Looking the Part [Augmentation]

Sakaiza, a wandering soul with a long yet mysterious past, had recently found himself enrolled in the shinobi forces of the remote village of Hyogagakure. Nestled among the icy expanse of a winter tundra, the village held an air of tranquil isolation, that oddly enough felt like a new home to him. Before he could wander too far off from the gates, a final word of advice from the gate guard instructed the Shinkou to go find the village's blacksmith to receive his own personalized set of armor. 

As Sakaiza eagerly stepped through the village gates, his heart fluttered with anticipation. The villagers watched him with curious eyes, whispering amongst themselves about the stranger's striking appearance which was uncharacteristic of the native lands of Snow. Sakaiza, aware of the attention he attracted, remained composed and quiet, determined to make a good impression for his fresh start in this new place. The village itself was a wonder to behold. Wooden houses with thatched roofs were nestled close together, their windows adorned with delicate frost patterns. The sound of crunching snow underfoot filled the air as Sakaiza navigated the narrow streets, lined with shops and bustling market stalls. He paused to take in the sight of children gleefully sliding down snow-covered slopes on sleds. Laughter echoed through the village, blending harmoniously with the crunch of footsteps and the distant howl of the wind. Sakaiza felt a warmth in his heart, something the man hadn't felt in...ages, which possible was an indication of a longing to be part of such a close-knit community.

Near the heart of the village stood a magnificent structure, what looked to be a dojo. Its sturdy walls were adorned with an elegant illustrations depicting a past battle. The magnitude of the battle seemed much smaller than something on the scale of a Great Shinobi War, which would explain why the Shinkou swordsman had not heard of their glory. Perhaps it was picturing something closer to the liking of a civil war within Snow Country, or some type of fight for independence. Whatever it was, Sakaiza couldn't help but feel a sense of reverence as he approached the entrance. The dojo's doors creaked open, and he stepped inside, embracing the serenity that enveloped him.

As he walked by the dojo's corridors, Sakaiza noticed through a window the intricate training equipment that lining the interior walls, which was a testament to the village's commitment to martial prowess. Outside of the dojo, he could faintly hear the air buzzing with the focused energy of armored shinobi practicing their techniques. From it came a rhythmic sound of swords clashing resonated through the halls, a symphony of dedication and skill. Perhaps this had been a battalion of the shinobi forces which specialized in bukijutsu, an art that the Shinkou grew deeply accustomed to over his years on his own.

His exploration eventually led the masked man to the village's heart—a sprawling blacksmith's workshop. The rhythmic pounding of hammers on anvils filled the air, accompanied by the hiss of metal being quenched in water. Sakaiza's eyes widened as he surveyed the vast array of tools, weapons, and armor, glimmering in the dimly lit space. And there, amidst the organized chaos, stood a broad-shouldered shorter man with a grey, grizzled beard and calloused hands—the village's blacksmith, Andre. He was a master of his craft, known throughout Hyogagakure for his exceptional skill in forging the most formidable weapons. Attached to the outdoor forge, was a modestly sized house which Sakaiza speculated to be the blacksmith's quarters.

I know it's from Skyrim, but this is what the forge looks like lol:

The dreadheaded shinobi proceeded onwards towards the blacksmith's outdoor forge. Its smoldering heat generated enough steam to warm the area in its entirety, but not enough to melt the everlasting permafrost and snow of the environment. The Shinkou looked upon the organized chaos of a workstation that Andre worked within, and carried himself with a humble demeanor throughout the process. Over the years, he had come to learn that everyone's work style was completely different. The only important part was that they had a system that worked. And from the quick visuals can that Sakaiza performed over Andre's station, he could tell that every movement the old man took was calculated. 

As he neared the man, Sakaiza would quietly clear his throat before interrupting the man's work. 

"Excuse me, Andre is it? I am Sakaiza, new recruit to this illustrious village. The gate guard told me to pay you a visit to discuss armor."

WC = 763

The tone in which Sakaiza had been me with was as sharp as the blade that Andre had been fashioning. The Shinkou was unsurprised though, as experiences showed him that niceties weren't always upheld when meeting a foreigner. In the past, Sakaiza had always detected an air of animosity in such situations, largely due to the uncertainties in a stranger's intentions. And so comparatively, he was slightly taken back at the tone of the elderly man. Sakaiza's own motives had been revealed up front as he described his affiliation with the village. Though a moment of speculation diverted his thought process from associating the blacksmith's tone with he, the Shinkou himself. It instead made him question if this was just the blacksmith's demeanor, and if he came across like this to everyone.

Andre's subsequent question and body language confirmed this, as he took the time to draw his attention to the masked swordsman before him. Underneath the cover of his mask, Sakaiza smiled softly in relief, but prevented his own tone from portraying any sense of unease.

"Aye," his own voice echoed the very first word the blacksmith had muttered to him. "I was told you're in charge of that department. And further to that..." Sakaiza said with a pause before moving his left hand to the rear of his belt. From it he unfastened a tie, loosening a heavy pouch which he grabbed ahold of in the same hand. The pouch was filled with three pieces of unique material that Sakaiza had gathered throughout his travels and preserved dearly, for he had read that each was unique and optimal for armor reinforcement. With the pouch in his left hand, he'd take a few steps forward over to Andre and relinquish the bag to the blacksmith should he grab ahold of it. "I have previously gathered these materials throughout my travels: a piece of the Sands of Time, a sample of Meteoric Iron, and a slab of Titanium. Could you bestow a set of the village's armor onto me, and also reinforce it with these materials? I'll gladly pay whatever fee you charge."

As he had stepped forward to offer the pouch of materials to Andre, he could feel the warm embrace of the forge's flames. It was nurturing, yet fierce. Perhaps a testament of the blacksmith's own personality as well. Sakaiza would keep his hand outreached until Andre grabbed ahold of the pouch. Following this, he'd lower his hand back to his side and back up a few steps to give the blacksmith the working space which he may require. Though stoic in demeanor, the Shinkou had been quite excited to see the craftsmanship that Andre could display. And even more so, he was ecstatic to receive his own suit of armor. Overtime, his own set of Ronin Robes had been tarnished and tattered. The young swordsman was long overdue for a new set of durable armor, especially which one that proudly upheld the culture of his newfound home.

WC = 500. TWC = 1263
*Giving Andre 1x Sands of Time, 1x Meteoric Iron, and 1x Titanium for Augmentation purposes*

rolling

The member 'Ayato Hyuuga' has done the following action : Roll Dice/Flip Coin

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#1 '100 sided dice' : 92

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#2 '100 sided dice' : 12

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#3 '100 sided dice' : 56

(OOC: Rolled a 92 on the C rank NPC, so item #1 doesn't get consumed while #'s 2 and 3 do. Item #1 = Sands of Time)

Andre took hold of the pouch and as the names of each material echoed from the man, spoken with a mixture of admiration and contemplation. Sakaiza couldn't help but feel a sense of pride as the blacksmith recognized the value of the materials he had collected. The young man hadn't been much of an miner or a forager, but the darker side of his life had caused him to stumble upon these items in...unfortunate circumstances. But as Sakaiza stepped back, allowing Andre to concentrate on the task at hand, he witnessed a renewed determination flicker in the blacksmith's eyes. The warmth of the forge enveloped them, creating an atmosphere charged with creative energy. Sakaiza knew that he had entrusted his armor to a master craftsman.

Andre's declaration, filled with anticipation, resonated within Sakaiza's heart. The blacksmith's words, though short, inspired confidence and set the stage for greatness. Sakaiza nodded, acknowledging the challenge that awaited him as well. As Andre's attention shifted to his work, Sakaiza could see the spark of imagination ignite within the blacksmith's mind. The armor, which Sakaiza hoped to be an extension of his very own essence, would soon take shape under Andre's skilled hands.  The Shinkou marveled at the thought of his raw materials being transformed into a remarkable piece of art, both functional and aesthetically pleasing. And additionally words couldn't express the excitement filled in his heart at the thought of receiving such a piece of armor.

With unwavering precision and the dexterity of a true master, Andre began the process of bringing the armor to life. Sakaiza watched as the blacksmith attended to every detail, knowing that the masterpiece was in capable hands. The clanging of hammer against metal echoed through the forge, a symphony of creation that resonated deeply within Sakaiza's soul. In that moment, Sakaiza felt a profound connection with Andre. Both were driven by a shared passion for their respective crafts. Sakaiza, the swordsman seeking the ultimate tool of protection, and Andre, the blacksmith yearning to breathe life into raw materials, worked in harmony. It was a collaboration that would yield extraordinary results. Though something had been far more mysterious to Sakaiza, the observation that as Andre appeared to be concluding the process, he still had the Sand of Time material completely intact.

"How..." Sakaiza began with a stammer, "How were you able to do that without completely breaking down that material?"

WC = 428. TWC = 1691

The blacksmith's silence was a wonder to Sakaiza. Such a stoic and unmoved man, very capable of focusing on the task at hand and resultantly doing miraculous work. It was amazing, and the Shinkou surely hoped to study underneath him one day so that he himself could learn of the craft. When the armor's augmentation was finalized, Sakaiza would break the silence once more.

"Thank you, Andre. In exchange for your work, please keep that Sands of Time material and use it for another shinobi of the village. I don't know if you charge for your services, but I'd like to offer what payment I can. Please accept it. And finally, please accept this scroll of a technique which very few know. It will serve the village well."

With that, Sakaiza would reach into his wallet and secure exactly 20,000 ryo. Following this, he'd retrieve a scroll with the copied contents of Last Resort. He'd hand both over to Andre, and in exchange would grab his newly augmented armor. Offering a slight bow, Sakaiza would depart from the blacksmith and make his way deeper into the village to continue his familiarization with it.

WC = 193. TWC = 1884
- Exit - 

Claims
Item Exchange:
- Gaining 1x Icebound Infantry, Armored Shell [Chakra] - Augmented (S) with Sands of Time, Meteoric Iron, and Titanium
- Giving Andre 20,000 Ryo 
- Giving Andre a copy of Last Resort to log as a VE
- Remaining Ryo = 18970

Augment Base Costs:
- B Rank: 4000 Ryo
- A Rank: 6000 Ryo
- S Rank: 10000 Ryo
- Total = 20000 Ryo

Approved