Regretful Merchant

After trying to dig out the buried entrance for an hour, Reima gets annoyed and decides to just teleport them back to the walkway where they were previously assaulted.

They appear in a flash of turquoise particles and after landing semi-roughly continue to the lonely tower ahead of them.

The walk into the dark room and spot another knight standing in the corner, it's armour is made from thick black plates and seems very heavy... They ready for combat until it starts speaking to them.

??? "Ah, who're you?"... The two just look at him blankly which seems to irritate him. "Alright, stop staring... I'm a Warr... Used to be a Warrior, I'm now but a humble merchant." His voice sounds a couple levels lower in tone than it should be.

Crestfallen Merchant "So, now that I've explained myself, buy something or piss-off." He swears at them with some bite in his voice.

Solaire is knocked from his surprise and apologises "Ah, forgive me Sir Knight... I just never expected to find anyone else in this god-forsaken fortress."

Crestfallen Merchant "Yeah? Well.. It's not like anything actually matters anyway..." His mood seems to swing quickly, he's probably on the verge of going hollow.

Reima steps up, "Actually, I would like to purchase some things from you."

The merchant seems surprised but presents his wares to him anyway, most of what he sells are Green blossoms that rapidly regenerate stamina and black fire bombs... He also has a small collection of titanite of various sizes and colours, Reima buys all of them before glacing over the rings containing a yellow and blue gem. The Thunder StonePlate ring and the Spell StonePlate ring, Reima is running out of fingers to equip rings but buys them anyway, never know when they could come in handy... Definitely not hoarding them. The two rings provide resistances against thunder and Sorcery respectively.

Reima's currently equipped rings are the poison-bite ring, ring of steel protection, blue Tearstone ring and ring of the evil eye. He takes off the poison-bite ring and equips his newly acquired Slumbering Dragoncrest ring which renders all unintentional sound mute, he also equips the gold covetous serpent ring that supposedly raises his luck. He has two fingers left that aren't currently being used... Obviously he equips the Spell StonePlate ring along with the brother Thunder variant.

Solaire and the merchant watch Reima slowly and deliberately pull out various rings before giving a pondering expression and swapping out some of the ring on his fingers... If they knew of the existence of pimps, they would equate Reima's current fashion to one of them. After he's done he looks up at them with a satisfied expression that confuses the merchant but only makes Solaire sigh.

Solaire "Are you done my friend? We still have a rather intimidating looking Iron Giant to deal with..."

Crestfallen merchant "You intend to fight that thing? Ha! Good luck! I've been crushed more times than I can count by it."

Reima sends a smug grin at him, "Perhaps your just not skilful enough to overcome this trial. Doesn't surprise me, you look better as a merchant to me." He can hear the merchant gritting his teeth as he finishes the sentence.

Solaire "Don't be a spoiled sport Sir Ludvig, He tried his best, can't you see?" He tries to comfort the merchant but only belittles him more.

Eventually the veins on his forehead almost burst as he shouts at them, "ALRIGHT! I'LL SHOW YOU BOTH! I AM STILL WORTHY OF MY STEEL!" He draws his sword and picks up a massive tower shield before heading to the fog-door not far from their location.

Reima doesn't actually know how well the Knight will do... Maybe he's like one of those hidden bad-asses that play it cool until they need to?

The two get ready and follow the knight after he'd sprinted through the fog-gate and sucessfully awakening the almost 25ft tall Iron Giant, it's black metal hand grasps a huge axe and starts stomping towards the merchant.

"HAHAHA! IT'S PAYBACK FOR ALL MY PREVIOUS LOSSES!" He screams and slams his sword onto it's foot... Not even denting the metal. He looks like he wants to retort but is launched into the sky like team rocket by the Giant other foot. Reima is expecting him to shout "Blasting off again", but assumes he's not able to with his intestines being vomited from his mouth as he flies off into the distance.

Reima "I blame you for this..." He looks at his friend who seems shocked at the merchants quick demise.

Solaire shakes his head, "He should have used that large shield atleast..." He seems to want to say more but notices the Iron Giants attention being drawn to them.

Reima "Look alive, maybe it's weak to lightning?" He muses to his friend before sprinting off to get some distance from him.

Solaire hears this and immediately starts forming lightning bolts in his hand and launching them at it... The Giant shudders slightly as the electricity makes it's way through it's metallic body.

It doesn't give a sound by slams it's axe into the ground causing the fortress to shudder and a shock wave to shoot towards Solaire, he blocks it with his shield but the impact was huge.