Chapter 3: A Smiths Worth

"Hello travelers I am this village's mayor, I'm unsure of where you've come from, and regret to inform you that you've arrived at the wrong place. I assume you were looking for the capital which happens to be '' the stocky man stopped talking and pointed across the lake towards a city sitting small in the distance "well right over there it's about a six-hour walk by foot". As the man stopped talking a message appeared

[ Main Quest: Journey to the capital

You've ventured a far way to get a chance at a new life but your journey isn't over just yet!

Objective: reach the city on the other side of the lake

Reward: Main Story progress, Begin Class quest, ???]

Without so much as a word, a majority of the people in the town center began to shuffle off towards the other side of the lake. Ryan quickly dismissed the quest window; he had some things to do before heading towards the capital.

Walking up to the stocky man Ryan attempted to ask a question but was swiftly cut off by the stocky man "Do you have a question were preparing for a rather important event, but i might be able to spare but a moment to talk"

Ryan thought for a moment before responding "Yes I actually want to talk about that event I would like to participate". The stocky man looked stunned for a split second before erasing the confused look from his face "Boy do you know what you are truly asking what qualification do you have to ask to participate" the stocky man retorted thinking it was simply a passerby not knowing truly what he was asking for.

"Well, I doubt news has reached a village in this kingdom as it can be rather fractured nowadays, but I am the apprentice of a rather well-known dwarf smith who has asked me to attempt to learn from your teachings". Ryan simply retorted.

This wasn't necessarily a lie on his first playthrough he had been tasked with doing just that but with communication being slow he had arrived months too late to take place in the competition the old man was planning.

The stocky man stroked his beard before replying "Indeed I have fallen out of touch with the dwarven smiths after the goblins became a... Well sticky issue, but how is it you have heard of my competition and made it here to human lands so quickly."

"My master had specifically asked me to go to human lands and seek out a mighty smith name Leon. on my way through one of the nearby towns I just so happened to hear of a competition for that would be held by one master smith Leon" Ryan quickly retorted

"Well, I guess I could let you participate if you can show me that you are qualified in the forge," Leon said well stroking his beard "I have some things to do how about you go to my forge and prepare and I will be around shortly to see how you're doing. Tell my assistant Kendrick to help you he should be in the forge." Leon said throwing Ryan a set of iron keys

[Sub Quest:

A Smiths Worth

Difficulty: A

You've lied about your origins yet your heart is true impress Leon to earn a spot in the competition to learn from a true smithing master!

Objective: Impress Leon with your smithing

Reward: A spot in the coming competition, ??? For exceeding quest parameters

Failure: Leon's opinion will drop to a minimum, Village of Farwater will think poorly of you]

Ryan sighed as he turned and walked towards the village smithy. He had lied about being from dwarven lands, but it would be too slow to earn a human's smith favor to be recommended for the competition. This competition was something he had to win as the rewards were unparalleled as it rewarded one of the best titles for smithing in the early game .

A hard to get title that greatly increased experience gain for smithing through all levels. It was hard to get because it was only handed out to "geniuses" the problem was that NPCs could win the slots!!! If no one was sufficiently skilled in smithing the slots would quickly be gobbled up and you would have to use one of the hidden monstrously hard ways of achieving the title. Not to say it was easy doing it this way Ryan had no levels in smithing yet and could only rely on his past lives skills to pass the test.

Ryan walked to a two-story stone building with a wooden sign hanging from right above the door that read "Farwater Smithy". It was a plain and unassuming building. A building you would barely give a second look-over if you walked past only walking in if you knew you had business to do there.

Opening the door Ryan called out "Leon told me to come to see Kendrick would he be in?". The only response was the rhythmic sound of a hammer on hot metal. Ting Ting Ting walking towards the sound Ryan saw a Solidly built man with short ginger hair holding a red blade above a barrel of water slowly watching as it turned from a searing red to a dim orange before plunging the blade into the water. He held the blade in the water for no more than three seconds before pulling it out and inspecting the blade for cracks.

The man put the blade down on the anvil after looking it over and simply responded "If it's Kendrick you're lookin for you found him. Now, what do you want?"

"Leon sent me to show that I know what I'm doing behind a forge" Ryan cut straight to the point Kendrick grabbed the sword off of the table and handed it to Ryan "well before I let you near the steel I should at least test you this much what's the fault in this blade"

[Minor Quest:

The Broken Blade?

Difficulty: B

Objective: Find the fault in Kendrick's blade to get access to the forge

Reward: Access to the forge, Kendrick's opinion of you rises]