The next morning, Thaddeus sat excitedly in his woodshop. The past month has taken him off course and diverted his attention away from crafting. His job, auction, battle, and capital trip had taken his full attention. He finally had time to craft.
Despite his return from the capital, he'd yet to receive a request. He knew the other crafters were neck-deep orders. Yet, his people were averse to asking their lord to craft. He understood better than most, how the game operated. Lords oversaw settlements, administered their growth, and rarely, if ever, interacted with the people. But that was Alfred's job, not his.
To alleviate his boredom, he would often take trips around town. He'd check on people, troubleshoot, and monitor the construction progress, before heading to his woodshop. In the woodshop, he'd tinker and sketch leather furniture designs to pass the time. He doodled chesterfield, tuxedo, camelback, and English rolled arm sofas, matching ottomans, chairs, and beds with leather headboards.
As Thaddeus continued to sketch, his mind was irresistibly drawn to the image of a 96-inch chesterfield sofa, upholstered in rich tan leather. The design of the chesterfield was captivating, with its low seat adorned with intricate deep tufting. Its arms, elegantly rolled and flaring outwards from the body of the sofa, gave it a distinctive charm. The uniform height of the armrests and back, combined with the leather upholstery and copper nailhead trim, added to its luxurious appeal.
Driven by inspiration, Thaddeus rushed to the kiln and selected several 12-foot superior-quality oak boards. His hands, guided by his expert vision, wielded a hand square and tape measure to precisely mark the dimensions. With care, he cut 32 planks, each 40 inches by 2 inches, shaping them to meet the specific requirements of the design.
He then skillfully hammered 16 of these planks between two boards, not once but twice, creating a sturdy base. The flare cut-outs were then attached to this base, forming the signature silhouette of the chesterfield. Carefully, he glued the smaller planks to the flares, crafting the elegant, rolled arms. To frame out the back and sides, he used 4-ply, 3/8-inch thick, 4-foot by 8-foot oak plywood, shaping each piece with the attention to detail that marked his craftsmanship.
The entire framing process was an intricate dance of wood, tools, and dedication, spanning two full days. The result was a structure that embodied the essence of the chesterfield design, ready to be transformed into a finished masterpiece through the skilled application of leather, springs, and cushioning. Thaddeus's passion and mastery were evident in every cut, every joint, and every curve, turning raw materials into the beginning of a work of art.
On the third day, Thaddeus stoked the coal of the forged. When the fire was nice and hot, he put on his leather apron. Sitting down, he threw in an ingot of iron. When the ingot glowed a fiery orange, Thaddeus removed it from the forge, his face flushed from the intense heat. The iron was now at the perfect temperature for forging the coil springs.
He placed the hot ingot on the anvil, the surface sizzling as he began to hammer it out into a long, even rod. His arms moved in powerful, rhythmic strokes, each blow sending sparks flying. He knew that this part required precision, as the rod needed to be consistent in thickness to make the springs.
Once the rod was the right size and shape, Thaddeus moved to the winding jig he'd prepared earlier. This was a specially crafted tool with a handle and a spiral form that would help him shape the coil springs.
With a steady hand and keen eye, he guided the hot rod around the winding jig, carefully twisting it into the spiral shape of a spring. The iron yielded to his touch, bending, and coiling with a grace to Thaddeus' inherent strength.
The process was slow and exacting. Each turn had to be perfectly spaced, each coil identical to the others. Thaddeus was entranced as he worked, focused on the task.
He repeated the process 64 times, crafting each spring one by one, watching them take shape under his skilled hands. The glow of the iron seemed to dance in his eyes as he worked, a reflection of the creative fire within him.
After shaping, he plunged the springs into a bath of oil, quenching them. This process hardened the iron and set the shape of the springs, ensuring that they would retain their form and function within the sofa.
Finally, he tempered the springs by reheating them to a specific temperature and then slowly cooling them. This gave them the ideal balance of hardness and flexibility, making them resilient yet responsive to weight and movement.
After he inspected each one, satisfaction welled within him. He imagined how these springs would feel beneath the leather, how they would give and rebound, adding a superior quality to the sofa. It was these details, invisible to all but him, that matter.
After he finished the springs, he forged hundreds of copper decorative nailheads, and six goblet legs. When everything was forged, he nailed four coil springs to each base plank. When all the coin springs were in place, he took a roll of cloth and placed it over the coins in a crisscrossed pattern. The roll cloth kept the coils firmly in place.
The next day, Thaddeus walked over to Hunter's lodge. When he arrived, he saw Hunter field dressing a deer.
"Didn't expect to see you twice in one day. Everything okay?" Hunter asked.
"Everything's fine, I came over to see if you were still selling geese feathers and down?"
"Yeah," Hunter replied, looking up from his work and wiping his hands on a rag. "How many bags do you need?"
"I'll take them all."
Thaddeus followed Hunter inside the hunting lodge. It was his first time seeing the inside. Along the walls hung were taxidermized mounts. Thaddeus counted the heads of deer, boar, foxes, and buffalo. The inside smelled of blood, wood, and nature. Hunter led Thaddeus to four large sacks filled with freshly plucked geese feathers and down, soft, and lustrous to the touch.
"These are all I've got,"
"These will do, how much?"
"Upgrade the lodge and we'll be even?"
"Why do you want me to upgrade the lodge?"
"I want to add the jerky station to the lodge. They are complaining about the lack of trail food. I plan to sell jerky at Adventure Guild and tavern. Jerky is also a staple for soldiers on the march."
"Alight," Thaddeus said, telling Alfred to upgrade the lodge.
"Thanks," Hunter said resuming his work.
After saying goodbye to Hunter, Thaddeus walked to the tannery. When he opened the door Oscar was hard at work tanning leather. Looking around Thaddeus saw rolls of leather and tidy stacks of pelts.
"Hey Boss, I mean good afternoon, Baron," Oscar said stumbling over his words and quickly bowing.
"If you have to call me something, I prefer boss," Thaddeus laughed.
"If you say so boss, what can I do you for?"
"I need some tan leather. What's our selection look like?"
"Not good. All the leather here is already sold. I'm working as fast as I can and I'm behind on orders. Boss, I think you should consider hiring a second person,"
Thaddeus was disappointed, but he understood. "It's fine, go to the town hall and advertise for a new position. I'll also increase your and Nathan's pay. Go to the sawmill and let him know about the raise and he's approved to hire a new person."
"Thanks, Boss!" Oscar said with a wide grin, running out of the tannery.
Waving goodbye Thaddeus went to Travis' Trading Post. When he entered Travis smiled at him.
"Baron Brown, I must tell you, I love the casino. This town finally has some real entertainment. Let me tell you, I made some serious coin yesterday betting on a battle arena match. If I didn't have to work here, I'd be at the casino every day."
"I'm glad you like it. I haven't been inside yet, but I hear it's popular with adventures. What I like about the casino is that it nearly doubles the cultural points I receive weekly."
"Well keep building those attractions. I met a couple of players from Pine Grove who came down to visit the auction house and gamble. The busier the town, the more profit I make. Oh, yeah, congratulation on advancing Woodhaerst to a town."
"Thanks, I'm always happy to hear from approving citizens," Thaddeus chuckled. "I need to buy 20 yards of brown leather."
"Twenty yards, what are you crafting?" Travis asked curiously.
"A tufted chesterfield sofa."
"Hm, already got a buyer in mind?"
"Nope, just tinkering."
"Mind, if I look at the couch when it's finished?
"You're more than welcome too," Thaddeus said scrolling through the items available for trade.
It didn't take him long to find what he wanted. He was surprised to find an inexpensive rich walnut-colored full-grain cowhide. The leather was of superior quality but was sold for cheap because a raid party found it in an abandoned merchant wagon. The leather was enough for Thaddeus to finish the sofa, two wingback chairs, and a storage ottoman. Thaddeus quickly bought all the leather and left to finish the sofa.
When Thaddeus returned to the woodshop, he encased the wood in rough linen to keep the down and feathers from falling through the planks. Thaddeus carefully cut the leather into the appropriate sizes for the sofa and cushions. When he finished, he marked the locations for each tuft on the leather, then used a leather punch to create small holes. He inserted buttons into these holes, pulling the leather tight to create the tufted effect. Each tuft was meticulously formed, adding depth and texture to the cushion and headrest.
Thaddeus' skilled hands guided the needle and thread through the leather, stitching the buttons in place. The stitches were precise and concealed, ensuring that the buttons remained secure while maintaining the cushion's aesthetic appeal. As he worked, the tufted patterns emerged, transforming the once-flat leather into a tactile masterpiece. After the button tufting was complete, he turned his attention to the cushions.
Thaddeus stepped back to admire his creation. The button-tufted patterns added a touch of sophistication and luxury to the gliding rocking chair and ottoman. The headrest, designed to cradle and support, would ensure that Thaddeus could enjoy hours of comfortable relaxation.
Thaddeus's dedication to detail and his expert craftsmanship transformed the once-separate components into a cohesive masterpiece. The marriage of wood and leather, skillfully guided by Thaddeus's hands, gave life to the gliding rocking chair and ottoman in a way that would make them not only functional pieces of furniture but also cherished works of art within the world of Heaven's Gate.
He carefully stuffed them with a blend of geese feathers and down, ensuring a luxurious feel without sacrificing support. The balance had to be just right; too much down would make the cushions overly soft, while too much feather would make them too firm. Thaddeus knew from experience that the right mixture would create a seat that was comfortable yet supportive, cradling the body in a way that was both indulgent and invigorating.
With the cushions finished, he attached the rich walnut-colored leather to the wooden frame of the sofa, skillfully hammering in the copper decorative nailheads. The nailheads not only held the leather in place but added a touch of elegance to the piece, their metallic gleam contrasting beautifully with the warm, earthy tones of the leather.
He then attached the six goblet legs, which added an extra touch of sophistication to the overall design. The legs were finely crafted, their curves echoing the graceful lines of the sofa itself.
Finally, he was finished. It had taken him five long nights. As he stood back to admire his work, Thaddeus felt a profound sense of satisfaction. The 96-inch chesterfield sofa was more than just furniture. Sitting down, the sofa was both comfortable and stylish. But most of all it was relaxing.
System Message:
Congratulations you crafted a rare heirloom artifact. This artifact gives the user a 5% rest bonus
Reward: Plus +5 fame, rare tanning sewing tools.
After messaging Travis, he received another message. At first, Thaddeus thought, Travis replied. However, he was more excited to see he crafted his second heirloom. Crafting an heirloom meant Thaddeus added an artifact Heaven's Gate artifact registry list. Owning an artifact provided the owner with a bonus. As Thaddeus celebrate, he saw a new message.
System Message:
Congratulations your Woodworking, Leatherworking, Tailoring, Forging, and Toolsmith skills have increased. Reward: +5 skill points.
Thaddeus quickly added three points to leatherworking, one to forging, and one to tailoring. Now, woodworking, leatherworking toolsmith, and forging were all Foreman Rank. Once he ranked up tailoring and smelting, he'd pour the rest of his skill points to level woodworking up to Expert Rank. In Heaven's Gates, there were ten different ranks: novice, apprentice, adept, journeyman, foreman, expert, master, grandmaster, sage, and legendary.
When Travis arrived, he marveled at the sofa, his eyes growing wide with excitement and greed. Looking at Thaddeus he asked, "Do you know what you accomplished?"
Thaddeus just nodded.
"You crafted an heirloom! It's said it's a superior-quality artifact that gives users a 5% rest bonus."
"I know. I built it," Thaddeus laughed.
"Look man, I don't think you realize the golden opportunity we have here. Do you know the furniture in building scrolls is uniform? There is no difference, it's the same drab design. Everyone knows game companies save buildings for last because developers use one macro design. While most players have grown accustomed to the generic, mass-produced design, others are looking for something more personal and stylist.
Most crafters work for guilds, farming equipment. We have a great opportunity to fill that void. Let's build a niche furniture company. We'll name it Weinstein and Brown, and our tag can be 'handmade custom furniture.' You build, I market, and together we'll be rich." Travis said with his arms spread wide.
"Weinstein and Brown?" Thaddeus repeated.
"It's my last name. Since it's my idea, I put my name first."
"What's from starting my own business and excluding you? I can just list my furniture at the auction."
"You could, but there's a reason the job of furniture salesperson was invented. I have good relationships with people across servers. I can hold private auctions. C'mon, we can sell this at 100 times the market price. Sixty-forty, I promise you we'll make a killing! What do you say?"
"I'm doing all the work 90/10. And if the furniture sells the way you think it will, 10% is a good commission.
"Yes, this is going to be great! I'm okay with starting with a 10% commission, but when you see what I bring to the table, we'll renegotiate."
"Fine, I'm in. But we'll name the company Iron and Oak.