There's not much to picking up the rations. My pack has a somewhat familiar weight to it, probably be even more familiar after I get the armor. Going to the various general goods stores and provisioners takes up the morning and noon is approaching.
The sounds of hammers on metal
resonate down the street as I approach the building. After knocking
on the door, and then again more heavily, Martin opens it.
“Ah, good day Leo, I'm dreadfully
sorry but we're just finishing up. It should only be a little while,
do you have anything else to do? I could find you when we're ready.”
“Actually, yes, I'll be at Dimner
Glamerfont's goods. I have a few more things to buy.”
“Okay! I will
find you there shortly.”
Martin hastily
closes the door as I turn to head to the goods shop.
The smell has many
different sources none of which I can identify, it's odd yet not
unpleasant. The shelves are lined with bottles, jars, and small tubs
of various ointments, potions, and powders. Alchemy equipment and
small devices also fill a set of shelve along the wall.
Dimner is a gnome,
and I almost miss seeing him mixing various... things... together
with a mortar and pestle next to a large cauldron. His small stature
lets his long beard sweep along the floor, and his face is wrinkled
with age. He greets me cheerfully as I approach and even gives me a
discount on various healing poultices. Dimner also advises me that,
while they may be simply applied to a wound, they are far more
effective when used with proper bandaging. Martin comes in just as I
finish handing over the money for them.
“All ready, come
on! I think you'll like this.” He practically pulls me away.
Dartac meets us at
the door, “Now, I know you asked for grade two enchantment on this
suit for the added protection without the added weight, but doing
that properly takes time and when you came in asking me to hurry it
up I decided to get creative.” He responds before the question even
escapes my lips. “Now, don't worry, it'll still be the price we
agreed upon, and it will still fit your needs.”
We enter one of
the back rooms and fitted out on a stand is a full suit of
articulated plate armor, some of the metal a soft blue.
“Mithril?”
“Only partially.
Instead of enchanting it with plates of magical energy, I decided to
make much of it from mithril. It'll give you the same maneuverability
protection and weight as what I had planned before.”
“Isn't
that more expensive though?”
“That's not for
you to worry about. You are The Stormguard, who am I to slow you
down? If you're in a hurry and you need protection I'm not going to
be the one to make The Stormguard even one day late to the battle in
any tale.” He smiles a little. “Oh, I think you'll like this
part.” He pulls the kettle helm from the top of the stand and
settles it on his head. It is not his size, but he straps it on.
“Poke my nose.”
“What?”
“Poke my nose!”
I oblige. Before
my finger passes the brim of the helm a soft blue glow shimmers
around Dartac's head and stops my finger firmly. I press harder but
my finger, the helm, and his head are unmoving.
“While the rest
of it is grade one enchanted with mithril to supplement, the helm is
grade two and then some. I worked on this myself while my best
apprentices and associates forged the suit. It also,” he pokes his
own nose, “doesn't block you or anything you are holding, so you
can eat, drink, or wipe sweat from your brow without having to remove
it.”
“Won't
the shimmer be distracting in battle?”
“Of course you
want something that you can see well in. The wearer doesn't even see
the glow. Your vision won't be reduced at all. Go ahead, try it all
on.”
As I don the armor
the first thing I notice is the straps, they fasten themselves as I
fit the plates into place. Second, I notice that the fit is amazing,
after so long using the company's armor I'd begun to simply expect
the small pokes and prods of plate not quite forged for you. The
distribution is also spectacularly well done, and combined with the
fact that much of it is mithril, it almost feels as though I'm just
wearing heavy leathers.
“Light weight
and easy to doff and don, for one expecting to travel alone, just as
ordered. You said you were also interested in a shield.” He leads
me into yet another back room one wall lined with various shields.
“Feel them out and I'll tell you what they do if they're enchanted
and what they cost.”
I feel that my
funds are growing somewhat low already, perhaps I should settle for
one that is mundane. After going through many one feels fairly good
in my hand and settles well with the mace in the other. It's a wooden
round shield with a center grip, Dwarven knotwork and runes are
carven along the border, partly reminiscent of waves breaking. Dartac
sees me handling this shield longer than other and chuckles a little.
“You like that
one?”
“Yeah
I think this one fit the best with the armor and mace, has the best
balance.”
“Take it, on the
house.” He smiles.
“Is
something wrong with it?”
“I've been
trying to sell that one for a while now, but everyone who's tried it
and liked has decided against it after seeing what it does. You don't
plan on painting it with some heraldry do you?”
“Not
in particular. Why?”
“I have to take
a swing at you to show you, mind blocking it?”
Nodding I raise
the shield into a guarding stance as Dartac takes a smithing hammer
from his belt. He takes a swing and the sound of rushing water
emanates from the shield. Misty spray splashes from along the site of
the impact. His arm is jerked slightly though he maintains his grip
after the impact.
“It's enchanted
with the aspect of a whirlpool, swirling and churning to take
incoming swings and deflect them further around, twisting the
offending tool and possibly disarming the unfortunate attacker.
Honestly, I'm only able to keep hold of the hammer on impact because
I've demonstrated enough to know what to expect. Additionally the
fluid nature of it makes it reform from scratches, gouges and cracks
very well. Surprisingly though, the inability to paint it has left
most buyers looking for something else. If you want it, it's yours.”
As I reach for my beltpouch he smiles again. “No really, on the
house, it suits you. Who knows perhaps my name will work itself into
the tales as well, the one who clad The Stormguard!”
The sun is still
fairly high in the sky as I approach the north gate of the city.
Someone calls out as I head toward the road.
“Hoy! You
wouldn't be heading to or through Timberfell, would you? You, with
the big sword!”
