John munched on his cigar, long-since spent as he ambled down the streets of Knife’s edge. He’d stopped a child a few moments ago, asking where this ‘Norlond Forge’ was. Apparently it was a few blocks over.
Not that I’d know, he thought, looking up to try and find his bearings. Either way it’s a few minutes walk.
Which left him with a moment to gather his thoughts. It had been nearly a year since he’d fought Artemis, and learned quite a bit from him. They had spoken about their similar trade in forging weapons and armor. Perhaps John’s skill with simple pieces was good enough, but this one was a challenge, especially with the enchantments requested for it, which were a complex series of runes and sigils engraved onto the ingots before forging, and then another set of engravings after the final cooling. It was a pain, but the coin was good and worth the trip, so here he was in Knife’s Edge, looking for a beer mug-shaped door.
Ridiculous. Who makes a-
As if to interrupt his thoughts, he rounded a corner, seeing just such a door across the way. Not only that, but it was made of solid metal.
Well, if you’re gonna do it, do it right, he mused as he walked up to it, noting that the thing was well-crafted, an advertisement unto itself of Artemis’ skill.
He hiked up his bag, which clanged with the ingots inside, and ducked his head down so he could fit through the door. He stepped through, thanking the gods (wherever they were) for Artemis’ ceiling height.
He took a step forward and smirked a little. It was impressive, how he recognized his own craft. You can practically smell the heat mixing with charcoal and hot steel as it comes out of the kiln, and the characteristic yellow-red glow of a forge is hard to miss, especially when the bellows are going full throttle.
A short-bearded dwarf sat at the counter before him, and a worker was toiling at the forge, doubtlessly apprenticed by Artemis. The dwarf, however, looked up and smiled warmly, despite his obvious surprise at the size of his newest patron.
“Come in, friend! What can we do for you?”
John took the two large steps required to cross the room, laying his bag on the counter with a clunk. The dwarf cocked an eyebrow as he looked upward, and the half-giant cast a glance around the shop, looking for his former opponent.
“I need to speak with Artemis, where is he?”
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