Author’s corner: HELLO HELLO! Moar crafting and some good items!

ANYWAY, on the race’s lists, there were some changings done, but mostly in names. Jontunn was changed to Jötunn, the correct writing, and I changed Half-dragons to draconids to avoid problems with the facts that there are half now in the story, but i’m willing to change if I get a better name for them.

ALSO, I will arrange some of my old books today and will probably post it Google drive. I will select some that I like most for that. No promises on updates on them though. IF, and a very big IF, I update them, will be only on the occasion where: Insania’s chapter of the day is done, there is no ongoing SS, and I have energy to write. And that is IF I decided to update them.

ALSO(2), OP armor is OP.

EDIT: Made the folder in Google docs with some of my old works. But i warn you guys, that they are incomplete, and some of them simply stops in the middle of a word. These works did not take any time from making Insania, so no need to worry, so... HERE LIES DEM STORIES!

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I took my time while going back to Melinda’s house, since the first time I took a straight route to there, so I did not get to do much sightseeing.

It was around afternoon here, so the sunlight was managing to pass through the floors, giving it a bit of natural light. It was only after seeing the sun that I noticed that most of the time, there would not be sunlight in here, and what truly kept the city from being under an almost permanent darkness were some magic crystals here and there.

The streets were, just like the rest of the place, carved directly into the mountain, not being placed with any kind of tiles or concrete on it. The sidewalks, however, were a bit more worked, some used marble, others used bricks, and so on.

Although I say streets and sidewalks, it’s not like there is a large difference between the two, after all, there aren’t cars in this game… I think… so most pedestrian walked wherever they pleased, with only the occasional mounted person and carriage the passed by and then the pedestrian opened a path for it to pass.

Reaching the main elevator, I took it to the General industries sector and from there I made my way towards a nearby auxiliary elevator and from there to the leatherworks.

However, when I got the street, I stopped and made a full turn. Why? Because I’m pretty sure I’m seeing things, so let me calm down and try again. After calming down and checking my status to see if I wasn’t affected by some kind of illusion effect, I once again entered the street.

Nope, still there.

I must have gone mad. Yup. That is the only possible acceptable explanation.

Why? Well, help me remember something here. Dwarfs are these short guys, around one and one and a half meters, with stocky body and ridiculously strong arms, right? They usually have a large beard on their faces that goes up to their chest. And lastly, these guys are excellent craftsmen and usually are specialized on blacksmithing.

Does it match with the information?

Then let’s compare with the guy in front of Melinda’s house.

Huge golden braided beard up to his chest? Check. Stocky body with large arms and legs? Check. Blacksmith hammer on the belt? Check. Height of two and something meters? Check.

See where the problem is? Well, I do.

If I were to say, it’s like someone took a dwarf, put him in a copy machine and put set it to amplify x1.5 times or something.

So, logical explanation? I am going mad!

HOORAY!

As I accepted my fate, I approached the house with a sad smile. When I got closer, I could see that Melinda was on the door talking with the huge dwarf. Probably because he couldn’t fit through the door. No, I’m not kidding, the guys is like two by two in size, he wouldn’t fit in the door no matter what you say. And it’s not like these doors are for dwarf use, they are perfectly normal doors.

As I approached them, Melinda noticed my approach, followed by the illusion. I gave the illusion a light nod as a greeting and turned to Melinda before I would go mad.

“So, is the leather ready by now?”

Melinda nodded with a wide smile, then pointed towards the dwarf behind me with her head.

“Yes, and this guy here is willing to take you for apprentice on blacksmithing. I was just talking about you with him!”

I turned back to the giant dwarf and then back to the half-garuda.

“You mean the illusion back there?”

“Illusion?”

“Yes… I mean, he is a two meters tall dwarf. If he isn’t an illusion, then I have no idea what is.”

She froze for a moment, then looked from me to the illusion then back to me. She opened her mouth, but since she had no idea on what to say she simply closed it again.

What wakened her was the sound of thunder falling close to us. I almost threw myself into the ground when it happened.

Wait, it wasn’t thunder, it was the illusion! It was laughing!

“Illusion? That’s the best one so far! I like you boy!” Why the hell does everybody calls me boy? “The name is Torg blackhammer!” He said extending his hand to me, I wonder if this is how a baby feels when an adult gives him his hand to hold. My hand fully open would not be bigger than his palm.

“Gondorrer Gravelheart.” I said after some time and the illusion nodded.

“And answering your question, I’m not a pure dwarf! My mother is a Jötunn. But I only got the size from her!” Hmm… That makes him a little less unbelievable. “I planned to start with you today, but it seems that you already have some plans, so I’ll come to pick you up tomorrow after lunch!” He turned back to Melinda. “And thanks for the gloves, Mel, my old ones were barely holding up!” He then quaked away… I mean, walked away while laughing loudly.

Hey, quest log, are you sure that thing isn’t one of the four great gods?

Seems not… Is he even stronger than the four gods? Oh god!

I turned back to Melinda who seemed to be holding her laugh back. She motioned me to enter the house towards the studio the back. When I got there I could see that the leather now had a slight shine to it.

The next steps were, although tedious, fairly easy, as all I had to do was to stitch it together with the line. I was worried that it would be difficult to pierce the thick leather with the thin needle, but Melinda told me that it was enchanted with wind. Even if the enchantment wasn’t all that great, it was enough to pierce the leather with ease.

The jacket and the pants were fairly easy, as all I had to do was stitch them together, but the boots, however, were another story. She taught me to use a machine thingy that helped me stud the boot to piece the thicker leather together.

I was worried about having messed up the size, but Melinda said that the goddess would automatically adjust the clothing to the one who would use it. Which meant that equipment are one size fits all.

After that, came the dyeing. She gave me a pot, that wasn’t as stinky as the one before, and told me to simply brush it over the leather to paint it. I painted it all in a grey tone.

Comfortable dog-leather jacket (Chest) Def: 7 M.Res: 5 Quality: Common Durability: 30/30 Description

Simple jacket made with wild dog’s leather. Useful as a street wear.

AGI +2, TGH+1

Comfortable dog-leather pants (Legs) Def: 7 M.Res: 5 Quality: Common Durability: 30/30 Description

Simple pants made with Wild dog’s leather. Useful as a street wear.

AGI +2, TGH +1

Comfortable Traveler’s dog-leather boots (Feet) Def: 7 M.Res: 5 Quality: Common Durability: 30/30 Description

A comfortable boot made with Wild dog’s leather, it’s perfect for long distance traveling.

AGI+2, VIT +1, reduces Satiety loss for walking by 15%

It’s kind of sad when the gear I make with my most trashy leather is better than my actual set…

As I finished, Melinda was ready to call it a day, but since I wasn’t all that tired, probably because for me this is a game, I decided to stay up the night and train some more. I asked her if there was any way for me to skip that whole waiting to dry thingy, and she said that, although there is, it isn’t really recommended, because there is a large drop in quality if you do it. There is also a drop when curing the leather with the skill, but it’s effect is minimal in these low tiers of leathers.

I nodded and gave her good night.

I spent the rest of the night working on a decent equipment for myself. I started by defining what I was going to use. I planned on making a scale-mail chest plate for myself with blacksmithing, and I had the ferocious miner gloves, so what I needed right now was legs, boots and maybe a belt.

I started by making all the preparation for the equipment using the best Lynx leather I had. I was doubly cautious with these because I did not want to waste my best leather on some trashy equipment.

I made sure that everything was ready until the compound part. After brushing it on all the pieces, I left them to dry. So I started to use the worst leathers and make some simple equipment with them, skipping the curing and the compound part with the skills, ‘cure’ and ‘tan’ that came with the leatherworking skills.

Most of them were common quality items, but from time to time came a decent good quality item.

I spent everything I had on leathers and managed to put my leatherworking on level eight in one night by working frantically.

After some time, the tanning process for the good equipment I was making was done, and I took it them out and started by sewing then. Since these were battle equipment, I decided to make them a bit more flashy.

With the pants, I decided to make them slightly baggy as to not hinder me too much, and I shredded the last five or so centimeters from the legs in half-centimeters stripes. Why? To look cool, of course! Also, on the lateral stitches, I put some of the lynxes fur to give it a bit more feral look or something.

For the boots, I made them with a thick sole and had a thick shoe-lace. Design helped with discovering that the leatherworking skill also provides me with some blue-prints. I made them to look like a military boot.

For the belt, I went a bit overboard. I took some of the fangs and claws from the lynxes, and stitched them to the outer rim of the belt in alternating pattern, since the claws were black and the fangs, white, it got a nice touch to it.

In the end, I tinted the pants and the boots in black, the belt I tinted in white since I had used the hide of one of the striped lynxes.

I took a good look at my creations and was almost satisfied with them, except for one thing. They looked a bit too feeble. I decided to correct this by picking some of the remaining leather and tanning it with the skill, then padding the inside of the armor.

From the outside they didn’t look any different, but maybe they will have some more defense now?

As I was satisfied with my creations, the windows appeared before me.

Heavy leather boots of the wild lynx. (Feet)

(requires level 5) Def: 10 M.Res: 5 Quality: Good Durability: 40/40 Description

Heavy boot made with red-claw lynxes leather. The spirit within is eager to run wild

(Made by Wargon)

AGI+4, STR +3, VIT+1

Heavy leather pants of the Ferocious Lynx (Legs)

(Requires level 5) Def: 12 M.Res: 5 Quality: Good Durability: 40/40 Description

Heavy leather armor for your legs made with Red-claw lynx leather. The lynxes ferocity permeates this armor.

(Made by Wargon)

STR +4, VIT +2, AGI+2

(Insert the name of your creation)

(Waist) (Heavy leather)

(requires level 8) Def: 14 M.Res: 7 Quality: Excellent Durability: 50/50 Description

A belt made with the best of the Red-claw lynx parts. Their spirits follows whoever wears this belt, gracing them with their blessings.

(Made by Wargon)

AGI+5, STR +5, VIT +3 Decrease snares duration by 50% when In the light. Immunity to snare when on the shadows.

Congratulations. You have created an Excellent equipment. Please choose your works name: (_________)

Congratulations, you are the first player to create an item of excellent quality. Would you like to disclose your name for other players? (Yes/no)

I looked flabbergasted at all the windows that appeared. These gears… Are a freaking beast! And an excellent piece of gear? Just… Wow!

AND SERVER FIRST! OOH YEAH! It’s my first ever server first! TAKE THAT YOU NOOBS!

Now… What should I name the belt? It has to be something badass to be able to be able to meet it’s stats… Think, Wargon, Think…

I know!

Girdle of the Night Walker

And submit. Now, do I want to disclose my name…?

Heck, sure, why not?

As soon as I pressed yes, two new windows appeared before me.

You have earned a title for being the first player to craft an Excellent piece of gear:

Pioneer of the crafts

You can only have one title equipped at a time.

Since you have no title, this will be set as your default title. Pioneer of the crafts: Increases the chance of crafted items receiving a higher tier quality.

The player: Wargon, has completed the first ever Excellent piece of crafting made by a player!

[Girdle of the Night Walker]

I am famous, baby! And a title! Woo hoo!

I need a disguise for the next time I leave this place, or the paparazzi won’t leave me alone!

Since everything is already complete, I decided to call this a day, so I started to tidy up the mess I made while working. Not being sure what time it is, I leave the house to take a stretch. When I look at the sky in the end of the road, I notice that the sun was starting to rise. In a good mood I decided to take a walk around the city.

Didn’t take much longer for a flashing symbol to appear on the corner of my vision, but this time, it was the skype symbol.

I focused on the symbol and a chat appeared.

[Phantons]: Crafting addicted! Go level!

[Incarnus]: I WANT GEAR 2!!1!

[Red Hurricane]: O.o Rlly? Gratz

[Me]: MUAHAHAHA! I AM THE CRAFTING GOD! BOW BEFORE ME YOU MORTALS, FOR I SHALL NOT CRAFT FOR YOU!

[Phantons]: Less crafting, more leveling! We have a dungeon to run!

[Incarnus]: NOOOOOOO! MY GEAR!

[Me]: Then, let’s run a DG with no equipment! Should be fun!

[Phantons]: Less leveling, more crafting! Make me a staff!

[Incarnus]: And a glaive for me!

[Me]: Shut up, Incarnus.

[Phantons]: Shut up, Incarnus.

[Red Hurricane]: Boys… U.u

[Incarnus]: Why?

[Cygnas]: ^^

[Phantons]: Who?

[Incarnus]: WHAAT?

[Red Hurricane]: Loooool!

[Me]: (-.-’)

While walking, I kept talking to them on the chat and we shared a bit of what we did. Seems like Incarnus was about to get his class change, but was stuck in a quest. Red was trying to tame a certain animal she saw around and Phantons had already changed his class, but refused to tell us, saying it was a surprise. Cygnas… Only put the message there and said nothing else… We talked for some more time before another window appeared before me.

[Yuu]: Shishou? Is this working?

[Me]: My apprentice! How are you?

[Yuu]: Shishou! I am fine! Han-chan just got to level five! I am at level ten! It gets difficult to level when the lynxes leave… And congratulations! It seems that Shishou made something incredible again!

Having gotten the situation of my friends, I found myself near the main elevator. Not being sure on what to do, I decided to take it and look around in some of the other sectors, the first being the commercial one.

The commercial sector, was, as the name implies, a place filled with stores and such. From fruit and fishes to weapons and armors. If it’s sellable, they got it here. I roamed the city and noticed that there was a player who set a small table on the sidewalks and had some of his items atop of it.

How I knew that he was a player? His nickname appeared when I was close enough and focused myself on him.

He was a gnome, so he was fairly short, and he had to sit on a fairly tall chair to keep up with the table. His clothes were, surprisingly, a black suit with a top hat. He had his beard cut shortly and his hair was neatly combed backwards.

I approached him and noticed that he had an assortment of items selling.

“Good morning! Is there something you would like to purchase?” He said with a business smile.

“No, rather, I would like to sell some items. Are you buying?”

“Sure, as long as the price is fair…” He looked at me and focused, but when he saw my name, his eyes suddenly shot open. “You are that…” I stopped him with my hand and asked for him to keep quiet. He nodded and I let go. “Sorry, I got surprised. Never would have thought that I would meet you so soon…” he calmed himself then got a serious business look. “So, what do you want to sell?”

I smiled and started to empty my inventory in his table of all the excess items I had. His eyes widened for a moment, but he soon kept his calm again. He started to examine the items one by one and separated them between good and common items.

“So, how much?” I asked while he made some calculations.

“Good items are, right now, the mainstream tier of items available to the players, so this mean that they still have a good price.” He said while thinking. “Although the best items around are of excellent quality, nobody is willing to sell them right now, so we don’t even account them in here. Your items also have quite good status, and a relatively low level requirement…” He stopped to make some calculations. “Let’s say, three silver per common and ten per good? What do you say?”

Well, I have no idea on how much is the market price, but since money is money, I accepted any way. In the end I now had around 11 gold coins in my pockets.

“Now, could you tell me something?” He asked curious. “Where did you get the recipe for that belt of yours?”

“Recipe?”

“Yes, for crafting you need a recipe, blueprint or whatever, right? Where did you get the one to make your belt? Would it be an inconvenience for you?” Although he was asking out of curiosity, it seemed that he wouldn’t press the matter too much. Seeing as I had nothing to lose, I said.

“I didn’t use any recipe. I made it manually.” His eyes widened when he heard that. “And also, let’s say that I had a little trick when it comes to gathering my materials.” No need to tell everything, right?

He looked at me for some time, as if examining me, then finally nodded in satisfaction.

“I see… Then I think that this makes some sense then…” He stood up on the bench so he could get to my eye level, then he was and extended me his hand. “Name is Argento. Now, would you mind if I made a proposal, Wargon?” He asked with a serious face. “I have this feeling that this won’t be the last time I will hear about you when it comes to crafting, so I would like to make an offer to you.”

“Are you sure about that? I could be a one-shot wonder, you know?” I said a bit surprised, but he simply laughed.

“I’m a business man in real life, and I have an eye for people. And besides, you have two times more good items here than any other crafter that came to me already!” He denied me immediately. “I’ll go straight to the point. I want the selling rights to any items you craft, should you decide to sell them.”

“And… What do I get with it?” before was a onetime sales, so I wasn’t very worried about the details of the price. However, with a permanent business, it doesn’t hurt to be a bit more careful.

“I’ll support any of your crafting by gathering whatever material you need at market price or below.” I’m no businessman, but I don’t think that would be a bad idea. Besides, having a merchant for connection is not something bad.

“I guess we have a deal then.” I shook his hand and he smiled brightly. Then I took upon his offer and said what I would need for leatherworking. He took a notebook from his inventory and started to note everything down, then he said he would contact me when he found somewhere to buy.

We added each other as friends and then parted ways. I could somehow hear him humming happily as he wrote the prices of the items.

Having freed myself from my excess equipment, and having made a merchant friend, I took upon the street and looked around on what to do. I still had until the afternoon before the time marked with the Giant dwarf, so, while thinking on how to kill some time, I remembered the third map Rusty gave me.

It was, Iron gauntlet or something. He said that it would be an easy place to get some jobs… I took an elevator to the indicated floor and followed the map until I arrived at a building in the outer street of the floor. I took my time to appreciate the view for a time.

I could see very far, as I was in a fairly high place within the mountain. Although there is snow in some of the upper floors, here was still a cool and refreshing level. I could see a forest crossed by a river right in front of me, more to the right, I saw what looked like a small village with some livestock, to the left, in the distance, I could barely see what looked like some kind of stone tower, probably part of another city.

Turning back, I walked to the building. It had a board with a gauntlet carved, I don’t think I could miss it.

Even from outside I could kind of hear the loud noises of laughter and talk coming from inside.

I opened the door slowly, and what I saw was something downright of a manga. Lots of people sitting around in tables while drinking happily and singing. At the right corner, was a desk with a receptionist and a billboard at her side.

I feared for a moment that one of these scenes where I enter a place like this and suddenly everyone stop and look at you would happen, but luckily, this wasn’t the case. I don’t think they even noticed that I had arrived here.

Deciding that the girl was about as good of a place to start, I went towards her.

“Excuse-me, but this is the silver gauntlet, right?”

The receptionist looked at me with a business smile and nodded.

“Yes. But I take it that you came here to register?”

“To tell the truth, I’m not really sure. An acquaintance recommended me this place to find some easy jobs, but he didn’t tell me much besides that.”

“Ah, I see. Then let me explain you. The silver gauntlet, is a knights order and a mercenary guild at the same time. Although the two parts are separate, they both obey the same leader.” I Nodded in understanding. “The difference between the two are, in the mercenary guild, you are free to take the jobs we gather at the guild, but we take a small fee from the rewards. Besides that, you are free to do pretty much everything else.”

“The knight’s order, on the other hand, requires you to pass a small test, and you are obliged to vow loyalty to the leader while you are here, and in case he decides to go to war, you need to follow him, but we offer you many benefits, such as lodging, maintenance of your equipment and such.”

I see… This is kind of like these guilds you often see in games and anime. I think that it shouldn’t be a bad idea to enter the mercenary guild, if it helps me to find some good hunting grounds.

“Then, how do I join the mercenary’s guild?”

“You can join on the desk on the other side of the hall!”

I thanked her and looked around, quickly finding the other desk. This one had a white-haired old man sitting in a chair with a mug in his hand.

I approached the man, who seemed to be sleeping and said when I got to the desk.

“I want to join the silver gauntlet.”

“Is here where I enter the merc’s guild?”

“I would desire to enlist myself on the knights’ order.”

I blinked surprised when two other voices came from besides me in unison. I looked at them and they looked at me and then at each other, surprised.

At this time the old man lifted his head and simply smiled.

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(dead) Author's corner: SO... MANY... TABLES! (falls dead)