The dwarf chuckled. “Ye be learnin’ fast, yer majesty.” He bowed his head briefly, something that dwarven masters rarely did. “I’ll have yer swords done in three days. The armor… ten days.”
“Thank you Master Steelbender. We’ll be venturing back out, but I’ll stop and see you as soon as we return.” The dwarf nodded and turned toward his work bench.
Max and Smitty met up with Dalia at the stables near the main gate of Darkholm. They’d paid one of the orc boys to lead Pokey and their other mounts there while they took care of business, not wanting to lead bitey, carnivorous horses through crowded market squares and crafting areas.
Pokey actually seemed glad to see Max as he rubbed the creature’s nose. His belly was still partially full from munching on An’rigar’s orcs, and he was almost docile. The three of them mounted up and headed out, waving to the dwarven sentries along the way.
Max noted immediately that the trail leading southwestward toward the old road and the battlefield showed signs of heavy use. Not only from the orc caravan coming in, but from another caravan heading out. The tracks were different, the ones made by the dwarves easy to spot. The wagons were narrower, the wheels closer together. And the hoof prints made by their mounts were smaller and cloven, made by large boars used both as warriors’ mounts and draft animals to pull wagons.
Rather than following the tracks to the southwest, toward his lands, they galloped due west along the base of the ridgeline. The fast mounts brought them to the waterfall below the sentry post in just over two hours. Letting them take a little time to drink, Max got his bearings and consulted his map. The once-secret entrance to the tunnel wasn’t far.
As the trio walked through the woods leading their mounts, Smitty whispered, “We’ve got company on our six.”
Max nodded, his elven hearing having picked them up. “Either side as well. But don’t worry, they’re friendly. I expect they’re only staying hidden because I have a dwarf and an orc with me.” He grinned at his corporal. Stopping for a moment, he called out. “Ugnok! Show yourself. It’s okay, these are friends of mine. They won’t hurt you.”
He held still, motioning for Smitty and Dalia to do the same. After a long moment during which there was some loudly whispered conversation, goblin heads began to peek out from behind trees. Max couldn’t say that he recognized any of them from his previous encounter, but it was clear they recognized him.
One by one they stepped forward, a dozen low level goblins. Max was glad to see that they looked well-fed compared to their earlier emaciated state. It seemed that cooking their food agreed with them. He raised a hand. “It’s just me, Max. We come in peace.”
The goblins approached, still a bit unsure as they stared at Smitty and Dalia. When they were within about ten feet, each of them stopped and stared. Max tried again.
“Where is Ugnok? I have news for him.”
“Ugnok at camp. Cook food. Good food!” one of the smarter goblins answered, the rest nodding their heads.
“Please run and get him, tell him to meet me at the door. You know the one, yes?” Once again all the goblins nodded. As one they all began to run off, but Max called out. “Wait! Before you go, take these.” He pulled out some of the last of the untainted kabobs and handed one to each goblin. “For energy, so you can run faster.”
The goblins sniffed at the food, then wolfed it down in seconds, making pleased sounds and rubbing their bellies. When they were done, they looked expectantly at Max. “Okay, go get Ugnok.”
As one, the goblins tore off into the brush, disappearing in a shower of leaves and twigs, the rustling of their passage fading quickly. Max laughed at the disgusted look on Dalia’s face. “Better get used to them, I’m about to see if I can bring them back to Stormhaven.”
Smitty laughed as Dalia sighed in resignation.
It wasn’t much longer before Max located the broken door, the rough image of his face still visible upon the stone. Between himself and Smitty they pried the door loose and cleared the stone aside while they waited for the goblin shaman. They didn’t have to wait long.
Ugnok appeared from behind a shrub, staff in one hand, chest puffed out. “I come to see Max at special door place!” There was a pause, and he sniffed the air. “Max has food for Ugnok?”
Max produced another kabob and handed it over. Like the others, the shaman quickly made it disappear. “Good food! Cooked!”
“Yes, very good food.” Max agreed. “Ugnok’s tribe is looking healthier, my friend. How would you like to move them to a safe place? Where there is more good food? Where you can all get fat!”
“Where is safe place?” Ugnok asked, licking his fingers.
“My city. I am a king now. I killed a grey dwarf king and took his city. Since I am a member of Ugnok’s tribe, I thought I would invite you to live there.”
“Grey dwarfs bad! Eat goblins!” Ugnok looked at Dalia and Smitty. “Dwarfs kill goblins! Orcs too!”
“Not Ugnok’s tribe, not in my city. I promise.” Max made a cross-my-heart motion before he realized it would mean nothing on this world.
Ugnok didn’t think for too long. “We go with Max.”
“Great! Go pack up your camp. Bring everything you can, and meet us back here.”
When the goblins disappeared again, Max turned and headed up the tunnel.
Chapter 28
Max and company entered the stairwell at the end of the tunnel and climbed up to the cavern where Regin had appeared to Max what seemed like so long ago. When the god of crafting didn’t make an immediate appearance, Max showed them the alcoves where the heroes had been put to rest, and told their story. Dalia and Smitty listened, their expressions solemn. She had heard the tale as a young child, but seeing the outpost and their monuments in person gave it a whole new life.
As Max was finishing, Regin emerged through the illusory wall.
“Maximilian, you have returned!” The boisterous dwarf held up a hand in greeting, seeming to have appeared out of nowhere. All three of the visitors bowed deeply. “Bah! Quit that! Greetings young Dalia, Battleborne Smithfield. Welcome to the outpost.”
Max suddenly felt uncomfortable. The dwarf king had granted Max this outpost as a reward quest. But clearly Regin claimed ownership of it himself. He decided not to push it, though the secure location would be invaluable to him. “I’ve brought you the ears you wanted, Regin. As well as a few extras.” Max handed over the ears, and the head of An’rigar.
“Aye, so I see. Well done, lad! And ye need no’ worry. I’ll not be keepin ye from usin this place.” He winked at Max, who instantly tried to blank his mind now that he knew the god could read it.
Quest Completed: Left Ears, Orc Tears!
Reward: 50,000xp; 111 gold; Reputation with all dwarven clans increased to Friendly.
Bonus Reward: Speak to Regin
The dwarf just chuckled and turned toward the illusionary wall. “Follow me. I been busy while ye were gone, pokin’ around in the forge…” He mumbled something else as he passed through the wall, but Max didn’t catch it over the surprised gasps of Smitty and Dalia.
Dalia was visibly shaking as she moved to follow. Max supposed it wasn’t every day that a dwarf met one of their gods. But he’d misjudged the reason for her excitement. She looked at him, eyes wide, and whispered, “Did ye hear? He said he’s been craftin’!”
Now it was Max’s turn to be a little more excited. Regin’s words hadn’t registered right away, because Max had been focusing on not thinking anything that would offend the god. He remembered back to the day they’d met, and how Regin had stepped away and modified a set of gear for him in what seemed like no time at all. What might he have accomplished with weeks to poke around in the forge, as he’d put it?
Max emerged into the same corridor as before, and noted the armory where he’d picked his weapons. Regin ignored that room and continued down the hall to the intersection. This time instead of turning right toward the stairs, he turned left and opened a thi
ck wooden door.
The moment it opened, there was a squeak of surprise, and a tiny goblin wearing what looked like fuzzy slippers darted past the dwarf, dodging around Max and company and racing around the corner as Regin shouted, “Dammit Fibble! Stay out o’ me cookies!”
Regin shook his head, grumbling as he stepped into what was clearly a private suite, complete with sitting room, bedroom and bath, and a kitchen with an open Yoda-shaped cookie jar on the counter. “He thinks the damned jar be some kind o’ cookie god because it always stays full no matter how many the lil thief steals.” Regin put the lid, which was Yoda’s skull and ears, back on the empty jar, and there was a brief golden glow. When he removed the top of Yoda’s head again, the jar was full. “Help yerself.” Regin took one and bit down, moving back out to the sitting area and dropping into a soft leather chair.
Smitty didn’t hesitate. “Help myself to divine magic cookies? Yes, please!” He grabbed several, handing one each to Dalia and Max as they also took seats.
“One o’ these days I’ll be settin’ a trap for that lil bugger. Wouldn’t be so bad if he just took me cookies. They be easy enough to replace. But he keeps stealin’ me pillows!”
Max, who was facing Regin, saw motion over the god’s shoulder. A long ear was slowly emerging from behind the door frame, followed by a single wide eye. Max couldn’t help but grin as the little goblin thief’s gaze flicked from Regin to the kitchen and back, weighing his odds.
“Now, fer yer reward! I must confess I did no’ expect ye to grow so fast. Been watchin’ yer progress, and I be impressed. But ye took some risks ye maybe shouldn’t have. Battleborne be put on this world fer a reason, and ye’re no help to us if ye die in yer first days.”
Regin raised one eyebrow and lowered the other, giving Max a scolding look. A second later, it turned into a grin. “But oh, it were fun watchin ye fight! Ye be a good thinker, fightin’ smart most o’ the time. But then ye get all raaawwrr! Jumpin’ into the middle o’ yer foes and swinging yer weapon this way n that like an angry toddler! Bahaha!”
Dalia snorted as Max lowered his eyes. Angry toddler wasn’t the term he would have used. Maybe glorious berserker…
“In any case, ye’ve done well. Ye’ve got a kingdom to protect now, and the responsibility to make it grow. Ye’ve got the help of a second Battleborne, and ye must continue to grow together. The gold and experience from the ears won’t mean much to any of ye at this point, considerin’ yer recent accomplishments, and even I canno’ change a quest once it be set. But ye also brought me the head o’ the champion An’rigar, brother o’ the war leader. And for that, I can reward ye properly!”
He turned to Dalia, and held out a folded set of leathers. She dropped to one knee, bowing her head before her god as she accepted them. “Thank ye, holy one.”
“Were ye not payin attention, lass? Call me Regin. And ye’re most welcome. These will help ye keep them two big lugs alive.”
Dalia’s eyes went wide as she read the description.
Druid’s Duds
Item Quality: Unique, Epic
Attributes: Armor +120; Intelligence +6; Wisdom +6; Endurance +2; Agility +2
This complete set of armor was hand-crafted for Dalia the druid by Regin himself. Shirt, pants, boots, hood, and gloves when worn as a complete set add an additional 10% to all attributes. This armor scales with its wearer, growing stronger as she does. Each level earned increases the set bonus by .5% with a maximum increase of 50%.
When she told the others about the set bonus, Max practically drooled. That meant that when Dalia reached level one hundred twenty and hit the set bonus limit, the gear would increase all of her stats by half. If she had an Intelligence of one hundred, it would jump to one hundred fifty!
Dalia retook her seat, gently touching the armor in her lap, tears forming in her eyes.
Regin pretended not to notice, directing his gaze at Smitty. “I know that the lad Steelbender be makin ye a sword, and scale armor. And Max here be holdin’ enough scales fer a complete set fer ye both. I see’d ye admirin’ the bow Max lent ye, so I made ye one o’ yer own.”
Regin produced a bow and a quiver filled with arrows, and handed them over. Smitty followed Dalia’s lead, dropping to one knee and bowing his head as he accepted the gifts. “Thank you, Regin. You are one kickass god!”
“Ha! This one learns quick!” Regin chuckled as Smitty checked out his gift.
When Smitty saw the name in the description, his face split into a wide grin. “Yesss!”
Smitty’s Bow of Shootyness
Item Quality: Unique, Epic
Attributes: Agility +5; Strength +5, Dexterity +4, Luck +3
Enchantment: Sure-flight.
This weapon set was crafted for Smitty the Battleborne by Regin himself. The metal alloy used in both the bow and the arrows will not bend or break, and has a 50% increased chance of accepting enchantments. The bowstring is made from the hamstring of a troll, and will regenerate itself when damaged. Sure-flight Enchantment increases user’s chance of hitting intended targets by 50%.
Smitty got up and did some kind of strange touchdown dance move, causing Regin to chuckle again, and Max to shake his head.
“And now, for you.” Regin eyed Max, stroking his beard. “Ye have a good bow, and a sword bein’ crafted by a master. Ye’ll have no shortage of melee strength n health as ye grow, and kings should no’ be fightin on the front lines. Ye need to think more, smash less, control yer battles from the rear. So I were thinkin what ye need most be smarts and spell power.” Regin produced an item that Max didn’t immediately recognize. It was a long rod, seemingly made of the same metal alloy as Smitty’s bow. At one end was what Max suspected was a stonetalon’s three-clawed hand holding a deep cobalt blue gemstone. There was a crosspiece just below the claw, twin serrated blades that curved upward slightly, with both tips sharpened to a fine point. The haft was approximately three feet long, and the butt end also tapered into a spike below a small round guard.
Sovereign’s Scepter
Item Quality: Unique, Legendary, Soul Bonded
Attributes: Intelligence +10; Wisdom +10; Endurance +8; Luck +4
Enchantments: Diplomacy; Inspiration
This scepter was crafted for King Maximilian Storm of Stormhaven by Regin himself. The cobalt crystal will store up to six spells that can be cast instantly, regardless of normal cast times, and will store up to 1,000 mana that can be channeled by the Sovereign. The weapon will scale with Max as he levels up, granting additional 2% mana storage per level, 1 additional stored spell per 20 levels, and 1 additional random enchantment per 30 levels. Enchantments: Diplomacy enchantment passively increases the Diplomacy skill by 20%. Inspiration enchantment boosts morale of the sovereign’s citizens and warriors within ½ mile by 30%, increasing their primary attributes by 25% for one full day. Mana cost: 1,000; Cooldown: One day.
Max didn’t know what to say. “Thank you, Regin. This is… this will help me a lot. It’s perfect.”
Regin nodded, handing him a leather baldric that sported three weapon slots for his back. When he saw the questioning look on Max’s face as he examined it, he explained. “One be fer the scepter, though its effects will still apply if it be in your inventory. Ye’ll find one perfectly fits the sword that Steelbender be makin’ ye. And the last be if ye choose to wear yer axe instead o’ the sword.”
“Thank you again, Regin. You truly are a magnificent crafter. I think these gifts are too much for the service we rendered. Is there anything else we can do for you?”
“Aye, since ye brought it up!” The god grinned at him. “King Ironhand may have achieved peace with that uppity orc through yer own efforts, but we all know it won’t last. Bring me An’zalor’s head, and I’ll reward ye accordingly. If ye can take and hold his city, there be a substantial bonus reward. Besides the city, I mean.”
Quest Accepted: The Head of the Head of the Orcs!
Bring An’zalor’s head to Regin.
Bonus Quest: Take and hold the ruined city occupied by the war leader and his people.
Regin held up a hand, making a gesture of caution. “I’ll warn ye now. This be a long term quest. Ye’ve grown quickly, but that will change now. Ye need to focus on buildin’ up yer kingdom, and through that ye will gain both power and knowledge. As well as allies ye’ll need to take on the war leader.”
Max bowed his head. “I will do as you say.”
Regin hopped to his feet. “Good! Now, there be a few more things to settle. If ye don’t mind, I’ll reserve these quarters, and the smithy, fer me own use while I’m here?”
Max nearly choked in his haste to answer. “Of course!”
“And ye won’t harm the little thief? He be mine to throttle when I catch him!”
Smitty chuckled as Max nodded his head. “He’s all yours. We’ll consider him a sort of mascot, until you decide otherwise.”
“Good, then. The last item be this way. I know ye be worried about protecting yer mine and other lands south o’ here. It be a long march from Darkholm, and communication be slow compared to what yer used to in your old world. This will help a bit.”
He led them back into the main corridor, into the stairwell and down to the tunnel level. At that landing, rather than going through the door leading into the exit tunnel, Regin turned and walked under the curving staircase. He put a hand to the stone wall, and an eight-foot wide section pushed inward before sliding to one side. Beyond the doorway was a mid-sized cavern, maybe a hundred feet wide and two hundred feet deep. At the far end of the space was a structure that made Max want to jump for joy! He felt a weight lift from his shoulders.
“A portal.” He breathed the word out slowly, an exhale of relief.
“Aye, lad. It be tuned to yer city already. And to Darkholm, and a few other places ye might find handy.” Regin handed each of them a control crystal. “These’ll work here, or any other portal ye find and claim, and any portal where the rightful owner grants ye access permissions.”
Battleborne Page 45
