| Subject: GM again. (long) |
Author:
Thomus
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Date Posted: Wed, Mar 06 2002, 03:08pm
In reply to:
Thomus
's message, "GM at last" on Mon, Feb 25 2002, 09:57pm
Snipe wiped the sweat from his brow on the back of his arm. The sound of wood against stone echoed throught he cavern as he leaned his pick against the wall. The seam looked promising, but so far it had only yielded common iron ore.
Unhooking his lantern from his belt, Snipe raised it overhead to get a better look at the stone. The lantern was wrought from purest gold and bore the mark of its maker. Snipe had crafted it not long ago do demonstrate his mastery of the skills of tinkering. Its soft glow played across the rocks and reminded him of the pride he had felt the day he achieved the status of Grandmaster Tinker.
-------
Eager to share the news with his lord, Snipe had sought out Thomus in his tower. He found the archer with Whisper the Bowcrafter. Whisper was a quiet man who rarely left his work. His delicate hands could craft the most exceptional bows and he had brought a few in for Thomus to inspect. Thomus was examining one heavy crossbow with an admiring eye.
Thomus acknowledged Snipe's news with some vague words of congratulation whilst sighting along the walnut stock of a crossbow. Whisper had merely asked him if he had any cogs that could be used to modify slayer bows.
Disappointed with the lack of enthusiasm for his accomplishment, Snipe had wandered down to the laboratory of Hemlock the crafty alchemist. Hemlock was a secretive fellow and his laboratory was full of mysterious objects that always made Snipe feel uneasy.
The old achemist was grinding pungent herbs and strange powders when Snipe arrived. He barely looked up when Snipe shared his news. As he carefully emptied the contents of a mortar into a small bottle he offered his congratulations and requested that another potion keg be assembled as soon as possible. The fumes of the laboratory were beginning to make Snipe feel dizzy so he took his leave of the tower to get some fresh air.
Snipe had felt that he deserved a little more recognition after all his hard work and training. He was a skilled craftsman, not the tower handyman. After sulking for a while he decided upon a plan that would win him the praise of Lord Thomus and the respect of his peers.
Already, his mining talents were impressive. If he could master the skill of mining he would be twice a grandmaster. More accomplished than Whisper or Hemlock.
-------
Under his lantern light, Snipe detected the tell tale blue glint that indicated the presence of valorite ore. Retreiving his pick, he used it to chip away a lump of ore. His back ached, his hands were blistered in his mining gloves, and he definitely needed a bath. But as he looked at the lump of blue ore in his hand he knew that he had achieved his goal. He could find the rarest of ores and turn them into useful metal ingots. He was a Grandmaster for a second time.
Eager to see the look on his friends faces he quickly thumbed through a tattered runebook was soon standing outside the tower.
Whisper and Hemlock were enjoying an ale together when Snipe burst in holding the up lump of valorite ore in triumph. Before his friends could utter a word Snipe announced in a loud voice,
"I can smell a valorite seam from a hundred paces. I can tell eight different ores by touch alone. I can carry my own weight in ingots. I can smelt ore blindfolded and with my hammer held in my teeth! I have mastered the craft of tinkering and now I am a grandmaster MINER! What say you to that?"
For a moment there was silence. Whisper carefully wiped some ale froth from the end of his nose as he considered the grime covered apparition before him, but it was Hemlock who spoke first.
"Why that is splendid Snipe. A truly remarkable achievement. Isn't that right Whisper?"
The bowcrafter still looked a little confused but managed to nod. Hemlock didn't wait for any elaboration.
"You must be exhausted old chap. Look at you! Too little sun and fresh air I'll wager. You look like you need a good rest Snipe. In fact, I feel certain that you deserve nothing less than a holiday.
I'll tell you what. Take some time off. I hear that Nujel'm is quite nice this time of year. I can open a gate for you and you can relax on the beach for a while and read a good book.
In fact, I have a good book right here. Let it be my gift to you in honor of your fine achievement."
Hemlock pulled a small volume from the folds of his robes and pressed it into one of Snipe's hands whilst vigorously shaking the other.
"Well, er... ", Snipe started to say, but Hemlock cut him off.
"Think nothing of it my friend, it is nothing less than you deserve. And the holiday will do you the world of good. Now you enjoy yourself and don't let me see you back here until you have had a good dose of sea, sun and sand."
Before he knew it, Snipe was standing on a beatiful sunny beach. A cool breeze was coming in from the sea and the steady sound of the waves was already beginning to have a calming effect.
"Time for some well earned rest and relaxation", thought Snipe.
He sat in the shade of a palm tree and thought about how nice it was to be given a little respect. It was good not to be treated like tower handyman for a change.
Snipe made himself comfortable on the warm beach took out the small book the alchemist had given him. The the gargoyle runes on the cover said,
"Finding Glass-Quality Sand"
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