855 Challenging smiths
The group reaches a metal door which is similarly sized to the hallway, quadruple the size of a regular one. The Prospect bangs on it as hard as they can manage, only managing to create a dull sound that can barely be heard over the sound of hammering steel, and burning furnaces.
...
After a couple minutes of nothing happening Barnock just shakes his head and steps in-front of the slightly embarrassed Prospect, giving the metal door a punch which releasing a metallic *Ding!* through the hallway, as if a gong had just been struck.
...
Barnock "Should I give it another-" he's cut off as the doors slowly start opening, the group stepping aside in order to not be crushed against the wall by it. A gout of black smoke escapes into the hallway from the room, the ventilation within apparently not all that great...
They stare up at the huge figure that'd presumably opened the door, their skin is grey and stone-like, and they're covered in thick armoured plates... Plate boots, armoured plate skirt, and a cuirass that only protects the vitals are worn, as well as a grimy-looking helmet that conceals their face.
"What you want?" they ask in a low baritone voice.
The Prospect steps forwards and bows towards the giant, "Coaugh, our Lord has an assignment for you all." he says, handing the list to them.
Coaugh takes the paper in between his fingers, looking at it closely in order to read it before nodding, "Come, we make, you take." he states as he turns and walks inside.
Barnock "Say... Coaugh? That was a lot of smoke earlier, aren't you worried about suffocating in here?"
Coaugh shakes their head, "Smoke good for metal, need more smoke, let smoke out accident."
...
Barnock has no idea what the giant meant, smoke was usually just a nuisance, blistering the eyes and nose of smiths as they worked. Perhaps the giant had a smithing method that required the smoke somehow?
The sounds of hammering metal gets louder and louder until they're greeting by two other people on opposite sides of the large room, one a large white-haired man covered in soot who looked suspiciously like Barnocks smaller brother. And the other, a large wide skeleton hammering away at a blade that releases bursts of dark red flames with every hit.
Coaugh "Friends, guests, Lords request." he states, getting side glances from the two smiths, but nothing else as they continue their work.
The only human in the group addresses them with some effort "We'll be with yar in just a minute, can't leave a j-ob un-argh-finished!" he says, as he continues to batter the metal with great force.
Barnock had assumed that they'd take a few more hours to complete those pieces, he'd spent some time around Smiths in his tribe and had at least some basic knowledge of the art... However, he was incredibly surprised when a few minutes later they both turned to greet them.
"Greetin's to yar, I'm Andre of Astora, one of the three Grand-Master Smiths in this world." the man says with a grin, revealing his yellow, black, and missing teeth.
The skeleton steps towards them, their bones clacking against the floor as if they were wearing clogs, "Pah, that "Grand-Master" title is utter tripe and you know it, we're still just simple metal workers, no-matter if the "God-King" grants us those titles."
Andre shakes his head, "This is Vamos, 'e don't talk much, but when it does you'll wish he hadn't." he jokes while ducking under the scrap metal the skeleton had thrown at his head.
Vamos "Shut yer trap!"
The group glance at each other as the duo bicker back and forth, not seeming to be stopping anytime soon... Atleast, until Coaugh intervenes.
The giant rests each hand on each of their hands, lifting them in the air by them and shaking them for a couple seconds, "Friends, job, play after."
...
The Prospect nods, "Yes, thank you Coaugh... Our Lord wishes for you to outfit our friends here with weapons and armour suitable for warriors of the Eternal Empire. They're tasked with fighting a Demon Lord so perhaps Divine Weaponry will assist them?"
Andre grins, "Damn right, Demons run with their tails between their legs when they see my weapons!"
Vamos looks at if he wants to comment on Andre's statement, but knows that Chaos Weaponry are almost useless against Demons, he silently admits defeat and looks to the Prospect, "What kind of things are ya looking for?"
The Prospect shrugs, "You will need to ask these three for their specifications, our Lord has given permission to use Titanite Shards." he states, causing the Smiths eyes to light up.
Mathias "Sorry. But what are Titanite Shards?"
Vamos "To put it simply? God Metal. Strongest material in existence, this world or the next." he states matter-of-factly.
Barnock "Well, you're gonna have to make something amazing to match our current weapons... We received these by delving into ancient dungeons, through armies of demons and fighting colossal creatures." he says while showing his two hand-axes.
Andre "Lemme 'ave a look at that." he asks, receiving them and examining them for a while... "They're... Alright, but nothin' special. Got some fine enchantments but the base is shabby at best... I'll make you some axes that're 10 times as strong." he states.
Barnock chuckles, "Is that so? Then consider it my challenge to you, you'll have my complete respect should you follow through with your words."
The two glare at each other for a couple seconds before both breaking down into laughter while the others watch.
Tyrael looks to Vamos, "I don't think I'll be needing the weaponry or armour that your Lord has requested. What I current have far outranks whatever mortals can create." he says, feeling as if his angelic items couldn't be trumped.
Vamos growls, "We'll see about that bald one."
