Amdirlain released the link with Vāriyāka, and shortly afterwards, was regarding the Shaper with concern. Not held in a state of meditation, he mutely sat blinking, staring at Amdirlain for long minutes, as the Earth Affinity mingled with his natural inclination towards Metal. Their presence on the Elemental Plane of Earth had made establishing the connection easy; apparently, Vāriyāka adjusting to it wasn’t so straightforward.


    “That is your magic?” asked Vāriyāka. His lower arms’ fingers wrung together, while his upper hands rubbed in jittering motions against the side of his head.


    Concern weighed her gaze as Amdirlain watched on and chewed her lip a moment before she replied. “It’s not my magic, though I have a knack for teaching others any Affinity. Your Shaper Class differs from Wizard, so I’d need to know more about how you use the Metal Affinity.”


    “Vāriyāka, you should know she does what I’ve not known another to do and considers it a knack,” Ebusuku stated dryly. “Perhaps consider it a Wizard talent if your people have such a disregard for the word magic.”


    Tilting her head at Ebusuku, Amdirlain raised an eyebrow, wondering why she’d used the Elven word for the Class, yet it hadn’t translated. Vāriyāka’s expression showed a familiarity with the word’s inflections and it added more questions about his world. Before she could ask, Amdirlain caught a mental image from Vāriyāka of an Elven male nearly a half-meter taller than her. Fine featured, he had metallic blue skin with hints of silver matched by his liquid silver hair.


    [Name: Vāriyāka


    Species: Erakk?


    Class: Shaper / Sage / Wizard


    Level: 56 / 53 / 1


    Health: 1,107


    Defence: 22


    Magic: 77


    Mana: 9,120


    Melee Attack Power: 39


    Combat Skills: Staff [Ad](3) - Affinity: Metal - Spell Lists: Metal Lore, Metal Shaping, Metal Law, Metal Manipulation, Solid Destruction.


    Details: Vāriyāka has become the first individual from the world Letveri to gain the Wizard Class.


    ]


    I assumed it was just a different Class name given the Metal Affinity in Analysis. Since he gained it separately, it’s clearly not.


    He’s also feeling better than he was previously. I wonder what Shaper actually is.


    [Shaper:


    This Class is presently only accessible to the Erakk? Species and extends from their natural aptitude with the Metal Affinity. It uses visualisation techniques developed from their species ability to heat and mould metals to channel Mana into creating or removing physical matter. ]


    “Would you be able to teach more Shapers, perhaps meet with the Shaper’s Council?” asked Vāriyāka, after a few minutes of quiet contemplation.


    “We can’t come through to your world,” Ebusuku answered. “While the Dao can easily travel it, the rules prevent us from doing so. I felt such applied to your world when I opened the Gate.”


    Glancing between them, Vāriyāka pressed his hands against his head for a moment before he pulled them away, the fingers of his lower hands tight with strain against each other. “I don’t wish to know what possesses the power to set rules for worlds. The way you said—your world—makes it seem as if there are others besides ours.”


    “That’s correct, but we can help and meet,” said Amdirlain. “Could you tell me about the Elves on your world?”


    “We see them only on trade vessels. Though they visit rarely, since the Thri-Kreen occupies much of the continent and have a fondness for their flesh,” replied Vāriyāka. “You have a similarity to them except your skin tones don’t match theirs.”


    Amdirlain winced at his words. “They eat them?”


    “Yes, their swarms drove the Elves off the continent during the grey sun years; any that tried to stay with their groves perished. The Elven-sung woods couldn’t stand against the Thri-Kreen’s weapons; it’s only our shaping that lets us remain. We’ve paid a heavy price in blood some years, but we’ll not let them drive us from our homes,” declared Vāriyāka hotly, before his firm tone softened. “I worry how much the Dao attacks have weakened the pass defences.”


    Amdirlain rested a hand reassuringly on his shoulder. “We’ll see what we can do to help. What do these Thri-Kreen look like?”


    At her request for details, Vāriyāka waved both true hands above his head to emphasise their height even as Amdirlain picked the image from his mind. “They are about twice my height, though some grow far taller. Normally, they walk about on two legs, but they are insectoid in appearance. Unlike us, their secondary arms are almost as strong as their true arms, and both sets have clawed hands. While they can certainly fight with them or bite with their mandibles, which can paralyse an adult, they normally wield polearms, and throw their chatkcha when at range.”


    The mental image he provided showed the Thri-Kreen running towards a wall in a black-stone pass. They had a distorted bipedal-mantis appearance about them and seemed to run as fast as racehorses, though it was hard to judge from his memory. Vāriyāka shuddered as he pushed free of memories of battles and deaths he’d witnessed, and she didn’t pursue them.


    “Let me teach you the Spell, and see how you do,” Amdirlain said, considering the situation. “We’re going to have to arrange some teachers for your people. While I have some grimoires of spells, they’d need to be translated.”


    Ebusuku shot her a puzzled look. “They have Metal Affinity. They should be able to adapt Spells from that element.”


    “Use Analysis on Vāriyāka again. It caught me by surprise as well,” replied Amdirlain. “I take it they mentioned Elves when you were talking to some earlier?”


    “One I was speaking with asked if we were Elves. The translation of the word was a giveaway,” replied Ebusuku and gave Amdirlain an amused look. When Ebusuku turned to regard Vāriyāka, it was clear Analysis gave her the same surprise from the shocked look she shot at Amdirlain. “There were other Wizards among Morgana’s escort, perhaps they’d lend you some help.”


    “Did you want to go ask them?”


    “Actually, I think it would be better if we move to the Outlands and reopen the Gate from outside your Domain. This is going to be a lot more complicated than I’d expected,” admitted Ebusuku.


    Amdirlain gave her a wry smile, and motioned to the last score of Erakk? who were moving materials through the Gate. “Welcome to how my list grows.”


    With the exchange directly between them, Tongues didn’t translate for him, and it left Vāriyāka looking between them in confusion.


    “We’re going to get you some help in learning Wizard spells, Vāriyāka. It just might take a bit to arrange,” Amdirlain stated, motioning again to the others. “When the others have the rest of the items through the Gate, I suggest we go somewhere safer. This was meant to be a temporary safe spot to get you all home. We should re-open a Gate from a secure location to allow a prolonged discussion. That would allow us to meet with other Shapers and teach them.”


    “I’ll send a message with another Shaper, to let them know what is planned,” Vāriyāka said. Once on his feet, he paused and motioned to them with the same gesture of respect Tesfa had used.


    Ebusuku gave Amdirlain an assessing look as Vāriyāka walked away. “I got my weapons back, but I noticed you’re keeping nothing from the Dao.”


    “There will be more to kill. Tesfa and others might need it to reduce the impact of losing their family armour,” replied Amdirlain. “After we get this initial situation settled, should we hit the mine again, or that Gate they used?”


    “With their Wizards present, going back would be risky,” Ebusuku said thoughtfully. “We could certainly hurt them, but if there are enough, they could expose our charade. We need to hit them where they’re not prepared if we’re going to continue the misdirection. You don’t want them to come seeking your Domain in the Outlands in force.”


    “The Gate it is then, since we got a memory of it from Tesfa. I want to see if we can disrupt its natural connection. The Erakk? have little in the way of defence against the Dao since normal weapons have difficulty hurting them,” suggested Amdirlain.


    “After, we’ll go back to your Domain and you could get some rest, as Sidero insisted,” Ebusuku stated firmly.


    Ebusuku’s gaze narrowed at the impish smirk that Amdirlain responded with even before she spoke. “I shouldn’t have told you and Torm the meeting details. Or are you hoping Farhad will take time from practicing for more reunion rounds?”


    “I’m sure I can tempt him with another—or four,” purred Ebusuku. “Depending on how beneficial he is finding teaching new students to review his mastery. He believes that teaching Livia was useful, but her already enlightened state might have prevented greater gains. So he hopes he can progress further by more teaching. He also wishes to see how far he can guide those with a strong potential.”


    Nodding, Amdirlain gave her an understanding look. “When you said I might have to pry him away, I figured he was getting something particular from it. He’s happy to help others only because he’s helping himself at the same time.”


    “It is how he is. He never tried to change me, and my changed state doesn’t upset him, so why should I push him to change. If I did, it wouldn’t be his choice,” replied Ebusuku.


    “He’s following my path, but don’t tell him that,” Amdirlain said cheekily.


    “What do you mean?” challenged Ebusuku with a frown. “He’s nothing like your openness.”


    “Openness no, but he’s certainly hoping to improve himself,” retorted Amdirlain, eliciting a pained groan from Ebusuku. “Though, if you break any houses in my Domain, you pay the workers.”


    “You hope!” retorted Ebusuku, and her gaze roamed over Amdirlain with heated speculation. “Are you sure you won’t join in a reunion romp? A threesome would be fun.”


    Amdirlain''s face grew dusky with the intensity of her blush, and she sputtered before finally managing a shocked reply. “No, I won’t!”


    The rich sensual laughter that erupted from Ebusuku had Amdirlain hiding her face in her hands. Nearby, the Erakk? looked at them in confusion before they hurried on with their work  passing materials through the Gate.


    Once they’d both calmed, Ebusuku regarded her seriously. “We’re not brute-forcing the next attack. Let’s take it subtle. Find out what’s in place, kill any guards quietly. If there are prisoners, we should get them free, then take apart the Gate. Sometimes, a natural Gate is easy to destroy, but otherwise, its attuned energy can take hours to unravel.”


    [Achievement: One in Four.


    Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.


    Condition: Expand your Faith to a fourth World.


    Reward: Greater survivability! Isn’t it grand?


    Additional Condition: No other full Power exists in the world.


    Reward: Ability to allow your Celestial followers and those of allies to visit the world until it gains a controlling Pantheon over at least a continental region.]


    “How long can you hold a Gate open from the Outlands?” asked Amdirlain. “Because apparently, there aren’t any other Powers on Letveri.”


    “Sunrise or sunset on their world will disrupt it. I’ll be able to open it to the same spot, just won’t be able to pass through,” replied Ebusuku, glancing at the Gate.


    “I can give you permission, apparently,” Amdirlain said casually, enjoying the look of surprise on Ebusuku’s face.


    After Amdirlain repeated the achievement’s information, Ebusuku considered the Gate thoughtfully. “I wonder how many worlds only have malign or beneficial spirits responding to Mortals.”


    Amdirlain mentally reached for a mind beyond the Gate and found there was no obstacle to it. Through their eyes, she could see the escapee’s being checked and food being passed among them from various street vendors. One Shaper who’d gone through the Gate was creating small metal glyphs from thin air and passing them over to vendors providing food.


    Onlookers watched on as Corporal Tesfa healed the cuts on a former slave’s back, and focusing on it, Amdirlain could feel the Blessing he was channelling from her Domain.


    “Corporal Tesfa apparently took a new Class when he got home,” Amdirlain remarked, and eyed a smug-looking Ebusuku suspiciously.


    “I shared how your Domain felt to me when I first saw it, the feel resonated with some of them. He and others seemed quite taken with the feeling of it,” stated Ebusuku. “Since you can let Celestials through, do you want me to lay waste to the Thri-Kreen?”


    “I’m sure we’ve already extensively disrupted everything. We don’t know all the details, but we’re giving them the tools to help themselves,” replied Amdirlain. “Enabling people to achieve for themselves has a greater impact than merely doing it for them.”


    “Well, let’s give them a hand getting these things through. Then we can re-locate and focus on enabling them,” Ebusuku said, rising to her feet.


    * * *


    Amdirlain shifted them to the Outlands after the Gate was closed, and Vāriyāka blinked in the sudden light. When he shivered, Amdirlain put a hand on his shoulder and created a set of clothes around him that matched Tesfa’s memories of a Shaper’s tunic and pants. Their footwear was a strange sandal and Amdirlain left that alone, not sure if she’d make a mess of creating them.


    “Thank you for the clothing, I wasn’t cold rather your clouds caught me by surprise,” Vāriyāka remarked, gesturing up towards Judgement. “We don’t normally see that many clouds—even white—unless a big ocean storm is going to hit.”


    Vāriyāka fell silent as he looked out over the valley before him. His eyes roamed over the buildings, and Amdirlain watched roads literally growing between them.


    “Is there somewhere else you’d prefer me to open the Gate, Vāriyāka?” asked Ebusuku, after he finally glanced up at them.


    “Perhaps close to the Shaper headquarters. I’m not sure how the King’s guards would react if you opened it near his palace,” Vāriyāka replied after a moment’s consideration.


    Amdirlain could feel Ebusuku lift an image from his mind as he mentioned it. When the Gate formed, it revealed the building from the same perspective as his memory. Positioned on the edge of a square courtyard directly in line with a wide set of stairs that led up to a polished stone porch. The simple plain lines of the courtyard were a strange contrast to the Shaper’s five-story building that cast the square into afternoon shadow.


    They painted the stone building in multiple hues of garish colours, splotched in a fashion with no order or meaning to Amdirlain. They positioned lines of narrow windows set with panes of glass around the building in regular intervals, with brightly painted wooden frames, each in different hues. Polished metal fixtures were the plainest element of the building, and those gleamed with obvious care. Popping from amid the colours of the wall, the metals ornaments provided multiple lightning rods winding their way down the building.


    The only individuals visible were two guards in plate armour stationed beside the door. Both came alert with a snap, their true hands pulling chatkcha from harnesses as they moved. Their lower eyes locked on Vāriyāka the moment he stepped through the Gate, and recognition appeared in gazes that shifted between Vāriyāka and the Gate. Precision movements quickly returned the chatkcha to their harnesses, and they clasped gauntleted hand together across the burnished steel breastplates they wore.


    Vāriyāka allowed no time for formal greetings, but jogged into the building and Amdirlain heard him calling loudly for messengers to be sent to the Council.


    “Ebusuku, why don’t you pry Farhad away from his students, this could take a while,” noted Amdirlain.


    “The Gate is easy enough to close, so that’s an interesting suggestion,” Ebusuku laughed. “Torm mentioned reporting to Tyr. I can report the details later if you’d like?”


    Amdirlain shot her an amused look. “You’re like the embarrassing big sister I never had.”


    “You need to have more fun in life,” teased Ebusuku. “Then others having fun wouldn’t embarrass you,”


    “By fun, you mean have sex,” retorted Amdirlain, but spoke to the trees as Ebusuku vanished. “I hope that didn’t carry.”


    Amdirlain settled in the grass near the Gate listening to the continued commotion, and tried to set her worries aside in the sunshine. The wind and bird song were relaxing in their combined tranquillity and let her settle into a meditative state.


    “You go sightseeing with Ebusuku and bring more guests,” commented Torm dryly, his words snapping her back to the present. The commotion beyond the gate having long since muted, a glance showed the guards still maintaining their original position and another pair had taken station by the Gate’s threshold.


    “Tyr can’t seek expansion to other worlds, can he?” Amdirlain asked flowing to her feet.


    “We can talk to Mortals from any world when we meet on the Planes, but there are limits on our conversations. Effectively, we’re not allowed to spread his teachings outside Mortal worlds,” explained Torm.


    “Are you able to visit other worlds besides Mélamar? asked Amdirlain.


    “No, agreements permit us on any of the Element or Outer Planes that we dare venture to, but we cannot ourselves seek to venture to other Mortal worlds,” Torm replied tilting his head curiously in her direction.


    So if you can get there you’d be allowed to speak, but can’t cross into it willingly, nice catch.


    Amdirlain nodded, glad that the confirmation matched her understanding of the Dwarven Pantheon explanation. “Trust me?”


    “Of course. What do you want me to do?” Torm immediately asked.


    “I’d like you to take my hands and close your eyes,” Amdirlain said moving towards him.


    Torm took her hands without hesitation, and together, she teleported them to just before the Gate. Her mental image positioned them already tilted with Torm but a hair’s breadth from the Gate. The moment they appeared, she hooked her ankle around Torm’s and pushed. Torm’s eyes snapped open and stabilised himself almost instantly, but he was already across the Gate’s threshold.


    “You’re on a Mortal world, and I permit you, as the only full Power present, to see if there are Mortals able to follow Tyr’s teachings. Don’t speak of the other Norse Pantheon though, only Tyr’s precepts,” Amdirlain declared.


    The guards near the Gate had stepped back and regarded Torm’s human appearance with wide-eyed surprise.


    “Amdirlain..” Torm started but paused in surprise and simply nodded when instructions from his boss came. “Is there anything you need me to investigate?”


    “There is an outpost that was assaulted by Dao slavers. Be careful. I do not know their numbers or locations on the world. My chief concern is the outpost held reinforcements for a border pass. So please, check they’ve not stripped it as well, and there isn’t an invasion in progress. I’d also appreciate your general perspective on the Erakk?,” Amdirlain said, even as she mentally shared images she’d gained from Tesfa and others of the countryside around the outpost. A summary of information she’d learnt so far surged across the connection to him, and his mind quickly took it in.


    “As you wish,” Torm said.


    Amdirlain smiled brightly and verbally tweaked his nose. “I know.”


    Torm returned her smile, and among his surge of emotions, she felt his focus on one image, so was unsurprised by him immediately teleporting away.


    The guards, still wide-eyed with concern, turned to regard her the moment he vanished; the conversation she’d had with Torm in Celestial utterly incomprehensible to them.


    “He’s gone to ensure some people are okay,” Amdirlain said, and when she moved back to her spot on the grass, they resumed their station.


    A little while later, she started her own work, and spells from Earth Law let her construct a viewing platform on the valley’s lip. Once it matched what she wanted, Amdirlain added a tasteful table and chairs suitable to the Erakk? along with more normal human-shaped ones around it. Picking a chair with a clear view of the valley, she sat down to wait in comfort.


    [Achievement: Breaking all the rules


    Condition: Deliberately assist an entity in circumventing a binding agreement


    Reward: Personal satisfaction?


    Additional condition: Divine level entity involved in activity matching Portfolio


    Reward: Faith +20


    Free Movement Unlocked!


    Free Movement [J] (1)


    Note: Tyr is no longer bound by his restriction to the World of Mélamar


    <ul>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">The restriction remains in place for other entities within Norse Pantheon.


    </li>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">Tyr remains restricted from assisting others free from Mélamar’s restriction concord.


    </li>


    </ul>


    ]


    [Free Movement:


    This Power allows the user to empower free movement through environmental conditions that otherwise hinder physical motion. Applies to natural hazards such as thick undergrowth, restraints, and Spell effects set to slow, bind, or otherwise restrict physical movement. It is always in effect on the possessor unless deliberately deactivated. The possessor’s effective level influences its protective duration when applied to others, but reapplying the effect can be done at will.]


    Well, now I’m a slippery little sucker. However, Sidero and Ebusuku would argue with me on that.


    * * *


    The Council that gathered showed the effects of the constant siege state of the Erakk? life. It had a small membership of five Shapers that carried themselves as if weighed by stress. Deep lines etched their faces, along with salt speckling their species’ normally black hair. It was quickly obvious news of the attack hadn’t even made it to the capital. They became increasingly grim-faced at what Vāriyāka shared with them.


    Amdirlain waited patiently while the council members talked among themselves and eventually looked at her. The others echoed the Chief Shaper Puléka in making the same gesture of respect after they rose.


    “Thank you for all you’ve done, Lady Amdirlain. While we wish to investigate this matter of Wizards with you, we would wish to settle the situation that threatens before we explore such.”


    “You’ve got a lot on your mind,” Amdirlain replied calmly, feeling their concerns. “Perhaps we could assist you by teaching suitable former soldiers no longer able to fight that still wish to contribute to your nation’s defence.”


    A council member went to reply, but Puléka motioned for them to be still while he tapped his chin thoughtfully. “We will need to ask the magisters for permission to approach such citizens. We have no authority to speak for others without Shaper training. As it would not remove a Shaper from their duties, that would seem possible—to me. Though I will admit that is purely a perspective of self-interest, I will speak with them and then confer again.”


    “I’ve asked Torm, a friend of mine, to check on the situation at the pass. He’ll likely be there already to assess things,” admitted Amdirlain.


    Puléka froze at her words and studied her quietly. “Is that why we have a report someone came through dramatically and then vanished?”


    “Yes, there were restrictions on his ability to cross the threshold. I had to dance around some rules if they said there was some strangeness other than his appearance,” Amdirlain responded, noting his thoughts about Amdirlain having tripped Torm through the Gate.


    “Sometimes stepping over rules is necessary, though it is best not to admit having done so. One would not wish to gain a reputation for such among strictly forged individuals,” remarked Puléka. “As long you hadn’t forced him to render help.”


    “I stepped over no rules that applied to me,” replied Amdirlain. “Once he was in your world, he was happy to help protect you. Sometimes events occur that will lift restrictions on our actions through no doing of our own. If a non-Shaper became an apprentice, I assume you can at least request their attendance on matters, where previously without that connection you couldn’t.”


    For the first time, amusement rather than the stress caused crinkles to show.


    “We can order Shapers of any rank to fulfil particular duty stations within the limits set by their rank. While they can fulfil their duties, what Shapers do on their own time is not council business,” Puléka offered.


    Though rolling her eyes at the diplomatic double talk was tempting, Amdirlain went with the flow. “That’s very interesting. I’m sure we can arrange a Gate to open at regular intervals if needed for discussions and meetings. Some might wish to see this Plane when not on duty. We’d seek to ensure they have an escort for their safety and education on relevant matters of interest.”


    With an ease speaking of long practice, Puléka kept a straight face at her response. “We will be sure to mention your hospitality and guidance if any magister should enquire.”


    [Diplomacy Unlocked!


    Diplomacy (1)]


    Fuck you, troll!


    [Diplomacy (1)


    Note: Critical Diplomacy failure detected!


    Note: She’s not going to take it Captain!]


    I swear you’re having fun at my expense.


    Well, at least they’ve provided an agreement that we can teach Shapers as well. Now to see if I can get some teachers.


    “Tyr, I would appreciate it if you had any Wizards among your Celestials that could help with teaching,” Amdirlain said and left it at that.


    I’m going to have to send him a thank-you card one day, but maybe lifting his restriction counts as lots of birthday presents.