001 - [VIDEO] | UN: HAMMERTIME

[forgeabettertomorrow]

[There's a number of false starts here. The video blipping on to a green eye then cutting out. Then snapping back on to a shock of blue hair.]

How the hell does this thing wo—

[Nope, it's out again.]

[One more time now. The picture is askew and there's a tall, blue-haired man tapping the lens of the camera, tongue sticking out of the corner of his mouth. Some of you may recognize him from the training grounds at the Red Spring. He was the one going around asking people to hurt him. You know. Like a crazy person.]

Okay, is it working? Screw it.

So, this thing is some sort of communicator, right? Well, for those of you who can see this, the name's Darin Altway, Master Blacksmith, at your service.

Now, I know we're all here for ~magical~ reasons and whatnot, but if this world is anything like mine, then you guys are gonna need top notch gear to prevent you from.

Y'know.

Dying.

And that's where I come in! Like I said, I'm a Master Blacksmith, and I'm here to offer up my services! I might not have a forge set up, but that doesn't mean I can't perform general maintenance, and if anyone can point me to some resources, I can start stockpiling!

Comments

[forgeabettertomorrow]

... ... ...

Wait.

You fought monsters how...?

[Yeah, the second part will come later because Crow just said something that sound awesome.]

[milkmycattle]

[ Now Crow gets a chance to brag, he's definitely going to take this opportunity.]

Yeah! I fought one huge monster with my bandmates. As I said, it was the power of music and our burning souls that gave us power. We were able to completely overpower the monster with our instruments. My Red Tomahawk grew five stories tall and split the monster in half! It exploded!

[He's not even exaggerating. The mechanics of his world were kind of insane, so the same methods won't work here in Camelot.]

[forgeabettertomorrow]

That...

... ... ...

THAT'S INCREDIBLE!!

[milkmycattle]

Yes! It was pretty awesome!

[Yes, Darin, blow his head up even more.]

So you don't have monsters in your world? Why do you need weapons? You gotta use them on people?

[forgeabettertomorrow]

Oh, we totally have monsters in our world. I've had to fight some myself! But I've never heard of someone rocking so hard that monsters literally get blown away!

But, as much as I hate to admit it, weapons and armor do get used more often to fight amongst people than against monsters...even though there's been a greater influx of the things in recent years.

[milkmycattle]

That’s unfortunate. Both about the monsters and people using weapons on each other. Hopefully people can come together instead of fighting.

[ As a musician, that’s one of things he wishes his music to convey.]

But you were able to learn a valuable skill because of all those monsters, right? I’m sure it must have been cool to fight them off!

[forgeabettertomorrow]

I gotta admit, I don't have a lot of experience fighting monsters. Only in the last few days have I actually had to hold my own. But, I did train with former members of the Royal Guard. My Old Man always believed that the best blacksmiths knew how to use the weapons they made.

But hey, I can talk all day about that kinda crap, what about you?! You literally cleave monsters in half with the power of your music! How does that even work?! What kind of magic is that?!

[Somehow, it feels like these two idiots might get into a lot of trouble together.]

[milkmycattle]

Well if you make the weapons, of course, you know how to use them! So, is being a blacksmith is part of the family business? I know a little something about that.

[They both can definitely get into some mischief. Crow smiles as Darin presses to hear more.]

Well...I'm not sure how it works either. I guess it has to do with your will and determination that gives you power. We didn't want to lose and have our melodisian stones corrupted. Somehow that was enough to unleash some dormant ability to kill dark monster ass.

[A pause as his red eyes shift up towards the ceiling of his room, pondering.]

I've managed to do it twice with my bandmates and with a group of other musicians. I can't really say it's magic, but maybe it is in some way.

[forgeabettertomorrow]

You'd be surprised how many smiths don't know how to fight with them. And actually, my birth father was a mercenary. My adopted dad was a smith!

"Melodisian stones?"

[milkmycattle]

Oh really? That's a shame. I would figure since they make the weapons, they would know it even more than the wielder. Maybe it's like a guitar?

[Crow makes sure to pull his bright red guitar into view.]

The manufacturer might not know how to play the guitar, but it's the musician that spends so much time and energy with it, they become accustomed to every part of their instrument. Maybe it's like that for warriors too?

[Crow shrugs as Darin asks for more clarification on what he means by the stones.]

Yeah, I learned normal people don't have them. Basically, everyone in my world has a melodisian stone. They are special crystals that absorb the energy of music. The more energy they absorb, the higher your musical skill becomes.

[forgeabettertomorrow]

Well, there's different kind of smiths out there. A lot of them are just out to make some gold. They really don't see it as a craft or an art. Not like I do.

[Darin listens to Crow and crosses his arms in understanding.]

Whoa...I think I get it. Your guitar...you treat it like a part of you. Like a smith's tools or a warrior's weapon. I totally get it.

Those stones...they sound like special mana crystals. But it sounds like they absorb...raw emotion and convert it into power...!

That's amazing!

[milkmycattle]

Yeah! That's exactly it! And yeah, there are some musicians like that too. They only make songs to make money, and there's no passion behind it. I can only respect an artist who truly puts their all into their craft. So, I'm sure you make some beautiful weapons too.

[ Crow smiles. Yes, finally someone gets it and people aren't looking at him like he grew another head!]

Isn't it? That's what I love about being a performer, it's so exhilarating to receive that energy from the crowd! So Mana Crystals are used in a similar way? Is that how you use magic in your world?

[forgeabettertomorrow]

Finally! Someone who understands the true source of art is passion! Whether it's through metal or music, I can tell you've got a burning soul!

Everything that makes you love being a performer is the same thing that makes me love being a smith!

Mana crystals have a lot of uses in our world, but most of them are mined and used to power our technology. Only incredibly powerful mages can properly tap into and use mana crystals, and even then, they can only use the element they have a personal affinity with.

[milkmycattle]

Yes! You get me, man! I promise you my soul burns so ardently it can even scorch the sun! And I can tell your soul burns brightly too!

[ This is a beautiful friendship in the making!!]

So mana crystals don't come out of your body, they come from the earth? Kind of like diamonds? That's interesting that mana crystals are different depending on the element. Are they color-coded? Like Red is fire and blue is water?

[He's guessing since it would make it easy to tell one crystal from the other.]

[forgeabettertomorrow]

My soul burns hotter than any forge! If your soul can scorch the sun, mine can take that flame and shape it into dreams!!

[Are they glowing? These two might be glowing.]

Yeah! My world is rich in mana. In fact, all living things have some sort of attunement to it! But mana of different elemental properties can gather in certain spots and form mana crystals!

Actually, all crystals look like prisms. They react to people and things with the same affinity. So you usually don't know what type of mana crystal it is unless it reacts to someone or something of the same elemental affinity.

Supposedly someone was working on a device that could test them properly, but I think it was still in development.

[milkmycattle]

That's so deep! Have you tried writing lyrics before? Your words sound like they could be a killer song!

[ These two are shining so radiantly, it'll probably cause eye damage.]

Oh, so it's easy to find mana, but the trick is finding which one has an affinity to you? That sounds cool! I wonder what type of mana would react to me? I hope it's not something lame.

[forgeabettertomorrow]

What?! Seriously?! I've never tried but I always felt that my creative mojo could extend beyond the forge! Maybe we could collaborate and forge the ultimate metal anthem!!

[This high energy himbo feedback loop is burning too bright!]

Well, if I had to guess by your passion, I bet you could make a fire mana crystal crackle burn like a volcano! Make it sing like the molten heartbeat of the planet itself!!

[milkmycattle]

The ultimate metal anthem?! That sounds so wicked! We gotta do it! The stars ordained it!

[ This idiotic blaze of hype is bound to break the internet!]

Yes! I can feel the heat coursing through my veins! Gushing out like magma, my velvety crimson ballads will rekindle any wavering flames! And together we can definitely set some souls on fire with our fierce, unrelenting passion!

[ Darin’s words easily rile Crow up, and now he feels he can go out and take on the world!]

[forgeabettertomorrow]

Oh man...oh man, you know what we should do?

When I forge your axe, which I'm totally gonna do now, you should play something while I lay out the beats with my hammer. Imbue that baby with music from its very birth!

I'm picturing it right now...!

[He hurriedly grabs his small notebook from a pouch on his belt and starts scribbling.]

Oh man, this is going to be one of my finest pieces...!

[milkmycattle]

[There's a long drawn out gasp that comes out of Crow. His eyes are wide with admiration of how amazing that idea is!]

That's the best idea I ever heard! I can definitely do that! With my crimson vocals, I can baptize the metal and instill my spirit within it! This is gonna be so great!

[ He already knew his weapon was going to be badass, but now it will be even more marvelous.]

Plus, you should be honored to have a special performance by yours truly. My name's Crow, by the way.

[forgeabettertomorrow]

Crow, I'd be honored to hear your music no matter the circumstance! Especially if it inspires me to create such masterpieces like this one!

You'll see. Once I source the materials, I'm going to make you a Great Axe so amazing, it'll be the showstopper of any battle! A perfect Rondo to close out the ballad of a truly burning fight!

[milkmycattle]

That sounds great! That's exactly what I want, for cretinous foes to see your magnificent axe and cower in fear before it! Of course, it would be a shame not to use your masterpiece now and then!

[But first he needs to learn how to use it properly before he hurts someone, or himself. Most likely himself!]

I hope my songs can inspire you, not only in making weapons but also in achieving all your ambitions full throttle! I hope it renews your spirit!

[Crow can talk for days of how he can reborn any stagnant soul with his fiery lyrics. So he cuts himself short for now.]

If you need someone to show you around or chill with, let me know! I've been mostly free aside from working.

[forgeabettertomorrow]

Crow, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful partnership.

[milkmycattle]

Yeah? I feel the same way! But I gotta know how you feel about food, or else I might have to reconsider.

[This is a dealbreaker! He can't hang with anyone who hates food or heaven forbid, is on a diet!]

[forgeabettertomorrow]

How I feel about food? Uh...it's delicious? I need it? I'll never turn down a home-cooked meal?

...Or any meal?