Equalize

by Ryan DeBruyn

  The merchant finished laughing and was joined moments later by the other merchant who wiped tears from his face like this line of storytelling had been going on for some time.

  And this is why you don’t trust merchants. This is also interesting as fireball was one hundred twenty-five Crystallized Ether. Either Jesse ripped me off, which is possible, or a skill is worth that much more than one of these tanks. I guess maybe because skills can level up and become that much more powerful?

  Rocky added it to his list to ask Sela and froze for a moment. Then he grimaced before forcefully changing his mood. He couldn’t dwell on his loss of Sela right now.

  Rocky distracted himself by focusing on the somewhat happy feeling that the evil leaders in the military got fleeced at the shop on that first visit. It was short lived because Rocky also felt sick thinking about how he knew that the military was essentially stealing Crystallized Ether from the people of Ottawa to afford this sub-par weaponry.

  Then he realized what the orc’s tone probably meant. What if these weapons weren’t as extremely powerful as they appeared to be. The militia was buying them because they carried a notion left over from Earth a week ago. A lot of people would die if that were the case.

  Groaning, Rocky realized he had to find out if the weapons were sub-par. Wouldn’t a laser tank do just as much damage to whatever it hit, even if the target was stronger and had more health?

  He decided during one of the next conversations, he would try to bring it up. Either way, he put it near the top of the list. Looking at the magazine Jesse had given him, he flipped the pages to find pictures of merchants on every second page.

  The pictures were accompanied by names, and lists of their goods followed. Rocky was surprised to see a column called listed price and beside that column was another column labeled fair price.

  Maybe Jesse was a good guy after all.

  Rocky continued flipping pages until he recognized the green-skinned merchant. A candid picture of Dorb’s smiling face didn’t do him any favors.

  Scanning the list, he didn’t have to go far to see that a mass-produced beam rifle was usually sold in bulk, fifty guns for five crystals, and tanks were similar at ten units for fifty crystals. That wasn’t even the worst part; in the fair price column, Jesse had them listed for half again the asking price.

  Rocky face-palmed, both exasperated and relieved he wasn’t facing an army equipped with double the number of tanks. If that were the case, the dictator of this militant group probably would have dispensed with subtlety already and enslaved anyone in the Ottawa area. The prices rose steeply, and a fair amount for a Massacre Ether Infused Assault Rifle was six hundred crystals.

  This one weapon is more potent than an army of tanks?

  Rocky clenched his hand and scanned the book, noticing that it was in alphabetical order by the merchant. What a handy piece of reading material Jesse had given him. Deciding that Jesse was at least more trustworthy than Dorb, he flipped alphabetically to Azir the Windseeker.

  He found a picture of a creature wrapped in black clothes which covered his entire face other than the glowing, green eyes staring back at him. Feeling a little disturbed by the picture, Rocky next found Lingren whose image was of a stern-looking elf.

  In most ways, Lingren looked near identical to Jesse—delicate features, tanned skin, and pointed ears. Rocky tilted his head, trying to see the difference and may have even thought they were brothers but knew he hadn’t been around these new races long enough to begin picking out distinctions.

  Circling the fountain, he found Lingren first. The elf was sitting cross-legged on a green blanket, looking severe and mid-discussion with a four-foot-tall, rainbow-colored lizard creature. The creature was speaking very softly, and Lingren was nodding at points.

  As Rocky made his way closer, the lizard stopped speaking and turned to him before scampering away. He was still fifteen feet distant from Lingren, and Rocky’s eyes shot wide, followed by his customary head tilt. The confusion on his face would have been enough to let anyone know he wasn’t trying to eavesdrop.

  Lingren only shook his head and sighed. “Don’t worry, lad. I am assuming that this is your first time seeing an Iridescent Kobold?”

  Rocky just nodded dumbly, and Lingren motioned him to keep approaching. Then he continued, “Don’t worry, she is waiting for the coast to be clear again and she will be back. Typically, it takes a week to finish business dealing with the shy creatures. So far it has been about three with that one. She is extra suspicious and extremely easy to scare. It is not your fault. I assume you were looking for me?”

  The abrupt change in the topic made Rocky jerk his head around, and he blurted out, “Jesse sent me!” He still felt out of sorts from chasing away a customer.

  Lingren eyes widened briefly, and he seemed to get a glint in his eyes that to Rocky looked like amusement. Cheeks flushing, Rocky began again, “Hello, Lingren, my name is Rocky, and Jessibeer told me to ask for you.”

  This produced a nod from Lingren and two teacups. As Lingren poured tea into the cups, Rocky sat down on the green blanket, wondering if everyone got tea when they visited. The kobold didn’t have a cup, or if it did, it left with the thing.

  The aroma of deep woods after rain mixed with honeydew melon and cumin hit Rockey’s nose as the cup was passed over to him. Rocky felt his mouth water at the prospect of trying this delicious smelling brew of tea, especially after the last experience he had with the elven beverage.

  “What is it you seek, adventurer?” Lingren spoke as he handed the cup over. Rocky, who had been about to take a sip, lowered the cup and smiled sheepishly at Lingren.

  For just a moment, Lingren seemed to glance at the magazine that Jesse had given him, but it was so fast that Rocky wasn’t sure.

  “First and foremost, I need to have some of my equipment unlocked, and Jessibear told me that you were the man to see?” Rocky made it a question inclination on the last word.

  “Yes, I can remove the block placed on items acquired from monster drops. I usually charge five crystals and subsidize it for a discount if the individual sells the equipment to me. However, I am assuming you got into Jesse’s good graces, and he gave you that silly magazine of his?”

  The way Lingren emphasized the name made Rocky realize he should stop butchering the pronunciation and just use the shortened version. Upon Rocky’s confirmation of the receipt of the magazine, Lingren smiled for the first time.

  “An honest individual. It is a pleasure to meet you, Rocky. Jesse has the fair price listed at four crystals per item so I will do it for two. Just don’t let him know. Otherwise, he might put it in that stupid book. If you could please remove and place the equipment you wish to have unlocked on the choo-sentani between us I can begin.”

  Rocky felt odd about the steep drop in price but, not willing to look a gift horse in the mouth, took off the ring and placed it on the blanket which he assumed was called a choo-sentani. Then he tried to undo the straps on the armor he was wearing.

  The first time he had removed the armor at the lake, he had struggled but now with the accumulated dirt and grime, it was like trying to remove a bra when you were drunk and knew the girl was way out of your league. First, you work with one hand, then you try with two, and then you look for help. Rocky sheepishly looked at Lingren who just shook his head and passed his hands through Rocky’s projected knees.

  Rocky quickly gave up on the breastplate and moved to the boots, deciding he would start with the bottom half and then work his way up. The shoes came off with a bit of a squelch, and Rocky realized he probably should make sure he took his armor off at night from now on.

  Then after some very amusing squirming and writhing, he had his trousers and breastplate laid out on the blanket as well.

  Lingren pulled out his chain which seemed to contain some sort of dried smelling salts and said with a very nasally voice, “I can also offer a cleaning service for an additional one crystal, ewaahh, make that two cry
stals.” In the middle of his comments, he seemed to almost throw up. Rocky, who couldn’t smell anything out of place, tried to pick up the items and felt his heart fall and his stomach clench when his hands passed through his items.

  Lingren, who hadn’t waited for affirmation, had a white glow begin enveloping his hands before extending in a dome over all of Rocky’s equipment. Rocky wasn’t breathing because he was still expecting his gear to suddenly vanish, followed by Lingren.

  That was when he saw a small blue dot on each piece of equipment.

  Equipment owned by Rockland Barkclay, temporarily transported, locked to the interior of the main shop on the transported planet. This item cannot be transferred to any other seed shop but the seed shop Rockland Barkclay currently occupies. Aboo-Akai Fair Trade Waiver; Section G; Clause 45.1

  Rocky felt his lungs relax and his heart start beating naturally again after reading the memo affixed to his gear. Somehow, the aboo-akai could gauge his intentions and act accordingly. More questions seemed to be coming up faster than he could have them answered.

  Lingren spoke one single word when the light began to brighten considerably, “Clean.” Then the glow that, moments ago, seemed like it may get bright enough to cause eye problems diminished and sunk into the armor and ring laid out on the choo-sentani.

  “It will take a moment to work the filth out of the leather. It may need a second casting, honestly.” Lingren still had the smelling vial out and was holding it just below his head, between him and the offending armor. “While it works, would you like to browse my selection or speak of anything?”

  Thinking of his immediate situation, in a seed shop surrounded by equipment bought at this bazaar, Rocky asked, “What is the difference between my armor you are cleaning and unlocking versus other armors?”

  Lingren's eyes widened, and his lips forming a small O shape before gaining control and chuckling. He then asked rhetorically, “You don’t ask for much, do you? Just for the hottest discussed issue of the millennia.” Lingren chose to pause here and sip his tea, seeming to prepare for an extensive explanation, so Rocky let him collect his thoughts and tried his own tea.

  It was everything he could do not to spit it out. It tasted like pine trees, and unfortunately, in his eagerness, he had taken a full mouthful of the vile concoction. Slowly spitting the tea back into the cup and disguising it as another sip, Rocky purged his mouth of the liquid if not the taste.

  Luckily, Lingren took his mind off the taste a moment later. “Despite the claim that people have created something new and unique, all equipment can be traced to three categories: Technological, Ether-Infused, and Ether Tech.

  The first depends on the quality of components used and ranges from cheap metal to scarce and expensive metals. In each case, combining these materials with higher or lower quality assembled shells, nanobots, and other technology will result in a far stronger or weaker item. Technological armor relies entirely on the tensile strength of the material to mitigate damage. Technological weapons rely on the grade of slugs used or the core and energy output to deal damage to objects and individuals.”

  A deep breath later, Lingren moved on to the next type, “Ether-Infused armor is named such because it is infused with more Ether than the material would naturally hold. For example, this leather armor you see here,” he motioned at Rocky’s three-piece set, “is likely Ether-Infused.

  The leather has been infused with Ether. Simply put, it uses that Ether to power enchantments that are laid onto the material. The more damage it takes, the more Ether it uses in enchantments and the weaker the effects of the armor become. Weapons do the same but use the Ether stored in the item to increase destructive power.

  Both weapons and armor slowly recharge pools from ambient Ether between combat. They can also be recharged directly from the owner’s personal stores.”

  This time, he paused before moving on to the last subject. Eyes studying his equipment, Rocky assumed this was the most complicated based off of the name. While waiting, Rocky raised the glass to his lips and almost took another sip of the awful tea, but he closed his lips tight around the glass at the last second, barely managing to avoid the awful taste which was just now beginning to dissipate.

  Holy shit, that was a close call. I really would have to spit it through him.

  Lingren recast Clean another time, finally stowing the necklace back under his tunic.

  “The last type is a combination of the two,” Lingren finished lamely with a shrug. “It indeed has the most enormous amount of types of armor and varying functions. I don’t want to give you a general description because Ether Tech is terrific, extremely versatile, and different depending on what you want. It is usually also the most expensive and widely considered to be the best.”

  The subject clearly over, as well as the cleaning, Lingren’s hands began to glow a vivid blue that seemed to grow darker and more profound in complexity the longer he channeled his spell. The dome extended down and once again seeped into the now resplendently cleaned armor. It flowed into all the joints and stitching, seeming to explore every single millimeter of its surface.

  The magic seemed to become opaque and rippled over the surface of the leather like a wave a few times before finally stilling to a pond on a windless day. Eventually, the magic thinned and sunk into the leather.

  Rocky only knew it was finished because, suddenly, the blue dot was gone, and when he reached out his hand to try to figure out what happened, Rocky was suddenly touching his armor. Relief washed over him, followed by excitement; he could finally figure out what his armor did.

  Chimera Knight’s Leather Chest Piece

  Ether Pool level: Large

  Current Ether Pool Level: Empty (Refilling)

  Ether effects: Protection, Automatic Repair, stat Link

  Protection 2

  Ether Pool will be used to directly reduce melee damage to any area covered by this armor. Magical damage requires three times the amount of Ether from Ether Pool to reduce damage. Damage reduced up to 25%, depending on the strength of the blow. This effect can be increased by having an enchanter increase the rank of the enchantment.

  Automatic Repair

  Armor will mend itself as long as the Ether Pool is not empty. If the Ether Pool is empty and the Armor is destroyed, it will forever be lost. Repairs are made at a speed of 1% per hour.

  Stat Link 1

  Stat Link is a unique Ether Enchantment and creates a link between the owner of this armor and his Chimera. The owner’s stats increase by 3% of Chimera’s total stats. This link only works if the owner of this armor has a Chimera as a pet and if the pet is within range of the enchantment. This effect can be increased by having an enchanter increase the rank of the enchantment.

  Chimera Knight’s Leather Leggings

  Ether Pool level: Large

  Current Ether Pool Level: Empty (Refilling)

  Ether effects: *Protection 2 (20%)*, *Automatic Repair*, Strength and Speed of Arms 1

  Strength and Speed of Arms 1

  The Ether in these leggings will bolster two of your stats. Strength and Agility will be increased by five each. This effect can be increased by having an enchanter increase the rank of the enchantment.

  Chimera Knight’s Leather Boots

  Ether Pool level: Large

  Current Ether Pool Level: Empty (Refilling)

  Ether effects: Protection 2 (10%), Automatic Repair, Noise Dampening

  Noise Dampening 1

  These boots will use the Ether pool at a minimal level to reduce all noise made by the wearer. This effect works on wearers intention and does not affect speech or purposeful sounds exuded by the owner. Noise reduced by 25%. This effect can be increased by having an enchanter increase the rank of the enchantment.

  Lingren was watching Rocky with squinting eyes. Rocky felt his pulse jump back up because he thought that Lingren saw the same notifications as him. He quickly stored the armor in his bag of holding.

  “That good?�
� Lingren asked with an obvious falling face. “Can I do anything else for you?

  Rocky’s eyebrow jumped up in confusion and was about to browse his wares when he saw a glint still sitting on the blanket. Rocky smiled; he had almost forgotten about the ring. When he picked it up, Lingren returned to sitting patiently, seeming to have forgotten about the ring also in the intervening time since it was placed on the choo-sentani.

  Ring of the Amalgam

  This ring was created when four creatures were fused together to create Skandranon: The Algonquin Chimera. This ring was the core they fused around.

  Soul Link 5

  If the owner of this ring has an amalgam as a pet, this ring will create a soul link between them. Soul link allows the owner and pet to communicate telepathically (when in range), feel each other’s location, and send out distress signals that can be perceived no matter the distance. Soul link will also link the pet’s soul to its owner, allowing a deceased pet to resurrect at the owner’s location. Resurrection can take days or years depending on the Ether concentration of the area and Ether required to revive the pet. Resurrection can only be used once every ten years.

  Bringing up resurrection made Rocky’s head swim and his face pale. Was it possible to resurrect people if they had died? He would have to look through Jesse’s book later for any spell scrolls or skills. Regardless, Rocky quickly slipped the ring onto his finger and then searched through the inventory that Lingren had available.

  In the end, Rocky purchased ten sets of nano weave under armor. After the haggling, each piece was just a single Crystallized Ether, which was just under the listed fair price. The under armor was extremely versatile. They even could slightly repair any damage to themselves over time and would continuously clean the wearer and the armor being worn over it.