19. Rising Undead and Warhammer

19. Rising Undead and Warhammer

The Adventurer’s Guild was nearly silent this morning. Even with a room full of rowdy adventurers, they knew when to keep their mouth shut. One of those times was when Tom held out a piece of parchment, with Vice Master Paul standing right behind him.

An announcement.

However, Adam was looking out to Paul, only just realising he hadn’t seen the Vice Master in some time. ‘Huh. Where have you been, Paul?’ It was still unnerving to see Paul so full of joy and life, in comparison to his previous life where he was far more solemn and grey. Even so, Adam couldn’t help but smile at Paul’s current demeanour.

“I’m sure you’ve all been waiting for this announcement,” Tom said, staring at the parchment in his hands. “It’s official. The undead have begun to rise.”

The adventurers roared with joy, pumping their fists out into the air. They hollered and howled like baboons. Jurot had remained standing with his arms crossed, silent like death. Adam glanced at him, wondering why he wasn’t as excited as the other adventurers. Then, like it had been rehearsed, the adventurers grew silent, leaving a moment of pause to allow Tom to continue.

“The excursions have begun. We already have a few parties in mind to send out to deal with the protection of the various settlements nearby, and some which will assist the nearby fort. Then there’s the matter of the undead hot spots, which we’ll assign groups of parties to. Those who haven’t been picked may take any undead request as they come in, though you should be quick since they’ll sell out like hot cakes.”

‘Hot cakes! I should have bought some of those!’ Adam shook his head slightly, thinking about all the various breads and pastries he should be trying in this world. The bread had been alright, some of it had been some of the best bread he had ever had, but the desserts were what he was aiming for. ‘I should create a food review service...’

“We will have a list up on the wall of the parties we have chosen from all those who had put their names down. I hope that you will behave accordingly. The prices for various things might go up, but you’ll also be making a lot more money in this time. If you cause trouble, the Adventurer’s Guild will be having a word with you.” Tom’s lips made a smile, but his eyes were as neutral as always. The unnerving smile caused the adventurers to think twice about how much they’d be drinking for the next few weeks.

Without saying goodbye, Tom turned and stepped aside, having much better things to do than to babysit all the adventurers.

Jurot followed after him, with Adam stepping up after the Iyrman. “We wish to take the route along the villages towards the Iyr,” he said.

Tom nodded towards Jurot. He had been informed by the Iyrmen previously about the matter, so he had prepared all the right paperwork. Showing favouritism wasn’t best for the guild, but when it came to the Iyrmen in this town, there was no need to think twice about assisting them.

Tom, of all people, understood how easy his life was because his neighbours were an army of thousands of highly skilled warrior people. The amount of work which had been saved due to the Iyrmen could be piled high in this entire room. So what if they wanted him to spend an hour or two this week to assist? He wasn’t stupid enough to deny an Iyrman’s wishes.

“The pay will be sent by the villagers, and it will be up to them how much you will receive. That was the condition set in order to allow you to head to the Iyr.” Tom looked up at Jurot, waiting for his approval.

Yet, instead of nodding his head, Jurot turned to Adam. “What do you think?”

‘?’ Tom blinked, turning his head to Adam.

“Sounds good to me,” Adam said, shrugging his shoulders. “As long as they don’t scam us. We should keep my skin condition a secret from them, though. If they find out I’m, you know...” Adam twitches his ears, only to realise they were hidden behind his helmet, and so pointed to where they would be instead. “They might not pay us much.”

Jurot nodded, turning back to face Tom, staring him in his confused eyes. “It is acceptable.”

“I have confirmed that you are willing to accept the quest,” Tom said. “Once the letters arrive at the end of the month, I will have the rewards prepared.”

“Oh, before I leave.” Adam glanced around to see if any adventurers were paying attention. He leaned in over the counter. “Is there an adventuring party known as Dark Harvest?”

Tom nodded his head. “There is.”

“Would you mind describing them to me?” Adam cleared his throat. “Just in case I have the wrong party.”

‘Suspicious!’

‘Suspicious!’ Tom nodded his head slowly. “They’re made up of a halfzer, a devilkin, a half orc, a feynt, and a gnome.”

Adam nodded the entire time until he heard about the gnome. ‘A gnome?’ Though it did sound like the party he knew. “Well, would you mind passing on a message to them for me in case they ever swing by?”

“I can,” Tom said, bringing out a letter.

“Please tell them that if they are ever heading up north into the Snowlands, that I would be willing to go with them as a porter. Tell them that I, you know, have certain abilities.” Adam winked, only to realise he was still wearing his helmet. “I winked, but I’m sure you know what I’m talking about.”

Tom nodded in return. “Is there anything else you’d like me to add?”

Thundersmith sighed. “There’s only one thing ah don’t like about ya Iyrmen, that ya sometimes cater ta elves, but no one’s perfect.”

“Is it not the way,” Jurot said, “to judge someone based on their race.”

“Yeah, yeah,” Thundersmith grumbled.

Adam was already scanning the area, trying to find a decent warhammer that he could use.

Spell

Guidance

1D3 = 1 (1)

Perception Check

D20 + 2 + 1 = 14 (11)

It wasn’t hard to find warhammers, they were favourite weapons of dwarves everywhere, though it was a hard selection.

“Which is your cheapest warhammer?” Adam asked. “I don’t dare claim I can afford most of the items you make.”

“Ah don’t sell cheap warhammers.”

“A good thing I wasn’t asking for a cheap warhammer, otherwise I would have made it. Which warhammer is your most affordable for a Copper Rank adventurer who is still wet behind his pointy leaf ears?”

“Ah don’t sell ta Copper Rank adventurers.”

“Then perhaps to a man with a good heart, master Thundersmith. If this was about my life, I would have gotten a decent warhammer from anywhere, but I’m currently on a quest to defend a few villages from undead. We’re no longer talking about my no good life, but the life of civilians. Master Thundersmith, please, if you would be so kind.”

Thundersmith’s lips twitched, his brows furrowed. ‘This no good half elf.’ He marched his way to a warhammer which he had tossed aside, something he hadn’t quite finished yet. “Ah’m not selling this ta ya, cause it’s not a warhammer ta be sold under me name. Yeh’r going ta leave sixty gold on tha table, and yer going ta take it with ya.”

“Right,” Adam said.

Currency

75GP -> 15GP

Adam counted out each coin, in case the dwarf would threaten him for paying incorrectly. Thundersmith had half expected Adam to leave. ‘How in the rock did he manage to earn so much coin? It’s only been a week!’ He spent most of his time smithing, and so didn’t really hear much about outside his forge, other than maybe once a month.

Yet, Adam placed down the coin. Thundersmith could no longer run away. He placed the warhammer down on the table, and Adam lifted it up.

It was a well made warhammer, one which could easily be seen as dwarven made. There was no obvious flaw within the warhammer, but he was sure that there was something, somewhere, which Thundersmtih didn’t like. Perhaps it was the shape of one of the knobs, or maybe it was because it was a fraction of a millimetre too thin somewhere, and so the dwarf had thrown it away. To a human or a half elf, like Adam, this was a great weapon.

Adam felt he weight of the warhammer, swinging it twice, feeling the way it dislodged the air around him. “It was my pleasure doing business with you, master dwarf.”

“Aye, it was.”

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Oh Thundersmith, how adorable your racism is.

Wait a second.

Warhammer?

Is the author making a statement about how for some reason racists are attracted to a niche hobby which is currently milking them dry for so much money, all the while they worship a god emperor who failed in his goals in life?

No.

No I'm not.

He just bought a warhammer, that's all.