Denizens of the Labyrinth

Jazmel exited and the calls of seagulls were rife in the sky. The bitter scent of the sea could be smelt, and Jazmel smiled, happy to be in the daylight that was not blistering.

His party, with both new members had come through together, but that girl had not come with them. He remembered as she was not part of their party, her ascent would have been randomised. He hoped she would be safe.

“What should we do first?” Jazmel asked and Patton thought for a moment.

“I think we will be riding the ship; I say we all seek out supplies. Prepare for the voyage and meet up at the ship port when done? I must resupply my health items and I want to sell these Orbweaver parts.” He explained his own choice and the others nodded.

“I am going to get a drink; I am thirsting for an ale.” Katie offered and Bannerman grunted in agreement.

“You want to come too? Let us see if they have a doggy bowl or something.” She laughed at her joke to herself, not for the first time did she liken Bannerman to a dog and though he did not show he heard her, he did not seem bothered either.

“We will look for supplies too.” Sadé said and Jazmel nodded.

“See you all at the port then.” Patton said and walked off first; the others split off in their own directions. Sadé led the way and Jazmel followed.

“I need clothes.” Jazmel said and she nodded, feeling underdressed herself.

“Let’s find us a seamstress.” Sadé said and within a few moments they stood outside a well-worn shop. Big gold scissors hung above it, the windows were dirty, and Jazmel could not see into them. But this was the only place that could do what they needed. Jazmel pushed the door and let them both in.

“Can I help you?” a small voice said, and Jazmel looked at the counter of the shop to see an older woman with big gold spectacles on.

“Yes please. We would need some clothes made. Clothes for a Seeker.” Sadé answered.

The old lady placed her hand on the table and Jazmel noticed that it was wooden, all wooden, hands of pine and wood intricately woven together with needle and thread to get the hands moving the way a natural hand did. He drew his sword, suddenly confused and a little afraid.

“What are you?” Jazmel asked, sword ready and waiting. The lady looked at him, and then laughed hard.

“Please put your sword away, we have business to do.” She said and with a thump a little door on her chest opened and a small creature stepped out. As he stepped out, the woman froze and stayed petrified to post.

“What did you want made love?” the creature asked Sadé, as easy as ever she told him, she wanted sturdy boots, an armoured jacket, and clothes for days of travel. The creature nodded, while writing this down on a tiny notepad it carried. Jazmel did sheathe his sword and waited to be asked too.

“And you, warrior. Will you need the same?” Jazmel nodded.

“Do you have any requirements?” the creature asked, and Jazmel was silent, not understanding the question.

“Use these items and create something with these in mind.” Sadé said and Jazmel watched her tap the empty air as she moved things from the system into the space for the creature, it did the same and then it turned to Jazmel waiting.

“Give him the wolf hides and the spider carapace!” Sadé whispered.

Jazmel did as she told him, and the creature took from his storage.

DING!

BROWNIE COMMISSION ACCEPTED

9X WOLF LEATHER

5X ORBWEAVER WEB GLANDS

6X ORBWEAVER CARAPACE

…

PAY 100X GOLD COINS

Jazmel winced. That was a lot of money, but he paid it all the same.

The brownie spun on a foot and hurried back into the wooden woman. The marionette of its own making and hurried into the back of the shop to begin work.

“This will take 1 hour. Come back in that time.” It called over its shoulder. Sadé pulled Jazmel by the hand and dragged him from the shop.

“Come on! Let us sell the other pieces.” She said and not letting go of Jazmel’s hand, she led him to another sign that had a hammer and anvil.

The smith was happy to accept the wolf fangs from Jazmel. He bought them at 15 GOLD COINS PER FANG this made Jazmel 225 GOLD COINS, he slipped those into his storage and the system recalculated.

DING

375X GOLD COINS

Jazmel smiled. Sadé sold some of her own wares and while Jazmel did not know what she was selling he could tell a great deal of gold coins were received. They entered another shop this time an alchemist store, with many different items. Jazmel almost left at the prices but then his eyes caught on.

DING!

…

MANA EYES DETECT

…

BYAKKO SPIRIT CORE, the core of a tier I Byakko spirit, the deity of a mountain. Not a god, but nearly. The tiger of the mountain is the king of its territory!

“How much for this spirit core?” Jazmel asked.

“That is a high grade one, 350 GOLD COINS.” The storekeeper responded.

DING

…

DETECTED

…

COLDFIRE PHOENIX FEATHER, greatly raises the agility and dexterity of a user.

…

The system was trying to make him a pauper.

“How much for both of these?” Jazmel asked him and the storekeeper smiled.

“700 GOLD COINS.”

He barely had half that.

“Can I sell items here?” Jazmel asked and with a little grimace the storekeeper asked.

“What do you have?”

He showed the storekeeper the web glands he had from the Orbweavers nest.

“I will pay you 10 GOLD COINS per gland.” He uttered. Jazmel sighed.

“What about this?” Jazmel offered and shared the Orb weaver queen carapace. The alchemist shuddered.

“Where did you get that?” he asked, stiffened with greed.

“Oh, you want this then.” Jazmel asked and the storekeeper smiled.

“I will give you 1 WHITE GOLD COIN. For all of it.” Jazmel went rigid, that was a lot of money. But he couldn’t show the storekeeper that he was unaccustomed to this sort of money.

That was 1000X GOLD COINS.

“Do not give me the whole coin, I will give you the carapace and I will take the spirit core and the cold fire phoenix feather, and you give me the change after.” Jazmel haggled and the storekeeper licked his lips and nodded. They did their deal and Jazmel smiled.

DING!

675 GOLD COINS

He tapped his satchel and smiled affectionately. Sadé rolled her eyes and laughed.

“Grow up!” she slapped his shoulder.

“Are you about to tier up? Those are tribulation items.” She asked, curious.

“I am.” Jazmel said suddenly a little afraid.

“I am tiering up tonight, so you can watch over me and when I am done. You can tier up.” She said and Jazmel nodded, wanting to see it happen again before having to go through it himself.

“Let’s go back to the seamstress now, the items should be ready.” She mused.

“What is that thing?” Jazmel asked and she laughed at him.

“It is a brownie; they are the best makers of all clothing. Think of how good dwarves are at armour? A brownie is the same with leather. If you ever need anything made like that, always find a brownie first.” She told him and he nodded in wonder, learning so much about the labyrinth. They entered the sewist shop again and she left the back to deal with the counter. When she saw that it was them again, the brownie hopped out of its little door and stood waiting.

“We just finished your orders. Come and let me see you try them on.”

DING

COMMISSION COMPLETE

ACCEPT!

Jazmel did and in his storage appeared some items.

JACKET OF THE COMMANDER

WOLF HIDE BOOTS

BELT OF WEBBING

He thanked the brownie before entering the changing stall to the side to change, he heard Sadé enter the one next to him and he threw the idea of her changing from his mind and closed his eyes too. Mana eyes were tricky after all. He admired the jacket, it was lacquered black on the outside and then ink black on the inside but silk like threads had been used in the seams, the shoulders were covered with yellow patches of leather padding and two rings of yellow cuffed the hem of his arms. He put them on and immediately the system sounded.

JACKET OF THE COMMANDER, made for the Seeker who has yet to see many places but has the support of his team. When in a party, the wearer will gain better insight. Jazmel could not help but be stunned by the jacket, this was an amazing gift. He took of his shoes, worn down boots and put them in his storage. He pulled the newly made wolf hide boots on and let the system tell him everything.

WOLF HIDE BOOTS, made from wolf leather and Orbweaver silk. These boots will make the wearer quick and quiet. Jazmel smiled. The belt he put on last, replacing his old one.

BELT OF WEBBING, made from Orbweaver silk, this belt will never drop an item.

Jazmel had not dropped an item yet, but he was glad to see that this belt would ensure that he would not in the future too. The jacket fit him perfectly and hung just out of the way that he could keep a sword sheathed in his belt. He had gotten used to wearing the blue sheath of Majime, the sword tassels one blue and one yellow, he played with them nonchalantly when pensive.

“All done.” He said, stepping out of the stall. Sadé followed a few moments later and she was dressed completely different.

She wore a short sleeve red shirt and a long flowing jacket that was also red. Her combat trousers had been replaced by fine felt trousers of slate grey and boots that were so black, they looked like oil.

“You look good.” Jazmel said and she smiled, hiding her face behind her hair.

“Let’s go find the others.” She said and they left.