[F01|SP] Return to the Forge | <<Earning a Living: Blacksmith>>

[Nari-Lanreth 0]

Earning a Living: Blacksmith

Crispness covered the air. A crispness that was always present on this floor, and one that Nari had come to enjoy this time of the year. It reminded her, in many ways, of the autumns she would stroll through without a second thought, before she had been trapped away from it all. Now, all she had were the faint memories that seemed to be fading with every passing day. She wasn’t sure how long she’d been here, though it had felt like an eternity since the first day; the day when they had been told that this would be their new lives. The day that had left their world in a measure of madness that seemed to hover over their continued existence, ever present and going nowhere.

’I don’t even remember how long ago…’ Her voice was soft, and carried a small cloud that seemed to shift and disappear before her – a near perfect rendition of a true autumn day’s air. Though, this one carried a slightly heavier measure of despair to Nari’s eyes, and she found herself willing it hadn’t occurred to begin with.

Turning away from the railing she had paused at in order to glance upon the streets below, Nari returned to the warmth of the interior of her home – her eyes passing over the forms of Mio and Onora, the sunken pocket containing the small weasel that was Onora’s own familiar shifting slightly at the change in presence. She settled across from the trio of housemates that she called family now, leaning back and resting her head against the back of the couch. The piece was uncomfortable, to say the least, a recent addition that Onora had installed for reasons Nari could only guess at, though she had an inclination it was designed to encourage her to leave the area abruptly.

’You should do something. You’ve sat around for far too long.’ The words came out as if to confirm what Nari had been thinking – a habit that Onora had, which Nari still hadn’t come to terms with or gotten used to in the time she’d known the woman. The scowl on her face only brought about a harsher response, the original soft and kind tone replaced by one that was almost berating.

’There was a time when you strove to get somewhere, and now as of late you just spend your time here. Don’t get me wrong-’ The berating tone softened once more, her expression relaxing as she continued speaking. ’I’m more than happy to have you around more, and to know that I don’t have to worry as much. Though my worry has shifted over the last while. You’re losing yourself, and your purpose.’

---

 

Nari-Lanreth | Lv. 35 | P. 62 | HP [1,000/1,000] | EN [112/112] | ACC [3] | DMG [9] | MIT [224] | F.AURA [16 DMG] B.Healing [+55] | STEALTH [-5] |  FRSTBT [40 DMG | -1 ACC] | THORNS [72] | PARA [8+] | HM [+4 B.DMG]   Hide contents Notes  [Theme] Tier 4 | Tier 12 [Laurel Wreath] Equipment Póg Deiridh [One-Handed Assault Spear | Tier 4] Enhancement: Frostbite [2 Slots] Enhancement: Accuracy [2 Slots] Glacadh Morríghan [H. Armour| Tier 4]  Enhancement: Frost Aura [2 Slots] Enhancement: Heavy Momentum [1 Slot]  [coPóg an Gheimhridh [Heater Shield| Tier 4] Enhancement: Paralyse [1 Slot] Enhancement: Taunt [1 Slot] Enhancement: Thorns [2 Slots] Battle-Ready Inventory Dimensional Backpack [+1 Battle-Ready Inventory] Teleport Crystal {3} [Crystal | Tierless | Post Action to Teleport to nearest Town.] Starter Healing Potion {4} [Potion | Tierless | Heals 50 HP] Siúil a Rún {5} [Support Song | Tier 3 | HP Recovery III] Sí do Mhaimeo Í {2} [Support Song | Tier 4 | Monsters' Fortune I [Instant]]  Níl Sé'n Lá {1} [Support Song | Tier 4 | Monsters' Favour III]  Immolation Potions {10} [Portion | Tier 4 | +40 DMG] Skills   Hide contents Utility Skills N/A Combat Skills Battle Healing [Rank: 5. Active: Passive. Effect: While in combat, recover 1% per rank of your maximum HP (rounded down) at the beginning of your turn.] Fighting Spirit [Active: Passive. Effect: Attacking and using Howl or Focused Howl generates +1 additional Hate. (Ex. Generate 1/2/3 Hate on a Miss/Hit/Critical attack. Generate 5 Hate when using Focused Howl.)] Howl [Active: Post Action. Energy: 2 EN. Cooldown: 2 turns. Effect: Adds +2 Hate each against up to 4 targets.] [Howl Add-on] Focused Howl [Active: Post Action. Energy: 4 EN. Cooldown: 4 turns. Effect: Adds +4 Hate against a single target.] Weapon Skills Polearm [Rank: 5. Active: Passive. Effect: +7 DMG] [Rank 5 Weapon Addon] Stamina [Active: Passive. Effect: Reduces EN of all attacks by 2.] [Rank 5 Weapon Addon] Precision [Active: Passive. Effect: Gain +1 ACC.] [Rank 5 Weapon Addon] <<Weapon Type>> Focus [Active: Passive. Effect: Decreases minor critical threshold by 1. Also reduces DoT thresholds by 1. Players cannot use Focus and Ferocity at the same time for the same Weapon Type.] [Rank 5 Shift] TECH Specialist [Active: Passive. Effect: For TECH Sword Arts, +4 to multipliers, +3 to EN cost. No other Shifts may be taken.] Armour Skills Heavy Armour [Rank:5. Active: Passive. Effect: 35 MIT. Evasion is capped at 1 slot; -5 Stealth Rating.] [Heavy Armour Mod] Impetus [Active: Passive. Effect: Gain +1 base Damage.] [Heavy Armour Add-on] Iron Skin [Active: Passive. Effect: Gain +15 Mitigation and +15 x Tier HP.] Active Extra Skills Block [Rank: 5. Active: Passive. Effect: Requires an equipped shield. User’s evasion cannot be greater than 0 (can still be negative). Grants additional mitigation: 25 MIT.] [Rank 3 Block Mod] Shield Bash [Active: Post Action. Energy: 6 EN. Cooldown: 2 Turns. Effect: Make an attack with an equipped shield. On a hit, deals (Base * 10) damage, stuns the enemy for one turn, and applies status and thorns (and variants)  enhancements present on the shield. Note: When calculating Base Damage for Shield Bash, Weapon Skills do not apply.] [Rank 5 Block Add-on] Rampart [Active: Free Action. Energy: 10 EN. Cooldown: 5 Turns. Effect: Reduce final damage that would be dealt to you by 25% (rounded down). Effect lasts until the beginning of your next turn.] Brawler [Active: Free Action. Energy: 5 EN. Cooldown: 5 Turns. Effect: Increase mitigation by 10*tier until the start of your next turn.] Meditation [Active: Post Action. Cooldown: 3 turns. Effect: Recover an additional (4 * Tier) energy.] Survival [Active: Passive. Effect: Increases Healing effects received from all sources by 10%. Grants immunity to all damage dealing environmental attacks/effects.] Inactive Extra Skills  Assault Mode [Active: Free Action. Energy: 5 EN. Cooldown: 4 Turns. Effect:As a free action, switch your accuracy and evasion values until the start of your next turn.] Concentration [Active: Free Action. Cooldown: 5 turns. Effect: As a free action, gain Absolute Accuracy on your next attack. In the case Absolute Accuracy is already present, increase your Accuracy by 1 instead. Effect lasts until the start of next turn.] Frozen Hide [Active: Free Action. Energy: 5 EN. Cooldown: 4 Turns. Effect: As a free action, apply one slot of Frost Aura and one slot of Frost Thorns equal to your tier to yourself until the start of your next turn.] Lady Luck [Active: Free Action. Energy: 5 EN. Cooldown: 5 Turns. Effect: Replace a single enhancement slot on your weapon with a random enhancement using the Appraiser’s Identification roll until the start of your next turn.] Combat Mastery Mitigation [Rank: 3. Active: Passive. Effect: Gain +6*tier Mitigation per rank. Ranks of this Skill obey Mitigation enhancement caps.] Familiar Skills Protector Familiar [Active: Free Action. Cooldown: 3 Posts; Effect: The next time you would take damage, your familiar rushes to your aid, reducing the final damage by 10%.] Sword Arts   Hide contents [x12] ST-I (12 10 EN) | A single-target sword art. [x15] ST-II (15 13 EN) | A powerful single-target sword art. Only available for use when ST-I was used and successfully struck an enemy the previous turn or if ST-II had been used and had missed the previous turn. [x20] ST-B (20 18 EN) | A devastating single-target sword art. Can only be used if the sword art used the previous turn is not ST-B and had rolled a natural CD9+. When performing an AoE attack, use only the first roll. [x11] AOE-I (11 9 + [2 * targets] EN) | AOE | A sword art that strikes multiple targets at once. [x14] AOE-II (14 12 + [2 * targets] EN) | AOE | A powerful sword art that strikes multiple targets at once. Only available for use when AOE-I was used and successfully struck an enemy the previous turn or if AOE-II had been used and had missed the previous turn. [x16] TECH-A (16 14 EN) | STUN | A single-target sword art that stuns an enemy. [x16] TECH-B (15 13 EN) | DELAY | A single-target sword art that, on a successful strike, applies [Delay] on the enemy. [Delay] is a status condition that reduces the enemy’s ACC by 1 for one turn. [x16] TECH-C (15 13 EN) | COUNTER | A single-target sword art that, on a successful strike, places [Counter] around the player. [Counter] reduces the final damage taken by its user by 25% (rounded down) for one turn. [x16] TECH-D (15 13 EN) | SHATTER | A single-target sword art that applies [Shatter] to an enemy for 3 turns. [Shatter] is a debuff that can stack up to a cap of 3. Each stack of [Shatter] removes -20 MIT from an enemy, down to 0, if it has MIT. [x12] TECH-F (11 9 + [2 * targets] EN) | AOE STUN | A sword art that strikes multiple targets at once. All struck targets are stunned for one turn. [x16] TECH-G (15 13 EN) | BURN | A single-target sword art that, on a successful strike, applies [Burn] on the enemy. [Burn] is a DoT ailment that deals [14 * Player Tier] unmitigated Burn damage for 2 turns. Estate Buffs   Hide contents [Home] Bedroom [-1 energy cost for the first two expenditures of each combat.] Living Room [Increases out of combat HP regen by (5 * Tier HP) and decreases full energy regen to 2 Out of Combat Posts.] Storage Closet [+1 Battle Ready Inventory Slot.] Basement [Gain +1 to LD, Stealth Rating, Stealth Detection, or Prosperity to one post in a thread. Can be applied after a roll.] Extended Workshop [+2 Crafting EXP per crafting attempt & +1 crafting attempt per day.] Greenhouse [+2 Gathering EXP per Attempt and additional +1 LD & CD to gathering attempts.]

  

Edited 5 hours ago by Nari-Lanreth

[Nari-Lanreth 0]

Nari didn’t like the truth behind the words, the way in which Onora could simply come out and say something that would normally shake one to their core, leaving them unsettled and possibly upset – and yet somehow looking upon the blonde with a level of thankfulness, or appreciation for the tartness of her words. She shook her head, as if wanting to argue, but true as she was to herself, she instead found herself agreeing with her companion. Words slipped from her instantly; no threats, no arguments, nothing more than a measure of true agreement that Nari realised had been nagging at herself for some while yet.

’Maybe…but what’s the point? I’ve made no progress anywhere important. The world is what it has always been – always will be, if nothing truly changes in the next while. This is…this is what we should get used to, and leave the harsher environments to those who still have a drive to free us.’ Another shift of movement as Nari moved on the couch with discomfort at the conversation, and her own confirmation. Somehow Onora always managed to do this to her – trapping her into admissions that she would otherwise have kept to herself; words that may have been in her mind, but were only pulled into spoken reality thanks to the woman sitting across from her.

A flip of the item being worked on – some sort of knitted piece that Nari couldn’t quite make out yet – was the only answer that came for a few moments. She knew better than to say anything, yet, though. Onora needed time to think upon her words, to provide the perfect response that would be both upsetting, quelling and comfortingly helpful in the moment. They’d spent enough time together that both knew the outcome of this conversation already. In fact, that would have been the only reason that Onora would have brought it up to begin with – knowing when to speak, and what to say were two of her super powers.

’Well, if that’s the case I guess you don’t need to keep all that armour and other gear anymore. If you’re not using it, would you mind if I sold it off – I’ve heard of a few up and coming adventurers who would be more than happy to scavenge and piece together their own equipment from your old things.’ The soft smile that played at the corner of her lips made Nari somehow mad, and yet impressed all at the same time. She sighed in response, knowing that she had been backed into a corner now – agree, and lose that which was most valuable to her as a once upon a time frontliner, or disagree and return to a life that she had left behind. If only temporarily.

[Nari-Lanreth 0]

Moments passed as Nari struggled with a decision that was, in a sense, already made. She could see Onora’s smile breaching the corners of her mouth as time passed further onwards, knowing as well as Nari was that it was an inevitable fight with an inevitable conclusion – one which was saved from being made as the alerts began pouring in, in front of their eyes. Nari glanced over them, ready to swipe them away with annoyance, when she spotted one that made her stop and question her actions.

’…you can collect professions now?’ The other information was thrown from her mind as she saw images of her original forge replaying in her mind. Memories from what felt like aeons ago, reaching out to her and calling to her. Sitting back into the couch, Nari felt her decision shift, if only slightly. She glanced across at Onora, smiling suddenly as she realised what she was about to admit to, and what her plan was to become. ’I’m going to become a blacksmith again.’

The decision had been made suddenly, and Nari felt herself suddenly uncertain as she stepped into the familiar forge that she had entered aeons ago – the smells, heat and sounds coming back to her instantly as the smith behind the work area glanced up in her direction. For a single second, she thought he might actually recognise her, before the man spoke with an almost annoyed tone of voice.

’If you’re in need of equipment, I’m busy. Leave an order on the ben-‘ The hammer had paused, allowing the man to speak up as the silence suddenly took over the shop’s interior. Nari had been expecting the lull in sound, and took advantage of the break to say her piece, cutting the blacksmith off with a sudden injection.

’I’m here to learn, or rather relearn, the art of smithing. Teach me.’ She kept her words condensed, knowing that the non-player character would likely have an entire tangent it would go on given the chance. Not that Nari was going to listen – she simply needed the confirmation, before heading off on the task at hand.

[Nari-Lanreth 0]

’Learn? You want to be a blacksmith? Fine. Bring me the materials to build something, and I’ll teach you the ways.’ Dismissive, abrupt, but more importantly containing no argument like Nari had expected. Either the system had changed more than she expected, or the blacksmith had grown in personality over the many days that had passed. Whatever the reason, she chose not to dwell upon it, instead heading out immediately in a determined stride.

A small wave was all she gave as she passed Merv, the stationary guard same as every other time she’d passed him during the time in Aincrad. He gave a small nod in return – whether an automated response, or one of awareness, she couldn’t say. Not for certain, at least. Though Nari had seen behaviours in the non-player characters that aligned with some level of intellect, of awareness, she had never truly figured out whether they were aware, learning, or if she was simply imparting those desired traits upon them.

The fields opened up before her, and Nari found herself stopping to take in the sight. She’d come here thousands of times now, the entire visage old and well engrained into memory. This is where it all began, and where it continues to be…and that’s saying something. Perhaps…perhaps there’s a future to be found in that, a means of what is to come. Not for me to say, though. Maybe Onora could. She was no philosopher, she was self-aware enough to know that. Guessing, she could do, but there were others who were far more proficient in that area of experience, and Nari knew better than to try and become engaged in something that was outside of her purview and skill set. For now, let’s do some hunting.

She’d considered attempting to gather the simple materials she’d need for the quest – it would take a while, but would be safer for her considering her hiatus from conflict and combat. She’d argued back and forth with herself on the walk over, only to decide that the best way back into the world would be to leap, rather than crawl. Spear and shield in hand, Nari glanced across the fields in consideration, overlooking the weaker creatures that she knew would be no challenge, no degree of determination of her current skills and what needed to be brushed up upon.

She found her targets several metres away, combing the grasses calmly as their snouts and tusks dug into the earth in search of sustenance that they didn’t truly need. Immersed in their meals, they didn’t notice Nari’s approach, the way that her armour rattled and shook with every movement, until she was only a few arm lengths away. Giving up the approach of stealth, she rushed forward and fell into a familiar old battle stance, the spear falling into the small grove atop the shield’s edging, designed to hold the weapon perfectly. Let’s do this.

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Nari-Lanreth | Lv. 35 | P. 62 | HP [999/1,000] | EN [98/112] | ACC [3] | DMG [9] | MIT [224] | F.AURA [16 DMG] B.Healing [+55] | STEALTH [-5] |  FRSTBT [40 DMG | -1 ACC] | THORNS [72] | PARA [8+] | HM [+4 B.DMG] | -1 damage | -14 EN
Boar 1 | HP [420/420] | DMG [140]
Boar 2 | HP [248/420] | DMG [140] | -172 damage | Frostbite [40 DMG | -1 ACC] | Stunned
Boar 3 | HP [312/420] | DMG [140] | -108 damage | Stunned
Boar 4 | HP [312/420] | DMG [140] | -108 damage | Stunned

ID254515 | BD [2+3] = 5 | <<Tech-F vs. Boar 1>> | Miss. | MOB [9] | Minor Critical Hit [{140+2}-224] = 1 damage
ID254516 | BD [10+3] = 13 | <<Tech-F vs. Boar 2>> | Major Critical Hit [{9+2}x12] = 132 damage | Stunned | Frostbite [40 DMG | -1 ACC]
ID254517 | BD [4+3] = 7 | <<Tech-F vs. Boar 3>> | Hit [9x12] = 108 damage | Stunned
ID254518 | BD [1+3] = 4 | <<Tech-F vs. Boar 4>> | Hit [9x12] = 108 damage | Stunned

Edited 5 hours ago by Nari-Lanreth

[Nari-Lanreth 0]

The boars scattered at her approach, moving to the sides in an attempt to pin her down and overwhelm her through their numbers alone. Nari was used to the maneuver, knowing exactly what would come – and that she would have to deal with the brunt of their bodies as they attempted to take away the one thing she had going for her; resolve and resolution. The slamming against her armour left her vibrating slightly, and she almost missed as the thorns erupted from the metal plating to stab into two of the boars in retaliation. It was only once the slamming had departed, leaving the small vibrations of a single creature trying to separate itself from her form, that Nari realised the main assault had ended.

Without hesitation she lashed outwards with the spear, slashing the blade across open air and cutting two of the creatures, before pulling back into her defensive stance. A quick glance confirmed that she’d taken almost no damage – the creatures little in the way of threat towards her form. She knew it would be gruelling, long work, but staying behind the shield and using her defences to her benefit would ensure her continued survival. Digging in, she prepared for another onslaught rush of boar, watching as they circled a few steps away and prepared themselves.

It felt like old times once more as she tensed muscles that hadn’t been used in far too long, their entire existence protesting against the sudden usage they were undergoing. Nari forced herself to focus on the fight, watching the boars as they moved before her, trying hard to ignore the entire aching in her body that was now making its way up her spine. Though their digital forms required no continuous exercise or dietary requirements to stay as fit as they could be, she swore that the time she had been away had left her less prepared for fighting than she would have liked. Her body felt heavy, out of practice and somehow weaker than it had previously been when she’d attended to the combat required to survive in Aincrad.

Readying herself, she watched as the boars suddenly leapt forward, moving to try and slam her again with the brunt of their body and force. She dug herself in slightly more, letting the shield tilt in a way that would deflect the majority of their assault outwards and away from her form, hopefully saving her from more of the vibrations that were going to shake her arms, torso and spine.

---

Nari-Lanreth | Lv. 35 | P. 62 | HP [999/1,000] | EN [85/112] | ACC [3] | DMG [9] | MIT [224] | F.AURA [16 DMG] B.Healing [+55] | STEALTH [-5] |  FRSTBT [40 DMG | -1 ACC] | THORNS [72] | PARA [8+] | HM [+4 B.DMG] | +55 HP | +4 EN | -1 damage | -17 EN
Boar 1 | HP [312/420] | DMG [140] | -108 damage | Stunned
Boar 2 | HP [100/420] | DMG [140] | -148 damage | Frostbite [40 DMG | -1 ACC] | Stun Immunity [1/3]
Boar 3 | HP [192/420] | DMG [140] | -120 damage| Stun Immunity [1/3]
Boar 4 | HP [116/420] | DMG [140] | -196 damage| Stun Immunity [1/3]

ID254520 | BD [3+3] = 6 | <<Tech-F vs. Boar 1>> | Hit [9x12] = 108 damage | Stunned
ID254521 | BD [3+3] = 6 | <<Tech-F vs. Boar 2>> | Hit [9x12] = 108 damage | MOB [5-1] = 4 | Miss | Frostbite [40 DMG | -1 ACC]
ID254522 | BD [9+3] = 14 | <<Tech-F vs. Boar 3>> | Minor Critical Hit [{9+1}x12] = 120 damage | MOB [4] | Miss
ID254523 | BD [8+3] = 11 | <<Tech-F vs. Boar 4>> | Hit [9x12] = 108 damage | MOB [6] | Hit [140-224] = 1 damage | Thorns [72] | F.Aura [16]

Edited 5 hours ago by Nari-Lanreth

[Nari-Lanreth 0]

Their assault was weaker this time, the boars seemingly aware of the danger of simply smashing into her defences. Nari felt as each of their tusks attempted to pry the shield away, their success limited and opening them up to retaliatory stabs that she dished out without a second thought. Each movement, each second that the fight continued, more and more of her tactical nature returned to her and she quickly found herself falling into a momentum of steps that saw her pulling the boars in, only to hurt them when they reached her. She knew it wouldn’t take long for her to overcome their assault, to break through and finish them off. Already a number of them were looking worse for wear, limping slightly as they shifted and turned on the spot.

Have pity for them, it’s not their fault they’re in this situation. Nari took no gratification in her success, a small part of her abhorred by the way in which she could simply walk through and butcher these creatures that were nothing more than forced servants to a deadly requirement. There was no pleasure to be had, as she watched her spear tearing away what little amount of solitude and life they may have had – until her arrival. It was a sickening realisation, once more, about how Aincrad and the Cardinal system corrupted things – and why it needed to be brought to an end.

There’s so much darkness in this world, if you look into the cracks of space and time. So much horror and despair, even in the best of moments. It can truly overwhelm and overtake you, if you’re not careful. Even as she stabbed out, she thought back to a phrase that Onora had told her once; an idea, or thought that had come to the woman one evening as they had been relaxing. Aincrad is filled with so much that can drive an individual mad, it’s a wonder that any remain sane at all. As Nari faced down the boars, she thought about it now – thought about everything she had done, and knew what she would still do in order to survive. As she stabbed outwards again, she realised that she would have to put aside the parts of her that were scarred and destroyed by this digital world, in order to become something harder. Like the steel in a forge, I’ll have to reshape and reform myself to survive…lest the heat of the hearth destroys that within and leaves nothing but shattered pieces behind.

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Nari-Lanreth | Lv. 35 | P. 62 | HP [1,000/1,000] | EN [72/112] | ACC [3] | DMG [9] | MIT [224] | F.AURA [16 DMG] B.Healing [+55] | STEALTH [-5] |  FRSTBT [40 DMG | -1 ACC] | THORNS [72] | PARA [8+] | HM [+4 B.DMG] | +55 HP | +4 EN | -17 EN
Boar 1 | HP [192/420] | DMG [140] | -120 damage | Stun Immunity [1/3]
Boar 2 | HP [0/420] | DMG [140] | -108 damage | Stun Immunity [2/3]
Boar 3 | HP [72/420] | DMG [140] | -120 damage| Stun Immunity [2/3]
Boar 4 | HP [0/420] | DMG [140] | -132 damage| Stun Immunity [2/3]

ID254524 | BD [9+3] = 6 | <<Tech-F vs. Boar 1>> | Minor Critical Hit [{9+1}x12] = 120 damage | MOB [3] | Miss
ID254525 | BD [6+3] = 6 | <<Tech-F vs. Boar 2>> | Hit [9x12] = 108 damage | Boar 2 destroyed
ID254526 | BD [8+3] = 14 | <<Tech-F vs. Boar 3>> | Minor Critical Hit [{9+1}x12] = 120 damage | MOB [4] | Miss
ID254527 | BD [10+3] = 11 | <<Tech-F vs. Boar 4>> | Major Critical Hit [{9+2}x12] = 132 damage | Boar 4 destroyed

Spoiler

Loot Rolls
ID254528 | LD [12] | CD [10] | Loot: 3,780 {1,260 [HP*3]+1,680[LD/CD]+840[TBL]} col, Rare Armour/Shield {1}
ID254529 |  LD [14] | CD [1] | Loot: 2,100 {1,260 [HP*3]+840[LD]+} col, 2 materials, Rare Trinket {1}

Loot
5,880 col
2 materials
Rare Armour/Shield {1} | ID254528
Rare Trinket {1} | ID254529

 

Edited 4 hours ago by Nari-Lanreth