When we get back to camp I catch some fish and set them to roasting. While waiting for the fish to cook I heat up the poker and start adding to my map.

*DING*

Congratulations! Skill Cartography has progressed to level 4!

Cartography

Level 4

Int +4

You can draw basic maps.

After eating Ruby returns to the amulet to rest, I channel all my mana into the bar then meditate for eight hours. When I wake from meditating I again channel all my mana into the bar. Each time I do the gold spot grows noticeably.

*DING*

Congratulations! Skill Channeling has progressed to level 2!

Channeling

Level 2

Int +2 Mana +20

You are experienced at channeling mana.

I rest for a few minutes until the light-headedness goes away before grabbing my pickaxe and going to mine a few pounds of iron ore. Once done I head to the forge room to smelt it down and make some steel lockpicks.

Then I make my way back to the locked door to try again. The steel lockpicks are much harder to break so after playing with the lock for five minutes I get it.

*CLICK*

*DING*

Congratulations! Skill Lockpicking has progressed to level 5!

Lockpicking

Level 5

Agi +5

You can attempt to open a lock without a key.

"Yes!"

Ruby thinks "Huh? What's up?"

"Oh, sorry to wake you. I picked the lock!"

Ruby comes out in spirit form to see what is behind the door. I push the door open and my eyes go wide at the rows of weapons and armor on wooden racks filling the room.

"An armory! Wow, look at all this stuff!"

Ruby says "Yeah, that's a lot of gear! What are you going to do with all of it?"

"Depends on how good it is, but other than any upgrades for us the rest will probably just get melted down. I can't carry all of this and I don't see a point to just leaving it."

Ruby says "True, do you want help moving it all?"

"No, thanks. You just go ahead and rest up for the next bit of exploring, I can handle this stuff."

Ruby doesn't argue and zips back into the amulet to go back to sleep. I gather up an armful of weapons and make the first of many trips back to camp. It takes me two hours and about twenty trips to empty the armory of all the weapons and armor.

I then go back three more times for all the wooden racks and stands which I break down for firewood. I'm really glad that room was locked, if the ratmen had all this they would be a serious problem. I then start sorting everything into piles, once sorted I start examining them, starting with the swords.

*MAGIC ITEM*

Sword of the Imperial Knight

Hit +3 Damage +5

Durability: 100/100

"Oh it's just like the one I gave Ruby, now she can have matching. Wait, are all of these the same? Can I even melt down magic items?"

I tap the amulet and ask "Ruby what will happen if I melt down a magic sword?"

Ruby thinks "It will most likely explode! So don't try it, if the forge was to go boom this entire area would be gone."

"While the idea of the look on the king's face as his city and castle all tumble into a sinkhole appeals to me, no I won't melt them down."

Ruby thinks "Good, I mean I would survive, but I would be sad to lose you."

"Umm, thanks I think?"

Next I grab a spear and stare at it.

*MAGIC ITEM*

Imperial Spear

Hit +5 Damage +5 Piercing +3

Durability 75/75

*DING*

Congratulations! Skill Observe has progressed to level 6!

Observe

Level 6

Int +6

You can identify items with study.

"Ooh, nice spear, I'll be keeping one of these."

So I set one aside and verify the rest are the same before piling them with the swords. Next I pick up the only war-hammer I found and stare at it.

*MAGIC ITEM*

Crushing War-hammer

Hit +2 Damage +10 Damage to Undead +20%

Durability 150/150

"Well, that's replacing my rusty mace for sure!"

I take my mace off my belt and toss it aside and clip the war-hammer in its place. Then I pick up one of the maces from the armory and stare at it.

*MAGIC ITEM*

Imperial War Mace

Hit +5 Damage +10

Durability 90/90

"Bah, all these magic items I can't really do anything with!"

I toss the maces into the magic pile and next pick up one of the pikes and stare at it.

*MAGIC ITEM*

Imperial Pike

Hit +5 Damage +5 Damage x 3 vs Charging

Durability 100/100

"Wow, that's nice. And I have to remember never to charge someone with a pike!"

I move the pikes to the pile of magic weapons, then change my mind and take one and set it by my practice area. Then I pick up the last weapon, a two-handed axe, and stare at it intently.

*MAGIC ITEM*

Great Axe of the Empire

Hit +2 Damage +20

Durability 200/200

"Ouch, this thing hits hard! Wait, if this was basic gear for imperial soldiers, what was the gear for their heroes like??"

I take the axe and put it by my training area. Then I sit back down and pick up one of the kite shields and study it.

*MAGIC ITEM*

Imperial Kite Shield

Defense +5 Magic Resist +10

Durability 125/125

"Well, I've found a replacement for my spider shield."

I take one of the kite shields for myself and pile the rest next to the weapons pile. I then pick up the only tower shield and study it.

*MAGIC ITEM*

Shield of the Wall

Defense +9 Fire Resist +25

Durability 250/250

"Or maybe I want to keep this one?"

So I stand up and strap it to my arm and move around with it and try swinging it around. Then I take it off and put it on the pile of shields.

"Nah, too bulky and cumbersome. I'll stick to the kite shield."

Next I check the leather armor and the steel armor.

*MAGIC ITEM*

Light Armor of the Empire

Defense +5 Speed +5

Durability 50/50

*MAGIC ITEM*

Imperial Armor

Defense +7 HP +100

Durability 110/110

*DING*

Congratulations! Skill Observe has progressed to level 7!

Observe

Level 7

Int +7

You can identify items with study.

"While the armor is nice I think mine is better, and none of them are for a female so that leaves Ruby out."

So I stack the armor against the wall and neaten up the piles of weapons and shields. As I stack I count it all up, nineteen swords, nine spears, nine pikes, ten maces, nine kite shields, one tower shield, ten leather armor, and twenty steel armor.

Why would all of this have been in the sewers? Unless this was backup gear they placed down here in the event they couldn't get to their barracks? Or maybe it was an emergency fallback point? I guess the dragon wiped them out so fast they didn't have a chance to run. But just how much magic did the empire have if all this was backup gear??

I get up and walk over to my practice area, then I pick up the pike and try to figure out how to wield it. It is too long and cumbersome to be used while mobile, it is meant to be used while holding a line against cavalry.

I can move it easily with my strength but it still isn't a good weapon for me, still I try to figure out how it is used and more importantly how I would go about countering it if I need to.

*DING*

Congratulations! You have acquired the combat skill Polearm Basics!

Polearm Basics

Level 1

Str +1 End +1

You do 5% extra damage with polearms.

"Huh, not bad but I'll never use something like this."

I take the pike over and add it to the others on the pile of weapons. I then return to the practice area and pick up the great axe, this has a much better feel in my hands. I take a few swings with it and it just feels powerful, I am enjoying myself quite a bit just swinging the huge axe around.

*DING*

Congratulations! You have acquired the combat skill Axe Basics!

Axe Basics

Level 1

Str +2

You do 5% extra damage with axes.

*DING*

Congratulations! You have acquired the combat skill Weapon Master!

Weapon Master

Level 1

Speed and Damage with all weapons +5%

You are capable with all weapon types.

"Wow, who knew there was a bonus like that for learning all the different types of weapon skills. Guess it pays to be a skill whore like me."

I laugh at my own joke as I continue spinning and twirling the great axe like it weighs nothing. A great axe would normally be a slow weapon but thanks to my great strength it dances around in my hands like a much smaller weapon.

"I think I will keep this axe, I kinda like it."

The first thing I have to do is make a sheath for the axe that will hold it on my back. I also want to figure out how to attach the kite shield to it so I don't have to keep it on my arm. Come to think of it, with two katanas, Black Razor, and the war-hammer as well I should really figure out a war harness to hold everything comfortably without interfering with my mobility.

I take my time and plan it out, I figure out how to hold everything and have it secure to my armor. Once I have a plan I set about crafting it and the attached sheathes for all my weapons. It takes me a couple of hours and I take a break in the middle of it to catch and cook some fish to eat, but I am able to make it and when I try it on I am able to carry all my weapons without any issues.

"Okay, everything is sorted, but from now on no more weapons! Unless I'm replacing something I have now, that is."

After that I channel all my mana into the bar and then climb into my hammock to sleep the night away.