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TVRWS 43
🕑 Added 2024-05-25 18:06:43 +0000 UTC43: Voros the Animal
One card draw, five more to go. A fortune of SP was spent and thanks to the fact that I was born to the richest house in Elgard, I don't fear spending money to find good talents.
And so I had to look for a talented prospect among slaves. One that has both skills and character.
Among this many Duergar, I need to determine by my eyes and then confirm it with my cards.
"Jane, what do you think?" I asked the companion who dealt with Duergar before.
"While Dwarves are known for their crafting skill, it is rare even to find a Master Craftsman among them. Most Duergars prefer to be brewers, miners, or builders. Only those with highborn lineage work the forge… well, in most cases." Jane said.
That was an interesting piece of information. So the Duergar smiths are ones of highborn descent.
"Esmeralda, what do you think?" I then asked Esmeralda, who has traveled more than I have and saw places I never saw.
"While I don't know much about Duergar, my people were enemies to the southern Dwarves, the Aqzam, who are hornless, unlike the Duergar. We were always told that if we see a Dwarf with distinctive tattoos, we should hunt them with the atlatl." Esmeralda said.
Alright, a bit brutal but it seems that southern Aqzam smiths get specific tattoos. Would that apply to northern Duergar?
"Logan?" I asked my knight who should have at least dealt with a smith before.
"A blacksmith is a blacksmith, simple as that." He said while looking around.
"Well… how can I tell?" I asked while feeling a bit distrustful of his simple way of looking at things.
"The nature of one's occupation can provide insights into their character. Consider two contrasting examples: a gardener and a coachman. The gardener, surrounded by vibrant greenery and the harmonious chirps of birds, experiences a serene and beautiful work environment. In contrast, the coachman, positioned behind the horse, endures unpleasant odors and deals with the animal's unpredictable behavior. These vastly different work environments are likely to shape the demeanor and overall disposition of the individuals involved. What do you think, Princess?" He explained then asked me.
"A gardener lives in harmony with nature, he sees beauty and thus looks good and dresses well even when not on the job. Coachmen are known for their attitude and foul mouths." I replied.
"There you have it. What about a blacksmith that works between metal and coal, the foul smell of the bellows, and the searing fire of a forge?" He asked.
"Well… given your way of looking at things, he would be someone you'd want to punch right in the face the moment you run into him." I replied.
"And the student surpasses the master." Logan bowed slightly.
"Thanks, Logan. That was impressively… wise."
"You are welcome, princess."
So… I guess what I am looking for is a highborn Duergar with a foul temper that you'd want to punch it out of him and may or may not have tribal Duregar tattoos.
Let's forget about the tattoos now and focus on what we have.
Not you, not you, definitely not you, here's one, another, not this one, that one in the back, I am not sure but I'll return to that one, as for that one… guess not.
The process of finding out my dream Duergar was difficult but I eventually found ten candidates from the grand total of thirty-three. I can't think I can make a decision on who's better than who since I am still a beginner in this thing.
For now, I'll go with luck.
"You." I pointed to a Duergar from the top row and he casually opened the door of his cage and sat down on the doorstep.
"Well hello, young miss. How can I help you?" The Duergar replied with a cheerful voice.
"I assume you are a blacksmith?"
"Of course, the best in this place after Vladimir, of course."
"Is that so?" I was planning to draw a card but I wanted to ask another question, "What is your best work?"
"My best work? Pffft! I treat all my work equally but if I have to single out one particular item, it would be that blade carried by the elderly overseer of the north port."
"Baron Wetten, you mean?" Logan asked.
"That's him." He replied.
"You think we're daft?" Logan frowned at the Duergar, "The Wetten family's heirloom is the saber Lord Cutler Wetten carries. It is a treasure that dates back to 300 years."
"Eh?" The Duergar was shocked, "But I crafted him another one. A replica so that the original can be kept away."
That was obviously a lie, Logan's sharpness saved me a card draw and made me realize one thing, most Dwarves here are liars.
Next…
"You."
"Yes, mistress."
I singled out a young dwarf from the bottom row whose face was darkened with forging traces.
"You a blacksmith?"
"Not exactly, I am a furnace man but I learned to craft."
"Well, thank you for your honesty."
Apparently not that simple, eh?
Next…
"Are you a blacksmith?"
"Aye!"
"What's your best work?"
"Aye!"
"Excuse me?"
"Aye!"
"Are you some sort of retard?"
"…"
"So you were planning to make a fool out of me?"
"Nay!"
Forgive him, Vivian, forgive him. You are a young woman with a good heart. Put that gun away.
Next…
"Are you a smith?"
"I am, lady."
"What is your best work?"
"I make armor. My best work is a breastplate I made for my chieftain before we lost a fight to the blasted Novarkians and were taken by the Blackguards seven years back. Lost a lot of brothers that day."
"I am sorry for your loss."
"My loss is that I am living under that blasted turncoat, Vladimir. I am twice the craftsman he is yet I don't get acknowledged around here."
While it is a good story, I am here on business and so I had to leave emotions out of it and so I drew the card.
It was Death, Reversed. Not a good card.
——————————
— Name: Kresimir "Sluggy" Blackforge
— Race: Duergar (Dwarf)
— Age: 88
— Social: Craftsman Slave (The Blackguards), Chief Crafter (The Blackforge Clan)
— Traits: Expert Metalsmith, Duergar Nature
— Emotions: Depression from burned-out creativity
——————————
Well, this guy is having a bad day. The reversed Death usually means the fear of change but it can also mean decay or, in his case, stagnation.
It is not that difficult to get out of a mental block, one has to try new things and refresh their souls but with that guy, he fell into stagnation to earn him the title of Sluggy. Even with his trait of being an Expert Metalsmith, I am not sure he is worth the investment.
And look at that! This guy is 88 years old and looks like he's around his mid-40s while that other guy looked like an elder and he was 51. You can't really tell what's going on with these Duergar.
But then, fate lit up a spark not too far at the edge of my vision and something caught my attention.
A Duergar, whose face was darkened with soot, and if not for his clear bright eyes which he averted away immediately, I would have missed him in the shadows. Actually, I never even noticed him when I singled out the ten metalworker prospects earlier.
I walked a few steps to the cage and I couldn't believe I almost missed that.
Unlike most of the cages, this cage was locked but that was the thing I noticed later. What I noticed right away about this particular cage was how carved it was. All cages here are made of dark iron but this particular one had some of the most artistic carvings that I have ever seen.
Every little detail was nothing short of an exquisite piece of art. But the more I looked, the crazier it became. Some carvings served no particular decorative purpose and at some point, I felt like those carvings at the very top looked like screw grooves.
Each bar in the cage was unique in a way and if I pieced it all together in my mind, I think some of these bars were just part of something else like that Meccano game I used to play with as a child.
At that moment, I mindlessly held the bar and felt its details that depicted flowers, thorns, skulls, and all sorts of imagery that would make goth girls wet themselves but suddenly…
HAAAH!!!
The Duergar inside the cage bared his fangs and charged at me with his mouth wide open. I was actually freaked out because that man's teeth were all sharp like fangs and he seemed very aggressive.
Fearful for my hand, which he was about to reach too, my instincts kicked in and a straight left jab landed on the face of that idiotic Duergar.
THWACK
THUD
"MOTHERFUCKER!" I shouted out of fright but I hope nobody noticed that.
"Vivian!"
"My lady!"
Logan and Esmerlada rushed at me immediately and I was literally carried like a kitten by Esmerlada while Logan had his sword at the Duergar's face.
"Oh no! He's done it again!"
"Shit! It's the Animal."
"Man, we will not see the end of this."
As the dwarves started whining about that particular Duergar, Logan's eyes were sending out red sparks.
"THIS FILTHY MONGREL! YOU THINK YOU'LL DIE PEACEFULLY?"
"Calm down, Logan!" I called for Logan but I couldn't escape the mighty grasp of Esmeralda.
"Don't hold me back, Vivian. That bastard wounded your hand. I can't forgive…"
I somehow slipped from Esmerlada and held Logan's arms who didn't budge an inch. For goodness sake, my weak hand can't even affect him.
I am thankful everybody around me is so strong but it is starting to weigh down on my feelings.
Distracted again by Logan's muscles, was I?
"Hey, look here. This is not even my blood."
I showed Logan my left hand, which on top of wearing a glove, that blood was actually from the poor Duergar I just punched.
Logan calmed down a little but then he frowned and looked at me.
"Did you just curse at that Duregar?"
He noticed!
Oh, boy! They all noticed!
"Just a slip of a tongue, water under the bridge."
"No, that was some strong lang…"
"Logan, dear."
"Hm?"
"Shut it."
"Alright."
Logan didn't retreat and kept close as I approached the cage once again.
"This is some impressive carving, Mr…?"
I waited for the Duergar covered in soot to reply but he seemed rather aggressive and unresponsive.
"You were right about the punching thing." I spoke to Logan.
"If my memory serves right, that was your idea." He replied.
Should I draw a card this time? I only have four draws left and I am feeling this particular Duergar is quite the unhinged manic. I mean sharpened teeth, claw-like fingernails, soot all over his skin, overly grown hair, and a very unkempt beard, let alone being covered from head to toe in soot.
I am hesitating! Truly hesitating.
But a second look at that marvelous work he had made out of his cage and my judgment gets clouded even more.
Fine! Here's a draw.
To my utter surprise, the card I drew was the Lovers.
For real?
——————————
— Name: Voros "The Animal" Goldheart
— Race: Duergar (Dwarf)
— Age: 39
— Social: Craftsman Slave (The Blackguards), 13th Son of the Chieftain (Goldheart Clan)
— Traits:
—— Master Metallurgist
—— Expert Mechanic
—— Duergar Nature
— Emotions: Lamenting his lost love
——————————
Master Metallurgist and Expert Mechanic? He seems like a very skilled craftsman but I need another opinion on this.
"Jane."
"Yes, my lady."
"What's a metallurgist?"
My question wasn't for the lack of understanding since the word meant a mineral expert but I don't know what it means in the context of crafting in this world.
But the look on Jane's face was that of pure shock.
"A metallurgist is someone who can do wonders with metal, my lady."
"Hmmm… then what about a Master Metallurgist?"
My question caused Jane to hold her breath for a moment and then look at me with eyes that were trying to convey something difficult.
"What?"
"Can I use vulgar words?"
"You heard me curse just now."
"Fine. Master Metallurgists are like…" She got closer to whisper, "A wet dream."
"That's enough, thank you."
"They are like these lordly figures and amazing masters. If one of them opens shop in any place, the Lord himself would come and welcome them with gifts and wedding offers. Once, I heard that a village in a barren area was turned into a very rich town because a master metallurgist moved over there."
"You're getting excited, Jane."
"I know… Sorry, I tend to lose control sometimes."
This Voros Goldheart, or as others call him "The Animal", is someone I can't miss out on. If even my father was to learn that someone like that exists, he'd raise hell just to acquire him at his business.
"Look at this. Do you want to be beaten for real this time?"
I heard Logan shouting once again and I turned to see him looking with displeasure at the Voros the Duergar. As for the Duergar, he was reaching his hand to me.
"Logan, wait."
I approached the man and as I looked closer, he was not reaching out for me but rather for the Card in my hand. I didn't know what to do so I told him what was on it.
"The Lovers."
I don't know what befell that savage Duergar but the moment he heard that, it was as if he quivered from deep within and sat on his knees.
"Re… reversed?" He asked in a hoarse and shaken voice.
"He speaks?" "Really?" "Was it the Animal?"
As if it was a shock to the other Duergar, who looked at Voros with interest.
"No, upright." I replied and turned the card to him.
As if he understood the meaning, two white lines were drawn under his eyes as tears fell and cleared the soot away.
He reached out once again and I didn't really feel like stopping him from having the card.
He received it from me and gently looked at it with sadness that even Logan respected and kept his distance from.
After a short while, Voros raised his eyes and looked at me.
"Please… more."
This was my sixth overall draw and it cost me 600 SPs. I couldn't just draw another card easily.
"I am willing to draw your fortune but I need something in return."
"I'll… work. Whatever!" Voros said and it felt like he was so desperate for that reading.
"I can't draw forever so…" I didn't want to but I felt like we had made a promise to one another.
It was the Hermit… reversed. Not a good card.
I handed it to him and he looked at it, this time with no sadness, but with acceptance. He laid down the Lovers card then on the ground then reversed Hermit in a bit of a lower stance.
He knows how to do a layout.
He then looked at me again.
"Fine."
Another card was drawn… the Devil. Thankfully, reversed.
He took it, looked at it, and somehow feared this card. He nodded to himself and then put it in his layout.
The Lovers were on the west, the reversed Hermit on the south, the reversed Devil on the East…
Ah, a Four Card layout it seems. Past, Present, Future, and Result.
One last card… I can't deny him this after reaching this far.
Once I drew that card, I smiled. I couldn't wait to give it to him but…
"What is the meaning of this? You can't just enter the slave pen!"
I totally forgot about that. Officer Benjamin sat off to bring his boss after my little Karen acted and he seemed to have arrived while fuming with rage.
I turned to the Duergar and spoke.
"I'll have to handle this first, Voros. Don't go anywhere."
