Bab 18: CHAPTER 18 [Into the village, Into the Wilderness]
"Rewards sound good," muttered Liutix, walking next to me. "But is anyone really going to give us anything good just like that? They'll probably just hand us each a life potion and a mana potion and call it a day."
We got to the small clan storehouse, the one I wasn't "allowed in yet." It was locked, but next to Sergeant stood a halfling with a set of enormous keys hanging on his belt.
"This," Eilinn pointed at him, "is Marcho Bigl, the keeper of the large and small clan storages and the keeper of the clan keys..."
"…for all the doors and locks." I couldn't help myself.
"Very funny. Ha, ha, ha," the keeper of the large and small storehouses, the seven seas, and all the homes of men said emotionlessly, with a quick glance at me. "Somehow, I get the feeling that you'll be last in line to the storehouse."
"That's not good," I said.
"Not good at all," agreed Marcho. "And I think we can say you'll always be last."
"But what if I come alone? And nobody else is there?"
"I'll think of something," said the storekeeper with a smile that spoke volumes. "I've got time, plus a rich imagination..."
"Okay, okay," Eilinn said in a conciliatory tone. "He already knows he made a mistake, and he'll fix it. He's still new. What can you do?"
"New is right," Sergeant butted in grumpily. "Marcho, you should have heard him talking to me yesterday!" Tattletale.
"I'll bet!" Marcho nodded his head in sympathy. "Kids these days."
"Your highnesses," said Eilinn, "we're all aware of how the grass was greener, the sky was bluer, and your socks never had holes when you were new. Maybe we can get on with this?"
Marcho, with a sniff and a groan, pushed open the
massive oaken door with gorgeous inlays, and our whole friendly group tramped into the small clan storehouse.
My first impression was one of bewilderment. The clan storehouse was drawn like...oh, I don't know… Well, have you seen Warehouse 13? It looked something like that. Racks held all kinds of gadgets and different kinds of armor, and there were weapons and mummified heads of epic beasts hanging on the walls. The heads each sported a plaque that read something like:
Three-legged gorgol, poison-spitter, regenerating. Epic monster, boss. Killed by Harvey Ragnarrson during a clan raid in Khittsbro Cave near Aina.
Well, it wasn't your standard storehouse—more like a
locker room. Or our unit's store room. Our storeroom
keeper, a hardened warrior had a vivid imagination, and he set it up to make sure nobody would be walking around or stealing anything. You walked in, took three steps, and found yourself at the delivery window.
Marcho stepped behind the window and said, "I'm ready. First!"
"Just one second." Eilinn clapped his hands like some elementary school teacher or tour guide. "After today's test, you are now much closer to full membership in the clan. You showed us both me and a few of the clan elite what you can do in combat as well as in personal situations. The fact that you are here means that everything went well. And in recognition of the fact that the clan likes what it sees in you, we would like to give you a small advance in the hopes that you will like what you see in us. To be precise, we will give you equipment and weapons that match your level."
"Step up to Marcho," jumped in Sergeant." Say your name, level, and class. Take what you're given and step away."
"What if I don't like what you give me?" asked Flosi.
"Are you kidding me?" Sergeant choked. "Don't bite the hand that feeds you."
"He wasn't being clear," Max said quickly.
"What he meant was, do we have to wear what we're given? I mean, if we get something better during a raid?"
"Whether you wear it or not is completely up to you," answered Eilinn. "If you don't need it anymore, you're welcome to return it to the storehouse."
Yeah, right, I thought. Once I get something, I'm not giving it up. And anyway, I can always just sell it.
The group lined up, and I found myself third.
"Hey, funny guy," said Marcho when he saw me.
"Get to the back of the line."
I saw at once that there was no point in arguing with him, so I went and found Max standing at the back of the line.
"Why are you last?" I asked him.
"I was in charge, so I should be last," he answered calmly.
"You're that proper about it?"
"No, that's just the way it's done. At least, it was in
another game I used to play. Whoever was in charge of the group or raid got their handout last."
"Did they hand things out a lot?"
"Yep."
The line moved quickly, as Marcho seemed to be born for his job. Everyone stepping away from the counter looked over their new acquisitions with satisfied faces.
When it was finally my turn, I rapped out, "Leyton, Level 19, warrior."
"A warrior, you say?" I couldn't tell what Marcho was
saying by looking at his face, but I had the feeling he had something unpleasant up his sleeve.
"Oh, stop scaring the kid," giggled Krolina, as the veterans had gone into the storehouse with us. She wagged her finger at the storekeeper before jabbing me in the side with it. "And you, don't let him get to you."
"Our hairy little miser here likes to have fun. But he gives you good stuff, and he's honest, so don't worry about it. By the way, King Leer, did you not know that Mila herself invited him to the clan?" Reineke Lis continued.
"Really?" Marcho answered in surprise. "For something he did?"
"Who knows?" Lis responded. "But maybe you'll find out if you give him something nice."
Marcho turned and headed deep into the room, made some noise, rustled around, and shouted back, "What do you fight with?!"
"A mace!" I shouted back.
We heard more noise from his direction before he finally returned holding an enormous shield loaded with different items.
"Here, take this. And remember what old Marcho did for you. When you level-up and decide to get new stuff, stop by and return this—maybe someone else will find a use for it."
"Thanks, Marcho," I said sincerely. "I'll try my hardest."
"Don't try your hardest?" The halfling was completely serious. "Just do it."
I only stopped to looked at what he'd given me after I left the storehouse, which was where I found everyone else busy doing the same. The ones who'd gotten their handouts first were already wearing them.
The things I got were pretty good. Maybe not extraordinary, but they would have cost me a pretty penny at an auction. Although, maybe not; I wasn't sure what the prices were yet. The equipment I got included a breastplate, greaves, shoulder guards, a helmet, gloves, and boots—all with two attributes that added strength and stamina. Oh, and Marcho had splurged on the mace. It was rare, it was violet, and it had four attributes.
North Wind Mace
Damage: 25-45
+5 to strength
+7 to stamina
+5% to critical strike chance
+14% fire damage
Durability: 80/80
Minimum level to use: 15
Quite the snazzy little guy, and much more than I expected. The shield was also pretty good, if blue and usual.
Warrior Shield
Protection: 220
+6 to strength
+23% chance of reflecting blows
Durability: 180/180
Minimum level for use: 15
"Well, everyone happy?" asked Eilinn with a smile.
"Yes, thanks, this is great!" we answered without any unison whatsoever.
"Then before you leave, let me say this—remember that the clan has your back. I hope you remember your rights and responsibilities. However, with that said, we have one main responsibility and one main right. Your biggest responsibility is to avoid discrediting the clan in any way, either in word or deed. And for your most important right, remember that you are now part of the clan and can ask for help whenever you need it. I'm sorry if that sounds too dramatic..."
"Everything clear?" Sergeant's voice rang out.
"Don't make mistakes, and don't be afraid. That's pretty much it."
Eilinn sighed in frustration and turned to head toward the fortress.
"Regarding transportation," Sergeant bellowed. "Lis will take anyone who wants to go to Brad with him. The rest of you can leave the fortress, as you'll be fine in this area at your level so long as you don't do anything stupid. The bots around here are Level 33-35."
"You should go to Brad," Reineke Lis said, walking up to me. "You haven't been to the class instructor yet, right?"
"Right," I responded.
"Then come on, I'll show you where he lives in Brad."
And we walked through the portal.
Brad was as loud, colorful, and picturesque as ever.
Players and NPCs darted around like pizza delivery boys, arguing as they went.
"Thanks, everyone," said Max. The portal rolled up, and we were left standing on the street.
"That was great," said Fladr suddenly, and I realised that I hadn't heard a dozen words out of him the whole day. He turned to Max. "You're a fantastic leader. If you decide to get a group together, let me know."
"Me, too," said Flosi.
Flosi wants to add you as a friend.
[Accept?]
Fladr wants to add you as a friend.
[Accept?]
I accepted all their requests—Flosi's, Fladr's, and
everyone else's. Then I sent one of my own to Max. He glanced at me and nodded his head slightly.
"Well, are we all friends now?" asked Krolina jovially.
I grunted and sent friend requests to her and Reineke.
"That was fast," nodded Lis.
"As lightning, said Krolina with a laugh. "Bottled..."
Reineke Lis accepted your friend request.
Added to friends.
Krolina accepted your friend request.
Added to friends.
~ ~ ~
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone