Runeguard 016

I hurried south along the cobbled road as fast as I could. I had tarried longer in Wolf Valley than I should have and now was in a rush to return to town to complete my many errands. 

But despite my efforts, stars were already dotting the sky when I entered the town’s outskirts. The field was just as crowded with campfires as on every other night, but today my presence attracted no attention.

Surprised, I strained my ears to catch the conversations of those I passed. I heard one word, time and again: dungeons. It seemed I had stirred up a hornet’s nest, and the earlier Creche Notice was on everyone’s minds.

I further learned from my eavesdropping that a few parties had already attempted the easier of the two dungeons—the one to the south—but all who had entered had failed miserably.

I rubbed at my chin thoughtfully as I crossed into the town proper. “Adi, how does everyone know who has been to the dungeons?”

“The results of all dungeon dives are publicized. Most personal data is still kept private, but the names, levels, and guild affiliations of the dungeon party are often revealed in the townhall noticeboard and in the one outside the dungeon.”

I bowed my head, pondering this. My first inclination had been to dismiss the overhead conversations as idle gossip, but if it was true…

I might have to rethink my plans.

I had been planning on entering the southern dungeon alone tomorrow. Mostly because I didn’t trust anyone else to not backstab me. 

And I had enough faith in my own abilities to believe I could survive long enough to retreat if things proved too tough. But after hearing of the fate of the other parties I was forced to reconsider my plans.

“Do you have the dungeon records, Adi?”

“No, Dace, but now that we are within the town’s environs, I can pull them from the town noticeboard.”

“Do that and tell me what you can.” 

Adi was silent for a moment. “Three parties entered the Swampy Place dungeon today. The average level of the first two parties was five, and the last: eight. All three parties were wiped out before completing the dungeon’s first stage.”

My brows drew down. “How big were the parties?”

“Each party contained six members, the maximum allowable.”

“Anything else you can tell me about them?”

“Other than their names and guilds, no. The players of all three parties had their profiles concealed.”

I stroked my chin. The fate of the last party troubled me the most. Even for me, facing six level eight players would not be easy, and if a party that strong had not even managed to retreat from the dungeon… 

I will definitely have to revise my plans, I thought. With much heavier steps, I made my way to the smithy.

✵ ✵ ✵

Gorman was waiting for me. 

As soon as the ginger-haired blacksmith spotted me, his eyes lit up. “You’re back!” he shouted as he hurried towards me.

Immediately, all eyes in the smithy swung my way. The smiths were idling again today, I noticed, and from the whispered comments and hopeful glances thrown my way, I assumed Gorman had already shared with his colleagues what I had told him yesterday.

My gaze drifted back to Gorman. A younger man with a black beard and watchful eyes accompanied him. 

“Of course,” I said. “Did you not think I would return?”

Gorman waved aside my comment. “I was worried, that’s all.” He looked at me eagerly. “Did you get it?”

Conscious of the many watching eyes, I smiled. “I did. Did you speak to your guildmaster?”

The young man at Gorman’s side stepped forward and stuck out his arm. “I’m Juyorah, head of the Silver Hammers Guild. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

I took Juyorah’s proffered hand and shook it while I took his measure. He was a slim man in his early twenties and with fine hands. Not at all how I imagined a smith to look, especially not a guildmaster. Yet his eyes were shrewd and sparkled with intelligence.

“I’m Dace,” I said, introducing myself.

The guildmaster nodded. “Gorman has already told me much about you. But before we get down to any talk of a deal, will you show me the ore you’re offering?” He held up his hand to forestall any protest I might offer. “I am amenable—more than amenable—to your terms, but I’d like to see what you bring to the table before I commit my guild.”

I eyed the young man. His request seemed fair, but I was wary of being cheated. I surveyed the room carefully again. None of the smiths were armed. “Alright,” I said at last, and willed the ore from my inventory.

You have removed 350 x pieces of iron ore.

Pleased murmurs broke out across the room, but Juyorah’s face remained devoid of expression. Gesturing two smiths forward, he had them haul the ore onto a table after which he inspected each piece closely.

Only when he was done, did he look up at me. “We have a deal, Dace.”

I nodded, hiding my relief. An excited Gorman clapped me on the back, and I smiled at him.

“By the terms of our agreement, two hundred and eighty pieces of this ore still belong to you,” the guildmaster said. “What do you want us to make out of it?”

“A full set of plate armor,” I answered promptly. “Of the best quality you can manage.”

Juyorah’s eyes narrowed for a moment before his face broke out in a pleased smile. “It is good to finally see a warrior in this town.” His grin turned wry. “I had begun to think we’d chosen the wrong trade.”

I matched his grin with one of my own. “How long before you can have the armor ready.”

“A day perhaps. But I estimate that there will be plenty of ore left over after we are done with your suit of armor. Is there anything else you need?”

“Maybe… a hammer that I can wield in one hand, a large shield, and some tools.”

“Tools?” he asked in surprise.

“Hatchets, shovels, pickaxes and the like. In case, I run into anything else of value while out in the wilds.”

“Of course,” he said. “We can manage all that, I think. Is that all?”

I closed my eyes and thought for a moment. “Adi, do you know the exact coordinates of the cave in Wolf Valley?”

“I do, Dace.”

“And can you transfer that to another player?” 

“Only with your permission, Dace.”

I opened my eyes and waved Gorman and Juyorah closer. “There is more ore in the cave where I mined all this,” I whispered when they stepped up to my side. “I’m willing to give you the cave’s location. For our same deal, only in reverse.”

“You mean you get twenty percent of any ore we mine?” clarified Gorman.

I nodded.

“How much ore is there?” the guildmaster asked thoughtfully.

I gestured to the room at large. “Enough that it will take all of you days to mine,” I answered.

Gorman’s eyes widened. “Why aren’t you mining it yourself?”

“Because it will take me weeks to mine,” I replied ruefully. “And I don’t have time for that.” I paused. “There is one other thing you should know, though.”

Juyorah looked at me questioningly.

“The cave and the surrounding tunnels may be dangerous. I cleared out all the hostiles I found, but you will need to take precautions in case your miners are attacked.”

The guildmaster stuck out his hand again. “I’m beginning to like you, Dace. We have a deal.”

I grinned and shook his hand again. “Adi, please transfer the cave’s coordinates to Juyorah and Gorman.”

A moment later, I saw the pair’s eyes turn inward. “You have the location?” I guessed.

They nodded.

“Alright then, since we’re done here, I’ll take my leave. See you tomorrow.”

✵ ✵ ✵

I visited the Weavers next.

“Well, if it isn’t the young ruffian come to see us again,” Evelyn said with a smile. “And this time looking so dapper. Good evening, Dace.”

“Evening, Evelyn,” I replied.

“Are your new garments to your liking?”

“Oh, certainly,” I assured her. “Did you manage to sell the stuff I gave you?”

“I did,” the matron said, initiating a trade with me. 

My eyes widened at the items displayed in the trade window. “You got all this in return for what I gave you?”

The Weavers’ guildmaster nodded. “Minus my commission, of course,” she said with a small smile.

I waved that away. “Of course.” To my delight, the matron had not only managed to get the paper and ink I requested, she’d gotten so much more that I hadn’t requested.

I considered Evelyn’s proposed trade for a moment longer before cancelling it and replacing it with one of my own.

Trade Window

Goods Offered by Dace Tolman

23 x scorpion chitin.

23 x venom sac.

35 x glowing mushrooms.

Goods Requested from Evelyn Martins

3 x lesser mana potions.

3 x lesser heal potions.

150 x sheets of paper.

1 x ink bottle and pen.

10 x travel rations.

“You’ve been busy,” Evelyn murmured, eyeing the items I had added to the trade. “What do you want for them?”

I shrugged. “How many more mana potions can you get for the venom sacs and mushrooms.”

“Mana potions?” she asked in surprise. “Are you sure? As a warrior don’t you prefer healing potions?”

“I want mana potions,” I said, not explaining further.

She pursed her lips. “That is good. I only got those three in the first place because the alchemist refused to supply me with more healing potions. They’re in higher demand at the moment and cost ten times as much. The mages can’t seem to get enough of them.” She met my eyes. “I will be able to get you a more generous quantity of mana potions next time,” she assured me.

“That’s great,” I said.

“What about the chitin?” she asked. 

I could see this item interested her the most. “That’s for your guild to do with as it pleases.”

Her eyebrows rose. “Another gift?”

“Consider it an investment this time,” I said. “In your guild.”

Evelyn’s eyes narrowed as she studied me carefully. 

I kept my own face blank. Either she accepted or she didn’t.

“Alright Dace,” she said finally. “But we’ll have to discuss the terms of this ‘investment’ of yours at some point.”

Waving aside her concern, I said my goodbyes and left.