Final day of training pt 5: Afternoon

You spend a few minutes cuddling with the women in your life, then ask Brighid, "So what's on the agenda for the afternoon?"

"Not much, actually. Tomorrow we will be fighting for our lives in Bannagh Macht, and you have been working very hard over the last week, so I thought tonight we might take things easy. We have an appointment at Roark's a little later to pick up your new armor, but other than that I do not have anything planned. I just want to spend some time with you. Maybe we can go have a run around the village and then relax in our bathing pool?" Riama stirs at that, raising her head from your chest, her ears perked up.

"Well, it looks like the fuzzball likes that idea, so let's go with it. New armor, you said?"

Brighid nods and carefully maneuvers herself back to her feet. "Yes, if you think I am letting you fight in a war with no armor you had better think again. This will be more like the first chamber of the mite lair than the rest; I will not be able to block every hit directed your way. There has not been enough time to make you anything heavier myself, and you probably would not be as effective a mage in full plate, but do not believe that I have not considered it. I will not try to keep you from the fighting but by Brigantia's cleansing flames and Braihan's unending love, I will do my best to ensure you do not ever die on me again."

"Hey now, no need to get so defensive! I wasn't objecting!" You sit up, wrap your arms around your familiar, and lift her up against your chest as you stand. "I feel pretty bad about losing the armor Roark gave me before, and I actually have the means to pay him now after the dungeon, so I would be happy to give him a visit and get some more armor. I don't want to die again any more than you want me to, I assure you. Now, my lady, shall we be off?" Still cradling the purring astral jaguar against your chest with one arm, you extend the other to Brighid. She takes your hand in one of hers and leads you out of her home.

It takes you about ten minutes to reach Roark's tannery outside of the village, and you are immediately greeted by Roark himself. The old centaur gives you a firm handshake, then pulls you into a crushing hug. "I heard what you did, lad. I do not know if what I said to you played in part in sending Brighid back and going in alone, but it cannot have been easy on you. I do not want to know the details, but know that you have a friend in me."

Congratulations! Your relationship with Roark Tanglebriar has advanced from Neutral to Friendly.
He now views you as someone he can relate to and expect to treat him with fairness and respect.

Congratulations! For gaining a new Friendly relationship, you have earned 550 experience [500 base, +10% Lostlorn title]. Honor thy friends and they will honor you!

"Now," He says, "Let us see what we can do for you as far as armor. I have had a little more time to work this go around, so there will not be any hot-fitting needed." He leads you into the large wooden building, which turns out to be his workshop, and begins handing you pieces of armor to try on.

You have found: Reinforced Rockspine Leather Breastplate. Armor Type: Light Armor. Average Protection: 5. Encumbrance: Light. Rarity: Uncommon. Item Quality: Well-Crafted. Additional Properties: 10% resistance to piercing damage.
You have found: Hardened Rockspine Leather Pauldrons. Armor Type: Light Armor. Average Protection: 4. Encumbrance: Slight. Rarity: Uncommon. Item Quality: Well-Crafted. Additional Properties: 10% resistance to piercing damage.
You have found: Hardened Rockspine Leather Vambraces. Armor Type: Light Armor. Average Protection: 4. Encumbrance: Slight. Rarity: Uncommon. Item Quality: Well-Crafted. Additional Properties: 10% resistance to piercing damage.
You have found: Hardened Rockspine Leather Helmet. Armor Type: Light Armor. Average Protection: 4. Encumbrance: Slight. Rarity: Uncommon. Item Quality: Well-Crafted. Additional Properties: 10% resistance to piercing damage.
You have found: Hardened Rockspine Leather Half-Gauntlets. Armor Type: Light Armor. Average Protection: 2. Encumbrance: Minimal. Rarity: Uncommon. Item Quality: Well-Crafted. Additional Properties: 10% resistance to piercing damage.
You have found: Hardened Rockspine Leather Greaves. Armor Type: Light Armor. Average Protection: 4. Encumbrance: Slight. Rarity: Uncommon. Item Quality: Above Average. Additional Properties: 10% resistance to piercing damage.

This is significantly better armor than what Roark gifted you before! The armor is made out of a dark grey, almost black leather with a rough surface almost like sharkskin. "Roark, this is amazing!"

He just grins at you and says, "Well, put it on then!" There is a curious twinkle in his eye... You quickly put on the armor, with Roark's and Brighid's help, and once you secure the last piece, a new prompt appears in your mind.

You are wearing a complete set of Rockspine Leather Armor. Set bonus: +25% Protection, chance to deal piercing damage to attackers when struck with natural weapons.

"I..." Words fail you. "Thank you, Roark. What is the price for all of this? I can't imagine you have bales of monster leather laying around the shop, and you made it quickly, to boot." You pull out a handful of gems from your Haversack and hold them out to Roark. "I understand that offering money is not the preferred means of payment, but unless you need something burned to death at the moment I don't have much else to offer you. I assure you, it has nothing to do with my opinion of your work."

"Oh, no worries about that lad, I understand. Adventuring is as good a job as anything else, and I always need something from the traders so I can make use of money." He carefully inspects the gems in your hand, then plucks out a small ruby. "This should about cover it. More than the armor is worth on the face, but as you say, it was a rush job. Now then," He says, growing more serious, "I understand you are both going back to Bannagh Macht. I will not repeat what I said last time, you have already more than proven yourself to be a good man, but please, both of you be careful." You and Brighid both give him your word. You shake hands with the old man again and Brighid gives him a hug, then you leave and head out into the mists.

Once you're sure that you're out of sight of the village, you put the thick blanket up on Brighid's back then mount her. Riama jumps up and settles onto the centaur's back just in front of you, and Brighid stands back up and starts to canter. Riama stands up on her hind legs and places her forepaws on Brighid's shoulder for balance, and you slide up to wrap your arms around your familiar and Brighid's waist, resting your head on her other shoulder. The three of you ride in a wide loop around the village, then a second at a gallop, then back to a canter until you come to the bathing pool.

Congratulations! You have reached level 7 in Riding.
Congratulations! You have reached level 7 in Centaurback Riding.

You and Brighid quickly strip out of your clothes and armor, but Riama is the first one into the water. With a trill of happiness, she jumps off of Brighid's back as soon as she slows to a walk and runs right up to the pool, diving in with a small splash and starting to swim around with surprising skill. "Well, it looks like somebody's eager!" You laugh as you join the cat in the water, Brighid close behind you. You wash the sweat from Brighid's back and take a quick dip under the water yourself, then you both climb back up onto the shore of the small pool and cuddle for a while, drying out under the late afternoon sun as you watch Riama play in the water. At one point she actually dives underwater for several seconds and comes up with a twenty centimeter long fish grasped in her jaws, which she carries to shore and quickly devours. Eventually even she has her fill of the water, though, and comes over to curl up on Brighid's back. The three of you rest that way, lightly dozing in a happy pile for a while, but as the sun reaches the top of the mountains to the west, a horn sounds from the direction of the village. Brighid immediately stiffens and starts to rise.

"Something has happened, hurry, we need to get back to the village!"