Capítulo 33: CHAPTER 33
"Sounds good. And second?"
"Carol!"
"Good job. Have a good one!"
"Carol, wait a second. Where's the Tearful Goddess Order mission?"
"Oh, interesting. Why do you need it?" Carol perked up.
"Look." I pulled the unlucky knight's medallion out of my inventory. "I found it in some loot I got, and it came with a quest."
"Oh, deliver the medallion." The scout's interest waned immediately. "Well, yeah. They'll give you something decent, no worse than rare. I've heard of people even getting epic things from them, though that was just rumor. They did give MaryAnn from our clan something legendary, though. Anyway, the mission is over there, to the right of the well. Is that all?"
"Yup. Thanks, Carol."
"See you."
He went off to talk to the next NPC on his list.
For my part, I decided to act on what he told me later, and instead headed off toward the mailbox.
"Halt!" A forceful, Level 100 elf with a clan badge reading Unbroken by Evil stopped me. "A couple questions."
"Twenty gold."
"For what?" The elf was taken aback.
"For my answers."
"A little expensive, don't you think? And maybe a bit brash?"
"You don't have to pay if you don't want to."
"Fifteen."
"Done."
The money found its way to my pocket, and I graciously invited him to continue.
"Ask away!"
"Do you know a player by the name of Buzdigan?"
"No."
"Have you heard anything about a quest that brings back the Departed Gods?"
"No."
The elf waved his left hand and enveloped me in a cloud of something like a glistening powder. I sneezed.
"What the heck?"
"It's just truth powder. If you were lying, it would have turned black. Simple and effective."
"You're kidding me. What about warning me? It's magic!" I was indignant.
"I'm paying you." The elf coldly rebuffed me. "I have the right to check your answers. Okay, see you."
How lucky am I? I thought. Good thing he phrased that second question awkwardly. I could have talked my way out of knowing about Buzdigan, seeing as how everyone's heard of him now. But if he'd asked me if I know who got the hidden quest about the departed gods, I'd have been screwed five ways to Friday. Serves him right.
I told the next high-level player who ran up to me that I didn't know anything right off the bat. All I wanted to do was get my mail.
There was a message in my inbox. It was from the Hounds of Death, just as I suspected. On the other hand, I never would have guessed that it would be from their leader—the Gray Witch.
Dear Leyton,
It sure is good to hear that there's still some decency in the world. Why else would someone from another clan, one that isn't even allied with the Hounds of Death, stand up for the honor and dignity of that same non-allied clan's leader? And that's exactly what you and your friends did. Lots of people say I'm a strict and ruthless leader, almost a tyrant. And, you know, I'd have to agree with them. But I always add that I respond in equal measure to both the good and bad things done to me and my clan, no matter if they were done by friends or enemies. You reap what you SOW.
You've shown yourself to be a true and devoted friend to me and my clan, and so I would like to extend to you the friendship of the Hounds of Death. If you ever decide to leave the Thunderbirds, you can rest safe in the knowledge that you have a place waiting for you here.
I'd also like to sign a friendship agreement with the Thunderbirds. Judging by Mila's response, it sounds like you haven't yet told her about what you did or your letter.
What you wrote confirmed my good opinion of you, though, obviously, clan leaders need to know about letters like that.
But moving on to more material matters, please accept the ring attached to this message as a token of my gratitude. We have decent jewelers, and I had it made especially for you. I hope you like it.
That's all for now.
Your friend, more than you can imagine,
Gray Witch
P.S. I don't think that orc Euikh is looking at a very easy future. Well, really, I don't think he has a future at all. G.W.
P.P.S. I sent your friends Rone and Dorn small gifts as well. Hopefully, they like them. G.W.
Huh. Things were looking up.
The Hounds of Death offered you their friendship.
The benefits you will get if you accept are:
Title: Friend of the Hounds of Death
10% cheaper prices for transport rentals in areas that respect the Hounds of Death
8% cheaper prices offered by NPCs for goods sold in areas that respect the Hounds of Death
6% cheaper repair prices in areas that respect the Hounds of Death
That decision couldn't have been any easier. Of course, I accepted. Oh, and there was the ring attached to the message.
Hounds of Death Friendship Ring
An object handmade by Flader
+17 to strength
+15 to stamina
+5% defence against all weapon types
+50% chance that 25% of the damage inflicted by enemies will be reflected back on them
+25% defence against the Sepulchral Chill spell
Durability: 260/260
Minimum level for use: 25
For use by Leyton
Cannot be stolen, lost, or given to anyone else.
If the owner dies, does not remain at the location of their death.
"We have decent jewellers." That was quite the under-statement—their jewellers were incredible if they were capable of something like that. I could only imagine what materials they used to make it and how much they cost. One thing was for sure: she had an awfully nice and respectful "thank you" coming her way.
Esteemed Gray Witch,
I deeply appreciate the honor of being named friend of another clan, both as a member of the Thunderbirds and as a simple player named Leyton. You can count on my assistance whenever it is needed, so long as it does not harm my clan or my honor.
Thank you for the ring. I couldn't imagine anything better. Your jewelers are fantastic. My best regards to them.
With respect and deference,
Leyton, Thunderbird kinsman
Once I was done writing the letter, I sat down to mentally go through my list of things to do in the city. There didn't turn out to be too many of them:
Visit the Tearful Goddess Order mission.
Visit the instructor and finally give him the ten goblin swords.
I decided to start with the instructor. Remembering where Dorn pointed, I was able to find the little alley fairly quickly and noted that the buildings there were identical to the ones in Brad. I picked the one with the shield and sword hanging outside and went in.
As you may recall, the first old man was carving a whistle. This one was making a kite—your everyday, diamond-shaped kite. When I walked in, he was attaching the string to the tail.
"What material did you use? There isn't any good paper around here, is there?" I was so surprised I forgot to say hello.
"Parchment. They make great parchment in the eastern lands." He answered without a hint of a boast.
"It's thin, it rings—it's perfect for flyers."
"We call them kites." I jabbed my finger at the old man's creation.
"No, my friend. Kites are a kind of bird. They fly in the air, too, but they're different from flyers."
He put his work to the side and looked at me.
"And who might you be? I don't think we've met."
"We haven't. I'm a warrior, still new, I want to get some abilities."
"Sounds good to me. Have you been to any other instructors?"
"Of course!" I wasn't about to hide that. "I went to see the instructor in Brad. He told me to collect some enemy weapons—swords or clubs."
"And did you?" His eyes narrowed.
"Yes, though it's a ways to Brad. I decided to just come here."
"That's for sure. It's especially far if you don't have skills or abilities…. All right, let's see what you have for me."
I dropped ten rusty swords onto the table in front of him.
The instructor looked the pile of unsightly metal, counted it, even sniffed it.
"Goblins?"
"Yep."
"Little buggers. Okay, what's your level?"
"Twenty-two." In those brief moments, the game mechanics peeked through and ruined the atmosphere, I thought.
"Okay." The old man scratched the back of his head. "Here's what we'll do. I'll give you some options, and you can decide which one works best for you."
"Really?" I was surprised.
"Really. I can teach you two active abilities and two passive abilities, though they'll be very average for attack and defence. I can also teach you two active abilities and one passive ability—they'll be decent, but that's all. Finally, I can teach you one active ability and two passive abilities that are the best for your level. It's up to you."
"How much do they cost?"
"The price? It's the same for all of them: 200 gold up front."
I stood there thinking. Sure, the last option sounded the best, and the abilities were obviously really good, but something held me back.
A few seconds later, I realised what that something was. First, a strong, active skill would probably take a lot of mana, and I didn't have much of that. It might very well take a while to recharge, too. Second, the abilities would be best for my current level. In another ten levels, everything would change, and I'd be left with something ordinary and not terribly useful. And that was all I'd get if I picked the third option. With the second I'd get two active abilities—not as good, but at least solid.
~ ~ ~
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