Cave Worms
"Huh? Isn't it supposed to be iron ore first? Why did it become steel already?" Brad paused and looked around seeing the many lump of rocks in the vicinity.
"Holy shit I've struck big!!" Brad realized what this meant, it means he doesn't have to go through the tedious work of extracting the iron from ores and turning it into steel by melting it with charcoal.
"Hahaha!! This makes things so easy!!" Brad smiled as he picked out a steel nugget and kissed it as he danced around.
*Thud!
Brad went into alert immediately as he drew his warhammer, he looked around and saw nothing strange happening. Then he saw Bread looking at a lump of rock that looked a little bit wet and steaming. Brad went closer and followed Bread looking up the ceiling. What he saw was a cave ceiling with some creature wriggling on it, he was scared shitless seeing they haven't even able to notice the presence of another being in the tunnel with them.
Brad then calmed down seeing Bread not reacting to it and was dismissive of the large creature on top. Which he thought to be some kind of worm, he looked around and saw other worms as well sticking on the ceiling.
"So these things are responsible for the tunnels, thought it was the ants that made them seeing they were quite smoother that some pathways."
Brad walked down the path that was full of rocks on the path and saw one worm move unlike what the others were doing. He saw the worm let half of it's body dangle down and contract it's body as it let out a round object of its body. Brad stared at the fallen round rock like thing then at the rocks around him and lastly at the peice of steel nugget he held.
"*Bleughh!!!" Brad let out all of his breakfast as he realized he had just kissed worm poop. Bread looked at its owner as he couldn't understand why his owner released food. He didn't mind as he went and ate the snack him master gave him for a job well done. Bread licked the floor happily as he wiggled his tail about.
"*Heave* Haaghh! Note to self, don't kiss metal from random lump of rock later on." Brad breathed in deeply as he tried to calm himself down. He then composed himself as he looked at the various poop lying around. He took off his bag where he pulled out a rolled up large leather bag he had made.
Brad then broke open a rock lump or to say worm poop but let's stick with just rocks. He then found many steel nuggets inside as well as green colored metal which he think would be copper and other metals which Brad would try to identify later.
"So these worms digest things on the soil and the metals on it are clumped together and pooped out of their bodies. I might need to keep track of where these worms go incase I need more metal in the future." Brad kept gathering metal lumps on the rocks and put some on the basket Bread has.
Soon their bags were filled and Brad left a aromatic glue stick on a wall nearby far from the Cave Worms, as Brad named them. He then walked back with a large bag filled with metal nuggets, surprisingly Brad felt this thing was still too light for him. Maybe he should make a cart next time he wants to go down but first he must finish getting all available metal on the rock lumps.
Judging from what they have gathered so far, they carry about 800 kgs of metal with steel acounting for most of the harvest. He did find some gold and silver too in the various metal lumps. Brad went back for about six times with Bread to that area with the Cave Worms. He knew he could get more but his pet is tired already and the day is almost gone.
Brad looked at the warehouse of metal lumps he had gathered, he knew he would have lots of practice for the days to come and hopefully he could make a decent tool once he masters the art of forging.
[In a mountain range far away]
A group of adventurers were carefully treading on a narrow path on a side of a mountain. They consisted of four humans, two orcs, a dwarf and two elves. A Shield Bearer(Orc-F), A Paladin(Human-M), Swordsman(Human-M), Healer(Elf-F), an Archer(Elf-M), a Thief(Human-M), a Priestes(Human-F), an Axe warrior(Orc-M) and a Bomber(Dwarf-M).
"What the balzes are we doin in such a dangerous place? You know we dwarves are terrible with heights!" the Dwarf was huggin the mountain wall as he shouted in the buffeting winds.
"We know! That's why you're short!" The Archer laughed as he walked gracefully on the narrow path.
"Why you pompous arse! I oughta put a bomb on that pretty mug of yours!!" The Dwarf was going to reach out when a hand stopped him. It was the Swordsman, the designated captain of this group.
"This is not time to bicker amongst us, let us save that for later as we have more important things to do." The swordsman then walked ahead.
"Damn, that pretty boy still gives me tha chills verytime he opens that mouth a his. No wunda he is tha captain." the Dwarf said gruffly.
"Very charismatic isn't he?" The thief walked past the dwarf as he said that.
"Don't be scared Turli, we'll be here to help you" The gentle voice of the priestess sounded out as she too timidly walked ahead.
"Just don't mind my brother, he can be annoying at times but he'll help when there is trouble." the healer walked by and said that in her cold yet calm voice.
"Don't be a pussy! You're a dwarf, you could fight us in strength yet your scared of this much?" The Orc axe was laughing as he walked ahead with no fear.
"The Goddess is with us my dwarf friend don't be afraid." The paladin walked by and patted the dwarf's shoulders.
"Let's go." The Orc shield bearer stopped and held the dwarf by his scruff as she lifted him up so he would not be left behind.