Tristan had barely gotten to his cabin and set down his bag before a knock came on the door from the adjoining room.
“Tristan, just set your stuff down so we can catch the next introductory assembly in the Grand Theater. The next one starts in about ten minutes, but after that we’d have to wait another hour.”
Tristan looked at the bag he'd packed with all his clothes. Yeah, they can wait.
He opened the door and Sophie swooped in, followed by the plodding majesty of Mister Biggs. “By the map, we're only a few halls over and three decks down. We'll be there in no time.” She glanced around. “I see your room is as small as mine. Oh well, at least we got an adjoining suite.”
Glancing around his quarters, Tristan was mildly put off by Sophie’s comment. This room was actually quite a bit larger than, well, every bedroom in their house back in Woodsedge. Yes, it was smaller than the place he’d had at Jamal’s estate, but what wasn’t? There was a large bed, a dresser, two chairs around a table, and even a separate ‘crafting nook’ in the corner. It was not a small room.
He just shrugged it off and patted Mister Biggs. “I thought it was Poof’s turn? Not that I mind seeing you, big guy.”
Sophie smiled at him. “We’ve got to move quickly, and this place is packed. You’ll see.” Then she was at the door and waving him through it.
The corridors were all fairly packed, and immediately Tristan understood why Sophie had exchanged Poof for Mister Biggs. The massive bear-lion was roughly the same height as Tristan, but much stouter, and with him leading the way, everyone moved aside. As long as Sophie and Tristan followed closely behind, their path forward was simple and easy. In fact, it only took a few minutes before they walked through a pair of tall double doors into a wide-open meeting place that Tristan guessed was in the center of the ship. Dozens of people were already there, sitting in terraced rows all around a central, circular stage.
On that stage were four figures, each so unique that his mother might even call the group eclectic.
The first from left to right might have been the shortest non-faerie person Tristan had ever seen, but he couldn’t even be sure they weren’t one. The stranger honestly looked more like an arrangement of baggy clothing than a person, with no skin showing at all. Between their large, clearly-telescoping goggles, turban-esque headscarf, and mask that covered both nose and mouth, there was nothing even remotely identifiable about the person.
The next person was the exact opposite: a hardly-dressed, very fit, emerald-skinned man with long flowing hair down to his pecs. He wore a leather loincloth, leather bracers, leather boots, and a toothy smile. He was the one positioned closest to the center of the stage, and Tristan couldn’t help but notice a substantial gap on both sides of him. It was almost as if the two beside him wanted to avoid getting too close.
The third person looked exactly like the stereotypical wizard Tristan had often read books about. This was a human with a long white beard that practically blended into his flowy white robes. Beneath his bushy eyebrows, a pair of half-moon spectacles rested atop a rather pointy nose. There was even a pointed hat atop his head, which somehow made Tristan want to laugh. Of course, when he tried to [Identify] it to see whether it was for stats or fashion, its status was blocked.
The fourth and final person was a dwarven woman who literally glowed from the halo floating above her head all the way down to the sandals on her feet. She had tanned, almost copper skin, and wore her pitch black hair in elaborate braids, punctuated by rings of gold, glowing gems, and other ornaments.
There was a general buzz about the room, as most of the people in the audience were talking amongst themselves. Tristan looked questioningly at Sophie, not really knowing what to say, but she seemed to still be intently studying the four central figures on stage. Mister Biggs was sitting quite contentedly on her other side, looking almost like a monarch seated on a throne.
A big, furry, majestic monarch, Tristan thought.
“It’s almost time,” Sophie began, “I wonder if they’ll--"
A loud but crystal-clear voice suddenly filled the entire room, cutting Sophie off. “Good morning everyone! It is time to begin, and since time here on the Crafting Ark is our most precious resource, I won’t waste it!”
Tristan shifted to look once again at the central stage, where the green-skinned and shirtless man had begun to circle around the chairs and his fellows, taking in everyone present with his sweeping gaze.
“My name is Bobby, and I’ll be the Ark Director for this voyage. What that basically means for all of you (the ones smart enough to come to our orientation meeting),” he said with a wink, “is that if you have any questions throughout the course of our trip, you can come and ask me directly. I promise that there are no bad questions here, and I’ll gladly answer any that don’t specifically break the rules of the Ark.”
At Tristan’s side, Sophie had begun to lean forward. He wasn’t sure if she was interested in Bobby or the rules or what, but she was clearly paying careful attention.
“As for those rules, well, we’ll get to them in a moment. Before that, I’d like to introduce our most esteemed--which does not equate to highest tier--staff first,” he said, indicating all three people behind him before returning to the one that was fully covered. “This enigma to my left here is Selendyr, and they will serve as our emergency responder--as well as our enforcer--should either need arise. There’s practically nothing their potions and creations can’t handle.”
The bundled up, goggled person in the first chair stood briefly on their chair and waved around to the audience. Even so doing, they were so short that their hand barely managed to pass the top of the chair.
From habit, Tristan tried to [Identify] the bundle of clothes, but all he got was the increasingly-familiar Status Blocked message.
“Next up we have Vernon, our chief engineer,” Bobby said, pointing toward what Tristan had thought was just a normal-looking old, wizardly man. “And though he may look older than the realm itself, that’s mostly because he is! Luckily for all of us, thanks to all that experience, he’s basically able to fix anything! He’s also got far more tricks up his robe than you’d ever believe.”
The old, white-clad man merely raised one hand while giving Bobby a thoroughly unimpressed look. “I go by Vern.”
“Sure you do, Vernon. Sure you do,” Bobby continued. “And last, but certainly not the least in any gathering, is our enchanter extraordinaire, Kimmeck, but I would not recommend you ever call her Kimmy, unless you want to be completely disenchanted!”
The dwarven woman clearly rolled her eyes. She also held up a piece of paper, which immediately started to hover in front of her before it caught fire, burning so thoroughly nothing was left... except for the magical script that somehow floated in the air above her in bright white lettering: “Strike 1, Bobby.”
Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author's preferred platform and support their work!
“She’s such a jokester,” Bobby added, but his new laughter felt nervous to Tristan. He rather believed the severity that entered his next warning. “Seriously, no one should call her that. Another thing we shall not joke about is how incredibly talented she is with all sorts of enchantments, scrolls, and--rarest of all, what you just witnessed--talismans!”
This time, the woman stood and took a slight curtsey before briefly turning to acknowledge all assembled and gracefully lowering herself back into her seat.
“She’s also the only person this voyage certified to handle the portals to and from the Ark, so if something drastic or dreadful happens, and you find that you absolutely must leave this floating paradise, she’s your dwarf!”
Bobby turned to each of the seated individuals once again and gave them a general applause, which was quickly picked up by the audience, Tristan and Sophie included.
“But now that introductions are done, it’s time to talk about the good stuff! What I like to call our ‘Ark Expectations.’” He lowered his voice to a near whisper, which Tristan thought was ridiculous since his every sound was still clearly broadcast throughout the room. “Even if everyone else might call them ‘rules,’ I’ve always thought rules were made to be broken. So yeah, expectations: Heeeeere they are!”
Bobby snapped his fingers, and a notification suddenly appeared in Tristan’s display. Tristan clearly wasn’t the only one surprised, as a collective gasp went around the theater.
Crafting Ark Expectations
1. Absolutely no fighting or dueling. Anywhere.
2. [Identify] is totally blocked, except for judges.
3. Don’t be a dick.
“I wouldn’t recommend trying to break or even bend any of these rules, either,” Bobby said after a suitable amount of time for everyone present to read. “It’s a long way down to the ground.”
Others around the audience chuckled at that, but Tristan couldn’t help but notice that Bobby did not. Not even a little bit. The green man’s handsome face was solid and still, and for the first time he wasn’t even smiling. It gave Tristan a little shiver--the man’s threat had been literal.
“No doubt you’ll have already brushed up against our second rule there,” Bobby continued, “but I’m here to tell you that it’s specifically to protect everyone’s crafting secrets.” He nodded knowingly, and he even pointed playfully at a few people in the audience, as if he could see they had something to hide. “It’s also what allows everyone aboard to craft out in the open--if they so choose. Of course we do offer more reclusive workshops for those of you that might have techniques, skills, or Cores you don’t want others to see, so please don’t think you have to do all your crafting in your quarters. Seriously, all of our established workspaces are designed and supplied to assist you in whatever you might need. We’ve spared no cost, as you’ll quickly learn. Just another perk of being aboard the Crafting Ark! So don’t worry about whether you’re a first-time flyer or weathered wings, we welcome any and all crafters--or at least those capable of paying for a ticket, am I right?”
He waited a little as the audience gave him a fresh round of applause and cheers. “I thought as much. No shame in that at all! In fact, raise your hand if you’re a first-time passenger on our magnificent Ark!”
Tristan raised his hand hesitantly, looking around the room to see that only about half of those present also had their hands up. Why are the returners here too?
“Wow, look at all those beautiful, lucky people! You’re all joining a very elite group, and I am proud to say WELCOME!” He walked around the stage, facing all the different angles as he applauded the newcomers.
“If you check your maps--which you should have picked up at boarding--you’ll see that the ship’s upper decks are all broken up into areas for different crafting types. There’s also the central market, which isn’t just for salesmen and vendors to ply their trades. No, sirs and madams, it’s also where you can try to acquire some of the greatest crafting materials in the realm for a fraction of what they’d go for anywhere else! So, study that map, and figure out where to best spend the majority of your time here. The Crafting Ark literally has it all!”
There was another round of applause, but Bobby quieted it after a few seconds.
“And now that we all understand what’s at stake, let’s just review why everyone is here in the first place! The Crafting Ark is the most unique establishment in all the realm. It’s a place made for crafters by crafters, and while your ticket gets you on the ship, you’re only allowed the multitude of perks if you maintain a positive standing. Ultimately, you all are here--as I’m sure you’re aware--by invitation only. You are guests here of our great benefactor, Inspiration Jack!” Bobby hurried the next bit, saying it nearly out of the side of his mouth. “Though don’t expect to see much of him, as he’s always exceptionally busy!” His smile beamed out toward the crowd, showcasing pristine white teeth--and two clearly larger fangs.
“As for what he’s doing, well, granting us all the amazing boon that should be going online in the next few hours or so. By the end of the day for sure. Trust me, you’ll know once it’s up! The party will really start then. But Jack, being ever the considerate man he is, wants to afford the opportunity for his guests to acclimate to their new surroundings and (as you smart folks have) attend one of these wonderful introductory meetings! Good on all of you for being here so quickly!”
Bobby winked at the crowd as he continued to parade around the stage. Tristan couldn’t help but notice that he kept striking clearly-practiced poses that all showed off either his arms, abs, or a combination of more muscle groups.
“And yes, the boon truly is as great as you’ve all heard: it’s a full 30 percent boost to experience gained in ANY crafting Class!”
A new round of applause swept the room, and Tristan got swept up in it once again. That kind of experience boost was going to be extremely helpful! At his side, Sophie actually looked a little dejected, and it took Tristan a moment to realize why.
Looking his way at last, she shrugged. “And here I am with no crafting Class.” She sighed. “So it goes. It will be amazing for you though!”
Tristan appreciated the smile she put on quickly, but before he could really respond, the applause died out and Bobby’s enhanced voice was heard again.
“That’s not all, my fine crafting friends! We’ve got all sorts of activities and events scheduled for you this month. The most impressive--and famous--of all being our Cruise-Crafted Contests! That’s right, we’re keeping the tradition alive, and we’ll be holding contests for all crafters, all tiers, of both secondary and primary Classes! Anything that you make exclusively on this voyage can be entered, with the deadlines for secondary Class crafts being in 3 weeks, and the most challenging contest of all, for primary Class crafts, being held on the final two days! It’s a lot to take in, I know, but as I’ve said, my name is Bobby, and I am here to help you out and answer your questions! So, once again, I welcome you all to the Crafting Ark! Now let’s see what you’re made of!”
The green man thrust both his hands into the air, and music began to play as confetti started raining down all over the room. But even with all that happening, Tristan was again surprised to see another notification pop up in his display.
[Quest unlocked: All Play and No Work]
Complete all the community tasks put forward by the founder of the Crafting Ark. Required tasks:
Attend an orientation meeting
Explore 2 or more different crafting zones
Eat a meal in High Dining
Buy something in the Central Market
Attend a lesson
Make something worthy
Attend an event during the Finale Celebration
Complete a voyage
Rewards: Title, Bonus XP
Laughter bubbled forth from his chest as he turned to look at Sophie. She, too, was smiling now, and it wasn’t just the forced one she’d donned for his benefit.
“It’s as good as they said it was,” she said, turning to look at Tristan at last. “None of these requirements are even that hard. They’re just things to do. This is going to be fun!”
for those interested. (8 chapters ahead!)