Spear of Destiny by James Baldwin (little bear else holmelund minarik .TXT) 📕

“You don’t have to do that, but sure.” I jumped as a new Quest Alert chirped in my HUD.

[New Side-Quest: Field Research.] New Side-Quest: Field Research

Yaola Tlaxi’Zanya, one of the Master Armorers of Taltos, has requested that you test her new flexible chiton-scale armor, an innovation in materials development the Royal Army has been slow to consider. To receive your reward, report your results back to Volod Ignas Corvinus II after surviving three combat engagements while wearing this armor.

Rewards: 500 EXP, Armor Upgrade.

I mentally swiped for ‘Yes’ and walked around the armor stand, studying the back as I listened. The armor had articulated titanium down the spine, testament to the fact that quazi riders—and dragon riders—were more likely to be struck on the back or sides while in the air. “No helmet?”

“No. I am working on a design,” Yaola said. “It has to be economical enough to be viable, but sophisticated enough to protect soldiers from firearm injuries to the head. I am researching ways to make a sightglass or sightsteel visor that can withstand the impact of a bullet.”

I rubbed my thumb over the mail. It was so smooth that it almost felt slick to touch. “Are there magical add-ons or material enhancements you can make?”

“Certainly. Though they are expensive. To improve the physical protection, I will need you to field-test the armor before I can judge which metals will work best for improving it.” The smith folded their arms over their chest. “You can browse the store menu for magical enhancements.”

I brought up the Armor stats and had a look over what I was signing myself up for:

  Stormrider Scale Armor

570 Armor

+30% Damage Reduction from falls or Bludgeoning weapons

+35% Resistance to Piercing Damage

-15% chance of vital or mortal blows landing on the wearer.

Special: Unarmed strikes made against enemies deal lethal, instead of non-lethal damage.

Medium Armor

Body Slot

100% Durability

Level Required: 25

Price: 1100 gold Olbia

An experimental armor design which relies on precisely machined scales woven into an interlocking matrix. This armor offers exceptional piercing and bludgeoning resistance, but is very expensive due to the expertise required to create it.

The Stormrider armor was easily the best suit I’d seen since arriving in Archemi. Just the body, gloves and boots had more armor than the entire Raven Suit. I opened my HUD and queried the Store Menu. The Buy and Sell Windows opened up to my right, displaying all the different purchases I could make. I surfed to the Modifications and Add-Ons section and read through them.

“Elemental air, light and water protection covers lightning, doesn’t it?” I asked.

“Yes, my lord.” The smith inclined her head.

Each elemental enchantment cost 50 olbia per 5% enhancement, to a maximum of 30% total resistance. There was also a stealth augmentation available, Dampening, which further decreased the noise of the armor. There was no mobility enhancement option for medium armor: that was for light armor only.

“Okay. Let’s get the Stormrider with the lot.” I selected all my options and added them to the cart, then some armor and weapon care supplies I was lacking. All up, it came to just over 2000 olbia. “Can you tint the armor to match this?”

I held out the Raven Helm. The smith took it, and looked it over curiously.

“Hmm. Black sightglass. This is the work of House Azpatl. Dara Tlaxi’Azpatl is the favored armorer of the Royal Court.” Yaola turned it in their hands. “Yes, I can tint my armor to match this.”

“Brilliant,” I said.

“Excuse me, then, while I make the modifications. Wait outside, please.” The smith bowed, confirmed the sale, and went to pick up the armor stand and carry it back over to the forge.

Twenty minutes later, I was back to strolling through the streets of Taltos beside Cutthroat, looking every inch the well-to-do Lancer.

“Have to admit, I’m almost jealous,” Suri remarked from behind me, jerking Cutthroat’s reins as she tried to turn around, for the millionth time since we’d left the castle. “That’s some nice-looking gear.”

“Want to try it on? See if you like this style of armor more than full-plate?”

“Nah. Too clingy. I’d feel underdressed.”

“It’s not like anything’s uncovered,” I replied. “You know, other than my face.”

Her mouth quirked in a sultry, playful smile. “Yeah, but why do you think I asked you to walk ahead of Cutthroat?”

I could see the hookwing in my peripheral vision, staring daggers at me with her beady yellow eyes. “So she doesn’t rip my guts out and use me like a sock puppet?”

“Nah. You’d get out of the way in time,” Suri said. “It’s because that suit fits nicely around the back.”

“In other words, you’re staring at my butt?”

Soberly, she nodded. “Correct.”

I made a show of thinking for a moment. “Quick question: why didn’t we get that bikini again?”

“Do you have any fuckin’ idea how uncomfortable they are? No support for your boobs at all, and the crotch of it rides up your cunt like a bandsaw. No thanks. I’ll stick to looking like a tin can with legs.”

“This sounds like something you know from experience.”

Suri let out an exasperated sigh. “Yeah, I know it from experience, okay? I was a gladiator. A female gladiator. What do you think my manager made me wear out in the ring? And why do you think I quit?”

Our next destination was the apothecary. I gratefully stocked up on King’s Grass and Cats Eye Mushrooms for the Dragon’s Blood Potions, then picked up at least five of every other herb they sold. From there, we went somewhere we hadn’t ever been able to afford until now: an accessory shop.

“Oh!” The man at the counter—an unusually tall, aristocratic Lysidian man with neat silver hair—jumped as I walked in through the door. “I remember you! Both