The incubation box took up four spaces in her inventory and SJ was so happy she had spent the gold on the bags of holding. Walking back to Isavil's, Jay had arrived with the large wagon and between him and Zigferd, they were loading it.
"Did you get sorted?" Zigferd asked, wiping his hands on his bottoms.
"Yes. All sorted," SJ said, removing the incubation box from her inventory.
"Wow. That looks amazing," Jay said, jumping down from the wagon.
"It does," Isavil agreed.
"Are you finished?" SJ asked.
"For now, until my darling wife decides she wishes to take the house with us."
"I can if you like?" Isavil smirked.
Zigferd rolled his eyes, sighing, shaking his head in disbelief. Jay and SJ laughed at Zigferd's reaction, which received a glare from Isavil.
"Jay. Do you know a smithy named Daek?" SJ asked.
"Aye. He works in District 8."
"Do you mind showing me where it is?"
"No problem. I must return the horses to the stable, so I will bring the cart back."
"Great, thanks."
It didn't take Jay long to return with his usual cart and horse, and they soon traversed the inner city streets and headed towards District 8.
"The lads haven't seen her yet," Jay said.
"She is probably in hiding," SJ said.
"Well, if she is seen on the streets, I will find out, I am pretty sure."
As they moved down the streets, SJ could see all around her, and she knew Dave was also monitoring for any signs of Raceillia. Her adjusted vision gave her a level of comfort she had never realised she would be so grateful for. The welcoming sound of a smithy could be heard long before they reached Daek's. The metallic banging felt homely, reminding SJ of Zej working at his forge. There were various smithies in Asterfal, but this was the first she had visited.
"I'll wait," Jay said.
SJ jumped from the cart and entered the open area where a large forge was blazing. Flames licked around its entrance, and Daek stood twisting metal with tongues. He removed the glowing metal from the fire, placing it on an anvil before hammering it into shape. Once happy with his work, he plunged the still glowing metal into a water tank, creating a cloud of steam as the metal hissed and cooled.
"Hi, Daek," SJ said once he had put the metal down.
"Hello," the dwarf grinned at seeing her. "I assume you are here to look at what claws I may have?"
"I am, and darts."
"Excellent. Follow me then, and I can show you what I have." Daek moved to the rear of the forge, where a door led into an adjoining building. As SJ entered, she was amazed at the content of Daek's shop. Hanging around the walls were various weapons on display, and racks of swords and axes filled the shop floor. Zej's forge in Killic had contained armour, mainly compared to Daek's.
"I don't usually keep claws on display," Daek said, winking. Behind the counter was a large chest, and Daek bent down and began searching through it. "Right then. What's your price range so I know where to start? "
"They have to be better than my current blades," SJ said.
"Do you mind if I see them?"
SJ called her claws to her hands and removed them, placing them on the counter for Daek to inspect. As he turned them in his hands, he nodded in appreciation. "These are a decent set, rare as well. With that bleed effect, it makes them potent for claws that have no level boundary."
"They have served me well since I came to Amathera, but I need to upgrade them now."
"Are you after a similar style of claw? With the hook like these, or would you prefer straight claws?"
Not having considered differing variants, SJ gave it some thought before answering, "I think straight maybe be better rather than hooked. With my fighting style, most of my punches are straight rather than tearing."
"Well, all claws have a slight hook to them, but the hook on this set is quite pronounced. What spread do you want?"
"Spread?" SJ asked, confused.
"Do you want the blades straight or designed so that they splay out from your fist?"
"Straight, I suppose."
"Length of blade?"
There was so much to consider just in the claw style. Her Badger Blades were not very long, and longer blades would help with the reach, but they may also be harder to control as easily for accuracy.
"I think a similar length, maybe slightly longer, but not much."
"Ok. Right then, let's see what I have available." Daek rummaged through the chest, muttering to himself as he did until he placed different claws on the counter. "Right then. This is my current selection that fits your needs."
There were five claws on the counter, each varying in style and design. Three of the five were three-blade designs, while two had four blades. Each of the blades was approximately eight inches. These were all slightly longer than the claws she had been wearing until now.
"Before I look at them and get excited, what are their price ranges?"
Daek smirked. "Let me see now. The cheapest set here will be 4 gold, 65 silver, 32 copper, and the most expensive set will be 48 gold, 23 silver, 99 copper."
The prices of the claws were astronomical, considering the prices of basic weapons. SJ wasn't sure if the prices were fair or not. Until she looked at them, Dave wouldn't even be able to guide her. "Are they in any order?"
Daek changed where they lay on the counter. Pointing at the pair on SJ's left, he said. "These are the cheapest. Then they go up in price range."
If needed, SJ could afford the claws for 48 gold. "Would you accept my blades as a trade?"
"I could do that, but I suggest you sell them at auction. Rare weapons that can be used at such a low level will probably get a lot more attention than I will offer you for them."
SJ checked the statistics of her Badger's Blades before she picked up the first set.
The Badger’s Blades +3
Quality - Rare
Damage - 5 - 9 +3
Special - 10% chance of bleed effect
The set on the left was basic claws, and after reading their statistics, SJ immediately asked Dave a question: 'I didn't realise that weapons have level use restrictions. It's the first time I have seen the level listed.'
"I'm sorry SJ. I thought I had told you before. Yes, as you can see, weapons have level restrictions against them. I bet a couple of these sets are out of your level boundary. I should have mentioned it. It is no different from your different armour variants as you level."
SJ picked up each set of claws and checked their details. Dave described the first three sets as basic claws.
Claws +3
Level Requirement - Above 5
Quality - Good
Damage - 9 - 13 +3
Enchantment Slots - One
Claws +5
Level Requirement - Above 10
Quality - Good
Damage - 12 - 14 +5
Enchantment Slots - One
Claws +7
Level Requirement - Above 15
Quality - Good
Damage - 14 - 19 +7
Enchantment Slots - Three
When SJ picked up the fourth set, Dave began chatting. "Now, they are a nice set of claws. The damage bonus by itself is nothing special. There are +20 damage variants out there. What makes those special is that ability. All named weapons are better. You can also see their rare quality. It's a shame they are level 20."
Claws of Puncturing +8
Level Requirement - Above 20
Quality - Epic
Damage - 13 - 20 +8
Enchantment Slots - Two
Special - Armour holds no bounds for these claws. They will pierce even the strongest metals.
As SJ reached for the final set of claws on display, knowing the last set had been level 20 and up, she wasn't expecting that she could use them. Dave whistled in her ear.
Wolf Blades +17
Level Requirement - Above 30
Quality - Mythic
Damage - 29 - 35 +17
Enchantment Slots - Four
Special - Wolves are renowned for their sharp claws. These claws will even cut into granite. Warning - Don't pick your nose with them.
"They are awesome," Dave said. "Having the ability to cut into stone with them. That pretty much means they will cut through virtually anything."
"These last two sets are above my level," SJ said.
Daek looked at SJ, slapping his hand on his forehead. "I am so stupid. I didn't even ask you what your level was. I am guessing less than twenty then."
"Yes. I am 19 currently."
"Bah, I'm sorry. Okay, okay, let me think. I know you said you wanted straight claws slightly longer than yours, but I have other sets of different lengths and styles that may suit you. Would you like to see them?"
"I wasn't aware of level limits on weapons until now," SJ flushed. "If you just show me what you have up to level 20, that would be great. I am only stating the size and design due to what I had with my current claws. I really am not an expert."
Daek's eyes opened cheerily at the comment. "Well then, let me show you all the different variants there are then." After returning the two sets above level 20 to the chest, Daek again rummaged through it before placing three new ones on the surface. Each had differing designs.
The first set had four much shorter blades, only about two inches, and SJ thought they looked more like knuckle dusters than claws. The second set was about eight inches with three blades, each wickedly curved, but the third set he placed on the counter drew her attention. They comprised only two blades, each of which was eighteen inches. At their base, they joined with a v-shape that ended with a slot between them. They weren't perfectly straight and splayed ever so slightly, but still no wider than her wrist. These blades also continued down the rear of the glove, protecting the back of the hand, meaning that her wrist would remain straight because of the added support. What drew SJ to them more than anything was the colour. They were pure black appearing to absorb the surrounding light.
"They are so long, and the colour," SJ said.
"These beauties are one of my best ever creations," Daek proudly said.
Not even considering the other two pairs, she picked one of them up to identify.
Paws of the Nightwalker +6
Level Requirement - Above 15
Quality - Mythic
Damage - 18 - 20 +6
Enchantment Slots - Three
Special:
Blade break: These claws may catch a foe's blade and, in doing so, have a 3% chance to snap the blade with a wrist twist.
Absorption: Nightwalkers are known for performing sneak attacks. These blades absorb light and sound.
SJ stared at the claws in amazement. They were beautiful. Their damage was not as high as some others, and they were much longer than what she was used to using, but the design of them and the guard that ran down the rear of the gloves as well, never mind with two special abilities.
'Dave?' SJ thought.
"Haven't you bought them yet?"
"How much?" SJ asked.
Scrunching his face up, Daek looked at the claws for several moments. "I could let them go for 42 gold, 73 silver, 13 copper."
The price was nearly as high as the +17 wolf blades, but with two abilities and three enchantment slots, and the difference in damage compared to her current claws was huge. SJ could imagine how easily some of her previous battles would have gone with increased damage. Several of her fights when she had been levelling had been long and drawn out, which, for an assassin, was never a good thing. Although her hit points were above average for her level and class, assassins were not supposed to withstand consistent damage. These would make a massive difference to her fighting prowess, especially for initial sneak attacks and critical blows where damage multipliers came into effect. Not that she still understood all the calculations behind the damage tables.
"Twenty," SJ said.
Daek gulped, eyes open in shock at her comment. "Twenty?" He started shaking his head. "No, no, no, no, no. You can't be serious about offering twenty gold for such a set as these."
"Give me a price I will accept, then."
Furrowing his brow, scratching his beard and muttering to himself, Daek contemplated. It took him a while before he replied again. "38 gold, 21 silver, 74 copper."
"Still too high," SJ said without hesitation, smiling at Daek. She swore she could see a bead of sweat on Daek's brow.
"They are worth what he quoted you initially," Dave said. "You could walk into an auction house, drop them on the market and leave, and I bet they would make more."
'They may be, but it's about time I used my charm.'
"What charm?"
'My 9/10 charm.'
Dave scoffed. "I wish I had never said that."
SJ laughed at Dave through thought as she awaited Daek's next offer.
"35 gold, 79 silver, 67 copper, and I can't go any lower," Daek said, shaking his head.
SJ stood with her hand resting on her chin, tapping her lips with her finger as though deep in thought. "Deal," she said.
Deak exhaled deeply. He must have been holding his breath. "Thank the dwarven gods. You strike a hard bargain."
SJ removed the coin from her inventory and placed it on the counter. "So, what darts do you have?"
Daek's initial persona returned now that the claw deal was concluded, and he replied jovially, almost bouncing. "All my darts are on display, just over there." He pointed at a shelf containing trays.
The shelves contained various dart designs. Some designs on the shelves had feathers, while others had arrowheads. She knew that not all darts could be reused and most over time required replacing because they were semi-disposable. The only variance she could see was damage related, and that depended on their level and quality. The set she chose was like the style she had trained with. They looked like pencils in design and again she selected black ones.
Darts
Level Requirement - Above 15
Quality - Good
Damage - 6 - 7
The basic darts she had could only do 1 to 3 damage, so they were a significant upgrade. Not that she had used them yet during a fight. She bought thirty of them for twenty-seven silver. This time not bartering with Daek, as the prices were clearly stated above each tray on the shelf. With an offer showing buy nine, get the tenth free.
Her new claws were moved to her primary weapon slot on her character sheet, and she retired her badger blades to her inventory. They had done her wonders since she had arrived. Standing in an open space in the shop, she called the claws to her hands and then pulled them on. As she did, they resized as all items and weapons did. She had to ask Dave about it at some point, but it had become such a natural occurrence with weapons and armour that she had taken it for granted.
The claws felt perfectly balanced, and the blades, although much longer than the badger blades, were exceedingly light. She knocked them together, amazed by the dull, almost silent sound they made. Her previous claws had created the usual clang of metal on metal. SJ smiled as she completed several of the moves she had learned from Jurgen. Daek watched with a raised eyebrow.
"You must be pretty proficient," he said.
"I am getting there."
"Who is your trainer? You have to have had some."
"A friend back in Killic called Jurgen."
"It seems he has taught you well. If you are in the city for a while, I suggest speaking to Garwin Brownstone. He is a trainer for the inner city guard but also teaches private lessons."
"He works for Colonel Crawford?"
"You know the Colonel?"
"I do."
"Well, you may even get a discount for his services then," Daek chuckled.
"Thanks, Daek. When I level, I will come back again to see what else you have."
"I doubt you will need a new set for a while. Those should last you until level 30."
SJ nodded her head in understanding. Returning her claws to her inventory, she thanked Daek again before leaving. Jay was waiting outside, and as she climbed into the cart, she had a huge grin.
"I guess you got what you needed?" he asked.
"I certainly did."
"Where now?"
"I think I should call in at the Griffin." SJ wanted to see Carlito and find out if he had found Raceillia yet.
'I still need to look at enchantments,' she thought.
"Yes. You haven't enchanted anything yet, and knowing that Fran is mainly defensive, it would be best to get some while you are in the city."
'Yeah. After checking with Carlito, I think it will be time to go on another shopping spree.'
