Chapter 2092: The Upsell Hustle

While Cara laughed, Opal was already off on a tangent, frantically scribbling down a storyline for a new series about an Incubus Altar Boy who used the nuns as a shield to distract suspicion from a forbidden love triangle with the local Bishop and the head Paladin.

Because simply having the nuns be thirsty succubi in disguise was already done by too many playwrights.

Eryman turned his attention from the scheming badger to the gift that Karl had given him.

"This is lovely. What gave you the idea to make this as a Guild Item?"

"Well, there aren’t a lot of them around, and we normally don’t make them at all. We’ve never sold one at the Guild Store, you see. But we don’t get a lot of Legendary visitors from outside the Guild, and as a member of the church, you’re in charge of many smaller groups of clergy.

That gave me the idea, and then if you wanted to regift it, the item would still be something that others would appreciate."

Eryman chuckled at the idea that someone would actually regift a Guild Item.

Sure, he had better for his home branch, but he was also in charge of other branches and he could install the item there instead. It wasn’t really giving it away, it was more of a blessing for his underlings.

In total, there were a half dozen cities, and nearly two million people under his supervision.

There would always be a need for more supplies. Especially when most of the "Clans" were actually just local parishes of the Church, not independent entities.

It was simply easier to separate them from a logistical standpoint.

"How did you learn to make these? Guild Items are supposed to be an incredibly low side effect chance of creation."

Cara laughed so hard she was rolling on the floor, while Rue smiled down at her and Tian giggled.

"Did I say something strange?" Eryman asked.

"There are no side effect bonuses when you’re creating things as a Runemaster. It doesn’t rely on the materials for the bonus, it relies on the runes, and the item itself is the carrier. The material determines how powerful the effect is, not what the effect is.

So, if I want an item to be a Guild Item, I have to specify that it will be, and give up a portion of the space that could be used for other bonuses to describing how the bonus will be spread to the guild.

There is a limited amount of space on each item, and you can only put so many magic effects onto a single piece, so wanting everything isn’t really practical.

That’s why we still do armour one piece at a time instead of as a full suit with all the buffs."

Eryman smiled. "So, it’s not the craftsmen being altruistic, and letting us buy one piece at a time, instead of charging for a full suit every time someone wants an upgrade. It’s just that doing the whole suit at once isn’t practical."

Karl nodded. "But we did find that you can create a bodysuit and still wear an enchanted chest plate over or under it, while you can’t wear enchanted pants under leg plates. So, there is some stylistic overlap allowable."

Eryman nodded. "I was aware of that. It’s popular with the Rogues to wear a full protective suit and then layer equipment over it for practical purposes. Hiding their scent, heat signature and the sound of their movements is vital to the class."

"Plus, it’s stylish." Cara added helpfully.

"Right, you had a fashion shop here, didn’t you? Who runs that? One of the Supreme Ranked members?"

Cara shook her head. "Nope, Lady Rae. She’s an Ascended Immortal Blood Destruction Demonic Spider. Most of her fashion is made with leather, or her own silk. It’s really quite popular, if you would like some new robes made.

They’re stain proof, and wonderfully temperature regulating."

"Why do I get the feeling that I’m getting hustled into spending even more money after purchasing twenty one Supreme Rank spears?"

"Hustle is such an ugly word."

The Legend smiled at the badger, who was doing her best innocent expression. But with the scar on her face, it only made her look like a homeless orphan running a scam. That practiced innocence was not in any way believable.

"Actually, since I’m here, and the church is always looking for new suppliers of clerical robes, I might as well take a look. Can you call this Lady Rae over?"

Eryman gestured to the snacks beside him, clearly unwilling to leave so soon.

"Of course. She’s right behind you."

The Paladin frowned, and then realized that the badger wasn’t lying, the spider had appeared right behind him and he hadn’t even sensed her arrival. It was like one moment she was simply there, without any power surge or mana disturbance of a skill activation.

When it came to stealth, she was far beyond anything that he would have expected of an Immortal, and only the fact that there was no bloodlust had kept him from reacting on instinct when he sensed her.

"Excellent stealth work."

"Thank you. Now, I hear that you are looking for more stylish robes? I’ve got all the popular fashions. The hassock, two styles of nuns’ habit, caplet robes, formal robes with a stole, and the split side adventuring robes that many combat clerics prefer."

As she spoke, Rae laid them out on the table, each in simple white silk, and then went back and set a second set on top of each, in lighter cloth for warmer weather.

Eryman silently examined the robes for style, cut, fit, quality. These were all Uncommon Grade magical items, made with a bonus to healing effects. He wasn’t sure if that was because they were white, and made for white dragon clerics, or if it was an aspect of her silk, but he was betting it was the former.

Spider silk that helped healing just felt counterintuitive.

"I think that I would like to place an order for these. At least enough for the Clerics in my Palace to upgrade their outfits. They’ve been complaining for some time that I won’t let them add gaudy ornaments to feel special.

But upgrading the quality of the cloth should do it."

Rae smiled. "I can make them Rare Grade without adding any extra bonus effects on them, or Epic Grade if you want them to be proper equipment. It’s up to you. The colour can be altered as well, I just brought basic white, since that’s what your tabard is."

Eryman wondered how she knew that, but assumed that Cara must have told her when she called her over.

"No, white is fine. If they’re stain resistant, there is no need for the dark grey or brown variations."

That made it easy.