as he waved at him and approached.
“Morning?” Frazier said questioningly.
“Well good afternoon then” Franco said before he stuck his tongue out at her.
“Good to see you out and moving from that room” Maph said as he slapped him on the shoulder.
“You look good,” he smiled.
“Its amazing what a good bath and shave can do. How are you two doing” Franco asked.
“Good, enjoying these last couple of weeks,” Frazier said.
“Well Oaken is out for a few more as he wants to learn another spell. He's mad I learned mine in fifteen days”
“You learned it fully already? I thought you were just taking a break” Maph said, surprised.
“No, my break is over. I'm wanting to get back down there soon. How about you two”
They looked at each other but then Frazier shrugged.
“Maph wants to get back down there but I’m ok with a couple more weeks off. Lets give Oaken two more and then we as a team will get back to it” Frazier said before she fully turned to Maph.
“I’m alright if you want to go with Franco sooner” She said.
Maph was quiet for a second and then shrugged. “I can handle another week of taking it easy with you but next week I’ll be up for some adventuring"
Franco was disappointed but he really wanted to get back to it. Should he sign for a few missions with another team. He would have to get permission from his team captain for that.
Apparently Frazier was thinking the same thing as she took him in. “I know that look, Franco. I’m alright with you going on a few missions or a delve with another team. I don't want you to go alone. Go get that new sword of yours wet but this time next week be ready to have at least Maph go with you”
“Works for me. If it's alright with you I’ll move my stuff back into our house tonight. I think Oaken will learn better on his own” Franco said.
Frazier just nodded and then smiling left with Maph.
He just heard her whisper to Maph as they walked away. “We better enjoy what time we have today then”
Franco just rolled his eyes and turned to enter the Mess hall. He got his food which was a heavy cream sauce with duck meat over thick noodles and a blend of spicy vegetable salad with two thick dark wheat rolls. It looked very good to him.
He had to make a full round around the mess hall before he found an open seat at a small table. There were hundreds of people here eating already and many were pointing him out or at least the saber on his hip. He had been in his room mostly over the last nine days but the village seemed to have transformed in that time and he felt out of place.
He had been eating for just a few minutes when someone came up to him.
“Hi Franco, long time no see,” Faye said.
He looked at the short but cute women. She stood there in jeans and a long sleeve plaid shirt with her adventurer’s belt on. They had not talked since the night of the funeral and learning the spell and really occupied him but he still felt a small flash of frustration at the questions she had asked.
“Good afternoon Faye, want to join me” he said pointing to the open set across from him.
He couldn't really blame her, her questions had been direct but honest. Or had it been her sister he couldn't really remember.
“Well first I wanted to apologize for how the other night went. We didn't mean anything by it but I was also wondering if you wanted to join me and my team for lunch. We are just sitting over there” Faye said as she touched his shoulder and pointed to a table on the other side of the large converted building.
“Sure why not?” He said after a few seconds of thought. He picked up his tray of food and followed her. He was looking for a temporary group for the next few days and he didn't know that many people.
Might as well give them a chance he thought.
Her team was sitting with another team of three men. One was a dwarf, and the other two looked like Nahmoi men with one wearing an eye patch. Introductions were made and Franco learned their names as well as their team, The Atwood Axes.
After a recap of their time here by Faye, Franco was impressed. “Seems like you all have found your luck here in Desanigh”
“Not as much as you or your team but enough for the effort and then some” Mari said with a smile on his face.
“Well it seems your two groups have a good thing going and I am not one to butt in but my team is still on break after the Temple but I’m looking to get back down there in the mean time” Franco said.
“Looking for a quick team up for a few days are you” Summer said. The first time she had spoken since he had sat down with them.
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“I am,” Franco said with a smile.
“If it's alright with you Franco I know we kinda insulted you last time and I’m sorry for that.”
“No worries, they were honest questions that just made me think. This entire memory thing is strange and has me all over the place sometimes but I am looking to team up for a few days if you are heading back down soon.”
“Good, we would like that and we are going back down tomorrow in fact. We promise a fare cut while you are with us” Summer said and stuck her hand out.
He took it.
“In fact Franco we are not down there today because we have an appointment with Suzerain Valiant in an hour or so. Stay with us for that. You have dealt with him before” Faye said next to him. A friendly smile on her face.
“Are you sure. That will be a lot of private information.”
“That you will see tomorrow as we play with our new gear. This way you can help” Faye said as she made a quick glance at her sister and Kara, their other teammate.
“Great minds think alike. I was just going to suggest the same thing Franco” Summer said as she slapped the back of Mari who sat next to her.
“That's alright with you, right” Summer said to Mari, a wide smile on her lightly freckled face.
The dwarf humphed, but then shrugged his shoulders.
“Fine by me” he said
Franco found himself sitting against a wall in Suzerain Valiant’s workshop an hour later with a dozen or so of apprentices, [Master Crafters] and [Appraisers] moving in item after item with stacks of papers with each one.
“How many items did you find?” Franco asked Faye who was sitting next to him in a whisper.
“Thirty seven for us but Allen the Gold rank adventurer who saved us and killed that Abomination found another twenty four.” Faye said excitedly.
Summer and Mari stood next to the middle of the huge polished wood table that was at least twenty feet long and watched as everything was placed into three distinct groups. After the last seven items were laid on the table in front of the two team captains on satin blankets Franco knew this group had hit it big.
Suzerain Valiant the old elf was as much show elf as he was one of the world's greatest [Appraiser] as he entered right after the seven featured items as well as Innosaa just after him. She moved to the side of the room and gave Franco a quick wink when he locked eyes with her.
Franco snorted at the wink and Faye’s eyes flashed his way. It seemed this was big enough that the Expedition wanted to insure its cut. He told Faye that and she shot Innosaa a dirty look for a brief moment but then went back to watching the items in front of them.
“Its good to see you and it was a pleasure for me and my team to appraiser such a large find of Desanigh artifacts at once. Truly its been a great experience as many of the apprentices and junior members leveled from it. For that we will give you a 10% discount on our fee” Suzerain Valiant said.
Both Mari and Summer gave the ancient elf a seated bow.
“Thank you for that and thank you for the timely appraisal” Summer said.
“My pleasure and now time for what we all want. Before you lay the seven best items. All of them are Gold rated and together make up seventy percent of the value of your loot.”
Franco whistled at that while a heavy pause fell over the room. This got exciting. No wonder Innosaa was here. Franco let his eyes drift over the seven items.
A large two handed axe with a brown wood haft with metal bands spaced through it with a single half moon blade that had a fierce spike as the count weight.
A simple light wood coloured bow that was about longbow size for a man.
Blue robes that looked to be some kind of magical silk and made for a Kimber. With an orangey red color on the inside with gold threaded lettering and symbols around the cuffs and edges of the robe.
A simple silver ring.
A large two handed warhammer whose shaft was a black metal while its head was a large silvery block covered in arcane symbols.
The sixth item was a sword or large dagger that Franco wasn't familiar with. It was almost a sickle and the handle was a beautiful gold with geometric symbols carved into it with a black leather grip while the gold ran down the middle of the thick sickle shaped blade while the metal of the blade was a blackish blue. It looked to have a wicked point and a fine edge on the curved part of the blade.
The seventh item was a necklace of unknown metal that had jade, rubies and diamonds every few inches and all the size of his pinky nail or so. The stones alone were worth tens of thousands of gold.
Franco had just got done with his quick appraisal when Suzerain Valiant moved over to stand by the axe. “I will give you a quick breakdown and then answer any questions after I explain all seven of these. First we have the axe. Superior Cutting, Self Repair and Durability enhancements while also having a, Greater Make Lighter enhancement. I would expect it to fetch nearly 70,000 gold. Now the bow” he said as he moved in front of the bow and picked it up.
“This bow has a Greater Durability and Lessen Draw enhancement on it. While also having a Superior Create Arrow. Anyone who can operator a magical artifact can simply put their Mana into the bow like this”
Suzerain Valiant picked up the bow and pointed it to the side of the room where no one was standing and drew it back. With a slow and deliberate manner he moved his Mana into the bow a steel tipped arrow formed on the string in less than a second before Suzerain Valiant let fly the arrow. Hitting the far wall where a small target had been set up.
He put it down and Franco wanted that bow. He didn't think he was good with bows but he wasn't sure, but that was some real magic there.
“You need to put good bars of metal and wood next to it overnight in a Mana rich environment but it will absorb those items and when full it shoots 458 arrows before running out. It took 2.8 lbs of Steel and 7 pounds of good wood to fill it again and over 36 hours for it to go from empty to full. Enchant weapon spells allowed you to enchant the arrows. The bow itself is a good low quality Gold rated bow but the arrow creation makes it High Gold and very rear. 100,000 gold.”
“Next we have these robes. Superior Toughness, Piecing and Cutting Resistance enhancements but its worth comes in the fact that it has a type of Mana Gathering enhancement that I am not familiar with. It is very strong and from our testing it seems to make the wearer’s natural Mana gathering nearly 70% faster. It also appears to train up one’s Mana gathering from our limited time with it but in time I expect that number to get much higher. In addition it also has two spells sewn into its two larger sleeves. One is Fire Bolt and the other is Water Shield. It is designed to be worn with the blue or the orange side out with no loss of function. A design I personally have never seen before. Truly a master work.120,000 gold.
Franco looked longingly on that robe. It would make him or Oaken amazing. In fact it hit him that these items might be too good for Faye and her team. They were bronze ranked and these were good enough to hurt their leveling. He didn't think anything so far would hurt the Atwood Axes leveling speed, just straight upgrades for them.
“Next we have this ring. It has both the spell Haste and Mass Haste on it”
The entire room stood up to get a better look at the ring. Franco couldn't believe it. Haste was a Greater spell and Mass Haste was Superior. It could easily be the capstone spell of any high level magic caster, but both in a ring was insane.
He elbowed Faye gently and whisper asked “Can you even learn to free cast those spells”
Her eyes briefly narrowed at him as if in disbelief before he cleared her face and learned closer to him.
“I had a teacher once who started every school year by showing off how he could free cast Haste in just under ten minutes. It was impressive but for practical use by us adventures maybe some Archwizard could free cast it fast enough to be useful but I doubt it”
After a few more seconds of whispers from around the room Suzerain Valiant continued.
“Both Haste and Mass Haste cast through the ring are done in seconds but seem to use up a lot of Mana. As far as we can tell it cost nearly 30% more Mana then it would with an Ability cast. I value the ring at 160,000. Moving on to the Warhammer it has Superior Make Lighter, Durability, Toughness and a magic absorbing ability that allows it to break spell shields and enchanted armor easier. Its magic absorbing ability is refined enough that it does not affect the welder when it is held and can be used like a shield against magic attacks. 100,000 gold.”
“This sixth item is a Khopesh sword if you are not familiar with it. It does require a different technique with its use but this blade as Superior Durability, Cutting Edge along with a Lingering Wound and Greater Parry. 80,000 gold. And now last but not least among these treasurers.”
Franco watched as Suzerain Valiant gently picked up the necklace. It looked very impractical for an adventurer but that wouldn't stop anyone from wearing it if it was good enough.
“This is known now as a Queens Companion and at one point thousands of years in the past it was said to be fairly common for the wealthy to have something like this it seems by a few records. This one provides the wearer Greater Health Regain, Greater Temperature Control, Greater Bug Repellent, Greater Disease Resistance and a Greater Force Shield. Anything moving fast enough will cause the Force Shield to activate, be it an arrow, spell or fist and it's strong enough to take several blows from a Greater spell. This is worth 250,000 Gold and it's the one I would want to buy as would any Monarch. Now any questions for me”
The old elf just smiled as the room was silent after his words. Franco didn't want to spoil it and this wasn't his team or loot but he had so many questions he wanted to ask. Valiant was loving it of course.
“Alright everyone let me ask some questions first before we get too excited. I can understand now why the expedition sent someone to help us with this” Summer said looking around the room
“From what you just told us, those seven items are worth 880,000 gold and that is nearly 70% of the total value of all the goods we got appraised.”
“Roughly correct captain” Suzerain Valiant said as he waved an apprentice over.
The young Kimber man handed over a few sheets of paper to Summer and then another copy to Mari that Franco could see were full of numbers and columns breaking down the value of all the times.
Summer scanned it and then turned to face her team and Mari’s.
“Ok the numbers mean that we can walk away with quality or quantity when it comes to keeping the items or we can walk away with gold and not as much as you would think. Between the Guilds, Expedition and Suzerain Valiant’s cut, even with his generous discount we are keeping roughly 55% of this. That would be about 95,000 gold each for us right now if we could instantly exchange it which we can’t, so lets keep that in mind as we hear the next bit” She turned to face Suzerain Valiant.
“Because you do have more for us”
“Well not as my roll as an [Appraiser], this is mostly just advice from an old elf to young adventurers but the Atwood Axes could take six of the seven items and their leveling would not be affected while your team, captain Summer must be very careful what they take as your leveling will be greatly affected by some choices here.”
“Stop, let's make this simple at first. Mari your team gets the axe and the bow and we get the robes and the sword, that's what, roughly 190,000 each for us right there. How does that sound.”
Franco watched the interplay as people made quick looks at each other. Franco could feel Faye’s desire for that robe but he was almost sure it would impact her leveling but just to sit on it for a level or two would be worth it.
Mari finally spoke after taking long minutes to think about it. “I can accept that in principle so far but what do you have in mind for the rest.”
“I think we give up the necklace and lots of the lesser goods to pay the expedition’s 30%. That necklace would be very nice as an adventurer but compared to a better weapon or armor it comes up lacking.”
“I agree. The question then is the ring and the hammer” Mari said.
“Do you want that hammer, Kara or Ishtar” Summer asked.
Franco saw the two look at each other and both shrug at the same time. That made him laugh and brought the room's attention to him.
“Any advice Franco” Summer said, a small smile coming to her lips.
“Me, I don't know anything but I would want to see Suzerain Valiant’s second tier selections for my team”
Mari and Summer both turned to the old elf and looked at him.
“Well, do you have any items that you think would be good for us?” Mari asked.
Suzerain Valiant smiled and told his helpers to grab four items from the sides of the table.
They brought them over and laid them in front of the two team captains.
“Now these are Silver ranted items but ones I think would help you. A ring of Lesser Mana Well for young Faye. A Shield with Greater Make Lighter and Impact Reduction for Ishtar or Kara. A bracelet that gives Lesser Strength and another that has both Lesser Health Regain and Lesser Poison Resistance. With the last bracelet and the Mana Well ring being the most valuable of the group.
“Any preferences?” Summer asked the group.
Kara turned to Ishtar and nodded at him. “You suffered the most, what do you want?”
Ishtar touched the eye patch covering his now missing left eye and sighed.
“By depth perception is off so swinging a hammer is probably not a good choice but give me the shield and the two bracelets and I'll be happy.” Ishatar said.
Franco could tell the man was uncomfortable. He just asked for three items but they were all Silver rated while his teammates were getting Gold rated ones. He was still coming out the loser.
“So we get the warhammer and the lesser mana well and we sell the Haste Ring and the Necklace with use paying the difference in our gold cut” Summer said looking at Mari
He sighed and rubbed his chin. “Looks that way. Well lets work all the numbers out then”
Franco sat back and slapped Faye on the back a few times. She had a huge smile on her face and gave him a hug which he returned before she did a little dance in her seat. She was making out the best of her entire group and she knew it. With that smile on face and her long brown hair loose around her face she really was beautiful. The next few days should be fun, Franco thought.
