W-well, I have to gather some materials for practicing my craft.” Nik said as he listed his quest requirements. “I’ve been told there are a few places to find the types of wood I need, there’s a f-flower that grows in the forest used as a catalyst, but there’s only one place to get i-iron.
My mentor said there’s a mine, but wouldn’t tell me where it is. He said I couldn’t handle it by myself.” Nik told me, looking at his feet for the last bit. I really need to help him with his confidence.
Well, you’ve got me now, man. Let’s go talk to your teacher. Where is he?”
Mayor’s house.”
He lives with the mayor?”
He is
Well, let’s go talk to the mayor!” I said with a grin and walked off. Nik struggled with what to say before realizing I was leaving him behind, so he sprinted to catch up.
Nik! How are you my boy? Oh, and I see you brought a companion!” the Gnome much everything
Poppil, this is my new friend Jack. He’s agreed to help me with my Artificer quest!” Nik said, rather proudly. Poor guy must not make lots of friends.
Hello, Poppil. It’s a pleasure to meet you. Nik said something about a mine? If I had to guess, it has a monster problem that needs cleared up. That’s why you didn’t want Nik to go alone, right?”
why
So, what individually-weak-but-dangerous-in-large-numbers type of monster are we expecting?” That earned me a big, toothy grin.
Kobolds, my boy! Place is overrun with them! We haven’t been able to mine proper in years! If you’d...thin the herd, so to speak, I’d greatly appreciate it. Usually clearing out the first level of the mine buys us some time to be able to go in and mine for a bit before they have enough numbers to take it back.”
Quest Updated:
Rogue 3
Mayor Poppil has asked you to protect the Adventurer Nik while he gathers materials for crafting. Kobolds sound like good target practice, too! Clear the top floor for Poppil for an extra reward!
Would you actually do that? We were all under the impression that you Adventurer folks might do a small favor or two before moving on to a bigger city! To answer your question, though, if you could
Hidden Quest Discovered:
Miner Threat
Objective: Clear all Kobolds and Claim the Mine!
Reward: Gnometheran Iron Mine, The Respect of the Gnomes, More Complicated Tax Forms
Note: As a Hidden Quest, you cannot accept or refuse. Not completing the Quest will not have a directly negative impact on your character.
Alfred, did my eyes turn into dollar signs just now?
No, sir.”
Did I tap my fingertips together menacingly?
No, sir.”
Good. Also, call me paranoid but “directly negative” seems ominous. And one more thing...tax forms?
That merely means that this won’t effect Main Quests, Side Quests, or faction relationships, sir. It can however cause one to lose access to additional Hidden Quests or rewards. Regarding forms, I should first remind you there is no revenue service within the realms. Secondly, the system seems to be “lightening up,” as it were. It can tweak interfaces and notifications based on player personality and choices. I can request it be toned down if you wish.”
How can you request that the- You know what, never mind. And no, it’s fine. If it’s trying to be funny, it could use the practice.
Quest Updated: Rogue 3
Additional Objective: Reach Level 5
Note: Maybe you could use the practice.The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.
OK, I deserved that I suppose.
Yes you did, sir.”
Sounds like it’s mutually beneficial to clean the whole thing out and take back the mine. How do you know they won’t simply resp...come back?” Oops. I figurefeel
Well, lad, as long as it isn’t a proper dungeon, once they’re gone, they’re gone. Only a dungeon can refill itself with monsters if they’re completely wiped out.” Good to know.
Alright then. If you’d be so kind as to mark the mine location on a map or something, we’ll be on our way!”
Wait. Alfred, how much gold do I have?
None, sir.”
Well...fuck.
“normal
“
“
beginning
“think
know Got him.
“
very closely
Well, 3 pickaxes for 5g. If I clear the mine, I pay you the 10g you discount me. If we choose not to, we’ll return the pickaxes back to you. We also need rations and we can buy twelve for another 5g. That, we pay you back another 10g for no matter what. You’ll miss out on 17g today, but when we return you’ll get a minimum 10g plus pickaxes you can resell for 15g. So, in three days you’ll have made at least 8g more than if you’d sold these to anyone else.” I did my best to maintain eye contact so that I came across as trustworthy, but I really
New Skill!
Bluff
Level 1
I guess you aren’t technically lying by saying you may or may not do something. Not that there’s a skill called Lying. Don’t you feel a little bad, though?
+1% Chance to keep someone from calling your bluff
Note: There is no charisma stat in The Realms. Social skills like Bluff combine with your own conversational talents and situational factors to determine your success or failure!
New Skill!
Haggle
Level 1
Convincing a merchant to sell you goods at a fraction of the cost so that he would make more money? That’s borderline miraculous!
+1-10% Selling Price
</a> -1-10% Buying Cost
Note: There is no charisma stat in The Realms. Social skills like Haggle combine with your own conversational talents and situational factors to determine your success or failure!
Wait a minute. Why does a gnomish town have full size horses? There’s no way they can ride them, right?
You are correct in that they cannot ride them, sir. However, smaller horses would have great difficulties pulling many of the heavy shipments and devices the gnomes are often required to move.”
Fair enough, I suppose.
Skill Increase!
Bluff
Level 2
You can’t help it can you? “Oh this person sells things. Better tell lies!
+2% Chance to keep someone from calling your bluff
Whew, that is a bit of a predicament. What do you boys need it for anyway?” he believed we were broke, but didn’t trust
Well, sir, we’re hoping to clear the mine out in a couple of days and would like to have the wagon to bring back our spoils and maybe some ingots.” Mention of the mine brought that hopeful look to his eyes that I’d seen before since I got the Hidden Quest. At this point, even if the mine wasn’t about to turn into my cash cow I’d probably still help.
Well, son, I’m afraid I can’t do it for that long for that cheap.” he responded with disappointment. Well, if that’s how he responds, he clearly wants
Skill Increase!
Haggle
Level 2
Oh, now you’ve convinced the stable master to do more work for less money? You should write a book on this...
+2-12% Selling Price
-2-12% Buying Cost