“You’re only giddy because you finally . . . you know,” Baby sniped at her sister.
“So?” Rose asked, grinning shamelessly. “And you and Titan aren’t?”
Baby blushed and looked away, making Rose’s grin broaden. I wasn’t sure if Baby looked away and blushed because she and Titan were or if they weren’t. Admittedly, I would probably struggle with the animal thing.
“Babe, he just wouldn’t be Bye-bye if he didn’t randomly find quests that had the potential to become epic,” Micaela added, thankfully steering the conversation back on task.
Hopefully no one saw me flinch when Micaela used that word.
“It is a noble thing you and Rose have done,” Marie said, adding her two thoughts.
Hearing Marie give her support was nice. But thinking of Marie reminded me of Gras and Loral. “Did anyone let Gra . . . Sooty and Loral know we’re leaving today?” I asked, changing the topic.
“Yeah, I banged on their door this morning,” Olaf said. “We’re going to need to hire a portal mage to bring their wagon and oxen with us. Apparently, wagons and oxen don’t do so well on the jump pads.”
“We were going to need to do that for Titan and Perses anyway,” Baby added.
“He’s still coming with us?” Rose asked.
“You know I’m right here and can hear you?” Titan asked. “But yeah, I’m still planning to come along, but only as an observer. I will not help you with your quests or whatever trouble you get into. My only goal is to learn how you do things . . . unless some PK’s try to make trouble, then I’m definitely stepping in.”
“Whatever,” Rose said, enjoying needling the Bearsprite as much as she could.
“That reminds me, what are you?” I asked. “I mean, how is your race described?”
“Bearfae,” Titan answered, barring his teeth in an awkward smile.
“Barfie?” Rose asked, laughing joyously.
“No!” Titan replied quickly. “Bear and Fae, Bearfae.”
“Barfie,” Rose squeaked through her laughter.
“Babs, make your sister stop teasing me,” Titan said, turning to his fiancé to see her lost in her own fit of giggling. “I’m starting to rethink spending a month with you people,” he added, pouting.
“Sorry, that’s a fight you’re just not going to win, mate,” said Olaf, trying to hold back his own laugh.
“Should have gone with Bearsprite,” Titan grumbled to himself.
Personally, I thought Bearfae was much better than Bearsprite. That said, it did sound enough like Barfie to warrant the teasing.
“Will you be back for an early lunch?” Marie asked once the laughter died down.
“You’re not coming with us?” I asked.
“No, I think it best I continue to lay low. Barclay is handling shopping for me,” Marie replied.
“What about Gras and Loral?” I asked.
“Please, Sooty and Loral are probably better prepared for a long camp out than you will be, even after you go shopping,” Marie replied, correcting me on the name. “They, and I will be ready to leave here by noon. Once Barclay returns, I will have him find and hire a portal mage for us.”
“Thanks, Marie, that helps a lot,” Olaf said.
“So, you finished your shopping yesterday, what’s on your agendas for today?” I asked my other friends.
“Smithing for me,” Olaf said. “I need to skill it up so I can make a replacement for my destroyed hand-cannon.”
“I need to start building up my Spirit stat or the boys might outgrow me again,” Micaela said. “So, I’ll stay here and keep Marie company.”
“Not much company if you are going to be doing your spirit walking thing,” Marie complained.
“I’ll pop out occasionally to take a break,” Micaela countered.
Marie rolled her eyes. “Does not matter. I understand that there are things that must be accomplished today. I will be here if you need me.”
“Thanks Marie,” I said. It still felt odd calling her that, but I needed to get used to it or I risked undoing everything she sacrificed.
“What about you, Sis?” Rose asked.
“I heard about a farmer’s market in the fourth ring. I’m taking Titan with me and we are going to get some supplies. I am also going to see if we can’t start working on his abysmal Charisma stat,” Baby answered
“It’s not that bad,” Titan pouted.
“It’s pretty bad,” I said, knowing that my Charisma at level 20 was almost the same as his.
“Why is everyone picking on me?” Titan complained.
“You’re the new guy, mate,” Olaf answered. “If you can’t take a little teasing then you’ll never make it with this group.”
“He’s got a point,” Baby said. “Don’t worry though, soon enough they will accept you and go back to teasing Bye-bye.”
“Hey!” I protested, earning a laugh from everyone else.
“No teasing Bye-bye,” Micaela said, coming to my defense. “Rose does enough of that for all of us.” Queue more laughter from my friends.
“Rose, let’s get Harrison and Nahid and get going. We’ve got a lot of shopping to do to get them and us ready,” I said, knowing that if we stayed any longer, they really would start making jokes at my expense.
It took almost an hour to get everyone out of the hotel and take the Jump from the barracks to the fifth ring.
“Where to first?” Rose asked as soon as we were among the streets of the fifth ring.
“My armor might take a while to get fitted,” Harrison said. “Do you mind if we do that first? If I am being honest, I feel a little exposed without any armor.”
“Sure,” Rose said. “Do you have a preferred shop?”
“One that sells daggers would be preferred,” Nahid added. “Of the Janbiya style if possible.”
“My preferred shop has weapons and armor, but I have no idea if it will carry Jabbing style or whatever you just said,” Harrison replied.
“Jan-bi-ya,” Nahid annunciated slowly. “Janbiya. It is a short double-edged dagger with a curved blade,” she said, making a motion with her hand to show the blade curving and getting wider as her hand neared the hilt, that I assumed her other hand was gripping.
“What do you think? Divide and conquer?” Rose asked.
“I will go with Rose,” Nahid said, glaring at me as if daring me to contradict her statement.
“You good with that?” I asked. I didn’t like the idea of leaving Rose on her own while an Assassin with a much higher level than her was stalking Nahid, our . . . prisoner . . . client? Whatever. But there were plenty of people and players around so if the Assassin did show up, I was sure a player, or several players, would jump in to help if there was a chance of a quest or experience.
“Yeah, that’s fine,” Rose said.
“If we are going to split up, then I suggest you head for Blade Alley,” Harrison said. “They have just about every make of weapon imaginable. It is on the way to Immovable’s Armory, the shop I want. So, I can point it out when we get close.”
“Sure,” Rose said with a shrug.
We followed Harrison through the busy streets for a few blocks until we came across a covered street that was lined with shops and outdoor vendors. Every surface of which was covered with something sharp and pointy.
“Blade Alley?” Rose asked, looking down the street in awe. A look I was sure I was mimicking as I also felt awed by the sight.
“You got it,” Harrison said. “Immovable’s Armory is two streets that way and one street to the left. It is a corner lot and large, cannot miss it. Meet us there when you are done.”
“Will do, come on Nahid, let’s go,” Rose said.
“Rose,” I called her back.
“What’s up?” Rose asked.
“Here, to pay for her daggers,” I said, handing Rose 10-Gold. I couldn’t imagine how two daggers for a level 8 Assassin could be very expensive. “Try to stay to normal quality for her level. You shouldn
’t need this much but just in case.”
“Sure,” Rose replied taking the money, giving me a quick kiss in the process. “See you shortly.”
Immovable’s Armory was huge. It was more of a warehouse that took up an entire city block, the inside of which was filled with armor of every size and material imaginable.
As soon as we were through the door, a young Elf girl greeted us with a clear, “Welcome to Immovable’s, I am Tracy. How can I help protect you today?”
“Hello Tracy,” Harrison greeted the girl. “Please tell Nori that Harrison is here.”
“I will let Ms. Nori know you are here,” Tracy said with a bright smile and short bow before she scurried away.
“I caught Nori a few years ago on a public indecency violation. Let her off with a warning,” Harrison said. “Ever since, any time she got into trouble with the City Watch, I helped her out. Now, she owes me. And I am going to squeeze her for every copper of trouble she caused me with her . . . extracurriculars.”
“Johnny,” an Elven woman shouted, rushing into the front room. “I heard you had been arrested. I was so worried about you.”
“Nori, nice to see you,” Harrison said very business-like.
“Now, do not be like that Johnny,” Nori said with a pout. “I am so glad to see you out and back at work.”
“Good, then you can show your appreciation by showing me the best Heavy Chainmail armor you have got within my level range,” Harrison said.
“Oh, did the City Watch finally decide to pitch in and provide you some decent armor. It is about time,” Nori said. “I am very excited to see what we can do for you. Follow me, your pet can wait outside.” The glare she directed at me at the end of that statement made it clear who she thought the pet was.
“Pet?” I asked hotly.
“Oh, so the halfling can speak, but such a disgusting voice. Please, get it out of my shop,” Nori said, glaring at me. I wasn’t sure if Nori was just a salesperson or the owner, but she was very slight and short for an Elf. She was also a pure High-Elf if her blonde hair and pale complexion were anything to go by. I honestly wouldn’t have thought she was any kind of danger to me if not for the nameplate above her head reading
“Might be best if you wait outside,” Harrison whispered to me placatingly.
“Absolutely not,” I snapped, the stress of the last week finally got to me. “Harrison doesn’t leave my sight under any circumstance.”
The Elf woman’s eyes narrowed, and I swear I felt a wave of heat from her that I was able to quickly ignore thanks to my ‘Heat Resistance’ skill.
Heat Resistance
Level: 100
Experience: N/A
Skill Effect (Passive): Having forced yourself to endure extreme heats for extended amounts of time you have developed a resistance to heat effects. Damage due to heat from any source reduced 50.00% (does not include direct damage caused by Fire or Lava).
“Do you know who I am?” Nori asked.
“No, do you know who I am?” I retorted. It might have been childish to reply that way, but I was angry. I had been pushed around by Epic, pushed around by Seed Inc., pushed around by Harrison, and now, this Elf thought it was okay to push me around because she was a racist bigot.
“A half-blooded mongrel, nothing else matters,” Nori replied.
“I am Bye-bye Jacko, Warrior Priest of the Goddess Issara,” I stated loudly and clearly enough that my voice echoed through the warehouse.
Nori hissed at me in anger but didn’t bend a knee the way everyone else in the room did, except for the few adventurers that were present and Harrison.
“Since when have the Gods cared about the City Watch,” Nori asked angrily, ignoring me and focusing on Harrison.
“Since Chaos has been rising,” I answered.
Nori didn’t look at me, but I saw her flinch when I said Chaos. “Chaos is always rising,” Nori tried to play it off with a dismissive wave of her hand, at least now she was looking at me, if only with a slight turn of her eyes in my direction.
“Look, Nori,” Harrison tried to intercede only for Nori to put a hand over his mouth.
“Johnny, you do not need to say anything. I understand duty,” Nori almost cooed at the ex-Patrolman. “You have no control over who is assigned as your partner.”
It was times like this I wished ‘Justice Bringer’ worked on the citizens . . . wait, she wasn’t flagged as an enemy. That would mean it would work on her. But as soon as I attacked it would probably mean loss of my class and my death moments later. Still, it was very tempting.
“Fine, you may follow . . . but touch nothing!” Nori snapped irritably at me.
“Why would I touch the subpar armor here when mine was made by the God Ivaldi?” I asked, scoffing just to needle her a little more. It worked just the way I wanted as I saw her freeze slightly mid-step before continuing on. Her irritation was palpable as she stalked through the rows of armor. Admittedly, some of the armor looked spectacular and there really were dozens of designs. I doubted any other armor shops in the city carried as much. However, in my experience, anything produced in bulk like this usually meant the quality was considerably lower than what could be found elsewhere.
“There is nothing subpar about my creations. It has taken me a thousand years to build this collection with my own two hands, mongrel lapdog. Even your God Ivaldi could not slight my work,” Nori said eventually as we went deeper into the warehouse.
“And yet, I’ve never heard of you. I can only assume that none of your armor is Legendary or even famous. Makes me wonder if you are even able to craft Mystic quality armor,” I taunted her irritably. The lack of reply was music to my ears.
When we finally entered a lavish room with couches covered in throw pillows and tables filled with a wide assortment of fruits, cheeses, meats, and cakes, Nori finally found words again. “Johnny, you really should ask for a new partner as soon as you can. I fear for your safety with this one.”
Harrison looked at me nervously before nodding. “I will do that. But right now, I need armor.”
“You are absolutely correct,” Nori said, pouting slightly at having her chance to talk to Harrison more thwarted by business. “I shall return shortly. Johnny, please indulge yourself. Mongrel, touch nothing.”
I was tempted to attack her anyway. “Goddess Issara give me strength,” I sent a short prayer that was answered by a giggle of amusement. “That was not the response I was hoping for,” I complained.
“Sorry about her. I forgot she was like that,” Harrison said.
“And yet with the way she shamelessly flirted with you, you would think she would be more open to such things,” I replied.
“I think I heard an adventurer call her self-hating and closeted once,” Harrison said. “I am not one hundred percent on the meaning of ‘closeted’ but I assume it means hiding one's true self in a closet like it was an outfit you could slip on and put back whenever you want.”
“That’s about right,” I replied.
“Still, could you stop taunting her until after I get my new armor? And please, do not say anything about the City Watch and my new status,” Harrison pleaded with me.
“Fine,” I said. “I won’t say anything if she doesn’t.”
“I suppose that is the best I can ask for,” Harrison said with a sigh of frustration.
“Johnny, I am back. Did you miss me?” Nori asked as she entered the room with a train of five men covered from head to toe in different styles of chainmail armor.
Harrison didn’t reply to the question, instead, he started inspecting the different armors.
“Starting on the left, the chest guard is Mystic quality, the other pieces are High quality. Next to him is completely high quality. Then half High-quality, half Good quality. Next, High-quality chest guard and the rest is Good-quality. And finally, all Good-quality,” Nori said, moving from one set of armor to the next. “All of them should about be in your size, just requiri
ng minimal adjustments.”
“Price?” Harrison asked, looking dreamily at the leftmost armor set and probably most expensive of the bunch.
“For you, 1,000-Gold,” Nori said. “A steal at that price I promise you.”
That didn’t sound like a steal to me but then I knew nothing about the economy of the World Tree. Maybe that was a great deal. I decided to watch Harrison as I hoped he had a better understanding than I did.
“That is indeed a fair price. That Mystic chest guard alone is worth the price,” Harrison said. “But I am afraid that is beyond the budget I was allotted.”
“Ah, bureaucracy at work,” Nori sighed. “Well then, why don’t you tell me your budget, and I will see what I can do.”
I frowned. I knew it was never a good idea to just tell someone how much money you have to spend, because no matter what you bought, it would cost you everything.
“Stop,” I said before Harrison could answer. “A word,” I said, motioning Harrison over to me.
“Sorry about this,” Harrison said to Nori before walking over to me. He glared at me and asked sharply, “What?”
“Never tell the seller how much you have. It gives her the chance to raise the price to meet your budget,” I said quietly.
Harrison opened his mouth to protest then stopped. “But I have always-” he started then trailed off.
“Always ended up paying out your full budget?” I asked.
Harrison muttered a curse. “Okay, so how do I do this?”
“First, do you really need High quality? Given your current level, do you see yourself using the same armor for the rest of your life or do you think you will be upgrading at some point?” I asked.
“Of course I will upgrade eventually,” Harrison said. “But having the best armor you can, means you will survive long enough to be able to upgrade later.”
I forgot for a moment that Harrison couldn’t respawn like I did. That said, buying Mystic-quality armor or even High-quality armor at his current level felt like a waste to me. However, I could see getting one or two pieces of High-quality armor to cover his most vital areas, namely the torso and head. Still, that would probably be too expensive.
World Tree Online- the Endless Savanna- 3rd Dive Page 14
