Return Of Aegis

Due to the cave in, no one could ever do their tutorial quest at Camp P ever again, Uno was at a loss for words, he stood there for who knows how long before coming to his senses, pointing an accusatory finger at ZeLin, he blew his horn. Moments later, thundering hooves could be heard.

"What's the emergency?" thundered a wide dwarf riding a golden boar.

"Sir, the cave is no more, young dwarfs may never use this place to train ever again." reported Uno.

"How did this happen? Who did this?" yelled the dwarf, scanning those around. His eyes landed on a dwarf, still panting on the ground. He didn't recognize this dwarf.

"He caused this," said Uno pointing his finger at ZeLin.

"Tell me the truth, what happened! If not I swear by my God, Vulcan, I will make sure you will be forever banished from all dwarf cities for causing our younger generation's growth to stagger!"

"My Lord, I met Eitri's Spirit. As proof, here is his hammer." said ZeLin, producing Eitri's hammer for the wide dwarf to see.

Eyes wide as saucers, all the dwarfs bowed to the hammer.

"Lord Eitri, please forgive us for our rude behavior to your successor." chimed all the dwarves.

"Please accept this pickaxe as our apology, I will personally guide you to the main camp. There you can choose your job class."

Champion's Pickaxe (Lv 1)

Rarity: Rare (Bounded Item)

Attack: 10 + (10xStr)

Multiplies each mined ore/gem by 2

ZeLin accepted the pickaxe and stored it in his inventory. Along the way, he finally learned the name of the wide dwarf, he name was Captain Mir. Unfamiliar with the classes available for dwarfs, ZeLin got Capt. Mir to explain.

"There are three types of dwarf classes. We have warriors, rune masters and smiths. We dwarfs were never gifted with agility, so we don't have assassin or archer classes. What a joke we would be if we tried. Have you ever heard of a dwarf archer or assassin?" said Capt. Mir shaking his head.

"To be frank, the warriors are our meat shields. Warrior Dwarfs will be bestowed enhanced vitality and strength, so that they may wear heavy armors and wield weapons as well as shields."

"The rune masters are the damage dealers of our race. They can use runes for both defense and offense. However only those attuned to magics are able to become rune masters. Forgive me for saying this, but Sir ZeLin does not seem to be magically attuned."

ZeLin waved his hand, meaning he took no offense. ZeLin wasn't offended by this, with the innate stats he was granted, having just 3 points in intelligence, there was no way he could do magic.

Captain Mir continued with the final class, "The last class available to dwarfs, is the smiths. This class is neither an offensive class nor is it a defensive class. Seldom were there dwarfs that chose this path. Many gave up as smiths because the requirements to progress were way off the charts. Not to mention the costs incurred to forge equipment. Sir ZeLin, I hope you don't choose this class, as a successor of Eitri, it's my opinion that a warrior class would suit you more."

Although Captain Mir made sense, ZeLin disagreed. With the hammer he inherited from Eitri, he would have an increased chance in producing superior graded equipment.

It wasn't long before they arrived at main camp. The golden boars ran steady but quickly.

"Come find me at the barracks should you have any further questions, I'll gladly advise you the best I can," offered Captain Mir as he left.

ZeLin headed straight for the class change tent, it was always located next to the chief's tent. No matter what race you chose, the game had set locations for everything. The marketplace and auction house will all be in the economics sector to the East of the camp. The barracks, armory and arsenal would be to the North. Hospitals, medicinal halls, those would be to the South of camp. As for guilds, class change and other administrative buildings, those were all at the center of the camp.

Three old dwarfs sat in the center of the tent. It was a very simple design, as though the game developers had not bothered to design the place. The three dwarfs sat on cushions made from what seemed like priceless materials.

One on the left sat on a cushion inlaid with gems that even ZeLin had not seen before, they shone brightly but also seemed more like glitter. The one to the right sat on a straw cushion, but the straw looked like it was still fresh and runes floated in and around the strands. Finally the one in the middle sat on a shiny metallic cushion.

"Esteemed masters, this young one has come to learn the ways of the smith. Pray tell who could guide me." said ZeLin as he bowed to the three masters. Although the game never specifically said that players had to be polite, it was something ZeLin and ZeRen had accidentally learned in the first Aegis.

Many of the important NPCs were actually real people. For example some of the monks on Mt Ti, were real monks and their spirituality was carried over into the game, allowing them to do many feats, such as floating in mid-air; withstanding direct spear attacks and many other things.

The more the NPC favored you, the better deals you could get, some quests only triggered when the familiarity stat with the NPC reached a certain level.

Even though ZeLin had received the inheritance item, he still spoke politely to these old dwarfs. Unknown to him, the consciousness of a world renowned sword and blacksmith had been transferred to the dwarf in the middle. When he was alive, he was known as Kanahema of Okinawa. With his permission, at his death, technology was used to upload his consciousness and memories into the system.

"I sense divine power on you, young one. Have you had a fortuitous encounter?" asked Kanahema.

"Yes, master, I have received an inheritance item from Lord Eitri." replied ZeLin. Honestly was always the best when facing real NPCs, ZeLin suspected that this dwarf was a real person.

"Thank you for being honest, but sometimes it is best to not be so. In the world there are many envious individuals who would do anything to gain what you have." replied Kanahema.

"So you wish to be a smith, but to progress, you have to produce a weapon for me. It has to be at least the uncommon grade. There is no time limit. But you can only submit the item you made once. If you agree, choose a tent behind ours and mark it as yours, you will find all the machinery you require to forge your equipment. The ores however are not provided, you have to get your own, as with the recipes." cautioned Kanahema.

"Thank you for your guidance Master Kanahema. This young one will be leaving now." ZeLin got up then exited the tent. He went behind the tent and saw that a dozen or so smaller tents had appeared behind the class change tent.

Placing his hand upon the entrance of the tent, he thought of the mark he wanted and focused on it. When he raised his hand, his mark was placed. It was the shape of the World Tree - Yggdrasil.

Nodding in agreement, he left the tent and headed to the barracks. He needed Captain Mir's help to get to the ores he wanted. Before entering the class change tent, he had already decided on the equipment he wanted to make as well as mentally listed the ores required to make it.