Chapter 3.10: Mines and Mints

Chapter 3.10: Mines and Mints

Your timing is suspiciously aligned with when I create a new potion, Theo said.

He took a seat in his lab, gazing out the window as the voice of Fenian echoed through his mind. The telepathic link was like the Taraheks version, but different enough to render it cumbersome. The entire experience reminded him that the officials from Qavell hadnt contacted him in some time, and the last time he tried to establish communication, they didnt respond.

Im a man of many talents, Fenian said. Excellent timing is one of them.

The traders are flowing south like a tide, Theo said. Migrants and adventurers, too. Why do I have the feeling that you have something to do with the whole thing?

I dont know what youre talking about, Fenian said.

Even through the communication crystal, Theo could spot a lie. The Elf had something to do with the merchants war, but that was for the better. If Fenian dismantled that establishment, everyone in the kingdom would benefit. Fenian Feintleaf was a strange trader. He seemed more interested in seeing Broken Tusk built up than making a tidy profit, although he also did that. He was Theos link to the outside world, possessing a magical transportation that made long distances irrelevant. There had to be some limitations, but the alchemist never pushed him on the subject.

Potions, Fenian said, repeating his earlier sentiment. If I know you, you have none in your stockpile.

Theo stopped himself from rising to the comment, clearing his throat and letting out a breath. Just a few things. The art of alchemy takes time to perfect, Fenian.

Naturally, Fenian said. Well, Im dropping off an order soon. The winds have turned in my favor and I have gold reserves again. Ill buy every potion you craft.

It was hard to think about the trader going broke. He seemed to pull gold from nowhere, but that was a childish thought. The Elf had holdings somewhere, some investment he called on. For a few weeks, Fenian was transporting people vast distances to avoid the rise of the cults. According to the rumors, those cults were put down and order had been restored. Only now did Theo think the cults were a ruse, something designed to hide the merchants war.

I have some new ones, Theo said, confident that he could brew massive quantities before the trader arrived. Some strange, some useful.

Perfect. See you soon, Fenian said.

Without another word, the connection was severed. The items Fenian coveted the most were obvious. Restoration potions and stat-enhancement potions. Those were the easiest to sell. Theo refused to sell the trader his bombs, any bombs, based on how dangerous they could be. There was also an experience boost potion he could make that was illegal, so he avoided the truffles properties altogether.

Fenian is coming to town, Theo said, tapping into his Tarahek power.

Sweet! I bet he has my order, Tresk said.

Something about the way her voice came through let him know she was already in a dungeon. Excitement flooded his body as he realized she was over that hump.

Theo had a plan for the days work, but a few items he wanted to create were novelty items. He rummaged through his supplies and located a few things hed need for the days brewing. Tresk always kept a store of [Marsh Tubers] nearby, and the alchemist was intent on extracting the [Solidify] modifier property. He usually had enough [Manashrooms] to brew at least 500 mana potions, but he sat on a surplus. He prepared both ingredients, filling his fermentation barrels before stepping back to inspect the barrels.

[Enchanted Alchemy Fermentation Barrel]

[Alchemy Equipment] [Enchanted]

Epic

Created By: Sledge

Modified By: Zarali

A 200 unit capacity barrel capable of fermenting any reagents placed inside. Placing a mote with the mash is required for the process to take effect. Additional motes and mana may be required over the course of the fermentation.

Effects:

Creates a fermentation reaction when reagents are placed inside with a mote.

Speed of fermentation is greatly increased, depending on the strength of the mote.

Enchantments:

Siphon Power

Distribute Power

Perfect. I have an idea, Theo said, gesturing for the man to follow him up and out of the gentle slope of the tunnel.

Once they were up in the fresh air and bright sunlight, Theo went over his concept. I have a potion that should dig the tunnels for you. I havent brewed it yet, but Im certain it will work. Dont dig more than one exploration tunnel at a time, and branch everything off that one tunnel you showed me. Dig a large area out in that tunnel, enough for us to mount a defensive pointstuff like metal gates and artificesthen use my potions to dig deeper.

Magical digging? Gridgen asked, leaning on his pick and grinning. You think potions solve everything, dont you?

Theo nodded. Sometimes Im wrong, but it often works out. You understand what the goal is, right?

To avoid monsters and find silver? Gridgen asked.

No, Theo said, smiling. To find both. I dont imagine many people would be insane enough to look for those caverns, but Im interested in farming them out.

Theos mind shifted. Gridgen mentioned something earlier that he had riddled out through something Zarali said. He took a breath, stopped to collect his thoughts, then continued.

Coin minting, Theo said, nodding. Tell me everything you know about minting currency.

Gridgen stuck his hand into a sack hung from his belt, digging around for something. He withdrew a single copper coin and held it up. Somehow youve stumbled on someone who knows a lot about something for no good reason. Well, I worked as a porter for the royal mint for a time. Not the mint directly, but the mine that supplied the mint. What is this coin made of? Why does it have any value?

Theo understood the concept of a currency backed by a precious metal, but here that made little sense. A copper bar wasnt worth a copper coin, and a copper coin contained less copper than the bar. That was a mystery that he never gave much thought, chalking it up to some system-related backing of the money. When the alchemist was given the first bit of information regarding a topic, he could extrapolate to the end with little effort. This one was more simple than he thought.

Magic, Theo said, shrugging. The coins have some kind of magical use, and are soaked in the stuff.

Thats how the royal minter explained it, Gridgen said, flipping the coin in the air and catching it. They have some secret process to press a piece of copper with magic. He said it was extremely dense. As in, theres more magic in a copper coin than in his mana pool. And he had a lot of mana.

Theres the question, though, Theo said, tapping his chin. Coins had mana, but what did that matter? Whats the point of the coins?

High-level crafts, Gridgen said, shrugging as though everyone knew that.

How do we make a mint? Theo asked.

Gridgen blustered, looking at Theo as though he were a crazy person. Youd need a lot of ambient mana. And a specialized building. Whats wrong with your face? Whats the look for? Theo?

Theo had fallen into thought, his mouth hanging open as he realized the implications. The mine already produced copper, and it would produce silver. They had more ambient mana than they knew what to do with. Thats what Zarali was doing. Her long-term plans fell into his mind in an instant. She was accumulating mana in her enchanting building as a test, not just to satisfy her enchanting needs. Perhaps she was hanging on to the idea until she was certain it would work, but the alchemist had no such reservations.

Im going to brew you some potions to help you find silver, Theo said. Without waiting for a response from the man, he sent a message through the town-wide messaging system.

[Theo]: Aarok, Throk, report to the mine. Not an emergency.

Gridgen explained how impossible what he wanted to do while they waited for the two men to show up. Aarok arrived with Luras after a few moments, they must have not understood that it wasnt an emergency. Throk came shortly after. Theo explained what he wanted. A defensive point in the mine to bolster against the possibility of a cavern breach, and adventurers to man it.

I can build an iron gate easy enough, Throk said, waving him off.

More than happy to spare a few adventurers for the effort, Aarok said. Sentry duty, right?

Exactly, Theo said.

Theo went into detail on his plan. This was the first step in a long journey for Broken Tusk to mint their own currency. It was a chance to claw independence away from Qavell, and each man standing there on that hill were people he trusted with his life. People who wanted nothing more than to transform their little town into an independent nation-state. The one thing they needed more than anything else was money. Enough spiritstone coins to gain some amount of independence and stop paying the absurd taxes to the crown.

Currently, Broken Tusk owed taxes every month. It was raised recently to support the war effort. Property was taxed 15% on its value, exports 20%, and sales 15%. That meant if they exported anything from the town, they owed 35% of the value of the item to the crown. Luras, Aarok, and Throk were on board, but Gridgen had his reservations. He simply didnt believe they could gather enough energy to produce the coins.

Well, youve gone and ruined my surprise! Zarali shouted from down the hill.

All eyes turned to her. The Dronon woman was stomping up the hill, hands on her hips and a grim look on her face. Im not even done testing the quality of the mana, she said, letting out a huff.

Its pure enough, isnt it? Theo asked, excitement flooding his body.

Zaralis posture straightened, a smile spreading across her face. Of course it is, brother. We just need the building, the metal, and someone with a [Minters Core].