Chapter 17: The Bell

Chapter 17: The Bell

You got your inventory power, Luras said, watching as Theo shoved 10 barrels into his inventory.

Tresk approached, unhooking the dimensional bag from her belt and holding it out for the Half-Ogre to see. I got a bag!

Luras, shouldnt you sleep, Theo said, knitting his brow.

While Theos tasks were many, he had a good night's sleep and a square meal. He felt Luras intention to help him with the barrels, but wanted to head that conversation off. Whatever adventures the man had in Rivers and Daub could wait to be told another day.

I should, Luras said.

Despite the effects of the [Lesser Stamina Potion], he looked tired beyond reason. He turned on the spot and shambled up the hill, dragging his feet through the mud as he went. Theo felt bad for a moment, but the big guy just needed some rest.

Stamina potions dont remove the need to sleep, Tresk said. It just gives you a jolt that doesnt last long. Your stamina bar could be full, but youll still be dead tired.

Theo made his way around the water tower and behind the blacksmiths shop, east toward the river. He turned on the spot, beckoning for his companion to follow. Filling the barrels at the river would be easier if someone with more than 7 [Strength] came along to help.

Ten barrels at 200 units eachwe'll need to make five trips to fill the tower, Theo said.

You dont have to fill it all the way, Tresk scoffed. This is work for a hireling, anyway.

Theo stopped and sighed, turning back again to look at the water tower. The tank of the tower was a perfect cylinder of wrapped copper perched atop a wooden frame. It sat two Half-Ogres high and caught the rising sun perfectly. He could easily hire someone to collect the water, bringing it to the lab to be purified, but he wanted to do it himself.

I want to do the first filling myself, Theo said. This was the first idea I had to make Broken Tusk better, and I want to see it through.

Tresk hopped over to him, grabbing his arm and pulling him toward the river. Then lets get this done.

The pair arrived at the river, spotting the same Marshling fishermen Theo had seen before. They waved and smiled at Tresk, heading southward toward the ocean. Filling the barrels was significantly easier when Tresk held them steady in the water. Despite her slight build, she kept them in place with ease. Compared to his attempt at filling his personal water barrel, this went well. They had all ten barrels filled in a matter of minutes, quickly returning to the lab to pick up their leftover [Purifying Essence].

Theo had the [Purified Water] reaction memorized and withdrew the barrels outside of the blacksmith. In a matter of moments, he turned 2,000 units of [River Water], with their deadly pathogens, into [Purified Water]. Tresk volunteered to dump them into the top of the water tower, stowing the barrels into her bag and ascending a rickety ladder. Her superior [Dexterity] and [Strength] meant that she had no trouble handling the heavy barrels, and was back down with the alchemist in minutes.

Theo turned the spigot at the bottom, causing a torrent of water to rush out. He put his face under the tap and let it wash over him, guzzling the water and turning to cast a beaming smile at his companion. She laughed and shoved her head under the tap to drink the fresh water. A crowd gathered as they frolicked in the pure water, absorbed in their celebration of accomplishment. Oruk, the Half-Ogre laborer, was the first to voice his confusion.

Whats this? he said, cocking his head.

Fresh water, Theo said, turning the spigot off and addressing the crowd. Only after the flow had ceased did he realize that most of the town was gawking at him.

Free [Purified Water], Tresk said, bouncing up and down. For everyone to drink. No more boiling your drinking water.

A ripple of excitement spread across the crowd. Townsfolk rushed off to their homes, shouting about retrieving buckets to collect the precious water. Theo had easy access to as much drinkable water as he needed, aided by his powerful alchemy. The Marshlings didnt have need for the pure water, but every Half-Ogre in town needed to boil their water before consuming it. Tresk and Theo grinned at each other, heading back toward the river for another run.

While they had no intention of filling the water tower to capacity, they did exactly that. Each time they returned from the river, different people gathered to fill their buckets. Only on the fifth run did the crowd disperse, the excited murmurs still flowing through them like the surge of the river. Tresk returned the barrels to her father, giving him her thanks while Theo ascended the ladder. His [Drogramath Distillery Specialty] skill allowed him to judge that only a barrels worth of water had been taken in the initial surge. The massive capacity of the water tower would last a long time.

How many cores did you find on your adventure? Theo asked, climbing down from the ladder.

15 cores, and a bunch of other junk, Tresk said. I was thinking of picking up the quest once Miana posts it Couldve made 30 copper yesterday.

Not to mention the money youd make selling the hides to Perg, Theo said.

Im still not good at skinning the beasts, Tresk said.

Tresk cast her gaze over the water tower, admiring her fathers work. Theo fell into his thoughts, going through the things he still needed to do. Food was an issue again, and he didnt have a suitable solution. The Zee was already overstaying its welcome as a part of his diet, and he didnt have an alternative. As he weighed his options, his inventory came to mind. The assumption was that food didnt rot when it stayed there, and until he found a proper storage solution for his shop, it would do.

Well, were almost out of Zee I think Ill sort our food situation out before moving on to other projects.

If you dont mind, Id like to spend the day adventuring, Tresk said, grinning.

Thats perfect. Even if you cant skin the wolves, bring some meat back. We can try our hand at wolf meat stew, Theo said.

That works for me, Tresk said, beckoning for him to bend to her level. She pressed her forehead against his before departing toward the swamp.

Theo went around the water tower, finding his way to the blacksmith. Throk hammered away at a bar of red-hot iron. The alchemist had to wave his hands to get the mans attention. Do you sell pots?

Copper pots, sure, Throk said. You know you can go inside of the storethis is just the workshop.

Theo followed him to a small storage shed, where the man produced a bucket containing a tar-like substance, and a brush.

Thank you, Theo said.

The alchemist retreated to his shop with the paint and found a small bit of wood on the outside of his shop. When he wrote open on one side, he found the action strange. Hed never written in his newly adopted language, and didnt even know what the people of the land called it. The blocks of letters came out strange-looking, but it would do. He wrote closed on the other side, leaving it to dry as he returned the paint. He didnt find Begrut there, so he just left the paint where the Half-Ogre retrieved it from.

Theo returned to the lab, finding Oruk banging on the inside frame of the door. He slid past the laborer and went upstairs to retrieve some string. Among the many piles of junk that littered the lab, he found a length that would do. By the time he made it back downstairs, Oruk was done with the job. He opened and closed the door a few times, producing a pleasant jingling noise.

Could you hang a sign for me? Theo asked.

Sure, just dont pay me, Oruk said, scoffing. You always overpay people.

Theos face flushed again, and the Half-Ogre followed him to the drying sign. He grunted something and retrieved a hand drill from a wooden toolbox, drilling two holes in either side of the plank of wood. Oruk then placed a nail in the center of the door, hanging the sign and turning to grin at the alchemist.

See? Easy, Oruk said. Looks like a kid wrote it, though.

Theres a disconnect between speaking this language and writing it, Theo said.

I always forget youre an outworlder, Oruk said, scratching his chin. You fit in far too well here at Broken TuskI even forget youre a Dronon.

Do people in the wider world fear the Dronon?

I wouldnt know, Oruk said. Ive lived my whole life here. Seen everything from Elves to Goblins pass through, and the only thing I learned from them was that a jerk is a jerk. No matter the race.

Good to know, Theo said. I may have more work for you later. Thats all for today.

Thanks, boss, Oruk grunted, waddling up the muddy road.

Theo retreated into his shop, smiling as the bell jingled. He mentally updated Tresk on the shops new features, which she seemed excited for. The alchemist went upstairs, working on a list of the potions he wanted to stock when the faint tinkle of the bell issued from downstairs. He perked up, descending with the expectation of seeing Perg or Luras. A Half-Ogre woman he vaguely recognized stood behind the counter, her eyes snapping to him as he descended the stairs. She had a chipped sword fastened to her belt with tattered leather armor covering her body.

Oh! Ive seen you at the farm, Theo said, suddenly realizing where hed seen her.

Yes. I need some potions, alchemist, the woman said.

He shrugged, coming to stand before the counter. Are you planning to go out adventuring?

Yes. The bounty quest on the wolves is too good, she said.

Im guessing, on a farmers wage, you have little coin, Theo said, smiling.

The woman rummaged through her bag, producing 10 copper coins and placing them on the table as though they were a fortune. Theos heart ached at the destitute nature of the farmers. A two copper bounty on wolves was an amazing opportunity for them. Theyd earn that with a day of hard labor out in the fields, if they were lucky. Oruks words of the alchemist being too generous rang through his mind, but he couldnt help himself.

Theo found the shelf with the [Lesser Healing Potions] and plucked five of them before grabbing a single [Lesser Stamina Potion]. He laid them out on the counter and smiled. I wont lie to you, adventurer. Id expect to charge five copper per potion, minimum.

Im not looking for charity, she growled.

And Im not looking to give it. Consider this an adventurer starter pack, until you can bring in some bounties, Theo said. Theres no shortage of wolves. Youll stand to make a farmers yearly wage in a week if you can kill the wolves.

She hesitated for a moment before taking the potions, stuffing them in her bag. Her gaze locked onto Theos eyes, a cold, piercing look that sent a shiver up his spine. The next time I come in here Im paying full price.

The bell jingled merrily behind her, and the alchemist let out a heavy sigh. The Half-Ogres hated getting things for free. They seemed to have honor that was sorely lacking back on Earth. He knew that shed return to the shop and buy the potions at full price, and shed be able to afford it if she spent her days in the swamp, slaying wolves. Theo just couldnt stand the thought of hearing about a citizen of Broken Tusk, dead in the mud because they went unprepared. He added the 10 copper to his inventory before the thoughts got out of control, returning to the second floor.

Something unexpected happened, Theo said to Tresk. He underlined the entry on his parchment for [Lesser Healing Potions], and turned to assess their stock of the [Spiny Swamp Thistle Root].

Whats that?

A farmer came in, fancying herself an adventurer. I gave her potions for a stealI dont think she can handle herself out there, Theo said.

They have one thing on their side. Farmers put their points into [Vigor] and [Strength, Tresk said. The wolves are usually level 5, and the farmers arent dumb.

Theo thought for a moment before he responded. Assuming that every backwater farmer was an idiot was his fault. The allure of more coin was strong, but the Half-Ogres were strong and smart. They lived in Broken Tusk their entire life, and would be well familiar with the local monsters. Armed with 5 [Lesser Healing Potions], she could get out of most scrapes.

Youre right. Im going to craft more healing potions. I have a feeling were going to have a surge of would-be adventurers soon, Theo said.