V1C 8: Morning Star.
1265 Words
Falburg, over 700 miles from the capital city of Rhine, is a large city with a population of 200,000.
Its strategic location makes it a secondary military stronghold on the western border of the Rhine Alliance, also serving to block demons from the rich Pas plains.
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Falburg is surrounded by flat land, with the Pas River flowing around it.
The Demon Forest lies about a hundred miles to the south, making Falburg a crucial supply base for adventurers and monster hunters.
The Demon Forest, nearly as large as the entire Rhine Alliance and bordered by the Pyrenees Mountains to the west, the sea to the south, and covering the entire Red Rock Peninsula to the east, spans nearly one million square kilometers.
The forest's edge, with few large monsters and several trade routes passing through, also becomes a haven for thieves and bandits.
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The "Hammer of War" weapon workshop has been open for a month.
Named for its dwarven craftsmanship flair, it now indeed hosts a dwarf craftsman, Gim, and his four apprentices.
Located in a three-story building in Falburg's busiest district, the ground floor serves as the weapon shop, the second as an adventurer's haven, and the third, intended by Fess for a lab but opposed by everyone, is now a VIP room for major clients, showcasing Fess's masterpieces.
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Not far from the "Hammer of War," Rog's usual haunt doubles as Fess's workshop and lab.
The largest lab, over 200 square meters, is marked with a complex and huge magical circle, with colorful halos twinkling within.
The circle emits cyan and white magical flames, heating steel knight armor pieces forged by Gim to a glowing red.
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Fess carefully places a magical silver rune on an armor piece, which is then firmly welded by a flame.
Rog passes a small bottle of mature bipedal dragon blood, known for its ferocity, agility, and decent magical protection.
The dragon's body parts serve as magical materials, its blood slightly enhancing magical defense.
Magical silver, valued for its flexibility and excellent magical absorption, is a crucial component in magical tools, albeit expensive.
A piece of magical silver typically costs about ten times its weight in gold.
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As the blue dragon blood is absorbed by the armor, it glows with a soft blue fluorescence.
Rog returns the pieces to the magical flame.
After processing, Fess chants towards the flame, summoning a pair of light blue wings that spiral around the flame, accelerating until a burst of fire expands, blocked by a barrier on the ceiling.
The storm subsides quickly, leaving behind blue-tinged armor pieces, now 60% lighter due to constant wind magic support.
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At Rog's request, each piece is further adorned with a bit of mithril, with Fess adding a simple illumination spell, making the armor semi-transparent with a light blue hue and the mithril runes glowing azure.
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"Hehe, much prettier now.
Gim, just in time, I was looking for you.
Turn these pieces into a half-body knight armor, yes, in the style of this year's popular Paladin armor.
Use gold for the chainmail connections and add some gold decorations along the edges.
Call Franko over; he has a knack for art!" Rog exclaims with delight.
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Gim, however, is unimpressed: "That won't do! The chainmail should be wrapped in superior steel wire! Armor's primary purpose is protection! Protection!! I don't want to tarnish my reputation. “
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"Then wrap the steel wire in gold thread! That should work, right? In any case, cover all chainmail in gold! This armor is all about the money! Adding this gold layer, you've got your ale for the next ten years! Tell Lens to pick out a cloak that matches this armor, only the best! Gim, I need this done by the day after tomorrow! No ale for you until I see the armor! Call it the Crystal Blue Armor, though let's not engrave the name yet; let the customer choose it.
Ten gold per letter. “
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Muttering, Gim carries the armor downstairs, torn between conscience and ale, cursing, "Vampire! Man-eating pig! Miser! Dragon in human form!".
Rog insists on selling high-quality, high-priced products, with a solid rationale: "Those who can afford these don't care about the cost! As long as it's good, the price doesn't matter.
Who are our best customers? Not the knowledgeable, wealthy adventurers, but those rich nobles with money to burn, like Lens.
No hitting! Why not take their money? We don't sell what's right, only what's expensive. “
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Rog's armors focus on appearance and impractical gimmicks, like the Crystal Blue Armor, light as heavy leather armor with decent physical and magical defense but premium magic armor.
The integrated illumination spell merely gives it a semi-transparent crystal effect, attractive yet useless.
Franko.
's decorations add weight without aiding battle.
Yet Rog claims, "It's what true Paladins should wear.
Real Paladins wouldn't, but we target those nobles dreaming of knighthood, not true adventurers.
They'll wear it hunting, making style and taste paramount, impressing naive maidens as heroes.
Hammer of War aims not to be a major arms dealer but a noble brand like Purple Angel Jewels or Shangri-La Springs. “
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Speechless, the crew now understands why Rog's nicknamed "Vampire. “
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The "Hammer of War" flourishes quickly, selling a knight's longsword, lance, and a set of heavy armor (Fess's total output) in a month, recouping the 10,000 gold investment and earning 3,000 gold profit.
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The afternoon sun lazily glints off the serene Pas River, with knights casually patrolling the bank.
Leading them in dark green armor is Kate, boasting about his dark elf knight armor, soaked in elf blood and enchanted for defense, especially against dark magic.
Welcomed by Lord Wennington, Kate commands a skirmish cavalry squad, bridging heavy and light cavalry, dubbed "axe-lance cavalry" for their versatile weapon choice.
Skirmishers patrol around Falburg, engaging small enemy groups or reporting larger forces, though Falburg has seen peace for decades.
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Two months in Falburg, this is Kate's third patrol, enjoying the idyllic scenery but lamenting the lack of bandit encounters.
Deciding to return, the squadron heads back, reflecting the peaceful days of Falburg's 7,000-strong knight order, including 2,000 cavalry and 4,000 infantry, with combat effectiveness dulled by peaceful times.
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Rog and co.
adapt to Falburg, exploring local entertainment and occasionally clashing with adventurers.
Backed by Lord Wennington and not fearing enemies, their magical gear, especially the Crystal Blue Armor sold for 10,000 gold to a duke's son, boosts "Hammer of War's" fame.
Rog, seeing the dwarves' idle hands, persuades them to craft non-magical gear, quickly selling out.
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In the workshop's third floor, Rog debates with a group of adventurers over trade goods, including two pounds of magical silver and a high-grade star gold ore, essential for space magic-related artifacts.
The adventurers, impressed by the exquisite craftsmanship (a hallmark of "Hammer of War"), fixate on a magical bow and a bracelet enhancing magical power, showcasing the team's craftsmanship, artistic taste, and understanding of human desires.
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After intense bargaining, including half-body armors, longswords, and piercing arrows, the deal concludes, with the red feather also becoming Rog's trophy.
Despite high prices, Rog's goods justify their cost, mainly profiting from buying adventurers' loot cheaply, especially the priceless star gold ore.
The red feather's unknown value suggests greater wealth.
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Rog now understands the adage "No gain without risk. “
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As the adventurers leave, new guests arrive, led by a man revealing golden hair and a radiant smile, introducing himself as Orphelock von Wilhelm, brightening the room and intriguing Rog.
- Writer
