Chapter One, New Order

Alderon’s unconscious nod caused Vampire Ezra to reveal a surprised expression. His young face (that had taken the form of a human male, albeit not so very human-looking with two protruding, white teeth that were curved like western daggers) brightened up and looked at Alderon from a different perspective.

“You can actually understand what I’m saying,” said Ezra. “I thought I’d have to drag you out of the forge, but it seems you are a variant – lowly -- but special indeed. Come, let me take you to our master, he’s been expecting you since your weapons were delivered. If I were you, I'd prepare for the worst.

Alderon nodded again and followed the vampire out from the forge.

Was Necromancer Ferguson dissatisfied with his work, or was it something else?

The little skeleton and the vampire walked through many corridors and hallways where the light of torches was reflected onto the walls before they arrived outside two gigantic doors, guarded by two black-clad skeleton knights whose eye sockets burned with purple fire.

Skeleton Knight Bemores (lvl 56)

Skeleton Knight Aemoras (lvl 57)

“Open up,” commanded Ezra.

“Yes, sir.” growled the two skeleton knights in grim voices.

The skeleton knights moved their halberds aside and slowly pushed the two massive doors open, allowing for just enough space so that Ezra and Alderon could make it thought. As Alderon followed Ezra inside, the two skeleton knights looked at him disdainfully and snorted, as if he wasn’t worthy of their attention. He shook his bony head and increased his speed, soon leaving the two doors slamming together, shut.

Alderon found himself in a large hall. Candles, stretching like dead men’s fingers, were lit with blue flames and lined the black stone wall. The windows of the castle were covered with a thick haze, making the candles the only sources of light in the hall.

A crimson carpet was laid out, from the entrance of the hall to the wall furthest away, and to both sides of the carpet stood skeleton knights, wearing black armours and holding two-meter tall halberds. They were the same as the two skeleton knights outside if not for their level being above hundred, and the fact that they weren’t just Skeleton Knights, but instead Captain Skeleton Knights of the highest order.

The hundreds of Captain Skeleton Knights didn’t notice as Alderon and Ezra walked inside onto the carpet. They bowed on one knee, facing forward as if they were worshipping something holy and couldn't bother themselves with worldly matters. Alderon followed their gaze to the centre of the large hall.

In the centre of the large hall sat a black-clothed figure, overlooking everything that was happening in the hall with a cold gaze. He was in his prime, a pale-faced youth with black hair and freckles, and seemed to notice Alderon and Ezra coming into the hall as he gave the vampire a slight nod.

Ezra turned to Alderon. "Master wants you to come closer. When you're there, kneel and keep your head down."

Alderon nodded and slowly walked toward the centre, toward the black-clothed man. As he came closer, he could see who he was dealing with, and it was who he was suspecting from the start. The newbie necromancer.

Necromancer Ferguson (???)

Understanding what was the wisest action to choose, Alderon kneeled down on one knee and stared down without daring to look at Necromancer Ferguson. What would his fate be, wondered the little skeleton, now a skeleton blacksmith, as he kneeled in silence.

"You," said Necromancer Ferguson. "were the one who created those spears I received not too long ago?"

Since Necromancer Ferguson was the master of all underworld creatures in the black castle, it was obvious for everyone to understand them. So even if Alderon had been unable to understand languages, he would have been able to understand Necromancer Ferguson and the words he spoke.

"Yes, Master," said Alderon with his cracky voice. "they are my creations."

"Good good," chuckled Necromancer Ferguson. "they were of rather good quality, those spears, for a skeleton without knowledge of blacksmithing. And I can see now that you have evolved into a skeleton blacksmith, it seems you were a variant and only needed the required stimulation. Very good, I'm very, very pleased right now."

"Tell me, what's your name?" asked Necromancer Ferguson.

"This lowly one's name is Alderon, Master." said Alderon.

"Very well," said Necromancer Ferguson. "You shall be rewarded with the title of Skeleton Blacksmith for your meritorious service and be addressed as Skeleton Blacksmith Alderon from now on."

Congratulations!

You have been awarded the title of Skeleton Blacksmith after pleasing Necromancer Ferguson!

Skeleton Blacksmith

A special title only available for skeletons with the [Blacksmith Skeleton] class.

Together with [Blacksmith Skeleton] class, title will increase the attributes of all items created by the blacksmith with 5

"Thank you, Master."

"Furthermore," continued Necromancer Ferguson. "Since you have pleased me, I shall award you with a new post."

He glanced at Ezra. "Ezra shall lead you to the nightfall camp where you are to take up the official position of the blacksmith. Your task shall be to create new equipment as well as to repair that which is damaged."

A quest has been triggered!

*Nightfall Camp*

Travel with Vampire Ezra to the Nightfall Camp south of the Black Castle and take up the position of an official skeleton blacksmith. Once there you have been requested to create new armour from the ores delivered every month as well as to repair old armour that is damaged by the ongoing skirmishes with beastmen around the camp.

Time Limit: ???

Reward: ???

*Failure will result in Necromancer Ferguson's wrath.

*Quest cannot be declined.

Alderon gritted his nonexistent teeth. A quest, read the blue box, it must be as the word itself mean. The little skeleton would have to follow Ezra through the eternal wasteland and travel to the nightfall camp and complete the objective. If he didn’t comply with the order, that would probably incur the wrath of Necromancer Ferguson. And the wrath of Necromancer Ferguson wasn’t something Alderon could withstand at this moment, so the only option he currently had was to comply.

“Yes master,” said Alderon. “this lowly skeleton shall do as his master has told him.”

“Good, I've begun like you more and more,” said Necromancer Ferguson. “Ezra will come get you in the forge at first daylight tomorrow morning. Now, begone, I have important matters to deal with.”

After having met with the newbie necromancer Ferguson, Alderon was lead back to the forge by Ezra. Once alone, Alderon opened up his status and took a look at the new plans he had received when becoming a Skeleton Blacksmith.

Shuryxola's Iron

Mix low-grade iron with coal (coke) to create higher quality iron.

Shuryxola was a Skeleton Blacksmith who worked for a poor necromancer in Gehenna wetlands. To save money, the necromancer decided to mix the metal with cheaper materials. Shuryxola, by luck, stumbled onto a way to create a higher grade iron by mixing and a coal (coke).

Class Requirments: Skeleton Blacksmith

Other Requirments: Furnace, Iron hammer, Anvil.

Materials needed: Iron (97%) Coke (3%)

*Coke (fuel): Created by heating coal to 450 degrees celsius.

Shuryxola's iron was a type of iron that was of higher quality than normal. To make it, discovered Alderon, he would have to mix low-grade iron and coke (which he would have to refine from heating up coal). He was eager to try it now, and see what kind of weapons he could do, but as Ezra would come tomorrow and pick him up, he doubted himself to be able to finish the whole procedure, that including the tests he would have to perform first. Since this was the case, Alderon decided to wait until he was at Nightfall camp for that damned quest.

Alderon started to forge normally instead. This was the last time for a long time he would be in this forge, and so why not try some experiments out. Since he would be travelling through the endless wasteland where beastmen resided, it was a quite good decision to make some protective armour for himself. After some time, the Skeleton Blacksmith had put out a lump of iron that would be manageable with the iron hammer on the anvil

Yorgurim's hammer was a very fine hammer. As Alderon swung it down onto the lump of iron, he felt as if a lot more power than he used to exhibit came into action. Sparks flew wildly and a grin began to curve from his mouth.

You have successfully crafted an item!

Blacksmithing proficiency has increased by 0,3

Strength has increased by 0,1

Agility has increased by 0,2

Dexterity has increased by 0,1

Inferior Iron Sword

An iron sword forged by a novice blacksmith with mediocre skills using crude methods.

Grade: Inferior

Damage: 4-6

After forging the iron sword and making sure it was hard enough by hitting it a few times with the hammer, Alderon started to make armour as well. The armour was considerably harder to create than the sword. Now, instead of using moulds, Alderon heated the iron in the fire, allowing it to turn into a state where he was able to beat it to change its shape. He first made the back and the front. Then he made shoulder plates.

When all the components for the chest plate were ready, Alderon began fusing the front of the chest plate with the shoulder plate, using high temperature and his hammer to beat the two together. The whole process took an hour or so. Next was to tie together the back with the other end of the shoulder plate, a process which would be much, much harder than the first. If he did it incorrectly and hastily, it could result in everything becoming a failure.

Time passed and it was midnight when he finished.

Inferior Iron Chestplate (with Shoulderplates)

Grade: Common

An experimental work by novice blacksmith Alderon.

Durability: 15/29

He understood that it was impossible to complete leg guards before Ezra came in the morning, which is why he chose to forge a shield. And since everyone knows that bigger shields mean better survivability, Alderon made the biggest shield he could. The process was much simpler than before, and everything he had to to was to smelt a huge iron lump and beat it into a round-shaped object (along with a handle so that he could hold it.)

Gargantuan Iron Shield

Another experimental work by Skeleton Blacksmith Alderon.

Grade: Uncommon

Durability: 52/64

Stamina: +3

Agility - 1

“Uncommon… is that better than Inferior? It must be, yes!” muttered Alderon.

He was barely able to hold the shield with one hand because of how heavy and large it was. His size was about five and a half feet, and this shield, well – it was almost as big as him! And it was round!

“Why didn’t I just make a normal shield…” cried Alderon. “How do I even carry it around?”

Suddenly, Alderon shone up from his gloomy look. He remembered himself having an inventory when he looked at the character menu and had a week ago when he received the blacksmith skill, been told that he could store things inside his inventory.

“Inventory!” he shouted.

Inventory (0/7)

Empty

Empty

Empty

Empty

Empty

Empty

Empty

Alderon took the shield and pressed it into the blue box, hoping for it to work. It didn’t, sadly. The shield just passed through the blue box and the little skeleton blacksmith, wearing a chestplate and shoulder plates and had a sword strapped to the side of tattered leggings, lost his balance, hitting the floor (just after the shield did) with a loud bang.

“Then how do I store my shield?” he asked himself after getting up from the floor. “Perhaps it works the same as the other things. In that case, I would just have to say the command out loud.”

“Put Gargantuan Iron shield into my inventory.”

And just like that, the shield disappeared from his bony hand, turning into a wisp of golden light, entering the blue box and taking up the first pocket. However, because of the shield being so heavy, and him having to set his balance around the shield, he once again lost balance and crashed into the floor.