Rencesvals

"They're fucking mobs, Sakata!" Austerlitz flinched like he'd been slapped. He'd just broken his own precious rule and recoiled like he'd taken an actual blow, stumbling to find his footing as he came to a knee. "What does that matter, Ka... Austerlitz." There was no desire or need to strip his friend of his dignity. Better to hand it back to him on a silver platter and salvage the situation. "What does it even mean to be 'people' in a place like this?" "Don't start babbling philosophy at me." Ren just waved off the common counter and pressed his advantage. "How we treat e

A flicker and flash of steel called the black knight's weapon to hand as he spotted several shapes shambling in their direction. Could the raiders have lure Ren out? That would leave only himself and a lame merchant to hold against whatever might assail them. Two figures slammed onto the stone floor at his feet, dressed in the manner of the nomadic tribes of the desert. Their flesh was scourged raw by the storm and both had health bars flashing in the depths of red. Seconds later, Ren stumbled back into the cave holding his head like someone had just blasted him in the ears with a fog hor

Each of them eventually made it back to their feet, the ominous groaning of the maelstrom pounding relentlessly at their shelter from above. Austerlitz had calmed himself, but faced away from the others as if still struggling with the effort. Perhaps he felt shamed by the near loss of control? Ren wondered what toll that sort of thing took on his pride while he stood by the cave mouth, staring out into the sandy sleet scouring away all hints of anything but bare stone beyond. Zamek sat at his side, having found a suitable stone to bear his weight while he struggled to repair his damaged ca

Three figures sprawled into the cave mouth with metallic racket that could have raised the dead. Ren's recollections instantly went back to the time he and his sister knocked over the standing suits of armor at some German castle they were visiting on family vacation. At least there were no peeved curators here to tear a verbal strip out of his hide. Aus was too busy hacking and coughing as steady streams of sand drained out of his visor. Zamek groaned and rolled onto his back, trying to catch his breath. His wispy white hair looked like he'd just blown up a firecracker in front of his ow

What began as a low distant rumble, like thunder on the edge of sleep, soon grew to a menacing maelstrom of whirling death. Like hail before a thunderstorm, waves of sand and grit pelted them from the sky, clanking on their armor like car it was car hoods and hard tops, fist sized chunks of rock clattering painfully off them as they went. Ren couldn't even recall the last time he'd been compelled to wear his helm, preferring to keep it off for better vision. The system treated it as an accessory anyway with no mechanical benefit. Not being able to see finally changed his mind. He'd

"Are you suggesting that we actually head into a sandstorm?" Even in the face of the absurd, Aus remained cool and critically calculating. In moments like these, Ren grudgingly admired the trait. "Do you have any better ideas? Look, there is a cliff face that might offer shelter, maybe even a cave. We should be able to make it before the storm is upon us. You can make it, right Zamek?" It was a long way at a hobble, and the merchant knew the dangers barreling across the landscape towards them. Those winds could scour the flesh of a man. It was like willingly placing yourself in th

Something in the clenching of Karl's jaw set Ren on edge. His hand had never wandered away from his blade, as if expecting danger to manifest any instant. "You've noticed it too, then?" The elder knight gave only a short nod. The occasional scramble of detritus rock was to be expected in this desiccating heat. Every part of this parched land was basically turning to dust. But, that it kept happening from behind them signaled something more sinister. "Eh? What's that?" Zamek, winded just by trying to match their walking pace, struggled behind the rasping wheeze of his own breat

A few stray stands of moisture in the form of waving aerial wisps served as skyward guardians watching over them as they passed beneath the dilapidated stone arch that marked the outskirts of Fortaleza. They, like their paltry cloud companions in the azure field above, were barely noticeable in the vast barren grandeur of the wastelands that stretched in every direction as far as the eye could see. "Let us hope that all this nothingness serves as sufficient camouflage," Austerlitz complained as both their heavy armor clanked and echoed loudly with every move. "Because no one is going

"Move along, old man," came the sterner knight's gruff response, unmoved by the elder's solicitation for charity. Aus didn't even make eye contact with him, clearly deeming it a waste of his time. Ren watched the brief exchange with stoic disappointment. "We'd be happy to help." The interruption earned an irritated and imperious glare from Austerlitz, which Ren just ignored. "What is you need, my friend." Wrinkles came together to form a smile so wide it merged with his bushy white eyebrows to swallow his eyes. "We?" It was more growl than word. "Yes," Ren replied casually

Crafting rolls: R4 Blacksmith (T4 gear max, 5 crafts/day) Ambition Tool (+1 EXP) ID 213052 | CD 9 | T1 Uncommon Polearm (+4 EXP) ID 213053 | CD 2 | Failure (+2 EXP) ID 213054 | CD 9 | T1 Uncommon Polearm (+4 EXP) ID 213055 | CD 11 | T1 Rare Polearm (+6 EXP) ID 213056 | CD 6 | Salvage (LD 1, lose mat, +3 EXP) Cost: 5 materials

Crafting rolls: R4 Blacksmith (T4 gear max, 5 crafts/day) Ambition Tool (+1 EXP) ID 213032 | CD 9 | T1 Uncommon Polearm (+4 EXP) ID 213033 | CD 5 | Salvage (LD | mat lost) (+3 EXP) ID 213034 | CD 7 | T1 Uncommon Polearm (+4 EXP) ID 213035 | CD 9 | T1 Uncommon Polearm (+4 EXP) ID 213036 | CD 9 | T1 Uncommon Polearm (+4 EXP) Cost: 5 materials

House Name: The House of Sublimate Dreams Location: Floor 15, Near the Temple of Kunchen (Safe Zone) Plot Size: Estate (15 room slots, 4 storey max, 3 yard slots) Locate high in the plateaus above Lhasri, the House of Sublimate Dreams serves as sanctuary for travelers who would continue on to the nearby Temple of Kunchen. Built in an exaggerated reflection of the Edo Shinto style, accentuated peaks, high arching timber braces and the occasional intrusion of stained glass give it a sort of hybrid gothic quality. Set in a thick, wide grove of cherry trees that seem to be perpetually i

Harsh grey eyes staring out across a scorching desert wasteland. Austerlitz' figure cut a stark contrast to his surroundings. Clad is pristine, gleaming steel and a crisp black woolen cloak that snapped in the wind as if beckoning for military inspection. He was the very picture of discipline in a rugged and untamable wilderness. Unmoving, or unmovable, his stance exuded discipline and defiance of disorder. Karl's world had always been subject to his authority, even before this nightmare was a thing. Ren had received his message and come as requested, his avatar form reconstituting it

Crafting rolls: R3 Blacksmith (T3 gear max, 4 crafts/day) Ambition Tool (+1 EXP) ID 213017 | CD 2 | Failure (+2 EXP) ID 213018 | CD 2 | Failure (+2 EXP) ID 213019 | CD 2 | Failure (+2 EXP) ID 213020 | CD 5 | Salvage (LD 9 | Lose mat, +3 EXP) Cost: 4 materials Rank 4 Blackmith reached.

"I still don't know how you did it." Mauz has peppered Ren with questions for the entire duration of their descent and return to Athenaia, struggling to comprehend what he'd seen. "You're looking for the wrong solution, Mauz. Everyone who sees him sees only broken and discarded misery. I chose to see potential." Biting down upon a crisp, fresh apple from the market, Ren savored its sweet, cool juicy nectar. "Hephaestus isn't a broken god, you see? He's the unshaped, unrefined material from which all craftmanship is born. It is his nature to invent and make anew. God of the Forge?

Mauz came running in, expecting to find some morbid, tragic scene of failure when the portcullis finally lifted. Seeing Ren standing over the god, a brand new hammer in his hands and thanking Hephaestus for his friendship and tutelage had not been in the realm of possibilities floating through his mind. The workshop itself have been completely remodeled with countless new devices, pipes and wires spread in a web-like lattice from the lame god's throne to every nook and cranny. "It's a steampunk thing," Ren offered, without any further explanation as he grabbed a fresh lantern from atop

The newly minted boiler system churned and bubbled as heat within generated the life-giving vapours that soon filled the network of pipes and valves now sprawled all over the room and connected to every key workstation. Pneumatic and hydraulic controls all linked back to a central core adapted for use by the god's unique physiology. They were ready for their test. "I'm sorry, Hephaestus." The god burbled his confusion. "I'd hoped to find a way to repair your body, but that's a skill beyond my understanding and familiarity. This is all I could think of to try to help you reach for wha

Ren wasn't sure how long it took. In another world, someone might have made a video montage of the whole thing set to a motivational soundtrack with lots of percussion and lens flares. He'd already come up with a plan the moment he walked into the workshop and noticed that absence of a key element to the trade: water. What could easily have been dismissed as the pumping of bellows turned out to be a series of small waterfalls cascading through a secondary cavern nearby. Even Olympus needed a drain. Setting himself to work, Ren gathered his wits and stamina to set about the most ambitious

A deep, wheezing laughter came from the divine mass. "Interesting, but that's not usually how this works. I'm supposed to give you some sort of impossible task to perform, then set you on your merry way with my blessing, should you somehow manage to achieve it." "Then might I make a suggestion: give me a challenge that restores your ability to use your forge and smithy." More pensive wheezing followed. "Huh... not technically against the rules. And Zeus was always about using technicalities to his own benefit. I don't see what we couldn't do the same." A quiver of anticip

"No one special. Just the son of a man with great appreciation for the treasures of the earth and friend to others with a love of history. Does that mean I was correct?" Another low grumble, though Ren couldn't tell whether it implied approval or disappointment. "You are correct," came the reply. He could see the fleshy mass pumping rhythmically - breathing. The lumpy thing that was its head turned and twisted, perhaps to better listen or try to line whatever sight it might possess upon him. "Now, tell me why Zeus has summoned you to my derelict workshop. What tortures has my b

Composing himself, Ren took the advice and stepped forward into the god's workshop, marveling at the fine quality and detailed works on display. "Magnificent..." he mumbled to himself. There was no sign of any occupant, so he permitted himself to wander over to one of several forges and explore. This one was dedicated primarily to smelting, based on the surrounding ores and neat stacks of metal ingots in dozens of varieties. Quite a few were alloys of other metals, produced to the most refined states that he had ever witnessed. "Is that orichalcum? It would make sense by the golden c

"My lord Hephaestus!" Mauz has slipped back into exaggerated pageantry. "I present you with the candidate summoned at Zeus' request for your evaluation: Rencesvals. May he prove worthy of your craft." Ren's eyes were still adjusting to the glow about the chamber, orange and red in hue and stemming from a dozen pools and workstations filled with molten lava. The heat struck like a hammer as soon as they had entered the space. It was both hellish and magnificent all at once. Every corner of the broad, oppressive cavern was filled to the brim with tools, half-finished works, equipment and r

Time lost all meaning as they descended into the labyrinthine tangle of tunnels beneath the mons. Fortunately, Mauz appeared to know where he was going. Ren would have been lost after the first turn, and was already distracting himself by studying the surrounding geology. Notably, patterns and increasing density of mineral ore were growing as they descended. It as like tracing a network of metal veins gradually back to their heart and source. "This is remarkable," Ren observed aloud. "Oh, you noticed! Good for you. Not everyone picks up on that. No one really knows the cause, b

"Who knows the thoughts and dreams of a god, Ren? Especially a broken one. My task is merely to serve as messenger and escort." Mauz' limitations as an NPC were starting to show. This level of compassion and understanding was beyond him. As much as Cardinal's creations had developed nuance and a growing sense of believable identity in the time since the game began, it was still just a sophisticated veneer. This challenge, too, was just another facet of the same system. "Alright," Ren decided. "Let's go in. I think I have an idea." Shrugging, Mauz grabbed a torch from among se

The satyr noted his companion's hesitation. "There is nothing to... okay, well, there is relatively little to fear," he corrected, trying to assuage Ren's perceived concerns. "What? No, that's not the issue. How do I address someone who's been treated so badly by his peers?" Thinking back to the dynamics between his own friends group, there was no true outsider. Everyone had always been encouraged to participate and belong. It was what had made the social circle work, at least to the extent that it did. Things weren't always perfect, but people worked out their issues and found