CC5 ~ 33!

~ 33 ~

McPoundy ran a hand through his beard, then tugged on the hair as he stared at the diagram that was just out of reach. “Yer asking a lot. More than ya think. To make this weapon, a single discipline isn’t enough. Do you even know what it is? The weapon?”

“I don’t.” Joe beamed a brilliant smile at the Dwarf.

“It’s weaponsss that were made by some Sage in the distant past, and the end result is specific to a base class of Ritualist. Note the stress I put on that. I didn’t misspeak; this is a set of weapons that function as one weapon.” The Grandmaster ran his finger over some of the words on the paper, and they were suddenly legible to Joe. “I don’t know what they do, but look. This section requires enchanting. Here, to use, but not build, this section… you need to be able to make rituals at a high level. Again, to use these here, you need alchemy. Thank the celestials that you don’t need it to make the original weapons. Seems like some after-creation add-on.”

“So… to build them requires smithing and enchanting?” Joe winked at McPoundy, “The two areas where you are a Grandmaster?”

“Ah. Perhaps you did know what you were asking for.” The Dwarf chuckled lightly as his chest puffed up proudly. “Not many people out there that can-”

“I need to assume that this design also involves Sage-ranked enchantment. I also must assume that would allow you to advance further. I’ll take that into consideration, thank you.” Joe’s words seemed to make McPoundy physically ill. “As payment for having access to a Sage-ranked smithing item, I want you to teach me until I am at least a Master. As payment for the Sage-ranked enchantment, I want you to inform my ‘handler’ that I gave you this, and have it count toward my candidacy. Lastly, I want this item as my weapon, and for it to never be made it for someone else.”

“Done.” McPoundy held out a hand so cheerfully that Joe wanted to hold back and drive a harder bargain. Still… he didn’t want to go back on his word. He reluctantly let the handshake happen, and the deal was struck. The Grandmaster chuckled, eying the paper. “Now, the first thing I would like to do is get started on this weapon. I’ll tell you a quick trade secret: when a high-ranked diagram is made, there are almost always the lesser versions within it, if you know how to look.”

With a mischievous grin, McPoundy took the weapon diagram and cheerfully started examining it. Joe was still uncertain as to why he was looking for a lesser version, and so he voiced the question. The Grandmaster stared at him in surprise. “Do you think Mythical ingredients suddenly just fall into your lap? Following the diagram as-is gives me a one percent chance of completing the weapon. If I start with lesser versions, I can build up experience and know what I am doing before I start wasting materials.”

That made sense, and Joe did his best to follow along with all of the explanations that were pouring from the bearded mouth across the small table from him. Descriptions of alloys, tensile strength, torque ratios, how to determine if dragonfire was a requirement or a suggestion, and folding metal took center stage.

Skill increase: Smithing Lore (Apprentice 0). Congratulations on increasing the depths of your knowledge! Perception +5.

As soon as the informational barrier was breached, the words coming out of the Dwarf were strangely easier to understand. It took almost four entire hours, but McPoundy had extracted an Expert-ranked subset from the diagram and was beginning the process of making the weapon. “Look here; this section is all about taking manasteel and elongating it into wire. We’ll take the wire and use it… here… no, later.”

The Dwarf lectured the entire time he was working, and Joe absorbed the instruction with rapt attention. The wire was turned into cable, then wrapped into orbs. Three hours after the work began, McPoundy set six perfectly smooth orbs on the rickety table, which buckled under their weight before the legs snapped entirely. The flimsy pieces of wood fell to the ground and stayed there without the slightest bounce or rolling. “Well… prolly shoulda replaced that a long time ago. It’s fine. Don’t even know why it was in here, to be frank. Next, the enchantment. Let’s get started.”

Smithing Lore one-time use effect has been used! You have gained the design template for Ritual Orb (Expert). Expert ranked Smithing or Ritualistic Forging is recommended before attempting to create.

Joe almost kicked himself when he saw that he had used up his forgotten bonus, but he calmed down when he realized exactly how far away he was from being able to manage to make even that. Instead he listened closely to the Dwarf’s wealth of knowledge about vectors and energy flows, the position of the moon, and the quiet voice in his heart that called for peace and tranquility. The words were mesmerizing, and Joe almost fell asleep many times. Only the fact that he needed to understand allowed him to keep his mind open and attentive.

Enchanting Lore reached Beginner nine just as McPoundy was finishing the explanation. As soon as he noticed it, Joe activated Knowledge, and the skill increased in rank.

Skill increase: Enchanting Lore (Apprentice 0). Congratulations on increasing the depths of your knowledge. Enchantments now require 5% fewer components to create!

Skill increase: Knowledge (Beginner III). Sometimes a boost to knowledge at the right time is more effective than using it consistently!

“-and that’s the only time I’ll ever speak of it.” McPoundy wiped a tear from his eye and took a deep breath. “Thank you for not laughing; I knew that you were the right person to open up to. Please, though… just never bring it up.”

“I’m… bring what up?” Joe locked his eyes on McPoundy, who smiled brightly and pounded him on the back.

“That’s the spirit. Thankee, lad.” The Grandmaster handed him the orbs, as well as two worked-leather cuffs. “Here you go, then; try them on.”

Joe took the cuffs and examined them.

Control Cuff (Masterwork). These control cuffs allow the wearer to control the weapon ‘Ritual Orbs’. They were created by Grandmaster Iron McPoundy, and are able to control Ritual Orbs up to the Master rank. They have no attack nor defensive value. Durability: 500/500.

“These are really durable for… leather?” Joe looked questioningly at the Dwarf to double check. McPoundy nodded, so Joe returned his attention to the orbs and tried to learn how to use them.

Ritual Orbs (Expert) (Masterwork). Can be controlled via Control Cuffs or option one, listed below. Each individual enchanted Ritual Orb can be directed separately if you can control them properly, or all of them can be directed as a unit. Each orb deals a base of 100 blunt damage. The orbs have additional properties as listed below.

Option 1) Enchanted Characteristics: Each Ritual Orb can be bound to a single Characteristic with an associated Enchanted Ritual Circle*. By binding the characteristic, the Orb will gain an increase in damage, and will shift the damage type it inflicts. If you can control them properly, they will also be controllable without a Control Cuff, based on the characteristic score. Assigning a characteristic automatically grants the Orb the ‘recall’ ability, and it will return to you after five minutes if left behind, forgotten, or stolen. The assigned Characteristic will also empower Option 2.

Caution! After binding a Characteristic to a Ritual Orb, if the orb is destroyed, the bound Characteristic will be treated as if it is half its actual value until a new Orb has been bound.

Option 2) Alchemical Binding: A single spell, skill, or ability can be assigned to each Ritual Orb by using the associated Alchemical Ritual*. So long as the Orb has a Core or Mana Battery powering it, you will be able to use the spell at will, without draining your own mana, if you can control them properly.

Caution! While the skill/spell/ability is bound to the Ritual Orb, you will only be able to use it through the Ritual Orb! If the Orb does not have enough power, the spell/skill/ability will fail to activate.

Option 3) By focusing your ability to understand Magical Matrices into the Ritual Orb, you can assign the interior with a configuration. Each orb can be used to create a single reusable ritual pattern. If you can control them properly, you will be able to have each orb create a ritual circle. Current Ritual Orbs: 6. You will be able to create a ritual up to the Expert rank with the current configuration.

Caution! Opening the Ritual Orb to create a ritual increases the likelihood of damage from outside forces. Durability damage is doubled once the Ritual Orb is unfolded. Each ritual circle must have its own Mana Battery or Core to function properly.

“That’s… a lot of cautions.” Joe scanned over all the options in wonder. He tapped on the underlined words and was delighted to see a specific ritual appear. “But… a reusable ritual circle on demand? Spells assigned to the orbs? Damage changes? This is perfect.”

“Hold on to your hammer, now.” McPoundy held up a hand to make Joe consider his next words. “Let me expand on some of that caution. If you bind a characteristic to an orb, remember how it says you will need to replace it if it’s damaged or lost? If you decide to use this weapon, that means you can never not use it. I highly doubt there is a ritual of unbinding that lets you walk away from this thing. At least, not without paying a heavy cost. Another thing; these things are basically screaming at you that they will be incredibly difficult to learn to wield properly.”

“I’m seeing…” Joe perused the information again, reading more carefully and with less excited eyes. “Oh. This section. ‘If you can control them properly’. Is that what you're talking about?”

“Exactly that. That statement shows up in every single paragraph except the ‘cautions’.” Grandmaster McPoundy gazed admiringly at the orbs one last time, then turned his eyes back to the template. “I want to keep going on this, but I have other responsibilities. It is going to take months of research before I am ready to attempt a Master, Grandmaster, let alone Sage version of these weapons. You should take those and start getting some experience with using them.”