Chapter 2086: Common Ground

"Do you mind if I watch you work? I can supply materials that will help you make the spears," Eryman asked.

"I suppose that you can. It will involve multiple people and significant time, but you’re welcome to stop in and see our progress. Would you like to watch now? As soon as I find Tian, I will have him get started on the actual weapons, and the holy enchantments for them.

"Tian would be the Holy Element master?"

Rue nodded, and sent Tian a message to come visit the Holy Element Legend. The little fox liked things that smelled like holy magic.

Sure enough, Tian came out from the Tiny World to see what the fuss was about, and found that there were nearly a dozen Paladins in the room, all radiating holy power.

"You really do know what I like," he laughed as he shifted into his humanoid form, a small boy with fox ears.

"Of course I do, and they want twenty Supreme Ranked holy weapons made. I’ve got the raw materials from the warehouse stockpile, but what do you think? Gold or platinum in colour?"

Tian inspected the group with a critical eye.

"That’s a good question, but I think that we should go with gold. It’s a classic, and it goes with everything holy. So, it’s not wrong to give them matching gold holy spears. Do you want me to bless them as a Holy Weapon as we forge them?

Ooh, we could do it as a [Blessed Weapon], and let it align with their God when they bond it."

Rue thought that might be just the thing.

It was a benefit from Divine Smithing, the ability to make true [Holy Weapons] that would gain a blessing from the wielder’s pantheon. For many, that wasn’t a big deal, but for Paladins, who were already devout, it should be a rather substantial bonus.

"What is this about a bonus based on the deity?"

Tian made a wide armed gesture, and waved his hands around.

"It gives this much bonus if you’re in good with your God. Like, Karl is the Avatar of the World Dragon, and if we make him holy weapons like this, they’re super powerful. So, if we make them for you, as a Legendary Paladin, who has been a Paladin practically forever, shouldn’t that be the same?"

Eryman nodded. "I might not be an Avatar, but the human Gods rarely name Avatars. They prefer to keep all their followers on relatively even footing.

I think that it should give me something good, as my patron deity is the god of Justice."

Tian clapped happily. "Yes, that should be wonderful. Justice is the sort of aspect that really lends itself well to weapon buffs. Alright, now, what do we make them look like? Our Dana Mage likes ones that have a long scimitar style blade, but some like shorter ones with a wedge blade, or a triple bladed dirk style point.

Do you have a preference? We can do a Justice motif for the crossbar and handle if you like."

The Paladins couldn’t help but be caught up in the little fox’s enthusiasm, but the Legend knew that he had to reign the beast in, or the spears would end up too ornate for regular use, and everyone would want to keep them for ceremonial occasions.

"Make them practical. Keep the justice theme, but don’t go overboard. I don’t want any ornamentation that might interfere with the usage, including on the haft where it might snag on a glove."

Tian nodded. "That’s not a problem. We can work with that."

The plans were already forming in Tian’s mind, involving multiple colours to create the design, instead of raised or engraved shapes. That would work just as well, and it wouldn’t mess with the function of the weapon.

If they were going to do a justice themed weapon, they had to do it *justice*.

Tian giggled at his own joke, while Cara smiled, then turned her attention back to the Paladins.

They were all aware that the badger had some sort of nefarious plan for them, but they weren’t quite certain what it was yet. If it was just to get them to stay to go to the dungeon with some particular group, that shouldn’t be an issue.

They were already planning to see if the boss would let them have some fun while they were here, and the Darklight Host seemed like it was a welcoming place.

"I am told that there are other Supreme Ranked members of your Guild. Is that true?" Eryman asked Rue as Tian began to sketch the first draft.

"It is. We’ve actually got quite a few. Myself plus the Blackwoods Pack Leader, and then six more that were sent to us from one of the Divine Battlefield worlds. We’re a smaller branch, without a powerful leader, so we mostly rely upon having strong backers available in an emergency.

Did you want to have your team go for an outing? We’ve got a Mage, Cleric and an assassin that would go well with your group. The others are either tanks, or also healers, so they don’t really pair up well with a bunch of Paladins.

But there is no need to go looking all over for random Clan Leaders if you don’t want to."

"So, you have eight in total? I must say, that is a surprise. That puts you at the top of the power struggle, but you completely fly under the radar."

Rue laughed. "That’s the point. We make weapons and accessories, we run the dungeon, the arena and the city. That’s enough. We’re already filthy rich, there’s no need to get involved in politics."

That was something that Eryman understood far better than most.

Getting yourself involved in politics was nothing but headaches, and his group was very visible. This Guild had managed to claim just one city, that rumours said they had claimed after winning a Guild Challenge, and that was that.

They didn’t even try to push the nearby Clans and Sects for tribute, or more territory.

The Darklight Host simply appeared and existed, as if there was never any point in questioning the state of affairs.