After the Tidecaller was set before Damon, the waves lapped against the shore as though echoing the conch’s will.
This thing was a very valuable item indeed, especially for any water mage. It could instantly turn the environment to their favor. Not just water mages, but even for others, it had the ability to make the atmosphere more bearable.
Once again, Damon did not expect something this valuable to pop up here in the middle of nowhere. Yet the offerings weren’t finished. Another group of merfolk emerged, this time carrying several baskets of long strands of seaweed.
"These are Tideweeds," the merman explained. "When consumed, they bolster vitality, granting warriors a ten percent increase in their health and stamina for a tide’s length. We have cultivated them in sacred groves of the ocean for generations. They are few, but every strand carries the strength of the sea."
Damon nodded. While this wasn’t much of a treasure by itself, the fact that these guys were farming this and could produce it repeatedly made it that much more valuable.
Following the seaweeds came baskets woven from bonefish ribs, brimming with herbs that glowed faintly with oceanic essence, some pale as moonlight, others burning with deep blue fire. "Ocean herbs," the merwoman who brought it bowed lightly and explained. "Used by our healers to mend wounds, soothe corruption, and strengthen the body. Brew them, and even the weakest of warriors will find renewed vigor."
This was followed by some more herbs, which no doubt had plenty of uses in alchemy. Damon even knew a couple of famous alchemy recipes off the top of his head to use these herbs in. Overall, the harvest was quite good.
And it looked like these herbs could also be produced repeatedly as long as the area wasn’t disturbed too much.
Finally, a pair of merwomen swam forward with shells so wide that it took both of them to cradle their contents. Gleaming within were ocean gems, sapphires, aquamarines, and opalescent stones that pulsed with condensed mana. Damon could feel their energy even from a distance.
"These are Ocean’s Tears," the leader said. "Not of our bodies, but of the world itself. Gems born in trenches from long ago. They will serve well in crafting or enchanting."
And then came the last gift. Four warriors carried it together, their arms trembling from its weight. Resting upon a slab of pearlstone were scales, black, silver, and deep cobalt, each one larger than Damon’s hand, radiating a dormant, terrifying power.
The leader’s voice dropped into a reverent hush. "Draconic scales. Taken from the husk of a sea wyrm that once slept beneath these waters. We do not know how it died, only that the tides carried its bones to us. We have guarded these scales as sacred relics, but now we place them at your feet. To the Blood God, to our God and savior."
Damon was once again shocked. Just how much had these people collected!
On the other hand, the demon race’s core skills were simply not as good as the other races, like vampires and undead, making everything somewhat balanced. Demons typically used the numbers to their advantage, and it showed. Of course, there were exceptions to every rule.
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