Riftside 3 - Chapter 17

I held the door open to the Adventurer’s Guild for Eryn and then followed after her. The rest of my party, plus Edwin, followed me inside. Shay was there representing his party, and the council of three mages were representing, well, themselves. 

Mara looked up from the resting area as the floorboards groaned under our weight and nodded at me.

“Hey, Madeleine,” I said to the friendly giant who waved at us from her desk. “Would you let Harold know we’re back?”

“Of course, Ash, I’ll—” she managed before the door to Harold’s office slammed open and Vos hurried out, Harold hot on his heels. 

“How many died?” Vos asked, glaring at me. “Tell me, man! How many did we lose?”

“Umm…no one?” I replied with a half-question, my face screwing up. “Why? What have you heard?”

“Not a damned thing except for your Azbaran mage hurrying into the guild to drag Edwin Riftside, saying you needed him urgently!” Vos hissed.

“Oh,” I said, scratching the back of my head. “That. I needed to borrow his spatial storage. For the monster.”

Vos blinked. 

“His spatial?”

“Yeah,” I said and shrugged. 

“Big variant monster needed a man with a big…storage,” Nabeeh said, and chuckled to herself. “Our fearless leader isn’t quite there yet.”

Vos sighed and his shoulders slumped.

“Thank the bells. I thought there had been a disaster.”

“Nope. It was a great success,” I stated simply. “The Steel Scrambler is slain, together with around a hundred Steel Scuttlers. Garret’s injured, but is set to make a full recovery. He’s with Doctor Ridley.”

A collective sigh of relief rippled through the Guild staff.

“Great job,” Petra said from the shop and I smiled at her. 

“That’s… excellent news,” Harold said. “The Rift knows we needed this little win.”

“Reckless, is what it is,” Vos said, sounding weary, leaning on his steel-tipped cane. His gaze found Lan who had drifted to the edge of our formation, closest to Mara. “You got lucky, Aldrich. Don’t mistake it for skill.”

“Takes quite a bit of skill to be as lucky as we are, Official,” I countered. “We went out, we followed your conditions, and we took down a Red-rated threat that was menacing the adventurers and this base. We did our job.”

“You threw a newly formed party into the heart of the fire!” Vos jabbed his cane at the three mages who shrank back. “One which includes a newly-classed tank who was in no way ready for that level of threat. You’re fortunate you’re not here reporting fifteen funerals!”

“And you’re fortunate he took the quest,” Edwin said, his voice firm but not unkind. “I’ve seen the carcass, Vos. It’s in my damned spatial, and let me tell you. It’s bigger than the Timberline. The fact that Ash led this raid and brought everyone back alive, with only one serious injury, speaks volumes. That’s not luck. It’s leadership.”

I fought to keep the smile off my face. And then failed badly.

Vos’s jaw tightened, his chest heaving. And then, he closed his eyes and took a slow breath. 

“Thank you, Commander,” he said. “I—”

“You are welcome,” Edwin replied with a soft chuckle.

“I wasn’t finished,” Vos said, glaring at Edwin, who was full-on grinning. “As I was about to say, I am glad it went well. I am simply worried for the safety of our adventurers, and the risks you are taking here on the frontier does not sit well with me.”

“We don’t throw lives away out here on the frontier, Official,” I said, trying not to burst into laughter. He was flustered, and we all knew it. 

“Harold. Pay them,” Vos said with a sigh, waving a hand. “And Ash?”

“Yes?”

“Good job.”

“Thank you, Official.”

Vos retreated to the office as Harold retrieved a heavy pouch and the quest ledger. 

I nodded to Eryn who stepped forward and accepted the pouch. 

“Thanks, guild master,” she said, before talking to Shay and Jeff, counting out and handing each fifteen Mind Gems and fifty gold. “Your share of the quest reward,” she said, and Shay thanked her.

“Would have taken us a month to make this at the Whirling Rift,” Jeff said. “Appreciate the opportunity Raid leader. Please call on us again. Even without a full party, the three of us will join in any capacity.”

“As he said, anytime you need us,” Jessica said, leaning in to look at their share. “You just call, and we’ll be happy to join.”

“Long as you keep your warhammer away from me,” Justin said, chuckling. 

“And the carcass?” Harold asked, looking at me. “The Guild would love to buy it at standard rates, of course. A magnificent specimen like that…”

“How much is the Guild offering?” I asked Harold.

“Thirty-six Mind Gems,” he said after a moment’s calculation. “Twelve for each party.”

“Monster balls!” Shay said, his eyes going wide. “More than happy to sell our share for that.” 

Jeff and the other mages nodded in agreement.

I looked around at my party. Roq had said there was likely a Class Gem inside, and the materials would be highly valuable for the smithy. There was no way I’d let the guild buy the carcass. The class gem alone was worth two hundred mind gems. But what price should we pay the others in the raid? I didn’t want to rip them off, nor did it make sense to me to pay full price for the Class Gem. They were clearly ready to take Harold’s offer without blinking.

But Eryn and Knut just smiled. Lan stood with her arms crossed and an eyebrow raised. Nabeeh shrugged.

I looked at Shay, then at the three mages. 

“How about we pay you fifteen Mind Gems each instead and take the carcass for Steel and Scale? Call it a bonus for a raid well done. Makes it three gems for each of you. All I ask is that you spend a few of them at Steel & Scale. We’ve got some new recipes we’re working on.”

Shay’s face split into a wide grin. 

“That’s more than fair, Ash. Done.”

Jeff was practically bouncing. 

“Fifteen gems? By the bells, yes! I can’t promise to spend my own there, but I’m sure Garret and Wade could be convinced to drop by and see what fits.”

“Well,” Harold said, throwing his arm up. “I’m not going to come between a raid leader and his raid party.”

“Mind selling us five Mind Gems for our gold reward of the raid?” Eryn asked Harold. “Let us pay them ten each now.” 

“Sure,” the Guild Leader said. “You’ve earned it. Madeleine?” 

After having given each group ten mind gems, she promised they could pick up the rest of the payment from the smithy the next day. 

Shay and the mages thanked us profusely and we agreed to meet up at the Timberline later for a celebration. 

As they left, Shay threw a final remark over his shoulder. 

“Anytime you need a hand, Ash, you call on us.”

“Thanks, Harold,” I said. “And dibs on the next red threat quest, yeah?”

He chuckled. 

“No promises, but we’ll be sure to let you know.”

I winked at him and headed for the door, gesturing for my party to follow. But Lan hadn’t moved. She stood rooted to the spot, her arms crossed, glaring at Mara, who had been observing the entire exchange with a detached smirk.

“This is your fault,” Lan hissed once Harold was out of earshot, her voice low but venomous. “He’s a child playing at being a leader. He gave the killing blow to his warhammer! I got nothing from this!”

Mara chuckled, a dry, humorless sound. 

“Not my problem anymore, is it? You wanted a chance to kill big monsters. Now you have it. If you can’t keep up, that’s on you. Suck it up and find a way to work with your party, or get left behind. Either way, it’s none of my business. Just know this, Lan,” Mara said and leaned in, but we could still hear her clearly. “Fuck this up, and you’re on your own. I’m out of patience and fucks to give.”

Mara turned and walked to the door. 

“Where are you going?” Lan demanded.

“Caravan from Central arrived while you were out playing in the woods,” Mara said over her shoulder. “I’m going to check on my delivery. And to get away from your whining.”

Class gems.

“Don’t forget your promise, Mara,” I said.

She just waved a lazy, dismissive hand without looking back. Lan stared after her, a look of pure, frustrated fury on her face, before she stalked out of the Guild without another word. 

“We’ll take her to look at the caravan,” Eryn said and grabbed Nabeeh’s arm.

“But, what about Edwin?” Nabeeh protested.

“Come on,” Eryn said. “No whining now. Do you want to be like Lan?”

I glanced at Edwin’s face but I couldn’t quite tell if he was relieved or sad at her leaving.

*

The ground behind the smithy trembled as Edwin swiped the Steel Scrambler from his spatial storage. The carcass was so large that it cast the back of the workshop in a deep, metallic shadow. 

“By my father’s forge,” Pa breathed. “How in the shattered anvil did you kill this thing, son?”

He started walking a slow circle around the dead beast. 

“It was a battle of epic proportions!” Roq declared. “I, in my infinite wisdom and overwhelming power, identified a critical flaw in its supposedly impregnable armor. Ash, serving as my humble assistant, delivered me to the precise location, and having deposited me inside, I eviscerated the beast from within!”

Pa chuckled, shaking his head. Edwin just stared at me, a confused frown on his face.

“Roq’s talking,” I said, chuckling. Then an idea struck me. “Want in on the conversation, Commander? There’s no way back though.”

“What do I have to do?” Edwin asked.

I explained the simple process, which caused Edwin to hesitate for a second. Perhaps he was thinking of how Quarris’ hand had shattered. Then he squared his shoulders. 

“You know what, I accept. I’m an adventurer, damn it. If I can’t face a soul weapon in my mind, what am I doing on the frontline?”

Roq, ever eager to expand his audience, was more than happy to include Edwin. 

Edwin placed a hand on Roq’s haft. He didn’t so much as flinch as the tiny spike pricked his callused palm.

“Welcome to the royal court, Commander,” Roq said.

Edwin’s eyes widened. 

“Oh, my. That is a… unique voice. Fits your true form.”

“Thank you,” Roq said.

“Would you do a quick walkthrough of what you see as the most interesting pieces of the carcass, and some potential upgrades or new gears, Pa?” I asked. “Oh, and please do check for the gem today and don’t save it for later. I’d like to go check out the caravan with Eryn after.”

“Are you negotiating with the master, apprentice?” Pa said, but then he smiled and gave me a wink. “Fine. But only since the commander is here and I wouldn’t want to waste his time.”

“Where’s your current apprentice?” I asked, not having seen Torsten about. 

“Gave him the rest of the day off,” Pa said absentmindedly as he assessed his new, imposing canvas. 

“The main shell,” Pa began, running a hand along the massive, curved shell. “It’s so big it’d be a shame to use it for suits of armor. Would lose strength compared to how it is. But…” he looked at Edwin, “Imagine this as the main gate for the new keep, eh? Wouldn’t that be something? I say we sell it to the town. Would recoup a big part of the purchasing price.”

Edwin nodded. 

“I’ll speak to Harold and Cooper about it.”

“A door? A DOOR?” Roq howled. “Such a magnificent, kingly material reduced to a common entryway? Unacceptable! It must be reforged into a massive, spiked shield for me to wear on my back in my Primal Form! It is the only fitting use!”

“Is this how he always talks?” Edwin asked.

“More or less,” I said, ignoring Roq. “You’ll get used to it. Or not. Anyway, what’s next, Pa?”

Pa moved to the legs. 

“These ball-and-socket joints… perfect. We could disassemble them and have material for six sets of fully articulated pauldrons and greaves. Either as individual upgrades or as part of new suits of plate.” 

“You know, Thomas,” Edwin said. “I have been considering upgrading my plate mail.”

As if summoned, Ma appeared with a platter ladened with three steaming cups and baked goods.

“Come see me after, commander,” she said. “We’ll draw up some requirements, narrow down a price, and then forge something to specification. With a ten percent discount, on the house, for having taken such good care of our son.” 

She offered up the platter. 

“Erh…” Edwin began, before giving in, taking a cup and a bun. “Very well. It has been a while since I last treated myself, but I won’t commit to anything, and would have to see the finished result and its stats before paying.”

“Fair,” Ma said, and winked at me.

Next up, Pa walked along the claw, shaking his head. 

“I’m not sure what to make of this one. It’s too unwieldy for a weapon.”

“Perhaps we could mount it on the First Steel,” Edwin mused. “Rig it up as a sweeper to clear any monsters scaling the ramparts.”

Pa grunted in approval, and as I munched on the snack, he moved to the underbelly, cutting along an edge. Suddenly he yelped and stumbled back.

“Are you alright?” I said, stepping toward him, but he waved me away. 

“Yes, yes. I’m fine,” Pa said. “I just didn’t expect the shell to recrystallize when I cut it. Made it look like it’s still alive.”

“For those of us who aren’t blacksmiths?” Edwin asked.

“The Scrambler’s shell self-repairs,” Roq said. “Which is why the mages’ spells were so ineffective until I, and my helper, had cracked it.”

“How were you able to kill it then?” Edwin asked.

“Limited self-repair. Not instant. If it had walked away from the fight, sooner or later, its shell would have been good as new.”

“Now that is interesting,” Edwin said before turning towards the smithy. “Helena! I’ll be in shortly to discuss that plate armor, paid up front.”

I chuckled as Pa dipped a finger into a thick, silvery liquid dripping from the cut he had made. 

“This is… a metallic lubricant? Incredibly slick. If it doesn’t dry, I’ll get Victor to drain and sell it to the town for a percentage. Our ballistas, gates, and winches will run smooth as silk for years.”

“While they take far too much, the monsters do give back as well,” Edwin muttered, and I nodded. 

Pa then tapped the sharp tips of the massive legs with his dissection blade. 

“Not even scratching it. This might be amongst the hardest alloy I’ve ever seen. I could forge these into near-unbreakable pike heads. A line of guards with these, in a proper formation, could hold a breach against a charge.” 

He then inspected the overlapping, more flexible plates of the underbelly. “A nearly natural laminar plating. Perfect for a protective cuirass with limited loss of mobility.” He glanced at me. “We could make a new coat for Eryn.”

“Actually,” I said, thinking of our volatile new mage. “Lan. She’s a closer-range fighter than she lets on. She still refused to tell me her spells, but she was insistent on fighting up close. If we are to properly utilize her, she might need it more.”

Pa shrugged. 

“Send her over and I’ll take her measurements.”

After having tried pretty much everything he could think of to crack open a leg, as each segment was a single edge-less tube of metal, Pa asked Roq for help. 

With a heavy blow, Roq’s new spike pierced through the metal. 

“Oh! Yum!” Roq said as I pulled him out, a shimmering, semi-solid gel dripping from the wound. “A superior vibrational dampener. Far better than the Ruptureborn marrow. Fill a weapon’s haft with this, and the wielder would feel no impact shock at all. Or, you know, bake me a pie with it. It’s delicious!”

Pa moved to the head, examining the serrated mandibles. “These look strong enough to shear rock. I’ll talk to the foreman and see if he’s interested in a four-man monster saw for the lumber yard.” 

He then pointed to the eyes which up close looked like complex crystal lattices. 

“If we extract these carefully, it could be a powerful focus for a mage’s staff.” 

“Save one for me,” I said. “As a gift.”

“For who?” Pa asked.

“I’ll let you know.”

Finally, he moved to the chest cavity, going in from the bottom. 

After a while of rooting around, he dropped a protected pouch to the ground. He cut it open, and a clutch of smaller, unhatched eggs rolled out.

“Riftrot,” Pa muttered, his face grim. 

“Omelets!” Roq said excitedly.

“Don’t let them hatch here,” Edwin warned.

Pa then continued deeper into the beast’s chest, until all I saw was the sole of his boots. 

“Hah!” he finally called, his words muted. Slowly, reverently, he climbed out, and I helped him hop down. 

He glanced between Edwin and me and grinned. 

“What did you find, Pa?” I asked.

With a flourish, Pa pulled a large, flawless, deep blue crystal from his spatial storage. “A Mage’s Class Gem. Looks like Nabeeh or the new girl is getting lucky.”

Edwin let out a low whistle. 

“That was one clever purchase, Ash. Very clever, indeed.”

“Pfft,” Roq said. “I told him there was a class gem in there.”

I just grinned and shrugged at Edwin, who laughed and shook his head in disbelief.