"What are ya doing up there archer kid? You are firing arrows in to the merchant district for fun, but not even helping out here!" One of the dwarves with Gil had become annoyed seeing that Gil was standing on top of one of the heist buildings. He also thought that Gil was firing arrows at apparently nothing.
"Eh, firing arrows for fun must be a human trend. I thought a so called hero would be a little useful." The other dwarf was setting up his crossbow with a new bolt while shaking his head.
"I just had to help out my part leader for a moment. There was a large slime that didn't want to go down easily. Let me fire a few more at some slimes that are going after some golems." Gil didn't even flinch at the dwarves' words. He just fired a few more of his eater elemental wither spike arrows from a long distance at the slimes.
"What does he mean helping out? There's no way that he is hitting anything from there. His leader went with the king to the high forge. It is halfway across the entire district." The other dwarven crossbowman was shaking his head even more annoyed at the notion that Gil had such pristine aim that he could hit a target from so far away.
"Unlike your bolts, I have some fins on my arrows so that the direction stays a little more on target. Not to mention I have a skill to snipe a target from a long distance. You should try and make a crossbow bolt that can go farther than mid range attacks." Gil spoke as if he was just lecturing a younger archer. It caused the crossbowmen to get fairly angry.
"If we wanted to use a ballista we would put one on wheels. But even if we did that the speed of the bolt is too fast. You think you know everything but you are just a babe to those experts in the high forge. Let alone the masters." The dwarven crossbowman that appeared to be the leader looked at Gil with a hard glare after these words.
"Then why haven't they fixed it? Or do you just accept the weapons you're given without questions? I helped to make these arrows and I know their capability with my own skills. I am sure you know your weapons with your skills as well. But why not push for more control? Humans may not use crossbows often because of the strength required and the challenge. Yet, dwarves can so why not be the best at it? Not to mention I have bonded with this bow more than any other I have ever held, apparently, it is one of the spirit forged ones, I learned a lot about spirits from the elves. I hope to free the spirit one day."
The words Gil spoke made them angry again, however, they made the crossbowmen angry at themselves this time. They had been disbelieving Gil when they had not even turned their gaze inwards. Their blunt nature had always let them take what they could and use it no matter what. However, Gil had said something that caught the dwarves off guard.
"You have a spirit forged bow? How? The cost for one is too high. Our master blacksmiths need to burn a lifetime of mana to even make one. How can you have it?" The dwarf that spoke had begun to shake slightly. A spirit forged weapon was seen as the closest to a sentient weapon in their eyes.
"The ancient ruins. There was a skeleton archer there that used it. I thought it was a special bow that allowed a wind elemental attack and so did my leader. But through our journey, we met the elves and they knew more. Now We are here to help your people and hopefully mend the tension between your race and the elves along with add you to the Genesis alliance. Our goals are large, but we believe there can be many new paths created."
The dwarves had gone from annoyed and angry to awestruck and silent in seconds. There were too many things they needed to think about and understand before they were able to properly reply and say anything anymore. Gil may have had a slightly more condescending attitude but for the situation, it appeared to be the perfect way to handle the prideful and hardheaded dwarves.
"Can...can I hold it? I have never seen a spirit forged weapon or armor. The last one made is in the kings' personal armory. The master that made it said he felt that his life was about to end so he forged his greatest work. I don't think anyone has even made a spirit forged ranged weapon and I would like to say I have held one before."
The dwarves had come to a standstill since the tide of yellow slimes had been held back for a bit. Since they didn't see any around there was no reason for them to hold back any longer. They gave in to their curiosity and tossed aside their negative feelings and skepticism.
"Oh, and my leader is on his way with some other members of the party. We are going to push down to the mining level and help them. Our alchemical brawler said she would have something to help us in three hours so we might want to prepare too." Gil was a little overcome with the sudden attention from the dwarves. He was sure he should be readying his arrows but also wanted to give in to the newfound attention.
Everything had happened so fast in this situation but it had actually taken longer than expected. The dwarven crossbowman had taken care of the small slimes and could keep them at bay with Gil's assistance. Walker and Midnight had partnered with the king to clear and begin a complete retake of the merchant district. And Remey was making a slime poison to bring to the lower level. Su and Onyx were still healing as many as they could. The party was in their elements and full of motivation for the more dangerous mining level.