Eternal Rest

Days at the smithy with the dwarves were spent discussing business. It was decided that both the production and the main store would be situated in Stonefalls, with plans to open another shop in Westbrook at a later date. While expansion to the east was considered, the journey and associated risks deemed it not worthwhile. The dwarves dispersed the following day, each embarking on their assigned tasks.

Meanwhile, Bones remained behind, continuing his practice of engraving in his secluded corner of the workshop. Darsumi called for another meeting to convene by the end of the week, where they would discuss the prospect of "retrieving" the mana core among other valuable endeavors. Darsumi's information network proved to be pivotal, as everything hinged on the intelligence gathered.

At the end of the week, under the dim light of flickering candles late at night, a meeting of a select few was underway. The seven dwarves and Bones sat around the table, studying the papers and floor plans scattered across its surface.

"All targets are among the so-called nobility, so any house is a viable option for our heist," one of the dwarves stated, then turned to Bones. "One thing we ought to consider is the security and the objective of the heist for Mr..." he trailed off, prompting Bones for input.

"Bones." He added, seeing as they were all meeting for the first time.

"Right, for Mr. Boney."

Bones exhaled, not even bothering to correct them anymore.

The dwarf who had been speaking earlier continued, "Our information network has provided us with detailed information on the security measures in place, and I have to say, it will be difficult! Or rather, it would be difficult if we didn't have a proper distraction, don't we?"

Snickers circulated around the table, leaving Bones feeling like he was missing something. "And what would be that distraction?" he asked.

"Hm? Ah, apologies, Mr. Boney. The day of the heist coincides with the day of the festival! And we plan to hit all the targets in a single night!" the dwarf explained, his tone laced with confidence. However, Bones still didn't grasp why the festival would serve as an effective distraction.

"The festival?"

"Aw, lad, where are ye from? There's only one festival that would lure those nobles out of their houses! Every year, we celebrate the founding of the kingdom with a grand festival," explained Mirami, the female dwarf known for her expertise in thievery and burglary.

Bones nodded in understanding and signaled for the meeting to continue. The security surrounding the estates and the homes of the nobles was indeed stringent. In fact, they wouldn't even be having this discussion about the heist if it weren't for the festival. However, on the day of the festival, security measures would be relaxed to some extent. The main priority for protection would shift from the houses themselves to their owners. While attendance at the festival might not matter much for those of lesser stature, for the nobles, it would be a matter of maintaining their reputation. This marked the first of many meetings to come, as the festival was less than six months away.

Bones, for the first time, felt the weight of the impending tasks bearing down on him. However, he welcomed the pressure. He was accustomed to working under such conditions, and sometimes, pressure proved beneficial, keeping his wits sharp and his nerves on edge. Although one month had passed since he left the capital with intentions to return by now, it seemed he would need to prolong his stay with the dwarves. Nonetheless, he found comfort in their company.

Another meeting was scheduled to take place soon. Afterward, Bones, along with the two dwarves, Hemdus and Darsumi, agreed to venture back into the dungeon once it completed its cooldown period. The dwarves sought to gather data for repeated dungeon farming to obtain valuable crafting materials.

Bones was initially hesitant to join the party. It wasn't that he had any aversion to teaming up with the two dwarves; rather, he had a preference for clearing dungeons solo. However, upon weighing the odds, he recognized it as an opportunity to experience a dungeon run in a party setting. Bones had always viewed seeking help from others as a sign of weakness, but faced with the reality that he couldn't defeat the boss of the second stage on his own, he adapted his attitude. Moreover, he was curious to see the strength of the crafter and the smuggler firsthand.

The dwarves estimated that Bones would need to reach a level comparable to that of the boss to stand a chance in combat. However, this wasn't solely about reaching the boss level; it also involved advancing his skills beyond the basic tier and possibly even advancing his race upon reaching level 25. Just as Bones had received a boost in his stats from advancing his Bonemancer class, he could expect a similar boost from advancing his race, although the dwarves weren't certain if this applied to the undead.

With the support of two dwarves in the party, Bones would be able to clear the second stage and make his initial foray into the third. This would provide him with a rough gauge of the strength of his adversaries. Additionally, there remained a possibility of obtaining the mana core from the boss of the second stage. Based on the dwarves' experience, even if they were overleveled for the dungeon, as long as Bones contributed the most to the battle, it wouldn't diminish their overall chances of obtaining the loot. In fact, this was how higher-level players often helped wealthier, lower-level players with high standings to level up.

The following day, Bones achieved success in creating his first golem using engraved bones. The precision of the engraving significantly eased the construction process, resulting in reduced mana consumption. Additionally, it facilitated smoother infusion of the nucleus. This time, Bones allowed his creativity to flourish, resulting in a golem that was combat-capable for the first time.

With the rest of the party occupied, Bones ventured out of the city and into the expansive mountain range that extended beyond his newfound perception. His intention was to test the combat prowess of the new golem, preferably against the trolls that roamed the mountain peaks. He planned to return in time for the scheduled meeting, after which he would proceed to the dungeon.

After scouring the area for a while, Bones failed to uncover any traces of the trolls. With the winter season gradually winding down, much of the snow had melted, leaving a thin layer covering the ground while rocks began to emerge. Undeterred, he ventured deeper into the mountains, descending into a ravine and following a narrow stream. Along the way, occasional critters crossed his path, prompting him to command his golem to attack a deer-like animal in the distance. However, the golem's sluggish movement proved ineffective in catching the startled creature, leaving Bones to shake his head in disappointment. Pressing on, he continued downstream until nightfall.

The night in the woods was far from silent, with the usual array of rustling leaves and snapping sticks echoing through the wilderness. Yet, what caught Bones off guard was the distant source of light flickering in the darkness. Turning to his golem companion, Bones realized it wouldn't last until morning. Though he could wait for the nucleus to run out and create a new one, time was of the essence. Deciding to investigate, he silently closed the distance until he could discern the source: a torch wedged into a gap in a nearby tree. Surveying the area, he noticed faint outlines of people and objects in the distance. Was it a camp? They could be adventurers, guards, or perhaps even an army. Bone pondered his next move, wary of the potential risks lurking in the shadows.

"Ay? Whos that? Is that yous, ya fuckers! I told ya to fucken leave me be when I take a piss!"

As the voice drew closer, it became evident that the speaker was a bandit. Just as the bandit was about to emerge from behind a tree, Bones seized the opportunity and signaled his golem to strike first. Rushing forward, the golem attempted a punch, but its poorly executed attack landed with minimal impact.

"What the fuck??" the bandit exclaimed, taken aback by the unexpected blow. Reacting swiftly, he delivered a retaliatory punch, shattering the golem's skull and sending it flying from its body.

Bones grimaced as he realized his golem's failure, opting to confront the bandit directly. Stepping out from behind cover, he closed the distance swiftly, only to be met with a lightning-fast punch that sent him sprawling to the ground.

As Bones' hood flew off and his mask shattered, revealing his skeletal visage, the bandit's astonishment was palpable. "A skeleton? What in blazes..." he muttered, eyeing the golem nearby. "And another one?"

With a yell to his comrades, the bandit signaled for reinforcements before turning back to find Bones vanished, along with the damaged golem, now stowed safely away in Bones' inventory. All that remained was the cracked and broken head of the golem, left behind as evidence of the encounter.

Bones fled the gorge, not stopping until he was sure he was far enough and wasn’t followed. Leaning against a tree, he struggled to make sense of the unexpected confrontation. With a wry grin, Bones straightened up, a hint of self-amusement in his eyes. "Well, that didn't go as planned. Looks like my little adventure took an unexpected turn," he muttered under his breath. By dawn, he found himself back in Stonefalls. As he entered the smithy, he was immediately met with the pungent aroma of alcohol lingering in the air.

What? I leave for a day and you're already celebrating?" teased Bones while closing the doors behind him

"Boney! Wut are ye doing ‘ere already?" Hem asked, puzzled.

Bones sighed and joined Hem and Darsumi at the table. He wasn't in the mood for drinking and felt a bit crestfallen, which didn't escape the notice of the smuggler.

"So, care to share what happened? How did your golem do?" Darsumi asked.

"Sure, I'll share!" Bones replied with a laugh, reminiscent of his failed attempt to attack the bandit. Hearing the story, Hem burst out laughing while Darsumi fell silent, lost in thought for a moment. "Hm… bandits in the gorge of a mountain range… sounds familiar. Give me a second!"

Bones observed as Darsumi sifted through a bundle of papers, while Hemdus was on the floor, roaring with laughter.

"It wasn't that funny!” Bones couldn't help but retort as Hem continued to laugh uproariously. Meanwhile, he couldn't shake the feeling that Darsumi was searching for something important among the reports and wanted posters.

Darsumi stopped at a wanted poster and inquired before showing it to Bones. "Did you get a good look at the bandit? Is that him?"

"Only for a brief moment before he knocked me out, but no, he's not the one," Bones replied.

"Then," grabbing the next poster, Dar displayed another wanted poster, and Bones recognized the bandit who bested him.

"How unlucky. Among all the bandits in the camp, you managed to find the second in command," Darsumi remarked.

"Is he strong?" Bones asked.

"Compared to you? He should be. He's at peak bronze rank, level 39," Darsumi explained.

Peak bronze rank? That would put him around the same level as Guntar? "He was around the same level of strength as Guntar?" Bones inquired.

Darsumi pondered for a moment, but Hem interjected. "It ain't that simple, Boney, as there be many factors to consider, but let's say he was, eh?"

"Putting that aside," Darsumi continued, "could you point out the location of the camp?" He placed a map in front of Bones, prompting him to mark the location. "Don't look at me like that. It's valuable information, and it's good to be in good graces with the right people! Besides, the bandits know their location has been found, and they no doubt relocated already."

Understanding Darsumi's perspective, Bones took the map, marked the location, and handed it back. Darsumi accepted it with a smile.

"I need to go engrave more bones and reconstruct my golem. Is the meeting still on for tonight?" Bones inquired, receiving a confirming nod. The meeting, once again held under dim light, proceeded to discuss the who, what, and how of the heist.

After the meeting concluded, the two dwarves retired to bed while Bones remained, continuing his engraving work and eagerly awaiting the dawn. Following a hearty lunch, the trio gathered their supplies and set out from Stonefalls.