Chapter 38: Preparing for the Fen

With the Shadowfen quest accepted, Drake found himself officially inducted into the ranks of the Adventurers' Guild. The process was surprisingly simple, involving little more than filling out a form, a brief interview with Gareth, and a handshake. He was now a registered adventurer, complete with a guild-issued badge and a small, leather-bound journal for recording his adventures.

He spent the rest of the day in Oakhaven preparing for his journey to the Shadowfen. He visited the local shops, restocking his supplies and purchasing some new equipment. He bought some sturdy waterproof boots, a thick cloak to protect him from the swamp's damp chill, and a few extra potions of healing. He also sold the Void Brute hide and muscle fibers, as well as the Void Stalker essence and claws, earning a substantial amount of gold.

*Notification: "Items Sold: 2 x Void Brute Hide, 5 x Void Brute Muscle Fibers, 3 x Void Stalker Essence, 6 x Void Stalker Claws. Gold Earned: 1500."*

"Not bad," Drake muttered, counting his newly acquired wealth. "With this kind of cash flow, I can finally afford that solid gold jacuzzi I've always dreamed of. Or, you know, maybe just some better armor. Probably the armor."

He visited the local armorer, a gruff but skilled craftsman who had a wide selection of armor and weapons. Drake decided to invest in a set of chainmail, which offered better protection than his leather jerkin but was still relatively light and maneuverable. He also had his short sword sharpened and reinforced.

As he was leaving the armorer's shop, he noticed a small stall selling various magical trinkets and artifacts. He decided to take a look, curious to see what was on offer.

The stall was run by a wizened old gnome with a long, white beard and twinkling blue eyes. He greeted Drake with a warm smile.

"Welcome, traveler," he said in a high-pitched voice. "Are you interested in enhancing your… abilities?"

Drake raised an eyebrow. "Enhancing my abilities?" he repeated. "What do you have in mind?"

The gnome gestured to a display case filled with various items: amulets, rings, staffs, and even a few strange-looking stones.

"I have a variety of enchanted items that can enhance your strength, speed, magical abilities, and more," the gnome explained.

Drake examined the items, his eyes landing on a small, obsidian amulet that pulsed with a faint dark energy.

"What's this?" he asked, pointing to the amulet.

"That," the gnome said, his eyes twinkling, "is an Amulet of Shadow Mastery. It enhances the wearer's connection to the darkness, making their shadow magic more powerful."

Drake's interest was piqued. He had only just begun to explore his darkness abilities, and an item that could enhance them was certainly tempting.

"How much?" he asked.

"500 gold coins," the gnome replied.

Drake winced. That was a significant amount of money, but he considered the potential benefits. He decided it was a worthwhile investment.

He purchased the amulet, putting it on immediately. He felt a faint surge of dark energy flow through him, strengthening his connection to the shadows.

*Notification: "Item Acquired: Amulet of Shadow Mastery. Effect: Enhances Darkness Magic."*

With his new equipment and supplies, Drake felt much better prepared for his journey to the Shadowfen. He returned to the stables, saddled Clunky, and set off eastward once more.

As he rode, he thought about the information he had gathered about the Shadowfen. It was a swamp, a place of mystery and danger, filled with strange creatures and powerful magic. It was also a place where people were disappearing. He felt a sense of responsibility to investigate these disappearances, to find out what was happening in the fen and to help those who were in danger.

He also thought about the Voidwatch, the order of mages who specialized in interdimensional threats. He still intended to seek them out, but the Shadowfen quest had taken priority. He felt that dealing with the immediate threat was more important than seeking out answers to his own questions.

As the sun began to set, Drake found a suitable campsite for the night. He made camp, built a fire, and settled in for the night. He knew that the journey to the Shadowfen would be long and arduous, but he was ready for whatever challenges lay ahead. He was an adventurer now, and he had a job to do.