Rencesvals

"Oh! Hello my little friend," Ren was covered in soot and sweat, as usual, his modest clothing signaling the extent of his recent efforts. Simple linen, undyed and now largely stained, the pants were leather and both covered by a thick and practical apron. "It's nice to see you both up this way. Apologies for the lack of comfort and amenities. I can offer you both water if you'd like." Gesturing towards a large pail in the corner, the thing looked like it collected drippings from the vast collection of stalactites clinging to the cavern ceilings around Tomoika. "This shouldn't take very

1. Item Fusion request for NIGHT: (shard and scales sent by NIGHT directly to banker) memorabilia. | [#210658b] | TIER 4 PERFECT STRAIGHT SWORD | ACC, BLD, VAMP-O adjudicator. | [#212589] | TIER 4 DEMONIC STRAIGHT SWORD | ABS ACC, PARA-V, FLN II result: adjudicator. | [#213150] | TIER 4 DEMONIC STRAIGHT SWORD | ABS ACC, VAMP-O, FLN II [desc.]: a dense, black matte sword. it has a separated hilt from the blade, and a thin neck, both made out of glossy steel. black cloth wraps around its handle. there is a small round marble attached to part of its guard. (Note added

Crafting rolls: R5 Blacksmith (T5 gear max, 7 crafts/day - 6 from rank +1 from extended workshop) Ambition Tool (+1 EXP per attempt) Extended Workshop (+2 EXP per attempt) Hephaestus' Hammer (+1 CD) ID 213143 | CD 4+1=5 | Salvage (LD 15 | keep mat) (+5 EXP) ID 213144 | CD 7+1=8 | T2 Uncommon Weapon (1HSS) (+6 EXP) ID 213145 | CD 11+1=12 | T2 Perfect Weapon (1HSS) (+11 EXP) ID 213146 | CD 7+1=8 | T2 Uncommon Weapon (1HSS) (+6 EXP) ID 213147 | CD 10+1=11 | T2 Rare Weapon (1HSS) (+8 EXP) ID 213148 | CD 9+1=10 | T2 Rare Weapon (1HSS) (+8 EXP) ID 213149 | CD 11+1=12 | T2

Crafting rolls: R5 Blacksmith (T5 gear max, 7 crafts/day - 6 from rank +1 from extended workshop) Ambition Tool (+1 EXP per attempt) Extended Workshop (+2 EXP per attempt) Hephaestus' Hammer (+1 CD) ID 213136 | CD 6+1=7 | T2 Uncommon Shield (+6 EXP) ID 213137 | CD 1+1=2 | Failure, lose mat (+4 EXP) ID 213138 | CD 8+1=9 | T2 Uncommon Shield (+6 EXP) ID 213139 | CD 3+1=4 | Salvage (LD 19 | lkeep mat) (+5 EXP) ID 213140 | CD 5+1=6 | Salvage (LD 12 | keep mat) (+5 EXP) ID 213141 | CD 4+1=5 | Salvage (LD 11 | keep mat) (+5 EXP) ID 213142 | CD 10+1=11 | T2 Rare Shield (+8

Crafting rolls: R4 Blacksmith (T4 gear max, 6 crafts/day - 5 from rank +1 from extended workshop) Ambition Tool (+1 EXP per attempt) Extended Workshop (+2 EXP per attempt) Hephaestus' Hammer (+1 CD) ID 213107 | CD 4+1=5 | Salvage (LD 8 | lose mat) (+5 EXP) ID 213108 | CD 5+1=6 | Salvage (LD 11 | keep mat) (+5 EXP) ID 213109 | CD 5+1=6 | Salvage (LD 16 | keep mat) (+5 EXP) ID 213110 | CD 9+1=10 | T1 rare polearm (+8 EXP) ID 213111 | CD 8+1=9 | T1 uncommon polearm (+6 EXP) ID 213112 | CD 12+1=13 | T1 perfect polearm (+11 EXP) Cost: 4 materials Rank5 blacksmith

Crafting rolls: R4 Blacksmith (T4 gear max, 6 crafts/day - 5 from rank +1 from extended workshop) Ambition Tool (+1 EXP per attempt) Extended Workshop (+2 EXP per attempt) Hephaestus' Hammer (+1 CD) ID 213100 | CD 7+1=8 | T1 uncommon rapier (+6 EXP) ID 213101 | CD 4+1=5 | Salvage (LD 6, lose mat, +5 EXP) ID 213102 | CD 10+1=11 | T1 rare rapier (+8 EXP) ID 213103 | CD 2+1=3 | Failure (+4 EXP) ID 213104 | CD 9+1=10 | T1 rare rapier (+8 EXP) ID 213105 | CD 5+1=6 | Salvage (LD 12, keep mat, +5 EXP) Cost: 5 materials

Long shadows stretched across fields of red dust as the sun made its final descent. Overhead, a glimpse of bluish purple flit across the cloudless sky as night swallowed the final vestiges of light. One by one, stars twinkled into existence, emerging from behind deepening indigo to blaze with the light of distant hope. Each was connected to the others by imperceptible, intangible lines like some sort of celestial tapestry. Ren knew something of astronomy, but tossed the mental references aside to soak in the raw wonder in the tapestry weaving itself from darkness overhead. A flutter

A nod amidst doubts. Progress made. "Keep doing what you're doing, Sakata. We need you keeping the best of us alive in this place." Closing his visor without another word, he clenched a crystal looped into his belt. It cracked and burst into swirling blue lights that engulf the dark knight's form. An instant later he was gone. Ren felt the weight on Zamek's hand on his shoulder. "He'll be alright. And thank you, for what you both did today. Not many would have made the time or taken the harder road." Two gentle pats and the clinking of coins in a small purse tossed his way

The swollen red sun was dipping into the horizon by the time they reached the outskirts of Fortaleza, it decrepit archway marking a tangible edge to their safe return. Austerlitz stopped a dozen yards from it and looked back. Had he spotted something? Could it be that the raiders followed them still? "Trouble?" Ren's hand immediately wreathed itself around his sword hilt. He's learned a few valuable lessons himself on this outing, and refused to let himself be caught off guard so readily again. Helm tilting slightly forward in a pensive manner, Aus' had finally reached his conclusio

"What the hell just happened?" Aus' tone revealed genuine confusion. Slapping his visor up to glare confusedly at his companions confirmed it. "We took a chance and it paid off," Ren responded, calmly and rejuvenated by what he had just witnessed. A mob had shown them mercy in return for being shown the same. Could virtue be learned beneath the Cardinal's guise? Was it just a trick of programming - some viable win condition already embedded in a quest? Maybe, but it offered all of them a glimmer of hope and had spared all three of their lives. "This doesn't add up. It must be a

Like ghosts, a dozen men suddenly materialized and surrounded the group, spears and daggers at the ready and dour expressions on their leathery faces. Ren and Aus twisted and whirled, their blades bared to meet these assailants head-on and ready to take down as many as they could in the process. Were these from the same band that trailed them from Fortaleza? It seemed likely, though impossible to know for certain, until one familiar face appeared as a flap of fabric fell from his shoulders. Bukha. A hiss slipped through Aus' clenched lips, seething at the revelation and for having trus

It took less than an hour for Zamek to guide them the rest of the way, the old man's gait accelerating the closer he came to his prize. Slumping to his knees in the thick layered sand deposited by the storm, he nevertheless knew the spot intuitively. Desiccated fragments of wood and iron protruded from the soil like ancient dinosaur bones. Scraps of frayed cloth snapped in the breezy aftermath, somehow having survived the rigors of climate and time. A hollow thunk and tensing of Zamek's shoulders signaled a find. Clawing at the ground with his bare hands, he drew forth a heavy iron lockbo

"Come on. On your feet." Their captive wasn't sure how long they'd been in the cave, but the tireless grinding of wind against stone had finally abated. The desert's fury had been blessedly short, this time, and likely spared them a torturous death by dehydration. "What happens now?" He honestly didn't know and wasn't sure what to expect. His tribe would have drained these men for the water in their veins. Such was the substance of true treasure in these wastelands. "Now we let Fate decide." Ren cut the man's bonds and stepped aside, providing access to the exit. "You'll get

Their prisoner sat quietly, absorbing the exchange between his captors. A distinct devil versus angel aspect could not be denied, except they were armed, not on his shoulders, and bigger than him. Their debate seemed to have reached an impasse. Notably, Ren had never let his gaze waver from the man. He knew that doing so might provoke another escape attempt, which was precisely what Aus wanted. "Maybe you've learned a few things after all." Steel scraped on the stout leather of a scabbard as the danger sat back on its heels. The nomad chose to do the same, reading the room as well

Taking it as a threat, the other raider launched himself forward trying to tackle Austerlitz. Ren kicked his legs out from under him and locked the other captive in place with nothing but a firmly pointed finger and raised eyebrows. Before he could do more, his companion's blade sliced down and shattered the other prisoner into a cloud of shimmering sparkles. Another mob dead. Ren set his jaw but knew that they'd been left with little choice. "Don't throw your life away so casually," he cautioned the lone remaining prisoner, who merely nodded slowly without moving a muscle. The point

Raging unabated, the trio sat in silence watching the shimmering red haze of the sun slowly sneak its way across the hidden sky. One of the prisoners finally groaned, breaking the epic monotony. Ren moved to offer him some water. His wineskin wouldn't last long, split between them, but it was the decent thing to do. Swallowing and offering muttered thanks, the raider switched to confusion as he took in his surroundings. Being alive and in these circumstances had never been in the cards, as far as he was concerned. "Who are you? What do you want from us?" Cautious and hesitant, he loo

"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